Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Salmon Group

Location: Philippines, Kazakhstan

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-03

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with periodic team meetups) or Office-Based in Manila, Philippines

🚀 Role Summary

• This role involves owning the end-to-end product design for Salmon's innovative Referral Program, impacting millions of Filipino users.

• Proactively drive user-centric product thinking through a combination of field research, A/B testing, and active contributions to the design system.

• Collaborate with a passionate international team to build cutting-edge fintech solutions within a neobank environment.

• Opportunity to launch new products rapidly and contribute to global market expansion for a licensed neobank.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the description emphasizes a "Senior" level of ownership and proactive contribution, suggesting a role that requires significant autonomy and strategic input beyond typical mid-level expectations. The focus on "owning product design" and "guiding the team" points towards a leadership potential within the design function for this specific product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Product Design Ownership: Take full responsibility for the design of all digital surfaces related to the Salmon Referral Program, from conceptualization and user research to final implementation and iterative improvements.

• Proactive User Insights & Innovation: Actively conduct product discovery, user research (including field trips), and A/B testing to generate actionable insights that inform design decisions and drive product innovation.

• User-Centric Product Development: Champion a user-first approach throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring that designs meet the needs and enhance the experience of promoters (cashiers, security guards, merchandisers).

• Design System Contribution: Actively contribute to and expand the company's design system, developing new patterns and collaborating with other designers to ensure consistency and efficiency across all digital products.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements and user needs into intuitive and effective user interfaces and experiences.

• Iterative Design & Improvement: Continuously analyze user feedback and product performance data to identify areas for improvement and implement design changes that enhance user satisfaction and program effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description highlights a hands-on approach to design, including "field trips to chat with our users" and "AB test for a button label," indicating that this role is deeply involved in both qualitative and quantitative user research and validation, moving beyond purely conceptual design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 3+ years of experience as a Product Designer, with a proven track record in mobile-first projects.

Required Skills:

• Advanced Figma Proficiency: Mastery of Figma, including Auto-layouts, slots, variables, and complex prototyping capabilities.

• Product Discovery & Research: Demonstrated expertise in product discovery methodologies and user research techniques, such as card sorting and A/B testing, with the ability to conduct these independently.

• Mobile-First Design: Extensive experience designing user-centric interfaces and experiences for mobile platforms.

• Web Product Development Understanding: A good grasp of how web products are built and deployed.

• English Fluency (B2+): Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

• User-Centric Mindset: A deep commitment to creating products that users are happy to engage with, often involving attention to detail and aesthetic considerations.

Preferred Skills:

• Coding Experience: Prior experience with coding would be a significant advantage, facilitating better collaboration with engineering teams and a deeper understanding of technical constraints.

• Design System Expertise: Experience in building, maintaining, or significantly contributing to established design systems.

• Fintech/Neobank Experience: Familiarity with the unique design challenges and opportunities within the financial technology or neobanking sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Being a designer" and finding the "perfect gradient" suggests that while functional design is critical, aesthetic sensibility and a passion for craft are highly valued. The "curious mindset" and excitement for new tools also point to a culture that embraces experimentation and continuous learning.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Mobile-First Project Showcase: A curated selection of projects that prominently feature mobile-first design solutions, demonstrating your ability to create intuitive and engaging experiences on smaller screens.

• Figma Mastery Examples: Specific examples within your portfolio that highlight your advanced Figma skills, such as complex auto-layouts, interactive prototypes, or the use of variables and components.

• Research & Discovery Case Studies: Detailed case studies that illustrate your process for product discovery and user research, including methodologies used, key findings, and how these insights directly influenced design decisions.

• End-to-End Design Process: Projects that clearly articulate your involvement from initial ideation and problem definition through to final design and post-launch iteration, showcasing your ability to own a product's design lifecycle.

