Mid-level Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Mid-level Product Designer

Company: Xelix

Location: London, UK

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-07-29

Experience Level: Mid-level (2-4 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process, from initial concept and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and final delivery, ensuring user-centered solutions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers and Engineers, to translate complex requirements into intuitive and impactful user experiences.

• Champion and contribute to the evolution of Xelix's design system, ensuring visual consistency, scalability, and adherence to accessibility standards across the platform.

• Actively participate in user research and usability testing, synthesizing findings into actionable insights to inform design iterations and product strategy.

• Develop and refine functional, accessible, and visually appealing designs that align with the company's product vision and business objectives in the financial technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a fast-paced scale-up environment specializing in AI-driven financial controls, specifically for Accounts Payable teams. The mid-level designation suggests a need for demonstrated experience in shipping product work and confidence across the design lifecycle, with opportunities for increased ownership and leadership development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for assigned features and products, including user journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity visual designs within Figma.

• Conduct and contribute to user research initiatives, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather critical user insights and validate design decisions.

• Translate user needs, business requirements, and technical constraints into elegant, functional, and user-friendly design solutions.

• Collaborate effectively with Product Managers to understand product strategy, define user stories, and prioritize design tasks.

• Partner with Software Engineers to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and iterating based on technical feedback and feasibility.

• Apply and extend the existing design system, contributing to its growth and ensuring consistency in UI patterns, components, and visual language.

• Advocate for user experience best practices, including accessibility standards (WCAG), responsive design principles, and inclusive design methodologies.

• Participate in design critiques and reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers and incorporating feedback into your own work.

• Contribute to the documentation and maintenance of design standards and guidelines to support team efficiency and product consistency.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging design tools, and best practices to continuously improve design craft and methodology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a balance between individual design execution and collaborative efforts. Emphasis on owning design tasks from "discovery to delivery" and contributing to research suggests a proactive and hands-on approach is expected, typical for mid-level roles in growing tech companies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial. Equivalent practical experience and a strong portfolio are prioritized. Experience:

• 2-4 years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a similar role, with a demonstrable track record of shipping successful digital products.

• Proven experience working within cross-functional product teams, successfully navigating projects from initial ideation through to launch.

• Hands-on experience in conducting or actively participating in user research, usability testing, and feedback sessions. Required Skills:

• Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma.

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices.

• UX/UI Design Mastery: Strong capability in wireframing, user flow creation, prototyping (interactive and static), and high-fidelity visual design.

• Design Systems: Experience with or strong understanding of design system principles, component-based design, and their application for scalability and consistency.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of and ability to apply accessibility guidelines such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure inclusive design.

• Responsive & Mobile Design: Understanding of designing for various screen sizes and device types, ensuring a seamless experience across platforms.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, rationale, and trade-offs effectively to diverse audiences.

• Problem-Solving: A strong analytical and problem-solving mindset, with the ability to tackle complex design challenges and navigate ambiguity.

Preferred Skills:

• Front-End Awareness: Familiarity with front-end development concepts, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to better understand technical feasibility and collaborate with engineers.

• Financial Domain Knowledge: Curiosity and a basic understanding of finance, accounting principles, or experience working within the FinTech sector.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile or Scrum development frameworks.

• Visual Design & Branding: A keen eye for visual aesthetics, typography, color theory, and brand consistency.

• Interaction Design: Advanced skills in designing micro-interactions and complex interactive experiences.

• Data-Informed Design: Experience leveraging data analytics and user behavior metrics to inform design decisions.

• Startup/Scale-up Experience: Prior experience working in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments such as startups or scale-ups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-4 years" experience range is typical for mid-level roles, indicating a need for foundational skills and some independent project experience. The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and accessibility is standard for contemporary product design roles. The "big plus points" section provides excellent guidance on how to differentiate your application.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 significant product design projects that demonstrate a user-centered approach from problem definition to shipped solution.

• Projects should clearly articulate the design process, including user research, problem exploration, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final UI design.

• Evidence of problem-solving skills and how design decisions were made to address specific user needs or business goals.

• High-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that clearly illustrate the final user interface and user experience.

• Examples of working with or contributing to a design system, demonstrating an understanding of consistency and scalability. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the user research methodologies employed, including participant recruitment, interview techniques, and synthesis of findings.

