Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Lilly

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-24

Experience Level: 3+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design process for patient-facing digital products within the ambitious LillyDirect platform, focusing on seamless healthcare experiences.

• Craft high-quality user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) that embody clarity, accessibility, and care, directly impacting patient lives.

• Contribute to and evolve a robust component-based design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across a range of digital touchpoints.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and researchers to translate complex healthcare needs into intuitive and impactful design solutions.

• Mentor junior designers, fostering a culture of critique, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the Design@Lilly team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within the LillyDirect design team, focusing on a direct-to-patient platform that integrates medicines, care programs, and support services. The emphasis is on a hybrid design role that balances strong visual and UI design skills with contributions to UX and system thinking. The seniority implies a need for independent work, problem-framing, and early-stage mentoring.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Elevate and maintain design standards across digital products and patient-facing experiences through direct contribution and attention to detail.

• Apply expertise in typography, motion, copy, composition, and art direction to enhance the visual quality and user interaction of patient-facing surfaces.

• Understand and leverage component-based design systems, knowing when to adhere to existing patterns and when to propose innovative solutions.

• Persuasively communicate design rationale to stakeholders at all organizational levels, incorporating feedback constructively to build trust.

• Demonstrate accountability, flexibility, and initiative in prioritizing tasks and delivering high-quality design outputs efficiently.

• Embrace a learning and growth mindset, staying current with industry trends and tools, and actively contributing to a culture of critique and collaboration.

• Deliver polished, production-ready UI and UX work for features, user flows, and system-driven experiences across web and mobile platforms.

• Reframe ambiguous project briefs, identify core design opportunities, and build alignment with cross-functional teams before commencing execution.

• Shape the visual aesthetic and interaction quality of products, ensuring clarity, hierarchy, and an exceptional user experience.

• Contribute to the adoption and evolution of the design system at both component and pattern levels.

• Begin informally mentoring junior designers through critique sessions and collaborative working.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic contribution. The emphasis on "real stakes" for patients underscores the importance of empathy and user-centricity in all design decisions. The expectation to mentor junior designers indicates a leadership component to the role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design (Digital Design, Interaction Design, Visual Communication, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field) OR High School Diploma/GED with 3+ years of equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 3+ years of experience in product, UX, or visual design for digital products and experiences. An exceptional portfolio demonstrating design work across multiple projects and mediums, with a focus on interface or screen-based experiences.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Product Design, encompassing both UX and UI responsibilities.

• Strong foundational skills in Visual Design, including typography, color theory, and composition.

• Expertise in Interaction Design, creating intuitive and engaging user flows.

• Experience with Design Systems, including understanding component-based architecture and applying patterns.

• Ability to conduct Research Synthesis to inform design decisions and reframe ambiguous briefs.

• Excellent Communication skills for presenting design rationale and collaborating with diverse teams.

• Proven track record of Collaboration with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Strong Problem-Solving abilities to address complex user needs and business requirements.

• Demonstrated Flexibility and Initiative in managing design projects and adapting to evolving needs. Preferred Skills:

• Advanced command of typography, grid systems, composition, and color.

• Experience with Motion Design to enhance user interfaces.

• Art Direction capabilities to guide visual aesthetics.

• Experience in digital health or healthcare-related product design.

• Strong Analytical and intellectual curiosity for innovation in digital health.

• Experience mentoring junior designers.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and data-driven design iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for an "exceptional portfolio" is critical. Candidates should curate examples that showcase their ability to handle complex problems, demonstrate a strong visual craft, and illustrate their process from research to delivery, particularly highlighting contributions to design systems and patient-facing applications. The hybrid nature of the role means showcasing versatility across UX and UI is key.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 projects that demonstrate the full product design lifecycle, from problem identification to final execution.

• Include detailed case studies for each project, clearly outlining the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the final outcomes.

• Highlight your contributions to design systems, including examples of component creation, pattern application, and system evolution.

• Present work that reflects a strong visual craft, demonstrating mastery of typography, color, layout, and interaction design.

• For each project, clearly articulate the impact of your design decisions, ideally with quantitative metrics or qualitative insights. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to problem framing and user research synthesis.

• Illustrate your ability to create user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Provide examples of how you have applied and contributed to design systems, including style guides and component libraries.

• Show evidence of collaboration with engineering and product teams, including how you handed off designs and iterated based on feedback.

• Include examples of how you have measured the success of your designs and iterated based on user feedback or performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary tool for assessing a candidate's capabilities for this role. It must clearly articulate the candidate's thought process, problem-solving skills, visual acumen, and ability to work within and contribute to a design system. For a senior role, demonstrating ownership, initiative, and the ability to mentor is also crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $64,500 - $173,800 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Company bonus eligibility (dependent on company and individual performance).

• Comprehensive 401(k) plan.

• Pension plan.

• Vacation benefits.

• Eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.

