Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: REA Group

Location: Richmond, Melbourne VIC, Australia

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-09

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver exceptional user-centered product experiences within the Residential Design team, focusing on customer advertising and value-add platforms.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers in an agile environment to translate user needs and business objectives into impactful design solutions.

• Conduct comprehensive qualitative and quantitative user research to uncover insights, validate design decisions, and drive product iteration.

• Develop and refine design artifacts, including sketches, prototypes, UI designs, motion, and interaction designs, leveraging AI where appropriate.

• Ensure product usability, desirability, and accessibility while maintaining adherence to REA's visual identity and design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core job title is "Product Designer," the description strongly suggests a focus on UX/UI design principles within a product development lifecycle, particularly concerning customer-facing platforms for advertising and value-added services. The emphasis on research, prototyping, UI, and interaction design aligns with a dedicated Product Designer role within a tech-focused organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Product and Engineering, to accelerate the delivery of market-ready products and features.

• Effectively plan, prioritize, and execute product design activities, ensuring alignment between user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

• Employ a range of research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to deeply understand user behaviors, motivations, and pain points.

• Create compelling design solutions through sketching, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI/UX design, incorporating motion and interaction design principles.

• Validate design concepts and product features through usability testing and user feedback loops to ensure high levels of user satisfaction and adoption.

• Deliver user-centric, commercially viable design solutions that directly contribute to the strategic objectives of the Advertising & Value tribe.

• Continuously grow and refine design expertise, focusing on systems thinking and adhering to established design systems and visual identity guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role requiring a blend of strategic thinking and execution. The emphasis on "swiftly deliver products to market" and "fast paced and agile environment" indicates a need for efficient design processes and strong collaboration skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience. Alternatively, equivalent practical experience and a strong portfolio can substitute formal education.

Experience: Approximately 3-5 years of progressive experience in product design, with a proven track record of shipping successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• Approximately 3-5 years of experience in designing digital products using industry-standard design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite).

• Demonstrable strong service design thinking mindset and experience facilitating workshops with diverse stakeholders.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including technical (e.g., engineers) and non-technical (e.g., marketing, sales) teams.

• A solutions-focused approach to problem-solving, adept at navigating complex challenges and identifying actionable pathways forward.

• Proficiency in working productively within a fast-paced and agile development environment, with a focus on creating measurable impact.

• Commitment to continuous improvement, actively encouraging diverse viewpoints and fostering productive team relationships through constructive feedback.

• Experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative user research to inform design decisions.

• Competency in developing design solutions using sketching, prototyping, user interface design, motion design, and interaction design. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI in design workflows or understanding its potential applications.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and designing for inclusivity.

• Knowledge of or experience working with existing design systems and contributing to their evolution.

• Experience in the real estate or property technology (PropTech) industry.

• Understanding of data analysis and its role in informing design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, soft skills like collaboration and problem-solving, and a strong understanding of agile and service design principles. The "3-5 years" aligns with a mid-level to senior designer role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing 3-5 of your strongest product design projects, demonstrating end-to-end design process from problem identification to solution delivery.

• Projects should highlight your ability to tackle complex user problems and deliver measurable business impact.

• Include detailed case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the outcomes achieved, supported by data or user feedback.

• Showcase proficiency in various design deliverables, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs.

• Demonstrate experience in applying systems thinking and adhering to design system principles. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of experience in conducting and documenting user research, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing.

• Examples of how you've facilitated design thinking workshops or collaborative sessions with cross-functional teams.

• Documentation or case study examples illustrating your approach to iterating on designs based on feedback and data.

• Showcase how you ensure designs are accessible and meet user satisfaction standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role at this level, a robust portfolio is paramount. It should not only display visual design skills but also strategic thinking, research capabilities, and the ability to articulate the impact of design decisions on business objectives and user experience. The emphasis on service design and workshop facilitation suggests that examples of collaborative problem-solving will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Product Designer with 3-5 years of experience in Melbourne, Australia, a competitive salary range would typically be AUD $90,000 - $130,000 per annum. This estimate considers the company's standing as a prominent tech organization in Australia and the demand for skilled product designers in the Melbourne market.

Benefits:

• Hybrid and flexible approach to working, offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Flexible leave options, including birthday leave, providing personal time for celebration and rest.

• Opportunity to purchase additional leave, allowing for extended time off when needed.

• Comprehensive flexible parental leave offering for primary and secondary carers, supporting work-life balance during significant life events.

• "Because We Care" program, which includes volunteering leave, community grants, matched payroll giving, and a Community Café that donates 100% of its revenue to charity, reflecting strong corporate social responsibility.

• Hackdays, providing dedicated time for innovation and bringing big ideas to life.

• Access to REA's extensive talent neighbourhood for ongoing career exploration and networking.