• Showcase the iterative design process, highlighting how feedback from user testing and stakeholder reviews was incorporated.

• Include explanations of design rationale, detailing why specific design choices were made and how they aligned with project objectives.

• Demonstrate an understanding of technical constraints and how designs were translated for implementation by engineering teams.

• Clearly present the final outcomes, including metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the impact of the design solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a product design role, the portfolio is paramount. It should go beyond just showcasing aesthetics; it must tell a story of the design process, problem-solving, and impact. Highlighting specific contributions to design systems and accessibility is key for modern design roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Aligned with industry standards for mid-level product designers in London.

• Annual Leave: 27 days of annual leave, plus an additional 3 days during the Christmas period, with the option to roll over 3 days.

• Hybrid Working: Flexible hybrid model, requiring one day per week in the London office.

• Office Amenities: Access to a dog-friendly office environment and an on-site gym.

• Health Coverage: Comprehensive private medical and dental insurance through Vitality.

• Family Support: Enhanced parental leave pay, offering greater support for new parents.

• Professional Development: An annual personal budget of £500 dedicated to learning and development, encouraging continuous skill enhancement.

• Sustainability Commitment: Opportunity to work for a carbon-neutral company actively pursuing ambitious carbon reduction goals.

• Team Engagement: Numerous team social events and activities designed to foster camaraderie and team spirit.

• Annual Retreat: An annual team retreat, providing a unique opportunity for team bonding and strategic alignment.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, totaling 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level Product Designer in London. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects a modern, employee-focused company culture, with specific perks like the personal development budget and sustainability commitment being attractive differentiators.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on Financial Technology (FinTech) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for financial controls.

Company Size: Scale-up, with over 100 employees. This size indicates a dynamic environment with established processes but still retaining the agility and growth potential of a smaller organization.

Founded: Xelix was founded with a mission to automate and strengthen financial controls using AI, moving Accounts Payable teams from manual processes to intelligent, automated workflows. The company has experienced significant growth, evidenced by its Series B funding round in June 2025.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a broader Product department, reporting to a Head of Product or Design Lead.

• Designers collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other specialized roles within product development.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, with designers working alongside engineers for implementation and product managers for strategy and requirements.

• The company culture is described as fast-paced, with high expectations, emphasizing ownership, speed, and impact. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: Designs are expected to be grounded in user needs and data, with an emphasis on user research and usability testing.

• Agile Development: The fast-paced scale-up environment suggests an Agile or Lean development methodology, prioritizing iterative development and quick feedback loops.

• User-Centricity: A core tenet is ensuring solutions are functional, user-friendly, and impactful, driven by a deep understanding of user needs.

• Ownership & Impact: Employees are trusted to take ownership and make a meaningful impact, fostering a culture of accountability and proactive contribution.

Company Website: https://xelix.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Xelix operates in a high-growth FinTech space, leveraging AI to solve specific business problems. The company culture appears to value autonomy, speed, and measurable impact, which is common in successful scale-ups. The presence of over 100 employees suggests a degree of structure while retaining a collaborative and energetic atmosphere.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-level Product Designer. This role is positioned for individuals with a solid foundation in product design principles and practical experience in delivering user-centered solutions. It implies a need for independent work, contribution to team goals, and the capacity to grow into more senior responsibilities.

Reporting Structure: The role typically reports to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or Head of Product. Collaboration is expected with Product Managers and Engineering teams. This structure allows for mentorship from senior designers and exposure to product strategy discussions.

Operations Impact: As a Product Designer, your impact is directly tied to the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of Xelix's AI-powered financial control solutions. By creating intuitive interfaces and seamless user experiences, you will contribute to:

• Increased efficiency and automation for Accounts Payable teams.

• Reduced errors and improved financial control for Xelix's enterprise clients.

• Enhanced user satisfaction and retention, driving product adoption and revenue growth.

• Shaping the overall perception and market competitiveness of Xelix's platform. Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas such as interaction design, visual design, user research, or design systems.

• Leadership Development: With proven performance, there's potential to grow into Senior Product Designer roles, mentor junior designers, or lead design initiatives for specific product areas.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into product management, engineering processes, and business strategy within the FinTech sector.

• Learning Budget: The £500 annual budget for learning and development provides a tangible resource for acquiring new skills, attending workshops, or pursuing certifications relevant to product design and UX.