• Flexible benefits, including healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts.

• Life insurance and death benefits.

• Certain time off and leave of absence benefits.

• Well-being benefits, including an employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (full-time equivalent).

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, suggesting that the final compensation will be heavily influenced by the candidate's specific experience level, skills, and the geographic location of their work (though this role is on-site in Indianapolis). Lilly's robust benefits package is a significant component of the total compensation. Salary research for Senior Product Designers in Indianapolis indicates this range is competitive, with the higher end reserved for candidates with extensive experience and specialized skills in high-demand areas like healthcare tech.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical / Healthcare. Lilly is a global leader focused on uniting caring with discovery to create life-changing medicines. The company operates at the forefront of developing next-generation therapeutic ecosystems, connected devices, data, and analytics to transform patient experiences.

Company Size: Over 50,000 employees globally. This large enterprise environment offers stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration across numerous departments and projects.

Founded: Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876. With a long-standing history, Lilly has a deep-rooted commitment to scientific innovation and patient well-being. This legacy shapes a culture that values long-term impact and rigorous scientific exploration.

Team Structure: The Senior Product Designer will join the LillyDirect design team. This team likely operates within a product development or digital innovation division, working closely with product management, engineering, user research, and potentially marketing and clinical teams. The reporting structure would typically be to a Design Lead or a Director of Product Design.

Methodology: Lilly emphasizes a data-driven approach to product development, integrating cutting-edge technologies and innovative platforms. Design processes likely involve rigorous research, iterative prototyping, and close collaboration with engineering to ensure feasibility and quality. The Design@Lilly culture promotes a learning mindset, critique, and honest reflection.

Company Website: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "patients are waiting" and "hard, urgent, selfless work" suggests a mission-driven culture where impact and purpose are highly valued. The scale of Lilly means designers can influence significant projects with broad reach, but also requires navigating a larger organizational structure. The explicit mention of "Design@Lilly" indicates a dedicated design function with its own internal culture and standards.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level implies a significant degree of autonomy, ownership, and the ability to lead design initiatives from conception through delivery. It also includes an expectation to contribute to the growth of the design team through mentoring.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Senior Design Manager, or Director of Product Design within the LillyDirect team. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and User Researchers.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts patient experiences by designing seamless access to medicines, care programs, and support services. This role has a tangible influence on how patients interact with Lilly's offerings, aiming to improve treatment outcomes and overall well-being. The design decisions made here have real-world consequences for individuals managing their health.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in UX/UI design, design systems, and potentially specialize in areas like healthcare technology, accessibility, or interaction design.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Designer or Design Manager role, taking on more strategic responsibilities and managing design teams. Formal and informal mentorship opportunities are available.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working across various departments and with different disciplines within a large pharmaceutical organization, broadening understanding of product development in a regulated industry.

• Impact Amplification: Contribute to a high-impact, direct-to-patient platform that aims to redefine healthcare delivery, offering significant professional satisfaction and portfolio value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with the mentoring expectation, positions this role as a stepping stone for future leadership. The specific focus on LillyDirect, a new and ambitious platform, suggests opportunities for shaping new processes and contributing significantly to a strategic company initiative.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role requires the designer to be physically present at the Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Office Location(s): Indianapolis, Indiana. This location serves as the company's headquarters, likely offering state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative campus environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Lilly emphasizes collaboration, suggesting a workspace designed to facilitate interaction, brainstorming, and shared work sessions between designers, product managers, and engineers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools and technologies will be provided, supporting the creation of high-fidelity prototypes, design system components, and polished visual assets.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for frequent interaction with the LillyDirect design team and broader design community within Lilly, fostering knowledge sharing and professional development through critiques and discussions.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule (40 hours/week). While specific flexibility is not detailed, large organizations often offer some degree of flexible working arrangements within the on-site context, allowing for focused work time and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in a large corporate headquarters like Lilly's typically means access to extensive resources, structured work environments, and a clear separation between work and personal life. The collaborative aspect is key, suggesting an open-plan office or dedicated team spaces designed for interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present your portfolio, discussing specific case studies, your design process, rationale, and impact. Expect questions about your approach to UX, UI, design systems, and collaboration.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise, possibly a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual workshop, to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply your craft to a relevant scenario.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential peers, design leads, and cross-functional partners (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers) to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to confirm overall fit and address any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your hybrid UX/UI skills, design system contributions, and ability to drive impact in patient-facing applications.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, your decision-making rationale, and the measurable outcomes. Emphasize why you made certain choices.

• Highlight Visual Craft: Ensure your visual design skills (typography, color, layout, motion) are evident and well-explained.

• Demonstrate System Thinking: Showcase your understanding and application of design systems, including how you've used, contributed to, or evolved them.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, tools, and collaboration methods.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Lilly, LillyDirect, and the healthcare industry to inform your approach.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a clear and logical design process, even if you can't complete every step within the given constraints.

