At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of an AI-driven fintech platform that transforms how people manage money.
- Company: Join Cleo, a fast-growing unicorn on a mission to revolutionise financial relationships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible work, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for growth and mentorship.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fintech while making a real impact on people's financial well-being.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in product design, especially in fintech or complex domains.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
At Cleo, we are embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper-intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. Cleo is a profitable, fast-growing unicorn with over $300 million in ARR and growing over 2x year-over-year. This is a chance to join a team of brilliant, driven individuals who are passionate about making a real difference.
We’re looking for a Principal Product Designer to define the future of Cleo’s product experience. Cleo is building an AI-native financial platform that helps millions of people build healthier relationships with money. As our product expands across credit, subscriptions, cash flow intelligence, and behavioural coaching, the complexity of the system increases. We need a design leader who can architect coherence across it all.
This is a company-level IC role. You will define the long-term interaction vision for Cleo, shape the structural foundations of our platform, and ensure every part of the experience feels intelligent, trustworthy, and emotionally resonant. You will operate across product pillars, partner with executive leadership, and set the standard for design quality and systems thinking across the organisation.
This role sits within Core Experience, the team responsible for platform UX, information architecture, and the design system. At Principal level, your mandate extends beyond stewardship. You will define the philosophy and future direction of how Cleo works.
Key Responsibilities- Product & Platform Vision
- Define the long-term vision for Cleo’s AI-driven financial platform
- Architect multi-year product frameworks that unify credit, subscriptions, savings, with an AI agentic layer tying it together
- Shape how AI works across the product in ways that feel clear, responsible, and empowering
- Cross-Company Experience Architecture
- 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
- Strategic Influence
- 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
- Craft & Quality Bar
- 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
- Design System Direction
- 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
- 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 do you get for all your hard work?
- A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi-annual reviews
- Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms
- A clear progression plan
- Flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Company-wide performance reviews every 6 months
- Generous pay increases for high-performing team members
- Equity top-ups for team members getting promoted
- 25 days annual leave a year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo, 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
- Online mental health support via Spill
- And many more!
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.
Principal Product Designer - Fintech AI Platform 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 - Fintech AI Platform
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fintech space, especially those connected to Cleo. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best design work, especially projects related to AI or fintech. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing—just like the products you want to design!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by understanding Cleo's mission and values. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals of transforming financial relationships. Be ready to share your vision for the future of fintech design!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Product Designer - Fintech AI Platform
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for fintech and design shine through. We want to see how excited you are about the chance to shape the future of Cleo's product experience!
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in fintech or complex domains. We’re looking for someone who can architect coherence across our platform, so show us how your background aligns with that vision.
Be Clear and Concise:While we love creativity, clarity is key! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. This helps us quickly understand your qualifications and how you can contribute to our mission.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at cleo
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Cleo's mission and product offerings. Understand how their AI-driven platform works and be ready to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their vision of transforming financial relationships.
✨Showcase Your Systems Thinking
As a Principal Product Designer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to architect coherent experiences. Prepare examples from your past work where you've designed frameworks that simplify complex systems, especially in fintech or high-trust domains.
✨Engage with Executive Leadership
Cleo values collaboration with leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you can influence product direction and roadmap priorities. Think about how you can translate strategic bets into compelling product concepts that resonate with stakeholders.
✨Bring Your A-Game in Craft
Cleo is looking for exceptional design quality. During the interview, showcase your best work that balances beauty, clarity, and scale. Be ready to discuss your design process and how you maintain high standards across projects.
