Product Designer, Contract Orchestration

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Contract Orchestration

Company: Zip

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI (with GTM Operations implications)

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing user-facing features within Zip's AI platform for enterprise procurement, specifically within the Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) domain.

• You will be instrumental in enhancing procurement workflows by designing features that leverage AI for contract redlining, renewals, and obligation management.

• The position requires a strong blend of UX research, visual design, and prototyping skills to translate complex enterprise needs into intuitive, consumer-grade experiences.

• Collaboration is key, involving close partnerships with engineers, product managers, go-to-market stakeholders, and customer-facing teams to ensure successful feature conception and launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Product Designer," its focus on "Contract Orchestration" within an "AI platform for enterprise procurement" positions it at the intersection of product design and Go-To-Market (GTM) operations. The design decisions will directly impact procurement workflows, efficiency, and the adoption of enterprise software, making operational efficiency and user adoption critical success factors.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the end-to-end design of Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) features, from initial concept and user research through to final launch and iteration.

• Actively partner with Engineering, Product Management, and Go-To-Market (GTM) stakeholders to brainstorm, define requirements, and implement new features and product offerings that enhance procurement operations.

• Collaborate closely with product and customer-facing teams to conduct user research (UX Research), validate design concepts, and develop thoughtful, user-centric solutions for complex enterprise workflows.

• Iterate rapidly on designs based on direct user feedback, usability testing, and performance data to ensure optimal user experience and operational effectiveness.

• Participate in regular design reviews with the broader design team to share work, receive constructive feedback, and contribute to the overall design strategy and standards.

• Work alongside other product designers across the organization to understand diverse team needs and ensure cohesive design principles and user experiences throughout the Zip platform.

• Design for AI-driven functionalities within the CLM space, ensuring intuitive integration and clear value proposition for legal and procurement teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on cross-functional collaboration and user-centric design, which are critical for successful GTM operations and product adoption in enterprise software. The emphasis on "contract orchestration" and "AI sensibly" suggests a need for designers to understand procurement processes and the practical application of AI in streamlining these operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and design thinking is essential. A degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 3-5+ years of professional design experience, preferably within a startup environment or a similarly resource-constrained organization that emphasizes rapid iteration and shipping high-quality designs. Proven experience in leading the design of at least one full product or significant feature from concept to launch is required.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: End-to-end design experience, from ideation to launch, for complex software applications.

• UX Research & User Testing: Proficiency in conducting user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing feedback to inform design decisions.

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sense with the ability to create clean, intuitive, and engaging user interfaces that align with brand guidelines.

• Prototyping: Expertise in creating interactive prototypes using tools like Figma to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Enterprise Software Acumen: Understanding of common enterprise workflows, particularly in procurement or legal domains, and the challenges users face.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Experience or demonstrated interest in leveraging AI tools (e.g., Claude, Figma Make, Cursor) within the design workflow to enhance productivity and ideation.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with engineers, product managers, and GTM teams.

• Usability Principles: Deep understanding of usability heuristics and best practices for creating accessible and user-friendly interfaces.

• Technical Constraints Awareness: Understanding of the technical limitations and possibilities inherent in building web applications.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) or related legal/procurement software.

• Familiarity with AI-driven features and their user experience implications.

• Experience with design systems and component-based design.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement to "build with AI tools in your own workflow" indicates a forward-thinking approach by Zip, valuing designers who are early adopters of technology that can enhance their own productivity and potentially inform future product capabilities. This also suggests that understanding AI's role in enterprise workflows is a plus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least one comprehensive case study detailing a product or significant feature shipped from concept to launch, highlighting your specific contributions and design process.

• Problem/Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed, the design process undertaken, and the final solution's impact.

• User-Centricity Demonstration: Evidence of UX research, user testing, and how user feedback directly influenced design iterations and decisions.

• Visual & Interaction Design: Present high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that demonstrate strong visual design skills and intuitive interaction patterns.

• Technical Considerations: Briefly touch upon technical constraints considered during the design process.

• AI Integration Examples: If possible, include examples where AI was considered or integrated into the design solution, or how AI tools were used in your workflow.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate an ability to map out and optimize complex user workflows, particularly within enterprise software contexts.

• Iterative Design: Illustrate a process of rapid iteration based on feedback, showcasing how designs evolved.

• Collaboration Artifacts: Include examples of how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (e.g., design reviews, user feedback sessions).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on enterprise software and contract orchestration, a portfolio should emphasize the ability to translate complex business requirements into user-friendly interfaces and demonstrate how design decisions drive operational efficiency and user adoption. Case studies should ideally touch upon the challenges of B2B SaaS design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 USD per year.

Explanation: This range is typical for a mid-level Product Designer in San Francisco, California, a high-cost-of-living area with a strong tech industry. Factors influencing the specific offer include the candidate's years of relevant experience, depth of skills, and performance during the interview process.

Benefits:

• 📈 Start-up equity: Opportunity to gain ownership in a rapidly growing company.

• 🦷 100% health, vision & dental coverage options: Comprehensive medical coverage for employees.

• 🍽️ Catered breakfast, lunch, & dinner: Convenient and high-quality meals provided on-site.

• 🌴 Flexible PTO: Encourages work-life balance and allows employees to take time off as needed.

• 🏋️‍♀️ ClassPass membership: Support for employee wellness and fitness.

• 🚍 Monthly commuter benefit: Assistance with transportation costs.

• 🚠 Team building events & happy hours: Fosters a strong team culture and camaraderie.

• 💻 Home office stipend: Supports remote work setup and comfort.

• 🛜 Phone/internet reimbursement: Covers essential communication costs for hybrid/remote work.

• 🏠 Hybrid model + 5 flexible remote days per quarter: Offers a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• 🍼 Paid parental leave: Support for new parents.

• 🐣 Fertility benefits: Comprehensive benefits for family planning.

• 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Provides confidential support for personal and professional challenges.

• 🤖 Unlimited AI token usage: Access to cutting-edge AI tools for productivity and innovation.

Working Hours: The standard work week is typically 40 hours, with flexibility expected given the hybrid nature of the role and the fast-paced startup environment. Core working hours will likely align with team collaboration needs, particularly during the 3 days spent in the San Francisco office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of "Unlimited AI token usage" as a benefit is a unique differentiator, directly aligning with the company's focus on AI and empowering employees to leverage these tools. The salary range is competitive for a San Francisco-based designer with 3-5 years of experience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (SaaS, Enterprise Software, AI, Fintech)

Company Size: Zip is a rapidly growing startup, having raised significant funding and achieving a $2.2 billion valuation. This indicates a company that is past the early seed stage and is scaling its operations, product, and team.

Founded: Zip was founded with a mission to revolutionize enterprise procurement through AI. Its founding principles likely emphasize innovation, speed, and a customer-centric approach, aiming to disrupt traditional procurement processes.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: The designer will join an existing design team, implying opportunities for mentorship, peer feedback, and collaboration within a specialized function. This team likely includes experienced designers who can guide junior members.

• Cross-functional Pods: The role involves close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, suggesting a matrixed or "squad" structure where designers are embedded within product teams to drive specific feature development.

• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, designers typically report to a Design Lead or Head of Design, who oversees the design function and strategy.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Zip likely operates using agile methodologies, requiring designers to adapt to iterative development cycles, sprint planning, and continuous feedback loops.

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on user research, testing, and metrics suggests a data-informed approach to design decisions, aiming to optimize user experience and business outcomes.

• AI Integration: A core aspect of Zip's methodology is the integration of AI agents and capabilities into its platform, impacting how products are conceived, designed, and utilized.

Company Website: zip.co

📝 Enhancement Note: Zip's positioning as an AI-powered platform for enterprise procurement suggests a culture that values innovation, speed, and a deep understanding of complex business processes. The company's rapid growth and significant funding indicate a dynamic and ambitious environment where designers can have a substantial impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer (3-5+ years of experience). It offers the opportunity to take ownership of significant features within a specialized area (Contract Orchestration) and contribute directly to the company's core product offering. This level typically involves executing designs with guidance and starting to influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager within the product organization. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers on a dedicated team focused on Contract Orchestration, fostering a collaborative and cross-functional reporting dynamic.

Operations Impact: As a Product Designer on the Contract Orchestration team, your work will directly influence how large enterprises manage their contracts. Successful designs will lead to:

• Increased Procurement Efficiency: Streamlining contract redlining, renewals, and obligation management reduces manual effort and speeds up critical business processes.

• Cost Savings: Better contract management can prevent missed renewal opportunities or identify cost-saving measures.

• Risk Mitigation: Ensuring compliance and timely management of contract obligations reduces legal and financial risks for clients.

• User Adoption & Satisfaction: Creating intuitive, consumer-grade experiences for complex enterprise tools drives higher adoption rates and customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) and AI-driven solutions for procurement.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Designer role, leading larger initiatives or mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working across different product areas and collaborating with diverse stakeholders in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in UX research, visual design, prototyping, and the application of AI in product design.

• Impactful Projects: Work on high-visibility features used by Fortune 500 companies, offering tangible proof of impact for future career growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a rapidly scaling tech company. The focus on a critical business function like procurement, combined with AI innovation, provides a unique and valuable skill set for a designer's career progression in enterprise SaaS.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Zip operates a hybrid work model, requiring employees to be in the San Francisco office 3 days per week. This suggests a modern office space designed to facilitate collaboration, team meetings, and focused work.

Office Location(s): The role is based in San Francisco, California. Specific office details (address, amenities) would be provided upon hire, but it's located in a major tech hub known for its collaborative and innovative work environments.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model is designed to balance in-office synergy with remote flexibility. Expect opportunities for spontaneous brainstorming, in-person design reviews, and team-building activities.

• Operations Tools & Technology: The design team will have access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma) and potentially advanced AI tools, supported by company stipends for home office setups and internet.

• Team Interaction: The 3-day in-office requirement is specifically to foster close collaboration with engineers, PMs, and other designers, ensuring seamless communication and alignment on product development.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility. The hybrid model means specific days in the office will be coordinated with the team to maximize collaborative benefits. The fast-paced startup environment may occasionally require extended hours to meet deadlines, but the company culture emphasizes work-life balance with flexible PTO.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific in-office days is a strategic choice to foster collaboration critical for rapid product development in a startup. Designers should be prepared for an environment that values both focused individual work and dynamic team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screen: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role.

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A deeper dive into your portfolio, likely involving a presentation of 1-2 case studies. This may be followed by a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual whiteboarding session focused on problem-solving and design thinking.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (other designers, PMs, engineers) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and technical understanding.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final conversation with the hiring manager to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and crucially, the impact of your design (e.g., user adoption metrics, efficiency gains, cost savings).

• Showcase Process: Detail your design thinking, from user research and ideation to iteration and final implementation. Explain why you made certain design choices.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, demonstrate how you worked with engineers, PMs, and other stakeholders.

• Tailor to Zip: Emphasize any experience with enterprise software, procurement, AI, or complex workflows. Showcase your ability to use AI tools in your workflow.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Zip, its product (especially CLM), and the enterprise procurement landscape.

• Practice Problem Solving: Be ready to tackle design challenges related to complex workflows, user adoption, or AI integration in enterprise settings.

• Articulate Your Thinking: Clearly explain your thought process, assumptions, and trade-offs during any design exercise.

• Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready for each interviewer about the team, product, challenges, and company culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Contract Orchestration" and "AI" in the role title means interviewers will likely probe your understanding of these domains. Be prepared to discuss how design can simplify complex B2B processes and integrate emerging technologies effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the primary design tool mentioned explicitly and is standard for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect extensive use for wireframing, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototyping.

• AI Design Tools: Explicitly mentioned are Claude, Figma Make, and Cursor. Proficiency or familiarity with integrating these into a design workflow is a significant plus. This could range from using AI for ideation, content generation, to rapid prototyping.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not specified, designers at Zip will likely work with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior, feature adoption, and identify areas for design improvement.

• Collaboration with data analysts or PMs for reporting on design success metrics will be common. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by designers, understanding how their designs impact the CRM and procurement automation workflows (e.g., Salesforce, Coupa, or Zip's own platform) is beneficial for context.

