Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Cadmus

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-18T06:23:25.054

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of core platform areas, focusing on elevating aesthetic and interaction standards across the Cadmus ecosystem.

• Drive the evolution of the Cadmus design system, enhancing visual polish, typography, and spatial layout to reinforce brand premiumness.

• Transform complex academic workflows (e.g., grading, rubric creation, analytics) into intuitive, visually engaging, and tactile user experiences.

• Ensure flawless production implementation of design intentions, from micro-interactions to precise visual elements, minimizing the gap between design and code.

• Balance high-craft execution with pragmatic shipping, making deliberate trade-offs to deliver polished yet practical improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is clearly focused on high-fidelity product design with a strong emphasis on visual execution and systems thinking within the SaaS EdTech space. The "Senior" title implies significant autonomy and ownership over key product areas, requiring a candidate who can not only design but also strategically influence the product's direction and technical implementation. The emphasis on "academic integrity" and "prosumer tools" suggests a need for design that instills trust and deep engagement in a complex, B2B2C context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and refinement of the Cadmus design system, establishing and enforcing modern UI aesthetics, typography scales, grid systems, and responsive layout flows.

• Collaborate closely with engineers on a daily basis to ensure precise implementation of micro-interactions, transitions, and detailed visual specifications.

• Conduct user research that uncovers non-obvious insights into student and academic interaction with the UI, translating these findings into elegant solutions for complex usability challenges.

• Own the information architecture for data-dense interfaces, bringing clarity and utility without sacrificing depth or creating excessive navigation.

• Actively participate in product roadmap discussions, contributing design-led perspectives to strategic decisions and feature prioritization.

• Develop and maintain high-fidelity interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent and user flows to stakeholders and engineering teams.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design innovation that enhance user trust, engagement, and the overall perceived value of the Cadmus platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "design system evolution," "information architecture for data-dense interfaces," and "user research translating into elegant solutions" points to a need for a designer who can handle complexity and drive significant product enhancements. The close collaboration with engineering is a critical aspect, suggesting that a designer with a strong understanding of front-end development capabilities will be highly valued.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior product design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5+ years of experience designing complex SaaS, B2B2C, or premium prosumer digital products, with a proven track record of shipping high-quality, high-fidelity designs.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design Craft: Impeccable visual taste with deep understanding of typography, grid systems, color theory, spatial layout, and modern UI aesthetics.

• Systems Thinking & Design Systems: Expertise in component architecture, designing scalable and maintainable design systems, and understanding of design tokens, variables, and state management.

• Interaction Design: Proficiency in designing intuitive and engaging micro-interactions, transitions, and animations that enhance user experience.

• Information Architecture (IA): Ability to organize, structure, and label content effectively for complex, data-dense interfaces.

• Prototyping: Mastery of design tools like Figma for creating high-fidelity interactive prototypes and mockups.

• User Research & Insight Generation: Experience conducting qualitative user research to uncover usability issues and inform design decisions.

• Front-end Alignment: Strong understanding of HTML/CSS behaviors, responsive layout principles (e.g., Flexbox), and technical constraints to ensure designs are practical and buildable.

• Product Judgment: Ability to make strategic trade-offs between design perfection and timely delivery.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the EdTech or academic assessment software sector.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Experience with advanced animation and prototyping tools beyond basic Figma capabilities.

• A strong understanding of Agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Experience mentoring junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a designer who is not just a visual artist but a systems thinker and a pragmatic problem-solver deeply aligned with engineering realities. The "portfolio that screams 'execution'" is a critical indicator of the required skill level, suggesting a need for concrete, shipped examples rather than conceptual work. The explicit mention of HTML/CSS and Flexbox indicates a preference for designers who can bridge the gap between design and development effectively.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Live, Shipped Products: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex SaaS, B2B2C, or premium prosumer products that are live and in production. Focus on demonstrating your direct contribution and impact.

• Execution Detail: Highlight specific examples of meticulous attention to detail, modern UI aesthetics, and sophisticated micro-interactions within your shipped work.

• Systems Design: Include case studies that illustrate your approach to building or contributing to design systems, demonstrating component architecture, scalability, and consistency.

• Workflow Transformation: Present projects where you've successfully transformed complex or dry workflows into elegant, intuitive, and visually appealing user experiences.

• Problem-Solving: Detail the challenges faced in specific projects and how your design solutions effectively addressed them, supported by user insights where applicable.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Narrative: Clearly articulate your end-to-end design process, from research and ideation to high-fidelity design, prototyping, and collaboration with engineering.

• System Design Methodology: Explain your approach to designing and maintaining design systems, including how you manage states, variables, and ensure scalability.

• Collaboration & Feedback Loops: Describe how you integrate feedback from users, stakeholders, and engineers into your design iterations.

