Oolka - Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Oolka

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Leadership / Product Design

Date Posted: May 27, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (7-12 years, with AI/Fintech specific experience being a plus)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end product design process for India's first AI agent for consumer finance, shaping the user experience and design culture.

• Define and maintain high standards for design quality, establishing scalable design foundations, systems, and processes for AI-native financial products.

• Act as a hands-on design leader, balancing approximately 60% product design execution with 40% team leadership and mentorship for a growing design team.

• Collaborate closely with founders, product leaders, and engineers to influence product strategy and drive the execution of innovative AI-powered financial solutions for millions of users.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the first design leadership hire, indicating a significant opportunity to build and shape the design function from the ground up. The emphasis on "AI-first financial products" and "AI-native consumer experiences" suggests a need for designers who can think beyond traditional interfaces and embrace the unique challenges and opportunities of designing with AI. The hybrid 60/40 design/leadership split is crucial for candidates to understand.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle, from initial discovery and user research through to final execution and iteration.

• Develop and articulate a compelling product vision and user experience strategy for Oolka's core offerings and future product expansions.

• Conduct in-depth user research, translating complex user needs and behaviors into actionable product opportunities and design solutions.

• Serve as a key strategic partner to Product Management and Engineering teams, actively influencing product direction and roadmap decisions.

• Design intuitive, trustworthy, and clear AI-powered user experiences that cater to first-time credit users in India.

• Establish and champion a high bar for design quality and craft across all product touchpoints and company-wide.

• Build and implement scalable design foundations, including design systems, style guides, and robust design processes.

• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level designers, fostering their growth and career progression within the organization.

• Actively participate in the hiring process for new design talent and contribute to building a positive and effective design culture.

• Drive the design thinking and problem-solving approach for complex challenges related to trust, financial literacy, and user decision-making in the fintech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on both strategic vision setting and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "AI-powered experiences," "trust and clarity," and "financial literacy" points to specific design challenges within the fintech domain that candidates should be prepared to address. The requirement to "build scalable design foundations" suggests an immediate need for establishing design systems and processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical knowledge and experience in product design, human-computer interaction, or a related field is essential.

Experience: 7-12 years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant track record of building and shipping consumer-facing products at scale.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated product design leadership and hands-on execution capabilities.

• Proven experience in designing and shipping complex consumer products.

• Strong B2C product intuition and a deep understanding of user behavior analysis.

• Excellent product thinking, critical problem-solving, and robust systems thinking skills.

• Exceptional visual design craft, with meticulous attention to detail and a high standard for quality.

• Proficiency in conducting user research methodologies and translating insights into design decisions.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product, Engineering, and senior leadership.

• Demonstrated curiosity and excitement for designing AI-native consumer experiences.

• Comfort and proven success operating in fast-moving, high-autonomy startup environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience in the Fintech or financial services industry.

• Experience in building, scaling, or contributing significantly to design systems.

• Previous experience working in high-growth startup environments.

• Familiarity with AI product development lifecycles and specific design considerations for AI interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "7-12 years" experience range combined with the "Head of Design" title suggests this role is for an individual ready to step into a leadership position with significant ownership. The "60% product design / 40% team leadership" split is critical, meaning candidates must be comfortable with both hands-on craft and strategic people management. The "AI-native" aspect is a key differentiator, requiring more than just applying AI features to existing designs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies that demonstrate your ability to solve complex user problems, from initial research and ideation through to polished execution and measurable impact.

• Highlight projects where you've defined product strategy and influenced product direction, particularly for consumer-facing applications.

• Include examples of designing intuitive and engaging user interfaces for complex systems, ideally with a focus on trust and clarity.

• Demonstrate experience in establishing design foundations, such as design systems, style guides, or process frameworks, and explain their impact.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, including methodologies used, how insights were gathered, and how they informed design decisions and product opportunities.

• Illustrate your process for collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers, showcasing how you've partnered to define product direction and ensure successful execution.

• Present your methods for establishing and maintaining design quality, including any quality assurance processes or design critiques you've implemented.

