Senior Product Designer (Up)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Ferocia

Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Fin-Tech Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-11

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives for critical Fin-Tech areas, including savings and home loans, driving innovation from concept to launch.

• Apply a strong lens of user-centricity and craftsmanship to solve complex financial problems, focusing on user emotions and unique product experiences.

• Develop and execute product strategy by deeply understanding customer needs, motivations, and behaviors, translating insights into tangible product opportunities.

• Foster seamless collaboration across creative, engineering, marketing, and leadership teams to define roadmaps, refine concepts, and ensure high-quality feature delivery.

• Leverage technical knowledge, particularly in front-end development, and agile methodologies to effectively partner with engineering teams and manage project scope.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a Fin-Tech company, indicating a need for designers to understand financial products, regulations, and user trust. The emphasis on "solving financial problems" and "how people feel" suggests a focus on behavioral design and emotional connection within the user experience, a key differentiator in the Fin-Tech space. The "hybrid" work arrangement implies a need for strong remote collaboration skills alongside in-office engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle for savings and home loan experiences, from initial ideation and user research to final implementation and post-launch analysis.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including analyzing user feedback, conducting interviews, and interpreting data to identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation.

• Design intuitive and engaging user interfaces and interactions, with a keen eye for detail in micro-interactions, visual aesthetics, and overall user flow.

• Develop detailed system thinking to map complex financial product interactions, dependencies, and create holistic user experiences across multiple touchpoints.

• Create high-fidelity interactive prototypes and design concepts to effectively communicate ideas and strategies to stakeholders, including product, engineering, and leadership teams.

• Collaborate closely with product managers to define and refine product roadmaps, prioritize features, and align design efforts with business objectives.

• Partner with engineering teams throughout the development process, providing design specifications, reviewing implementations, and adapting designs as needed to ensure quality and timely delivery.

• Work with marketing and support teams to ensure a consistent and positive user experience across all customer touchpoints, from initial acquisition to ongoing support.

• Contribute to defining the long-term product strategy and vision for Ferocia, pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo in financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, common in smaller, agile teams. The emphasis on "reinventing the wheel" and "thinking outside of conventional approaches" suggests an expectation for creative problem-solving beyond standard design patterns, particularly within the regulated Fin-Tech environment.

🎓 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 Product Designer roles, demonstrating foundational knowledge.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience working with product teams on end-to-end design projects, with a strong preference for experience in SaaS, consumer products, or the Fin-Tech industry. Experience within a digital agency is also valued.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in designing and delivering end-to-end product projects, from ideation to successful launch.

• Strong interaction and visual design skills, with a meticulous eye for detail in aesthetics, micro-interactions, and complex multi-step experiences.

• Demonstrated ability to think holistically about end-to-end user journeys and design solutions that integrate seamlessly into a larger product ecosystem.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and a robust product lens, with the capacity to understand and translate customer needs, motivations, and behaviors into actionable product opportunities.

• Superior collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate ideas clearly, provide sound reasoning for design decisions, and effectively use storytelling to influence stakeholders.

• Proficiency in creating concepts and interactive prototypes at various levels of fidelity using standard design tools.

• Familiarity with front-end development principles and a general understanding of agile engineering development processes.

• Ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments, demonstrating autonomy and a proactive "get shit done" attitude.

• A genuine passion for pushing technological limits and challenging the status quo. Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the Fin-Tech industry, demonstrating an understanding of financial products, regulations, and user trust.

• Experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies beyond standard interviews, such as usability testing, A/B testing, and ethnographic studies.

• Experience mentoring junior designers or contributing to design system development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "technical knowledge, especially front-end" is crucial for effective collaboration with engineering teams in an agile setting. The emphasis on "working with a certain level of ambiguity" and operating "like a start-up" signals a need for resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving in a dynamic environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing 2-3 end-to-end product design case studies that demonstrate your process from problem identification through to shipped solutions.

• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions made, and the ultimate outcome or impact.

• Include examples of complex interactions, visual design craftsmanship, and how you've approached ambiguity or evolving requirements.

• Demonstrate your ability to think holistically about user journeys and system-level thinking, especially in the context of financial products.

• Provide any necessary passwords or access details for online portfolios. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly illustrate your approach to user research, including how you gather insights and translate them into design requirements.

• Showcase your prototyping skills, demonstrating how you use different fidelity levels to explore ideas and communicate concepts to various audiences.

