Product Designer - Native Apps

Rightmove Careers
Full-timeβ€’London, United Kingdom

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Native Apps

Company: Rightmove Careers

Location: London, UK

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design (Native Mobile Applications)

Date Posted: 2026-08-03T10:11:16

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years inferred)

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office, 3 days remote)

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Design and deliver intuitive and engaging native mobile application experiences for both iOS and Android platforms, focusing on the user journey for home seekers and partners.

  • Drive product innovation by translating user insights, research findings, and analytics into actionable design solutions that enhance consumer-partner connections.

  • Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and a broader design team to ensure seamless, cross-platform user experiences that align with business objectives.

  • Contribute to the evolution and application of a robust design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and reusability of components and patterns across native apps.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The role is specifically for "Native Apps," implying a deep focus on iOS and Android platform-specific design principles, capabilities, and constraints. The mention of a "new Partner team" suggests a strategic focus on developing features that bridge consumers with estate agents, new home developers, and build-to-rent developers, requiring a nuanced understanding of B2B2C or partner-centric user flows within a consumer-facing product. The inferred experience level of 5-10 years is based on the expectation of end-to-end shipping experience and the ability to contribute to design system evolution.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead the design process for native mobile features, from initial concept and user research through to high-fidelity UI design and prototyping, ensuring end-to-end ownership.

  • Plan, conduct, and analyze user research studies and usability testing to validate design hypotheses and gather evidence that informs design direction.

  • Leverage user data and analytics to iterate on designs, optimize user flows, and influence product decisions, ensuring a data-informed design approach.

  • Create comprehensive design artifacts, including user journeys, flow diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.

  • Design and refine native interaction patterns for both iOS and Android, ensuring they are intuitive, accessible, and aligned with platform best practices and the company's design system.

  • Partner with Content Designers to craft clear, effective messaging and navigate complex user flows, ensuring a cohesive and user-friendly experience.

  • Champion accessibility and inclusive design principles, ensuring that all designs are usable by a diverse range of users.

  • Actively contribute to the improvement and application of the design system, identifying opportunities for new components and patterns, and providing feedback to the design system team.

  • Engage in commercial discussions with Product Managers, understanding business goals, risks, and technical feasibility to balance user needs with business objectives.

  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of design workflows, practices, and collaboration within the native app teams.

  • Share design work early and often, actively participate in design critiques, and foster collaborative relationships across disciplines.

  • Document design thinking, decisions, and specifications clearly for engineering and delivery teams to ensure accurate implementation.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on role requiring end-to-end design ownership, from discovery to delivery, with a strong emphasis on research, data analysis, and collaboration. The mention of "partnering with Content Design" and "commercial awareness" indicates a need for strong communication and strategic thinking beyond pure UI/UX execution.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mentioned, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a significant focus on native mobile application design (iOS and Android) and end-to-end product development cycles.

Required Skills:

  • Proven experience designing and shipping native mobile applications for iOS and Android.

  • Strong understanding of native iOS and Android design patterns, capabilities, and platform-specific constraints.

  • Proficiency in user research methodologies (planning, execution, analysis) and using insights to drive design decisions.

  • Expertise in creating user journeys, flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using industry-standard design tools.

  • Experience with design systems: applying, contributing to, and maintaining component libraries and pattern guidelines.

  • Ability to design complex user journeys and multi-step interactions with a focus on usability and efficiency.

  • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and align stakeholders.

  • Experience collaborating effectively in cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Content Design, Research).

  • Understanding of accessibility standards and a commitment to inclusive design practices.

  • Familiarity with using data and analytics to inform design iterations and measure impact. Preferred Skills:

  • Experience working in a hybrid environment with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.

  • Curiosity and exploration of emerging design tools and technologies, including responsible use of AI in design workflows.

  • Experience in the real estate or property technology sector.

  • Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.

  • Ability to contribute to design critiques and provide constructive feedback.

  • Experience in balancing usability, commercial objectives, and technical feasibility in design solutions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "What you'll bring to the role" section directly informs the required skills. The emphasis on "end-to-end" experience and "shipping native app experiences" suggests a need for practical, deliverable-focused skills. The mention of AI implies a forward-thinking approach to design tools and processes.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Showcase end-to-end native mobile app design projects (iOS and/or Android) that demonstrate your process from problem definition to shipped product.

  • Include case studies that highlight your approach to user research, problem-solving, interaction design, UI craft, and prototyping.

  • Demonstrate your experience with design systems, including how you've applied, contributed to, or evolved them.

  • Present examples of complex user journeys and multi-step interactions you have designed.

  • Clearly articulate how you've used data, research, and analytics to inform your design decisions and iterate on solutions. Process Documentation:

  • Your portfolio should clearly document your design process, including how you:

    • Define problems and user needs through research and analysis.

    • Ideate and explore solutions through sketching, wireframing, and prototyping.

    • Test and validate designs with users and stakeholders.

    • Collaborate with engineering and product teams for implementation.

