Product Design Director, FinTech

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Design Director, FinTech

Company: Engine

Location: Remote - USA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design Leadership (FinTech)

Date Posted: 2026-05-26T21:40:34

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (USA)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and execution of product design for Engine's FinTech offerings, including spend management, direct billing, insights, credit cards, and rewards platforms.

• Mentor and manage a high-performing team of 4-6 product designers, fostering a culture of design excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

• Drive the full product lifecycle from ideation and strategy to execution, ensuring seamless, high-trust, and user-centric financial experiences.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data teams (the "Big 4") to shape roadmaps, define product vision, and deliver impactful features.

• Leverage AI-powered tooling and emerging technologies to enhance design speed, quality, and innovation within the FinTech product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within the product design function, specifically focused on the FinTech arm of Engine. The "Big 4" team structure suggests a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment where design leadership plays a pivotal role in defining product strategy and execution. The emphasis on AI-powered tooling indicates a forward-thinking design team that embraces cutting-edge technology.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and drive the design vision and strategy for Engine's FinTech product suite, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.

• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of product designers, providing guidance on craft, career development, and performance management.

• Maintain a hands-on approach to design craft, contributing directly to key initiatives and setting a high bar for visual, interaction, and UX quality.

• Translate complex financial concepts and user needs into intuitive, clear, and trustworthy user experiences that deliver significant value.

• Champion design thinking and best practices across the organization, influencing product strategy and roadmap decisions through compelling storytelling and strategic insights.

• Collaborate effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, and Executive leadership to ensure successful product development and launch.

• Evaluate and integrate emerging AI-powered design tools and technologies to optimize the design process and enhance product innovation.

• Oversee the development and maintenance of design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the FinTech product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, people management, and hands-on design execution, indicative of a Director-level role in a growing tech company. The focus on the "Big 4" team structure emphasizes the integral role of design leadership in cross-functional product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is typically expected for leadership roles of this caliber.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant portion in leadership roles, specifically within FinTech or complex financial services environments. Demonstrated experience managing and mentoring design teams is essential.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of the full product lifecycle, from strategic product visioning and discovery to detailed execution and launch.

• Exceptional design craft across visual, interaction, and UX design, with a keen eye for clarity, utility, and delight.

• Proven experience in people leadership, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and elevating team design standards.

• Strong ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and Executives.

• Fluency in industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, and experience with design systems.

• Excellent storytelling and communication skills, capable of articulating the strategic "why" behind design decisions.

• Deep understanding of FinTech products, including spend management, direct billing, credit cards, and rewards programs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with emerging design tools and technologies (e.g., Pencil).

• Background in corporate travel or related SaaS platforms.

• Experience with data-driven design decision-making and A/B testing.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a senior-level individual with a strong blend of strategic thinking, leadership acumen, and hands-on design expertise, particularly within the FinTech domain and with modern design tooling.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate mastery of the full product lifecycle through case studies showcasing strategic contributions, from shaping product strategy to driving execution and delivery.

• Showcase examples of leading and mentoring design teams, highlighting impact on team growth, design quality, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Present work that exemplifies exceptional design craft, focusing on clarity, usability, and delight in complex financial product experiences.

• Include case studies that illustrate the ability to influence product direction and align stakeholders through compelling storytelling and strategic rationale.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have defined and driven design vision and strategy for complex product areas.

• Showcase your approach to mentoring designers, including examples of coaching, feedback, and career development initiatives.

• Illustrate your methods for translating user needs and financial insights into intuitive and effective user flows.

• Detail your experience in collaborating with Product, Engineering, and Data teams to shape product roadmaps and deliver features.

• If applicable, include examples of how you've leveraged AI or emerging tools to enhance design processes and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role, the portfolio should reflect strategic impact, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of the design process within a FinTech context. Emphasis should be on leadership contributions and strategic influence, not just individual design execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $238,425 - $330,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive base pay, with potential for bonuses, commissions, and equity.

• Comprehensive benefits package (details available at engine.com/culture).

• Opportunities for professional development and growth within a rapidly expanding FinTech company.

• Flexible work environment with hybrid-hub model options and fully remote possibilities within the USA.

• Access to cutting-edge AI-powered tooling and technologies.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project demands and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and falls within the typical compensation for a Director-level Design role in a high-growth FinTech company, especially for a fully remote position in the USA. The inclusion of equity, bonuses, and commissions suggests a performance-driven compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech, Corporate Travel Technology. Engine operates at the intersection of corporate travel management and financial technology, offering a unified platform for travel booking, spend management, and a corporate charge card.

