Senior Product Designer (FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (Fixed-Term Contract)

Company: Raspberry Pi Foundation

Location: United Kingdom (Remote or Cambridge-based with travel)

Job Type: Full-time (Fixed-term contract for 11 months)

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: August 11, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years (Mid to Senior Level)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (within the UK) or Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end user-centered design process for digital products, from initial discovery through to final delivery.

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary product teams, including User Experience Researchers, Content Designers, Product Managers, Software Engineers, and Learning Managers, to craft compelling and accessible user experiences.

• Contribute significantly to product strategy and planning, leveraging user insights and facilitating design thinking workshops to align team objectives.

• Champion the evolution and consistent adoption of the company's design system, ensuring brand consistency and efficiency across the product portfolio.

• Advocate for accessibility best practices, specifically adhering to the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code, to ensure products are safe and suitable for young people and volunteers.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is in Product Design, its emphasis on user-centered processes, cross-functional collaboration, and impact on digital learning platforms positions it within the broader GTM and Operations ecosystem. The role requires a strong understanding of how design impacts user adoption, engagement, and ultimately, the Foundation's mission success, which aligns with GTM operational goals. The mention of specific tools like Figma, GitHub Projects, and monday.com also points to a need for operational efficiency in the design workflow.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the user-centred design process from discovery to delivery, collaborating with a cross-disciplinary product team to create meaningful, engaging, and delightful user experiences.

• Work closely with user researchers to develop a deep understanding of users' needs and motivations, using these insights to inform design decisions and product enhancements.

• Contribute to product strategy and planning alongside product and engineering leads, bringing user insights and facilitating design thinking workshops to align on goals and roadmap priorities.

• Test designs regularly with users and iterate based on feedback, ensuring user needs remain at the forefront of the design process and product development lifecycle.

• Clearly communicate and confidently present ideas, user flows, designs, prototypes, and other design assets to articulate compelling narratives and effectively solve diverse user needs.

• Actively contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the design system, championing its value and encouraging consistent adoption across product teams for enhanced efficiency and coherence.

• Advocate for accessibility and apply the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code to ensure products are accessible, appropriate, and safe for young people and volunteers.

• Inspire and mentor teammates through curiosity and by bringing fresh perspectives, thereby strengthening the overall design practice and team capabilities.

• Build strong relationships, facilitate workshops, and engage with partners, users, and agencies to champion design and user experience principles within and outside the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on process leadership, stakeholder management, and driving user-centricity, which are critical operational functions within a GTM strategy. The need to test, iterate, and advocate for design principles points to a continuous improvement mindset essential in operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience and skills is paramount. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field would be beneficial.

Experience: Significant experience (5-10 years) as a digital product designer, with a proven track record of leading the design of a range of digital products from concept to launch.

Required Skills:

• Deep understanding of user-centred design (UCD) principles and methodologies.

• Proficiency in UI design, with the ability to apply appropriate methods to create delightful, on-brand experiences that meet diverse user needs.

• Proven ability to give clear, actionable feedback and adapt one's own approach in response to feedback from others.

• Proactive in taking on new challenges, comfortable exploring new techniques, and embracing new ways of working.

• Demonstrated ability to be a supportive and collaborative team member, taking ownership of delivering all design elements efficiently and on time.

• Excellent communication skills, able to articulate ideas clearly and simply, both visually and verbally.

• Effective collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and disciplines, including facilitating workshops and prototyping ideas.

• Experience leading participatory design sessions with users, embedding co-design principles into practice.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their impact on design workflows.

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools, particularly Figma. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within the non-profit or educational technology sector.

• Knowledge of the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code and its practical application.

• Experience contributing to or maintaining design systems.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and translating research findings into actionable design insights.

• Experience using collaboration and project management tools such as monday.com, GitHub Projects, or Slack for team coordination.

• Mentoring experience, guiding junior designers or team members.

• Understanding of product strategy and roadmap planning processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on UCD, accessibility, and collaborative design directly aligns with operational excellence in product development. The mention of specific tools like Figma, monday.com, and GitHub Projects indicates a need for candidates to be operationally proficient in their toolset.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of digital product design projects, highlighting your leadership in the user-centered design process from discovery to delivery.

