Sr. Product Designer (6 months)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Product Designer (6 months)

Company: Insense

Location: Cape Town, South Africa (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time (Contract)

Category: Product Design

Date Posted: September 04, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a critical, hands-on individual contributor position focused on end-to-end product design for a B2B SaaS platform.

• The Senior Product Designer will drive feature development, focusing on core workflow redesigns, reporting experiences, and the integration of AI-assisted features.

• Success in this role relies on strong collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams within a remote, asynchronous work environment.

• The position requires a deep understanding of established design systems and the ability to contribute to their evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is structured as a 6-month contract, specifically to cover a sabbatical. The primary focus is on maintaining momentum on the product roadmap, implying a need for a candidate who can quickly integrate and deliver without extensive ramp-up time. The emphasis on B2B SaaS and workflow-heavy products suggests a need for a designer who understands complex user journeys and business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle, from initial discovery and user research to high-fidelity mockups and detailed production-ready specifications.

• Design intuitive and efficient end-to-end user flows and interactive prototypes using Figma, with a particular focus on complex B2B SaaS workflows.

• Lead design initiatives for specific areas of the product roadmap, encompassing both the Client Experience and Creator Experience pods.

• Actively contribute to the existing design system, ensuring consistency and scalability, and proposing enhancements where necessary.

• Foster close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow Product Designers, operating effectively within an asynchronous communication framework.

• Participate actively in design reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the overall design quality.

• Conduct lightweight usability testing to validate design decisions and gather user insights for iterative improvements.

• Manage design handoffs to engineering, ensuring clear documentation and specifications for seamless implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "own a defined area of the roadmap" implies a need for strategic thinking beyond just executing design tasks. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they would approach defining problems, exploring solutions, and prioritizing design efforts within their assigned domain. The mention of "Meta and TikTok Ads data" suggests a strong need for a designer who can visualize and present data effectively within the product.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in Product Design, with a proven track record in designing complex B2B SaaS products.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of professional Product Design experience.

• Demonstrated experience designing complex B2B SaaS products, with a portfolio that emphasizes workflow-heavy applications over marketing websites.

• Proficiency in working within and contributing to established design systems.

• Strong command of interaction design principles and visual design aesthetics.

• Proven ability to own projects independently and deliver high-quality design work in a remote, distributed team setting.

• Excellent written communication and documentation skills, crucial for asynchronous collaboration.

• Experience in managing design handoffs to engineering teams, providing clear and actionable specifications.

• Practical experience in conducting usability testing and integrating findings into the design process.

• Mastery of design tools, particularly Figma, for creating user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with two-sided marketplaces or multi-sided platforms.

• Prior experience in the creator economy, influencer marketing, or paid social advertising platforms.

• Familiarity with the intricacies of Meta Ads or TikTok Ads products and their data reporting.

• Exposure to designing or working with AI-powered or AI-assisted product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio showcasing "workflow-heavy products rather than marketing websites" is a critical differentiator. Candidates should curate their portfolios to highlight complex user journeys, problem-solving within intricate systems, and demonstrated impact on user efficiency and business outcomes within B2B SaaS contexts. The emphasis on remote and asynchronous work necessitates strong self-management and communication skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex B2B SaaS projects that demonstrate end-to-end product design ownership.

• Highlight specific examples of redesigning core product workflows, illustrating problem identification, design process, and measurable improvements.

• Include case studies detailing the creation of reporting and measurement experiences, ideally with examples of data visualization and integration.

• Present examples of designing interaction patterns for innovative features, particularly those involving AI or advanced automation.

• Demonstrate experience working with and contributing to established design systems, showing how consistency and scalability were maintained or improved. Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation of your design process, including discovery, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and handoff.

• Illustrate how you have documented user flows, interaction specifications, and design rationale for engineering teams.

• Showcase examples of how you have utilized data and user feedback to iterate on designs and optimize user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should clearly articulate the designer's approach to problem-solving within complex systems, their ability to translate business requirements into user-centric solutions, and their impact on key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to B2B SaaS products. The ability to present how they've evolved or maintained a design system will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Sr. Product Designer title, 5+ years of experience, and the remote nature of the role, with a focus on CET ±2 hours, a competitive hourly rate or equivalent full-time salary is expected. For a Sr. Product Designer in South Africa, with international remote work, a range of ZAR 600,000 - ZAR 900,000 annually is a reasonable estimate. For US-based candidates, this could translate to $100,000 - $140,000 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours with core availability between 9 am and 12 pm EST.

• Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge platform in the creator economy space.

• Collaborative and supportive remote-first work environment across multiple time zones.

• Potential for project extension beyond the initial 6 months, based on performance and business needs.

• Contribution to a product used by over 2,000 mid-sized brands.

• Exposure to AI-assisted and agentic feature design.