    • Iterate based on feedback, data, and performance metrics.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The job description strongly implies a need for a portfolio that showcases native app design experience, end-to-end project ownership, and the ability to leverage research and data. The emphasis on design systems and collaboration means these aspects should also be evident.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the role's seniority, location (London, UK), and the nature of the company (Rightmove is a well-established, large tech company), a competitive salary range is expected. For a Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in London, the typical range could be between Β£60,000 - Β£90,000 per annum. This would be adjusted based on the specific candidate's experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

  • Cash plan for dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments.

  • Private Medical Insurance.

  • Pension scheme (Contributory stakeholder pension).

  • Life Assurance (4x basic salary).

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

  • 27 days of holiday per year, plus two paid volunteering days.

  • Holiday buy schemes.

  • Paid leave for maternity, paternity, adoption, and fertility needs.

  • Travel Loans.

  • Bike to Work scheme.

  • Rental Deposit Loan.

  • Charitable contributions through Payroll Giving and donation matching.

  • Access to deals and discounts on various services (travel, electronics, fashion, gym, cinema, etc.).

  • Hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of 2 days in the office.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time working week, likely around 40 hours. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in location.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Salary is not specified, so a market-based estimate for London is provided. The extensive list of benefits is directly extracted from the job description and highlights the company's commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: Online Property Portals / Real Estate Technology (PropTech). Rightmove is a dominant player in the UK property market, providing a platform for property listings, market insights, and tools for buyers, sellers, renters, and property professionals.

Company Size: Large (implied by "millions of people," "UK's largest choice of properties," and the mention of a "team of 25+ designers"). Rightmove is a publicly listed company with a significant market presence.

Founded: The company was founded in 2000, indicating a mature and established organization with a long history in the digital property space.

Team Structure:

  • The role is within the "Native Apps" team, specifically part of a "new Partner team."

  • You will report to the "Lead Product Designer for Native Apps."

  • You will collaborate with a large design team of "25+ designers, content designers and researchers."

  • Cross-functional collaboration is expected with Product Managers and Engineering teams. Methodology:

  • Data-driven decision-making is emphasized, using "insights and analytics" and "research findings" to validate solutions and drive direction.

  • Collaborative design approach: "Share work early, participate in critiques and collaborate across disciplines."

  • Focus on continuous improvement: "Contribute to improving workflows and design practices."

  • Design system utilization and contribution are key to maintaining consistency and efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by its "Rightmove Hows" values: creating value, thinking bigger, caring deeply, moving together, and making a difference. This indicates a customer-centric, ambitious, inclusive, collaborative, and impact-oriented environment. The mention of employee #1 still working there suggests a strong sense of history and loyalty.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Product Designer role focused on native mobile applications, positioned at a mid-to-senior level. The responsibilities involve end-to-end design ownership, strategic input, and contribution to design systems, indicating a role with significant autonomy and impact.

Reporting Structure: You will report to the Lead Product Designer for Native Apps, who likely manages the product design function for the mobile platforms. This structure provides mentorship and guidance from a senior design leader.

Operations Impact: While this is a design role, its impact is deeply tied to "Revenue Operations" and "GTM" strategies by enhancing the user experience for millions of consumers and facilitating meaningful connections with partners (estate agents, developers). A successful app experience directly drives user engagement, property discovery, and ultimately, partner acquisition and retention, contributing significantly to Rightmove's commercial success and market leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization: Deepen expertise in native mobile design (iOS/Android) and user experience for large-scale platforms.

  • Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or Product Design Manager role, influencing broader design strategy and team development.

  • Cross-functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic partnerships with Product, Engineering, and business stakeholders, impacting product direction.

  • Design System Expertise: Become a key contributor or lead for the design system, driving its adoption and evolution.

  • Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for professional growth within product design, particularly in the mobile space. The emphasis on collaboration and impact suggests a path towards more strategic and leadership-oriented positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the Soho, London office. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, with amenities that support hybrid work.

Office Location(s): Soho, London, UK. This is a central and vibrant business district, offering good transport links and access to amenities.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model necessitates in-office days for team collaboration, design critiques, and cross-functional meetings. The "team of 25+ designers" implies a vibrant design community within the office.

  • Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software, collaboration tools, and potentially internal platforms for research and analytics will be provided.

  • Team Interaction: Opportunities for frequent interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, Content Designers, and other Product Designers, fostering a dynamic and supportive work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for a mix of remote and in-office work. This provides flexibility while ensuring team cohesion and collaboration.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role indicates a modern work environment that balances flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration. The Soho location suggests a dynamic urban setting.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Likely a review of your CV and portfolio to assess experience and fit.

  • Portfolio Presentation: A key stage will involve presenting your portfolio, showcasing your design process, case studies, and impact on previous projects, particularly native app design. Be prepared to discuss your role, challenges, and solutions.

  • Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be given a design problem to solve, either as a take-home exercise or a live working session, to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to articulate your process.

  • Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

  • Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, Director of Product) to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Focus on Native Apps: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your best native iOS and Android design projects.

  • Showcase End-to-End Process: For each case study, detail the problem, your role, research, ideation, design iterations, testing, and the final outcome/impact.

  • Highlight Collaboration: Describe how you worked with Product, Engineering, and other stakeholders.

  • Demonstrate Design System Usage: Show how you've applied or contributed to design systems.

