Senior Product Designer (Hybrid)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (Hybrid)

Company: ZipLiens

Location: Franklin, Tennessee, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: August 05, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, from conceptualization to launch, for core product areas within a growing SaaS platform.

• Define and solve complex user problems by mapping user flows, establishing information architecture, and crafting intuitive, user-centered experiences.

• Drive the evolution and expansion of the company's Figma design system, establishing scalable components, patterns, and best practices.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams to translate business requirements into well-crafted, functional, and visually appealing user interfaces.

• Leverage AI tools strategically to enhance ideation, content generation, and research synthesis while maintaining a strong foundation in design thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the foundational design hire, indicating a significant opportunity to influence design practices and establish the design system from an early stage. The emphasis on "end-to-end design" and "defining problems" suggests a strategic role beyond just UI execution, requiring strong problem-solving and strategic thinking. The mention of "Operations teams" as stakeholders implies a need to understand internal user needs and workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire design lifecycle for critical product features, encompassing user research, problem framing, wireframing, interactive prototyping, and final UI design.

• Architect clear and usable information structures and user flows that enhance product usability and efficiency for legal industry clients and internal operations teams.

• Conduct and synthesize user research, including qualitative interviews and usability testing, to gather actionable insights that inform design iterations and strategic product direction.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive Figma design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and maintainability of UI components, patterns, and style guides.

• Partner with Product Managers to define product requirements, scope, and roadmaps, ensuring design alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Collaborate closely with Engineers to ensure accurate and efficient design handoff, providing detailed specifications and supporting implementation.

• Utilize product analytics tools to monitor user behavior, validate design hypotheses, and identify areas for optimization post-launch.

• Contribute to the development of Zipliens' design culture by sharing best practices, mentoring junior designers (as the team grows), and advocating for user-centered design principles.

• Integrate AI-powered design tools into the workflow for ideation, rapid prototyping, and research analysis, while critically evaluating outputs through a design thinking lens.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "shape the design practices and conventions" and "set the standard for quality as we grow" highlights the foundational nature of this role. The expectation to "leverage AI tools" suggests a forward-thinking approach to design, requiring adaptability and a willingness to explore new technologies in the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior-level roles in SaaS environments. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: 5+ years of dedicated product/UX design experience, with a strong preference for experience within Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or Business-to-Business (B2B) product environments.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End Product Design: Proven ability to manage the full design lifecycle from discovery and ideation through to detailed UI and post-launch iteration.

• Figma Proficiency: Deep expertise in Figma, including advanced features such as component creation and management, auto layout, interactive prototyping, dev handoff tools, and leveraging AI-assisted features within the platform.

• User Research & Synthesis: Experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research (interviews, usability testing) to derive actionable insights.

• Information Architecture & Interaction Design: Strong understanding of structuring complex information, designing intuitive navigation, and creating effective user interactions.

• Design Systems Development: Experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems, including components, patterns, and style guides.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, and internal stakeholders (e.g., Operations) to achieve product goals.

• Problem Framing: Skill in defining and articulating user problems and business challenges clearly.

• Product Analytics Interpretation: Familiarity with using product analytics tools to understand user behavior and validate design decisions.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of WCAG guidelines and best practices for designing accessible digital products.

Preferred Skills:

• AI Tool Integration: Experience leveraging AI tools for design ideation, content generation, or research synthesis.

• SaaS/B2B Domain Expertise: Prior experience designing for complex B2B SaaS products, particularly within regulated industries or operational workflows.

• Visual Design & UI Craft: A keen eye for visual aesthetics, typography, color theory, and creating high-fidelity mockups.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within agile development environments.

• Experience with Edge Cases: Proven ability to design scalable flows and anticipate/address complex edge cases in intricate products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that demonstrates "end-to-end product thinking, not just visual polish" is crucial. Candidates should prepare to showcase projects where they identified a problem, defined solutions, made trade-offs, and measured impact, connecting user needs directly to business outcomes. The mention of "Operations" as internal stakeholders suggests that experience designing for internal tools or operational workflows would be highly beneficial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your complete product design process. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process (research, ideation, iteration), key design decisions and trade-offs, and measurable impact on user behavior and business objectives.