• Demonstrate case studies that clearly articulate user needs, design challenges, your specific contributions, the design solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved.

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

• Showcase your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., researchers, engineers, product managers) and how you integrated their input into your design process.

• Highlight projects where you have advocated for and implemented accessibility standards, particularly in relation to user safety and age appropriateness. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented design processes, user journeys, and system interactions to ensure clarity and consistency for the wider team.

• Showcase your approach to user testing and iteration, including how you gather feedback and use it to refine designs.

• Illustrate your contribution to the evolution or maintenance of design systems, demonstrating an understanding of consistency, scalability, and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical for demonstrating operational execution. It should not only show aesthetic skill but also the ability to manage a design process, collaborate effectively, and deliver tangible results that align with business and user goals, akin to an operations professional documenting process improvements and ROI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £46,000 – £52,000 per annum (Full-time equivalent), dependent on experience.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: 25 days of paid annual leave initially, rising to 30 days after five years of service, plus 3 additional days for the company-wide closure at the end of the year. Public holidays are also provided.

• Pension Scheme: 8% employer contribution on top of the minimum 4% employee contribution.

• Private Healthcare: Comprehensive private healthcare coverage through Vitality Plus.

• Flexible Working: Clear policies offering flexibility in working hours and location to support work-life balance.

• Family Support: Generous family leave and flexibility for parents and carers.

• Financial Security: Life assurance and income protection schemes for peace of mind.

• Learning & Development: Investment in professional growth through access to learning resources, training, and dedicated time for development.

• Commuting Support: Cycle-to-Work scheme and Season Ticket Loan schemes to support cost-effective and sustainable travel.

Working Hours: While the contract is full-time, the Foundation offers flexible working arrangements. A standard full-time commitment is typically 40 hours per week, but the emphasis is on achieving outcomes rather than strict adherence to hours, allowing for flexibility in scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for a full-time equivalent. For candidates seeking part-time or flexible arrangements, the actual salary would be prorated accordingly. The comprehensive benefits package reflects a commitment to employee well-being and professional development, which is attractive to operations professionals who value stability and growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Educational Charity focused on Computing and Digital Technologies.

Company Size: The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a significant global organization with teams in six countries, indicating a mature operational structure.

Founded: The Raspberry Pi Foundation has been active for over a decade, establishing a strong track record and global reach in computer science education.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will report to the Product Design Lead, working within an agile product team.

• This team is multidisciplinary, comprising Product Designers, User Experience Researchers, Content Designers, Product Managers, Software Engineers, and Learning Managers, fostering a highly collaborative environment.

• The team operates both in Cambridge, UK, and remotely across the UK, requiring strong communication and coordination skills. Methodology:

• The team operates using agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, user feedback, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Design processes are user-centered, with a strong emphasis on research, testing, and co-design principles.

• Tools like monday.com, GitHub Projects, Figma, and Slack are utilized to streamline workflows, manage projects, and facilitate communication, reflecting an operationally efficient approach to product development.

Company Website: https://www.raspberrypi.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission-driven nature as an educational charity, combined with its global reach and structured operational approach, creates a unique work environment. Candidates should be prepared for a collaborative culture that values impact and efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the Product Design discipline. For operations professionals, this translates to a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role with significant autonomy and responsibility for leading key design initiatives. It requires not just execution but also strategic input and mentorship.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer reports to the Product Design Lead. This structure indicates a clear hierarchy for guidance and oversight while allowing for significant independence in day-to-day design work and project execution.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts millions of young people and educators globally by providing accessible and engaging digital learning experiences. Successful product design contributes to increased user adoption, engagement, and the overall effectiveness of the Foundation's educational mission, aligning with GTM objectives of user acquisition and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX/UI design, accessibility, design systems, and user research within the context of educational technology.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and contribute to design strategy, paving the way for future design leadership roles.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience working closely with product management, engineering, and learning teams, enhancing understanding of the broader product development lifecycle and GTM strategy.

• Impactful Projects: Contributing to a mission-driven organization with products used by millions, offering a high level of job satisfaction and tangible impact.

