At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to design and implement user-friendly interfaces for an innovative AI platform.
- Company: Narwhal Labs, a forward-thinking tech company focused on AI solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, flexible work options, and a collaborative environment.
- Other info: Fast-paced, supportive team with opportunities for creative problem-solving.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by designing features that enhance user experience in AI technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in product UI design, especially for data-rich B2B SaaS applications.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Fixed-term contract (approx. 4 weeks) Bristol-based, with a preference for on-site; remote considered.
Start date: ASAP — please only apply if you’re immediately available.
Day rate: DOE.
About Us: Narwhal Labs is developing an AI platform. Customers build, deploy and monitor AI agents that handle inbound and outbound customer contact. The product is in active build toward production with a mature in-house component library and design system, and an engineering team shipping weekly.
About the role: We’re bringing in a Senior Product Designer to support the existing design team through a period of reduced capacity. You’ll be working alongside the in-house designer where available and directly with engineering and product day to day. This is hands-on execution, not discovery or strategy. We need a senior designer who can pick up features already in flight and produce implementation-ready work from day one.
Key Responsibilities:
- Maintaining design velocity on in-progress product features.
- Producing engineer-ready specs including full state coverage, responsive behaviour, interaction notes and accessibility considerations.
- UX writing for in-product copy where needed, in line with the brand ToV.
- Working within the existing design system. Component composition, variants and new screens assembled from the existing system are in scope and expected. Changes to underlying primitives or net-new patterns are flagged for the in-house team rather than authored.
- Triaging incoming design requests from engineering and making decisive tactical calls without escalation on things clearly within the current execution path.
Must-haves:
- 5+ years designing product UI for B2B SaaS, including at least one role on a data-dense product (dashboards, tables, builders or workflow tools).
- Demonstrable design systems work: Figma variables, auto-layout, component properties, token architecture and light and dark theming.
- Strong craft on responsive layouts and complex interaction states.
- Fluent with modern component library conventions at spec level. You don’t need to write code, you do need to read component code and know what’s cheap versus expensive to build.
- Strong flow and interaction judgement. You question the flow first, not the pixels. Comfortable sketching entry points, happy path, edge cases and recovery before opening Figma.
- Track record shipping end-to-end UX on complex features. Portfolio should show the thinking, not just the surface.
- Comfort making UX calls without formal research in the loop. Pattern knowledge, prior experience and direct conversations with engineering get you to a confident call in hours not weeks.
- Ability to work independently and ship daily with minimal oversight.
Desirable:
- Experience designing for AI-native products: LLM agents, chat or conversation UI.
- Accessibility literacy and keyboard and screen reader awareness.
- Comfort writing clear concise in-product copy.
How we work: Direct, peer-to-peer. Communication is plain and low ceremony. Work is tracked in a standard ticketing system, designs live in Figma, async by default with a short daily check-in with engineering. Clear points of contact are in place for scope and priority decisions and for day-to-day engineering coordination. You’ll have access to the full design system, the component library, prior wireframes and a written handover covering current state, open questions and decisions already taken. We care about how you think and how you handle ambiguity more than about specific tools or titles. Calm judgement under constraint, not portfolio polish.
No recruiters, thank you.
Senior Product Designer in Derby employer: Narwhal Labs
Contact Detail:
Narwhal Labs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Designer in Derby
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio ready! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially projects that highlight your experience with design systems and complex features. We want to see your thought process, not just the final designs.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend design meetups, or join online forums. You never know who might have a lead on a role or can give you insider tips about the company.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your UX writing and interaction design skills. Be ready to discuss how you approach design challenges and make decisions without formal research. We love seeing confidence in your process!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we’re always looking for talented designers who can hit the ground running, so don’t hesitate to show us what you’ve got!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Designer in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your 5+ years of experience in designing product UI for B2B SaaS. We want to see your journey, especially if you've worked on data-dense products like dashboards or workflow tools. Your portfolio should reflect not just the final designs but also the thought process behind them.
Be Specific About Your Skills: When you apply, don’t shy away from mentioning your expertise with design systems and tools like Figma. We’re looking for someone who knows their way around component libraries and can produce engineer-ready specs. So, let us know how you’ve used these skills in your previous roles!
Keep It Clear and Concise: Your application should be straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to understand. If you have experience with UX writing, especially in-product copy, mention it! It’s a great way to show you can communicate effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures you get noticed. Plus, it’s super easy! Just follow the prompts and make sure to attach your portfolio showcasing your best work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Narwhal Labs
✨Know the Product Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to explore Narwhal Labs' AI platform. Understand its features, how it works, and what makes it unique. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Prepare to discuss your design process in detail. Be ready to walk through your portfolio, highlighting specific projects that demonstrate your experience with design systems, responsive layouts, and complex interactions. Make sure to explain your thought process and decision-making for each project.
✨Be Ready for Hands-On Tasks
Since this role is all about execution, be prepared for practical tasks during the interview. You might be asked to sketch out a design or critique an existing feature. Practise these skills beforehand so you can showcase your ability to produce implementation-ready work from day one.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Effective communication is key in this role. During the interview, focus on articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Discuss how you handle ambiguity and make design decisions without formal research, as this aligns with the company's values of direct and low-ceremony communication.