Principal Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Product Designer

Company: Xapien

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: 8+ Years (Senior/Principal)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with emphasis on collaborative office presence)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design strategy for Xapien's AI-driven due diligence platform, focusing on creating intuitive and trustworthy user experiences.

• Drive the evolution and scaling of the company's design system to ensure consistency and efficiency across a rapidly growing product.

• Champion user-centric design principles and advocate for UX best practices across Product, Engineering, and Marketing teams.

• Design for the unique challenges of AI products, emphasizing explainability, evidence, provenance, and human-in-the-loop control.

• Act as the senior individual contributor, setting the bar for design craft, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to a positive, inclusive team culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the most senior individual-contributor design role, indicating significant autonomy and influence over the product's design direction. The emphasis on AI design, trust, explainability, and functional prototyping suggests a highly technical and strategic product design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and drive the product design strategy, ensuring alignment with company objectives and a cohesive, visually compelling user experience.

• Define and implement design patterns that make AI-generated findings transparent, evidenced, and explainable to build user trust and confidence.

• Evolve and scale the existing design system to support future product vision, integrating deep craft with strategic insight for team velocity.

• Lead the complete design process from discovery and research through to execution and delivery, identifying high-value opportunities.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to champion a user-centered vision and drive cross-functional initiatives.

• Elevate the overall quality of user experiences across all product journeys, proactively identifying and advocating for impactful design improvements.

• Set high standards for design craft, accessibility (WCAG), and user experience, mentoring other designers and fostering design maturity.

• Contribute to and maintain a positive, inclusive, and productive team culture that enables high performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and mentorship. The emphasis on "designing for trust in AI" and "evolving and scaling our design system" points to a need for sophisticated design thinking and system-level expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is paramount.

Experience: 8+ years in product/UX/UI design, with a demonstrated track record of shipping high-quality, impactful work, particularly in complex or AI-driven product environments.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio showcasing impactful, high-quality, shipped product/UX/UI design work.

• Proven success in driving complex projects from concept to execution in ambiguous or rapidly changing environments.

• Demonstrated ability to design AI-powered or data-dense products with a clear point of view on trustworthiness and usability.

• Expertise in building and scaling robust design systems for consistency and team efficiency.

• Ability to operate at both strategic (setting direction) and execution (hands-on design) levels.

• Strong experience managing multiple high-stakes projects and close partnership with Engineering.

• In-depth familiarity with agile ways of working and modern, lean design processes.

• Advanced proficiency in modern design and prototyping toolchains: Figma and FigJam for design and systems; Claude Code and other AI coding agents for functional prototypes; comfort with version control (Git/GitHub); and product analytics tools.

• High bar for craft and accessibility, designing to WCAG standards as a baseline.

• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to translate complex user insights and commercial drivers into innovative design solutions.

• Strong user research skills, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to inform strategy and design. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in startup or high-growth settings, or design agencies, bringing diverse industry perspectives.

• Experience designing human-AI collaboration and agentic workflows.

• Experience leading or overseeing user research initiatives to foundational design direction.

• Familiarity with frameworks such as Jobs-To-Be-Done.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on functional, code-based prototypes using AI coding agents and direct work alongside Engineering is a significant differentiator. This suggests a candidate who is not only a skilled designer but also comfortable with the technical underpinnings of AI and capable of rapid validation in code.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 8 years of impactful product design work, with a strong emphasis on AI-powered or data-dense applications.

• Case studies detailing the end-to-end design process, from problem definition and user research to solution design, prototyping, and shipped product impact.

• Evidence of designing for complex systems, including examples of scaling design systems and ensuring consistency across product areas.

• Demonstrations of how you've designed for trust, explainability, and human-in-the-loop control within AI-driven products.

• Examples of functional, code-based prototypes created using tools like Claude Code, showcasing technical proficiency and validation of UX hypotheses. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulated design process that includes research synthesis, strategic planning, lean discovery, and collaborative delivery.

• Documentation of how design systems are built, maintained, and scaled to support product growth and team efficiency.

• Examples of how user research insights are translated into actionable design strategies and product improvements.

• Evidence of collaboration with Product and Engineering, detailing how design decisions are integrated into agile workflows and product roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific, emphasizing not just visual design but also strategic thinking, AI-specific UX challenges, and technical prototyping capabilities. Candidates should prepare to showcase their process for building trust in AI and their ability to contribute to the codebase for prototyping.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Principal level, 8+ years of experience, and the London location for a high-growth AI tech company, a competitive salary range would typically be in the region of £90,000 - £130,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the seniority of the role, the specialized skills in AI design, and the cost of living in London, aligning with industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in the UK tech sector.

Benefits:

• Employee Shares & Equity Programme: Significant opportunity to benefit from the company's growth.

• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for medical needs.

• Life Insurance: Financial security for dependents.

• Unlimited Holidays: Flexible approach to time off, encouraging work-life balance and personal well-being.

