(Senior) Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: digiLab

Location: Exeter, England, United Kingdom / Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: August 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process, from user research and discovery to high-fidelity UI design and implementation for digiLab's cutting-edge AI platform, the Uncertainty Engine.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and other internal teams to translate complex user and business needs into intuitive, effective, and visually compelling product solutions.

• Champion user-centered design methodologies, including conducting rigorous user research and usability testing to validate design decisions and ensure product-market fit.

• Contribute to the strategic evolution of digiLab's product offerings by exploring and validating new features and functionalities through rapid prototyping and iterative design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly for a Product Designer with a senior-level capacity, indicated by the "(Senior)" in the title and the 5-10 years of experience. The focus is on web-based products, not general websites, and a strong emphasis is placed on technical/data-intensive product design, aligning with digiLab's AI and engineering focus.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead user research initiatives, employing diverse methodologies to uncover user needs, pain points, and behaviors, and translate these insights into actionable design recommendations.

• Develop comprehensive information architectures, user flows, and content strategies to simplify complex product functionalities and technical documentation for clarity and ease of use.

• Drive product discovery processes for new features and offerings, from ideation and concept development through rapid prototyping and user validation.

• Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs using Figma, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure design feasibility, technical coherence, and successful translation of designs into production-ready code.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of digiLab's design system, promoting consistency, scalability, and best practices across all product interfaces.

• Adopt and integrate AI tools within the design workflow to enhance efficiency and accelerate design cycles, while maintaining high standards of quality and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product discovery and hands-on UI/UX execution. The emphasis on "shaping new product offerings" and "strengthening the consistency and rigour of our design practice" points to a role that influences design strategy and process, not just execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior product design roles and would be advantageous.

Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of industry experience in product design, UX design, or a closely related role, with a proven track record of designing complex, web-based products and services.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in product design, UX design, or a similar role, specifically for web-based products and services (not general websites).

• Profound user research capabilities, including the ability to select appropriate methods, conduct research and usability testing, and translate findings into concrete product and design decisions.

• Advanced information architecture and interaction design skills, with a demonstrated ability to make complex products, content, and user journeys clear and intuitive.

• Proven experience working across the full product design lifecycle, from ambiguous early-stage problem definition and discovery through prototyping, validation, detailed design, and implementation.

• Strong UI design proficiency and mastery of Figma, with the ability to deliver polished interfaces, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Experience in developing and utilizing design systems and reusable component libraries, with a keen eye for consistency across products and user experiences.

• Excellent critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and partner effectively with product managers, designers, and software engineers. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with technical or product documentation, content design, taxonomy development, or managing complex information structures.

• Prior experience designing technical, scientific, or data-intensive products, including complex data visualizations.

• Familiarity with using product analytics tools and quantitative metrics in conjunction with qualitative UX research to inform design.

• Working knowledge of front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and modern frameworks like React or TypeScript.

• Experience with accessibility standards, inclusive design principles, or motion design techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to Have" skills strongly suggest a need for candidates comfortable with technical domains and data. The mention of HTML/CSS and React/TypeScript indicates a desire for designers with some understanding of front-end development principles, facilitating better collaboration with engineering teams.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex product design case studies demonstrating expertise across the full product design lifecycle, from discovery to launch.

• Clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process undertaken, and the rationale behind key design decisions.

• Highlight your user research methodologies, including how you gathered insights and validated your designs with real users.

• Present detailed examples of information architecture, user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity UI designs, emphasizing clarity and usability.

• Demonstrate proficiency with Figma, showcasing your ability to create polished interfaces, prototypes, and contribute to design systems.

• Include evidence of how your designs solved specific user or business problems and the impact or outcomes achieved (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction). Process Documentation:

• For each case study, provide a concise overview of the design process employed, detailing the specific methods used at each stage (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, competitive analysis).

• Illustrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering) throughout the design and development process.

• If applicable, showcase contributions to or creation of design systems, component libraries, or style guides, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Explain how you leveraged data (qualitative and quantitative) to inform and validate design decisions, and how you measured success post-launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given digiLab's focus on complex AI and scientific products, portfolios should strongly emphasize case studies involving data visualization, technical interfaces, or complex information architecture. Demonstrating an ability to translate intricate concepts into user-friendly designs is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the seniority level (Senior Product Designer), the location in the UK (Exeter/Bristol), and the specialized nature of the company (AI/Engineering), a competitive salary range is estimated. For a candidate with 5-10 years of experience, the typical range in these regions for a Senior Product Designer would fall between £55,000 - £75,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary (as detailed above)

• Personal & Professional Development opportunities, including training and workshops.

• BUPA Private Health Care (offered via salary sacrifice, providing potential tax benefits).

• Company Cashplan, likely covering routine medical expenses such as dental, optical, and physiotherapy.

• Cycle to Work Scheme, promoting sustainable commuting and offering tax savings on bicycle purchases.

• Referral Program, rewarding employees for successfully referring new hires.

