Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: CMC Markets

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-03

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of next-generation trading products and evolve the Figma-based design system for global web and mobile platforms.

• Translate complex financial data and trading requirements into intuitive, high-performance user interfaces that cater to professional users.

• Collaborate closely with product and engineering leaders to influence product strategy, elevate design standards, and modernize the digital experience.

• Drive consistency, scalability, and innovation through contribution to a global design system, ensuring precision and reliability in a professional trading environment.

• Mentor and support fellow designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design culture within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated at the intersection of sophisticated financial technology (Fintech) and user experience design, demanding a unique blend of systems thinking, interaction design, and a deep understanding of data-intensive enterprise environments. The emphasis on rebuilding a core trading platform from the ground up indicates a significant opportunity for impact and strategic influence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and mature the design system in Figma, evolving it into a scalable, accessible component library that functions seamlessly across global web and mobile experiences.

• Conduct the full design lifecycle for major workstreams, encompassing discovery, logic mapping, pixel-perfect delivery, and implementation support.

• Translate complex trading requirements and dense financial data into high-performance interfaces that feel effortless for professional users, minimizing friction in high-stakes financial decisions.

• Run user research and usability testing sessions to validate design decisions within a high-pressure, real-world trading environment, ensuring user needs are met.

• Partner effectively with stakeholders, product managers, and engineering teams to navigate technical constraints and deliver on large-scale projects.

• Present design rationale to senior stakeholders, leveraging data, design principles, and user insights to build alignment on the platform's strategic direction.

• Coach the broader design team on best-practice human-centered design methods, thereby enhancing both design excellence and delivery pace across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role requiring ownership and strategic leadership, particularly in evolving a critical design system and influencing product direction. The expectation to conduct "discovery and logic mapping" suggests a need for strong analytical and problem-structuring skills beyond typical UI design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is typically expected for senior-level product design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive product design experience, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked within fintech, trading platforms, or other data-heavy enterprise environments.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in Figma, specifically in building, maintaining, and scaling sophisticated component libraries and design systems.

• Proven ability to translate complex requirements and dense financial data into intuitive and high-performance user interfaces.

• Strong understanding of systems thinking and its application in designing seamless workflows across web and mobile platforms.

• Proficiency in conducting user research and usability testing to validate design decisions in a high-stakes environment.

• Experience in leading the full design lifecycle from discovery and logic mapping to pixel-perfect delivery and implementation support.

• Excellent skills in creating high-fidelity interactive prototypes that effectively communicate complex user journeys.

• A demonstrable obsession with typography, layout, grid systems, and high-density information display.

• Ability to present design rationale to senior stakeholders, using data and design principles to build consensus.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience influencing product roadmaps and technical decisions within agile, cross-functional teams.

• Mentoring and coaching capabilities to support junior designers and elevate team-wide design practices.

• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies and agile development processes.

• Understanding of financial markets and trading concepts to better inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building and maintaining sophisticated, scalable component libraries" in Figma suggests that candidates with deep system design expertise and a strong grasp of design operations will be highly valued. The requirement for "full working rights in Australia" is a critical eligibility criterion.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio that clearly articulates a complex problem, the elegant interface solution, and the detailed design process undertaken to arrive at that solution.

• Demonstrations of systems thinking applied to complex workflows, showcasing how components and patterns scale across different platforms and use cases.

• Case studies that highlight the candidate's ability to transform dense financial data or complex trading requirements into user-friendly and high-performance interfaces.

• Evidence of experience in evolving or contributing to a design system, showcasing component library development and maintenance.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the user research and usability testing conducted, including how insights informed design iterations and validated decisions.

• Documentation of the full design lifecycle, from initial discovery and logic mapping through to pixel-perfect delivery and collaboration with engineering for implementation support.

• Examples of how design rationale was presented to stakeholders, including the use of data and design principles to build alignment and influence product direction.

• Showcasing of collaboration with product and engineering teams to navigate technical constraints and deliver on large-scale projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements emphasize not just the final output but the strategic thinking, process rigor, and problem-solving approach. Candidates must be prepared to articulate their design decisions, research methodologies, and collaboration efforts in detail, especially concerning complex financial data and system design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 8+ years of experience in Sydney, Australia, the estimated annual salary range is AUD $150,000 - $200,000. This estimate considers the seniority of the role, the specific industry (Fintech/Trading), the demand for specialized design skills, and the cost of living in Sydney.

Benefits:

• My Days: Accrue 5 additional annual leave entitlements each year.

• Extra Annual Leave: Enjoy 5 extra annual leave days after completing 12 months of service.