• Professional Development Fund: An annual allowance of £1,000 for learning new skills, enhancing professional capabilities, and personal growth.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated as fixed, the role implies a standard full-time commitment, likely around 40 hours per week. The "unlimited holidays" benefit suggests a focus on output and results rather than strict hours, allowing for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry data for Principal Product Designers in London, considering the company's growth stage, funding, and the specialized nature of AI product design. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on long-term incentives and employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI-driven Due Diligence & Risk Intelligence. Xapien operates in a rapidly evolving RegTech/FinTech space, leveraging cutting-edge AI to automate and enhance complex research processes for businesses. This industry demands accuracy, speed, and trustworthiness.

Company Size: High-growth startup, having recently closed a $10M Series A. This implies a dynamic environment where roles are often broad, and individuals have significant impact. The company is scaling rapidly, indicating a need for adaptable and proactive team members.

Founded: 2018. This suggests a company with established product-market fit and a clear trajectory, moving beyond early-stage risks into a significant growth phase.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small but influential, with this Principal role being the most senior individual contributor.

• Close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering leadership is a core expectation, forming a tight-knit product development unit.

• Cross-functional interaction with Marketing will be crucial for positioning and communicating the product's value proposition. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging user research, product analytics, and AI model performance to inform design.

• Agile development processes, emphasizing lean discovery, iterative design, and rapid prototyping.

• A strong focus on building trust and explainability into AI systems, a key differentiator for Xapien.

Company Website: https://xapien.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and due diligence means that precision, reliability, and ethical considerations are paramount. The culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and user trust.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role, signifying mastery in product design, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex initiatives independently. It's a path for deep expertise rather than people management, though mentoring is expected.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to Product or Design leadership (details not specified, but the seniority implies direct access to executive stakeholders). The "trusted partner to Product and Engineering leadership" indicates a peer relationship with these functions.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on the core product's usability, trustworthiness, and adoption. By shaping how users interact with advanced AI, the Principal Designer influences customer retention, market perception, and Xapien's ability to meet evolving regulatory demands.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: While not a formal management role, the Principal Designer will influence design strategy, mentor junior designers, and shape the overall design culture, providing leadership development.

• AI Design Specialization: Deepening expertise in designing complex AI systems, human-AI collaboration, and explainable AI, becoming a recognized authority in this niche.

• Strategic Influence: Contributing to high-level product strategy and executive decision-making, gaining exposure to broader business challenges and opportunities.

• Product Evolution: Playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of Xapien's product suite as the company scales and enters new markets.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer to specialize deeply in AI UX and to make a substantial strategic impact within a fast-growing, innovative company. The "Principal" title suggests a clear career progression path for top performers within the individual contributor track.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with an office located in Moorgate, London. This suggests a need for in-person collaboration, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions, balanced with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): London, United Kingdom. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and a central hub for team interaction.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative environment where designers work closely with Product and Engineering teams, likely in agile pods or squads.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma, FigJam, and potentially AI coding assistants integrated into the workflow.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with stakeholders across the company to understand business needs and user challenges.

• A focus on innovation and pushing boundaries, particularly in the realm of AI user experience.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours are expected, but the emphasis on output and the unlimited holiday policy suggest a degree of flexibility. The hybrid nature means balancing structured office days with remote work days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model necessitates strong communication skills and the ability to be productive both independently and collaboratively. The London office likely serves as a central point for strategic meetings, team building, and intensive design sprints.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio by the hiring team to assess experience and alignment with role requirements, particularly AI design and system scaling.

• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: A session where the candidate presents key case studies from their portfolio, focusing on strategic challenges, design process, AI-specific considerations, and impact. This will likely involve discussing their approach to building trust in AI and their experience with code-based prototyping.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Conversations with Product Management and Engineering leaders to assess collaboration style, strategic thinking, technical understanding, and cultural fit. Expect discussions on how to partner effectively and drive shared product vision.

• Design Leadership/Executive Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall alignment with Xapien's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on AI & Trust: Highlight specific examples of designing for AI explainability, provenance, and calibrated confidence. Detail how you translated complex AI outputs into understandable and actionable insights for users.

• Showcase System Thinking: Present how you've built or scaled design systems, demonstrating efficiency gains and consistency improvements.

• Demonstrate Technical Prototyping: Include examples of functional prototypes, ideally code-based, using tools like Claude Code. Explain the rationale behind using code for validation and how it accelerated the design process.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design solutions on user behavior, business goals, or product performance.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your process, your unique contributions, the challenges faced, and the ultimate outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design exercise that might involve a hypothetical AI product challenge or a critique of an existing product's UX.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly and concisely, especially when explaining complex AI UX concepts.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach building trust in a new AI feature or improving the explainability of existing AI outputs.

• Anticipate questions about your collaboration with engineering and how you integrate user research into your design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess strategic thinking, specialized AI design skills, technical prototyping capabilities, and collaborative potential. A strong portfolio that demonstrably addresses AI trust and code-based prototyping will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Collaboration: Figma, FigJam (for UI design, design systems, whiteboarding, and collaboration).