• Career Progression: A clear path exists to advance within the design team or potentially transition into related roles within product management or UX strategy, given the company's growth trajectory.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mid-level designation implies a growth trajectory. The company's scale-up status and recent funding suggest ample opportunities for individuals to expand their responsibilities and influence, taking on more complex projects and potentially leadership roles over time.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role offers a hybrid working model, requiring one day per week in Xelix's London office. The office is described as "dog-friendly," indicating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. An on-site gym is also available, promoting employee well-being.

Office Location(s): The office is located in Shoreditch, London (E2 8JF), a vibrant tech and creative hub known for its accessibility and collaborative environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office serves as a central point for in-person collaboration, team meetings, workshops, and building team cohesion. The hybrid model balances focused individual work with the benefits of in-person interaction.

• Modern Tools & Technology: As a tech company, expect access to modern design software, collaboration platforms, and the necessary hardware to perform design tasks effectively.

• Team Interaction: The mandated office day provides opportunities for spontaneous discussions, brainstorming sessions, and building stronger relationships with colleagues across product, engineering, and other departments.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. While hybrid, the expectation is that employees are available and productive during these core hours, with flexibility often inherent in tech company cultures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with one mandatory office day per week is a common arrangement in London tech companies, aiming to balance flexibility with in-person collaboration and culture building. Shoreditch is a prime location for tech talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Introductory Call: A brief virtual meeting with a Talent Partner to assess initial fit, discuss background, and learn about the role in more detail. Prepare to articulate your key skills and career aspirations.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth virtual discussion focusing on your experience, design philosophy, problem-solving approach, and how you align with the team's needs. Be ready to discuss specific projects from your portfolio.

3. Technical Task or Presentation: This stage will likely involve a design exercise (e.g., a small design challenge, a critique of an existing interface, or a case study presentation from your portfolio). The goal is to evaluate your design thinking, process, and execution.

4. Final On-site Interview: An in-person meeting at the London office with senior leadership, potentially including co-founders. This interview assesses cultural fit, strategic thinking, communication skills, and overall alignment with Xelix's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to narrate a clear problem, your process, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the final outcome/impact.

• Highlight Process Over Polish: While visual quality is important, demonstrate your thinking and problem-solving approach. Show early-stage ideas, iterations, and how you arrived at the final solution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, user satisfaction scores).

• Focus on User-Centricity: Explicitly explain how user research and feedback informed your design decisions.

• Tailor to Xelix: If possible, subtly reference how your skills and experience align with Xelix's FinTech focus or AI solutions. Demonstrate an understanding of their product space.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to walk through your portfolio and answer detailed questions about your design choices, challenges, and learnings.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design task, ensure you fully grasp the problem statement, target users, and business objectives. Ask clarifying questions.

• Structure Your Approach: Outline your plan before diving into execution. This shows structured thinking.

• Time Management: Be mindful of any time constraints provided for the task. Prioritize key elements.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your work clearly and concisely, articulating your rationale and key takeaways. Practice your delivery.

• Acknowledge Limitations: It's okay to highlight constraints or areas where you might need more information or time. This demonstrates realism.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process includes a mix of virtual and in-person stages, culminating in a meeting with senior leadership. The emphasis on a technical task or portfolio presentation is standard for design roles, requiring candidates to showcase practical skills and design thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Proficiency is essential for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to design systems is highly valued. Understanding component libraries, style guides, and pattern documentation is key.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma offers robust prototyping, familiarity with other tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) might be beneficial for broader context.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics): While not directly a design tool, understanding how to interpret user behavior data from these platforms is crucial for making data-informed design decisions.

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools used to track product performance and user engagement.

CRM & Automation:

• While Xelix's core product is FinTech, designers may interact with CRM systems (like Salesforce) or project management/collaboration tools (like Jira, Asana, Confluence) for workflow management and communication with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as the primary design tool. The mention of "design systems" indicates a mature approach to UI/UX. Awareness of analytics tools is increasingly important for product designers to advocate for user needs backed by data.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Impact: Employees are encouraged to take full responsibility for their work and strive to make a tangible difference, a core tenet of Xelix's high-growth culture.

