Lead Product Designer

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

Are you ready to shape the future of work? As a Lead Product Designer at Upwork, you will drive the design vision for our platform, creating seamless, engaging, and user-focused experiences. This is an exciting opportunity to work with cross-functional teams to solve complex design challenges while having a meaningful impact on millions of users globally. Join us in revolutionizing how the world works and help craft exceptional solutions for freelancers and businesses alike.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for key features and initiatives, from research and ideation to prototyping and final execution.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to define user-centered solutions aligned with business goals.
• Drive innovation by exploring and iterating on creative design solutions that enhance user experience and satisfaction.
• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights and refine designs based on feedback.
• Develop and maintain design systems to ensure consistency across the platform.
• Mentor and provide guidance to other designers, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and best practices to continually elevate Upwork’s design standards.

What it takes to catch our eye

• Proven experience leading product design projects from concept to delivery in a cross-functional environment.
• Expertise in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite, as well as prototyping tools like InVision or Axure.
• Strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design solutions, including web and mobile applications.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills to articulate design decisions and advocate for the user.
• Experience with user research methodologies and the ability to translate insights into actionable designs.
• Knowledge of design systems and best practices for maintaining design consistency across large-scale platforms.
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to inspire and guide team members.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also hire full-time employees in 19 states in the United States.

At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.

We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.

Check out our Careers page to learn more about the employee experience.

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Additionally, a criminal background check may be run on a candidate after a conditional offer of employment is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.

The annual base salary range for this position is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.

To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice