Senior Product Designer (contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (Contract)

Company: Bilue

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Contract

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-07-28

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for a complex web portal and native mobile applications, focusing on a user-centric approach for a financial institution.

• Drive the creation of high-fidelity UI designs, prototypes, and reusable components within a robust design system using Figma.

• Conduct and translate usability testing findings into actionable experience improvements, ensuring designs are user-validated and effective.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Bilue and client-side engineers, designers, and delivery leads, to ensure seamless project execution.

• Champion best practices in responsive design and native platform conventions (Apple HIG, Material Design) to deliver a consistent yet platform-appropriate user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core job title is Product Designer, the responsibilities and required skills strongly indicate a senior UX/UI focus with a significant emphasis on execution and stakeholder management within a consultancy setting. The contract nature and specific project scope suggest a need for immediate impact and autonomy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for a responsive web portal (mobile, tablet, desktop) and associated native iOS and Android applications.

• Execute concept usability testing on proposed designs and rigorously iterate based on user feedback to enhance the overall user experience.

• Deconstruct and simplify intricate financial workflows into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces that meet regulatory and business requirements.

• Produce high-fidelity UI screens, interactive prototypes, and maintainable, reusable design components within Figma, adhering to established design system principles.

• Integrate platform-specific design conventions (Apple Human Interface Guidelines and Material Design) effectively, leveraging native components where appropriate to ensure a cohesive cross-platform experience.

• Maintain design consistency across web and native platforms while respecting the unique characteristics and user expectations of each.

• Articulate and advocate for design decisions effectively to client stakeholders, building consensus and trust.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Bilue and client engineers, designers, and project managers to ensure alignment and successful delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only create visually appealing interfaces but also understand complex user flows, manage stakeholder expectations, and drive user-centric improvements through testing and iteration. The emphasis on "pixel perfect" execution and adherence to platform conventions points to a strong UI design background.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and mastery of design principles is essential.

Experience: Proven track record as a Senior Product Designer, UX Designer, or UI Designer with substantial experience in designing complex digital products, particularly in fast-paced, project-driven environments.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional craft and high standards in both design thinking and pixel-perfect UI execution, with a clear understanding of project completion criteria.

• Consultative approach to design, adept at communicating complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, managing expectations, and proactively identifying risks.

• Solution-oriented mindset, capable of translating complex, regulated requirements into clear, practical designs that balance creativity with realistic delivery timelines.

• Confident decision-making abilities, with the capacity to set design direction, make timely calls, and take full accountability for outcomes.

• Generous and open collaboration style, sharing insights freely and supporting team members to elevate collective output, even within a short-term engagement.

• Strong commitment to grounding design work in user insights and data, rather than solely relying on aesthetic preferences.

• Genuine native app design experience, with a working knowledge of Apple HIG and Material Design principles, and the judgment to know when to adhere to or deviate from platform conventions.

• Responsive design expertise across mobile, tablet, and desktop, ensuring intentional and effective adaptation rather than simple resizing.

• Deep proficiency in Figma, including advanced skills in managing design systems and understanding component architecture.

• Experience utilizing AI tools to accelerate workflows from ideation through to production, with the ability to articulate their practical application.

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing strong design thinking and a high standard of visual execution across diverse digital products. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the financial services sector or other regulated industries, with a particular focus on accessibility (WCAG) and building user trust.

• Familiarity with design system implementation and maintenance.

• Experience with user research methodologies beyond conceptual usability testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Mindset & Experience" section strongly emphasizes soft skills and consultative abilities, which are critical for a Senior Designer in a client-facing role. The technical skills section is direct about tool proficiency and platform knowledge, with AI acceleration being a notable modern requirement. The preference for regulated industry experience is a key differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear design thinking process from problem identification to solution delivery, with a focus on how user insights informed decisions.

• Showcase high-fidelity UI screens and interactive prototypes for responsive web and native mobile applications, highlighting attention to detail and visual execution.

• Include examples of design system components and architecture, illustrating an understanding of scalability and maintainability.