• Speed & Agility: The fast-paced environment demands quick decision-making, adaptability, and the ability to move swiftly from concept to execution.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that products are not only functional but also intuitive and valuable.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: High expectations are met through effective collaboration across departments, fostering a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

• Continuous Growth: A culture that prioritizes personal and professional development, encouraging learning, skill enhancement, and career progression.

• Fun & Celebration: While expectations are high, Xelix also emphasizes keeping things enjoyable and celebrating milestones together, fostering a positive work atmosphere.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Managers to define product direction and with Engineers to ensure successful implementation, bridging the gap between user needs and technical execution.

• Open Communication: An environment that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and transparent sharing of ideas and challenges.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions and decisions are often informed by user research, analytics, and performance data, promoting evidence-based collaboration.

• Iterative Process: The team likely embraces an iterative design and development process, valuing feedback and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes dynamism, ownership, and user focus, typical of successful tech scale-ups. The "fun & celebration" aspect suggests a balanced approach to work-life integration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed with Quality: In a fast-paced scale-up, there's a constant challenge to deliver high-quality, user-centered designs quickly. This requires excellent prioritization and efficient workflows.

• Navigating Ambiguity: As with many growing companies, there may be evolving priorities or less defined processes. Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to proactively seek clarity are essential.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in from Product Management and Engineering on design decisions can be challenging, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Domain Complexity: Understanding the nuances of financial controls and Accounts Payable processes to design effective solutions requires a willingness to learn and adapt to a specialized domain.

• Scaling Design Systems: Contributing to and maintaining a design system that scales with the product and company growth presents ongoing challenges in governance and evolution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen UX/UI Expertise: Gain hands-on experience with complex user flows, advanced interaction design, and sophisticated visual design within the FinTech domain.

• User Research Mastery: Develop advanced skills in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research, becoming a champion for user insights within the product team.

• Design System Contribution: Play a key role in evolving and expanding the company's design system, potentially leading initiatives for new component development or pattern standardization.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Grow to influence product strategy by leveraging design thinking and user insights to identify new opportunities and solutions.

• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance from senior colleagues and potentially mentor junior designers as you progress. The £500 annual budget can be used for courses, books, or conferences related to these areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges outlined are common in scale-up environments and present significant opportunities for professional growth for proactive individuals. The company's investment in employee development is a clear advantage.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with business constraints. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, trade-offs, and how you communicated decisions.)

• "Walk us through a complex design challenge you faced in a previous role. What was your process for solving it, and what did you learn?" (Highlight problem-solving, iteration, and learning.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive? Can you provide an example of how you've applied accessibility standards?" (Demonstrate your knowledge of WCAG and practical application.)

• "Describe your experience with design systems. What makes a design system effective, and how have you contributed to one?" (Showcase your understanding of consistency and scalability.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Xelix and our mission to automate financial controls?" (Research Xelix's website, blog, and recent news. Connect your passion for design with their business goals.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers?" (Emphasize your communication style, feedback integration, and understanding of cross-functional dynamics.)

• "Describe your ideal work environment. How do you thrive in a fast-paced scale-up?" (Align your response with Xelix's culture of speed, ownership, and impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your specific contributions, the solution, and the impact (quantified if possible).

• Focus on Thinking: Explain why you made certain design decisions, not just what you designed. Discuss research, user interviews, testing, and iterations.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency in Figma, including its advanced features for prototyping and collaboration.

• Showcase Design System Work: If you have examples of contributing to or utilizing a design system, be ready to explain your approach to consistency and component usage.

• Be Prepared for Design Challenges: If a separate design task is given, outline your approach clearly, prioritize effectively, and be ready to present your solution and rationale under time pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong design process, user empathy, collaboration skills, and an understanding of Xelix's domain and culture. The portfolio is central to showcasing these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Xelix careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcasing 2-3 of your strongest product design projects that highlight user-centered problem-solving, your design process, and tangible outcomes. Tailor the descriptions to emphasize skills relevant to Xelix, such as complex workflows and user experience for enterprise software.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 2-4 years of experience, highlighting specific achievements in areas like Figma proficiency, design system contributions, user research, and successful product launches. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and project outcomes. Prepare to discuss your experience with collaboration, handling ambiguity, and working in fast-paced environments. Review common product design interview questions and formulate thoughtful answers.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Xelix, its mission, its product, and its company culture. Understand their focus on AI and financial controls. This will help you tailor your interview responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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