Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Timescapes

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX

Date Posted: 2026-08-20

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (with remote flexibility within New Zealand)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end UX design and usability efforts for a complex, AI-powered visual progress tracking solution in the construction technology sector.

• Drive AI-forward design and ideation, actively leveraging and promoting AI tools within the Product & Engineering team to enhance design processes.

• Foster collaborative iteration by working closely with customers, product managers, and engineers, integrating feedback to refine solutions throughout the product lifecycle.

• Focus on continuous improvement by developing concepts for potential new products, ensuring scalability of the design system and future product direction.

• Engage directly with customers through site visits, usability sessions, and focus groups to deeply understand user needs and validate design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as "Hybrid" but also allows for "TELECOMMUTE" within New Zealand. This suggests a strong emphasis on remote work flexibility, with potential occasional in-person collaboration required in Auckland. The target candidate should be comfortable working autonomously and demonstrating strong communication skills across remote and in-person interactions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, employing a range of techniques to uncover customer pain points and opportunities within complex construction project management workflows.

• Develop innovative prototypes and wireframes for core product enhancements and new AI-driven features, focusing on intuitive user experiences.

• Design and iterate on complex, AI-powered capabilities, experimenting with novel design concepts and effectively navigating limitations of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models.

• Actively champion and integrate AI tools into the design process, identifying and driving the adoption of AI workflows across the Product & Engineering teams to boost efficiency and innovation.

• Facilitate collaborative design sessions and solicit constructive feedback from customers, product managers, and engineers, ensuring alignment and buy-in from inception to delivery.

• Contribute to the evolution of the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and maintainability across all product offerings.

• Plan and execute customer interaction strategies, including on-site observations, usability testing, focus groups, and solution validation sessions, to gather critical user insights.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design system refinement and explore future product directions, ensuring solutions remain simple, elegant, and scalable as the company grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Complex, AI-powered solutions" and "AI-forward design and ideation" indicates a need for a designer comfortable with cutting-edge technology and abstract problem-solving. The role requires not just execution but also strategic ideation and the ability to influence the adoption of new tools and methodologies within the engineering team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of User Experience (UX) principles, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related design field is expected. A portfolio demonstrating practical application of these principles is paramount.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant focus on UX and usability within a technology or software development environment. Experience in a startup or scale-up environment is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• End-to-end UX Design: Proven ability to manage the entire design lifecycle from research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and implementation.

• AI/ML Design Considerations: Experience designing for or with AI/ML-powered features, understanding their unique constraints and opportunities.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes and detailed wireframes using industry-standard tools.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Expertise in planning and conducting various user research methodologies, including usability testing, interviews, and focus groups.

• Design Systems: Experience in developing, maintaining, or contributing to scalable design systems.

• Collaborative Iteration: Strong ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, solicit and incorporate feedback, and engage in design critiques.

• Customer Interaction: Demonstrated skill in engaging with customers to gather insights and validate solutions.

• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Ability to approach complex problems from first principles and devise elegant, effective solutions.

• Communication & Relationship Building: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a natural ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Startup/Scale-up Experience: Prior experience in fast-paced, growth-stage companies, managing competing priorities and rebuilding processes.

• Solo Operator Experience: Experience as a foundational team member, contributing to team and culture building in addition to product development.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Familiarity with leveraging AI tools to augment the design process.

• Construction Technology Domain Knowledge: Understanding of the construction industry and its project management challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "About You" section strongly emphasizes a value-oriented, detail-obsessed, and editing-focused mindset. This implies that candidates should highlight instances where they've prioritized user value over rigid adherence to best practices, meticulously refined designs through iteration, and demonstrated a deep understanding of the "why" behind their decisions. The "Solo operator" preference suggests that candidates who have initiated processes or built functions from the ground up will be highly regarded.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least one significant product or feature design from concept to delivery.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex customer problems into elegant, user-centered solutions.

• Evidence of iterative design processes, including how feedback was incorporated and refined.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the user problem, design rationale, and the impact of the solution.

• Examples of how AI was leveraged or considered in the design process, if applicable. Process Documentation:

• Examples of user research methodologies applied and the insights derived.