Company Size: Engine is a rapidly growing company, indicated by its recognition as one of North America's fastest-growing travel and FinTech platforms and its "Big 4" team structure suggesting a substantial, organized product development function.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly listed, the company's significant growth and backing from major investors (Telescope Partners, Blackstone, Permira) suggest a mature but rapidly scaling organization.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is substantial (30+ members) and includes designers, operators, and leaders.

• The "Big 4" structure implies that Product Design is an integral part of core product teams, working alongside Product Management, Engineering, and Data.

Methodology:

• Engine emphasizes a data-driven approach to product development, utilizing insights from data and user feedback.

• The company promotes a culture of innovation, leveraging technology, including AI, to enhance its platform and user experiences.

• Collaboration is key, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork to drive product vision and execution.

Company Website: https://engine.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Engine presents itself as an innovative, growth-oriented FinTech company transforming business travel. The culture appears to be collaborative, data-informed, and focused on leveraging technology for competitive advantage. The "Big 4" model signifies a deep integration of design into the core product development process.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the Product Design function, specifically leading the FinTech design domain. It requires a blend of strategic oversight, people management, and hands-on craft, positioning the individual as a key contributor to the company's product strategy and vision.

Reporting Structure: The Director will likely report to a VP of Design or Chief Product Officer, overseeing a team of 4-6 designers. They will be a core member of the "Big 4" cross-functional team for their domain.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on Engine's core FinTech product offerings, influencing how businesses manage spend, pay, and earn rewards. This directly contributes to customer acquisition, retention, and overall business growth by shaping critical user experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a VP of Design role, overseeing broader design functions or expanding the FinTech design team further.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term product roadmap and design strategy for a rapidly growing FinTech platform.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through exposure to cutting-edge AI-powered design tools, complex FinTech challenges, and high-level stakeholder engagement.

• Industry Recognition: Contributing to a product recognized for innovation (Deloitte Fast 500, Built In) can enhance professional standing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential within a dynamic FinTech environment, providing opportunities for significant strategic impact, leadership development, and career advancement in a high-demand field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Engine operates a hybrid-hub model, meaning some roles may be based in physical hubs, while others are fully remote. This role is explicitly remote within the USA.

Office Location(s): While specific hub locations are not detailed, the company is headquartered in North America and has a global presence. The role is remote-friendly for candidates located within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• For remote employees, Engine ensures that individuals have the necessary resources to succeed, regardless of their location.

• The work environment emphasizes collaboration, particularly within the "Big 4" cross-functional teams, which will occur virtually for this role.

• Access to advanced design tools, including AI-powered systems, is a key aspect of the technological environment.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week. However, given the leadership nature of the role and the fast-paced FinTech environment, flexibility to meet project deadlines and critical business needs is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature for this role within the USA provides flexibility, but candidates should be prepared for a highly collaborative virtual work environment and potential needs for flexible scheduling to align with global teams or critical project timelines.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will assess your background, experience, and alignment with the role's core requirements, likely focusing on your leadership experience and FinTech design background.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a VP of Design or CPO) to delve deeper into your leadership philosophy, strategic thinking, and hands-on design capabilities.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: You will be asked to present a curated selection of your work, focusing on strategic impact, leadership contributions, and FinTech-specific case studies. This is where your ability to articulate the "why" behind your designs will be crucial.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and Data to assess your collaboration style, influence, and ability to work within the "Big 4" model.

• Executive Interview: A final interview with senior leadership to evaluate your strategic vision, cultural fit, and potential to contribute to Engine's long-term success.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Strategy & Leadership: Prioritize case studies that demonstrate your ability to shape product strategy, lead teams, and influence outcomes, not just individual design execution.

• FinTech Relevance: Select projects that specifically highlight your experience in FinTech, showcasing understanding of financial workflows, security, trust, and value creation for users.

• Showcase the 'Why': For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, user needs, your strategic approach, the design decisions made and why, and the measurable impact achieved.

• Highlight Teamwork: If possible, include examples of how you've collaborated with PMs, engineers, and data scientists, and how you've mentored and developed other designers.

