Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Lendable

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-10-01

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for the Zable app, a financial SuperApp with over 2 million monthly active users, encompassing discovery, research, and polished, production-ready design.

• Drive design direction in collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering teams, ensuring seamless integration of user needs and technical feasibility.

• Mentor and guide other designers, fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous improvement within the Product Design team.

• Own complex product areas, from initial concept through to launch and iteration, demonstrating ownership and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Utilize AI and data-driven insights to inform design decisions, push creative boundaries, and optimize user experiences within a fast-paced fintech environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, implying a need for strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor junior team members. The focus on the Zable app and its scale (2M+ MAU) indicates a significant impact opportunity. The "AI-native" requirement suggests a forward-thinking approach to design tools and methodologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead product discovery efforts, selecting appropriate research methodologies to gather user insights and translate them into actionable design strategies and clear design direction.

• Take full ownership of design delivery for assigned product squads, managing the entire design lifecycle from initial user flows and wireframes through to final build-ready assets.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams throughout the design process, not just during handoff, actively considering build costs and technical constraints in design decisions.

• Contribute to and evolve the company's design system, understanding when to leverage existing components and when to propose deviations for optimal customer outcomes.

• Plan and execute usability tests and A/B experiments, defining clear measures of success to validate design hypotheses and drive iterative improvements.

• Integrate AI tools and methodologies across the design workflow, including exploring capabilities for pushing design changes directly to production.

• Ensure all designs adhere to stringent regulatory standards such as Consumer Duty and accessibility guidelines, proactively identifying and addressing potential issues in own and others' work.

• Facilitate design critique sessions, providing constructive feedback and writing clear, well-reasoned design rationales that can stand independently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on role with a strong emphasis on end-to-end ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to data-driven, regulated design practices. The inclusion of "pushing design changes to production yourself" via AI or no-code tools is a significant detail for operations and efficiency-minded candidates.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of professional product design experience, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked within the fintech industry or in high-growth, fast-paced startup environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in mobile app design and responsive web design, with a strong portfolio showcasing successful product launches.

• Demonstrated customer-centric approach, with a robust understanding of user research methodologies and the ability to translate findings into impactful design solutions.

• Strong data literacy and analytical skills, enabling the ability to challenge briefs based on evidence and back design decisions with quantitative and qualitative data.

• Experience in leading design initiatives end-to-end, from discovery and user research through to detailed design and collaboration with engineering.

• Proficiency in creating and maintaining design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across products.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to present design rationale and push back on decisions that compromise quality or customer outcomes.

• An "AI-native" mindset, demonstrating the ability to leverage AI tools for enhanced creativity, efficiency, and problem-solving beyond basic applications.

• Experience in mentoring and providing constructive feedback to fellow designers, contributing to team growth and skill development. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing and launching AI-powered products, with an understanding of concepts like explainability and human override mechanisms.

• Familiarity with shipping improvements through content management systems (CMS) or no-code tools, reducing reliance on engineering for certain updates.

• Experience working within regulated environments, such as financial services, with a solid understanding of compliance requirements like Consumer Duty.

• Strong UX writing skills, contributing to clear, concise, and user-friendly product copy.

• Experience with advanced prototyping tools and techniques for complex interactions and user flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is clearly stated, and the "ideal candidate" section provides a good basis for required and preferred skills. The emphasis on "AI-native" and "data-literate" are key differentiators for this role, suggesting a need for designers who are comfortable with technology and evidence-based decision-making.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio demonstrating a strong track record in product design, with a significant focus on mobile applications and web experiences.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, the solutions implemented, and measurable outcomes (quantifiable impact is highly valued).

• Examples showcasing end-to-end ownership of product features or areas, from initial discovery and user research through to final implementation and iteration.

• Evidence of contributions to or understanding of design systems, including how they were utilized or evolved.

• Demonstrations of collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, highlighting your role in cross-functional decision-making.

• Examples of how data and user research informed your design decisions, illustrating your data-literate approach. Process Documentation:

• Detailed case studies that walk through your design process, including discovery phases, user research methodologies employed, ideation techniques, prototyping, and testing.

• Clear articulation of how you utilized or developed design systems, and when you chose to deviate from them with strong rationale.

• Examples of how you collaborated with engineers and product managers, detailing communication strategies and decision-making processes.

• Evidence of your approach to usability testing, experimentation, and how you used the results to iterate on designs.

