Senior Product Designer (DevEx), VP

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (DevEx), VP

Company: Citi

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Focus on enhancing the developer experience (DevEx) through strategic product and UX design.

• Manage stakeholder relationships and influence product roadmaps within the CTO organization.

• Translate complex business visions into tangible wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs.

• Drive innovation and mature product/UX capabilities within the Developer Enablement team and broader Citi.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation of designed features.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Product Designer," the "VP" designation and the focus on managing stakeholders and shaping roadmaps suggest a role with significant strategic influence and seniority, often associated with lead or principal designer responsibilities within a specific domain. The DevEx focus indicates a specialized area within product design, targeting internal developer tools and platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with stakeholders and engineering teams to brainstorm, co-create ideas, and develop innovative solutions.

• Define and document product features by translating user needs and business objectives into detailed, actionable product specifications, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

• Create comprehensive wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs using Figma, leveraging and contributing to the established Design System.

• Ensure all designs adhere to best practices, incorporating user research and testing methodologies to inform and validate design decisions.

• Manage the full lifecycle of product features, from initial conception and requirements gathering through to launch, iteration, and performance monitoring.

• Proactively challenge the status quo, encouraging root-cause analysis to ensure optimal outcomes for end-users and the developer community.

• Deliver high-quality design assets and clear, concise guidance to engineering teams to ensure accurate and complete understanding of design intent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of pure design execution and product management aspects, emphasizing the translation of business needs into design solutions. The "Define and Document Product Features" and "Feature Lifecycle Management" bullets are particularly indicative of a product-centric design role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Product Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of industry experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a similar role, with a proven track record on complex, enterprise-scale or consumer design projects.

Required Skills:

• Strong UX/UI design expertise, encompassing the full design process from research and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and interaction design.

• Proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Strong product management skills, including stakeholder management, roadmap definition, and translating business vision into design artifacts.

• Strategic, systems-thinking mindset with the ability to deeply understand complex technical concepts, ideally with support from Business Analysts.

• Excellent ability to build rapport and influence a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and effective problem-solving abilities.

• Creative flair and a keen eye for aesthetic design principles.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for developer platforms or internal tools (DevEx).

• Familiarity with internal design systems and component libraries.

• Experience with user research methodologies and usability testing.

• Understanding of Agile development methodologies.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a blend of core design competencies and broader product thinking. The "5-10 years" experience level aligns with a Senior/VP designation, suggesting a need for demonstrated leadership and strategic input. The emphasis on Figma is a strong indicator of the primary design tool.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex, enterprise-scale design projects that demonstrate your end-to-end design process.

• Highlight your ability to translate ambiguous business requirements into clear, user-centered design solutions.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups created in Figma.

• Demonstrate your experience in user research, usability testing, and how you've incorporated feedback to iterate on designs.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from initial discovery and ideation through to final design delivery and post-launch analysis.

• Detail how you approach stakeholder management and incorporate feedback throughout the design lifecycle.

• Explain your methods for working with engineering teams and ensuring successful implementation of designs.

• Showcase how you utilize design systems and contribute to their evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is critical. The emphasis on enterprise-scale projects and the ability to translate business needs into design indicates a need for practical, impactful case studies. The mention of Figma and Design Systems points to specific tool and methodology requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer (VP level) in Belfast, UK, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is approximately £65,000 - £90,000 per annum. This is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major financial institutions in the UK, considering the specific location and the seniority implied by the "VP" title.

Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)

• A discretionary annual performance-related bonus

• Private Medical Care & Life Insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Pension Plan

• Paid Parental Leave

• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with a standard working week of approximately 40 hours. The company offers a hybrid working model, allowing up to 2 days working from home per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are comprehensive and typical for a large financial institution like Citi. The salary estimate is based on general UK market data for senior design roles, adjusted for location and seniority. The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking. Citi operates within a highly regulated global financial services industry. This context means a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and robust, scalable solutions. The Developer Enablement team functions with a "startup inside a global bank" mentality, aiming for rapid innovation and efficiency while adhering to strict corporate standards.