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

  • Be Concise and Clear: Present your work clearly and concisely, focusing on the most relevant aspects for this role.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Problem: Thoroughly analyze any design challenge presented.

  • Define Scope: Clearly articulate assumptions and the scope of your solution.

  • Prioritize: Focus on key user flows and core functionality.

  • Communicate Rationale: Explain your design decisions clearly, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

  • Consider Constraints: Acknowledge technical and commercial constraints.

  • Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your work and rationale, especially for live challenges.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on end-to-end native app design, collaboration, and data-informed decisions will likely be central to the interview process and portfolio review. Preparing specific case studies that highlight these aspects will be crucial.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and collaborative needs), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

  • Prototyping Tools: InVision, ProtoPie, Principle, or Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities.

  • Design System Management: Tools for managing component libraries and documentation (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or internal tools).

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Product Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo for understanding user behavior and feature adoption.

  • Data Visualization: Potentially Tableau, Looker, or Power BI for analyzing user data and performance metrics.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for context, especially when designing partner-facing features.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, common industry-standard design and prototyping tools are assumed. Proficiency in Figma and experience with design system tools are highly probable requirements.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • We create value…: Focus on delivering impactful designs that benefit both consumers and partners, building trust through user-centric solutions.

  • We think bigger…: Embrace curiosity to explore innovative design solutions, including emerging technologies like AI, and set ambitious goals for user experience improvement.

  • We care deeply…: Demonstrate empathy for users and colleagues, foster an inclusive environment, and value diversity in perspectives and design approaches.

  • We move together…: Collaborate effectively within the design team and across departments (Product, Engineering), sharing knowledge and working towards common goals.

  • We make a difference…: Drive measurable impact through design, focusing on user outcomes and business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Content Design to ensure cohesive product development.

  • Open Critique Culture: Actively participate in design critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to improving design practices and workflows, sharing insights and best practices within the design team.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company's stated values ("Rightmove Hows") provide a clear framework for understanding the desired cultural fit and behavioral expectations for designers.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively mediating between consumer desires, partner requirements, business objectives, and technical constraints to deliver optimal solutions.

  • Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and seamless user experience across iOS, Android, and potentially web platforms, while respecting native platform conventions.

  • Evolving Design System: Continuously contributing to and maintaining a design system that scales with the product and supports a large team of designers.

  • Integrating New Technologies: Exploring and responsibly integrating emerging technologies like AI into the design process and user experience.

  • Navigating a Large Organization: Adapting to established processes and collaborating effectively within a large, established company structure.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Mobile Design: Deepen expertise in native mobile UX/UI for complex applications.

  • Design Leadership Skills: Develop skills in mentoring, team collaboration, and influencing product strategy.

  • Industry Trends: Stay abreast of the latest in mobile design, AI in design, and the PropTech industry.

  • Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to product management, engineering challenges, and user research methodologies.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working on a large-scale product with multiple stakeholders and platforms. The growth opportunities align with typical career progression in product design, offering paths for specialization and leadership.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a complex native mobile feature you designed end-to-end. What was the problem, your approach, the key decisions you made, and the outcome?" (Focus on native patterns, research, data, and impact).

  • "How do you ensure a consistent user experience across iOS and Android while respecting platform-specific conventions?" (Assess understanding of native design).

  • "Walk us through your process for contributing to or evolving a design system. How do you balance new component creation with maintaining existing patterns?" (Demonstrate design system thinking).

  • "How do you use data and user research to validate design ideas and iterate on your work?" (Emphasize data-informed design).

  • "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements (e.g., user needs vs. business goals vs. technical limitations)." (Assess negotiation and problem-solving skills). Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about Rightmove's mission and this specific role within the Native Apps Partner team?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the company's vision).

  • "How do you embody Rightmove's values, such as 'We move together' or 'We create value,' in your daily work?" (Align your experiences with their core values).

  • "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers?" (Highlight cross-functional teamwork experience). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: Organize your presentation logically, typically by project case study. Start with the problem, your role, the solution, your process, and the impact.

  • Visuals: Use high-quality visuals of your designs, prototypes, and any relevant data.

  • Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives that highlight your problem-solving journey.

  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, challenges encountered, and alternatives considered.

  • Focus on Impact: Quantify the results of your work whenever possible.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating end-to-end native app design experience, strong collaboration skills, data-driven decision-making, and an understanding of the company's mission and values.


πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on greenhouse.io.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest native mobile app design case studies that best represent your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure they clearly showcase your work on iOS and/or Android.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight relevant experience in native app design, UX/UI craft, design systems, user research, and cross-functional collaboration using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse a concise and compelling presentation of your portfolio, focusing on how your work aligns with Rightmove's mission and the requirements of this role. Practice articulating your design rationale and the impact of your solutions.

  • Research Rightmove: Understand Rightmove's vision, values, and the property market. Familiarize yourself with their current app and website to identify potential areas for improvement or innovation.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

The ideal candidate has experience designing and shipping end-to-end native app experiences with a strong understanding of iOS and Android design patterns. You must be able to use research and data to inform design decisions and possess the ability to navigate technical constraints while maintaining high-quality UI standards.