Product Designer (Trading)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Trading)

Company: Trade Nation

Location: Bulgaria

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design (FinTech)

Date Posted: 2026-06-08

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (with required occasional travel to London)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and own the user interface for a proprietary, React-based trading platform, focusing on complex financial trading functionalities.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, and front-end engineers to translate intricate financial domain knowledge into intuitive and precise user interfaces.

• Maintain and extend a shared Figma design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to design tokens and variables.

• Produce developer-ready design specifications and actively participate in QA to guarantee pixel-perfect implementation across various devices.

• Leverage customer feedback, analytics data (e.g., HotJar, Amplitude), and competitor insights to inform design decisions and drive product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly specialized within Product Design, focusing specifically on the demanding domain of financial trading platforms. The emphasis on " Trading UIs and Execution vertical" and understanding "financial instruments, order types, execution flows, risk displays" indicates a need for a designer with a strong grasp of FinTech complexities rather than a generalist UI/UX role. The "hybrid" work arrangement, despite being remote in Bulgaria, necessitates occasional travel to London, which is a key consideration for candidates.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete brief-to-delivery pipeline for trading interface features, including proactive ambiguity resolution and clear definition of deliverables and success criteria.

• Deliver high-quality UI designs, adhering to specifications and agreed-upon timelines, with immediate and transparent communication of any schedule risks.

• Meticulously maintain and extend the existing Figma design system, utilizing atomic design principles, strict adherence to design tokens/variables, and established naming conventions.

• Create, maintain, and enhance reusable components within the design system, ensuring its cleanliness, consistency, and scalability.

• Partner closely with front-end developers to deliver precise, developer-ready handoffs, encompassing all interaction states, edge cases, and responsive behaviors.

• Actively participate in Quality Assurance (QA) processes to ensure the implemented product precisely matches the design intent.

• Proactively identify and propose well-considered resolutions for gaps and inconsistencies within the design system.

• Conduct self-reviews and lead design critiques for submitted work, demonstrating a capacity for iterative design with pace and a positive attitude.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a high degree of ownership and detailed execution. The requirement to "own the brief-to-delivery pipeline" and "work with fastidious attention to detail within our Figma design system" highlights the need for a designer who can manage projects independently and adhere to strict design governance. The focus on "developer-ready handoffs" and "participate in QA" underscores the importance of seamless collaboration with engineering and a commitment to implementation quality.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for this level of role.

Experience: Proven experience delivering production-ready UI reliably, to brief, and on time, with a focus on complex applications. A minimum of 5-10 years of relevant design experience is implied by the "Mid-Senior Level" AI assessment.

Required Skills:

• Deep proficiency in Figma, including advanced capabilities in design systems, component creation, variants, auto-layout, prototyping, and developer handoff features.

• Strong working knowledge of atomic design methodology for building scalable and maintainable design systems.

• Proven experience designing and launching app and web-based financial products, demonstrating an understanding of financial workflows and regulatory constraints.

• Experience working effectively with remote development teams, ensuring clear and efficient communication and collaboration.

• Demonstrated ability to produce spec-quality handoffs that minimize ambiguity for developers.

• A track record of embedding customer feedback, analytics data (e.g., HotJar, Amplitude), and competitor insights into the design thinking process.

• Experience validating and refining designs through A/B testing and interactive prototyping.

• A genuine passion for creating simple, intuitive user experiences, even within complex or highly regulated product environments. Preferred Skills:

• Specific experience designing trading platforms or other tightly regulated financial products, showcasing domain expertise.

• Working knowledge of HTML/CSS, sufficient to communicate design intent accurately and efficiently with front-end developers.

• Experience with component documentation tools such as Storybook or similar, to enhance design system usability and developer access.

• Exposure to AI-assisted design tooling (e.g., Figma Make, Claude) for potential efficiency gains in design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills heavily emphasize technical proficiency in Figma and a deep understanding of design systems and atomic design. The preference for FinTech experience and HTML/CSS knowledge suggests that candidates with a hybrid technical/design background will be highly valued. The mention of analytics tools and A/B testing indicates a data-driven approach to design validation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Detailed case studies showcasing the end-to-end design process for complex financial trading interfaces, from initial brief to final implementation.