• Documentation of your experience with AI-driven design tools or processes, showcasing innovative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the job description heavily implies the need for a portfolio that showcases end-to-end ownership, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration. The "What you'll be doing" section provides direct clues for what to highlight.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in London with 5-10 years of experience, and considering Lendable's status as a well-funded fintech unicorn, the estimated salary range is £70,000 - £95,000 per annum. This range accounts for the cost of living in London and the specialized skills required.

Benefits:

• Flexible working: Hybrid model with 3 days in the office, offering a balance between in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Health coverage: Comprehensive private health insurance for physical and mental wellbeing.

• Retirement & savings: Robust retirement savings plans to support long-term financial security.

• Employee referral programme: Attractive bonus for referring successful candidates.

• Office amenities: Fully stocked kitchen, complimentary lunches prepared by in-house chefs on in-office days.

• Sustainable commuting: Cycle-to-work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes.

• Social events: Regular opportunities for team building and social connection.

• Professional development: Implicit support for learning and growth within a fast-paced environment.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility in how these hours are structured, especially concerning remote work days.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimation based on role seniority, location (London), industry (Fintech), and company profile (unicorn status). Specific benefits are listed in the input, with additional context provided for operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech (Financial Technology). Lendable is at the forefront of rebuilding traditional consumer finance products like loans, credit cards, and car finance using modern technology.

Company Size: Over 800 people, indicating a mature but still rapidly growing organization that has achieved unicorn status. This size suggests established processes but also a dynamic and evolving culture.

Founded: Profitable since 2017, with significant backing from investors like Balderton Capital and Goldman Sachs. This strong financial foundation and history of profitability point to stability and a clear growth trajectory.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team consists of 5 designers, with this Senior role reporting to the VP of Product & Design.

• This suggests a relatively lean but effective design function, where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful.

• Collaboration is expected with Product Managers and Engineering teams, forming cross-functional "squads" or pods. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasized through "Evidence over ego" design principle and "data-literate" candidate requirement. Designs are tested and refined based on real user behavior.

• Agile Development: Implied by the "squad" structure and close collaboration with engineering throughout the design process.

• User-Centric Design: A core tenet, with a mission to build the "world's best technology" for credit and savings, and a strong customer focus.

• AI & ML Integration: Actively used to "make machines do the heavy lifting" and integrated into design workflows.

Company Website: https://www.lendable.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of startup agility and the stability of a successful, profitable unicorn. There's a strong emphasis on ownership, high-quality talent, and building cutting-edge technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the Senior Product Designer level, signifying a mid-to-senior career stage. It requires a high degree of autonomy, the ability to lead design initiatives, and the capacity to mentor others. The scope involves owning complex product areas end-to-end within a critical application (Zable app).

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer reports to the VP of Product & Design. This provides a direct line to senior leadership and strategic direction for the design function. The role also involves close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering leads within cross-functional squads.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer has a direct and substantial impact on the user experience of Lendable's flagship "SuperApp," Zable, which serves over 2 million monthly active users. By owning complex product areas and influencing design direction, this role directly contributes to customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's revenue and market position. The focus on "material impact" from day one is a key aspect of the role.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role, taking on more strategic oversight and team leadership responsibilities.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in fintech product design, AI-powered product design, or UX writing, becoming a go-to expert in these areas.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the evolution of Lendable's design strategy, processes, and the design system, influencing the future direction of the company's products.

• Mentorship: Develop coaching and mentoring skills by guiding junior designers, enhancing leadership capabilities.

• Broader Impact: Potential to influence design across other Lendable products and markets as the company continues its expansion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Senior Product Designer at a company like Lendable offers significant growth potential, moving beyond execution to strategic leadership and specialization. The impact on a large user base and a core product is a major draw.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Lendable operates a hybrid work model. For roles designated as hybrid, this typically means a blend of remote work and in-office days, with a requirement of three days per week in the office. This setup aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is London, England. Specific details about office amenities like in-house chefs and stocked kitchens are mentioned, suggesting a well-equipped and amenity-rich workspace designed to enhance the in-office experience.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional teams (squads) foster a collaborative workspace, both in-person and virtually. Regular design critiques and team interactions are part of the workflow.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to modern design tools, likely including Figma for design and prototyping, and potentially specialized AI tools for workflow enhancement. The company's focus on building "the best technology in-house" suggests a tech-forward environment.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model facilitates regular face-to-face interaction with design, product, and engineering teams on designated office days, promoting stronger team cohesion and spontaneous problem-solving.

