Senior Product Designer (Drive) in London

Senior Product Designer (Drive) in London

London Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Proton

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design intuitive interfaces for privacy-focused products used by millions.
  • Company: Join Proton, a leader in privacy and security technology.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, stock options, health coverage, and flexible working hours.
  • Other info: Diverse team culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on user privacy while collaborating with top talent.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in designing consumer digital products with a strong portfolio.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default. Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN on a simple truth: privacy is a fundamental human right. Since then, we've built the world's largest encrypted email service (Proton Mail) and expanded into Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton Calendar — tools used by millions globally to protect their freedom, fight censorship, and keep their data safe. We are profitable, independent (no VC control), and selectively hire from the top ~1% of applicants. Our 700+ team members across 50+ countries come from leading organizations and elite academic backgrounds. We move fast, keep hierarchy light, and prioritize impact over optics.

The Design Team shapes the visual and interaction layer across Mail, Drive, VPN, Pass, and Calendar — products used by millions of people, many of whom rely on them in high-stakes moments. We work at the intersection of security and simplicity: our products must inspire trust without feeling intimidating, and feel refined without sacrificing clarity. Designers are embedded within engineering teams and involved from the very beginning — problem framing, planning, implementation, and quality assurance. The team is organized as a guild: high autonomy, shared standards, and real influence over how design is practiced across Proton. We hold a high craft bar. Typography, layout, spacing, color, iconography, motion — the details most companies treat as polish, we treat as the product.

What You'll Do

  • Own the visual and interaction quality of one or more Proton products — from early concepts through production, until what ships matches the design intent.
  • Design interfaces that make sophisticated privacy and security features feel intuitive and trustworthy — without oversimplifying what's underneath.
  • Craft visual systems — typography, hierarchy, spacing, color, iconography — that scale across millions of users.
  • Design motion, transitions, and micro-interactions that add meaning, not decoration.
  • Create icons, illustrations, and visual assets that strengthen Proton's visual language and stay consistent across products.
  • Raise the team's craft bar through your own execution, design critiques, and contributions to the shared design system.
  • Partner with Product Managers and engineers to shape solutions early, surface constraints, and stay hands-on through implementation.

Who You Are

  • 5+ years designing and shipping consumer (B2C) digital products, with a portfolio demonstrating exceptional visual craft across real products — typography, layout, hierarchy, spacing, color, interaction, and motion (portfolio required with application).
  • Proven ability to simplify genuinely complex problems into interfaces that feel obvious in hindsight.
  • Experience building and evolving design systems — not just consuming them — and understanding how consistency and flexibility work together.
  • Experience designing motion and micro-interactions as integral parts of production UI, not afterthoughts.
  • Highly proficient in Figma — moving fluidly from exploration to high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes.
  • Ownership beyond your immediate work — you notice quality issues and inconsistencies, and you act on them.

Nice to Have

  • Background in visual communication, graphic design, typography, illustration, or motion design.
  • Portfolio showcasing illustration, iconography, or visual identity work.
  • Familiarity with front-end implementation and the practical constraints of HTML and CSS.

What We Offer

  • Work that Matters: Millions of people trust Proton with their privacy. We answer only to our users — not advertisers, not investors with conflicting agendas, not governments.
  • A Great Team: Diverse, collaborative, and tight-knit, with people from MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Cambridge, ETH, and more.
  • Technology: The right hardware and software to do your best work.
  • Learning & Development: We invest in your growth. Proton is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your career — real challenges, real ownership, from day one.
  • Employee Benefits: Strong health coverage, solid retirement options, generous leave, and wellness support.
  • Stock Options: From day one, you have a real stake in what we're building. When Proton wins, you win.
  • In-Person Collaboration: Offices across Geneva, Zürich, Barcelona, London, and more. You'll spend most of your time collaborating face-to-face.
  • Food: Lunch and snacks on us every day in the office.
  • Transport: We cover public transport, bike allowances, or parking — whichever works for you.
  • Flexible Working: You own your schedule. Outcomes matter more than clock-in times.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background — feel valued and empowered. If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.

Candidate Privacy Notice

When you apply for a position at Proton Technologies AG, your information is stored in Greenhouse in accordance with its Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position and may be retained for future roles. If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymise it. For questions about your data, contact: careers@proton.ch. Proton does not accept unsolicited CVs from any sources other than directly from candidates.

Senior Product Designer (Drive) in London employer: Proton

Proton is an exceptional employer that champions privacy and user experience, making it a perfect fit for those passionate about technology and ethical practices. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, a collaborative work culture, and the opportunity to tackle complex challenges, you will thrive in an environment that values creativity and innovation. Located in a vibrant tech hub, Proton offers unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a commitment to work-life balance, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact while enjoying a fulfilling career.

Proton

Contact Details:

Proton Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Product Designer (Drive) in London

Show Off Your Portfolio

In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.

Get Involved in Design Communities

Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.

Tailor Your Applications

When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Proton for a Senior Product Designer (Drive), make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!

Leverage Social Media

Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Proton before they go live!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Designer (Drive) in London

Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Flexibility
Compassion
Adaptability
Organizational Skills
Teamwork

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior Product Designer (Drive) at Proton, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!

Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Proton does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Proton. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.

Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Proton.

How to prepare for a job interview at Proton

Show Off Your Portfolio

When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Proton, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.

Prepare for Design Challenges

Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Proton might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!

Know the Tools of the Trade

Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Proton!

Show Passion for User Experience

In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Proton is looking for.