Working Hours: While specific hours are not detailed, a standard full-time role in Australia typically involves 38-40 hours per week. The mention of a "hybrid and flexible approach to working" suggests potential flexibility in daily start and end times, accommodating individual needs within team collaboration frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general market data for Product Designers in Melbourne. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio, and negotiation. The listed benefits are comprehensive and reflect a strong commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which are attractive to mid-to-senior level professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Real Estate Technology (PropTech), Digital Media, Online Advertising. REA Group operates at the intersection of technology and real estate, providing a platform for property listings, advertising solutions, and related services. This context implies a dynamic, data-driven, and customer-centric environment.

Company Size: REA Group is a large organization, evidenced by its multiple awards and established presence. The scale suggests access to resources, structured processes, and opportunities for significant impact, but also the need for designers to navigate larger organizational structures.

Founded: REA Group was founded in 1995, indicating a mature company with a long history of innovation and adaptation within the evolving digital landscape. This longevity suggests stability and a deep understanding of its market.

Team Structure:

• This role is within the Residential Design team, part of the broader Advertising & Value tribe. This structure implies specialization within design, focusing on specific customer segments and value propositions.

• The team works closely with Product and Engineering, indicating a collaborative, agile, and product-focused operational model.

• The reporting structure likely involves a Design Lead or Manager within the tribe, with direct collaboration across Product Management and Engineering leads. Methodology:

• Agile development methodologies are explicitly mentioned, indicating iterative work, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• A strong emphasis on user research (qualitative and quantitative) and user-centric design principles guides product development.

• Service design thinking is a key requirement, suggesting a holistic approach to understanding and improving the entire customer journey, not just individual touchpoints.

• The use of a design system and adherence to visual identity guidelines points to a structured approach to maintaining brand consistency and design efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.rea-group.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: REA Group's reputation as a top workplace suggests a positive and supportive culture. The "Advertising & Value tribe" implies a focus on commercial aspects and customer success, which will be integral to the design team's objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Senior level Product Designer role, requiring approximately 3-5 years of experience. It signifies a level where individuals are expected to operate with a degree of autonomy, contribute strategically to design projects, and mentor junior team members if applicable. The focus is on delivering high-quality design solutions and collaborating effectively across departments.

Reporting Structure: The role sits within the Residential Design team, which is part of the Advertising & Value tribe. This designer will report to a Design Lead or Manager within that tribe and work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads. Collaboration is expected to be cross-functional and integrated into agile squads.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will directly influence how customers interact with REA's platforms for advertising and value-added services. Their work will impact customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, the commercial success of REA's offerings. By designing intuitive and effective experiences, they contribute to increased customer value and revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as interaction design, motion design, AI-assisted design, or advanced user research techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Designer role, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to design strategy.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience in different product areas or tribes within REA Group, broadening understanding of the business and diverse user needs.

• Contribution to Design System: Opportunity to influence and contribute to the evolution of REA's design system and visual identity.

• Innovation: Participation in Hackdays provides a platform for exploring new ideas and technologies, fostering personal and professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for career progression within product design, with opportunities to specialize, lead, and contribute strategically. The company's focus on continuous improvement and diverse perspectives supports a growth-oriented environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: REA Group operates on a hybrid model, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office presence. The Melbourne office in Richmond likely offers a modern workspace designed to facilitate collaboration, innovation, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Richmond, Melbourne VIC, Australia. This is a well-established commercial hub within Melbourne, likely offering good public transport access and proximity to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster collaboration between Product, Engineering, and Design teams, essential for agile product development.

• Access to industry-standard design tools and technology is expected, supporting efficient workflow and high-quality output.

• Opportunities for informal and formal interactions with team members and cross-functional colleagues are integral to the hybrid model, promoting knowledge sharing and a strong team culture.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is implied, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model. This allows designers to manage their time effectively, balancing focused work with collaborative sessions and personal commitments. The company's commitment to flexibility suggests an understanding of individual work styles and needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at REA Group aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, a model increasingly favored by design professionals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your experience and suitability for the role.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely be asked to present a selection of your work, detailing your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your solutions. Focus on 1-2 key projects that best represent your skills for this specific role.

• Technical/Skills Interview: This may involve discussing specific design tools, methodologies (agile, service design), and your approach to user research and prototyping.

• Cross-functional Interviews: You will likely meet with Product Managers and Engineers to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or Head of Design, focusing on cultural fit, strategic thinking, and long-term career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best align with the responsibilities of this REA Group Product Designer role, emphasizing customer-facing platforms, advertising services, or value-add products.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process undertaken (research, ideation, iteration), key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes (user satisfaction, business impact).

• Showcase Process: Demonstrate your thinking – how you approached research, ideated solutions, tested designs, and iterated based on feedback. Include sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI where relevant.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, include examples or discuss how you collaborated with Product and Engineering teams.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data, metrics, or user testimonials to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design exercise or take-home challenge that assesses your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work within constraints. Focus on demonstrating your process and rationale.

• Service Design Thinking: Brush up on facilitation techniques for workshops and how you approach mapping customer journeys and identifying pain points across multiple touchpoints.

• Agile Environment: Understand how product design integrates into agile sprints and how you manage feedback and iterations in a fast-paced setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and its impact. Demonstrating a strong understanding of REA's business context (property technology, advertising) will be beneficial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and REA's tech focus), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, ProtoPie (depending on complexity of interactions).

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence (common in agile environments for tracking tasks and documentation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (to understand user behavior on REA platforms).

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI (potentially used by Product or Data teams, designer should be able to interpret insights).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how customer data is managed within CRMs (e.g., Salesforce) and how marketing automation impacts customer journeys can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. Familiarity with agile project management tools like Jira and Confluence is also highly advantageous for seamless collaboration within development teams. Experience interpreting data from analytics platforms will strengthen your ability to make data-informed design decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Performance & Care: REA Group emphasizes both achieving ambitious goals and fostering a supportive, caring environment. This means designers are expected to deliver excellent work while also contributing positively to team dynamics.

• Purpose Driven & Collaborative: The company's mission to change how the world experiences property drives their work. Collaboration is key, with diverse perspectives valued to drive innovation.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to learning, refining skills, and adapting to new technologies and methodologies.

• Customer-Centricity: A core value is helping customers at every step of their property journey, meaning user needs and satisfaction are paramount in design decisions.

• Innovation: Encouraged through initiatives like Hackdays, fostering a culture where new ideas are welcomed and explored.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers in agile squads, requiring strong communication and a shared understanding of goals.

• Workshop Facilitation: Experience in leading and participating in workshops to brainstorm, problem-solve, and align stakeholders.

• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback is essential for iterative design and team growth.

• Diverse Viewpoints: Valuing and actively seeking out different perspectives to enrich design solutions and decision-making processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at REA Group appears to be a strong blend of results-orientation and employee well-being, with a clear emphasis on collaboration and innovation. Designers who can thrive in a fast-paced, supportive, and purpose-driven environment will be a great fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Objectives: Designing solutions that are both highly desirable for users and commercially viable for REA Group, especially within advertising and value-added services.

• Navigating a Large Organization: Understanding and influencing within a large company structure, ensuring design efforts align with broader strategic goals and existing systems.

• Rapid Iteration in Agile: Adapting design processes to keep pace with agile development sprints while maintaining a high standard of quality and thoroughness.

• Evolving Technology: Keeping abreast of new design technologies and trends, including AI, and understanding how to integrate them effectively into design workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to internal or external training programs to enhance skills in areas like advanced prototyping, motion design, UX research, or AI in design.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from senior designers and leaders within the organization, gaining insights into career progression and strategic design thinking.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, webinars, or workshops to stay current with design best practices and emerging trends.

• Cross-functional Learning: Gaining deeper insights into product management, engineering, and the business aspects of the property technology industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a designer in a large, fast-moving tech company, offering significant opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses stakeholder management, negotiation, and problem-solving.)

• "Walk us through a complex product design project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your process, and the measurable impact?" (Assesses end-to-end design thinking, communication, and ability to articulate value.)

• "How do you approach user research when you have limited time or resources?" (Assesses adaptability, resourcefulness, and practical application of research methods.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive?" (Assesses understanding of accessibility standards and commitment to inclusive design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about REA Group and this specific role?" (Assesses research into the company and alignment with their mission/values.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative and positive team environment?" (Assesses cultural fit and teamwork skills.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and technologies, particularly in the PropTech space?" (Assesses proactivity and industry awareness.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly state the problem, your specific role, the design solutions, and most importantly, the results or impact achieved (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced support tickets).

• Showcase Your Process: Explain your thinking – why you made certain decisions, what research informed your choices, and how you iterated. Visuals like user flows, wireframes, and prototypes are crucial.

• Tailor to REA: If possible, reference how your skills and experience align with REA's mission, their customer base (homebuyers, sellers, agents), and the products/services they offer.

• Practice Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allocated time. Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about any aspect of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the product design lifecycle, user-centered methodologies, collaborative skills, and the ability to articulate the business value of design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Customize your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly related to product design, service design, user research, agile methodologies, and stakeholder management. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases relevant projects with detailed case studies, and is easily accessible (e.g., via a personal website or PDF). Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems and deliver user-centric solutions.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting 1-2 key portfolio projects, focusing on your process, decision-making, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with REA Group's goals and culture.

• Research REA Group: Understand their business model, their position in the PropTech market, their recent achievements, and their company values. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate 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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