Work Schedule: While a full-time role (likely 40 hours/week), there's an emphasis on "flexible working." This suggests that while core hours and collaboration needs must be met, there's an understanding that work can be structured to accommodate personal needs, particularly on remote days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, emphasizing the balance between remote flexibility and the value of in-office collaboration. The London office environment is described as having good amenities, supporting team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. CV Screening: Initial review of your resume and experience against the role requirements.

2. Introductory Call: A conversation with the Talent Team or hiring manager to assess initial fit, understand your motivations, and provide an overview of the role and company.

3. Take-Home Exercise: A practical design challenge to be completed independently, allowing you to showcase your skills in a real-world scenario relevant to Lendable's products.

4. Task Debrief: A 45-minute session with members of the design team to discuss your take-home exercise, delve into your design process, and assess your problem-solving approach.

5. Final Round (In-Person): A series of three 30-minute interviews on the same day at the London office:

• Interview with the VP of Product & Design.

• Interviews with Engineering team members.

• Final interview with the Chief Product Officer (CPO). Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that highlight your end-to-end design process, particularly in mobile and fintech contexts.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the challenges, your process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the solution, and most importantly, the measurable impact and outcomes. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Highlight Data & AI: Explicitly showcase how you used data and user research to inform decisions. If you have experience with AI in design, make sure to detail that process and its benefits.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Show how you worked with PMs and Engineers, and how you managed stakeholder feedback.

• Tailor to Lendable: Research Lendable's products (Zable app, loans, credit cards) and design principles ("Simplicity wins," "Evidence over ego," "Trust is our best feature"). Try to align your project examples and discussion points with these values.

• Prepare for the Debrief: Be ready to discuss your take-home exercise in detail, articulate your design choices, defend your rationale, and answer questions about your process and problem-solving approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Zable App: Familiarize yourself with the Zable app's functionality and user experience.

• Fintech Context: Research current trends and challenges in the fintech industry, particularly regarding user trust, regulation (Consumer Duty), and AI integration.

• Design Principles: Internalize Lendable's design principles and be prepared to discuss how you would apply them.

• AI Integration: Think about how AI could be leveraged in financial product design beyond obvious applications, focusing on genuine user benefit and efficiency.

• Presentation Practice: Rehearse presenting your case studies and discussing your take-home exercise clearly and concisely. Practice articulating your thought process under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured and comprehensive, with a clear emphasis on practical application (take-home exercise) and strategic alignment (final round with leadership). The portfolio review is critical, demanding clear articulation of process and impact, especially concerning data and AI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Highly likely to be the primary tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration, given its industry prevalence. Expect proficiency in creating complex interfaces, component libraries, and interactive prototypes.

• AI Design Tools: Candidates are expected to be "AI-native," suggesting familiarity with tools that leverage AI for design assistance, automation, or workflow enhancement. This could include AI-powered ideation tools, content generation aids, or even tools for pushing design changes.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's built-in capabilities, experience with specialized prototyping tools might be beneficial for complex interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar platforms are likely used to track user behavior, measure feature adoption, and gather data for design decisions.

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with platforms for running experiments (e.g., Optimizely, VWO, or built-in product analytics features) to validate design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• While primarily a design role, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms could be a plus, especially for user onboarding or communication flows.

• CMS / No-Code Tools: Preferred skill in shipping improvements via CMS or no-code tools indicates potential interaction with platforms that allow for content updates or simpler feature implementations without direct engineering involvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is centered around industry-standard design tools like Figma, with a strong emphasis on embracing AI for design workflows. Familiarity with product analytics and A/B testing platforms is crucial for a data-literate designer.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Simplicity Wins: A core value focused on stripping away complexity, jargon, and unnecessary steps to make financial management effortless and intuitive. This translates to clean, focused, and frictionless user experiences.

• Evidence over Ego: Design decisions are not based on opinion but are informed by data, rigorously tested, and refined based on real user behavior. This fosters a culture of objective decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Trust is Our Best Feature: Finance is inherently built on trust. Every design decision must reinforce transparency, security, and user confidence, demonstrating a commitment to helping users make empowered financial decisions.

• Ownership: Team members are trusted to make decisions that drive material impact from day one, fostering a proactive and accountable work environment.

• Relentlessly Resourceful: Lendies are encouraged to challenge the status quo, find smarter solutions, and solve problems innovatively.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design operates within "squads" alongside Product Managers and Engineers, necessitating close, continuous collaboration and communication.

• Design Critiques: Regular design critiques are a practice, fostering a culture of constructive feedback, knowledge sharing, and collective improvement of design quality.