• Prototyping: Claude Code, other AI coding agents (for building functional, code-based prototypes). This is a key differentiator for this role.

• Version Control: Git/GitHub (for managing code-based prototypes and collaborating with engineering).

• Product Analytics: Tools for tracking user behavior and product performance (specific tools not listed, but essential for data-driven design).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Platforms for analyzing user engagement, conversion funnels, and feature adoption to inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how the product integrates with CRM and automation platforms may be relevant for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Claude Code and AI coding agents as tools for functional prototyping is a strong indicator of Xapien's advanced approach to design validation and its emphasis on a technically proficient design team that can bridge the gap with engineering.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Trust & Transparency: Central to Xapien's mission, this translates to designing systems that users can rely on and understand.

• Innovation & AI Excellence: A drive to push the boundaries of AI technology and its application in solving real-world business problems.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to deeply understanding user needs and translating them into intuitive, effective solutions.

• Efficiency & Precision: Reflecting the demands of due diligence and risk intelligence, there's an emphasis on delivering accurate insights quickly and reliably.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Encouraging teamwork, shared responsibility, and individual initiative to drive collective success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers to co-create solutions.

• Open Feedback Loop: A culture that values constructive feedback to continuously improve design quality and team processes.

• Data-Informed Design: Decisions are grounded in user research, analytics, and AI performance data, fostering a rational and objective approach.

• Proactive Communication: Ensuring alignment across teams and stakeholders through clear, consistent communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are deeply intertwined with its product and industry. A candidate who embodies these values, particularly around trust in AI and user-centric innovation, will be a strong cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI Complexity: Effectively communicating AI outputs, handling uncertainty, and ensuring user trust in automated decisions.

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Execution: Driving high-level design strategy while also performing hands-on design and prototyping.

• Scaling Design Systems: Evolving a design system to keep pace with rapid product development and feature expansion.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across Product, Engineering, and Marketing in a fast-paced environment.

• User Research in a Technical Domain: Conducting research that yields actionable insights for complex AI-driven workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep AI UX Specialization: Becoming a leading expert in designing for AI, particularly in regulated industries.

• Strategic Product Leadership: Gaining influence on product strategy and executive decision-making.

• Mentorship & Design Maturity: Developing leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth of the design function.

• Exposure to Advanced Technologies: Working with cutting-edge AI models and tools, including AI coding agents for prototyping.

• High-Growth Environment Experience: Gaining invaluable experience in a rapidly scaling tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but are framed as opportunities for growth and skill development, aligning with Xapien's commitment to employee development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed for trust in an AI or complex automated system. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?" (Focus on explainability, evidence, calibration).

• "How would you approach designing the user experience for a new AI feature that generates high-stakes recommendations? What metrics would you track?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking, risk assessment, and data-driven validation).

• "Walk us through your process for scaling a design system. What are the key considerations for ensuring it remains effective as a product grows rapidly?" (Highlight system-thinking and efficiency gains).

• "Imagine you need to design a human-in-the-loop workflow for an AI system. What elements would be crucial for effective collaboration between the user and the AI?" (Showcase understanding of AI interaction patterns). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Xapien? What about our mission and the challenges of AI due diligence resonates with you?" (Research Xapien's market position and AI applications).

• "How do you see your role as the most senior individual contributor influencing the design team and the broader product organization?" (Articulate leadership through influence and mentorship).

• "Describe your experience working closely with Engineering teams. How do you ensure a strong partnership and resolve design-engineering conflicts?" (Emphasize collaboration and shared goals). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: Problem -> Research -> Solution (with rationale) -> Execution (including prototyping) -> Impact (quantified).

• Highlight AI & Trust: Dedicate specific slides or sections to how you addressed the unique UX challenges of AI and built user trust.

• Showcase Code-Based Prototypes: Be ready to discuss your experience with Claude Code or similar tools, explaining the benefits and process.

• Articulate Strategic Contributions: Explain how your design decisions aligned with business goals and influenced product strategy.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your specific design choices, trade-offs made, and the rationale behind them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating expertise in AI UX, the ability to build trust in complex systems, and proficiency with modern, code-centric prototyping tools.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby HQ, ensuring your CV and portfolio are attached.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your most impactful projects that best showcase your experience in AI/data-dense product design, design systems, and strategic thinking. Prioritize case studies that demonstrate your approach to building trust in AI and your ability to create functional prototypes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and experiences mentioned in the job description, such as "AI design," "design systems," "functional prototyping," "stakeholder management," and "Agile methodology." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on the narrative flow, your specific contributions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your code-based prototyping experience and your approach to AI trust.

• Research Xapien: Thoroughly understand Xapien's product, its market position in AI due diligence, its recent funding rounds, and its company values. This will be crucial for answering company-specific questions and demonstrating genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

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