• Demonstrations of proficiency in Figma, including examples of intricate component systems, auto-layout utilization, and advanced prototyping.

• Evidence of designing and maintaining scalable design systems, with clear explanations of atomic design principles applied.

• Examples of how customer feedback, analytics data, and user research were integrated into design decisions, leading to measurable improvements.

• Documentation of developer handoff processes and examples of successful collaboration with engineering teams for pixel-perfect implementation.

• Specific examples of designing trade tickets, charting interfaces, or order management systems within a financial context. Process Documentation:

• Workflow designs and optimization strategies for the product design lifecycle, from concept to deployment.

• Implementation and automation methods used to ensure design consistency and efficiency across projects.

• Measurement and performance analysis of design initiatives, demonstrating impact on user experience and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio must go beyond standard UI/UX work. It needs to clearly articulate the candidate's process for tackling complex financial trading interfaces, demonstrating their ability to manage technical constraints and regulatory requirements. The emphasis on design systems and developer handoffs means these areas should be particularly well-represented and clearly explained.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As a CONTRACTOR position for a remote role in Bulgaria, the salary will likely be benchmarked against international contractor rates for experienced Product Designers in FinTech, adjusted for the Bulgarian market cost of living and the company's compensation philosophy. Based on industry standards for a mid-senior level (5-10 years) Product Designer specializing in FinTech with strong Figma and design system expertise, the estimated annual salary range for a contractor in Bulgaria could be approximately €35,000 - €60,000 (gross), or an hourly rate of €20 - €35. This is an estimate and actual compensation will depend on experience, skills, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Potential for long-term engagement and project continuity as a contractor.

• Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge proprietary trading platform, offering significant professional development in a specialized niche.

• Occasional travel to London for essential meetings and team collaboration, providing networking and in-person interaction opportunities.

• Access to a shared Figma design system, facilitating efficient and consistent design work.

• Professional development opportunities through exposure to complex financial trading domain challenges and collaboration with experienced teams.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this role are estimated at 40 hours per week. While the role is remote, adherence to core working hours that facilitate collaboration with teams in different time zones (especially London) may be expected. Flexibility may be offered, but responsiveness during key business hours would be critical.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for contractors is highly variable. This range is based on general market data for similar roles and locations. The benefits listed are typical for contractor roles, with emphasis on professional growth tied to the project's specialized nature. The "hybrid" aspect necessitates understanding the travel requirement and its implications.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech (Financial Technology), specifically focusing on CFD (Contracts for Difference) and Spread Betting brokerage services. This industry is characterized by high regulation, rapid technological advancement, and a strong emphasis on security, reliability, and user experience for traders.

Company Size: Trade Nation is a growing, established player in the financial brokerage market. While specific employee numbers for the entire global organization aren't detailed in the provided text, their presence across multiple continents and availability in 14 languages suggests a mid-to-large sized company with a significant operational footprint. For an operations professional, this size often means a balance of established processes with opportunities for impact and growth.

Founded: Trade Nation was founded in 2014. This relatively recent founding date suggests a company that is modern in its approach, likely embracing newer technologies and agile methodologies, while also having enough history to be a stable and reputable employer.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be embedded within the "Trading UIs and Execution vertical," indicating a specialized product team focused on the core trading experience.

• This vertical likely comprises Product Managers, Product Owners, and front-end engineers, fostering a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

• The designer will report into a product or design lead within this vertical, working closely with peers and stakeholders.

• Collaboration will extend across different geographical locations due to the company's global presence and remote workforce. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The company emphasizes using customer feedback, analytics (HotJar, Amplitude), and A/B testing to inform design decisions, highlighting a commitment to empirical validation.

• Agile Development: The nature of building a "next generation" platform and working with front-end engineers suggests an agile development methodology, with iterative design and development cycles.