• Articulate Rationale: Be ready to explain your design decisions and trade-offs clearly and concisely.

• Consider Business & User Needs: Show an understanding of how design impacts both user experience and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role, the interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to operate independently, influence stakeholders, and mentor others. The portfolio presentation is paramount. Be ready to defend your design choices with data and user insights, not just aesthetic preferences.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable and industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, ProtoPie (for advanced interactions).

• Collaboration & Handoff: Zeplin, Abstract, Jira, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (or similar enterprise-level web analytics platforms).

• Data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI might be used by related teams, and designers should understand how to interpret data from them. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by designers, understanding the principles behind CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for context, especially in understanding user journeys and data flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern design roles. The ability to work with design systems within these tools, and to effectively hand off assets and specifications to engineering, is crucial. Familiarity with enterprise-level analytics tools reflects an understanding of how designs perform post-launch.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Patient-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving patient needs, ensuring designs are clear, accessible, and empathetic.

• Caring & Discovery: The core of Lilly's mission, fostering an environment where innovation is driven by a genuine desire to improve lives.

• Excellence & Rigor: A commitment to high standards in design quality, research, and execution, reflecting the critical nature of healthcare products.

• Collaboration & Trust: Building strong relationships across teams to achieve shared goals, with an emphasis on open communication and constructive feedback.

• Learning & Growth: Encouraging continuous development, curiosity, and a proactive approach to acquiring new skills and knowledge.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work integrally with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other business stakeholders to ensure holistic product development.

• Critique Culture: Regular design critiques are likely a key part of the process, providing constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work and foster learning among team members.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and design techniques across the design team and relevant departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values of "Caring with Discovery" and the emphasis on patient impact are central. For a designer, this translates to designing with empathy, a strong sense of responsibility, and a commitment to ethical practices, especially in the healthcare domain.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Regulated Industry: Designing within the pharmaceutical sector requires adherence to strict regulations and compliance standards, which can influence design choices and timelines.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Introducing new digital experiences while maintaining the reliability and accessibility expected in healthcare can be a complex balancing act.

• Driving Adoption of New Platforms: As part of the LillyDirect initiative, designers will need to contribute to user adoption and engagement for a new direct-to-patient ecosystem.

• Integrating Complex Medical Information: Translating intricate medical information and treatment protocols into user-friendly interfaces requires careful consideration of clarity and accuracy.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Training: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications in areas like UX research, accessibility, or specialized design software.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal mentorship relationships with senior designers and leadership to guide career development and skill enhancement.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Healthcare Technology: Working with advanced technologies in therapeutic ecosystems and connected devices provides unique learning experiences.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Opportunities to learn from experts in fields such as clinical research, data science, and regulatory affairs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to designing in the healthcare technology space within a large, established pharmaceutical company. Overcoming these requires strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a deep understanding of both user needs and business/regulatory constraints. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for both technical and leadership development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to reframe an ambiguous design brief. What was the problem, how did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses problem-framing, initiative, and research synthesis.)

• "Walk us through a project where you significantly contributed to or evolved a design system. What was your role, what were the challenges, and what was the impact?" (Evaluates design system expertise and collaborative contribution.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints, especially in a regulated industry like healthcare?" (Probes strategic thinking, trade-off management, and industry awareness.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Lilly and the LillyDirect platform specifically?" (Tests research and genuine interest in the company's mission and projects.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers and engineers? Can you give an example of a successful collaboration and one where you navigated conflict?" (Assesses teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution skills.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers or contributing to a team's culture of critique and learning." (Evaluates leadership potential and contribution to team growth.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and design philosophy, then dive into 2-3 key case studies that best represent your skills for this role.

• Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions, focusing on user problems, business goals, and your specific contributions. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your process and final designs.

• Metrics: Quantify impact whenever possible. If direct metrics are unavailable, use qualitative insights or user feedback to demonstrate success.

• System Integration: Explicitly discuss how your work fits into or contributes to a design system.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, tools, and decision-making. Be honest about challenges and how you overcame them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss how your design process aligns with Lilly's values of "caring with discovery" and the specific challenges of designing for patient-facing healthcare products. Demonstrating empathy, a systematic approach, and a collaborative spirit will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the official Lilly careers portal (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/job/R-107637/Senior-Product-Designer).

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select and refine 2-3 of your strongest design projects that showcase your hybrid UX/UI skills, design system contributions, and experience with patient-facing digital products. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, process, decisions, and outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product design, UX/UI, design systems, and collaboration, using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of your design process, and demonstrating your impact. Be ready to discuss your rationale and answer in-depth questions.

• Research Lilly & LillyDirect: Understand Lilly's mission, values, and the strategic importance of the LillyDirect platform. Familiarize yourself with their existing digital presence and the healthcare technology landscape.

⚠️ 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.