Senior Product Designer at Faculty

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Faculty

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / AI Solutions

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Lead the design and development of AI-native, human-centered solutions for high-impact clients, particularly within the UK Defence sector.
Drive the creation of intuitive and complex user interfaces, ensuring adherence to rigorous accessibility and inclusion standards.
Own the strategic evolution of the organization's design system, facilitating its implementation across projects and mentoring team members.
Conduct autonomous user research to inform strategic design decisions and iteratively improve product usability and user satisfaction.
Foster cross-functional collaboration and effectively communicate design rationale to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership and clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically tailored for a Senior Product Designer with a focus on AI-native products, particularly for the UK Defence sector. The emphasis on "human-centered AI," "AI-native solutions," and the requirement for UK Security Clearance (SC) eligibility are critical differentiators. The role demands not only design execution but also strategic influence and mentorship within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end design process for bespoke AI-native solutions, from initial concept through to implementation and iteration.
Develop and deliver high-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed design specifications for complex user interfaces.
Plan, execute, and synthesize findings from user research activities, translating insights into actionable design recommendations.
Proactively contribute to and evolve the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices.
Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to engineers and fellow designers on design system implementation and UI/UX best practices.
Facilitate collaborative design workshops and brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams, including machine learning engineers, data scientists, and software engineers.
Articulate and champion design decisions and rationale to a variety of stakeholders, including clients, project managers, and executive leadership.
Champion iterative design processes, incorporating feedback and validation to continuously enhance user experience and product effectiveness.
Ensure all designs meet stringent accessibility (e.g., WCAG) and inclusion standards, catering to diverse user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level individual contributor role with a strong emphasis on leadership, strategic thinking, and mentorship. The "owning the development and delivery of wireframes, prototypes, and detailed designs" and "evolving the design system" aspects indicate a hands-on role with significant ownership and impact on how design is implemented and scaled within the organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a significant focus on designing complex, AI-native products and user interfaces. Experience in a consulting services environment is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

Proven experience designing and shipping AI-native products at scale.
Demonstrated experience working with UK Defence clients or within the UK Defence sector.
Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).
Expertise in user research methodologies, including planning, conducting, and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data.
Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, and information architecture.
Experience in developing and maintaining design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.
Ability to create high-quality wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and detailed UI specifications.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams (engineering, product management, data science).
Demonstrated ability to influence product direction and broader product strategy. Preferred Skills:
Experience in a consulting services environment.
Familiarity with AI tools and their application in design workflows.
Knowledge of rigorous accessibility and inclusion standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA).
Experience mentoring junior designers and contributing to design team growth.
Understanding of agile development methodologies.
Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC).

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly emphasize domain-specific experience (AI-native, UK Defence) and a senior-level contribution beyond individual design tasks, including influencing strategy and contributing to design excellence at an organizational level. The mention of "AI tools" suggests a forward-thinking approach to design technology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A curated portfolio showcasing a range of AI-native product design projects, demonstrating end-to-end design ownership.
Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, and the quantifiable impact of your solutions, with a focus on user experience and business outcomes.
Examples of complex, high-impact user interfaces designed for challenging problems, highlighting intuitive design solutions.
Demonstrations of your contribution to design systems, including how you've evolved or maintained them to meet project and organizational needs.
Evidence of user research conducted and how insights directly informed strategic design decisions. Process Documentation:
Showcase examples of your process for planning and conducting user research, synthesizing insights, and iterating on designs based on feedback.
Illustrate your approach to wireframing, prototyping, and creating detailed design specifications for complex systems.
Highlight your methods for collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineers and data scientists, to ensure successful implementation.
Include documentation or examples of how you have contributed to or evolved design systems, focusing on scalability and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior product designer role, especially one involving AI and complex systems, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to demonstrate strategic thinking, end-to-end ownership, and a deep understanding of the design process applied to challenging, AI-driven products. The emphasis on "quantifiable impact" and "strategic design decisions" is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in London, UK, in the technology and AI sector, the estimated annual salary range is typically between £65,000 to £90,000, depending on the specific skills, experience, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

Unlimited Annual Leave Policy: Offers flexibility and promotes work-life balance.
Private Healthcare and Dental: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage for employees and potentially their families.
Enhanced Parental Leave: Generous provisions for new parents beyond statutory requirements.
Family-Friendly Flexibility & Flexible Working: Support for work-life integration, accommodating personal needs.
Sanctus Coaching: Access to professional coaching for personal and professional development.
Hybrid Working: A structured approach combining remote work with in-office collaboration.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for flexibility between remote and in-office work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for London based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with the specified experience level and specialization in AI/tech. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are framed to highlight their value to professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and consulting services. The company works across various sectors including government, finance, retail, energy, life sciences, and defence.

Company Size: Faculty is a growing company, implied by its rapid growth and reputation. It's likely a mid-sized to large scale-up, with a significant number of employees to support a broad client base and diverse projects.

Founded: 2014. This indicates a company with established expertise and a history in the AI space, moving beyond early-stage startup challenges to focus on scaling and impact.