• Regular Social Events, fostering team cohesion and a positive work environment through activities like pizza nights, kayaking, bouldering, and bake-offs.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Thursday. This equates to approximately 34 hours per week, indicating a compressed work week. Some flexibility may be required outside these hours to meet business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Monday to Thursday" work schedule is a significant benefit, offering a 3-day weekend. This compressed work week is a strong differentiator and should be highlighted. The salary range is an estimation based on UK market data for senior design roles in technology companies, adjusted for regional location.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically focusing on Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) for high-stakes engineering and scientific applications. digiLab operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and critical societal challenges.

Company Size: digiLab is described as a "formative AI company" and an "ambitious, rapidly-growing start-up." This suggests a dynamic, agile environment with a relatively small to medium-sized team, likely under 100 employees, offering significant opportunities for impact.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the description implies it is a relatively new or emerging company that has achieved world-leading expertise and is now scaling beyond its core product.

Team Structure:

• The design team appears to be led by a Design Lead, with the Senior Product Designer working closely with them.

• Collaboration is heavily emphasized, with the role requiring close cross-functional work with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other internal teams.

• The start-up environment likely means flatter hierarchies and more direct interaction with leadership and across departments. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Strong emphasis on user research, usability testing, and quantitative measures to inform and validate design decisions.

• Agile Product Development: The iterative nature of product discovery, prototyping, and collaboration with engineering suggests an agile development approach.

• Design System Implementation: A focus on building and leveraging design systems indicates a commitment to consistency, scalability, and efficient design practices.

• AI Integration: Proactive adoption of AI tools within the design workflow is encouraged, reflecting the company's core technology.

Company Website: https://www.digilab.ai/ (Inferred based on domain name and industry)

📝 Enhancement Note: digiLab is positioned as a leader in a highly specialized and impactful field of AI. The company culture is likely to attract individuals passionate about solving complex problems and making a tangible difference, with a strong emphasis on innovation, trust, and high performance.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is clearly at a Senior level within the Product Design discipline. It involves not only hands-on design execution but also strategic input into product direction, user research methodologies, and the refinement of design practices. The expectation is for the individual to contribute significantly to the design team's maturity and output.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report directly to the Design Lead. They will also work very closely with Product Management and Engineering teams, indicating a collaborative and integrated workflow rather than a strictly hierarchical reporting line for day-to-day tasks.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is direct and significant. By translating complex AI technology into intuitive user experiences, the Senior Product Designer will:

• Enable customers to more effectively leverage digiLab's Uncertainty Engine, accelerating innovation and reducing risk in critical engineering and scientific fields.

• Contribute to the successful development and adoption of new product offerings, directly impacting the company's growth and market position.

• Enhance user satisfaction and product usability, which are crucial for customer retention and acquisition in a competitive AI market.

• Influence the overall product strategy and design direction of a pioneering AI company. Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Managerial role as the design team expands, taking on more strategic oversight and team management responsibilities.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for complex, data-intensive, or AI-driven products, becoming a subject matter expert in a high-demand field.

• Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to further refine and optimize the design process, potentially mentoring junior designers and establishing best practices for the growing team.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Develop a strong understanding of AI technology, product management, and engineering, opening doors to broader roles within product development or strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly for someone looking to make a significant impact in a fast-growing tech startup. The ability to influence design strategy and potentially lead future design initiatives is a key aspect of this senior role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role, requiring regular presence at either the Exeter or Bristol office. This suggests a traditional office setting designed to foster in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s):

• Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom

• Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Candidates can choose their preferred office location. Both locations are in the South West of England, offering access to vibrant tech and research communities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on cross-functional work and the office-based setup indicate a workspace designed for frequent interaction, brainstorming, and team collaboration.

• Tools and Technology: As a modern AI company, digiLab is expected to provide up-to-date hardware and software, including Figma and potentially other design and productivity tools. The role also encourages the use of AI tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with the Design Lead, Product Managers, Engineers, and other team members, facilitating strong working relationships and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: The compressed work week (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM) provides a unique work-life balance with extended weekends. While flexibility may be needed, the standard structure is a significant perk.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor. Candidates must be willing to commute to either Exeter or Bristol. The compressed work week is a major benefit that significantly enhances the work-life balance aspect of the role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a Senior Product Designer role at a tech company like digiLab would likely include:

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

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A deep dive into your portfolio, potentially followed by a take-home design challenge or a live design critique session. This stage is crucial for assessing your design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate your work.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interviews: Interviews with the Design Lead and potentially other key stakeholders (Product Managers, Lead Engineers) to evaluate technical skills, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with a senior leader to confirm cultural alignment and overall fit for the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant case studies. Prioritize projects that showcase your experience with complex, data-intensive, or technical products, and highlight your end-to-end design process.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Process & Rationale: Clearly explain why you made certain design decisions. Showcase your research methodologies, information architecture, user flows, and wireframes before presenting final UI designs.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Ensure your prototypes are interactive and polished. If you've contributed to design systems, include examples of reusable components and their application.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics and data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user engagement, task completion rates, reduced errors).

• Address Technical Nuances: If you have experience with technical documentation or data visualization, ensure these aspects are clearly represented.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand digiLab's Domain: Research digiLab's AI technology, particularly Uncertainty Quantification, and the industries they serve (engineering, science). Think about the unique design challenges associated with these fields.

