Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: S&P Global

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX / AI Product Development

Date Posted: May 13, 2026

Experience Level: 4-7 years (Mid to Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the user experience and design strategy for Spark Assist, an enterprise Generative AI (GenAI) tool scaling across S&P Global, focusing on financial professionals.

• Drive product direction and roadmap through strategic partnerships with leadership and direct customer engagement, operating autonomously at the intersection of AI, financial workflows, and rapid iteration.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including discovery interviews and concept testing, to translate findings into actionable design decisions and product strategy for conversational and agentic AI interfaces.

• Champion responsible AI principles, including transparency, explainability, accessibility, and trust signals within high-stakes financial data contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Kensho, S&P Global's AI innovation hub, indicating a fast-paced, startup-like environment within a large financial institution. The emphasis on "shipping at pace" and "short cycles" suggests a need for a designer comfortable with rapid prototyping and iterative development rather than lengthy, formal processes. The "Product Designer" title, combined with the responsibilities, points towards a UX/Product Design role with a strong emphasis on AI product development and strategic influence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design strategy and execution for Spark Assist across web and potential mobile surfaces, from initial conceptualization to high-fidelity production.

• Act as a strategic thought partner to Heads of Product and Engineering, actively contributing to roadmap prioritization, problem framing, and providing critical design-centric feedback.

• Design, plan, and execute user research initiatives with internal analysts and researchers, encompassing discovery interviews, concept testing, and usability studies, with a focus on informing product direction.

• Define and refine unique interaction patterns for GenAI applications, including streaming/loading states, confidence indicators, error handling, feedback loops, and progressive disclosure of complex outputs.

• Develop interactive prototypes using code or "vibe coding" (e.g., Figma Make, Claude Code) to rapidly test hypotheses and demonstrate design intent effectively.

• Scope, brief, and meticulously review design and development work to ensure high quality standards and maintain design coherence across the product.

• Contribute to the development and evolution of the design system to ensure consistency and scalability for Spark Assist and related products.

• Advocate for and embed principles of transparency, explainability, accessibility, and responsible AI into all product shipping, ensuring users trust and can act upon AI-generated outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "coding or vibe coding" and "prototyping quickly" suggests a need for a designer who is technically adept and can bridge the gap between design and development, especially in the context of rapidly evolving AI technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in HCI, cognitive science, or a related discipline is considered a significant plus, indicating a preference for candidates with a strong theoretical and practical understanding of user behavior and interaction.

Experience: 4–7 years of dedicated product design experience, with a crucial requirement for at least a portion of this experience to be within a financial services company, fintech startup, or a closely related finance-adjacent firm. This ensures a deep understanding of how financial professionals (analysts, researchers, etc.) operate daily.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing for AI or data-dense products, with specific familiarity with LLM-based interfaces (chatbots, agents, generative tools) and their unique design challenges.

• Hands-on user research capabilities, including planning, conducting, or actively participating in user research studies.

• Proficiency in Figma and modern design system practices, ensuring consistent and scalable design solutions.

• Coding or "vibe coding" fluency, comfortable with HTML/CSS and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma Make, Claude Code) to build interactive prototypes and collaborate effectively with engineering.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of leading discussions with senior leadership, briefing contractors, giving/receiving direct feedback, and producing clear, decision-driving research readouts.

• Demonstrated ability to handle ambiguity and a strong bias for shipping, prioritizing rapid deployment of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) over delayed, more polished versions.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong financial industry context (e.g., familiarity with sell-side/buy-side workflows, market data, research distribution).

• Experience designing GenAI and/or productivity tools specifically within a financial institution or fintech environment.

• A well-defined point of view on UX patterns for Large Language Models (LLMs) and agentic systems.

• Track record of mentoring junior designers or managing external design contractors.

• Genuine curiosity about the impact of AI on financial workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for financial services experience and familiarity with LLM interfaces is critical. The "coding or vibe coding" fluency is a key differentiator, suggesting that this role is not purely conceptual but requires a designer who can actively contribute to prototyping and technical collaboration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Range: Demonstrate strategic thinking beyond just polished screens; showcase how you framed ambiguous problems, influenced product direction, and successfully shipped products in fast-paced environments.

• AI/Data-Dense Product Design: Include case studies that specifically highlight your experience designing for AI-driven tools, LLM interfaces, or complex, data-intensive applications.