Company Size: Citi is a global financial services corporation with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale implies vast resources, complex organizational structures, and significant opportunities for impact across diverse business units. For operations professionals, this means navigating established processes and collaborating within a large, matrixed environment.

Founded: Citi's roots trace back to 1812, making it one of the oldest financial institutions globally. This long history signifies stability, deep industry expertise, and a culture that has evolved over centuries. The Developer Enablement initiative represents a forward-looking approach to modernizing internal technology and developer practices.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the CTO organization, specifically the Developer Enablement team.

• This team focuses on innovation, developer platforms, and internal tools.

• It operates with a "startup" ethos, characterized by empowered, small teams with global reach.

Methodology:

• Agile methodologies are likely employed, with a focus on iterative development and rapid shipping.

• Data-driven decision-making is expected, with an emphasis on measuring developer productivity and savings.

• A blend of established corporate processes and agile, startup-like practices is anticipated.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Citi's scale and regulatory environment is crucial. The "startup inside a global bank" framing for Developer Enablement is key to interpreting the team's operational style – balancing agility with corporate governance.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior/VP level within the Product Design discipline, specifically focused on Developer Experience (DevEx). It implies a significant level of autonomy, responsibility for strategic direction within the DevEx domain, and the ability to influence product roadmaps and team capabilities. You'll be expected to mentor junior designers and contribute to design best practices.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into leadership within the Developer Enablement team, likely a Director or VP of Product/Engineering. You will collaborate closely with engineering leads and product managers within the DevEx function, and potentially engage with broader product/UX leadership across Citi.

Operations Impact: Your work will directly impact the productivity and efficiency of tens of thousands of engineers across Citi. By improving developer tools and platforms, you will contribute to significant cost savings (projected $50 million annually for the Release on Demand platform alone) and enable faster, more compliant code deployments, ultimately accelerating business value delivery.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in Developer Experience (DevEx) design, becoming a go-to authority within Citi.

• Leadership: Progress into Lead or Principal Designer roles, managing larger initiatives, mentoring teams, and contributing to design strategy at an organizational level.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience in various aspects of internal tooling, platform engineering, and potentially expand into other product design domains within Citi's vast organization.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, workshops, and potentially industry conferences focused on design, developer productivity, and financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "VP" title suggests an advanced career stage. The growth opportunities focus on specialization within DevEx, leadership progression, and leveraging Citi's scale for broad impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and operates under a hybrid working model. This means a combination of in-office collaboration and remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Belfast, Northern Ireland. Specific details about the office facilities, such as amenities and accessibility, would be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace that fosters collaboration between designers, engineers, product managers, and business analysts. The hybrid model allows for focused individual work at home and collaborative sessions in the office.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma and internal design systems will be provided. You'll likely work with modern development tools and platforms within the Developer Enablement team.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team meetings, design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional project discussions, both virtually and in person.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing up to two days of remote work per week, which can support focused design tasks and personal work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature. The environment is described as collaborative and innovative, balancing startup agility with corporate structure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, skills, and understanding of the role and DevEx.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A critical stage where you'll present your portfolio, showcasing relevant projects. This may be accompanied by a design challenge or exercise to assess your problem-solving and design thinking in a simulated scenario.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues, engineers, and key stakeholders to evaluate collaboration style, communication, and ability to influence.

• Final Round: Potentially a higher-level interview with senior leadership to confirm strategic alignment and suitability for the VP level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your experience in complex, enterprise-scale design, stakeholder management, and translating business needs into user-centered solutions. Prioritize projects with clear impact on developer productivity or efficiency.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key design decisions and rationale, and measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Figma & Design Systems: Explicitly showcase your Figma proficiency and how you've utilized or contributed to design systems.