• Problem Framing & Solution Definition: Evidence of your ability to dissect complex problems, define user needs, and propose well-reasoned design solutions.

• Figma Mastery: Examples of your proficiency in Figma, including well-structured design systems, complex component libraries, interactive prototypes, and efficient dev handoff documentation.

• Impact Measurement: Demonstrations of how you have used data (user analytics, A/B testing results, user feedback) to validate designs and measure their success against defined KPIs.

• Scalability & Edge Cases: Projects that highlight your ability to design scalable user flows and address complex edge cases within a product.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you've mapped complex user journeys and system workflows to identify friction points and opportunities for optimization.

• Design System Documentation: Showcase examples of well-documented design system components, patterns, and guidelines that facilitate efficient and consistent product development.

• Iteration & Validation: Demonstrate a process for iterating on designs based on user feedback, analytics, and A/B testing, with clear evidence of how iterations improved outcomes.

• Cross-functional Handoff: Illustrate your process for collaborating with engineering and product management, including effective design documentation and communication strategies for development handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is the first design hire, the portfolio should emphasize not just execution but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to establish and scale design processes and systems. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and their connection to business goals will be paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $103,000 - $140,000 annually. This range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in the Franklin, Tennessee area, considering the experience level and the SaaS/B2B focus. The specific salary within this range will be determined by the candidate's skills, experience, and the depth of their portfolio.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Private Health Care Plan including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.

• Health Savings Account (HSA): Company contributions are provided for participants in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Available for both Health and Dependent Care expenses.

• Disability Coverage: Company-paid Short-Term Disability coverage.

• Voluntary Insurance Options: Opportunities to elect Voluntary Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and Supplemental Insurance.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) Plan with a company match, aiding in long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous Paid Time Off including Vacation days, Sick Time, and recognition of Select Holidays.

• Parental Leave: Paid Parental Leave to support new parents.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. The hybrid nature of the role suggests a degree of flexibility in scheduling, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on publicly available compensation data for Senior Product Designers in the specified region and industry, adjusted for the given experience level. The inclusion of a discretionary bonus opportunity suggests performance-based incentives may also be part of the total compensation package. The benefits package is robust and competitive for a tech company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Legal Tech / Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). ZipLiens operates within the legal industry, specifically focusing on lien resolution software. This niche requires understanding complex workflows and regulatory environments.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "hiring our first product designer" and "as the team grows" suggests Zipliens is a growing startup or early-stage company, likely in the range of 50-200 employees. This implies a fast-paced, dynamic environment with opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: The company was founded some years ago and has experienced "high growth," establishing itself as a leader in its domain. This indicates a stable but rapidly expanding business with a proven market fit.

Team Structure:

• Operations-Centric: The company's core business is performing lien resolution, supported by their software. This means the "Operations" team is a primary user base and stakeholder for the product.

• Product & Engineering Focused: The design role will be embedded within or closely aligned with Product Management and Engineering. As the first designer, this individual will be instrumental in defining the structure and processes for the design function.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong partnerships are expected with Product Managers (defining requirements) and Engineers (building the product), as well as internal stakeholders from Operations to understand user needs and product utility.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes using product analytics to validate design decisions and measure impact, indicating a preference for data-informed product development.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the "fast-moving environment where priorities can shift" and the need to "move quickly" suggest an agile or iterative development process.

• User-Centered Approach: The core of the role is defining user problems and crafting intuitive experiences, underscoring a commitment to user needs.

Company Website: https://zipliens.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "legal industry" context is important, as it often involves complex regulatory requirements and a need for high accuracy and compliance. The company's success in "lien resolution" suggests a focus on efficiency, speed, and accuracy in financial settlement processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a level of autonomy, strategic input, and responsibility for significant product areas. It requires a strong foundation in design principles, a proven track record of shipping successful products, and the ability to mentor and influence as the team expands.

Reporting Structure: As the first design hire, this role will likely report to a Head of Product, VP of Product, or a similar leadership position. They will be expected to operate with a high degree of independence.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of Zipliens' core lien resolution operations by improving the internal software tools. Furthermore, by enhancing the product for external clients (law firms), they will contribute to faster settlement times for injured parties, demonstrating a tangible real-world impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Foundational Design Leadership: Opportunity to build and shape the design function from the ground up, defining processes, methodologies, and team structure.

