Senior Product Designer (6 month fixed-term contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (6 month fixed-term contract)

Company: Zip Co Limited

Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

Job Type: Full-time, Contract

Category: Product Design, UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-17

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, from initial discovery and experimentation to detailed design and final delivery, focusing on creating intuitive, trusted digital experiences.

• Drive the exploration and integration of AI-enabled experiences and intelligent automation to unlock the next generation of digital commerce and enhance customer value.

• Develop high-quality visual and interaction designs, bringing complex ideas to life through rapid prototyping and meticulously crafted user interfaces.

• Foster strong partnerships with Product Management, Engineering, and other Design teams to ensure alignment on customer needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Product Designer, the emphasis on AI-enabled experiences, intelligent automation, and the exploration of "Agentic Commerce" suggests a strong leaning towards operations-minded design. The role requires not just aesthetic and usability expertise but also a strategic understanding of how design can drive efficiency and new operational models within the digital commerce space. This is a key differentiator for operations-focused candidates.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and lead the complete design lifecycle for multiple product domains, encompassing discovery, experimentation, detailed design, and successful delivery.

• Generate high-fidelity visual and interaction designs, utilizing rapid prototyping to effectively communicate and bring innovative ideas to life.

• Leverage customer research, data insights, and experimentation to inform product strategy and translate abstract concepts into tangible, user-friendly experiences.

• Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering stakeholders to strike a balance between customer desirability, business viability, and technical feasibility.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of Zip's design systems, principles, and experience standards, with a strong focus on accessibility and exceptional design craft.

• Proactively explore emerging AI-enabled experiences, intelligent automation, and novel interaction patterns, prototyping concepts that demonstrate potential for significant customer experience improvements.

• Act as a design leader by example, sharing expertise and contributing to the growth of design capabilities within the broader team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only execute but also strategize and innovate. The emphasis on "discovery and experimentation" and "exploring emerging AI enabled experiences" points to a role that requires proactive problem-solving and a forward-thinking approach, aligning with operational efficiency and future-proofing through design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Formal education in Design (e.g., Graphic Design, Interaction Design, HCI, UX Design) or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience designing complex, customer-facing digital products, ideally within fintech, payments, technology, or other high-scale, customer-centric environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in end-to-end product design, from discovery to delivery.

• Deep expertise across product, interaction, and visual design disciplines.

• Strong proficiency in creating high-quality UI and motion designs.

• Demonstrated experience designing for both native mobile applications (iOS/Android) and web platforms.

• Experience in developing and utilizing scalable design systems.

• Ability to translate complex customer problems into simple, intuitive, and beautifully crafted user experiences.

• Strong storytelling and stakeholder management skills, with a proven track record of close collaboration with Product and Engineering.

• Hands-on experience exploring AI-enabled experiences, intelligent automation, or emerging interaction models.

• A proactive mindset towards adopting new tools and learning, particularly in the context of AI.

• Aptitude for identifying and managing risks within design and product development processes. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the fintech or payments industry.

• Expertise in accessibility best practices and implementation.

• Familiarity with Agentic Commerce concepts.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of deep design craft and strategic thinking. The "risk management" and "AI-enabled experiences" aspects are particularly relevant for operations-minded candidates who can anticipate challenges and leverage technology for efficiency and innovation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design projects demonstrating your process from problem identification to solution delivery, highlighting iterative design and problem-solving.

• Include examples of native mobile and web product designs, clearly articulating your role and contributions.

• Present case studies that detail how you used customer research, data, and experimentation to inform design decisions and drive product strategy.

• Demonstrate your proficiency in creating high-quality UI, interaction design, and motion design, with a focus on intuitive user flows.

• Include examples of your work with design systems, showcasing your understanding of scalability, consistency, and accessibility. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, including discovery methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping tools, and user testing approaches.

• Detail how you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers, illustrating your role in cross-functional team dynamics and decision-making.

• Provide evidence of how you have identified and managed risks within design projects.

• Showcase your experience in exploring and prototyping new technologies or interaction patterns, such as AI-enabled features.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-focused candidate, the portfolio should emphasize not just the final output but the process of design. Highlighting how design decisions led to operational efficiencies, improved customer onboarding, reduced support queries, or streamlined user journeys will be crucial. Demonstrating an understanding of how design impacts business operations and metrics is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 5-10 years of experience in Sydney, Australia, the estimated salary range for this 6-month fixed-term contract is AUD $120,000 - $160,000 per annum (pro-rata). This estimate considers the contract nature, experience level, and the competitive fintech market in Sydney.

Benefits:

• 6-month fixed-term contract offering focused project work.

• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI and emerging technologies in digital commerce.

• Collaborative and dynamic work environment within a leading fintech company.

• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options.

• Exposure to diverse product domains and cross-functional teams.

• Professional development opportunities and hands-on learning.

• Contribution to shaping customer experiences used by millions.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week, typically around 40 hours, with flexibility offered through hybrid work arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical market rates for similar roles in Sydney, Australia, considering the fintech sector and the contract duration. It's crucial to note that this is an estimate and the actual compensation will be determined by Zip Co Limited based on the candidate's experience, skills, and the specific terms of the contract.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Financial Services, Fintech, Payments. Zip Co operates in a rapidly evolving sector, focusing on innovative, people-centered financial products that connect customers and merchants. This industry context means a constant drive for efficiency, seamless user experiences, and adapting to new technologies.

Company Size: Zip Co Limited is a publicly listed company (ASX: ZIP) with a significant global presence, indicating a medium to large enterprise structure with established processes yet maintaining agility. This size offers opportunities for impact across multiple teams while benefiting from robust organizational support.

Founded: Zip Co Limited was founded with a vision to disrupt traditional finance through accessible digital solutions. This history of innovation suggests a culture that values forward-thinking, agility, and a willingness to challenge the status quo, which is crucial for operations and design roles focused on improvement.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team works closely with dedicated Product Management and Engineering squads, fostering a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

• As a Senior Product Designer, you will operate as an individual contributor, partnering with Design and Product leaders.

• This structure emphasizes autonomy and direct contribution within a supportive, team-oriented framework. Methodology:

• Zip embraces a data-driven approach to product development, utilizing customer research, insights, and experimentation to guide decisions.

• The company prioritizes agile methodologies, enabling rapid iteration and responsiveness to market changes and customer feedback.

• There's a clear emphasis on translating complex problems into simple, intuitive experiences, a core principle for operational efficiency in user-facing products.

Company Website: https://zip.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as values-led ("Customer First, Own it, Stronger Together and Change the Game"), which is a strong indicator for operations professionals. These values often translate into a focus on accountability, teamwork, and driving impactful change, all critical for success in operations roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior to Senior level within the Product Design function. For an operations-minded designer, this means taking ownership of significant design challenges, influencing product strategy, and potentially mentoring junior team members. The focus on AI and future commerce trends offers a unique growth path into design operations for emerging technologies.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to Design leadership, while closely partnering with Product and Engineering leads within specific squads. This structure allows for direct influence on product roadmaps and operational execution.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and adoption of Zip's financial products. By creating intuitive and AI-enhanced experiences, the designer contributes to customer satisfaction, reduced operational friction (e.g., fewer support queries), and the successful rollout of new commerce models, directly influencing business performance and operational scalability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in AI-driven design and the future of digital commerce, positioning you at the forefront of innovation.

• Gain hands-on experience with complex product domains within a leading fintech company, expanding your industry knowledge.

• Develop leadership and mentorship skills by acting as a design example and contributing to team capability.

• Explore opportunities for further contract extensions or transition into permanent roles based on performance and business needs.

• Broaden your cross-functional collaboration experience, enhancing your ability to drive initiatives across diverse teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "operations impact" section highlights how design contributes to business outcomes. For an operations professional, this role offers a chance to apply design thinking to solve operational problems, improve efficiency, and drive user adoption, which are core to GTM and RevOps functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Zip Co offers a hybrid work environment, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. The Sydney office serves as a central hub for team interaction and strategic planning.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Sydney, NSW, Australia, providing access to a vibrant tech and finance ecosystem. Specific office details would typically be provided upon engagement.

Workspace Context:

• The Sydney office is designed to foster collaboration, likely featuring modern workspaces that encourage interaction among Product, Engineering, and Design teams.

• Access to necessary design tools, software, and potentially emerging AI-powered design aids will be available to support efficient workflow.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration sessions, design critiques, and knowledge-sharing workshops with colleagues will be abundant.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring the work week, accommodating personal needs while ensuring team connectivity and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is crucial for operations roles, offering a balance between focused individual work (often required for deep analysis and system configuration) and collaborative sessions (essential for strategy alignment and cross-functional problem-solving).

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you will present selected case studies from your portfolio, detailing your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your role, decisions, and outcomes.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Discussions with Product Management, Engineering leads, and potentially other designers to evaluate your collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Design Challenge (Potential): You may be asked to complete a short design exercise or discuss a hypothetical scenario to assess your problem-solving and design thinking skills in real-time.

• Final Interview: A concluding conversation, possibly with senior leadership, to confirm suitability and discuss contract terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, mobile/web experience, and ideally, any work related to AI or complex problem-solving.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (discovery, ideation, testing, iteration), the challenges faced, your design decisions, and the quantifiable outcomes or impact achieved. For operations-minded candidates, highlight how your design solutions improved efficiency, user adoption, or reduced friction.

• Showcase Craft: Ensure your visual and interaction design work is presented clearly, with attention to detail, UI polish, and motion where applicable.

• Explain AI/Innovation Exploration: If you have explored AI or emerging technologies, dedicate a section to this, explaining your approach, learnings, and potential applications.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and how you collaborate with technical teams.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Zip's products and services, understanding their value proposition and target audience.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly and concisely.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for AI-driven features or optimizing user journeys for efficiency.