Working Hours: This is a full-time role requiring approximately 40 hours per week. A flexible schedule is offered, with the crucial requirement of being available daily between 9 am and 12 pm EST to facilitate real-time collaboration with teams in different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in roles requiring B2B SaaS experience and remote work, adjusted for the specified time zone alignment (CET ±2 hours). Given the contract nature, the compensation might be structured as an hourly rate or a fixed project fee, often reflecting a premium for specialized skills and short-term engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates within the Technology sector, specifically focusing on MarTech (Marketing Technology) and SaaS solutions for the creator economy and influencer marketing. Insense bridges the gap between brands and creators, facilitating content creation and campaign management.

Company Size: Insense is a remote-first company with 60+ employees spread across 14+ countries. This size indicates a dynamic, agile environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Founded in 2016, Insense has established itself in the market, serving over 2,000 mid-sized brands. This history suggests a company with a proven business model and a mature understanding of its market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is small but impactful, with a Lead Product Designer currently on sabbatical, necessitating this Senior role.

• Collaboration occurs primarily between Product Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers within cross-functional "pods."

• The team operates in a remote-first, asynchronous manner, emphasizing clear documentation and communication. Methodology:

• Insense emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging creator and brand data to inform product development and campaign strategies.

• The company promotes agility, encouraging employees to "move quickly" and "take ownership."

• Design processes are integrated with Product and Engineering, ensuring a cohesive product development lifecycle.

Company Website: https://insense.pro

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" culture at Insense means that communication, collaboration, and team building are intentionally designed for distributed teams. This requires a high degree of proactivity, autonomy, and excellent written communication skills from all team members, especially in a contract role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior Individual Contributor level within Product Design. It offers significant autonomy and ownership over key product areas, allowing the designer to make a substantial impact on feature development and user experience. While not a management role, it provides opportunities to influence product direction and design strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a Product Lead or Head of Product, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams. They will work alongside other Product Designers, contributing to a cohesive design function.

Operations Impact: The work of the Senior Product Designer directly influences Insense's core product offering, impacting both brands and creators. Successful design execution can lead to increased user engagement, improved campaign performance for clients, and enhanced creator satisfaction, all of which are critical for revenue growth and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Enhancement: Deepen expertise in designing complex B2B SaaS workflows, data visualization for ad platforms, and AI-assisted product features.

• Portfolio Expansion: Gain significant, high-impact experience on a well-established product, adding substantial value to future career opportunities.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop stronger collaboration and influence skills by working closely with Product and Engineering leads on roadmap initiatives.

• Potential for Extension: While a 6-month contract, strong performance and business needs could lead to an extension or future opportunities within Insense.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" is often measured by the breadth and depth of experience gained and the impact demonstrated. This role offers a clear path to enhancing a designer's portfolio with high-visibility projects in a growing market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning there is no physical office requirement. The work is conducted from the employee's chosen location, adhering to the specified time zone requirements.

Office Location(s): While the company is remote-first, the role requires the candidate to be within CET ±2 hours. This is crucial for effective real-time collaboration during core working hours. The primary location listed is Cape Town, South Africa, which falls within the acceptable time zone range.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is digital and distributed, relying heavily on collaboration tools and platforms.

• Expect to utilize tools like Figma, Slack, and project management software for communication and design execution.

• The environment fosters autonomy and requires self-discipline to manage tasks and collaborate effectively across time zones.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) with a flexible schedule. However, a mandatory overlap is required daily between 9 am and 12 pm EST to ensure synchronous communication and collaboration with global teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The CET ±2 hours requirement is critical. While the listing mentions Cape Town, South Africa, this constraint implies that candidates in Europe (e.g., Germany, France, UK) or parts of Africa could also be considered, provided they meet the EST overlap. This suggests a focus on time zone alignment for team cohesion rather than a strict geographical limitation to Cape Town itself.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you will present selected projects from your portfolio, focusing on workflow-heavy B2B SaaS products. Be prepared to discuss your design process, decision-making, and impact.

• Cross-functional Interview: An interview with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and understanding of product development cycles.

• Design Challenge (Potentially): A small, focused design exercise or case study related to the product roadmap, assessing problem-solving and design execution skills.

• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall suitability for the contract role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex B2B SaaS workflows, design systems, and your ability to own features end-to-end.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process, key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved. Use data and metrics where possible.

• Highlight System Contributions: If applicable, showcase how you've worked within or evolved design systems.

• Be Ready for Figma Deep Dive: Prepare to discuss your Figma workflows, prototyping techniques, and how you hand off designs to engineering.

• Address Remote Collaboration: Be ready to explain how you've successfully collaborated in remote, asynchronous environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself with Insense's platform, its target users (brands and creators), and its core value proposition.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be prepared to articulate your approach to problem definition, ideation, solutioning, and validation.

• Focus on Workflow Optimization: If given a challenge, focus on simplifying complex processes and improving user efficiency.