• User Research Integration: Provide clear examples of how user research findings directly informed your design decisions and shaped the product's evolution.

• Rapid Prototyping & Iteration: Showcase examples of quickly built prototypes (potentially including code snippets or links to interactive demos) that were used to test hypotheses or communicate design intent.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Illustrate how you mapped out user workflows, identified pain points, and designed solutions to optimize efficiency, especially within financial professional contexts.

• System Implementation Standards: Show evidence of designing for integration within existing enterprise systems, considering data flow and user experience across different touchpoints.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Present how you've used metrics, user feedback, and analytics to evaluate the success of your designs and iterate on product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is expected to be more than just visual design. It needs to demonstrate strategic impact, a deep understanding of AI/data products, and the ability to execute rapidly with technical proficiency, particularly in the context of financial workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on S&P Global's typical compensation structures for professional roles in London and the specified experience level (4-7 years), a competitive salary range for a Product Designer in London would likely be between £65,000 to £90,000 per annum. This estimate considers the seniority of the role, the specialized AI/Fintech domain, and the cost of living in London.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health care coverage designed for both physical and mental well-being.

• Flexible Downtime: Generous paid time off and vacation policies to promote work-life balance and employee energy.

• Continuous Learning: Access to extensive resources for professional development, including training programs and educational materials.

• Invest in Your Future: Competitive salary, robust retirement planning options, a continuing education program, and a company-matched student loan contribution.

• Financial Wellness Programs: Resources and support to help employees manage their finances effectively.

• Family Friendly Perks: Best-in-class benefits designed to support employees with families.

• Beyond the Basics: Includes perks like retail discounts and referral incentive awards.

Working Hours: The role specifies 35 hours per week, which is common for professional roles in the UK, often indicating a standard Monday-Friday work schedule with some flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers in London with 4-7 years of experience, particularly in specialized sectors like FinTech/AI. S&P Global's benefits package is extensive, covering health, financial well-being, and professional growth, aligning with their commitment to employee support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Information and Analytics. S&P Global operates at the forefront of providing essential intelligence for financial markets, credit ratings, benchmarks, and analytics. This context is crucial for understanding the high-stakes nature of the products and the user needs.

Company Size: Over 35,000 employees globally. This signifies a large, established organization with significant resources, but also the potential for a more structured environment, counterbalanced by the "startup instinct" of Kensho.

Founded: S&P Global has a long history, with roots tracing back to 1860. This legacy implies stability and deep market knowledge. Kensho, the AI hub, represents a forward-looking innovation arm.

Team Structure:

• Kensho Hub: Spark Assist is developed within Kensho, S&P Global's AI innovation hub, which operates with a "startup instinct" – short cycles, urgency, resourcefulness, and minimal process.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The Product Designer will partner directly with Heads of Product and Engineering, indicating a close-knit, collaborative team structure focused on rapid iteration.

• Reporting: The role is described as having autonomy and partnering directly with leadership, suggesting a flat hierarchy within the immediate product team, though the broader organization is large.

Methodology:

• Agile & Iterative: The emphasis on "short cycles, urgency, resourcefulness, and as little process as possible" points to an agile development methodology focused on rapid iteration and continuous delivery.

• Data-Driven Design: User research and data analysis are highlighted as core to informing design decisions and product direction, suggesting a strong reliance on evidence-based design practices.

• Responsible AI: A fundamental methodology is the commitment to transparency, explainability, accessibility, and trustworthiness in AI product development.

Company Website: https://www.spglobal.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual nature of S&P Global (large, established institution) and Kensho (agile, innovative hub) is a key cultural aspect. The Product Designer must thrive in an environment that balances corporate structure with startup agility, leveraging Kensho's lean processes while adhering to S&P Global's broader standards for integrity and data security.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a mid-to-senior level Product Designer position. It involves leading design strategy for a critical product, acting as a strategic partner to leadership, and having significant autonomy. It's not an entry-level design role; it requires substantial experience and demonstrated impact.

Reporting Structure: While the specific reporting line isn't detailed, the role "partners directly with leadership and customers" and works within the Kensho AI hub. This suggests reporting to a senior design lead, Head of Product, or Head of Engineering within Kensho, with significant direct interaction with other senior stakeholders across Product and Engineering.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the productivity of over 44,000 internal users by shaping Spark Assist, an enterprise GenAI tool. Success in this role means enhancing research, analysis, and daily knowledge work across the entire company, leading to improved efficiency and deeper insights. The design choices will directly influence user adoption, trust in AI, and the overall effectiveness of S&P Global's internal operations.

