Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Clasp

Location: United States (Remote, ET & CT time zones only)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-08

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote (with occasional travel)

🚀 Role Summary

• Anchor end-to-end product design for Clasp Talent, encompassing both recruitment and benefit administration platforms.

• Design seamless user experiences across multiple personas including students, recruiters, employees, and employer administrators.

• Evolve and mature the existing design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across consumer and operational interfaces.

• Translate complex, data-rich, and compliance-sensitive workflows into clear, legible, and trustworthy user interfaces.

• Leverage advanced Figma capabilities for rapid prototyping, user validation, and collaboration with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Senior Product Designer, the emphasis on "operations-heavy fintech workflows," "employer admin tooling," "HRIS integrations," and "invoice and credit management" strongly suggests a need for candidates with a deep understanding of operational processes and how design can simplify them. The role requires bridging the gap between consumer-facing acquisition and intricate backend operations, a common challenge in Revenue Operations and Sales Operations environments. Therefore, while the title is "Product Designer," the skillset and problem-solving approach required align closely with operations-minded professionals who can translate complex business logic into intuitive user experiences.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the full design lifecycle for Clasp Talent, from initial problem definition and discovery through to prototyping, user validation, and production-ready deliverables.

• Architect and design intuitive user journeys for four distinct personas: students (discovery, application, offer), recruiters (sourcing, screening, placement), employees (benefit reception), and employer administrators (program management).

• Drive the evolution of the design system by contributing new components, refining patterns, and ensuring design consistency across all product surfaces.

• Simplify complex operational workflows such as HRIS integration setup, fund flow management, invoice reconciliation, and benefit administration through clear and user-friendly design.

• Develop high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, utilizing advanced features like variables and interactions, to effectively test and validate design solutions with target users.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to conduct qualitative and quantitative user research, including usability testing and interviews, to inform design decisions.

• Partner with the Marketing team to design engaging top-of-funnel experiences, including landing pages and conversion paths, ensuring a seamless transition from marketing to product.

• Elevate the visual craft and overall user experience, ensuring clarity, quality, and cohesion that reflects the significance of the career and financial decisions users are making.

• Infuse moments of delight, warmth, and personality into the product experience, particularly in operational interfaces, to build trust and memorability.

• Explore and responsibly integrate emerging AI tools to enhance research, ideation, and design production efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Make Complex Workflows Feel Simple" and "Bring clarity to the genuinely hard surfaces — HRIS integration setup, flow-of-funds visibility, invoice and credit reconciliation, benefit administration" directly points to the need for a designer who understands operational intricacies. This involves not just aesthetic design but a deep comprehension of business processes, data management, and compliance, which are core to Revenue and Sales Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. A strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: 5+ years of professional product design experience, with a demonstrable track record of owning end-to-end design processes for complex products.

Required Skills:

• Full-lifecycle product design expertise, including problem identification, insight validation, system and interaction design, and shipping high-quality user experiences.

• Proficient in designing for both consumer-facing acquisition flows and data-dense operational tooling.

• Strong systems thinking capabilities to design scalable, interconnected ecosystems and manage ripple effects across user journeys.

• Experience designing for products with multiple distinct user types and balancing competing needs.

• Proven experience working within and evolving production design systems, understanding component management and pattern refactoring.

• Deep fluency in Figma, including advanced features like components, variables, auto layout, and prototyping.

• Excellent visual design craft, including typography, layout, color, and visual hierarchy.

• Competency in partnering on qualitative and quantitative user research (usability tests, interviews, analytics reviews).

• Curiosity and hands-on experience experimenting with AI tools in design workflows.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in healthcare, health-tech, fintech, or HR-tech industries.

• Familiarity with HRIS integrations and financial workflows.

• Understanding of AI's role in product development and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "operational tooling," "HRIS integration setup," and "invoice and credit reconciliation" suggests that candidates with experience in B2B SaaS platforms, particularly those dealing with complex financial or operational processes, will have a significant advantage. This aligns with the need for operational understanding in a product design context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case studies showcasing ownership of the full design lifecycle, from problem identification and user research to detailed interaction design and shipped product.

• Demonstrations of ability to design for both consumer-facing flows (e.g., acquisition, onboarding) and complex operational/B2B surfaces (e.g., admin dashboards, data reconciliation, integration setups).

• Examples of how you have contributed to or evolved a design system, illustrating component creation, pattern refinement, and consistency enforcement.

• Prototypes (ideally Figma-based) that highlight advanced interactions, user flows for multiple personas, and solutions to complex operational challenges.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your structured approach to problem-solving, detailing how you frame ambiguous problems and validate insights.

• Illustrate your methodology for designing interconnected systems and managing multi-persona experiences.

• Provide examples of how you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers, including your process for handoffs and iteration.

• Demonstrate your understanding of how to translate complex business logic and operational requirements into intuitive user interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: A portfolio that clearly articulates the "why" behind design decisions, especially in the context of operational efficiency and user adoption for complex B2B workflows, will be crucial. The ability to demonstrate how design solved specific business problems, like simplifying HRIS integrations or improving invoice reconciliation, will set candidates apart.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $170,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and industry knowledge.

