Senior Product Designer

Zip
Full-time$160k-200k/year (USD)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Zip

Location: New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-08T00:00:00

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Drive the end-to-end design process for customer-facing product features within Zip's AI platform for enterprise procurement, focusing on creating intuitive and consumer-grade experiences for complex workflows.

  • Collaborate closely with experienced Product Managers, Engineers, and Go-to-Market stakeholders to conceptualize, define, and implement new features and offerings, ensuring alignment across departments.

  • Actively participate in UX Research initiatives, gathering direct user feedback and iterating rapidly on designs to meet user needs and business objectives.

  • Contribute to a culture of design excellence by participating in regular design reviews and sharing insights within the broader design team, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.

  • Leverage AI tools within your personal design workflow to accelerate prototyping and idea visualization, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to design execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, the emphasis on "enterprise procurement," "complex workflows," and "Go-to-Market stakeholders" strongly suggests a need for understanding and designing for operational efficiency and business processes. This role will benefit from candidates who can bridge the gap between user experience and business/operations outcomes, making it relevant to a GTM Operations context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead the conceptualization, design, and iteration of product features from initial ideation through to successful launch, ensuring a seamless user experience.

  • Partner strategically with engineering teams to translate design concepts into robust, implementable solutions, understanding and navigating technical constraints.

  • Engage deeply with Product Management and Customer-Facing teams to conduct user research, gather insights, and validate design decisions, ensuring user needs are central to development.

  • Drive rapid iteration cycles on visual and UX designs based on qualitative and quantitative user feedback, aiming for optimal usability and aesthetic appeal.

  • Actively participate in and contribute to design critique sessions, offering constructive feedback and incorporating learnings to elevate the overall design quality and consistency.

  • Champion user-centric design principles throughout the product development lifecycle, advocating for the customer's needs and perspective.

  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description highlights "procurement" and "managing the process of helping companies buy what they need," which are core operational functions. The responsibility to "define and implement new features and offerings" implies a strategic involvement in how the product supports business operations, extending beyond pure UI/UX.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is highly recommended.

Experience: 3-5+ years of professional design experience, with a strong preference for experience in fast-paced startup environments or organizations with similar resource constraints, demonstrating a proven ability to ship impactful designs quickly.

Required Skills:

  • Proven experience shipping at least one full product or significant feature end-to-end as the lead designer, showcasing ownership and end-to-end responsibility.

  • Expertise in collaborating effectively with engineers, PMs, and other team members to refine both visual aesthetics and user experience details.

  • Strong presentation, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to diverse stakeholders.

  • Demonstrated empathy and advocacy for the target audience and customers, translating user needs into effective design solutions.

  • Excellent visual design skills, with a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of typography, color theory, and layout, without compromising usability.

  • Solid understanding of the technical constraints and possibilities inherent in building modern web applications.

  • Proficiency in leveraging AI tools within a design workflow, such as Claude, Figma Make, or Cursor, for rapid prototyping and idea exploration. Preferred Skills:

  • Experience designing for enterprise software or complex B2B workflows.

  • Familiarity with UX research methodologies and user testing best practices.

  • Experience with design systems and component-based design.

  • Knowledge of procurement processes or financial technology.

  • Ability to contribute to design reviews with a critical and constructive perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "3-5+ years" and "shipping at least one full product or significant feature end to end as the lead designer" indicates a need for a candidate who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and has a track record of successful product launches. The mention of "resource-restricted organization" and "shipping great designs at a fast pace" points to a need for efficiency and adaptability, common traits in operations-focused roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A curated selection of 3-5 impactful projects that demonstrate end-to-end product design ownership, from concept to launch.

  • Case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes or learnings.

  • Visual examples of wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs, showcasing your visual design and interaction design capabilities.

  • Evidence of collaboration with engineering and product teams, illustrating how you navigated constraints and integrated feedback.

  • Projects that highlight your ability to conduct UX research and iterate based on user feedback, demonstrating a user-centric approach. Process Documentation:

  • For each case study, clearly outline the design process followed, emphasizing stages such as discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation.