Growth Opportunities:

• AI Product Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing complex GenAI and LLM-based applications within a leading financial institution.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Potential to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or manage external contractors as the Spark Assist product and team scale.

• Strategic Influence: Grow influence within S&P Global by shaping the direction of key AI products and contributing to the broader AI strategy.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop stronger collaboration and communication skills by working closely with Product Management, Engineering, and business stakeholders.

• Design System Evolution: Contribute to and lead the expansion of design systems for AI-powered products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential is strong, particularly for those looking to specialize in AI product design within the financial sector. The role offers a unique opportunity to influence a product used company-wide and to develop strategic design leadership skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in the London office (25 Ropemaker Street), indicating a hybrid work environment. The description mentions a "mix of in-office collaboration and async work across time zones," suggesting a structured hybrid model where in-office days are likely dedicated to collaborative activities.

Office Location(s): The primary office is in London, United Kingdom. This location offers access to a major financial and tech hub, with excellent public transport links.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "in-office collaboration" suggests a workspace designed to foster teamwork, brainstorming, and direct interaction with colleagues.

• Tools & Technology: While specific tools are detailed in their own section, the environment likely provides access to modern design software, high-performance computing for AI tools, and robust communication platforms.

• Team Interaction: Expect frequent interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and other designers within the Kensho hub, as well as engagement with internal users across various S&P Global departments.

Work Schedule: The role specifies 35 working hours per week. While this is a standard full-time commitment, the "startup instinct" of Kensho might imply a need for flexibility and a focus on outcomes rather than strict adherence to hours, especially during critical development phases. The hybrid nature allows for a balance between focused individual work and collaborative team sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a central London office is a significant draw. The emphasis on in-office collaboration suggests that candidates should be comfortable with regular office presence and actively engaging with their team in person.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A crucial stage where candidates present their portfolio, discussing case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking, AI/data product design, user research integration, and rapid prototyping. A design challenge, possibly focused on a specific AI interaction pattern or a problem related to financial workflows, may be assigned.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers within Kensho to assess technical skills, collaborative style, and problem-solving approach.

• Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product/Engineering for Kensho) to evaluate strategic alignment, vision, and overall fit for the role and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Storytelling: Frame your case studies around the problem, your process (emphasizing research and iteration), your design decisions, and the measurable impact of your work. Clearly articulate why you made certain choices.

• Highlight AI/Financial Context: Explicitly showcase projects related to AI, LLMs, or financial services. Demonstrate your understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in these domains.

• Showcase "Vibe Coding" & Prototyping: Include examples of interactive prototypes, especially those built with code or advanced prototyping tools. Explain how these accelerated your design process or validated concepts.

• Emphasize Impact & Iteration: Quantify results where possible (e.g., user engagement, efficiency gains) and explain how you iterated based on feedback or data. Show your comfort with shipping and learning.

• Prepare for Ambiguity: Be ready to discuss how you navigate unclear requirements and drive clarity in a fast-paced environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand GenAI UX: Refresh your knowledge of current best practices and emerging patterns for conversational AI, agentic systems, and generative interfaces.

• Financial Workflow Acumen: If possible, research common workflows for financial analysts or researchers to better understand the context.

• Problem Framing: Practice dissecting ambiguous problems and articulating a clear, structured approach to solving them, focusing on user needs and business objectives.

• Communication Clarity: Prepare to articulate your thought process clearly and concisely, both verbally and visually, especially if presenting design choices or challenge solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates must demonstrate not just design skills but strategic thinking, a deep understanding of AI/Fintech, and the ability to execute rapidly, evidenced through case studies and potentially a hands-on design challenge.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert proficiency is a must for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience with creating, maintaining, or contributing to design systems is essential for ensuring product coherence and scalability.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma Make, Claude Code, or similar "vibe coding" tools for building interactive prototypes and validating concepts quickly.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to work with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to track user behavior and measure the impact of design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

Other Relevant Technologies:

• HTML/CSS: Foundational knowledge for effective collaboration with engineers and for "vibe coding" prototypes.