• Think about how your design decisions can impact operational metrics like conversion rates, task completion times, or customer support volume.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "quantifiable outcomes or impact achieved" and "how your design solutions improved efficiency, user adoption, or reduced friction" is critical for operations candidates. This is where you can differentiate yourself by speaking the language of business impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Principle, Framer. Proficiency in at least one primary design tool (e.g., Figma) and prototyping tools is expected.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello. Experience using these tools to manage design tasks and collaborate with development teams.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Amplitude. Familiarity with tools for gathering user insights and analyzing product performance.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web & Mobile Analytics: Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel. Understanding how to interpret data to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Dashboarding Tools: Tableau, Looker, Power BI (familiarity, not necessarily direct use). Awareness of how design metrics are visualized and reported.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct responsibility, awareness of how design impacts CRM and automation workflows (e.g., lead generation forms, onboarding sequences) can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, the primary focus is on design and prototyping tools. However, for an operations-minded candidate, demonstrating familiarity with analytics tools (Google Analytics, Amplitude) and project management software (Jira, Confluence) is highly advantageous as it shows an understanding of how design integrates with broader business and operational workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer First: Prioritizing the needs and experience of the customer in all design decisions, ensuring solutions are intuitive and valuable.

• Own It: Taking responsibility for design outcomes, from initial concept through to successful implementation and iteration, demonstrating accountability for the product's success.

• Stronger Together: Fostering a collaborative environment, actively partnering with Product, Engineering, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals and leverage collective expertise.

• Change the Game: Encouraging innovation and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement, including exploring new technologies like AI to redefine customer experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with Product Managers to understand business requirements and user needs, and with Engineers to ensure technical feasibility and successful implementation of designs.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Participating in regular design critiques and feedback sessions to refine designs and ensure alignment across teams.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to the team's collective knowledge by sharing insights, best practices, and learnings from design explorations and user research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values align perfectly with operational excellence. "Own It" speaks to accountability, "Stronger Together" emphasizes collaboration essential for GTM and RevOps, and "Change the Game" encourages innovation in processes and customer engagement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Designing for emerging AI-enabled experiences while ensuring they are robust, scalable, and integrated seamlessly into existing systems and processes.

• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting quickly to evolving business priorities and market trends, delivering high-quality designs under tight deadlines.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively managing diverse stakeholder expectations and ensuring buy-in for design solutions across Product, Engineering, and Business teams.

• Exploring AI's Operational Impact: Understanding the practical implications of AI in financial services and translating complex technological capabilities into simple, user-centric features that also drive operational efficiency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Gain specialized knowledge in designing for AI and intelligent automation in the fintech sector.

• Develop skills in rapid prototyping and experimentation for new technologies.

• Enhance stakeholder management and storytelling abilities through close collaboration with senior leaders.

• Contribute to the evolution of design systems and standards, impacting the overall product experience at scale.

• Potentially explore advanced topics related to Agentic Commerce and its operational implications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are often opportunities for operations professionals. For instance, "Balancing Innovation with Scalability" directly relates to ensuring new features are designed with operational efficiency and future growth in mind.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex product problem you've solved through design. What was your process, and what was the outcome? How did your design impact user behavior or business metrics?" (Focus on quantifiable results and operational improvements.)

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for our product that aims to improve customer self-service or automate a complex task? Walk us through your initial thoughts on discovery, design, and potential risks." (Demonstrate an understanding of AI's practical application and operational benefits.)

• "Tell us about a time you had to balance competing priorities from Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders. How did you manage these relationships and ensure a successful design outcome?" (Highlight collaboration and negotiation skills crucial for operations.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Zip's mission and its approach to digital finance, particularly concerning AI and the future of commerce?" (Showcase your research and alignment with the company's vision.)

• "How do you embody Zip's values – Customer First, Own It, Stronger Together, Change the Game – in your design work and team collaborations?" (Provide specific examples demonstrating your understanding and application of these values.)

• "Given your experience, how do you see design contributing to operational efficiency and scalability within a fintech company like Zip?" (Connect your design expertise to business operations and growth.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, solutions, iterations), and end (impact, learnings).

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user engagement). For operations-minded candidates, focus on efficiency gains or reduced operational load.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with Product and Engineering, illustrating your ability to translate technical constraints into design solutions and vice-versa.

• Discuss AI/Innovation: If you have relevant projects, clearly articulate your exploration process, the challenges of working with new technologies, and the potential operational benefits.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs made, and your rationale behind them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice specifically guides candidates to frame their answers and portfolio around operational impact and efficiency, which is a strategic advantage for this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate a Portfolio Focused on Impact: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects where your design solutions led to measurable improvements in user experience, operational efficiency, or business metrics. Specifically emphasize any work related to AI, automation, or streamlining complex processes.

• Optimize Your Resume for Operations: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience in end-to-end design, cross-functional collaboration, and any work that demonstrates problem-solving for efficiency or scalability. Use keywords like "product strategy," "user-centric design," "process optimization," and "AI-enabled experiences."

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies with a strong emphasis on your process, design decisions, and the tangible outcomes achieved. Be ready to discuss how your work contributes to Zip's business objectives and operational success.

• Research Zip's Operations: Familiarize yourself with Zip's products, services, and their target market. Understand their approach to customer experience and any publicly discussed initiatives related to AI or digital commerce 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.

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