Process Documentation:

• User Journey Mapping (CJMs): Showcase examples of creating detailed Customer Journey Maps to understand user flows and identify pain points within the referral program context.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Demonstrate proficiency in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• A/B Testing Design: Provide examples of how you have designed and implemented A/B tests to validate design hypotheses and optimize user experience based on data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on "owning product design" and "proactively bringing insights," the portfolio should not just showcase final UIs but also the strategic thinking, research, and iterative processes behind them. Case studies that demonstrate problem-solving and quantifiable impact are crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The salary for a Product Designer with 3+ years of experience in the Philippines, particularly in a remote or hybrid tech role within a growing fintech company, typically ranges from PHP 70,000 to PHP 130,000 per month. This can vary based on specific skills, portfolio strength, and the candidate's negotiation. For Kazakhstan, the range may differ, but given the remote nature and the company's international team, a competitive range aligned with market rates for remote tech talent is expected.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive medical coverage for health and wellness.

• Health and Wellness Benefits: Support for overall well-being.

• Relocation Support: Assistance for eligible candidates moving to Manila for office-based roles.

• Professional Growth Opportunities: Opportunities for rapid learning and career advancement within a fast-growing international fintech company.

• Company Events and Activities: Participation in online and in-person team events and activities.

• Performance-Based Rewards: Recognition and rewards tied to individual performance and the company's long-term success.

• International Growth Opportunities: Fast-track potential for international career progression.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected due to the remote and international nature of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is not explicitly stated in the job description. The provided range is an estimate based on typical mid-level Product Designer compensation in the Philippines tech sector, considering the company's industry (Fintech/Neobank) and the remote work option which often aligns with international compensation benchmarks. Research into specific city/country tech salary benchmarks is recommended.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech (Licensed Neobank)

Company Size: Salmon Group operates with a passionate international team, suggesting a dynamic, potentially mid-to-large-sized organization with a global footprint. The rapid product launch cycle (3-4 months) indicates an agile and fast-paced environment.

Founded: While the founding date isn't specified, Salmon Group is actively building modern banking services and aiming for unicorn status, indicating a relatively young but ambitious and rapidly scaling company.

Team Structure:

• International & Diverse: The team is described as "passionate international team spanning the globe," implying a diverse workforce with varied cultural backgrounds and perspectives.

• Agile & Fast-Paced: The ability to launch new products in 3-4 months suggests an agile development methodology and a culture that values speed and execution.

• Meritocratic: "Merit (and merit only) rules the day" indicates a performance-driven culture where results and contributions are the primary drivers of recognition and advancement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires active collaboration with other designers, product managers, and engineers, emphasizing a team-oriented approach to product development.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis on understanding and catering to user needs, demonstrated through research and iterative design.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilization of A/B testing and performance analysis to inform product improvements.

• Agile Development: The rapid product launch cycle points to agile methodologies being in place.

• Design System Utilization: Commitment to building and maintaining a shared design system for consistency and efficiency.

Company Website: https://salmon.group/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a strong focus on innovation, rapid execution, and international growth within the fintech space, specifically targeting the Southeast Asian market with a neobank model. This context is crucial for understanding the operational pressures and opportunities for a Product Designer.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Product Designer with significant ownership, implying a mid-to-senior level of responsibility. The expectation to "own product design" and "guide the team" suggests a role that bridges individual contribution with team influence.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Design, Design Manager, or Product Lead within a product team. The role will involve close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct impact on the success of the Salmon Referral Program, which aims to acquire and retain users (promoters) by providing them with a valuable earning opportunity. Effective design will drive user adoption, engagement, and ultimately, revenue growth for Salmon by expanding its user base and service adoption. The role is instrumental in shaping the user experience of a key growth initiative for a neobank.

Growth Opportunities:

• Rapid Professional Development: The company emphasizes "rapid professional growth" and a "meritocratic" environment, suggesting ample opportunities to take on more responsibility and advance quickly based on performance.

• International Expansion: The potential to "grow internationally" provides a pathway for designers to contribute to global product strategies and potentially work on diverse market challenges.

• Fintech Specialization: Deepening expertise in the rapidly evolving fintech and neobanking sector, a high-demand area.

