Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Aphex

Location: United Kingdom (Remote OK)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-02

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (UK/Europe) or Hybrid (London Office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of Aphex's Diary product, with a primary focus on mobile-first user experiences for construction site capture.

• Drive innovation in interaction patterns and UI design to accommodate real-world constraints such as gloved hands, outdoor visibility, shared devices, and intermittent connectivity.

• Develop and maintain Aphex's design system, ensuring consistency and quality across both mobile and web platforms.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams to translate user needs and business requirements into elegant, functional design solutions.

• Contribute to the strategic vision of the Diary product, helping to define its future capabilities as the capture layer for major construction projects globally.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a B2B SaaS company focused on the construction industry. The Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping a critical product ("Diary") that bridges the gap between field operations and digital record-keeping. The emphasis on mobile-first design for field workers, coupled with web-based review and reporting, indicates a complex user journey that requires a deep understanding of user context and operational constraints.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on mobile-first features for the Diary product, taking concepts from initial brief through to shipped UI and post-launch analysis.

• Define and refine interaction patterns that are robust and effective for field users, considering factors like touch targets, offline functionality, and user workflows under pressure.

• Create detailed wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups for both mobile and web interfaces, ensuring a cohesive user experience across platforms.

• Collaborate with Product Leaders and PMs to scope features, balancing user needs, technical feasibility, and business objectives.

• Work closely with a development team based in the Philippines to ensure design intent is accurately translated into implemented features, participating in design QA.

• Contribute to the evolution of Aphex's design system, creating new components and patterns as the Diary product expands.

• Conduct user research, including site visits, to gain firsthand understanding of user environments and challenges, informing design decisions.

• Partner with the Head of UX on establishing and maintaining design standards and quality benchmarks across the product suite.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design improvements that enhance user satisfaction, efficiency, and data capture accuracy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on user-centric design, particularly for a challenging end-user demographic (field workers in construction). The role requires not only strong visual and interaction design skills but also strategic thinking about product evolution and a deep understanding of technical constraints and collaboration in a remote, cross-timezone environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 4+ years of professional product design experience, with a proven track record of shipping user-facing products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to manage the entire design lifecycle from exploration and ideation through to detailed design and quality assurance.

• Mobile-First Design: Strong understanding of mobile design principles, including touch interactions, offline capabilities, and optimizing workflows for small screens and diverse environments.

• Interaction Design: Ability to think in terms of flows, states, and edge cases, creating intuitive and efficient user journeys.

• UI Design: Proficient in creating high-fidelity mockups and visually appealing interfaces that align with brand guidelines and usability best practices.

• Prototyping: Skill in creating interactive prototypes to communicate design concepts and test user flows effectively.

• Design System Development: Experience contributing to or developing design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders in a collaborative, remote setting.

• Clear Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, essential for a remote team operating across different time zones.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to approach technical limitations as opportunities for creative problem-solving.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for field workers, industrial users, or individuals who work with their hands.

• Background in construction technology, vertical SaaS, or enterprise software.

• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation in large-scale products.

• Experience with user research methodologies, including contextual inquiry and usability testing.

• Understanding of QA processes and best practices for design handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is explicitly stated as 4+ years, with a strong emphasis on shipping products and understanding complex systems. The "Bonus points" section provides clear indicators of preferred domain expertise, which can be leveraged to tailor application materials. The mention of "writing clearly" is a critical requirement for remote collaboration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your process for complex product design challenges. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your approach, design decisions, and the outcomes.

• Mobile Design Focus: Highlight specific examples of mobile-first design solutions, illustrating how you addressed constraints like offline use, visibility, and ease of input for users on the go.

• Interaction Design Depth: Include examples that demonstrate your thinking around user flows, state management, and edge cases, particularly for mobile applications.

• Design System Contribution: Showcase any experience with design systems, whether it's contributing components, establishing patterns, or advocating for their use.

• Problem-Solving Examples: Present instances where you had to overcome technical or user-based challenges through thoughtful design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• User-Centric Workflow: Clearly outline your design process from problem identification, user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Emphasize how user needs and context (especially field work) informed your decisions.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Detail how you collaborate with PMs and engineers, including your approach to scoping, design reviews, and handoff to development.