• Explain your experience in building and scaling design systems, including how you manage design components, ensure consistency, and facilitate team adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design role, the portfolio should emphasize not just individual craft but the ability to influence product strategy, build design systems, and lead design initiatives. Case studies should clearly articulate the problem, the candidate's role, the design process, the solution, and the measurable impact, especially in a B2C context. Demonstrating an understanding of AI-specific design challenges will be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the seniority of the role (Head of Design, 7-12 years experience) and its location in Bengaluru, India, a competitive salary range is estimated between ₹25,00,000 - ₹45,00,000 per annum. This range accounts for the significant leadership responsibilities, hands-on design craft, and the early-stage startup environment. The higher end of the range would be for candidates with exceptional experience in AI-native design, fintech, and scaling design teams.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: A strong base salary commensurate with experience and market standards.

• Meaningful Equity: Significant stock options or equity grants, reflecting the early-stage nature of the company and the critical role of design leadership.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, attending industry conferences, and skill enhancement.

• Impactful Work: The chance to shape a product that aims to significantly improve financial literacy and access for millions in India.

• Collaborative Environment: Work directly with experienced founders and operators from reputable tech companies.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected in a startup environment, especially during critical product development phases. The role is on-site in Bengaluru.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major Indian tech hubs like Bengaluru, considering the specific requirements for AI and fintech experience. The inclusion of "Meaningful Equity" is a strong indicator of an early-stage startup offering, crucial for attracting senior talent. The estimated range can vary significantly based on the candidate's specific profile and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Finance Technology (Fintech) with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence. Oolka is pioneering AI agents to help Indian consumers manage their credit health.

Company Size: Early-stage startup, likely with a small to medium-sized team (estimated <50 employees based on typical early-stage hiring for a leadership role). This implies a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Oolka is an emerging company, likely founded within the last 1-3 years, aiming to disrupt the Indian consumer finance landscape with AI.

Team Structure:

• As the first design leader, you will likely report directly to one of the founders (e.g., CEO or CTO).

• The immediate team will consist of other founders, product managers, and engineers.

• You will be responsible for building and mentoring the design team, starting with yourself and potentially hiring additional designers as the company grows.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: Emphasis on user research, analytics, and iterative design to inform product decisions.

• AI-First Approach: Designing solutions that leverage AI capabilities at their core, rather than retrofitting AI onto existing products.

• Lean Startup Principles: Agility, rapid iteration, and a focus on delivering value quickly to users.

• Customer-Centricity: Deep understanding and focus on the needs of first-time credit users in India.

Company Website: beinguser.com (Note: The URL provided in the input was beinguser.recruitee.com, which is the careers portal. The company website is likely beinguser.com or similar, but this needs verification.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI agents for consumer finance in India is a significant differentiator. The culture is likely to be intensely focused on innovation, speed, and impact, typical of early-stage startups backed by experienced founders. The "AI-first" mandate is central to their product strategy and will heavily influence design challenges.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a critical senior leadership role, marking the establishment of the Design function within Oolka. It's a "player-coach" position, requiring a blend of hands-on design expertise and strategic leadership. The scope includes defining the entire design vision, process, and team for the company.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report directly to a founder (CEO or CTO), indicating high visibility and direct access to executive decision-making. This close proximity to leadership provides a unique opportunity for influence.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design will have a profound impact on Oolka's success by directly shaping the user experience of its AI-first financial products. This impact extends to:

• User Adoption & Retention: Ensuring the product is intuitive, trustworthy, and effective for its target audience.

• Brand Perception: Establishing a strong visual identity and user experience that builds confidence.

• Product Strategy: Influencing the roadmap and feature development based on user insights and design thinking.

• Team Building: Cultivating a high-performing design team that drives innovation.

• Business Growth: Directly contributing to the company's mission of helping millions of Indians manage their credit health.

Growth Opportunities:

• Foundational Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale a design department from its inception, creating a lasting impact on the company's culture and product.

• Strategic Influence: Direct involvement in shaping the company's overall product strategy and business direction.

• AI & Fintech Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for AI-native experiences and the complex fintech domain, becoming a sought-after specialist.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Develop strong leadership and people management skills by growing and guiding a design team.

• Entrepreneurial Experience: Gain invaluable experience in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a rare opportunity to be the genesis of a design function. The growth path is less about climbing a ladder within a large organization and more about shaping the trajectory of design within a nascent, high-potential startup, potentially leading to VP-level roles as the company scales.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in Bengaluru. This implies a collaborative office setting designed to foster innovation and teamwork. Early-stage startups often have open-plan layouts with dedicated collaboration spaces.