• Generative AI & LLM Technologies: Familiarity with the underlying concepts and user interaction patterns of these technologies is critical.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and design systems is standard. The key differentiator here is the expectation of comfort with "vibe coding" and an understanding of GenAI/LLM interfaces, highlighting the role's technical depth.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity: As a core S&P Global value, this translates to ethical design practices, responsible AI, data privacy, and building trustworthy user experiences, especially crucial in finance.

• Discovery: A spirit of curiosity and continuous learning, essential for exploring new AI capabilities and user needs in a rapidly evolving field. This aligns with Kensho's "startup instinct."

• Partnership: Close collaboration with product, engineering, and internal customers to achieve shared goals. This means being a proactive and supportive team member.

• Efficiency & Pace: A strong bias for shipping and rapid iteration, valuing speed and resourcefulness, characteristic of Kensho's operational model.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using user research and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work very closely with Product Managers and Engineers, acting as a unified team to deliver value.

• Direct Feedback Culture: The environment encourages giving and receiving direct feedback, essential for rapid iteration and continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that likely values sharing insights from research, design explorations, and technical learnings, fostering collective growth.

• Autonomy with Accountability: Individuals are given the freedom to operate independently but are expected to deliver results and be accountable for their contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of S&P Global's established values (Integrity, Discovery, Partnership) with Kensho's agile operational ethos (speed, resourcefulness, minimal process) defines the team culture. Candidates should be adaptable and comfortable with direct communication and rapid feedback loops.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating AI Ambiguity: Designing for GenAI and LLMs involves inherent complexities and rapidly evolving best practices. Staying ahead of the curve and translating abstract capabilities into intuitive user experiences is a key challenge.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The "ship at pace" mentality of Kensho can create tension with the need for thorough user research, robust design systems, and responsible AI principles. The designer must find effective ways to balance these.

• User Trust in AI: Building trust and ensuring explainability for AI outputs in a high-stakes financial context is critical and challenging. Users need to feel confident in the AI's reliability and accuracy.

• Integrating with Enterprise Systems: Ensuring seamless integration of the AI tool within S&P Global's existing complex enterprise infrastructure while maintaining a superior user experience.

• Scaling Design Operations: As Spark Assist grows, scaling the design process, team, and design system efficiently will be an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI/Fintech UX: Become a go-to expert in designing for advanced AI applications within the financial industry.

• Strategic Leadership: Develop skills in product strategy, roadmap planning, and influencing executive decisions.

• Mentorship and Management: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially manage design resources.

• Continuous Skill Enhancement: Access to S&P Global's extensive learning resources for staying updated on design trends, AI technologies, and financial market knowledge.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences or engage with the broader AI and FinTech design communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth by tackling complex, cutting-edge challenges in AI and financial technology, providing ample opportunities for skill development and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to frame an ambiguous problem for an AI product. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, user research, and strategic impact).

• "How do you approach building trust and ensuring explainability in AI-generated outputs for users in high-stakes environments like finance?" (Demonstrate understanding of responsible AI principles and user needs).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about S&P Global's mission and Kensho's approach to AI innovation?" (Show you've researched the company and understand its unique position).

• "How do you balance the need for speed and rapid iteration with maintaining design quality and ethical considerations in your work?" (Address Kensho's culture vs. S&P Global's values).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around the "story" of each case study: the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the solution, and the impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., user adoption, efficiency gains, satisfaction scores).

• Showcase AI/Fintech Relevance: Clearly articulate how your experience aligns with the specific requirements of designing for GenAI in financial services.

• Demonstrate Technical Dexterity: Be prepared to discuss your "vibe coding" approaches and how you leverage tools to accelerate design and validate concepts.

• Engage and Discuss: Make it a conversation. Be ready to answer questions about your decisions, trade-offs, and how you'd approach future challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, hands-on AI/Fintech design experience, rapid prototyping capabilities, and your ability to thrive in Kensho's agile yet responsible environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature case studies showcasing your experience with AI/GenAI products, financial workflows, user research, and rapid prototyping. Highlight your strategic contributions and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 4-7 years of relevant experience, specifically mentioning financial services or fintech backgrounds, and lists key skills like Figma, user research, and GenAI design. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and specific examples of how you've driven product direction and shipped products at pace. Prepare to discuss your understanding of responsible AI and financial industry context.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research S&P Global, Kensho, and the Spark Assist product. Understand their mission, values, and the challenges of designing AI tools for enterprise financial professionals.

⚠️ 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.