• Emphasize DevEx: If possible, include projects directly related to developer tools, platforms, or improving developer workflows.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics (e.g., time saved, deployment frequency, user adoption rates) to demonstrate the business value of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand DevEx: Familiarize yourself with common challenges and goals in Developer Experience design. Think about how to improve workflows, reduce friction, and enhance the productivity of engineers.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Be prepared to tackle a design problem related to internal tools or developer productivity. Think about user needs, technical constraints, and potential solutions.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your thought process step-by-step, justifying your decisions and demonstrating your strategic thinking.

• Figma Proficiency: Be comfortable using Figma under time constraints if a live design exercise is given.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and practical design problem-solving. Understanding DevEx specific challenges is key for preparation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Expect to be highly proficient.

• Internal Design Systems: Proficiency in using and potentially contributing to Citi's established design systems for consistency and efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how product features integrate into broader systems and workflows could be helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as the primary design tool. Familiarity with design systems is also crucial. While direct tool usage might not be required, understanding the data and impact of designs is important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering tangible results, such as significant cost savings and improvements in developer productivity.

• Innovation: Encouraging experimentation and fast shipping, akin to a startup environment, to drive forward-thinking solutions.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams, including engineering, product, and business analysis, to achieve shared goals.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and designing for the needs of developers, ensuring intuitive and efficient user experiences.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of constantly seeking to optimize processes, tools, and workflows for better efficiency and outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with engineers, product managers, and business analysts who are also part of the Developer Enablement initiative.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture that encourages open feedback on designs and processes to foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share insights, best practices, and learnings within the design community and across development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a blend of innovation and impact, with a strong collaborative spirit and a focus on user (developer) needs.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Working within a large, regulated financial institution requires navigating compliance and security requirements while still fostering rapid innovation.

• Scaling Solutions: Designing for a platform that serves thousands of engineers bank-wide presents scalability challenges in terms of design, performance, and user adoption.

• Translating Complex Tech: Understanding and effectively designing for intricate technical systems requires strong analytical skills and effective collaboration with technical experts.

• Influencing Diverse Stakeholders: Gaining buy-in and alignment from a wide range of stakeholders with potentially competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• DevEx Specialization: Deepen expertise in the growing field of Developer Experience design.

• Platform Design: Gain experience in designing for large-scale internal platforms and tools.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and take on leadership roles in projects.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend conferences or workshops related to design, product management, or developer productivity in enterprise environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in a large, regulated enterprise with a focus on internal platforms. The growth opportunities are geared towards specialization and leadership within DevEx.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex technical requirement into a user-friendly design. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your systems-thinking, stakeholder communication, and design process.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a developer platform that aims to reduce deployment time? Walk me through your initial steps." (Assess your DevEx understanding, problem-solving approach, and design methodology.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working at Citi, specifically within the Developer Enablement team?" (Showcase research on Citi's DevEx initiatives and alignment with their goals.)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with a large, regulated financial institution that also aims for startup-like innovation?" (Demonstrate understanding of the company's unique operating model.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative: the problem, your role, the journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate how you arrived at your design solutions, not just what the solutions are. Emphasize research, iteration, and rationale.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate the value and success of your designs. For DevEx, this could be time saved, efficiency gains, or adoption rates.

• Figma & Design System Mastery: Briefly showcase your Figma skills and how you leveraged or contributed to design systems.

• Concise and Engaging: Be mindful of time, delivering a clear and compelling presentation that highlights your most relevant skills and achievements for this specific role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of DevEx, the ability to navigate complex enterprise environments, and a robust design process supported by excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer (DevEx), VP position:

• Submit your application through the Citi careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in product design, UX/UI, stakeholder management, and any experience with developer tools or platforms. Use keywords from the job description such as "Figma," "DevEx," "systems thinking," and "enterprise-scale."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies showcasing complex design projects, your process, Figma proficiency, and quantifiable impact. Ensure it's easily accessible online.

• Research Citi's DevEx: Understand Citi's Developer Enablement mission, their "Release on Demand" platform, and the general challenges of improving developer productivity in a large financial institution.

• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your design process, your contributions to past projects, and why you are a strong fit for this role and Citi's culture during interviews.

⚠️ 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.

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