• Mentorship & Peer Support: Senior designers are expected to mentor others, contributing to a supportive environment where skills are shared and team members grow together.

• Data-Informed Discussions: Collaboration is often driven by data and user insights, leading to more objective and productive discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a results-oriented, data-driven, and user-centric approach, combined with a strong sense of ownership and a commitment to building trust. Collaboration is key, with design integrated deeply into product teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Designing intuitive and user-friendly experiences within the highly regulated fintech space, adhering to standards like Consumer Duty while still pushing innovative boundaries.

• Scaling Design for a SuperApp: Managing the complexity of a large, multi-functional "SuperApp" (Zable) with millions of users, ensuring consistency, usability, and performance across diverse product areas.

• AI Integration Nuances: Effectively integrating AI into the design workflow and user-facing products requires careful consideration of explainability, user control, and ethical implications, moving beyond superficial applications.

• Maintaining Design Quality at Scale: As the company grows rapidly, ensuring that design craft and user experience quality remain high across all touchpoints and new feature development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Specialization: Deepen expertise in the nuances of financial product design, user trust in finance, and regulatory compliance.

• AI in Design and Product: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI applications in both design tools and end-user products, becoming a leader in this emerging field.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially taking on lead responsibilities for specific product areas or initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Mastery: Enhance collaboration and strategic influence skills by working closely with product management and engineering leadership on critical product decisions.

• Broader Market Impact: Contribute to Lendable's expansion into new markets, understanding and adapting designs for different user bases and regulatory environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the nature of Lendable's business (fintech, scale, AI) and the Senior Designer role's responsibilities. Growth opportunities are aligned with advancing within the design discipline and contributing strategically to a growing company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a complex regulatory requirement (like Consumer Duty) with a user-centric design goal. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Recall a specific project, detail the conflict, your process for understanding requirements, how you negotiated solutions, and the final result with metrics if possible.)

• "How would you approach designing a new AI-powered feature for the Zable app? Walk us through your discovery, ideation, and validation process, considering potential ethical implications." (Preparation: Use a framework like Design Thinking or similar. Focus on user needs, data sources, AI capabilities, testing for trust and explainability, and iterative refinement.)

• "Imagine you disagree with a Product Manager or Engineer about a design direction. How would you handle that situation to ensure the best outcome for the user and the business?" (Preparation: Emphasize data-driven arguments, active listening, collaborative problem-solving, and maintaining professional relationships. Use the STAR method.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do Lendable's design principles ('Simplicity wins,' 'Evidence over ego,' 'Trust is our best feature') mean to you, and how have you applied similar principles in your past work?" (Preparation: Research the principles thoroughly. Connect them to your portfolio examples and personal design philosophy. Show genuine understanding of their importance in fintech.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers, and what's your philosophy on providing and receiving feedback?" (Preparation: Discuss concrete examples of mentorship, feedback techniques, and how you foster growth. Be open about receiving feedback yourself.)

• "Given Zable's scale (2M+ MAU), what are the key considerations for ensuring design quality and consistency across such a large user base?" (Preparation: Discuss design systems, scalable patterns, rigorous testing, and communication strategies with development teams.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the solution, and the impact (quantifiable metrics are crucial). Aim for a flow that tells a compelling story.

• Highlight Data & AI: Make it evident how data informed your decisions and where AI played a role in your workflow or the final product. Be prepared to explain the "why" behind your AI usage.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows, and relevant data charts.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to dive deep into the "how" and "why" of your design choices, especially during the take-home exercise debrief. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving.

• Connect to Lendable: Weave in how your experience and approach align with Lendable's mission, values, and design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating a strong design process, demonstrating data-driven decision-making, showcasing AI proficiency, and aligning with Lendable's specific values and product context. The interview process emphasizes practical skills and strategic thinking.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby HQ.

• Curate a Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful product design projects, focusing on mobile-first experiences and ideally within fintech or fast-paced startup environments. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, process, solution, and measurable outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience, specific skills in mobile/web design, data literacy, AI experience, and any experience with regulated environments or UX writing. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare for the Take-Home Exercise: Understand that a practical exercise will be provided. Allocate sufficient time to complete it thoroughly, showcasing your design thinking, problem-solving, and execution.

• Research Lendable: Familiarize yourself with Lendable's mission, products (especially the Zable app), investors, and core design principles. Understand their market position and approach to fintech.

• Practice Your Narrative: Be ready to clearly articulate your design process, rationale for decisions, and how your skills align with Lendable's values during the introductory call, task debrief, and final interviews.

⚠️ 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.