• Birthday Off: Receive your birthday as a paid day off.

• Annual Charity Day: Utilize one free annual charity day to give back to the community.

• $0 Trades: Staff and family trading accounts with CMC Markets Invest receive $0 brokerage fees for all domestic and international equity orders.

• Continuous Learning: Access to L&D offerings covering both technical and performance training.

• Benefits & Wellbeing Hub: Unlimited access to a hub offering retailer discounts and resources for physical and mental wellbeing.

• Office Perks: Free breakfast cereals, condiments, and coffee.

• Culture Club Activities: Opportunities for social events, fitness, classes, and competitive activities.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, implying approximately 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes collaboration by requiring five days in the office, suggesting a structured work schedule within the office environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on market data for Senior Product Designers in Sydney, Australia, factoring in the specialized fintech and financial data domain. The extensive benefits package, particularly the $0 trades for staff and family, is a significant perk for those interested in financial markets. The "five days in the office" requirement is a key detail for work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (Fintech), specifically focused on Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading and share investing. CMC Markets is a global leader in this sector, aiming to provide the ultimate trading experience.

Company Size: CMC Markets is a large, established financial services firm with a significant global presence. The specific team size for product design is not detailed but is implied to be substantial enough to require senior leadership and mentorship.

Founded: Founded in 1989, CMC Markets has a long history and is currently undergoing a significant rebuilding of its core trading platform, indicating a focus on innovation and modernization.

Team Structure:

• The design team is part of a larger Product and Engineering organization focused on developing and enhancing the company's global trading platform.

• This role involves close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leaders, suggesting a matrixed reporting structure where designers work within cross-functional product teams.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: The teams operate within agile environments, requiring designers to be adaptable and iterative in their process.

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis is placed on using data and design principles to inform decisions and build alignment, particularly with senior stakeholders.

• Human-Centered Design: A core value is ensuring that complex financial concepts are translated into intuitive, user-centric experiences.

• Systems Thinking: The role requires applying systems thinking to create seamless workflows across platforms and ensure scalability and consistency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CMC Markets' focus on rebuilding its core trading platform suggests a dynamic environment with significant opportunities for strategic input from senior designers. The company's long history combined with a forward-looking approach to platform development presents a unique culture that values both stability and innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a mid-to-late career stage. It involves leading complex design initiatives, influencing product strategy, and mentoring junior team members. The scope includes end-to-end ownership of major workstreams and significant contribution to the platform's future direction.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Manager, or a senior Product Lead. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts tens of thousands of retail and institutional traders making real-time financial decisions. Improvements in interface design, workflow simplification, and data visualization directly reduce friction, enhance user confidence, and contribute to a superior trading experience. This has a tangible impact on user engagement, retention, and potentially trading volume.

Growth Opportunities:

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

• Specialization: Deeper specialization in areas like financial data visualization, complex system design, or advanced design system architecture.

• Cross-functional Influence: Increased influence over product roadmaps and strategic decisions, acting as a key design advocate.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Developing leadership skills through guiding and mentoring junior designers, contributing to design team excellence.

• Industry Expertise: Deepening expertise within the high-demand fintech and trading platform design domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential beyond individual contribution, with clear pathways into leadership and specialized expertise within the critical fintech sector. The impact of design decisions on a global trading platform provides a substantial foundation for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company requires employees to work five days in the office, indicating a traditional on-site work environment that prioritizes in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The specific office address is not provided but is within the Sydney metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on five days in the office suggests a culture that values face-to-face interaction, spontaneous brainstorming, and team cohesion.

• Tools & Technology: Access to a Figma-based design system and likely other industry-standard design and prototyping tools. The company's focus on a "rebuilding core trading platform" implies a commitment to modern technology stacks.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with product managers, engineers, and other designers, fostering a dynamic and communicative work environment.

Work Schedule: Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) with a mandatory on-site presence five days a week, facilitating consistent team collaboration and workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory five-day on-site work arrangement is a key characteristic of this role's environment, emphasizing in-person collaboration over remote flexibility. This setup is designed to foster a strong team culture and facilitate the complex communication required for large-scale platform development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience. Be prepared to highlight your most relevant projects, especially those involving complex data, financial interfaces, or design system development.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You may be asked to present a case study from your portfolio or complete a design exercise. Focus on clearly articulating the problem, your process (research, ideation, iteration), design rationale, and the impact of your solution. Emphasize your systems thinking and Figma design system expertise.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers. These interviews will assess your collaboration skills, ability to navigate technical constraints, and how you communicate design strategy.

• Senior Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior management to evaluate your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit within CMC Markets.

Portfolio Review Tips:

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