  • Detail how you approached user research, including methodologies used and how insights informed design decisions.

  • Showcase your iteration process, providing examples of how feedback led to design changes.

  • Document your collaboration with cross-functional teams, highlighting communication strategies and problem-solving approaches.

  • Demonstrate how you considered technical constraints and worked with engineers to ensure feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role involving complex enterprise workflows and GTM considerations, portfolios should ideally showcase projects that demonstrate an understanding of business impact, process optimization, and user adoption within a B2B context. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their designs contribute to operational efficiency and business goals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 annually.

Explanation: This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in New York City with 3-5+ years of experience, particularly within high-growth tech startups. Factors influencing placement within the range include depth of experience, specific skill set, and demonstrated impact.

Benefits:

  • 📈 Start-up equity: Opportunity for ownership and growth as the company scales.

  • 🦷 100% health, vision & dental coverage options: Comprehensive medical benefits for employees and potentially dependents.

  • 🍽️ Catered breakfast, lunch, & dinner: On-site meals provided, contributing to convenience and team cohesion.

  • 🌴 Flexible PTO: Encourages work-life balance with a flexible approach to time off.

  • 🏋️‍♀️ ClassPass membership: Support for physical wellness and fitness.

  • 🚍 Monthly commuter benefit: Assistance with transportation costs for commuting to the office.

  • 🚠 Team building events & happy hours: Opportunities for social connection and team bonding.

  • 💻 Home office stipend: Support for setting up an effective remote workspace.

  • 🛜 Phone/internet reimbursement: Contribution towards essential communication costs.

  • 🏠 Hybrid model + 5 flexible remote days per quarter: Combines in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

  • 🍼 Paid parental leave: Support for new parents during a significant life event.

  • 🐣 Fertility benefits: Comprehensive benefits for family planning.

  • 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and professional challenges.

  • 🤖 Unlimited AI token usage: Access to advanced AI tools for work, fostering innovation.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically requiring around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model with 3 days in the NYC office suggests a structured work week with built-in flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The comprehensive benefits package, including equity, extensive health coverage, and stipends, reflects a commitment to employee well-being and retention, common in competitive tech environments. The "Unlimited AI token usage" is a unique perk reflecting Zip's focus on AI.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (AI Platform, Enterprise Software, Procurement Tech)

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the company has raised $371 million and is recognized on LinkedIn's Top Startups list, suggesting a rapidly growing mid-sized company, likely between 200-500 employees. The mention of "startup or similarly resource-restricted organization" in qualifications implies a culture that values agility and efficiency.

Founded: Zip was founded with a mission to revolutionize enterprise procurement through AI, with a team comprised of leaders from major tech companies and procurement backgrounds.

Team Structure:

  • The design team is described as "tight-knit," valuing "open communication and cross-functional collaboration."

  • Designers will partner closely with experienced engineers, PMs, and GTM stakeholders, indicating a highly collaborative, integrated product development environment.

  • The reporting structure likely places the Senior Product Designer within the Design team, reporting to a Design Lead or Head of Design. Methodology:

  • The company emphasizes building "consumer-grade experiences for complex enterprise workflows," suggesting a focus on user-centric design principles applied to B2B challenges.

  • A rapid iteration cycle based on user feedback is a core part of the process.

  • The integration of AI agents into the procurement platform indicates a forward-thinking approach to technology and innovation.

  • The culture encourages "ownership early" and "growing quickly," pointing to a fast-paced, high-impact environment.

Company Website: zip.co

📝 Enhancement Note: Zip's positioning as an AI platform for enterprise procurement, with backing from major investors and a team from top companies, suggests a culture focused on innovation, rapid execution, and solving complex B2B challenges with cutting-edge technology. This environment will appeal to operations professionals who thrive on impact and efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires independent contribution, ownership of significant features, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. In a GTM Operations context, this role contributes by designing user-friendly interfaces for procurement processes that directly impact operational efficiency and cost savings.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Design and will collaborate extensively with Product Management and Engineering teams. This cross-functional interaction is crucial for aligning design with business objectives and operational needs.