Team Structure:

The Defence team is a specialized unit focused on building and deploying AI solutions within the defense sector, requiring collaboration with clients on high-stakes projects.
The Senior Product Designer will work within a cross-functional product development team, collaborating closely with machine learning engineers, data scientists, and software engineers.
There's an expectation for the Senior Product Designer to share best practices and contribute to building the broader design capability and systems across the organization. Methodology:
Faculty emphasizes "human-centric AI," suggesting a design philosophy that prioritizes user needs and ethical considerations in AI development.
The company focuses on "responsible AI," indicating a commitment to ethical development, fairness, and transparency in their AI solutions.
They operate in a consulting services model, working directly with clients to transform their performance through AI.

Company Website: https://faculty.ai

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a strong intellectual curiosity, a focus on impactful technology (AI), and a commitment to responsible innovation. The Defence team's specific mission adds a layer of high-stakes, mission-critical work, requiring discretion and security clearance. The "human-centric" and "responsible AI" approaches are key cultural differentiators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a "Senior" level. In the context of product design, this implies significant autonomy, ownership of complex projects, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced team members. It's a position where an individual is expected to lead design efforts and contribute to the growth of the design function itself.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a Product Lead. They will collaborate extensively with project managers and engineering leads within their project teams. The role also implies a responsibility to influence design practices across the organization, suggesting interaction with other design teams or leadership.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the success of AI-native solutions delivered to clients, particularly in critical sectors like Defence. By leading design efforts and ensuring intuitive, high-impact user interfaces, the Senior Product Designer contributes to client satisfaction, product adoption, and ultimately, the client's ability to achieve their strategic objectives through AI. The Senior Designer's work also impacts the organization's reputation and its ability to scale its design capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

Design Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a Design Lead or Managerial role, overseeing design teams and strategic initiatives.
Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-native design, human-centered AI, or specific industry verticals like Defence.
Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to enhance design processes, methodologies, and tooling within Faculty.
Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across product strategy and organizational growth by contributing to design systems and best practices.
Client Engagement: Develop advanced client-facing and stakeholder management skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title signifies a move beyond pure execution to include strategic input, mentorship, and organizational impact. The growth opportunities focus on leadership within design, strategic influence, and specialization in a cutting-edge field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Faculty operates a Hybrid Working model, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. This suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility while recognizing the importance of in-person interaction for team cohesion and innovation.

Office Location(s): The primary location is London. This implies access to a vibrant tech hub and potential for collaboration with other industry players. Specific office details would need to be confirmed, but a central London location is probable for a company of this nature.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest an environment where teamwork and idea-sharing are encouraged, both virtually and in person.
Technology-Rich: As an AI company, Faculty likely provides access to cutting-edge technology and tools necessary for product design and development, including AI-specific design tools.
Dynamic: Working with diverse clients across various sectors, especially Defence, means the environment is likely fast-paced and project-driven, offering varied challenges.

Work Schedule: While the standard is around 40 hours per week, the "Family-Friendly Flexibility & Flexible working" benefit suggests a degree of autonomy and adaptability in how work is structured to accommodate personal needs, as long as project deliverables and collaboration requirements are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key characteristic of the work environment, balancing flexibility with structured collaboration. The London location places the role within a major global tech ecosystem.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Talent Team Screen (40 minutes): Initial conversation to assess cultural fit, motivation, and basic qualifications. Be prepared to discuss your career journey and interest in Faculty's mission.
Portfolio Review (60 minutes): A deep dive into your design work. Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects (ideally AI-native or complex systems). Be ready to walk through your process, challenges, decisions, and outcomes for each. Focus on how your work aligns with the role's requirements, especially AI-native design and Defence sector experience.
Case Study Interview (60 minutes): You will likely be given a hypothetical design challenge related to AI-native products or the Defence sector. Be prepared to apply your design process, think critically, and articulate your approach and potential solutions. This tests your problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet.
Meet the Team (30 minutes): An opportunity to meet potential colleagues and assess team dynamics. Prepare questions about team culture, collaboration, and day-to-day work. This is also a chance for them to assess your fit within the team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate for Relevance: Prioritize projects that showcase AI-native design, complex UI/UX challenges, and ideally, experience relevant to defence or high-stakes environments.
Storytelling is Key: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling story: the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, key decisions and rationale, and the measurable impact of your solution.
Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction scores).
Highlight Process & Rationale: Clearly explain why you made certain design decisions. Show your thinking process, research insights, and how you navigated trade-offs.
Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you collaborated with engineers, data scientists, and stakeholders.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the Context: If given a case study, ensure you understand the client's business, the user's needs, and the technical constraints (especially AI-related).
Structure Your Approach: Outline your design process (e.g., Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test). Be prepared to adapt it based on the time constraints.
Focus on AI-Native Thinking: Consider how AI capabilities can be leveraged to create novel user experiences, not just replicate existing patterns.
Accessibility & Ethics: Keep accessibility and ethical considerations at the forefront of your design thinking, especially given the Defence sector context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate a candidate's design craft, strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. The portfolio review and case study are critical for demonstrating practical skills and thought processes relevant to AI-native product design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision. The role requires advanced expertise, implying mastery of these tools for creating high-quality user experiences.
User Research: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback).
Design Systems: Tools and methodologies for managing and scaling design systems.
AI Tools: The job description mentions "AI tools" and "designing AI native products," suggesting familiarity with AI-powered design aids or tools used in the AI development lifecycle.