• Detail your collaboration process with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing), highlighting how you contribute to strategy, roadmap definition, and feature implementation.

• Include examples of how you have iterated on designs based on feedback, data analysis, or technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview structure explicitly requires presenting 2-3 case studies. Therefore, the portfolio should be curated with these specific examples in mind, ensuring they highlight the requested skills and experience in problem-solving, craftsmanship, and cross-functional collaboration within a product context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $135,000 - $165,000 AUD per year. This range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in Melbourne, Australia, reflecting the required experience level and the specialized Fin-Tech industry.

Benefits:

• Generous leave policy, including vacation and sick leave.

• Comprehensive parental leave policy.

• Flexible working schedule to accommodate work-life balance.

• Access to a great city office with perks such as a rooftop area, gym, and personal trainer.

• Budget allocated for personal development, training courses, and industry conferences.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support.

• Home loan rebates (subject to conditions).

• Ongoing equity grants (subject to conditions).

Working Hours: While specific daily hours are not detailed, the role is full-time and offers a "flexible working schedule." This suggests a focus on outcomes and project delivery rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 structure, common in agile and hybrid environments. The mention of a "40-hour" work week is a standard benchmark for full-time employment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and aligns with senior-level design roles in major Australian cities. The inclusion of "Ongoing equity grants" is a significant benefit, often indicative of a company looking for long-term commitment and high performers who can drive substantial value. The "hybrid" work culture allows for flexibility, which is a key benefit for attracting and retaining talent in today's market.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fin-Tech / Financial Services. Ferocia operates as the tech company behind Up, a digital banking platform, and has roots in developing digital financial tools for Bendigo Bank since 2011. This positions them at the intersection of technology innovation and traditional financial services, with a strong focus on financial inclusion.

Company Size: Ferocia is described as a "small team" within the larger Bendigo and Adelaide Bank family. This implies an agile, startup-like environment with the stability and resources of a major financial institution. This size is conducive to high impact and direct influence on product direction.

Founded: Ferocia was founded in 2011. Its history includes developing the digital platform for Bendigo Bank before launching Up, showcasing a long-standing commitment to financial technology innovation. As part of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, they maintain values of being carbon neutral, community-focused, and adhering to high corporate governance standards.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is described as "small," with the Senior Product Designer reporting to the Head of Design (Sylvain).

• Collaboration is inherently cross-functional, involving Product Managers, Engineering Leads (including Front-end Developers), Brand teams, and senior leadership.

• The emphasis is on a flat hierarchy and direct contribution, typical of agile startups. Methodology:

• Ferocia prioritizes a user-centric approach, focusing on how people feel and their financial well-being.

• They employ agile methodologies, indicated by collaboration with engineering teams on delivery timeframes and the mention of iterative processes.

• Data analysis and user feedback are key inputs for identifying opportunities and refining concepts.

• A strong emphasis on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and unique approaches to problem-solving.

Company Website: https://up.com.au/ (for the Up platform), and related information can be found via https://www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "small team" structure within a larger bank is a unique selling point. It offers the autonomy and impact of a startup with the security and resources of a major financial institution. The company's mission around "financial inclusion" and empowering users from "financial stress and anxiety to a place of confidence and empowerment" is a strong cultural anchor that designers should align with.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role. It signifies a level of expertise and autonomy where the individual is expected to lead complex projects, influence strategy, and mentor others. The role involves significant ownership, from initial concept to successful launch, and requires a deep understanding of user needs within the Fin-Tech domain.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report directly to Sylvain, the Head of Design. This direct reporting line suggests opportunities for close mentorship, strategic alignment, and significant visibility with design leadership. Collaboration will extend to cross-functional teams, including Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and substantial impact on Ferocia's mission of financial inclusion and empowerment. By designing intuitive and effective savings and home loan experiences, the Senior Product Designer will directly influence users' financial well-being, confidence, and ability to achieve financial goals. This impact is amplified by the Fin-Tech context, where user trust and clarity are paramount.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in Fin-Tech product design, behavioral economics in finance, and complex financial product systems.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer role, manage a small team, or take on larger strategic initiatives within the design function.

• Cross-functional Mastery: Enhance skills in collaborating with product management, engineering, and business stakeholders to drive product strategy and execution.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping the future of digital banking and financial empowerment through innovative design solutions.