Operations Impact: The product's core function is to streamline enterprise procurement, directly impacting operational efficiency, cost savings (over $8 billion saved by existing users), and the speed at which companies can acquire resources to innovate. The designs created by this role will directly influence how effectively businesses manage their spend and operational workflows.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for enterprise SaaS, AI-driven platforms, or specific areas of procurement workflow design.

  • Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer role, managing projects or a small team, mentoring junior designers, and influencing design strategy.

  • Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of product management, engineering processes, and go-to-market strategies, enhancing overall business acumen.

  • Impactful Projects: Opportunity to work on high-visibility features used by major enterprises, contributing significantly to the company's growth and market position.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a unique opportunity to apply design thinking to solve core business process challenges. The growth path could lead to roles that bridge design and product operations, focusing on user adoption of operational tools and systems.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates on a hybrid model, requiring 3 days per week in their New York City office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, brainstorming, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): New York City, New York, United States. This prime location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and a large talent pool.

Workspace Context:

  • The office is likely equipped to support collaborative work, with meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially dedicated design spaces.

  • The hybrid model allows for focused work at home while ensuring in-person interaction for strategic discussions and team building.

  • Access to "Unlimited AI token usage" implies that cutting-edge technology and tools are readily available to support design and innovation.

  • The catered meals and other office perks suggest an environment that prioritizes employee comfort and productivity.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time role. The hybrid model (3 days in office) implies a structured work week, with flexibility regarding remote days. The focus on shipping features quickly suggests an environment that values efficient work and clear communication regarding availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a major city like NYC, combined with a focus on collaboration and access to advanced tools, creates an environment conducive to both focused design work and dynamic team interaction, which is beneficial for roles that bridge design and operational efficiency.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios. Candidates may be asked to elaborate on specific projects or their design philosophy.

  • Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies. Expect questions about design decisions, user research, collaboration, and impact. A take-home design challenge or a live design exercise may also be part of this stage.

  • Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, understanding of technical constraints, and ability to integrate feedback.

  • Team/Culture Fit Interview: Meeting with other designers and potentially leadership to gauge cultural alignment, communication style, and enthusiasm for Zip's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes achieved. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, cost savings).

  • Process Emphasis: Showcase your design thinking, not just the final visuals. Explain why you made certain decisions, how you incorporated user feedback, and how you collaborated with others.

  • B2B/Operations Relevance: If possible, highlight projects that demonstrate an understanding of complex workflows, enterprise software, or operational efficiency.

  • AI Tool Integration: Be ready to discuss how you've used AI tools in your workflow to improve efficiency or creativity.

  • Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most impactful work efficiently, respecting the interviewer's time.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand Zip's product and target market (enterprise procurement, AI).

  • Practice articulating design decisions and trade-offs clearly.

  • Prepare to discuss how your designs address business needs and user pain points.

  • Be ready to discuss your experience with agile development and fast-paced environments.

  • Think about how design can drive operational efficiency and business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on enterprise workflows and the company's AI-centric approach, interviewers will likely probe into how candidates can translate complex operational needs into user-friendly designs and how they leverage technology to achieve business outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary tool), with potential use of other tools like Sketch or Adobe Creative Suite.

  • AI & Workflow Tools: Claude, Figma Make, Cursor (explicitly mentioned for prototyping and workflow integration).

  • Collaboration: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly mentioned for designers, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions would be beneficial.

  • Experience with tools that track user behavior and feature adoption would be a plus. CRM & Automation:

  • While designers don't typically manage CRMs, an understanding of how CRM data or sales/procurement workflows (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zip's own platform) might inform design is valuable.

  • Familiarity with automation concepts relevant to design workflows or user experience enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and AI-powered design tools is essential. Familiarity with enterprise software contexts and an understanding of how design integrates with broader operational tools (like CRMs or procurement platforms) will be highly advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Ownership: Taking initiative and responsibility for projects from start to finish, a critical trait for driving efficiency in operations.