• Design System Centricity: A strong focus on a shared Figma design system and atomic design principles points towards a structured and scalable approach to UI development.

• Quality and Precision: The emphasis on "pixel for pixel" implementation and "flawless handoff" indicates a culture that values meticulous execution and high-quality output.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as built on "transparency and trust," with values centered around mutual support ("We have each other’s backs"), challenging each other constructively, thriving together, forming strong bonds, not judging but teaching, and stepping up to take ownership. This suggests a collaborative, growth-oriented environment that values proactive individuals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level, indicated by the 5-10 years of experience requirement and the expectation of owning complex design processes. The designer is expected to be an independent contributor who can manage their own work and influence design outcomes within their specialized vertical.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report into a lead within the "Trading UIs and Execution vertical." This structure implies a direct line of communication with product leadership and close collaboration with engineering teams focused on the trading interface. While there might be a broader design team, this role is embedded within a specific product domain, suggesting a matrixed reporting or strong project-based alignment.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the core trading experience, which is critical for user acquisition, retention, and satisfaction in the highly competitive FinTech brokerage market. By designing intuitive trade tickets, charting interfaces, and order management systems, the designer will contribute to:

• Improved user efficiency and trading performance.

• Reduced user errors and support inquiries.

• Enhanced platform usability and customer satisfaction.

• Increased conversion rates and trading volumes.

• Strengthening Trade Nation's brand as a user-friendly and reliable trading platform. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in FinTech trading platform design, becoming a go-to specialist in this complex domain.

• Design System Leadership: Contribute significantly to the evolution and governance of Trade Nation's Figma design system, potentially taking on more responsibility for its coherence and scalability.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain experience collaborating closely with product management and engineering on strategic product decisions, influencing the roadmap based on user-centered insights.

• Mentorship: As a senior member, there may be opportunities to mentor junior designers or contribute to design best practices across the organization.

• Project Ownership: Lead design initiatives for new features or platform enhancements within the trading vertical, showcasing end-to-end project management skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path here is focused on specialization within a demanding niche rather than broad generalist growth. The impact is tied directly to the revenue-generating core of the business – the trading platform. Opportunities are likely to come from taking on more complex projects and contributing to the strategic direction of the trading product.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is primarily remote, based in Bulgaria. However, it's designated as "Hybrid" due to the requirement for occasional travel to London. This suggests that while the day-to-day work is remote, there's an expectation of in-person collaboration, team building, or strategic meetings at the company's London headquarters periodically.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Bulgaria. Occasional travel is required to London, UK. This implies that candidates must be willing and able to travel internationally for business purposes.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Work: Candidates will establish their own productive remote workspace in Bulgaria, requiring self-discipline and a reliable internet connection.

• Collaborative Tools: The team utilizes Figma extensively for design collaboration, and likely other tools for project management, communication (e.g., Slack, Teams), and documentation.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role necessitates close collaboration with Product Managers, Product Owners, and front-end developers, often in a virtual setting. This requires strong communication and virtual collaboration skills.

• London Travel: Occasional trips to London will provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction with colleagues, stakeholders, and potentially broader company events, offering a different dynamic to the remote work.

Work Schedule: The estimated 40-hour work week will likely require flexibility to accommodate collaboration with teams in different time zones, particularly those in the UK/Europe. While remote work offers flexibility, responsiveness during core business hours for key meetings and urgent discussions will be crucial for effective teamwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" designation for a remote role is a critical detail. Candidates must be able to travel to London occasionally, which involves logistical planning and potential time commitment. The remote aspect implies a need for strong self-management and communication skills to overcome geographical barriers.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role's specialization.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, focusing on relevant case studies of financial trading interfaces or complex UI/UX projects. A design challenge may be issued, either as a take-home assignment or a live exercise, to assess problem-solving skills, design thinking, and Figma proficiency.

• Technical/Domain Interview: An interview with product managers, product owners, or senior engineers within the Trading UIs and Execution vertical to delve into the candidate's understanding of financial trading concepts, their design process for complex systems, and their experience with React-based UIs.

