Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: American Express

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: August 06, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the visual quality and user experience of critical travel-related journeys across American Express's native mobile and web platforms.

• The Senior Product Designer will be responsible for leading complex design initiatives from initial discovery through to final delivery, ensuring elegant and premium digital experiences.

• A key aspect of this role involves establishing and elevating a high bar for visual excellence, influencing both individual product designs and the broader design organization.

• This position requires strong collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Content Design teams to translate customer needs and business objectives into polished, production-ready user interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "Senior Product Designer" and the emphasis on "visual craft," "typography," "layout," "motion," and "interaction" indicate a strong focus on high-fidelity visual design and user interface execution, rather than purely conceptual or UX strategy roles. The mention of "travel related journeys" suggests a specific domain within Amex's digital offerings.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the visual design language and user experience for key travel journeys on native mobile (iOS/Android) and responsive web platforms.

• Lead the end-to-end design process for complex features and initiatives, from user research and ideation to high-fidelity mockups, prototyping, and final asset delivery.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, and Content Designers to ensure designs are technically feasible, meet business objectives, and align with user needs.

• Develop and maintain design documentation, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed visual specifications for development teams.

• Champion best practices in user-centered design, accessibility (WCAG compliance), and visual design principles to elevate the overall product quality and user satisfaction.

• Conduct design reviews, gather feedback from cross-functional partners and stakeholders, and iterate on designs based on insights and evolving project requirements.

• Contribute to and advocate for the evolution of American Express's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all digital products.

• Mentor junior designers, share expertise, and contribute to a culture of design excellence and continuous improvement within the Enterprise Design & Research team.

• Present design concepts and rationale clearly and persuasively to stakeholders at various levels, including senior leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes "shipping successful digital products" and "translating customer needs and business objectives into polished, production-ready experiences," highlighting a strong focus on execution and delivery within a product development lifecycle. The role involves independent leadership of complex initiatives, indicating a significant level of autonomy and responsibility.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field; or equivalent practical experience. Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a related field, with a proven track record of designing and shipping successful customer-facing digital products.

• Demonstrated experience designing for native mobile applications (iOS and Android) and responsive web platforms. Required Skills:

• Exceptional visual design skills, with a refined eye for typography, color theory, layout, iconography, and motion design.

• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma for creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and design system components.

• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design patterns, and usability best practices.

• Experience with customer journey mapping, wireframing, and creating detailed visual specifications.

• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of digital design work, emphasizing visual craft, problem-solving, and end-to-end product design execution.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale effectively to diverse stakeholders.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional product teams (Product Management, Engineering, Research, Content Design).

• Experience with design systems and component-based design methodologies. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the financial services or travel industries.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and experience designing inclusive digital products.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles and how design translates into code.

• Experience with animation and micro-interaction design tools.

• Background in user research methodologies and translating research insights into design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "exceptional visual craft" and "refined eye for typography, layout, motion, interaction, and detail" strongly suggests that candidates will be evaluated heavily on their visual design portfolio and execution capabilities. The requirement for Figma proficiency is explicit and critical.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex projects that demonstrate end-to-end product design ownership, from discovery to launch.

• Highlight projects that involve designing for native mobile (iOS/Android) and responsive web platforms, ideally within a financial services or travel context.

• Include detailed case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process, key challenges, and the impact of your solutions (quantifiable metrics are highly valued).

• Demonstrate exceptional visual design skills through high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and attention to detail in typography, layout, and motion.

• Present examples of how you have contributed to or utilized design systems and ensured design consistency.

• Include work that addresses accessibility considerations and inclusive design principles. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process in detail, including how you approach user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and iteration.

• Articulate your methods for collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing stakeholder feedback, and navigating product development cycles.

• Demonstrate your understanding of translating business objectives and user needs into tangible design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description strongly implies that a portfolio is a mandatory requirement and will be a primary evaluation tool. The emphasis on "visual craft," "shipping successful digital products," and "complex initiatives" means the portfolio should not only show aesthetic quality but also strategic thinking, process rigor, and tangible results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $123,000 - $215,250 USD per year (based on AI analysis of provided data, subject to location, experience, and other factors)

Benefits:

• Competitive base salaries

• Bonus incentives

• 6% Company Match on retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k)

• Free financial coaching and financial well-being support

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits

• Flexible working model (Amex Flex - hybrid, onsite, or virtual arrangements)

• 20+ weeks paid parental leave for all parents (pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy)

• Free access to global on-site wellness centers (staffed with nurses and doctors, location-dependent)

• Free and confidential counseling support through the Healthy Minds program

• Career development and training opportunities

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the Amex Flex program. Specific daily hours may vary based on business needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an AI estimate based on the input data. Actual compensation will be determined by factors including the candidate's specific location within New York, their years of experience, the depth of their skills, and other job-related criteria. The benefits package is comprehensive and highlights Amex's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (American Express is a global financial services corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). This size implies established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for impact across a broad user base.

Founded: 1850. American Express has a long history of innovation and a strong brand reputation, suggesting a culture that values tradition alongside forward-thinking advancements in customer experience and digital products.

Team Structure:

• The Enterprise Design & Research team is described as a global, multi-disciplinary group of designers and researchers.

• This team is "highly embedded within the digital product management organization," indicating a close, collaborative relationship with product and engineering counterparts.

• The role involves working within "complex initiatives" and leading "from discovery through to production," suggesting a structured product development environment with clear phases and handoffs.

• The team fosters a culture of "craft, execution, and influence," encouraging senior members to lead by example and mentor others. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role requires translating "customer needs and business objectives" into designs, implying a reliance on user research, analytics, and performance metrics.

• User-Centered Design: A core tenet, focusing on understanding and addressing customer needs to create intuitive and elegant experiences.

• Agile Product Development: Collaboration with Product and Engineering suggests working within agile or hybrid methodologies, involving iterative development cycles and cross-functional teamwork.

• Design System Utilization: Emphasis on contributing to and leveraging a design system points to a systematic approach to maintaining consistency and efficiency in design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Being part of a large, established financial institution like American Express means operating within a regulated environment that prioritizes security, trust, and customer service. The design team's embedded nature suggests a high degree of integration with business goals and product strategy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC). This role is for an experienced designer who can operate independently, lead complex projects, and influence design direction without direct management responsibility. It sits above mid-level roles and below design leadership/management positions.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer is part of the Enterprise Design & Research team and is "highly embedded within the digital product management organization." This suggests reporting to a Design Lead or Director within the Enterprise Design group, with close day-to-day collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the customer experience of American Express's travel-related digital products. By defining visual quality and user journeys, the designer influences customer satisfaction, engagement, adoption rates, and ultimately, the perception of the Amex brand in the travel space. This can translate into increased customer loyalty and revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Principal Designer role, taking on more strategic oversight and team mentorship.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like mobile design, interaction design, motion design, or accessibility within the travel or financial services domain.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into related roles like Product Management or UX Strategy, leveraging design expertise in broader product development contexts.

• Mentorship & Influence: Continuously refine skills through challenging projects, contribute to the design system's evolution, and mentor junior designers, building influence within the organization.

• Industry Exposure: Work on large-scale, high-impact projects that are visible across a global user base, providing significant experience and portfolio-building opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and emphasis on "leading through craft, execution, and influence" indicate a path for experienced designers to deepen their expertise and impact without necessarily moving into people management immediately. The role offers significant opportunities to shape critical customer journeys for a globally recognized brand.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. American Express utilizes an "Amex Flex" model, which allows for a mix of in-office and virtual work. The specific arrangement (e.g., number of days in office) will depend on the role and business needs.

Office Location(s): World Financial Center, 200 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10285. This is a prime location in Manhattan, offering access to extensive public transportation and a vibrant urban environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The design team is embedded within product organizations, fostering close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers. The hybrid model likely includes dedicated collaboration time in the office.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma is explicitly mentioned) and likely other collaboration and project management software.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person ideation sessions, design critiques, and team meetings when working from the office, alongside virtual collaboration tools for remote interactions. The global nature of the team suggests asynchronous communication will also be important.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work week (approx. 40 hours). The hybrid model offers flexibility, allowing for a balance between focused individual work and collaborative team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key feature, offering flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration essential for design work. The New York City location provides access to a major hub for design and technology professionals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, with a strong emphasis on your portfolio.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, showcasing 2-3 key projects. Be prepared to walk through your process, design decisions, challenges, and outcomes. Focus on your visual craft, user-centered approach, and ability to deliver polished experiences.

• Skills-Based Interviews: Expect interviews with designers, Product Managers, and potentially Engineers. These will assess your design thinking, problem-solving abilities, technical proficiency (especially in Figma), collaboration skills, and understanding of user-centered design and visual design principles.

• Case Study/Design Challenge: A common step for senior design roles. This could involve a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual whiteboard challenge focused on a specific design problem relevant to Amex's travel journeys.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interviews: Questions will assess your ability to work in a cross-functional team, handle feedback, mentor others, and align with American Express's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your visual design skills, end-to-end product design process, and impact on user experience and business goals. Prioritize mobile and web applications.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process (ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing), key decisions and rationale, and measurable outcomes.

• Showcase Visual Craft: Ensure your portfolio features high-fidelity mockups and prototypes that demonstrate exceptional attention to detail in typography, layout, color, and motion.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Address the "Why": Be ready to articulate why you made specific design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business objectives.

• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflows and how you leverage its features for collaboration and design system management.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with American Express's travel offerings and common user pain points in travel planning and management.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to break down a problem, brainstorm solutions, define user flows, sketch wireframes, and articulate your rationale.

• Focus on Visuals: If the challenge involves a visual component, be prepared to demonstrate your aesthetic judgment and attention to detail.

• Time Management: Practice working within time constraints, prioritizing key aspects of the problem.

• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your thought process step-by-step, even when working through ambiguity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "visual craft," "shipping successful digital products," and leading "complex initiatives" means the interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to execute high-quality visual designs and manage the full product design lifecycle. Portfolio presentation is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required tool. Essential for UI design, prototyping, and design system management.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific use cases.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for managing and contributing to design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer should be comfortable interpreting and using data from analytics platforms (e.g., Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics) to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Familiarity with A/B testing principles and how to design for testable hypotheses. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design role, but an understanding of how design integrates with customer journey mapping and CRM systems can be advantageous. Other Potentially Relevant Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for usability testing, surveys, or user interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello for tracking tasks and project progress.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams for team communication.

• Design Research Tools: Miro, Mural for brainstorming and collaborative whiteboarding.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the non-negotiable tool for this role. Proficiency in it, including its capabilities for design systems and prototyping, is critical. The role implies a data-informed approach, so understanding how designs perform post-launch is also important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs, driving elegant and premium digital experiences.

• Excellence in Craft: A high standard for visual design, interaction, and attention to detail, consistently delivering polished and high-quality work.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively within cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering a supportive team environment.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Embracing new ideas, approaches, and technologies to elevate product design and user experiences.

• Impact & Accountability: Taking ownership of complex initiatives, driving them to completion, and focusing on delivering measurable business and user value.

• Integrity & Trust: Upholding the core values of American Express in all design work and interactions.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded and Cross-Functional: The design team is integrated into product organizations, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers on a daily basis.

• Design-Led Influence: Senior designers are expected to lead through their expertise, influencing design direction and mentoring peers.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback through design reviews and collaborative sessions to refine solutions.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing research, analytics, and user feedback to guide design choices and demonstrate impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "craft," "elegance," and "premium experiences" suggests a team that values aesthetic quality and a high level of polish. The "embedded" nature of the team highlights the importance of strong communication and collaboration skills to integrate design effectively into product development workflows.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Visual Polish with Business Needs: Ensuring that high-fidelity visual design execution aligns with product roadmaps, technical constraints, and business objectives.

• Navigating a Large Enterprise: Adapting to established processes, stakeholder management complexities, and diverse product portfolios within a global organization.

• Driving Design Vision: Influencing stakeholders and product teams to adopt best practices and champion design excellence, especially in a complex domain like travel.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across multiple platforms (web, iOS, Android) and various travel-related journeys.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Integrating new design trends and technologies effectively while adhering to brand standards and accessibility requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Domain Expertise: Become an expert in the nuances of travel and financial services user journeys, understanding specific customer needs and pain points.

• Advanced Design Skills: Hone skills in motion design, complex interaction patterns, and advanced prototyping techniques.

• Design System Leadership: Contribute significantly to the evolution and governance of American Express's design system.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and guiding design critiques.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Gain deeper insights into Product Management, Engineering, and business strategy within the financial sector.

• Industry Events & Training: Potential for participation in design conferences, workshops, and specialized training programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in large organizations, focusing on strategic influence, cross-functional collaboration, and maintaining high standards within complex environments. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening design expertise, leadership, and domain knowledge.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex travel journey you designed for. What were the key challenges, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on process, visual execution, and impact).

• "How do you balance aesthetic excellence with user needs and business requirements in your design process?" (Highlight user-centered approach and problem-solving).

• "Walk us through your process for creating and maintaining a design system or contributing to an existing one." (Demonstrate understanding of scalability and consistency).

• "How do you approach accessibility in your design work? Can you give an example?" (Show commitment to inclusive design).

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders or a cross-functional team to adopt your design vision. What was your strategy?" (Assess communication and leadership skills). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about American Express and our approach to digital products, particularly in travel?" (Research Amex's recent digital initiatives and brand positioning).

• "How do you see your role as a Senior Product Designer contributing to the Amex brand and customer experience?" (Connect your skills to Amex's values and goals).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers." (Emphasize teamwork and communication).

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or disagreement on design decisions?" (Show resilience and collaborative spirit). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically. Start with an overview of the project and your role, dive into the problem and your process, showcase your solutions with high-fidelity visuals and prototypes, and conclude with the impact and learnings.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use your visuals and prototypes to demonstrate your design thinking and execution. Explain why you made specific choices.

• 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 satisfaction scores).

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

• Practice: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth flow, clear articulation, and confidence. Be prepared for follow-up questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily emphasize showcasing visual design skills, a robust end-to-end design process, and the ability to articulate the impact of design decisions. Be ready to demonstrate proficiency with Figma and discuss how you've contributed to or utilized design systems.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Navigate to the American Express careers portal via the provided URL and submit your application.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience in native mobile and responsive web design, exceptional visual craft, and end-to-end product design execution. Emphasize projects related to user journeys and digital product development.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 5-10 years of relevant experience, specific design tools (especially Figma), and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords from the job description like "visual design," "interaction design," "user experience," "prototyping," and "design systems."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and demonstrated impact. Prepare for behavioral questions about collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership through craft.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with American Express's brand, its digital product offerings (especially in travel), and its company culture, including the "Amex Flex" working model. Understand their commitment to customer experience and design excellence.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.