• Data Visualization: If the challenge involves reporting, consider how you would visualize complex data effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not just design skills but also the ability to thrive in a remote, asynchronous, and collaborative B2B SaaS environment. Candidates should emphasize their self-management, communication, and problem-solving capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of design, including user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design. Proficiency in advanced Figma features, component management, and collaborative editing is expected.

• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to established design systems is a core requirement. Understanding of component libraries, style guides, and design tokens is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Meta Ads & TikTok Ads Platforms: Familiarity with these platforms, their data structures, and reporting capabilities is highly beneficial for designing effective reporting experiences.

• Analytics Tools (General): While not explicitly listed, experience with general analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Google Analytics) for understanding user behavior and product performance is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in tools like Asana, Jira, or similar platforms for task management, sprint planning, and collaboration with engineering teams.

• Communication Tools: Expertise in Slack for real-time communication and asynchronous discussions, along with video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet) for meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Meta and TikTok Ads data" suggests that the designer will be working with potentially complex datasets. The ability to translate raw data into meaningful, actionable insights through design will be a key differentiator. Understanding how to design for data-rich environments is crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Take responsibility for your work, drive projects forward independently, and be accountable for outcomes.

• Agility & Speed: Move quickly, iterate effectively, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaboration: Work effectively with cross-functional teams, communicate clearly, and contribute to a supportive team atmosphere, especially in a remote setting.

• Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering designs that have a tangible positive impact on users and the business.

• Data-Informed: Utilize data and user feedback to guide design decisions and measure success.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Prioritize clear, concise written communication and detailed documentation to facilitate collaboration across time zones.

• Proactive Communication: Initiate discussions, ask clarifying questions, and provide regular updates without being prompted.

• Constructive Feedback: Engage in thoughtful design reviews, offering and receiving feedback constructively to elevate the quality of work.

• Cross-functional Partnership: Build strong working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers, ensuring alignment and shared understanding throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's culture emphasizes autonomy and proactive engagement. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to thrive in an environment where they are expected to take initiative and manage their own workflow, particularly in a remote context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively managing communication and collaboration in a distributed, asynchronous team environment requires strong self-discipline and communication skills.

• Balancing Roadmap Demands: Juggling multiple design initiatives, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines within a 6-month contract period.

• Designing for Complexity: Translating intricate B2B SaaS workflows and potentially large datasets (e.g., ad data) into intuitive and user-friendly experiences.

• Evolving a Design System: Contributing to an existing design system while ensuring consistency and scalability across new features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Gain deep experience in designing for ad platforms, data reporting, and emerging AI-assisted features within a real-world product.

• Remote Work Mastery: Hone skills in remote collaboration, asynchronous communication, and self-management.

• Product Strategy Exposure: Contribute directly to the product roadmap, gaining insights into strategic decision-making for a growing SaaS company.

• Portfolio Building: Acquire substantial, impactful project experience that will significantly enhance future career prospects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The contract nature of the role presents a unique challenge and opportunity. It demands rapid contribution and impact, while also offering a focused period to acquire specialized skills and build a strong portfolio.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to redesign a complex workflow in a B2B SaaS product. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving, process, and impact.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers in a remote, asynchronous environment? What tools and techniques do you use to ensure alignment?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills.)

• "Given the opportunity to redesign the chat experience, what would be your first steps in understanding the problem and identifying potential solutions?" (Demonstrate your discovery and ideation process.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Insense and the creator economy space?" (Show your research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you contribute to a remote-first team culture and ensure effective collaboration?" (Align your experience with Insense's values.)

• "How do you measure the success of your design work, particularly in a B2B SaaS context?" (Focus on metrics, user feedback, and business impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each portfolio piece, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process (discovery, ideation, testing, iteration), key decisions, and the measurable results.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to tell the story of your design journey. Explain why you made certain design choices.

• Highlight B2B SaaS & Workflow: Emphasize projects that showcase your ability to handle complexity, optimize user efficiency, and meet business objectives in a SaaS environment.

• Design System Contributions: Be prepared to discuss your experience with design systems, including how you use them and how you've contributed to them.

• Prepare for Figma Walkthrough: Be ready to navigate your Figma files and explain your file structure, component usage, and prototyping techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who not only possesses strong design skills but also demonstrates excellent communication, problem-solving abilities, and a proactive, collaborative approach suitable for a remote, distributed team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Insense careers portal at https://insense.na.teamtailor.com.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience in B2B SaaS product design, specific achievements in workflow redesign, and experience with design systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 workflow-heavy B2B SaaS projects that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure it aligns with the requirements for collaboration and design system experience.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen portfolio projects, focusing on clarity, process, impact, and your ability to articulate design decisions. Be ready to discuss your experience in remote collaboration.

• Research Insense: Understand their product, target market (brands and creators), and company mission. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and product roadmap.

⚠️ 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.