• Learning & Development: Access to a budget for personal development, training, and conferences, allowing for continuous skill enhancement and staying abreast of industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's seniority implies a significant degree of autonomy and strategic input. The growth opportunities are tied to both deepening design expertise within a specialized field (Fin-Tech) and expanding into leadership or strategic product roles, supported by company-provided development resources.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work culture. Employees have the flexibility to attend the Ferocia office as much or as little as makes sense for them, balancing remote work with in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): The job is located in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. The office is described as a "great city office" with specific perks, suggesting a central and accessible location within Melbourne.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model allows for intentional in-office time for collaboration, team building, and focused work sessions. The "small team" dynamic fosters close working relationships.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly listed, it's assumed that modern design tools and collaboration platforms are available to support both remote and in-office work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with a passionate team of designers, engineers, and product managers, fostering a dynamic and engaged work environment.

Work Schedule: A flexible working schedule is offered, indicating a focus on results and project completion over strict adherence to traditional office hours. This flexibility is a key component of the hybrid work model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "great city office and perks (rooftop, gym and personal trainer, games…)" highlight a company culture that values employee well-being and provides an attractive physical workspace for those who choose to come in. The flexibility inherent in the hybrid model and flexible schedule is a significant draw for professionals seeking work-life integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: Intro Chat & Career Review (30 min): Initial conversation with Sylvain (Head of Design) to discuss career background, alignment with the role, and initial fit.

• Stage 2: Case Study Presentation (60 min): Present 2-3 selected case studies to Sylvain and two Product Design Leads. This stage is a deep dive into your design process, problem-solving skills, craftsmanship, and ability to articulate design decisions.

• Stage 3: Cross-functional Team Interview (60 min): Engage with a Product Designer, an Engineering Manager (EM), and a Front-end Developer. This interview will likely involve a critique of an app of your choice to assess your critical thinking, design sensibilities, and how you collaborate and communicate within a team context.

• Stage 4: References Check: Standard background check.

• Stage 5: Offer: Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 case studies that best represent your experience in end-to-end product design, Fin-Tech relevance, complex problem-solving, and craftsmanship.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: problem, your role, process, challenges, solutions, and impact. Clearly articulate why you made certain design decisions.

• Showcase Process: Demonstrate your thinking beyond just the final UI. Include sketches, wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and user research insights.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible. If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the intended impact and how you would measure success.

• Demonstrate Craftsmanship: Pay attention to the visual presentation of your portfolio itself. Ensure it's clean, well-organized, and reflects your attention to detail.

• Provide Access: Ensure any links are active and any passwords required are provided.

Challenge Preparation:

• App Critique: Be prepared to critically analyze a popular app (not necessarily Up) from a design perspective. Focus on user experience, interaction patterns, visual design, and potential areas for improvement. Frame your critique constructively and strategically.

• Cross-functional Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you would approach design challenges in collaboration with engineers and product managers, considering technical constraints and product goals.

• Ambiguity & Autonomy: Prepare examples of how you've handled ambiguous situations or worked autonomously to drive projects forward.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is robust, with a strong emphasis on practical application through case studies and a live critique. The portfolio is not just a submission requirement but a core component of the assessment, particularly in Stage 2. Candidates should prepare to defend their design choices and demonstrate their thought process thoroughly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) are standard for interaction and visual design. Prototyping tools like InVision, Principle, or Figma's built-in prototyping features are essential.

• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or Hotjar might be used for qualitative and quantitative user feedback.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello are commonly used for agile project management and team collaboration. Slack or Microsoft Teams for communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics are crucial for understanding user behavior, tracking feature adoption, and measuring product performance.

• Data Visualization: While not explicitly mentioned, proficiency in interpreting data from dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or custom internal dashboards) is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• While Ferocia is a Fin-Tech company, direct CRM tools might be less central to the designer's daily work compared to product analytics. However, understanding how customer data flows and impacts the user experience is important. Familiarity with customer data platforms or marketing automation concepts could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't list specific tools, a Senior Product Designer in a modern tech company, especially Fin-Tech, is expected to be proficient in industry-standard design software (Figma/Sketch), prototyping tools, and have a solid understanding of product analytics platforms to inform design decisions. Knowledge of agile project management tools is also critical for cross-functional collaboration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Empowerment: A core mission is to move users from "financial stress and anxiety to a place of confidence and empowerment." This drives a focus on creating solutions that genuinely help people manage their money better.

• Craftsmanship & Detail: High value placed on the quality of the user experience, from micro-interactions to the overall aesthetic and copy. The goal is to make features feel like "game-changers."