• Familiarity with design systems and component libraries will be crucial for maintaining consistency across the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools like Claude, Figma Make, and Cursor suggests that Zip is not just building AI into its product but also encouraging its use internally to boost designer productivity and innovation. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience or willingness to learn these tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking initiative and responsibility for features and outcomes, common in fast-paced startups.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparency, direct feedback, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Underdog Mindset: A drive to challenge the status quo and work hard to achieve ambitious goals, often associated with growth-stage companies.

• Pace of Innovation: A strong emphasis on moving quickly, iterating, and delivering value to customers at an accelerated rate.

• Customer Centricity: Deeply understanding user needs and designing solutions that provide tangible value, particularly for enterprise clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply embedded with Product Managers and Engineers, working as a cohesive unit to drive product development.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values constructive feedback, both given and received, to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Agile & Iterative: The team likely embraces agile principles, working in sprints and adapting designs based on ongoing learning and user input.

• AI-Augmented: Collaboration may involve leveraging AI tools to speed up workflows, generate ideas, and enhance output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values like "ownership," "underdog mindset," and "pace of innovation" are indicative of a demanding yet rewarding startup environment. Designers who thrive in ambiguity and are driven by impact will likely find this culture appealing.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Translating intricate enterprise procurement and legal workflows into intuitive user experiences requires deep empathy and analytical skill.

• Balancing Speed and Craft: The startup environment demands rapid iteration, which can be challenging when maintaining a high standard of design quality and user experience.

• AI Integration Nuances: Effectively designing AI-powered features that are trustworthy, transparent, and genuinely helpful for users, rather than just a buzzword.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across design, engineering, and product management, especially in a fast-paced environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into CLM & Procurement: Gain specialized knowledge in a critical B2B SaaS domain.

• Mastering AI in Design: Become proficient in leveraging AI tools for design workflows and understanding AI's role in enterprise products.

• Growth within a Scaling Company: Opportunities for advancement as Zip continues to grow, potentially into senior or lead design roles.

• Exposure to Enterprise Clients: Work with and learn from some of the world's leading companies, understanding their operational challenges and needs.

• Mentorship: Access to experienced designers and product leaders within Zip.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a designer in a high-growth enterprise SaaS company, particularly one focused on AI. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a chance to develop highly sought-after skills in a cutting-edge field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a feature for a complex enterprise workflow. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you address them?" (Focus on your process, user research, and problem-solving.)

• "How would you approach designing an AI-driven feature for contract renewal notifications? What user needs would you prioritize, and what potential pitfalls would you anticipate?" (Assess your understanding of AI product design and user empathy.)

• "Walk us through a case study from your portfolio where you collaborated closely with engineers and PMs. What was your role, and how did you ensure alignment and successful execution?" (Evaluate your collaboration and communication skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what excites you most about Zip's mission and its role in enterprise procurement?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the company's value proposition.)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with Zip's values of ownership, open communication, and an underdog mindset?" (Assess cultural fit.)

• "How would you measure the success of a design you shipped for our Contract Orchestration team?" (Focus on quantifiable metrics and impact on operations.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives. Start with the problem, explain your journey, and end with the impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your design decisions and outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion, reduced task completion time, improved user satisfaction scores).

• Highlight AI Use: Clearly articulate how you used AI tools in your workflow or how AI was a component of the product you designed.

• Be Concise: Respect the interviewers' time. Focus on the most critical aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who can not only create beautiful interfaces but also understand the underlying business needs and operational impact of their designs in an enterprise context, especially with AI integration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in enterprise software, product design, UX research, and any exposure to procurement, legal tech, or AI. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 of your strongest end-to-end case studies that best demonstrate your skills relevant to this role (complex workflows, user-centricity, collaboration, AI integration). Ensure clear articulation of the problem, process, solution, and impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and engagingly, focusing on your role, design process, and quantifiable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools.

• Research Zip: Thoroughly understand Zip's product, mission, target market, and company values. Prepare thoughtful questions about the Contract Orchestration team, their challenges, and the design culture.

⚠️ 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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