• System Ownership: Lead the development and expansion of the company's design system, becoming the subject matter expert and driving its adoption.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in product strategy and roadmap discussions, influencing the direction of the product based on user insights and design expertise.

• Mentorship: As the team grows, opportunities to mentor junior designers and foster a strong design culture.

• Technical Skill Expansion: Exposure to and integration of AI tools within the design workflow, offering a chance to develop cutting-edge design skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "first product designer" aspect is a significant growth opportunity, offering a chance to establish best practices and build a design function with minimal pre-existing constraints. This role is ideal for someone who wants to make a substantial impact and grow with a scaling company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This means a blend of remote work and in-office presence. The specific balance (e.g., days in office per week) is not detailed but is typical for modern tech companies prioritizing flexibility.

Office Location(s): Franklin, Tennessee, United States. This location offers a growing tech hub environment within the greater Nashville area, potentially providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment will likely facilitate in-person collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and team-building activities with product and engineering colleagues.

• Modern Tech Stack: Expect access to industry-standard design tools and software, including advanced Figma features and potentially other AI-driven design aids.

• Cross-functional Interaction: The hybrid model allows for focused individual work at home and collaborative engagement in the office, fostering a dynamic interaction pattern with various teams.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the hybrid arrangement suggests flexibility in daily scheduling. This allows for focused design sprints, user research sessions, and collaborative meetings, accommodating the demands of iterative design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to offer the best of both worlds: the focus and flexibility of remote work, combined with the collaborative benefits and team cohesion of in-office interaction. This is particularly beneficial for design roles that require deep concentration as well as brainstorming and feedback sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A key stage where you will present a selection of your work, likely focusing on 1-2 in-depth case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. You may also be given a small design exercise or asked to critique an existing product/feature.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess your collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to communicate design rationale effectively.

• Leadership/Final Interview: A conversation with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product) to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role and the company's growth stage.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process, Not Just Polish: Clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the trade-offs you made, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. How did your design improve user engagement, conversion rates, efficiency, or business metrics?

• Showcase Figma Expertise: Include examples of well-structured design systems, complex components, and interactive prototypes.

• Demonstrate Problem-Solving: Emphasize how you identified and solved user problems, especially those related to complex workflows or operational efficiency.

• Tailor to Zipliens: Research Zipliens and their product. If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to highlight relevant skills or experiences (e.g., SaaS, B2B, internal tools).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with the legal industry and the concept of lien resolution to better understand the user context.

• Practice Explaining Your Work: Be ready to walk through your portfolio case studies with clarity, confidence, and enthusiasm.

• Prepare for "Why" Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and the rationale behind your approach.

• Think About Scalability: Consider how your designs would scale with a growing product and user base.

• Consider AI Integration: Be ready to discuss how you might leverage AI tools in your design process, as mentioned in the job description.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "defining problems" and "mapping flows" suggests that the initial stages of the interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to think strategically and understand user needs before jumping into visual design. Be prepared to discuss your thought process in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool. Proficiency is required, including advanced features like components, auto layout, prototyping, dev handoff, and AI-assisted functionalities. Expect to build and maintain the design system within Figma.

• AI Design Tools: The job explicitly mentions leveraging AI tools for ideation, content generation, and research synthesis. Examples could include tools like Midjourney, DALL-E for image generation, AI writing assistants (e.g., Jasper, Copy.ai), or AI-powered research synthesis platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools such as Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar platforms for tracking user behavior, measuring feature adoption, and validating design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how the product integrates with or impacts CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and other business automation workflows would be beneficial, especially given the B2B and operational context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools indicates a forward-thinking approach from Zipliens. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to explore and integrate these tools into their design workflow to enhance efficiency and creativity.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and solving user problems, ensuring that designs are intuitive, effective, and valuable for legal professionals and internal operations teams.

• Data-Informed Decisions: A belief in using data (analytics, user research) to guide design choices and measure the impact of product improvements, driving a culture of continuous optimization.