• Impact & Metrics: Where possible, demonstrate the impact of your designs using quantitative metrics (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user engagement) or qualitative user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are very specific, prioritizing demonstrated execution and systems thinking over conceptual work. Candidates must be prepared to showcase live products and articulate their process for building scalable design systems and transforming complex workflows. The emphasis on "engineering alignment" means the portfolio should also reflect an understanding of technical feasibility and implementation details.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer in Melbourne, Australia, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is AUD $140,000 - $190,000 per year. This range is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major Australian tech hubs, considering the company's focus on complex SaaS products and the premium nature of their offering. Factors like specific skills, portfolio strength, and interview performance can influence the final offer.

Benefits:

• Flexible Hybrid Work Model: Opportunity to work remotely for most of the week, with 2 dedicated anchor days in the Melbourne HQ for in-person collaboration.

• Career Growth & Mentoring: Structured programs and guidance focused on professional development and career progression within the company.

• Inclusive Environment: A company culture that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and fosters a sense of belonging for all employees.

• Real Ownership & Influence: Significant input into product architecture and roadmap, allowing for direct impact on the company's direction.

• Competitive Remuneration Package: Including base salary, potential for bonuses or equity (if applicable), and standard benefits.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours. The hybrid model offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, with 2 mandatory in-office days per week in Melbourne.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on current market data for Senior Product Designers in Melbourne, Australia, considering the company's industry (EdTech SaaS) and the role's seniority. Standard benefits for tech roles in Australia are assumed, with specific emphasis on the hybrid flexibility and career growth mentioned in the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Education (EdTech) - Cadmus operates in the education technology sector, specifically focusing on assessment platforms. This industry demands a high degree of user trust, data security, and an understanding of academic workflows and integrity.

Company Size: Mid-size (likely 50-200 employees, based on the need for structured growth and ownership, but not yet a large enterprise). This size often allows for significant impact and direct access to leadership, while also having established processes.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly provided, but the description suggests a company that has moved beyond the startup phase and is focused on scaling its platform and refining its product.

Team Structure:

• Product Design Team: Likely composed of designers with varying specializations (e.g., UX, UI, visual design, research), reporting to a Head of Design or Product Lead.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Designers work in tight-knit squads or pods with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering a collaborative environment where design decisions are made collectively.

• Engineering Partnership: A strong emphasis on partnership with front-end engineers, indicating a culture where design and development are integrated rather than siloed.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Insights from user research and product analytics are used to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Iterative Development: A focus on shipping regularly and iterating based on feedback, with a strong emphasis on high-fidelity execution.

• Design Systems Approach: Commitment to building and maintaining a robust design system for consistency, scalability, and efficiency in product development.

Company Website: https://cadmusgroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is presented as one that values high craft, collaboration, and ownership. The EdTech industry context implies a mission-driven approach focused on improving education. The size and structure suggest an environment where a Senior Product Designer can have substantial influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior individual contributor role within Product Design. It signifies a level of expertise where the designer is expected to lead projects, mentor others, and contribute significantly to the product's strategic direction and aesthetic quality. Responsibilities extend beyond task execution to include influencing design standards and processes.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product Design, Design Lead, or potentially a Director of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads within specific product squads.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to the user experience and perceived value of the Cadmus platform. By elevating the design system and transforming complex workflows, the designer directly influences user adoption, engagement, academic integrity, and ultimately, the company's success in the competitive EdTech market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Systems: Opportunity to become a key owner and leader in evolving and scaling the Cadmus design system.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers, guiding their skill development and career paths.

• Product Strategy Influence: Growing influence on product strategy and roadmap through strong design contributions and user insights.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas of EdTech product design or advanced interaction design.

• Potential for Management: With demonstrated leadership and impact, there could be a path towards design management roles in the future.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a clear path for growth, moving beyond execution to strategic influence and potential leadership. The focus on design systems and product strategy provides concrete avenues for career advancement within the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment with a physical office presence in Melbourne, Australia. The company emphasizes flexibility, allowing remote work for the majority of the week.

Office Location(s): Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Specific HQ address not provided but implied to be accessible).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The 2 anchor days in the Melbourne HQ are designed for in-person collaboration, team building, and focused brainstorming sessions.

• Technology-Rich: Access to modern design tools and potentially collaboration software to support both remote and in-office work.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Opportunities to interact with product managers, engineers, and other designers, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with flexibility on daily scheduling, managed within the hybrid model. The focus is on output and collaboration rather than strict time adherence, especially during remote work periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, offering a blend of focused remote work and in-person collaboration. This setup is common in tech companies and aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on 1-2 key projects that best showcase their skills in visual design, systems thinking, and execution. Be prepared to discuss your specific contributions, design process, and the impact of your work.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be given a design exercise (e.g., a take-home challenge or a live design problem) to assess their problem-solving approach, design thinking, and ability to apply their skills to Cadmus's context.