• Contract-to-Permanent Potential: While a fixed-term contract, exceptional performance could lead to further opportunities within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a chance to apply process-oriented thinking to design challenges, influencing user acquisition and retention strategies through user experience. The growth opportunities focus on developing leadership and specialized skills within a mission-critical function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role offers flexibility between being fully remote within the UK or hybrid, with regular travel to Cambridge. This suggests a modern, adaptable work environment that prioritizes outcomes over physical presence.

Office Location(s): While remote options are available, the Cambridge office serves as a central hub, implying opportunities for in-person collaboration and team building if choosing the hybrid route.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as flexible and collaborative, encouraging open communication and teamwork.

• Access to essential collaboration tools like monday.com, GitHub Projects, Figma, and Slack will be provided, supporting efficient remote and hybrid work.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with diverse stakeholders, including users, educators, and internal teams, are abundant.

Work Schedule: Flexible working is a key benefit, allowing individuals to balance work responsibilities with personal life. While full-time is standard, the emphasis is on achieving goals, which aligns with operations' focus on efficiency and productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on flexibility and remote work aligns with the operational efficiency sought in modern work environments. The hybrid option provides a balance for those who prefer some in-person interaction, facilitating better team cohesion and knowledge transfer, which is crucial for operational alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Candidates submit a CV and respond to screening questions. The team reviews for authenticity, noting that AI tools can be used for assistance but the work must be personalized.

• Phone Screen: A call with the hiring manager to discuss the application and answer initial questions.

• Work-Based Assessment: Candidates will likely undertake a practical assessment demonstrating design skills relevant to the role, providing an opportunity to showcase applied knowledge.

• First Interview: With the hiring manager and at least one other colleague, likely focusing on experience, skills, and approach.

• Second Interview: Further discussion with key team members, potentially involving a portfolio review and deeper dive into strategic thinking and collaboration style.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate leadership in user-centered design, problem-solving, and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes or learnings. Use visual aids effectively.

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with researchers, engineers, and product managers. Explain how you integrated their input and navigated cross-functional dynamics.

• Emphasize Process: Detail your design thinking, user research integration, prototyping methods, and iteration cycles. Show how you design, not just what you designed.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improvements in user satisfaction, task completion rates, engagement metrics). If exact metrics aren't available, articulate the intended impact and how you measured success qualitatively.

• Accessibility Focus: If possible, include a project where you applied accessibility standards, particularly for age-appropriate design, to align with the role's requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design philosophy, your approach to user research, and how you advocate for user needs within a team.

• Think about how you would approach designing for young people and volunteers, considering safety and age-appropriateness.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, as you may need to present your portfolio or a design concept.

• Familiarize yourself with the Raspberry Pi Foundation's mission and its digital products to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on authenticity in applications and the structured, multi-stage interview process with a practical assessment are crucial for operations roles where due diligence and skill validation are paramount. The portfolio review tips are designed to help candidates present their operational design capabilities effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in creating components, managing design systems, and sharing work within a team is expected.

• User Research Tools: While specific tools aren't named, familiarity with conducting and synthesizing user research (e.g., user interviews, usability testing) is key.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma is mentioned, but experience with other prototyping tools that facilitate user testing and interaction design is valuable.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this design role, an understanding of how design impacts user analytics and reporting metrics (e.g., engagement, conversion, task completion) is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• monday.com: Used for project management, workflow tracking, and team coordination. Candidates should be comfortable with project management software to track design tasks and progress.

• GitHub Projects: Used for managing engineering and product workflows, suggesting integration points between design and development.

• Slack: For real-time communication and team collaboration.

Other Tools:

• Content Design Tools: Understanding how content and design work together.

• Design System Management: Experience with contributing to or managing design systems is highly valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and project management tools like monday.com is critical for operational efficiency in this role. The ability to integrate design work into development workflows (via GitHub Projects) demonstrates an understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle, a core GTM operations principle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the Foundation's mission of enabling young people through computing and digital technologies.

• User-Centricity: Placing the needs and safety of young users and educators at the forefront of all design and product decisions.

• Collaboration: Fostering a supportive, open, and multidisciplinary team environment where ideas are shared freely.

• Efficiency & Quality: Striving for high-quality design outcomes delivered efficiently through agile processes and robust tools.