Office Location(s): Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. This location places Oolka within a vibrant tech ecosystem, offering access to talent and industry events.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Focus: Expect a dynamic workspace that encourages interaction between design, product, and engineering teams. Regular brainstorming sessions and cross-functional meetings will be common.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard design software and hardware, with the potential for input on selecting new tools to support the design workflow. The company's AI focus may also drive investment in specific AI-powered design or research tools.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with founders, product leaders, and engineers, facilitating rapid feedback loops and shared problem-solving.

Work Schedule: While the standard work week is ~40 hours, the startup environment often necessitates flexibility, especially during critical product launches or deadlines. The on-site nature means consistent in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is key. Candidates must be willing and able to work from the Bengaluru office regularly. The environment will likely be fast-paced, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to collaboration and problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

The outlined interview process is structured to assess a candidate's holistic fit for the Head of Design role:

1. Round 1 - Founder Conversation:

• Focus: Initial screening for cultural fit, motivation, and alignment with Oolka's mission and values. Expect questions about your career journey, leadership philosophy, and why you're interested in an AI-first fintech startup.
• Preparation: Be ready to articulate your passion for Oolka's mission, your leadership style, and your understanding of the unique challenges in designing for Indian consumers and AI.

1. Round 2 - Take-home Design Assignment:

• Focus: Evaluates your core design skills, product thinking, and ability to approach a real problem. It assesses curiosity, intent, and problem-solving methodology rather than extensive effort.
• Preparation: Thoroughly analyze the Oolka app, identify key user journeys and potential pain points (especially related to AI and credit health), articulate a clear point of view, and present a well-reasoned design approach. Focus on the why and how behind your design decisions.

1. Round 3 - Product Leadership Discussion:

• Focus: Deeper dive into your product thinking, strategic capabilities, and experience in leading design initiatives. Expect discussions on complex problem-solving and influencing product direction.
• Preparation: Prepare detailed examples of how you've influenced product strategy, led design teams through complex challenges, and collaborated with product and engineering leadership. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.

1. Round 4 - Design Advisor Discussion:

• Focus: Assessment of your design philosophy, aesthetic sensibilities (craft), and vision for design within an AI-first fintech context.
• Preparation: Clearly articulate your design principles, your standards for visual design and UX craft, and your vision for how design can build trust and drive adoption in the fintech space, particularly with AI integration.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Leadership: Include 1-2 comprehensive case studies that highlight your leadership responsibilities, strategic contributions, and team-building efforts, not just individual design execution.

• AI & Fintech Relevance: If possible, include projects that touch upon AI, complex data, or financial services, even if not directly. Highlight transferable skills in simplifying complex information and building trust.

• Problem Framing: Clearly articulate the business and user problem you were solving. Demonstrate how you framed the challenge before diving into solutions.

• Process & Rationale: Detail your design process, user research insights, and the rationale behind key design decisions. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible. Use metrics related to user adoption, engagement, task completion, satisfaction, or business outcomes.

• Visual Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to navigate, reflecting your high standards for craft.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Assignment: Treat the take-home assignment as a genuine opportunity to showcase your thinking. Focus on a well-defined problem, a clear point of view, and a logical, well-reasoned solution. Present your thought process transparently.

• Product Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach defining product strategy, prioritizing features, and driving innovation in a fast-paced startup.

• AI & Trust: Consider how you would approach designing for AI to build trust with users who may be new to credit and AI-powered financial tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The take-home assignment is a significant part of the process. Candidates should allocate sufficient time and effort to demonstrate their capabilities effectively. The interview rounds are designed to progressively assess strategic thinking, leadership, and design craft, culminating in a discussion with a design advisor, highlighting the importance of design vision.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable as industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• User Research: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar platforms for remote usability testing and feedback collection. Tools for qualitative interviews and surveys.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Trello, Notion, or similar tools for task tracking and workflow management.

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics, or similar tools for tracking user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion funnels.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboarding tools for reporting on key design metrics and user insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While less directly used by designers, an understanding of CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and how user data flows through them can be beneficial for context.

• Familiarity with tools that support A/B testing and experimentation (e.g., Optimizely, VWO) would be advantageous for iterating on designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is a given. The emphasis on AI and data suggests that experience with product analytics platforms and an understanding of how design impacts data-driven decision-making will be highly valued. The Head of Design role may involve influencing the selection of new tools for the design team.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and solving the real problems of Indian consumers, especially those navigating credit for the first time.

• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore new technologies (AI) and approaches to create novel financial solutions.

• Bias for Action: A fast-paced, execution-oriented mindset common in startups, encouraging quick decision-making and iteration.

• Ownership & Accountability: Each team member is expected to take full responsibility for their work and its impact on the company's goals.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing user data and research to guide product development and design choices.

• Excellence in Craft: A commitment to high-quality execution in all aspects of product development, especially design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Design will work hand-in-hand with Product and Engineering, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas are shared freely and decisions are made collectively.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of direct and honest feedback, both within the design team and across departments.

• Agile & Iterative: A willingness to adapt plans and designs based on new learnings, user feedback, and market dynamics.

• Mentorship & Support: An environment where experienced team members (like founders and the Head of Design) actively support and develop others.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are likely to be deeply intertwined with its mission of financial inclusion through AI. The collaborative style will be critical for a small, fast-moving startup where efficient communication and shared ownership are paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing a design function, processes, and culture from the ground up in a new company.

• AI Design Complexity: Designing intuitive and trustworthy AI-native experiences for a user base that may be new to both AI and complex financial products.

• Balancing Craft and Leadership: Effectively managing the 60/40 split between hands-on design work and team leadership/mentorship responsibilities.

• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous nature of a startup experiencing rapid growth.

• Fintech Regulations & Trust: Navigating the complexities of financial regulations and building user trust in a sensitive domain.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Design Leadership: Develop unparalleled experience in building and scaling a design team, shaping its structure, processes, and culture.

• AI Product Specialization: Gain deep expertise in designing for AI, understanding its capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations in a consumer product context.

• Fintech Domain Expertise: Become an expert in the nuances of the Indian consumer finance market, credit products, and user financial behaviors.

• Strategic Product Influence: Contribute directly to the strategic direction of a high-potential startup, influencing business outcomes through design.

• Executive Communication: Hone skills in presenting design strategies and insights to founders and investors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the "greenfield" nature of the role – building design infrastructure and culture. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to shape a company’s trajectory and become a leader in a cutting-edge intersection of AI, Fintech, and consumer finance.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you approach establishing a design vision and strategy for an AI-first fintech product targeting first-time credit users in India?

• Describe your process for balancing hands-on design execution with team leadership responsibilities. How do you prioritize your time?

• How would you build trust and ensure clarity in AI-powered financial experiences, especially for users unfamiliar with these technologies?

• What are your key principles for establishing and scaling a design system in an early-stage startup?

Company & Culture Questions:

• What excites you most about Oolka's mission and its approach to consumer finance?

• How do you foster a strong design culture within a growing team and across a startup organization?

• Describe a time you had to adapt your design approach to suit a rapidly changing startup environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Focus on Leadership: For this role, emphasize how you led initiatives, influenced strategy, and mentored others, in addition to your individual design contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. Explain how your design decisions led to positive outcomes.

• AI & Fintech Context: If you have relevant experience, explicitly connect your past work to the challenges and opportunities of AI and fintech. If not, draw parallels to simplifying complex information and building trust.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present key aspects of your portfolio efficiently, highlighting the most relevant projects and learnings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their leadership philosophy, their approach to AI design challenges, and how they would build a design function from scratch. The take-home assignment and its presentation will be critical for demonstrating problem-solving skills and design thinking.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the BeingUser careers portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your experience in consumer product design, leadership, scaling design teams, and any relevant experience with AI, fintech, or complex systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, leadership capabilities, strategic influence, and ability to drive impact, particularly for consumer-facing products. Ensure it clearly outlines your role and contributions.

• Prepare for the Take-Home Assignment: Dedicate time to thoroughly understand Oolka's product and market. Focus on demonstrating your product thinking, problem-solving approach, and design rationale.

• Research Oolka: Understand their mission, product, target audience, and the competitive landscape. Be prepared to articulate why you are a good fit for their specific challenges and culture.

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