• Innovation & Pushing Limits: A desire to "shake things up," "rewrite the rules," and challenge the status quo in financial technology. An eagerness to explore new possibilities and stay at the forefront of technology.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Encourages diversity and inclusion, valuing different perspectives. The team operates with transparency and mutual respect.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Expectation that individuals can work with ambiguity, take initiative, and "get shit done" autonomously, reflecting a startup mentality.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product, Engineering, and Marketing teams, actively participating in roadmap definition, feature scoping, and delivery.

• Constructive Feedback: The interview process includes a critique of an app, suggesting a culture where constructive feedback is shared openly and respectfully to improve work.

• Knowledge Sharing: As a small team, informal knowledge sharing and learning from each other are likely prevalent, encouraged by the "eagerness to learn, expand your skills" aspect.

• Agile & Iterative: Collaboration follows agile principles, emphasizing iterative development and adapting to changing needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission around financial empowerment is a strong cultural driver. Designers should be prepared to articulate how their work contributes to this mission. The blend of startup agility with corporate governance from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank suggests a culture that is both innovative and responsible.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Operating in a fast-paced environment with potentially undefined requirements or shifting priorities requires adaptability and strong problem-solving skills.

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Designing novel Fin-Tech solutions while adhering to strict financial regulations and ensuring user trust can be complex.

• Holistic System Design: Creating cohesive experiences for complex financial products (like home loans) across numerous touchpoints demands sophisticated systems thinking.

• Driving Impact in a Small Team: While impactful, a small team means each individual's contribution is critical, requiring high performance and effective prioritization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Fin-Tech Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for financial inclusion, behavioral finance, and complex financial products.

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunities to influence product strategy, mentor junior designers, and potentially lead design initiatives.

• Agile & Cross-functional Mastery: Refine skills in collaborating within agile frameworks and working effectively with diverse teams.

• Industry Exposure: Access to a budget for personal development, training, and conferences, keeping skills current with Fin-Tech and design trends.

• Startup Mentality within Stability: Experience the dynamic, innovative environment of a startup while benefiting from the stability and resources of a large financial institution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. The company actively supports learning and development, indicating a commitment to employee advancement, particularly in specialized areas like Fin-Tech product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex financial product you've designed. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them from a user experience perspective?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and Fin-Tech relevance.)

• "How do you balance innovative design with regulatory compliance in the Fin-Tech space? Provide an example." (Tests understanding of industry constraints and creative problem-solving.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to define a roadmap or launch a feature. What was your role, and how did you ensure alignment?" (Assesses collaboration, communication, and strategic contribution.)

• "Describe a time you worked with significant ambiguity. How did you define the problem, structure your approach, and drive it to a resolution?" (Evaluates autonomy, initiative, and ability to navigate uncertainty.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Ferocia's mission of financial inclusion, and how do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Assesses alignment with company values and mission.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for Up, considering its existing brand identity and user base?" (Tests understanding of brand, user empathy, and design application.)

• "What are your thoughts on the hybrid work model and how to maintain team cohesion and productivity?" (Evaluates understanding of modern work environments and collaboration.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Prototyping, Testing), Key Decisions & Rationale, Outcome/Impact.

• Focus on the "Why": Don't just show what you did; explain why you made those decisions. Justify your approach with user insights, data, or strategic reasoning.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your process and final solutions. Ensure the presentation flows logically and is engaging.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If metrics are unavailable, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decisions, and challenges. Be honest about what you learned, especially from failures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical demonstration of skills. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design philosophy, problem-solving methodologies, and ability to collaborate effectively, using their portfolio as tangible evidence. The app critique is a key opportunity to showcase critical thinking and design analysis skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end product design case studies that best highlight your experience in Fin-Tech, complex problem-solving, craftsmanship, and cross-functional collaboration. Ensure the portfolio is easily accessible (provide links and any necessary passwords).

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to emphasize achievements and responsibilities directly relevant to senior product design, user experience, Fin-Tech, and agile environments. Use keywords from the job description where appropriate.

• Prepare Your Case Study Presentations: Practice presenting your chosen case studies, focusing on clearly articulating your process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to answer in-depth questions from design and cross-functional leads.

• Research Ferocia & Up: Familiarize yourself with the Up app, Ferocia's mission, and the broader context of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Understand their approach to financial inclusion and how design contributes to their goals.

⚠️ 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.