Lead Product Designer (Connectivity) in London

Lead Product Designer (Connectivity) in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Deel

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead design for innovative connectivity products and mentor a talented team.
  • Company: Join Deel, a forward-thinking tech company transforming the way we connect.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, stock options, remote work flexibility, and inclusive perks.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and creativity.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in product design while exploring AI and emerging technologies.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in Product Design with strong leadership and technical skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

We’re hiring a hands‑on Design Leader to join our Connectivity team at Deel. The Connectivity team sits at the heart of Deel’s platform infrastructure—enabling partnerships, integrations, developer experience, and operational tooling that powers Deel’s evolution from a standalone product into a true platform.

You’ll own design across highly technical and strategic surfaces: API and developer ecosystems, the app store, white‑label solutions, partner portals, and AI‑powered customer experiences like Deel Inbox. These products serve a diverse set of stakeholders—from enterprise clients to startup developers to internal ops teams—and require someone who can bring both system‑level thinking and sharp execution to the work.

We’re looking for someone who gets deep into product work, has a strong doer mindset, thinks big, and moves fast. This is a different kind of leadership. Not decks, not endless strategy debates, not big‑org politics. It’s about leading by doing. Setting the bar. Shipping strong work. Raising others through example.

It’s a hybrid role: you’ll lead a small team and still design yourself.

What You’ll Do

  • ~30% Vision. Partnering with PDE Directors to shape the long‑term direction of Deel’s Connectivity platform. Connecting dots across journeys. Challenging existing paradigms. Creating a unified, coherent experience across API docs, integration flows, partner‑facing tools, and AI‑powered surfaces.
  • ~40% Operator mode. Working directly with designers on active platform, B2B, and developer‑facing projects. Tightening UX. Solving complexity. Raising quality in real time. Translating technical constraints into intuitive, self‑serve user flows.
  • ~30% Team leadership. Managing and developing a small team through hands‑on collaboration. Creating clarity. Raising the bar. Putting them first. Coaching and mentoring designers to elevate craft and invest more consistently in research and data.

What We’re Looking For

  • 8+ years in Product Design, 3+ years operating at a very senior IC level (Lead / Staff)
  • No less than 1.5 years of experience managing designers (up to 5 direct reports)
  • Experience at scale‑ups, tech companies or developer platform companies
  • Experience with API/developer products, integrations, or platform ecosystems — this is a strong plus and central to this role
  • Strong craft across interaction and visual design; comfortable across B2B, developer, and enterprise surfaces
  • Experience designing for documentation, onboarding flows, and developer‑facing UX
  • Comfortable with complex system architecture and technical constraints
  • AI: Curiosity about AI and emerging technologies; experience designing AI‑assisted or AI‑powered product experiences, or using AI tools as part of your design workflow. A portfolio that includes examples of work related to AI‑powered features, AI‑assisted workflows, or experiments with AI tools.
  • Experienced in multi‑sided platform design (developers, partners, end‑users)
  • Data‑savvy; comfortable measuring success through adoption and integration metrics
  • Solid understanding of both enterprise and startup needs

You Should Be Someone Who

  • Thrives in velocity and doesn’t wait for perfect clarity
  • Makes good decisions under pressure
  • Puts the team first and holds a high bar for yourself and others
  • Leads by example through strong IC contribution
  • Can facilitate execution while raising — not lowering — the quality bar
  • Cares about details and outcomes
  • Integrates research into product decisions naturally

Design & AI at Deel

AI is changing how products are designed and built. At Deel, we’re excited about designers who are exploring how AI can enhance both the design process and the product experience. We’re looking for designers who are curious about emerging technologies and who actively experiment with AI in their work—whether that’s improving design workflows, prototyping faster, exploring new interaction patterns, or helping shape AI‑powered product experiences. If you’ve worked on AI‑related features or used AI tools as part of your design process, we’d love to see examples of that work in your portfolio.

Total Rewards

Our workforce deserves fair and competitive pay that meets them where they are. With scalable benefits, rewards, and perks, our total rewards programs reflect our commitment to inclusivity and access for all.

Some things you’ll enjoy:

  • Stock grant opportunities dependent on your role, employment status and location
  • Additional perks and benefits based on your employment status and country
  • The flexibility of remote work, including optional WeWork access

Equal Opportunity Employment

At Deel, we’re an equal‑opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Deel will provide accommodations on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations, please inform our Talent Acquisition Team via this link and a team member will be in touch to ensure your equal participation.

Lead Product Designer (Connectivity) in London employer: Deel

At Deel, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture. As a Lead Product Designer in our Connectivity team, you'll enjoy the flexibility of remote work, competitive compensation, and stock grant opportunities, all while collaborating with a talented team dedicated to innovation and excellence. We prioritise employee growth through hands-on leadership and mentorship, ensuring you have the resources and support to thrive in your career.

Deel

Contact Details:

Deel Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Product Designer (Connectivity) in London

Tip Number 1

Get your portfolio in shape! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially projects that highlight your experience with API and developer products. We want to see how you’ve tackled complex design challenges and integrated AI into your processes.

Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former Deel employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and get insights into the company culture. This can give you an edge and help you tailor your approach when you apply through our website.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for hands-on interviews! Since this role is all about leading by doing, be ready to showcase your design process live. Think about how you can demonstrate your problem-solving skills and your ability to collaborate with a team.

Tip Number 4

Stay updated on AI trends! Since we’re looking for someone who’s curious about emerging technologies, make sure you can discuss recent advancements in AI and how they can enhance product design. This will show us you’re not just a designer, but a forward-thinker.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Designer (Connectivity) in London

Product Design
Team Leadership
API and Developer Ecosystems
Interaction Design
Visual Design
User Experience (UX)
Complex System Architecture

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Portfolio:Make sure to include a link to your portfolio that highlights your best work, especially any projects related to AI or developer products. We want to see how you tackle complex design challenges and your thought process behind them!

Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect how your experience aligns with the role. Highlight your leadership skills and hands-on design experience, as these are key for us.

Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can lead by example, so don’t be afraid to show us what makes you unique!

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 at Deel!

How to prepare for a job interview at Deel

Know Your Design Fundamentals

Make sure you brush up on your design principles, especially around interaction and visual design. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, particularly in complex environments like API and developer products.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

Since this role involves managing a small team, be prepared to share examples of how you've led by doing. Talk about specific instances where you've raised the bar for your team and how you foster collaboration and mentorship.

Demonstrate Your Technical Savvy

Familiarise yourself with the technical constraints that come with designing for APIs and integrations. Be ready to discuss how you've translated these complexities into intuitive user flows in your previous work.

Embrace AI in Your Design Process

Given the emphasis on AI at Deel, highlight any experience you have with AI-powered features or tools. Share examples from your portfolio that showcase how you've integrated AI into your design workflow or product experiences.