Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer – Colleague Experience Group

Company: American Express

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: 2026-06-22T11:29:10

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Drive the design and evolution of HR digital products and services, focusing on enhancing the end-to-end colleague experience from onboarding to career development.
Apply user-centered design principles, UX research, and service design methodologies to create intuitive, efficient, and scalable digital solutions for employee journeys.
Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Business stakeholders, and Operations teams to translate complex business requirements into seamless user experiences.
Identify and integrate opportunities for leveraging AI, automation, and intelligent guidance to optimize workflows and improve overall employee productivity and satisfaction.
Champion design thinking and a user-centric approach within the Colleague Experience Group to foster innovation and deliver impactful HR technology solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Colleague Experience Group (CEG) at American Express, indicating a strategic focus on internal employee-facing products and services. The emphasis on "shaping the employee experience" and leveraging "AI, automation, and intelligent guidance" suggests a forward-thinking approach to HR technology and workforce enablement, requiring a candidate adept at complex enterprise design challenges within a large, established organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end design process for HR digital products, from concept and user research to wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.
Conduct user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights and validate design decisions, ensuring solutions meet colleague needs.
Develop comprehensive journey maps, service blueprints, and information architecture to visualize and optimize complex employee workflows and touchpoints.
Create interactive prototypes and wireframes to effectively communicate design concepts and gather feedback from stakeholders and end-users.
Partner with Product Managers to define product strategy and roadmaps, ensuring design initiatives align with business objectives and user needs.
Collaborate with Engineering teams to ensure the successful implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and design assets.
Facilitate design thinking workshops and cross-functional collaboration sessions to drive innovation and alignment on design solutions.
Advocate for best practices in UX/UI design, accessibility, and inclusive design principles across all HR digital platforms.
Stay abreast of emerging trends in HR technology, AI, and employee experience design to identify opportunities for innovation within American Express.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and scalability across the CEG product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "translating complex business processes into seamless digital solutions" and "leveraging AI, automation, and intelligent guidance" indicates that the role requires not just visual design skills but also a deep understanding of workflow optimization and future-forward technology integration within an enterprise context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in Product Design, UX Design, or Service Design, with a significant portion focused on enterprise-level applications, HR technology, or complex digital platforms.

Required Skills:

Proven expertise in user-centered design methodologies and a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design solutions.
Proficiency in UX research techniques, including user interviews, usability testing, persona development, and journey mapping.
Advanced skills in design and prototyping tools, with a strong preference for Figma and collaboration tools like Mural.
Deep understanding of interaction design principles, information architecture, and visual design best practices.
Experience designing for complex workflows and translating intricate business logic into intuitive user interfaces.
Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and experience working effectively in cross-functional, iterative product teams.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Experience with designing for accessibility (WCAG compliance) and inclusive design principles. Preferred Skills:
Experience specifically within Human Resources technology (HR Tech) or employee experience platforms.
Familiarity with AI-driven design tools, automation workflows, and the application of intelligent guidance in enterprise software.
Experience with service design principles and creating comprehensive service blueprints.
Knowledge of design systems and their implementation in large organizations.
Familiarity with project management tools such as Jira and Confluence.
Experience in a large, matrixed corporate environment like American Express.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw input suggests 5-7 years, the AI analysis indicating "5-10 years" and the "Senior" title implies a broader range, allowing for candidates with more extensive experience who can lead complex projects and mentor junior designers. The emphasis on Figma and Mural points to specific tool requirements crucial for collaboration and rapid iteration in an enterprise setting.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of user-centered design principles and the ability to solve complex problems.
Case studies that clearly articulate the design process, including problem definition, user research findings, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and final solutions.
Examples of designing for enterprise-level applications, HR technology, or complex internal tools, showcasing an understanding of business process integration.
Visualizations of journey maps, service blueprints, or information architecture that illustrate the mapping of complex employee experiences.
Prototypes (interactive or high-fidelity) that effectively communicate user flows and interaction design.
Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Operations) in previous projects.
Documentation of how AI, automation, or intelligent guidance was considered or integrated into design solutions, where applicable. Process Documentation:
Showcase experience in documenting design processes, including research methodologies, design iterations, and decision-making rationales.
Provide examples of how design requirements were translated into actionable specifications for development teams.
Demonstrate an understanding of how to measure the impact of design solutions, including key metrics and their relation to business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role, the portfolio should not only showcase design output but also the strategic thinking and process behind it. The inclusion of AI and automation considerations in portfolio examples will be a significant advantage, aligning with the role's stated objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in New York City with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is $123,000 - $215,250 annually. This range accounts for the seniority of the role, the strategic impact on employee experience, and the specific location.