• Practice Articulating Design Decisions: Be ready to explain your thought process for every choice, from research methods to UI elements.

• Prepare for Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions that require you to break down complex problems, ideate solutions, and justify your approach.

• Showcase Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you've worked with engineers and product managers, highlighting your ability to navigate technical constraints and business requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely to be a critical part of the selection process. Candidates should prepare to deeply discuss their work, emphasizing their ability to handle complexity and their understanding of technical products.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required skill and the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design. Expect candidates to showcase extensive Figma expertise.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma covers this, proficiency with other advanced prototyping tools might be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar platforms to track user behavior and product performance.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools or libraries for creating data visualizations, given the company's focus on data-intensive products.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a design tool, understanding how design impacts CRM systems or user journeys within automated workflows can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone tool. However, the emphasis on data-intensive products suggests that experience with analytics and data visualization tools will be highly valued, even if not explicitly listed as a "required" skill.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Agility: Embracing innovative solutions and adapting quickly to changing project needs and technological advancements. Expect a culture that encourages experimentation and flexibility.

• Trust & Responsibility: Empowering individuals to take calculated risks and ownership of their work, fostering a sense of accountability for bold innovation.

• Open & Honest Collaboration: Valuing transparent communication, constructive feedback, and mutual respect among team members, essential for cross-functional success.

• High-Performance Standards: A commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and pushing boundaries to deliver exceptional results in a demanding field.

• Value-Driven Work: Ensuring that all efforts are aligned with digiLab's mission and contribute tangibly to company goals, emphasizing impact and purpose.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The design team is deeply integrated with Product Management and Engineering, requiring proactive communication and a partnership-driven approach to problem-solving.

• Feedback-Oriented: Expect a culture where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged to refine designs and processes, fostering continuous learning and improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across the team and the wider organization to elevate collective expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align with a high-growth, mission-driven tech startup. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, be comfortable with ambiguity, and possess a strong sense of ownership and collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complex AI: The primary challenge will be making digiLab's sophisticated Uncertainty Quantification AI platform understandable and usable for diverse engineering and scientific users. This requires simplifying complex concepts without losing accuracy or critical functionality.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively mediating between user desires, business objectives, and the technical realities of developing advanced AI software.

• Scaling Design Practice: As a growing startup, there's an opportunity to help define and scale the design team's processes, tools, and methodologies to support future growth.

• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to the quick pace of a startup, where requirements can evolve rapidly, and design solutions need to be delivered efficiently.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI/UQ: Gain in-depth knowledge of Uncertainty Quantification and its applications across various critical industries, becoming a specialist in AI product design.

• Influence Product Strategy: Play a key role in shaping the future direction of digiLab's product suite, contributing to strategic decision-making.

• Design System Development: Contribute significantly to the growth and refinement of a robust design system, enhancing scalability and consistency.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Potential to mentor junior designers and take on leadership responsibilities as the design team expands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative and complex nature of digiLab's technology. Overcoming these challenges presents significant opportunities for professional growth and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a user experience for a highly technical or data-intensive product. What were the key challenges, and how did you address them?" (Focus on problem-solving, domain understanding, and process).

• "How would you approach understanding the needs of engineers or scientists who are potential users of an AI platform like digiLab's Uncertainty Engine? What research methods would you prioritize?" (Focus on user research strategy and user empathy).

• "Imagine we are developing a new feature for our platform that visualizes complex uncertainty data. Walk us through your design process from initial concept to a validated prototype." (Focus on end-to-end design process, prototyping, and data visualization considerations). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of digiLab and the AI industry, what do you see as the biggest design challenges or opportunities for a company like ours?" (Focus on strategic thinking and industry awareness).

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially when working with engineers and product managers who may have different priorities?" (Focus on collaboration and communication skills).

• "Our values include Creativity & Agility, Trust & Responsibility, and High-Performance Standards. Can you provide an example of how you've embodied these values in your previous roles?" (Focus on cultural alignment and behavioral examples). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of the project and your role, then dive into the problem, your process, key decisions, and finally, the outcomes.

• Focus on the 'Why': For every design decision, clearly explain the rationale, linking it back to user needs or business goals.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, mockups, prototypes, user flows) extensively to illustrate your work. Make your Figma prototypes interactive where possible.

• Quantify Results: Clearly present any metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your design solutions.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, tools, and decision-making at every stage. Be ready to discuss trade-offs and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a strong blend of technical product design skills, strategic thinking, and a cultural fit with digiLab's innovative and collaborative environment. The ability to articulate complex design decisions clearly and justify them with user-centric reasoning is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in product design, UX design for web-based products, user research, information architecture, and proficiency with Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate expertise in complex product design, ideally with technical or data-intensive examples. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines your process, rationale, and impact.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your case studies, focusing on storytelling, design decisions, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your user research and collaboration experiences.

• Research digiLab: Understand their mission, technology (Uncertainty Quantification AI), target users, and company values to tailor your application and prepare for interview questions that assess cultural fit and strategic thinking.

⚠️ 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.