• AI Tooling Integration: If you have experience using AI-powered design tools, be prepared to discuss how you've leveraged them to improve efficiency or quality.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for potential design challenges or case studies that involve complex FinTech problems, requiring you to think strategically and propose solutions that balance user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as you'll need to explain your approach to stakeholders with varying levels of design understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess leadership, strategic thinking, and specific FinTech design expertise. A strong portfolio that emphasizes strategic impact and leadership is critical, along with the ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and demonstrate cross-functional collaboration skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Design Systems: Proficiency in creating, maintaining, and utilizing design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• AI-powered Tooling: Experience with or eagerness to learn and leverage AI tools such as MCPs, Figma Make, Cursor, and potentially others like Pencil for rapid ideation, content generation, and design enhancement.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how CRM and automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) interact with user interfaces can be beneficial for FinTech product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and design systems is standard for product design leadership. The prominent mention of AI-powered tooling indicates a need for candidates to be forward-thinking and adaptable to new technologies that enhance the design workflow and product innovation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user needs, particularly in the context of financial management and corporate travel.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to push boundaries, leverage new technologies (like AI), and constantly refine processes and products for better outcomes.

• Collaboration & Transparency: A belief in working closely with cross-functional teams (the "Big 4") and maintaining open communication to achieve shared goals.

• High Bar for Excellence: A dedication to crafting high-quality, polished, and effective user experiences that instill trust and deliver significant value.

• Mission-Driven: A passion for Engine's mission to transform business travel and spend management.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within "Big 4" teams, fostering tight collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Data from strategy to execution.

• Data-Informed: Design decisions are supported by user research, analytics, and stakeholder feedback.

• Iterative Design: A culture that embraces iteration, learning from user feedback, and adapting designs based on performance and evolving needs.

• Storytelling & Advocacy: Designers are expected to be strong advocates for the user and the design vision, effectively communicating their rationale and impact to diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Engine's culture values innovation, collaboration, and a strong focus on user experience within the FinTech space. The "Big 4" model highlights the integrated nature of design within core product teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of FinTech: Designing for financial products requires a high degree of precision, trustworthiness, and adherence to regulatory considerations, which can be complex to navigate.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Integrating new technologies like AI while maintaining the stability and security required for financial transactions.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across multiple "Big 4" teams and stakeholder groups in a rapidly growing company.

• Remote Team Management: Leading and inspiring a distributed team of designers effectively, fostering connection and maintaining a high design bar.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design: Deep dive into emerging AI tools and their application in product design workflows.

• FinTech Expertise: Further develop specialized knowledge in corporate travel, spend management, and financial product design.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone people management, strategic planning, and executive communication skills.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of advancements in FinTech, AI, and user experience design through continuous learning and exposure to cutting-edge projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges inherent to leading design in a fast-paced FinTech environment, particularly regarding complexity and cross-functional alignment. However, these challenges are balanced by significant growth opportunities in leadership, cutting-edge technology adoption, and specialized FinTech domain expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you shaped the product strategy for a FinTech product. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare to discuss your strategic framework, user research integration, and how you influenced the roadmap.)

• "How would you approach mentoring and elevating the design craft of a team of 4-6 product designers, especially in a remote setting?" (Focus on your leadership philosophy, coaching techniques, and methods for fostering a strong design culture.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Engine and our mission to transform business travel?" (Research Engine's mission, values, and recent achievements.)

• "How do you see design playing a critical role in a 'Big 4' product team structure?" (Articulate how design integrates with Product, Engineering, and Data to drive successful product outcomes.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, following a problem-solution-impact framework for each case study.

• Focus on Leadership & Strategy: Emphasize your role in decision-making, team guidance, and strategic contributions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the business and user value of your design work.

• Articulate the 'Why': Be prepared to explain the rationale behind every significant design decision.

• Engage Stakeholders: Practice presenting in a way that encourages discussion and interaction with the interview panel.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, specific FinTech design expertise, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a cross-functional team. A well-rehearsed portfolio presentation that highlights impact and decision-making is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature FinTech-specific projects, leadership experiences, and case studies demonstrating strategic impact and the ability to influence product direction.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of experience, leadership roles, FinTech domain expertise, and proficiency with design systems and modern tooling (including AI). Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, design process, and strategic approach to FinTech challenges. Prepare your portfolio presentation to clearly communicate your impact and decision-making rationale.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Engine's mission, products, recent news, and company culture to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment during interviews. Understand their hybrid-hub model and commitment to remote work.

⚠️ 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.