• Quality Assurance: Illustrate your role in the QA process, demonstrating how you ensure the final product aligns with the design specifications and user experience goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on demonstrating a robust design process, particularly for mobile and complex B2B products. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their portfolio, explaining the rationale behind their design choices and how they navigated real-world constraints. The "thinking in flows, states and edge cases" requirement directly translates to portfolio content.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary for a Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in the UK, especially in a remote capacity for a SaaS company, typically ranges from £60,000 to £85,000 per annum. This can vary based on specific skills, portfolio strength, and the exact location within the UK/Europe.

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Arrangement: Choice between fully remote within the UK or Europe, or a hybrid model utilizing the London office. Access to WeWork facilities is provided.

• Global Team Connection: Annual all-expenses-paid international team offsite (past locations include Vietnam and Thailand) to foster team cohesion.

• Social Engagement: An Aphex social budget to facilitate team bonding and activities.

• Professional Development: £500 annual training allowance for continuous learning and skill enhancement, plus access to the company's Emerging Leaders programme.

• Family Support: Paid parental leave to support employees during significant life events.

• Well-being Support: Access to MindFi Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for mental health and well-being resources.

• Referral Program: An Employee Referral Program to reward employees for bringing in new talent.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week is assumed to be 40 hours. The company operates across UK and Australian time zones, requiring flexibility and asynchronous communication practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's experience level (5-10 years) and location (UK/Europe), a salary range of £60,000 - £85,000 is a reasonable estimate. This is based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers in the UK tech sector, considering the SaaS and B2B nature of the company. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on flexibility, professional growth, and team connection.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Construction Technology / Vertical SaaS. Aphex operates in the enterprise software sector, specifically targeting major construction projects. This industry is characterized by complex workflows, high stakes, and a need for robust, reliable digital solutions. The company aims to digitize and streamline execution and record-keeping on construction sites.

Company Size: Aphex is a growing company, likely in the startup to scale-up phase, indicated by the small, senior design team and development team structure. This size often implies a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant impact and direct influence on product direction.

Founded: Aphex was founded with the mission to provide an execution platform for major construction projects. While the exact founding date isn't provided, the mention of "piloted and refined over the last 18 months" suggests it's a relatively established product within a growing company.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: Small and senior, working closely with Product Leadership. The Head of UX is mentioned, suggesting a focus on design quality and standards.

• Product Team: Organized around products (e.g., "Diary"), with dedicated Product Leaders, PMs, and a development team (based in the Philippines).

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Strong emphasis on daily collaboration between Design, PMs, and Engineering, with a focus on early involvement and shared ownership.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Development: Design decisions are informed by user needs, with a particular focus on the practicalities of field work. Site visits are encouraged.

• Agile/Iterative Approach: The product has been "piloted and refined," suggesting an iterative development cycle. Design is involved in scoping, development, and QA, indicating a continuous feedback loop.

• Data-Driven Insights: The long-term vision includes an "intelligence layer," implying an eventual focus on data analysis and deriving insights from captured records.

• Remote-First/Hybrid: The company operates with a flexible work model, necessitating strong asynchronous communication and collaboration practices.

Company Website: https://aphex.co

📝 Enhancement Note: Aphex operates in a niche but critical sector of the construction industry, providing essential software for large-scale projects. The company culture appears to value design quality, user empathy (especially for field workers), and collaborative problem-solving within a fast-paced, growing environment. The remote-first aspect is a key cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a mid-level to senior Product Designer (indicated by 4+ years of experience and the expectation of owning features end-to-end). The designer will be a key contributor to a specific product line ("Diary") and will have significant influence on its direction and quality. This is not an entry-level position, but rather for someone ready to take ownership and drive design initiatives.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report into the Head of UX or a similar design leadership role, and will work day-to-day with Product Managers and a development team for the Diary product. The structure suggests close collaboration and a flat hierarchy within the product team.

Operations Impact: The design of the Diary product has a direct impact on the efficiency, accuracy, and overall success of major construction projects. By making data capture low-friction and insightful, the designer contributes to better project management, reduced errors, and improved project outcomes. This role offers the opportunity to influence how critical infrastructure is built and managed through effective software design.

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Ownership: Opportunity to take significant ownership of the Diary product's design, shaping its evolution and user experience.

• Domain Expertise: Develop deep expertise in the construction technology sector, a growing and complex field.

• Design System Leadership: Contribute to the growth and refinement of Aphex's design system, potentially leading initiatives in this area.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Enhance skills in collaborating with product management and engineering, influencing product strategy through design.

• Mentorship: As a senior member of a small design team, there may be opportunities to mentor more junior designers as the team grows.