Benefits:

• Competitive cash and equity compensation.

• Comprehensive health benefits: health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Student loan repayment benefits.

• 401k matching.

• Commuter benefits.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development in a fast-paced environment.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility. The role requires adherence to Eastern/Central time zones for collaboration with the Boston-based team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator for senior-level product design roles in the US tech market. The inclusion of "equity component" suggests a startup environment where employees can benefit from company growth. The explicit mention of "Student loan repayment benefits" is a unique perk tied to Clasp's mission.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech, EdTech, HR Tech, focused on education financing and talent acquisition/retention solutions.

Company Size: Venture-backed startup, indicating a dynamic and growth-oriented environment. Specific employee count not provided but implied to be growing.

Founded: Clasp is a relatively new venture, positioning itself as a disruptive force in its market. Founded date not explicitly stated but referred to as a "startup."

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be a key IC (Individual Contributor) role, working closely with dedicated Product Management teams for Clasp Talent (Recruitment and Repayment).

• Direct collaboration with the Director of Product, leaders in Marketing, Partner Success, and Engineering.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative research.

• Agile development methodology, with a focus on rapid prototyping, iteration, and shipping features.

• Emphasis on user-centric design, with a commitment to understanding and serving multiple user personas.

• Exploration and responsible application of AI tools to enhance workflows and innovation.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a venture-backed startup focused on social impact (transforming access to education and career pathways, tackling student debt), Clasp likely fosters a culture of innovation, mission-driven work, and rapid iteration. The "Forbes Fintech 50" and "Business Insider's '43 Start-Ups to Bet Your Career On'" accolades suggest a high-growth, high-impact environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC). This role is expected to be a design anchor, leading significant product areas with autonomy.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, the Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Director of Product, or a similar design leadership role, working in close partnership with Product Managers.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on user acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency within the Clasp Talent business line. By designing intuitive experiences for students, employers, and administrators, the designer contributes to Clasp's mission of economic mobility and its business objectives of attracting and retaining talent.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to shape the design vision and strategy for a critical business line (Clasp Talent) at an inflection point.

• Potential to grow into a design leadership role as the company scales.

• Deepen expertise in designing for complex B2B/Fintech/HR-Tech workflows and multi-persona products.

• Become a key contributor to evolving and scaling a design system.

• Gain experience in leveraging AI tools for design and product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for a designer to make a tangible impact on a mission-driven product. The "anchor" nature of the role suggests autonomy and the chance to define best practices, particularly in bridging consumer and operational design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Remote (ET & CT time zones only). Occasional travel to Boston is required for onboarding and ongoing collaboration.

Office Location(s): Primarily remote within the Eastern and Central US time zones. Travel is expected to a "medium hub/large airport with multiple daily flights to Boston" and frequent travel to Boston is anticipated, especially during onboarding. Targeting the broader New England area is a focus for initial hiring.

Workspace Context:

• Remote work environment requiring strong self-discipline and communication skills.

• Collaborative virtual environment with tools like Figma, Slack, etc.

• Occasional in-person sessions in Boston for team building, strategic planning, and deep collaboration.

• Access to modern design tools and a growing design system.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with flexibility. Must align with ET/CT business hours for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first approach with required travel to Boston indicates a hybrid model where in-person collaboration is valued for key moments. Candidates need to be comfortable with remote work while also being willing and able to travel. The timezone requirement is critical for seamless integration with the core team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, likely with a recruiter or hiring manager, to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing case studies that highlight their end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. A design challenge, potentially focused on a specific Clasp Talent scenario involving complex workflows or multiple personas, may be introduced.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers or leaders to assess collaboration style, technical acumen, and cultural fit. Expect questions around systems thinking, handling ambiguity, and operational design challenges.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall alignment with Clasp's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Operations-Minded Design: Clearly articulate how your design solutions simplified complex operational processes (e.g., integrations, data reconciliation, admin tasks) and improved efficiency or user trust.

• Highlight Multi-Persona Expertise: Present case studies that demonstrate your ability to design for distinct user groups within a single product, explaining how you balanced their needs and ensured a cohesive experience.

• Detail Your Process: Walk through your end-to-end design process for at least one relevant case study, emphasizing discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Demonstrate Design System Contribution: If applicable, show examples of components you've designed or patterns you've refined within a design system, explaining the impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the positive outcomes of your design work (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced support tickets, improved task completion times for operational users).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Clasp's business model (Clasp Talent and Clasp Finance) and target users.

• Familiarize yourself with the complexities of student loan repayment benefits, HRIS integrations, and healthcare talent acquisition.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for compliance-heavy, data-rich operational workflows.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, focusing on user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "operations-heavy fintech workflows" and "employer admin tooling" means that candidates should prepare to discuss their experience designing for B2B users and complex business logic, not just consumer-facing features. Demonstrating an understanding of how design impacts operational efficiency and compliance will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and design system management. Advanced proficiency in components, variables, auto layout, and prototyping is expected.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's advanced prototyping capabilities, potentially supplemented by other tools for specific needs.

• AI Tools: Candidates are expected to have experience experimenting with and applying AI tools to accelerate design workflows (e.g., for research synthesis, ideation, content generation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary design tool, familiarity with how to interpret user analytics and performance data (e.g., from tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (though not explicitly mentioned, common in B2B contexts) and workflow automation concepts would be advantageous, especially given the HRIS integration aspect.

• Understanding of how design can support or integrate with automated business processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI tools highlights key technical requirements. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their proficiency in Figma's advanced features and their creative application of AI in their design process, particularly for tasks like research synthesis or generating design variations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Impact: A strong commitment to Clasp's mission of transforming access to education and career pathways and tackling the student debt crisis.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A dedication to high-quality design, visual polish, and user experience, even in complex operational areas.

• Systems Thinking & Scalability: An approach that considers the interconnectedness of product components and designs for future growth and efficiency.

• User Empathy: A deep understanding and consideration for the needs, goals, and pain points of all user personas, especially those navigating complex financial and career decisions.

• Innovation & Adaptability: A willingness to explore new technologies (like AI) and adapt to a fast-paced startup environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Partner Success teams.

• Remote-First Communication: Proactive and clear communication, leveraging written and real-time tools effectively.

• Iterative Design Process: Openness to feedback, constructive critique, and iterative refinement of designs.

• Data-Informed Decisions: A culture that values insights from user research and analytics to guide product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture likely values individuals who are passionate about the mission, possess strong design acumen, and can thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced, and remote-first startup environment. The "operations-heavy" nature of the product implies a need for designers who are comfortable with detail and understand the importance of reliability and trust in financial and administrative systems.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Consumer & Operational Design: Effectively designing for vastly different user groups (students vs. HR administrators) within a single product suite, ensuring both intuitive user experience and operational robustness.

• Simplifying Complexity: Translating intricate financial transactions, compliance requirements, and HRIS integrations into clear, trustworthy, and user-friendly interfaces.

• Evolving a Design System: Maturing an existing design system to support new product features and meet the demands of both consumer and operational surfaces.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a distributed work environment with occasional travel requirements.

• Balancing Speed and Craft: Delivering high-quality, impactful designs rapidly in a fast-paced startup environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunity to significantly influence the product direction and user experience strategy for Clasp Talent.

• Fintech/HR-Tech Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of the unique design challenges and opportunities within the fintech, edtech, and HR-tech sectors.

• AI in Design: Hands-on experience integrating AI tools into the design process, contributing to innovation and efficiency.

• Design System Advancement: Contribute to building and scaling a robust design system that supports product growth.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Develop strong partnerships with product, engineering, and business leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a designer who is not only skilled in UX/UI but also possesses strong problem-solving abilities, systems thinking, and an operational mindset. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to make a significant impact and advance their career in a mission-driven tech company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for multiple, potentially conflicting, user personas. How did you balance their needs, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your multi-persona design approach and how you managed trade-offs.)

• "Walk me through the most complex operational workflow you've designed for. What were the key challenges, and how did your design address them?" (Prepare a case study that showcases your ability to handle data-rich, compliance-sensitive interfaces and simplify intricate processes.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Clasp's mission? How does it align with your personal values or career goals?" (Research Clasp's mission thoroughly and articulate your genuine interest.)

• "How do you approach collaboration in a remote-first environment, especially when occasional travel is required?" (Discuss your communication strategies, proactive engagement, and comfort with hybrid work models.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed, the constraints, your solutions, and the measurable impact.

• Emphasize Operational Design: Explicitly call out how your designs simplified complex operational tasks, improved data accuracy, or enhanced trust in financial/administrative workflows.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Demonstrate advanced Figma usage, such as interactive prototypes, component variations, and potentially variables, to illustrate your technical skill.

• Discuss AI Integration: Be ready to talk about how you've experimented with or integrated AI tools into your workflow, and how you see them impacting product design.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, trade-offs, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate how their design skills translate into tangible business outcomes, particularly in the context of optimizing operational efficiency and user trust for complex B2B workflows. Demonstrating an understanding of the fintech and HR-tech domains will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature case studies that demonstrate your experience with complex B2B workflows, multi-persona product design, and design system contributions. Specifically highlight projects where your design simplified operational processes or enhanced user trust in data-intensive applications.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight keywords relevant to product design, Figma, design systems, user research, systems thinking, and any experience in fintech, edtech, or HR-tech. Quantify achievements wherever possible, focusing on impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, clearly articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing for Clasp's specific challenges.

• Research Clasp: Thoroughly understand Clasp's mission, its two business lines (Talent and Finance), and its target users. Familiarize yourself with the competitive landscape and potential design challenges within the fintech and HR-tech spaces.

⚠️ 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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