Lead Product Designer (Contract)

Job Title Lead UX Designer
Location: NYC Hybrid
Operating as the largest non-bank lender in the United States, this financial organization provides responsible and transparent credit solutions to millions of customers. The company is currently undergoing a critical $60 million enterprise transformation to modernize its core origination and servicing platforms, building scalable and highly efficient digital experiences from the ground up.
As a Lead UX Designer, you will take complete ownership of designing complex, end-to-end operational workflows for internal users across the loan lifecycle. Partnering closely with product managers, engineers, and business leaders, you will translate highly integrated systems into intuitive designs for loan specialists, underwriters, and compliance teams. This contract-to-hire position requires an autonomous, product-minded leader who thrives in ambiguity and can shape strategic decisions rather than simply executing predefined requirements.
Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in UX or Product Design, with a strong background in complex enterprise applications, SaaS platforms, fintech, or internal workflow systems.
• A comprehensive portfolio (mandatory) demonstrating deep system architecture understanding, end-to-end product thinking, and clear personal ownership of major design decisions (simplistic UI/component-only portfolios will not be considered).
• Exceptional systems thinking skills, with a proven ability to solve dense business workflow problems.
• Strong executive presence, capable of communicating with and influencing senior leadership, engineering teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strategic mindset, with a demonstrated ability to define requirements independently and connect design decisions directly to measurable business outcomes.
• AI curiosity, showing an openness to leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance design processes and team workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver intuitive, end-to-end user experiences for highly complex internal operational systems and workflows.
• Simplify heavily integrated technical frameworks into scalable, efficient, and accessible designs.
• Partner directly with Product, Engineering, Risk, Legal, and Operations to influence product strategy and drive alignment across the organization.
• Navigate a heavily regulated environment, effectively balancing usability needs with strict legal and compliance standards.
• Drive measurable business outcomes through data-informed design iterations and strong, independent strategic oversight.

This is a fast-moving contract-to-hire opportunity targeting a 6-to-9-month conversion, with an urgent interview process aimed at securing a candidate immediately. Upon full-time conversion, the target base salary is $150,000 to $165,000, accompanied by a comprehensive benefits package featuring medical coverage, 401(k) matching, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and generous paid time off. The position operates on a hybrid schedule (three days onsite) in Baltimore, MD OR NYC, with fully remote flexibility offered for highly qualified East Coast candidates located outside a 50-mile commuting radius.