• Accessibility & Inclusion: Championing inclusive design practices and ensuring products are accessible to all, with a specific focus on the Age Appropriate Design Code.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing feedback, iteration, and learning to constantly enhance design practice and product offerings.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working within multidisciplinary agile teams.

• Emphasis on open communication, sharing perspectives, and facilitating workshops to align stakeholders.

• A supportive approach, with opportunities for mentoring and mutual learning.

• Cross-functional integration is key, with designers working closely alongside product managers, engineers, and researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of social impact, operational effectiveness, and collaborative teamwork, mirroring the ideal culture for many GTM and operations professionals who seek purpose-driven work and efficient execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fixed-Term Contract: The 11-month duration requires a candidate who can quickly integrate, deliver impact, and adapt to a potentially temporary role.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Designing for a diverse user base (young people, educators) while working within technical limitations and agile development cycles.

• Advocating for Design & Accessibility: Continuously championing user-centered design principles and accessibility standards within a multidisciplinary team and ensuring adherence to the Age Appropriate Design Code.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong relationships with team members across different locations and working arrangements.

• Design System Maintenance: Contributing to and advocating for the consistent use of a design system, which can sometimes be challenging to enforce across teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Deepen expertise in educational technology design, accessibility for children, and advanced UX/UI techniques.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and learn from experienced leads within the product team.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Gain insights into product management, software engineering, and learning content development, broadening overall product lifecycle knowledge.

• Industry Best Practices: Exposure to leading practices in digital product development within the non-profit and education sectors.

• Networking: Building relationships within a respected global organization and its network of partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: Recognizing these challenges and opportunities is key for candidates. For operations professionals, the challenges often mirror those in their own fields (e.g., cross-functional alignment, process adoption), and the growth opportunities focus on leadership, strategic thinking, and specialized skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the user-centered design process from discovery to delivery for a complex digital product. What were the key stages, challenges, and your specific contributions?" (Focus on process, leadership, and problem-solving).

• "How do you ensure user needs are central to your design decisions, especially when faced with technical constraints or competing priorities from product and engineering?" (Focus on user advocacy, negotiation, and practical application of UCD).

• "Walk us through a project where you had to collaborate closely with user researchers, product managers, and engineers. How did you facilitate communication and ensure alignment?" (Focus on collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our platform, keeping in mind the ICO's Age Appropriate Design Code and the safety of young users?" (Focus on applying specific regulations and understanding the target audience). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to the Raspberry Pi Foundation's mission, and how do you see your design skills contributing to it?" (Demonstrate understanding of the mission and personal alignment).

• "Describe your experience working within an agile environment. How do you adapt your design process to fit agile sprints and iterations?" (Focus on operational methodology).

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture, especially in a remote or hybrid setting?" (Focus on teamwork and communication). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Prepare 3-4 case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Narrative: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions. Explain the user problem, your approach, the solutions, and the outcomes.

• Visuals: Use clear, high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, user flows, prototypes) to illustrate your work.

• Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you collaborated with other team members and stakeholders.

• Accessibility: If a project involved accessibility considerations, highlight this specifically.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio within a given timeframe, focusing on the most impactful aspects. Practice your delivery to ensure it's clear, engaging, and confident.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for these questions involves articulating your operational approach to design, demonstrating how you manage processes, collaborate effectively, and drive results, much like preparing for an operations role interview. The portfolio presentation strategy emphasizes showcasing operational execution and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit Application: Complete the application through the provided Workable link, including your CV and responses to the initial screening questions.

• Tailor Your CV: Ensure your CV highlights your experience in digital product design, user-centered design, UI/UX, accessibility, and collaboration within agile teams. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select and prepare your strongest 3-4 design case studies. Focus on showcasing leadership, process, collaboration, and impact. Be ready to discuss each project in detail.

• Research the Foundation: Familiarize yourself with the Raspberry Pi Foundation's mission, values, and existing digital products. Understand their target audience and educational goals.

• Prepare for Assessment: Anticipate a practical work-based assessment and prepare to demonstrate your design skills and problem-solving abilities relevant to the role.

• Practice Interview Responses: Rehearse answers to common interview questions, particularly those related to your design process, collaboration, and experience with accessibility and agile methodologies.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions relevant to operations and GTM roles. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.