• Cultural Fit Interview: An interview with team members or leadership to assess alignment with Trade Nation's company values (e.g., "We have each other’s backs," "We challenge each other") and collaboration style.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Prioritize case studies that showcase experience with financial trading platforms, complex UIs, design systems, and Figma. If direct financial trading experience is limited, highlight projects with similar complexity, regulatory considerations, or intricate data visualization.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing how you translated requirements, conducted research, iterated on designs, collaborated with developers, and used data (analytics, A/B testing) to inform decisions.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Include examples of your Figma file structure, component libraries, auto-layout usage, and prototyping capabilities. Highlight your contribution to or creation of design systems.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "reduced user errors by X%", "improved task completion time by Y%", "increased feature adoption by Z%").

• Explain Technical Collaboration: Detail your collaboration process with developers, including handoff procedures and how you ensured design fidelity in the final product.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with common financial trading concepts, order types (market, limit, stop), trade tickets, charting tools, and risk management displays.

• Focus on Complexity: Anticipate design challenges that involve balancing a high volume of information with ease of use, and consider edge cases and responsive behavior.

• Design System Thinking: If a challenge is given, consider how your proposed solutions would integrate with or extend an existing design system.

• Communication is Key: Be prepared to articulate your design decisions clearly, justify your choices with user-centered reasoning, and discuss trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role will heavily scrutinize design system skills and domain-specific knowledge. Candidates should be prepared to present detailed case studies demonstrating their ability to handle the complexity and regulatory demands of financial trading software.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool. Proficiency is paramount, including advanced features like design systems, components, variants, auto-layout, and prototyping.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, maintaining, and extending design systems using atomic design principles is essential. This includes understanding and applying design tokens and variables.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities will be heavily utilized.

• Collaboration Tools: Likely candidates will use tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication and project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) for task tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• HotJar / Amplitude: Experience using these or similar user behavior analytics tools to gather insights and inform design decisions is a required skill.

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience in designing and analyzing A/B tests to validate design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation: While not directly designing these systems, an understanding of how design impacts CRM data integrity or automation workflows might be beneficial, though not explicitly required.

Development Technologies (for collaboration):

• React: The platform is built using React, so familiarity with how UI components are structured and implemented in React is a significant advantage for effective developer handoff and communication.

• HTML/CSS: Working knowledge is preferred for accurate communication with developers regarding styling and layout.

• Storybook: Experience with Storybook or similar component documentation tools is preferred for better design system integration and developer collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily skewed towards design tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma and design systems. The preference for HTML/CSS and experience with React development environments indicates the need for a designer who can bridge the gap between design and code effectively.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration & Support: Trade Nation emphasizes mutual support ("We have each other’s backs") and challenging each other constructively. This fosters an environment where designers are encouraged to give and receive feedback to improve collective outcomes.

• Agility & Innovation: Building the "next generation" platform and operating in FinTech requires a willingness to adapt, innovate, and embrace new technologies, including AI-assisted design tools.

• Precision & Quality: The company values meticulous execution, evident in the demand for pixel-perfect designs, flawless handoffs, and a robust design system.

• Customer Centricity: The focus on using customer feedback and analytics to drive design decisions underscores a commitment to creating user-centric products that meet trader needs.

• Ownership & Proactivity: The value "We step up" highlights an expectation for individuals to take initiative, own their work, and proactively contribute to the team's success.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded within Product Teams: Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, forming cross-functional pods to deliver specific product features.

• Design System as a Unifier: The shared Figma design system acts as a central point for collaboration, ensuring consistency and shared understanding of UI elements and patterns.

• Feedback Loops: Regular design critiques and close collaboration with developers and QA ensure continuous feedback and iterative improvement.

• Remote & Hybrid Integration: The team must be adept at collaborating effectively across geographical distances, utilizing digital tools while also leveraging occasional in-person meetings in London.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of a modern, agile tech environment with the rigor and responsibility demanded by the FinTech industry. Candidates who are proactive, collaborative, and detail-oriented will likely thrive here.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Domain Complexity: Designing for financial trading involves understanding intricate concepts like order types, execution logic, real-time data, and regulatory compliance. Translating this complexity into intuitive interfaces is a significant challenge.