• Leadership Potential: The "guide the team" aspect of the role hints at opportunities to mentor junior designers or lead design initiatives for new product areas.

• Product Launch Exposure: Gaining experience in launching new financial products within short cycles, building a strong portfolio of successful product launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "meritocratic" culture and "fast track to grow internationally" are strong indicators of a company that rewards high performers with accelerated career progression, making this role attractive for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Salmon Group offers two distinct work modes:

1. Fully Remote: With periodic team meetups, allowing for flexibility and global talent acquisition.

2. Office-Based: An option in Manila, Philippines, providing a traditional office environment.

Office Location(s):

• Primary Office: Manila, Philippines.

• Remote Locations: Open to candidates in Kazakhstan and the Philippines.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: Even in remote settings, the international team structure implies a reliance on digital collaboration tools and a culture of asynchronous communication alongside scheduled virtual meetings.

• Agile & Innovative Space: The fast-paced product development cycle suggests a dynamic workspace that encourages experimentation and quick iteration.

• Tech-Forward: As a fintech company, expect access to modern design and development tools.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time working hours (estimated 40 hours per week), with flexibility inherent in the remote work option. Collaboration across different time zones may require some adaptability in meeting schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual option of fully remote or office-based work provides significant flexibility. For remote candidates, understanding how team meetups are structured and the frequency of these events is important for gauging the level of in-person interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your application and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or design lead to delve deeper into your experience, design philosophy, and approach to problem-solving. This is where your portfolio will be a key discussion tool.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise or a deep dive into a past project from your portfolio, designed to assess your product discovery, research, and design skills in a relevant context.

• Cross-Functional Interview: Potentially an interview with a Product Manager or Engineer to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of the product development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership for final assessment of cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Mobile-First & Figma: Ensure your portfolio prominently features mobile-first projects and clearly demonstrates your advanced Figma skills (auto-layouts, variables, prototyping).

• Showcase the "Why" and "How": For each project, detail your problem-solving process, research methodologies (field trips, A/B tests), key insights, and how your design decisions led to specific outcomes. Quantify impact where possible.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling narrative of the problem, your approach, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the results.

• Focus on the Referral Program Context: If possible, tailor a case study or highlight aspects of your work that are relevant to user acquisition, engagement, or incentive programs.

• Demonstrate Ownership: Clearly articulate your role and contributions, especially if it was a team project. Emphasize instances where you took initiative and owned the design process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Product Discovery: Be ready to articulate how you would approach understanding the user (promoters) and the referral program's goals.

• Figma Proficiency: If a practical challenge is given, be prepared to work efficiently in Figma under time constraints.

• Communicate Your Process: For any challenge, focus on clearly explaining your thought process, research approach, and design rationale, rather than just presenting a final solution.

• Understand Fintech Context: Familiarize yourself with common fintech user experiences, challenges, and trends in Southeast Asia.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes "owning product design" and "proactively bringing insights," so interviewers will likely probe deeply into your decision-making process, your initiative in uncovering user needs, and your ability to drive innovation. Be prepared to discuss how you translate insights into tangible design solutions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly mentioned as a required skill with an expectation of advanced proficiency. Candidates must be comfortable with its full suite of features, including auto-layouts, slots, variables, and advanced prototyping.

• Productivity Software: Standard office suite tools (e.g., Google Workspace) for documentation, collaboration, and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with designing and interpreting results from A/B tests is a key requirement for validating design decisions. Specific tools are not named, but familiarity with common platforms is expected.

• Analytics Platforms: While not explicitly listed, a product designer in this role would benefit from familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and product performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Design System Tools: Proficiency in maintaining and utilizing design systems, which often involves tools for component management and documentation.

• Collaboration Tools: Tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, or similar platforms are likely used for team communication, project management, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of advanced Figma features like "slots" and "variables" indicates that Salmon Group is likely utilizing cutting-edge design system practices within Figma. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these specific functionalities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value, evidenced by the emphasis on understanding and delighting users through design and research.