• Technical/Engineering Alignment Interview: An interview with an engineer or engineering lead to evaluate your understanding of front-end development constraints, HTML/CSS, and your ability to collaborate effectively with engineers.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager and potentially other team members to discuss role expectations, team dynamics, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Ruthlessly: Select projects that directly align with the requirements: complex SaaS/B2B2C, strong visual execution, design systems, and workflow transformation.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, the challenges, your design decisions (and trade-offs), and the measurable outcome.

• Highlight Execution: Show your attention to detail. Zoom in on specific UI elements, micro-interactions, and responsive behaviors. Demonstrate how your designs "feel and react."

• Showcase Systems Thinking: If you've worked on design systems, clearly explain your contribution, the architecture, and how it enabled scalability.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design choices, technical considerations, and how you collaborated with engineers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Cadmus, its mission, and its target users (students, academics).

• Focus on Process: Even if the challenge is time-limited, demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving, ideation, and design.

• Prioritize Feasibility: For any design solutions, consider the practical implications for engineering and shipping.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process and design rationale concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess both design craft and practical execution skills, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with engineering. The portfolio is paramount, and candidates must prepare to present it with detailed explanations of their contributions and design decisions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency in Figma's advanced features, including component variants, auto layout, and collaborative workflows, is essential.

• Design System Management Software: Tools or methodologies for managing design tokens, style guides, and component libraries within Figma or a connected platform.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with tools that allow for more advanced micro-interactions and animations (e.g., After Effects, Principle) may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

• User Feedback Tools: Experience with platforms for collecting and analyzing user feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback widgets).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct tool for design, an understanding of how CRM and automation tools impact user journeys within a SaaS product can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool. The emphasis on design systems and user analytics suggests a need for designers who are comfortable working with data to inform their decisions and measure the success of their designs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Craft & Precision: A deep respect for the details of design, from typography and layout to micro-interactions, ensuring a premium user experience.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A belief in working closely with product managers and engineers to co-create solutions, valuing diverse perspectives.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and solving real user problems, grounded in research and empathy for students and academics.

• Pragmatic Execution: The ability to balance ambitious design goals with the practical realities of software development and shipping.

• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to learning, iterating, and constantly raising the bar for design quality and product effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Squads: Designers are embedded within cross-functional product teams, working daily with PMs and Engineers.

• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on design work, from peers, stakeholders, and users.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging designers to share best practices, learnings, and design explorations within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of artistic excellence and practical application, with a strong collaborative spirit and a user-focused mission. This suggests a team that is both passionate about design and committed to delivering valuable, functional software.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Elevating a Mature Platform: Taking an existing SaaS product and significantly raising its aesthetic appeal and user experience without disrupting core functionality or alienating existing users.

• Designing for Complexity: Translating dense, often dry, academic workflows and data into intuitive and delightful user interfaces.

• Balancing Craft with Speed: Maintaining a high standard of visual execution while adhering to iterative development cycles and shipping timelines.

• Ensuring Production Fidelity: Closely managing the implementation of detailed designs with engineering to achieve pixel-perfect results.

• Bridging Design and Engineering: Effectively communicating complex design intentions and technical constraints to ensure seamless collaboration.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in building and scaling sophisticated design systems.

• EdTech Industry Insights: Gaining specialized knowledge in the unique challenges and opportunities within educational technology.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Enhancing understanding of product management, engineering processes, and user research methodologies.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Developing leadership skills through project ownership and potential mentorship of junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to senior roles in established product environments, requiring strategic thinking and strong execution. The growth opportunities are well-defined, offering clear paths for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you significantly elevated the visual design of a complex SaaS product. What were the key challenges, and how did you measure success?" (Focus on your design system contributions, aesthetic improvements, and impact.)

• "How do you approach transforming a dense, data-heavy workflow into an intuitive and delightful user experience? Walk us through an example from your portfolio." (Highlight your IA skills, user empathy, and ability to simplify complexity.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Cadmus and our mission in the EdTech space?" (Research the company's mission and values.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are not only beautiful but also technically feasible and align with engineering capabilities?" (Prepare examples of your collaboration with developers and understanding of front-end constraints.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your specific contributions, the challenges, the solutions, and the outcomes (quantitative and qualitative).

• Focus on Execution: Be prepared to zoom in on specific UI elements, micro-interactions, typography, and layout details. Explain why you made those choices.

• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: If applicable, clearly outline how your work contributes to or builds upon a design system.

• Showcase Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you worked with product managers and engineers, and how you incorporated their feedback.

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about HTML/CSS, responsive design, and your understanding of front-end development limitations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and a deep understanding of execution within a product development lifecycle.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Workable application link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate expertise in complex SaaS design, design systems, and sophisticated visual execution. Prioritize live products and clearly articulate your impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your 5+ years of relevant experience and keywords like "SaaS," "B2B2C," "Design Systems," "Figma," "Interaction Design," and "Visual Design." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and collaboration with engineering. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the EdTech industry and Cadmus's mission.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Cadmus, its platform, its mission, and its target audience. Understand their commitment to academic integrity and their vision for transforming educational assessment.

⚠️ 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.