• Career Progression: Potential to move into Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or UX Manager roles as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial impact and growth potential, particularly for a designer interested in complex B2B products and a challenging industry. The emphasis on "owning" features and contributing to strategy positions this as a significant career step.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Aphex offers a flexible work environment. Employees can choose to work fully remote within the UK or Europe, or opt for a hybrid model utilizing their London office. The London office is described as a WeWork space, suggesting a modern, collaborative, and well-equipped co-working environment.

Office Location(s): The primary physical touchpoint for hybrid employees is the London office. For remote employees, the work environment is their chosen location within the UK or Europe.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: The primary mode of interaction will be remote, relying on digital tools for communication and collaboration. This necessitates proficiency in asynchronous communication and digital collaboration platforms.

• Tooling: Access to WeWork facilities for those in London implies a professional office environment with amenities. For remote workers, the company likely supports setting up a productive home office environment.

• Team Interaction: While remote, the company fosters connection through an annual international offsite and a social budget, aiming to build team camaraderie despite geographical distribution. The company also operates across UK and Australian time zones, requiring comfort with distributed teams.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (assumed 40 hours/week) are expected. However, the remote and cross-timezone nature of the work implies a degree of flexibility in daily scheduling, emphasizing output and effective communication over strict adherence to office hours. The ability to manage time effectively across different zones is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The flexibility offered (fully remote or hybrid) is a key aspect of the work environment. The company's experience with distributed teams (UK/Australia time zones) indicates mature processes for remote collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Screening: Review of CV and portfolio for relevant experience and skills.

2. Initial Call: A conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess general fit, motivation, and high-level experience.

3. Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, often followed by a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This stage will assess problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate design rationale.

4. Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

5. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of UX, CEO) to discuss strategic alignment and overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio around distinct case studies. For each, clearly define the problem, your role, the process undertaken, key decisions, and the outcome (quantified where possible).

• Highlight Mobile & Field Constraints: Explicitly showcase how you designed for the specific constraints mentioned in the job description (gloves, visibility, offline, etc.). Use visuals and descriptions to illustrate these solutions.

• Demonstrate Process: Don't just show final screens. Explain your thinking, research, ideation, and iteration. Show early sketches, wireframes, and user flows to illustrate your design journey.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the impact of your designs on user behavior, business goals, or product performance.

• Tailor to Aphex: Research Aphex's product and industry. Frame your case studies to show how your skills and experience are directly applicable to their challenges. Mention your understanding of B2B SaaS and construction tech if applicable.

• Prepare to Discuss: Be ready to talk through every aspect of your portfolio, answering questions about your decisions, challenges, and learnings.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a design challenge is given, thoroughly understand the brief and the context of Aphex's product and users.

• Focus on Process: Even if time is limited, clearly articulate your thought process and design decisions. It's often more about how you approach a problem than the perfect final solution.

• Consider Constraints: Apply the same thinking about constraints (mobile, field work, etc.) that are central to the role.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, anticipating questions and articulating your rationale clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be thorough, with a strong emphasis on portfolio review and a practical design assessment. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate their ability to handle complex design problems in a specific industry context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar. Figma is a strong possibility given its prevalence in collaborative remote design environments.

• Prototyping Tools: In-app prototyping features within design tools, or dedicated tools like InVision, ProtoPie for more complex interactions.

• Design System Management: Tools or methodologies for managing and scaling design systems, potentially including documentation platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and product usage.

• Data Visualization/Dashboarding: Experience with tools like Tableau, Looker, or Power BI for reporting and presenting design-related metrics, though this might be more within the PM/Data Analyst domain.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) or automation platforms (e.g., Zapier, Marketo) can be beneficial for context in B2B SaaS. Collaboration & Communication:

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking design tasks and collaborating with engineering.

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication.

• Documentation: Confluence or similar for documenting design specifications and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role implies proficiency in modern design and prototyping software, with a strong emphasis on collaborative tools suitable for remote teams. Figma is a highly probable tool in use.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Empathy: Deep understanding and consideration for the end-user, particularly those in challenging field environments. This translates to designing for usability, accessibility, and efficiency under adverse conditions.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality design, paying attention to detail in every aspect of the user experience, from micro-interactions to overall flow.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to share work, give and receive feedback constructively, especially crucial for remote teams across time zones.