• Present case studies that clearly articulate the complexity of the problem, the design decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved, particularly in regulated environments.

• Highlight experience with Figma, including how design systems and component libraries were leveraged. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate how usability testing was integrated into the design process, detailing the methodology and how findings translated into concrete design improvements.

• Provide examples of how complex financial workflows were mapped and translated into intuitive user interfaces.

• Showcase the application of platform conventions (Apple HIG, Material Design) and the rationale behind design choices that maintained consistency across web and native platforms.

• Detail the approach to collaborating with engineers and delivery leads to ensure smooth handoff and implementation of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on demonstrating a structured design process, strong UI execution, and the ability to translate complex requirements into functional designs. The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and user-centric iteration is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contract role and specific rates are not provided, a senior-level product designer in Sydney, Australia, with significant experience in complex digital products and regulated industries, can typically expect an hourly rate ranging from AUD $80 to $120+, depending on the specific project demands, duration, and the candidate's demonstrable expertise. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for contract senior UX/UI designers in major Australian cities, factoring in the specialized nature of financial services and the need for rapid, high-quality delivery.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work with a reputable digital consultancy (Bilue) on high-profile projects for well-known Australian businesses.

• Exposure to complex financial institution projects, providing valuable experience in regulated environments.

• Contract role offering flexibility and the potential for varied project work.

• Hybrid work model, balancing focused individual work with team collaboration.

• Collaborative and low-drama work environment with a people-first, values-led culture.

• Direct interaction with Bilue's leadership and client stakeholders.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on market research for contract senior UX/UI designers in Sydney, Australia, considering the specified experience level and industry. Benefits are derived from the company description, emphasizing the project scope, company culture, and work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Consultancy, Technology Services, Financial Technology (FinTech). Bilue operates within a dynamic sector, advising and building digital solutions for established businesses, often navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Their work with financial institutions places them at the intersection of technology and a highly regulated industry.

Company Size: Bilue is a growing digital consultancy, likely employing between 50-200 professionals, judging by their offices in Sydney and Melbourne and a presence in Manila. This size suggests a culture that is established enough to have robust processes but agile enough to remain responsive and collaborative.

Founded: Founded in 2010 (estimated based on typical consultancy lifecycles and market presence), Bilue has established a significant presence in the Australian digital landscape, indicating a history of successful project delivery and client relationships.

Team Structure:

• The design team within Bilue likely comprises a mix of senior and mid-level UX/UI designers, product designers, and possibly UX researchers, working in project-specific pods.

• Designers often report to a Design Lead or Head of Design, with direct project assignments managed by Delivery Leads or Project Managers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a hallmark of consultancies like Bilue, with designers working closely with business analysts, developers (front-end, back-end, mobile), QA testers, and client-side product owners. Methodology:

• Bilue likely employs agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) for project delivery, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback loops.

• Design processes will integrate user-centered design principles, rapid prototyping, and usability testing, often accelerated by AI tools.

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, using analytics and user feedback to inform design iterations and measure impact.

Company Website: bilue.com.au

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is derived from the provided description, emphasizing Bilue's role as a digital consultancy and its people-first, collaborative culture. The size and founding date are inferences based on common consultancy trajectories. The methodology section reflects typical agile and user-centered approaches in such firms.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is firmly at the Senior level, requiring significant autonomy, strategic input, and demonstrable expertise in both design thinking and execution. A Senior Product Designer is expected to lead design initiatives, mentor junior colleagues, and effectively manage stakeholder relationships. For a contract role, this translates to being a go-to expert who can deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Project Manager within Bilue, and will also work closely with client-side product owners and technical leads. The structure is project-driven, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration within a dedicated project team.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is direct and significant. By designing a user-friendly and efficient web portal and mobile applications for a financial institution, the designer will directly influence customer engagement, satisfaction, and potentially operational efficiency for the client. Successful designs can lead to increased user adoption, reduced support queries, and enhanced brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in native app design patterns (iOS