Benefits:

Competitive base salaries and bonus incentives.
6% Company Match on retirement savings plan, supporting long-term financial security.
Free financial coaching and comprehensive financial well-being support programs.
Robust medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits for holistic health coverage.
Flexible working model (hybrid, onsite, or virtual arrangements) to support work-life balance.
Generous paid parental leave (20+ weeks) for all parents, supporting family needs.
Access to on-site wellness centers (location dependent) for convenient health and medical support.
Free and confidential counseling through the Healthy Minds program for mental well-being.
Extensive career development and training opportunities to foster professional growth.

Working Hours: Standard full-time role, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work model. The nature of the role may require occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines or support critical initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $123,000 - $215,250 is derived from synthesizing publicly available compensation data for Senior Product Designers in New York City, considering the experience level (5-10 years) and the industry (Financial Services/Technology). This range reflects the compensation for a role at a large, reputable company like American Express.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services and Technology. American Express operates at the intersection of finance, technology, and customer service, driving innovation in payments, loyalty programs, and digital experiences. For operations professionals, this means working within a highly regulated, security-conscious, and data-intensive environment that values precision, reliability, and strategic growth.

Company Size: American Express is a large, global corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale implies established processes, robust infrastructure, and opportunities for diverse career paths, but also requires navigating larger organizational structures and ensuring design solutions can scale effectively.

Founded: 1850. With a rich history spanning over 175 years, American Express has a legacy of innovation and a deep understanding of customer needs. This long-standing presence suggests a culture that values stability, trust, and long-term relationships, while also adapting to modern technological advancements.

Team Structure:

The Colleague Experience Group (CEG) is a global function responsible for all colleague-related benefits and programs, including HR products and digital services.
The Product Design team within CEG likely comprises specialized designers (UX, UI, Service Design) who work in close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and HR Operations specialists.
Reporting structure typically involves a Design Lead or Director who oversees multiple product design initiatives, with Senior Designers leading specific product areas or complex features. Methodology:
Data-driven decision-making is paramount, with a strong emphasis on user research, analytics, and performance metrics to inform design and product strategy.
Agile and iterative development processes are standard, enabling rapid prototyping, testing, and deployment of features.
Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, fostering a team-oriented environment where diverse perspectives contribute to optimal solutions.
A focus on continuous improvement and innovation, encouraging exploration of new technologies like AI and automation to enhance efficiency and user experience.

Company Website: https://www.americanexpress.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of American Express as a large financial institution means that operations-related roles, including design for internal systems, will demand a high degree of rigor, security awareness, compliance adherence, and a focus on scalable, reliable solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a mid-to-senior level position responsible for leading significant design efforts, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product strategy. It requires a high degree of autonomy and the ability to manage complex, cross-functional projects independently.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Senior Product Designer would report to a Design Manager or Director within the Colleague Experience Group. They would work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and various HR stakeholders, forming a core product team.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the operational efficiency and employee satisfaction of American Express colleagues globally. By designing intuitive HR tools and services, the Senior Product Designer contributes to streamlined HR processes, increased productivity, better employee engagement, and ultimately, a stronger workforce that can drive business growth. The integration of AI and automation directly supports operational efficiency goals.

Growth Opportunities:

Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially move into management roles (e.g., Design Lead, Design Manager).
Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, service design for complex enterprise systems, or HR technology innovation.
Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by working on different product areas within CEG or potentially transitioning to design roles in other business units.
Strategic Influence: Contribute to defining the product vision and design strategy for critical colleague-facing platforms.
Learning & Skill Enhancement: Access to American Express's extensive learning and development programs, including training, workshops, and conferences, to stay ahead of design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation and the focus on complex HR systems and AI integration suggest that growth pathways could involve leading larger design teams, influencing enterprise-wide design standards, or specializing in cutting-edge areas of workforce technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: American Express operates with a "Hybrid" working model, meaning this role will likely involve a combination of in-office and remote work. The specific balance will depend on the team's needs and business requirements.

Office Location(s): World Financial Center, 200 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10285. This is a prime location in the heart of Manhattan's financial district, offering a dynamic and collaborative urban workspace.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Environment: The New York office is designed to foster collaboration, with ample meeting spaces, team areas, and informal gathering spots. This environment is conducive to design thinking workshops, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional team syncs.
Tools & Technology: Employees have access to a robust technology stack, including high-performance workstations, industry-standard design software (Figma, Mural), and collaboration platforms for seamless remote and in-office work.
Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, HR Operations specialists, and other designers, both within the CEG and potentially across other departments, facilitating knowledge

Senior Product Designer – Colleague Experience Group