  • Open Communication: Fostering transparency and direct feedback to ensure alignment and rapid problem-solving, essential for effective cross-functional operations.

  • Underdog Mindset: A drive to challenge the status quo and innovate, crucial for improving established enterprise processes.

  • Pace of Innovation: A commitment to moving quickly and delivering value, aligning with the demands of fast-moving GTM and operational environments.

  • Customer Centricity: Deep understanding and advocacy for user needs, ensuring that designed solutions genuinely improve operational workflows and user experience.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work hand-in-hand with PMs, engineers, and GTM teams, ensuring a holistic approach to product development that considers operational impact.

  • Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular design reviews and direct user interaction encourage continuous improvement and adaptation.

  • Shared Vision: A collective effort to build "consumer-grade experiences for complex enterprise workflows," uniting different functions towards a common goal.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "ownership," "pace," and "innovation" strongly resonates with the demands of operations roles, where efficiency, speed, and continuous improvement are paramount. Candidates who can demonstrate these values will likely find a good cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Designing for Complexity: Translating intricate enterprise procurement processes into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces requires deep problem-solving skills.

  • Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Ensuring designs effectively serve both end-users and strategic business objectives, particularly in a GTM context.

  • Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting quickly to feedback and market changes while maintaining high design quality.

  • Integrating AI: Effectively incorporating AI capabilities into the design process and user experience, staying ahead of technological advancements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Deep Dive into Enterprise Procurement: Gain specialized knowledge in a critical B2B domain, understanding the nuances of procurement workflows and challenges.

  • AI in Design: Become proficient in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools to enhance design productivity and creativity.

  • Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhance understanding of product management, engineering, and go-to-market strategies through close collaboration.

  • Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from experienced designers and product leaders within a high-growth startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in roles that interface with core business operations, requiring adaptability and strategic thinking. The growth opportunities focus on acquiring specialized domain knowledge and advanced technical skills highly relevant to modern operations and product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you designed a complex workflow. How did you ensure it was user-friendly and efficient?" (Focus on process mapping, user research, iteration, and measurable outcomes.)

  • "How do you collaborate with engineers and product managers to balance design vision with technical feasibility and business priorities?" (Emphasize communication, compromise, and shared problem-solving.)

  • "Tell us about a feature you designed that directly impacted business goals or operational efficiency. What was the outcome?" (Prepare a case study with quantifiable results.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why are you interested in Zip and our mission to revolutionize enterprise procurement with AI?" (Research Zip's product, market position, and recent news.)

  • "How do you see your design skills contributing to a fast-paced, hybrid startup environment?" (Highlight adaptability, ownership, and collaboration.)

  • "How do you approach user research and incorporate feedback into your designs, especially for enterprise users?" (Discuss empathy, methodologies, and iteration.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: Use a clear narrative for each case study: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Learnings.

  • Visuals: Use high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes to showcase your work. Include wireframes and user flows to illustrate your thought process.

  • Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics demonstrating the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores).

  • AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you've used AI tools in your workflow to enhance efficiency or creativity.

  • Conciseness: Focus on the most impactful projects and be ready to answer questions concisely and thoughtfully.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate not only strong design skills but also a strategic understanding of how design impacts business operations, efficiency, and user adoption within an enterprise context. Be ready to speak to the "why" behind your design choices and their business implications.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

  • Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end ownership, collaboration, and impact on complex workflows, ideally within B2B or enterprise SaaS.

  • Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 3-5+ years of experience, specific achievements in shipping products, and proficiency with relevant design and AI tools. Use keywords like "product design," "UX research," "enterprise software," and "AI tools."

  • Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, process, and quantifiable outcomes. Prepare to discuss your experience with hybrid work and fast-paced environments.

  • Company Research: Understand Zip's mission, product, market position, and values. Be ready to articulate why you are a strong cultural fit and how you can contribute to their innovative approach to procurement.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have 3-5+ years of professional design experience, ideally at a startup, with a proven track record of shipping full products or significant features. Strong visual design skills, proficiency in prototyping tools, and the ability to work effectively within technical constraints are essential.