• Documentation of prototyping and wireframing processes, showcasing iterative development.

• Demonstrations of how design critiques were solicited and integrated into the final product.

• Evidence of contribution to or development of design systems, highlighting scalability and consistency.

• Case studies that detail the end-to-end design process, including the problem, solution, and measurable outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit request for a portfolio "highlighting a product / feature that you’ve designed" combined with the emphasis on "end to end design" and "collaborative iteration" means the portfolio should not just be a gallery of final designs, but a narrative of the design journey. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their problem-solving approach, research findings, iterative refinements, and the impact of their work, particularly how they navigated complex problems and collaborated with teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and Auckland, New Zealand location, a competitive salary range is estimated between NZD $120,000 - $160,000 per annum. This range is benchmarked against similar roles in the New Zealand tech market, considering the company's growth stage and the specialized nature of AI-driven product design.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package: This typically includes base salary, potential for bonuses, and equity options in a growing tech company.

• Enhanced Parental Leave offering: A generous parental leave policy beyond statutory requirements, supporting new parents.

• EAP (Employee Assistance Program) support: Access to confidential counseling and support services for personal and professional well-being.

• Hybrid/Remote Work Flexibility: Opportunity to work remotely within New Zealand, offering a strong work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Potential for learning and growth through exposure to AI technologies and ambitious product development.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely around 40 hours per week, reflecting a full-time position. However, the "Hybrid" and "TELECOMMUTE" nature of the role suggests flexibility in scheduling, allowing for work-life balance, with expectations for availability during core collaboration hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Auckland, New Zealand, as of late 2023/early 2024. The specific salary will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, and negotiation. The "Competitive compensation package" is likely to include more than just salary, potentially equity given the startup/scale-up context.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Construction Technology (ConTech) / SaaS. Timescapes operates within the rapidly evolving field of construction technology, providing visual progress tracking solutions powered by AI. This industry is increasingly adopting digital tools to improve efficiency, transparency, and project management.

Company Size: Small, but growing team of high-performers. As a scale-up, Timescapes likely has between 20-50 employees, offering the agility and impact of a smaller organization with the ambition and resources of a growing enterprise.

Founded: 2017 in New Zealand. This indicates a company with established roots, having navigated the early startup phases and now entering a significant growth period.

Team Structure:

• The Product & Engineering team is described as "small" and "growing." The Senior Product Designer will be the second full-time designer, working within this team.

• Reporting structure likely places the designer under a Head of Product or CTO, with close collaboration across Product Managers and Engineers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is emphasized, with the designer expected to work closely with customers, product managers, and engineers from inception to delivery. Methodology:

• Data-driven approach to product development, emphasizing understanding customer problems and iterating towards the best solutions.

• Focus on "first principles" thinking to address underlying causes of issues.

• Emphasis on "awareness, care and quality" in product development.

• Deliberate and thoughtful approach to decision-making and product strategy.

• Active adoption and promotion of AI tools to augment design and engineering processes.

Company Website: https://www.timescapes.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a focus on high performance, deliberate thinking, and a strong emphasis on user value and quality. The "small, but growing" size means that individuals will have a significant impact and will likely experience a dynamic work environment where processes are still being refined. The "AI-forward" aspect suggests a culture that embraces innovation and experimentation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This role signifies a mid-to-senior level position, requiring significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to lead design initiatives. It's a key contributor role, not an entry-level or junior position.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product or Chief Technology Officer (CTO). They will work closely with Product Managers and Software Engineers, forming a core part of the product development team.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will have a direct and significant impact on the company's trajectory, influencing product adoption, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue growth. By shaping the user experience of a complex, AI-powered solution, the role is critical to the company's mission of simplifying construction through shared visibility.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven product design, user research for complex technical products, and design system scalability.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role as the team expands, mentoring junior designers and shaping design strategy.

• Product Strategy: Contribute significantly to product roadmap ideation and future product direction, influencing the company's innovation pipeline.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in design for the Construction Technology sector.

