Product Designer II

Northwestern Mutual•Milwaukee, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Product Designer II contributes to thoughtful, user-centered product experiences through an iterative, evidence-based design process. Working with guidance and partnership from senior designers, this role helps translate user, business, and technical needs into intuitive and effective experiences. The position is suited to a collaborative, motivated designer who enjoys problem-solving, is eager to learn and grow, and thrives in a team-oriented environment. The designer is expected to be curious, adaptable, receptive to feedback, and interested in developing product design expertise while contributing to meaningful experiences. The role contributes to product design from discovery and exploration through delivery and iteration. It involves creating workflows, interactions, wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and visual designs; participating in user research; applying qualitative and quantitative insights; and collaborating with cross-functional partners. The designer applies design systems, accessibility standards, UX best practices, and established guidelines, while continuing to explore new tools and approaches, including AI-assisted design and prototyping.

Requirements

Experience contributing to digital product experiences in collaboration with Business, Product, Engineering, and Design partners.
Foundational product thinking skills and understanding of how user needs, business goals, and technical considerations influence design decisions.
Strong interaction and visual design skills, with attention to detail and usability.
Knowledge of user-centered design principles and experience applying them throughout the design process.
Ability to work independently on assigned work while seeking guidance when needed.
Strong collaboration, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Proficiency with Figma and modern design and prototyping tools.
A growth mindset and desire to learn, develop new skills, and continuously improve design craft.
Willingness to embrace change, adopt new technologies, and explore emerging tools, including AI-enabled workflows and experiences.
A portfolio demonstrating design thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and execution.

Nice To Haves

Experience with enterprise, financial services, CRM, workflow, or other business-focused products.
Experience working within established design systems.
Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices.
Exposure to front-end technologies or functional prototyping.
Experience or interest in AI-assisted design, research, prototyping, or development workflows.

Responsibilities

Contribute to product design efforts from discovery and exploration through delivery and iteration, with support and guidance from senior designers.
Help translate user, business, and technical requirements into clear workflows, interactions, and product experiences.
Analyze complex problems and work through design challenges using a structured, user-centered approach.
Create wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and visual designs that communicate ideas effectively and support product goals.
Use Figma and other design and prototyping tools to explore concepts and refine solutions.
Participate in user research activities and use qualitative and quantitative insights to inform design decisions.
Collaborate with Business, Product, Engineering, Research, and Design partners to understand problems, gather feedback, and improve solutions.
Apply design systems, accessibility standards, UX best practices, and established guidelines while contributing fresh ideas and perspectives.
Learn and explore new tools, technologies, and approaches, including AI-assisted design and prototyping.
Participate in design critiques, team discussions, and knowledge-sharing activities that support the broader design team.
Contribute to concept development, prototyping, testing, and implementation activities.
Gather and evaluate information from multiple sources to inform design decisions and improve user experiences.
Advocate for user needs and apply customer insights throughout the design process.