Analytics & Reporting:

Familiarity with product analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.
Tools for creating dashboards and reporting on user experience metrics. CRM & Automation:
While not primary for a designer, understanding how designs integrate into broader product workflows, potentially involving CRM systems or automation platforms, can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on advanced proficiency in core design tools. The mention of "AI tools" is a key differentiator, suggesting a need for designers who are not only proficient in traditional design software but also open to or experienced with AI-assisted design workflows and the unique challenges of designing for AI-powered products.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Intellectual Curiosity: A deep desire to understand and explore new technologies and problem spaces, particularly AI.
Desire to Build a Positive Legacy: A focus on creating meaningful, impactful technology that drives positive change and solves significant problems.
Seeking Truth: A commitment to rigorous analysis, data-driven decision-making, and honest assessment of challenges and solutions.
Diversity of Thought: Valuing diverse perspectives to foster innovation and strengthen problem-solving capabilities.
Responsible AI: A commitment to ethical, fair, and transparent development and deployment of AI technologies.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on seamless collaboration between design, engineering, data science, and product management teams.
Open Communication: Facilitating clear and effective communication of design rationale and technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
Process Mentorship: A culture of sharing best practices, mentoring peers, and collectively improving design systems and methodologies.
Client-Centric: A collaborative approach that involves close partnership with clients to ensure solutions meet their specific needs and objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values intellectual rigor, ethical considerations in technology, and the power of diverse teams. Collaboration is central, with a focus on cross-functional synergy and client partnership.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Designing for Complexity: Creating intuitive user experiences for highly complex AI-native solutions, particularly in high-stakes domains like Defence.
Balancing Innovation and Rigor: Integrating cutting-edge AI capabilities with stringent requirements for reliability, security, and accessibility.
Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating complex design concepts and trade-offs to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership and clients with varying technical backgrounds.
Evolving Design Systems: Continuously developing and adapting the design system to meet the unique demands of AI-native products and organizational growth.
Security Clearance Requirements: Navigating the process and requirements for UK Security Clearance (SC), which can be a hurdle for some candidates.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

AI Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in the rapidly evolving field of AI-native product design.
Defence Sector Domain Knowledge: Gain specialized knowledge and experience in the nuances of Defence technology and client needs.
Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into design leadership roles.
Industry Engagement: Exposure to cutting-edge AI research and applications through client projects and internal innovation.
Continuing Education: Access to training, conferences, and resources to stay abreast of the latest design trends and AI technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the specialized nature of the role and the industry. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening expertise in AI design and potentially moving into leadership positions within a high-impact technology company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you led the design of an AI-native product. What were the unique challenges, and how did you address them?" (Focus on your process, how you leveraged AI, and the outcome).
"How would you approach designing a complex user interface for a high-stakes application in the Defence sector, considering accessibility and inclusion?" (Demonstrate your structured thinking, user-centricity, and attention to detail).
"Walk me through your experience with design systems. How have you contributed to their evolution, and how do you ensure their effective implementation with engineers?" (Highlight your understanding of scalability, consistency, and collaboration).
"Tell me about a time you had to influence product direction or strategy with your design insights. What was the situation, and what was the impact?" (Showcase your strategic thinking and communication skills). Company & Culture Questions:
"What interests you most about Faculty's mission, particularly our work in AI and the Defence sector?" (Research Faculty's impact stories and their approach to responsible AI).
"How do you foster collaboration within a cross-functional team (designers, engineers, data scientists)?" (Provide specific examples of your collaborative approach).
"What does 'responsible AI' mean to you, and how do you incorporate ethical considerations into your design process?" (Connect with Faculty's stated values). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your specific role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), your key decisions and rationale, and the measurable impact.
Highlight AI-Native Aspects: For AI projects, explain how AI capabilities were central to the user experience and how you designed for uncertainty, transparency, or user control related to AI.
Quantify Success: Use metrics (e.g., user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains) to demonstrate the value of your design solutions.
Showcase Collaboration: Mention specific instances of working with engineers and other stakeholders, and how you navigated feedback and technical constraints.
Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific contributions, design choices, and how you would handle hypothetical challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design craft but also strategic thinking, domain-specific knowledge (AI, Defence), and strong collaboration and communication skills. The portfolio is the primary evidence, so its presentation is critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.
Portfolio Customization: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that highlight your experience with AI-native products, complex UI/UX challenges, and ideally, work related to defence or high-stakes sectors. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your process, rationale, and quantifiable impact.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords such as "AI-native design," "user research," "design systems," "UK Defence," "stakeholder management," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project outcomes, focusing on storytelling for your portfolio review. Prepare for a case study by thinking through how you would approach designing for AI in a complex environment.
Company Research: Thoroughly research Faculty's mission, their work in AI and the Defence sector, and their approach to responsible AI. Understand their company culture and values to articulate your fit.

⚠️ 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.

Senior Product Designer