• Problem-Solving & Pragmatism: Approaching challenges with a solution-oriented mindset, balancing ambitious design goals with technical feasibility and real-world constraints.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While design-led, an appreciation for data and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First Communication: Primarily asynchronous communication, with clear written documentation and effective use of communication tools. Meetings are likely used strategically for key discussions and alignment.

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work embedded within product teams, collaborating closely with PMs and Engineers from inception through to launch and beyond.

• Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is encouraged and valued as a means to improve designs and processes.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of collective responsibility for product success, with design playing a pivotal role in achieving it.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes practical user needs, design excellence, and effective remote collaboration. The values align with building robust enterprise software for a demanding user base.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Field Constraints: Creating intuitive and efficient mobile experiences for users in demanding environments (e.g., with gloves, poor lighting, intermittent connectivity, shared devices). This requires significant empathy and creative problem-solving.

• Bridging Mobile & Web Experiences: Ensuring a cohesive and consistent user experience for the Diary product across two very different platforms (mobile capture and web review/reporting).

• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with teams in different time zones (UK/Australia) to maintain project momentum and design quality.

• Balancing Scope and Quality: Managing ambitious product goals while ensuring the design remains focused, high-quality, and achievable within development cycles.

• Evolving Design System: Growing and maintaining a design system for a product that is actively being shaped and expanded.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in construction technology and the unique challenges of software for this industry.

• Advanced Mobile UX: Hone skills in designing for complex mobile workflows and challenging user environments.

• Design System Strategy: Contribute significantly to the evolution and strategy of a growing design system.

• Cross-functional Influence: Develop stronger skills in influencing product strategy and roadmap through design leadership.

• Leadership Potential: Opportunities to grow into senior or lead design roles as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to the role's context and offer significant opportunities for skill development and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a mobile feature that had to work reliably in challenging real-world conditions (e.g., poor connectivity, limited visibility, with gloves). What were the constraints, and how did your design address them?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a case study that specifically addresses these points. Detail the user research, the specific constraints you identified, and the design decisions made to overcome them. Use visuals to illustrate your solutions.

• "How do you ensure a cohesive user experience between a mobile application and its web counterpart, especially when they serve different primary functions (e.g., capture vs. review)?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your approach to design systems, pattern libraries, and shared UX principles. Use examples from your portfolio where you've managed multi-platform consistency.

• "Imagine you're working with a development team in a different time zone. How would you manage the design handoff and QA process to ensure accuracy and efficiency?"

  • Preparation: Focus on your experience with clear documentation, asynchronous communication strategies, thorough design specifications, and your approach to design QA.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Aphex and our mission in the construction tech space?"

  • Preparation: Research Aphex's website, product, and market position. Understand the challenges in construction and how Aphex aims to solve them. Connect your interest to specific aspects of their mission or product.

• "Our team operates remotely across different time zones. How do you thrive in such an environment, and what are your best practices for collaboration and communication?"

  • Preparation: Highlight your experience with remote work, asynchronous communication tools, and building relationships with distributed teams. Emphasize your written communication skills and proactive approach.

• "How do you approach balancing user needs with business requirements and technical feasibility in your design process?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your collaborative approach with PMs and engineers. Use an example where you had to make trade-offs and explain your rationale and the outcome.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative is Key: Structure your presentation around compelling stories for each case study. Start with the problem and the user, walk through your process, explain your key design decisions, and conclude with the impact.

• Focus on "Why": For every design decision, be prepared to explain the "why" – what user need or business goal it addressed, what alternatives were considered, and what the expected outcome was.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, final UIs) to illustrate your points. For mobile design, consider showing how the UI adapts to different screen sizes or states.

• Highlight Constraints: Explicitly call out how you addressed the specific constraints mentioned in the job description (e.g., mobile, field work, offline).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your process, tools, and specific design choices. Be honest about challenges and what you learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on demonstrating practical skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit, with a strong emphasis on the unique challenges of designing for field workers in the construction industry and collaborating remotely.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Resume & Cover Letter: Highlight your experience with mobile-first design, complex B2B SaaS products, and any relevant industry experience (construction tech, field workers). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, especially for mobile applications and complex problem-solving. Explicitly address how you handle real-world constraints like offline use, visibility, and ease of input.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Be ready to undertake a design exercise that assesses your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your rationale within the context of Aphex's product and users.

• Research Aphex: Familiarize yourself with Aphex's mission, product ("Diary"), target market (construction industry), and company culture to articulate your genuine interest and fit during interviews.

⚠️ 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.