• Balancing Simplicity and Functionality: The core challenge is to create a clean, usable interface for a product that is inherently complex and data-intensive, serving experienced traders who demand sophisticated functionality.

• Maintaining Design System Integrity: As the platform evolves, ensuring the design system remains consistent, scalable, and up-to-date while accommodating new features requires constant vigilance and strategic input.

• Remote Collaboration Nuances: Effectively collaborating with remote teams, especially when occasional in-person travel is required, demands strong communication skills and cultural adaptability.

• Pixel-Perfect Implementation: Ensuring that the implemented product matches the design intent precisely, especially in a fast-paced development environment, requires meticulous handoffs and vigilant QA.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep FinTech Specialization: Gain unparalleled expertise in designing user experiences for trading platforms, a niche but highly valuable skill set.

• Advanced Design System Practice: Hone skills in building and managing sophisticated design systems, potentially contributing to best practices in this area.

• Cross-Functional Product Strategy: Develop a deeper understanding of product strategy by working closely with Product Managers and business stakeholders on the trading roadmap.

• Exposure to Modern Tech Stacks: Work with React-based front-end development and potentially explore AI-assisted design tools.

• International Collaboration: Enhance skills in working with diverse, global teams and navigating different work cultures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the specialized nature of the role. Overcoming these challenges presents significant opportunities for professional growth and specialization within the FinTech domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a complex financial trading interface. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them?" (Focus on your process, domain understanding, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure a seamless handoff to developers for a complex UI, especially when working remotely?" (Highlight your Figma proficiency, documentation practices, and communication strategies.)

• "Walk us through your process for embedding user feedback and analytics into your design iterations for a product like a trading platform." (Emphasize data-driven design and iterative refinement.)

• "How do you balance the need for a clean, simple UI with the inherent complexity and regulatory requirements of a financial product?" (Discuss your design philosophy and trade-off considerations.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about designing for trading platforms at Trade Nation, as opposed to a generalist UX role?" (Show genuine interest in the FinTech domain and the company's mission.)

• "How would you contribute to our Figma design system, and what are your principles for maintaining design consistency and scalability?" (Demonstrate your expertise in design systems and atomic design.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with remote engineering teams and product managers?" (Discuss your communication style, preferred tools, and strategies for effective remote teamwork.)

• "Trade Nation values 'We challenge each other.' Can you give an example of when you challenged a stakeholder or team member constructively and what the outcome was?" (Prepare a behavioral example demonstrating assertiveness and a focus on improvement.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and then dive into 2-3 most relevant case studies. For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process, the solutions, and the outcomes.

• Highlight Figma Work: Dedicate specific slides or sections to showcase your Figma capabilities, including design system components, auto-layout examples, and interactive prototypes.

• Quantify Achievements: Use metrics and data wherever possible to demonstrate the impact of your design decisions. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss anticipated benefits or user feedback received.

• Explain Technical Collaboration: Be ready to discuss your collaboration with developers, including how you managed handoffs, addressed implementation queries, and participated in QA.

• Connect to Trade Nation: Throughout your presentation, subtly connect your experience and approach to the requirements of the Product Designer (Trading) role at Trade Nation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both deep technical design skills (Figma, design systems) and a strong understanding of the financial trading domain. Be prepared to articulate your process with concrete examples and quantify your impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Workable application link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature case studies related to complex financial interfaces, design systems, and your proficiency in Figma. Highlight any experience with trading platforms, order management systems, or real-time data visualization.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with UI/UX design, specifically mentioning Figma, atomic design, design systems, and any FinTech or regulated product experience. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and collaboration with developers. Prepare answers to common behavioral and technical questions, especially those related to financial product design and design systems.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Trade Nation's platform, mission, and company values. Understand their approach to trading and customer service to demonstrate genuine interest during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.