• Startup Environment: Gain invaluable experience in a high-growth tech company, understanding the nuances of scaling products and teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's description as the "second full time designer" in a "rapidly growing company" indicates a significant opportunity for influence and growth. Candidates should highlight their experience in building and scaling design functions, taking ownership, and driving strategic initiatives. The "ambitious things" and "globally-expanding" nature suggests a fast-paced environment with potential for rapid career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid, with a primary location in Auckland, New Zealand. The "TELECOMMUTE" designation and emphasis on remote work flexibility suggest that while an Auckland base exists, the role is designed for significant remote contribution.

Office Location(s): Auckland, New Zealand. Specific office details are not provided, but it would be a professional office environment conducive to collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, suggesting an open and communicative work atmosphere, whether in-person or virtual.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools and potentially AI augmentation tools will be available, supporting an efficient and innovative design workflow.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with colleagues through video calls, Slack, and potentially in-person meetings in Auckland, fostering a sense of team connection despite remote flexibility.

Work Schedule: A flexible work schedule is implied, aligning with the hybrid/remote nature. While a 40-hour work week is standard, the ability to manage one's own time and be available for core collaboration periods is expected, fitting around the demands of iterative design and customer interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" and "TELECOMMUTE" nature of the role implies a mature approach to remote work, focusing on outcomes rather than strict office presence. Candidates comfortable with remote collaboration tools and self-management will thrive. The requirement for customer interaction, even if occasional, means being prepared for site visits or in-person meetings when necessary.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where the candidate presents their portfolio, walking through a key project, explaining their design process, rationale, and impact. This is a crucial step to evaluate problem-solving skills, communication, and design thinking.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Customer Interaction Simulation/Discussion: Potentially a discussion about how they would approach customer interactions or a scenario-based question related to gathering user feedback.

• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., CTO or CEO) to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative. Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges faced, the decisions made, and the outcomes achieved.

• Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are good, focus on demonstrating your thought process, research, iteration, and problem-solving. Show how you arrived at the solution, not just the final result.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

• Address AI: If you have experience with AI/ML design or have used AI tools in your workflow, be prepared to discuss it. Highlight how you approached designing for complex, potentially unpredictable systems.

• Tailor to Timescapes: Research Timescapes' product and mission. Frame your examples in a way that shows you understand their domain (construction tech) and their approach (AI-forward, first principles).

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This will likely involve a problem statement related to Timescapes' domain or a similar complex technical challenge.

• Focus on Process: For any challenge, emphasize your thought process, how you break down the problem, your research approach (even if simulated), and your iterative design steps.

• Communication: Practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely, especially under time pressure. Be ready to explain your design rationale and defend your choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company is looking for candidates who can approach complex problems with a "first principles" mindset and who are comfortable with AI. Therefore, interview preparation should focus on articulating this approach, showcasing how you've tackled ambiguity, and demonstrating an understanding of AI's role in design. The portfolio is critical and should be treated as the primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX/UI Design Software: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design). Figma is a strong contender given its collaborative features.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Principle, Framer, or built-in prototyping capabilities within design software.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys, user testing, and feedback collection (e.g., UserTesting.com, Hotjar, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• AI Design Augmentation Tools: Experience or willingness to learn tools that leverage AI for design tasks, such as AI-powered idea generation, content creation, or design pattern suggestions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar tools to track user behavior and product performance.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or built-in dashboards within analytics platforms to present findings.

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, Google Optimize, or similar for testing design variations.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (though less likely for a pure design role, understanding CRM data flow can be beneficial).

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Jira, Confluence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on AI, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or interest in leveraging AI tools within the design process. The company's focus on "AI-forward design and ideation" suggests they are actively exploring and integrating these technologies, so familiarity or a strong willingness to learn will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Value-Oriented: Prioritizing genuine user value over rigid adherence to methodologies. Design decisions should demonstrably benefit the user.

• Curiosity & Critical Thinking: A culture that encourages questioning assumptions, exploring "the why," and approaching problems from fundamental principles.

• Meticulous Editing & Iteration: A belief that great design is achieved through refinement and a willingness to discard ideas that don't serve the user or product vision.

• Adaptability & Ambition: Embracing the unknown, experimenting with new approaches, and being driven by ambitious goals in a rapidly growing environment.

• Awareness, Care, and Quality: A commitment to thoughtful execution, attention to detail, and delivering high-quality solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers is essential, fostering a shared understanding of user needs and product goals.

• Proactive Feedback Exchange: An environment where design critiques are welcomed and actively sought, leading to continuous improvement.

• Customer-Centricity: A collective focus on understanding and serving customer needs, with designers spending time in customer environments.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing data and research to inform design choices and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are deeply embedded in their "About You" section, highlighting a preference for designers who are thoughtful, analytical, and unafraid of the unconventional. The emphasis on "editing" and "questioning things that don't make sense" points to a culture that values deep thinking and refinement over quick fixes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI Complexity: Navigating the inherent complexities and potential unpredictability of AI/ML models to create intuitive and reliable user experiences.

• Balancing Innovation with Simplicity: Developing novel, cutting-edge capabilities while ensuring the product remains simple, elegant, and easy to use for construction professionals.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring that the design system can effectively support a growing product suite and evolving feature sets without becoming unwieldy.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong communication, alignment, and team cohesion in a hybrid and remote-first environment, especially as the team grows.

• Pace of a Scale-Up: Adapting to the rapid pace of development, evolving priorities, and the need to build and refine processes simultaneously.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Become a leader in designing for AI-powered products, a highly in-demand skill.

• Product Strategy Influence: Directly contribute to shaping the future roadmap and strategic direction of a growing SaaS company.

• Design System Leadership: Take ownership of evolving and scaling the design system, a critical component for efficient product development.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhance skills in collaborating with engineering, product management, and customer success teams.

• Industry Exposure: Gain deep insights into the construction technology sector and its digital transformation journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the company's mission and the nature of the role. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they would approach these specific challenges, demonstrating their problem-solving skills and adaptability. The growth opportunities align with career progression in a scaling tech company, emphasizing specialization and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you approached a complex problem by thinking from first principles. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving methodology and ability to break down issues.)

• "How do you leverage AI tools or considerations in your design process? Provide an example of a design where AI played a significant role." (Demonstrate your understanding of AI's impact on design and your willingness to innovate.)

• "Tell us about a situation where you had to make significant edits to a design you initially loved. What was your rationale, and how did you approach the decision?" (Highlight your iterative process and focus on user value over personal attachment.)

• "How do you ensure a design system remains scalable and maintainable as a product grows and evolves?" (Showcase your understanding of design system architecture and long-term thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Timescapes and our mission to simplify construction?" (Research the company's mission, values, and market position.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with engineers and product managers, especially when there are differing opinions?" (Emphasize your communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.)

• "Describe your ideal work environment. How do you thrive in a hybrid or remote setting?" (Align your answer with the company's flexible work model and collaborative culture.)

• "How do you measure the success of a design solution?" (Discuss your approach to UX metrics, user feedback, and business impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select a Strong Case Study: Choose a project that best demonstrates your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. If possible, select one that involves complexity or technical challenges.

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (the problem), middle (your process, iterations, decisions), and end (the solution, impact, learnings).

• Focus on "Why": For every decision you made, explain the reasoning behind it, referencing user research, business goals, or technical constraints.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, user research methodologies, or how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your problem-solving approach, your ability to work with complex technologies like AI, and your collaborative spirit. Be ready to articulate your design philosophy and how it aligns with Timescapes' values of first principles, iteration, and user value.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and clearly showcases your best work, with a focus on end-to-end design processes and impactful projects. Tailor your presentation to highlight relevant experience with complex problems, AI considerations, and iterative design.

• Resume Optimization: Craft a resume that highlights your 5-10 years of experience, emphasizing your UX/UI skills, experience with AI-powered solutions, design system contributions, and collaborative abilities. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare to discuss your approach to AI design, user research, and collaboration in a hybrid/remote setting.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Timescapes' product, mission, values, and the construction technology industry. Understand their approach to AI and innovation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Timescapes before making application decisions.