• Efficiency & Speed: Given the nature of lien resolution and the fast-moving environment, a value placed on designing efficient workflows and processes that enable quick and accurate outcomes.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Operations) to achieve shared goals and build cohesive products.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design execution, from the foundational design system to the pixel-perfect UI, setting a standard for the product experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: Expect close collaboration with Product Managers to define "what" and "why" and with Engineers to define "how." This role will be a key bridge between these functions.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open feedback, constructive critique, and transparent communication to ensure alignment and drive continuous improvement.

• Proactive Engagement: The role involves proactively seeking input from stakeholders, including Operations, to ensure designs meet real-world needs and operational requirements.

• Ownership & Accountability: A culture where individuals take ownership of their work, from problem definition to execution and impact measurement, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on legal operations and efficiency suggests a culture that values precision, reliability, and practical solutions. The "fast-moving environment" combined with the need to build structure implies a balance between agility and thoughtful process establishment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing Design Function: As the first designer, you'll face the challenge of building design processes, a design system, and a design culture from scratch in a growing company. This requires strong initiative and foundational skills.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Juggling the needs of external clients (law firms), internal Operations teams, Product Management, and Engineering will require strong prioritization and communication skills.

• Rapid Iteration in a Growing Product: The fast-moving environment means priorities can shift, and you'll need to adapt designs quickly while maintaining quality and strategic direction.

• Integrating New Technologies: Effectively incorporating AI tools into existing design workflows to enhance productivity and creativity without compromising core design principles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to own and scale a critical design asset that impacts the entire product ecosystem.

• Strategic Product Influence: Gain experience in shaping product strategy and roadmaps at a foundational level for a growing SaaS company.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepen understanding of product management, engineering workflows, and operational processes within the legal tech industry.

• AI in Design: Develop expertise in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools for design, positioning yourself at the forefront of design innovation.

• Mentorship & Team Building: As the design team grows, opportunities to mentor and develop emerging design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and opportunity lie in the foundational nature of the role. This is not just about designing; it's about building the design discipline within Zipliens. Candidates who thrive on establishing processes and creating from the ground up will find this role particularly rewarding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex user problem you've solved end-to-end. Walk me through your process, the trade-offs you made, and the impact of your solution." (Focus on problem framing, research, ideation, iteration, and outcome measurement.)

• "How would you approach building a design system from scratch for a growing SaaS product? What are the key considerations for scalability and adoption?" (Highlight your understanding of design system principles, componentization, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.)

• "Imagine you're given feedback that contradicts your design solution. How do you handle that situation, especially when working with engineers or product managers who have different perspectives?" (Demonstrate your ability to handle feedback constructively, use data to support your decisions, and find collaborative solutions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Zipliens and the legal tech industry?" (Research Zipliens' mission, products, and market position. Show genuine interest in solving problems in this domain.)

• "How do you envision your role as the first product designer impacting Zipliens' culture and product development process?" (Focus on your ability to establish best practices, foster collaboration, and influence design thinking.)

• "How do you stay updated on emerging design trends and technologies, particularly AI tools in design?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning and your proactive approach to adopting new methodologies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative, guiding the interviewer through the problem, your journey, and the resolution.

• Focus on Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially if you worked on a team.

• Visualize Your Process: Use wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI mockups to illustrate your thinking and execution.

• Quantify Impact: Back up your claims with data and metrics whenever possible.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your decision-making process, the tools you used, and the challenges you encountered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the hybrid nature and the emphasis on AI, be prepared for questions that blend strategic thinking with tactical application. The interviewers will want to see how you can operate independently, collaborate effectively, and leverage modern tools to drive product innovation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end design case studies that best showcase your problem-solving skills, Figma proficiency, and impact in a SaaS or B2B context. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your role, design decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of experience, specific skills in product/UX design, Figma expertise, experience with design systems, user research, and any relevant SaaS/B2B background. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio case studies confidently. Be ready to discuss your design rationale, trade-offs, and the impact of your work in detail. Prepare to answer questions about your experience with AI tools and your approach to building design processes.

• Research Zipliens: Understand the company's mission, product offerings (lien resolution software), target audience (law firms), and any recent news or developments. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.