At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of Cleo’s AI-driven financial platform and shape user experiences.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech unicorn on a mission to transform money management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible remote work, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fintech by redefining how people interact with their finances.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in design leadership within fintech or complex domains.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About Cleo
At Cleo, we’re not just building another fintech app. We’re on a mission to fundamentally change humanity’s relationship with money, aiming to give everyone—regardless of background or income—a hyper‑intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. Cleo is a profitable, fast‑growing unicorn with over $300 million in ARR and more than 2x year‑over‑year growth. We seek talent at the top of their field who embraces our culture of collaboration and positive impact.
About the Role
Principal Product Designer – a company‑level IC who will define the future of Cleo’s product experience. The role sits within Core Experience, where we build platform UX, information architecture, and the design system. You’ll shape structural foundations, champion coherence across credit, subscriptions, cash‑flow intelligence, and behavioural coaching, and set the standard for design quality and systems thinking across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Define the long‑term interaction vision for Cleo’s AI‑driven financial platform
- Architect multi‑year product frameworks that unify credit, subscriptions, savings, and an AI agentic layer tying it together
- Shape how AI works across the product in ways that feel clear, responsible, and empowering
- Design scalable mental models that reduce financial complexity at scale
- Align navigation, IA, and behavioural flows across the full lifecycle
- Anticipate future product expansion and ensure foundational decisions scale
- Partner with executive leadership to shape product direction and roadmap priorities
- Translate ambiguous strategic bets into compelling product concepts and prototypes
- Establish experience principles that guide teams across the company
- Set the highest standard for visual, interaction, and systems craft
- Raise the ambition of what fintech can feel like
- Mentor designers and elevate thinking across the Experience org
- Provide strategic direction for the evolution of Cleo’s Design System as a platform asset
- Ensure the system enables both speed and expressive excellence
- Define governance and architectural direction in partnership with Core Experience leaders
What We’re Looking For
- A company‑level design leader operating through influence rather than authority
- A systems thinker who designs frameworks, not just features
- Deeply experienced in fintech or other complex, high‑trust domains
- Proven in shaping 0–1 products and scaling them into durable platforms
- Comfortable influencing VP and C‑level stakeholders
- Exceptional in craft, with the judgment to balance beauty, clarity, and scale
- Forward‑looking, with strong perspectives on AI‑native interaction models
- Motivated by reshaping how people understand and emotionally experience money
What You Get
- A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi‑annual reviews, aligned to quarterly OKR planning cycles
- Work at one of the fastest‑growing tech startups backed by top VC firms (Balderton & EQT Ventures)
- A clear progression plan to grow, lead, and own impact
- Flexibility: remote work and occasional office time, with travel costs covered
- Global distribution with support for work‑life balance
Other Benefits
- Company‑wide performance reviews every 6 months
- Generous pay increases for high performers
- Equity top‑ups for promoted team members
- 25 days annual leave + public holidays (+ 1 extra day per year of service, up to 30 days)
- 6% employer‑matched pension in the UK
- Private medical insurance via Vitality, dental cover, and life assurance
- Enhanced parental leave
- 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo
- Regular socials and activities, online and in‑person
- OpenAI subscription covered
- Online mental health support via Spill
- Workplace nursery scheme
- And many more
Welcoming Everyone
We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio‑economic backgrounds. If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.
Principal Product Designer employer: cleo
Cleo is an exceptional employer that prioritises the financial health of its users while fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture. With flexible hybrid working options and a competitive salary, employees are encouraged to grow through mentorship and cross-functional teamwork, making it a rewarding place for those passionate about machine learning and impactful solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Product Designer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry, especially those at Cleo. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects that align with Cleo's mission. Make it easy for them to see how you can contribute to their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding Cleo’s products inside out. Think about how you can enhance their user experience and come ready with ideas that reflect their values and goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Product Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Fintech:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for fintech shine through! We want to see how you connect with our mission to change humanity’s relationship with money. Share any personal experiences or insights that fuel your passion for this industry.
Highlight Your Design Leadership:As a Principal Product Designer, we’re looking for someone who can influence and inspire. Make sure to showcase your experience in leading design projects and mentoring others. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've shaped product experiences in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity in communication, so keep your application straightforward. Avoid jargon and focus on articulating your ideas clearly. This will not only help us understand your qualifications but also reflect your design thinking skills.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Cleo!
How to prepare for a job interview at cleo
✨Know Your Design Principles
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in design principles that resonate with Cleo’s mission. Familiarise yourself with their product and think about how your design philosophy aligns with their vision of making financial advice accessible to everyone.
✨Showcase Your Systems Thinking
Cleo is looking for a systems thinker, so be prepared to discuss frameworks you've designed in the past. Bring examples that demonstrate how you’ve architected multi-year product frameworks or unified complex systems, especially in fintech or similar domains.
✨Prepare for AI Discussions
Given the focus on AI-driven interactions, brush up on current trends in AI and how they can enhance user experience. Be ready to share your thoughts on future AI-native interaction models and how they could apply to Cleo’s platform.
✨Engage with Their Culture
Cleo values collaboration and positive impact, so during the interview, express your enthusiasm for working in a team-oriented environment. Share experiences where you’ve successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams and influenced stakeholders at various levels.