• Meritocracy: Performance and results are paramount. Contributions are recognized and rewarded based on merit.

• Innovation & Experimentation: The company encourages building, breaking, and fixing things, indicating a culture that embraces experimentation and learning from failures.

• Speed & Execution: The ability to launch products in 3-4 months highlights a value placed on agility and efficient delivery.

• Global Mindset: Working with an international team fosters a value for diversity, cross-cultural collaboration, and global perspective.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with product management and engineering, suggesting a highly integrated team approach to product development.

• Proactive Communication: Given the international and remote nature, expect a strong emphasis on clear, proactive, and often asynchronous communication.

• Design System Collaboration: A shared responsibility for the design system implies a collaborative approach to maintaining standards and sharing knowledge among designers.

• Feedback-Oriented: The culture encourages building, breaking, and fixing, which inherently involves giving and receiving constructive feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "meritocracy" value is a key differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they measure their own success and contribute to team goals in a way that demonstrably adds value.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Designing for a rapidly growing user base (millions of Filipinos) while maintaining a high standard of user experience and technical performance.

• Navigating a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to rapid product launch cycles and evolving priorities in a dynamic fintech startup.

• Cross-Cultural Design: Designing for a diverse user base within the Philippines and potentially for future international markets, requiring sensitivity to cultural nuances.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring seamless collaboration and clear communication across different time zones and geographical locations.

• Technical Constraints vs. Design Ambition: Working closely with engineering to balance ambitious design ideas with technical feasibility and development timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the financial technology sector, neobanking operations, and user behavior within this domain.

• Advanced Design System Skills: Gain hands-on experience with sophisticated design system implementations using Figma's latest features.

• International Product Strategy: Contribute to and learn from the company's global expansion efforts.

• Rapid Product Development Cycles: Hone skills in agile methodologies and efficient product iteration.

• Leadership Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers or lead design initiatives, fostering leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of "balancing innovation with scalability" is particularly relevant for a fintech serving millions. Designers will need to think about how their solutions perform under heavy load and maintain usability as the user base grows.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you took the initiative to uncover a user need that wasn't immediately apparent. How did you validate it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus: Proactive research, validation, impact)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our referral program to increase promoter engagement, considering our target users (cashiers, guards, merchandisers)?" (Focus: User empathy, problem-solving, design process)

• "Walk us through a complex mobile-first project from your portfolio. What were the key design challenges, and how did you leverage Figma to overcome them?" (Focus: Portfolio walkthrough, Figma skills, problem-solving) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working in the fintech/neobanking space, particularly in Southeast Asia?" (Focus: Industry interest, market awareness)

• "How do you contribute to a team culture that values meritocracy and rapid execution?" (Focus: Cultural fit, performance orientation)

• "Describe your experience working in a remote or internationally distributed team. How do you ensure effective collaboration?" (Focus: Remote work experience, communication skills) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the research and discovery process, key design decisions with rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to demonstrate specific Figma workflows, complex prototypes, or how you've utilized advanced features like variables or auto-layout for efficiency and scalability.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss anticipated impact or qualitative feedback.

• Emphasize User-Centricity: Clearly articulate how user needs and feedback drove your design decisions. Highlight instances of user research, testing, or field trips.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the specific user personas mentioned (cashiers, security guards, merchandisers) and how you might design for their unique needs and contexts within the Philippines.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features mobile-first projects and showcases advanced Figma skills. Highlight case studies that demonstrate your product discovery, research, and end-to-end design process, emphasizing user-centricity and measurable impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to highlight your 3+ years of experience, specific achievements in product design, proficiency with Figma and research methodologies, and any experience relevant to fintech or mobile applications.

• Prepare for Interview Questions: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and how you contribute to a fast-paced, meritocratic, and user-centric environment. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Research Salmon Group: Familiarize yourself with Salmon Group's mission, target market (millions of Filipinos), and their neobank ambitions. Understand the referral program's objective and its importance to the company's growth strategy.

⚠️ 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.