Product Designer III

Northwestern Mutual; New York (NY); On-site; USD 113,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual is seeking a Product Designer III to deliver thoughtful, user-centered product experiences from exploration to delivery. The role collaborates with Product, Engineering, Research, and other partners to solve complex problems with clarity and impact.

The designer will leverage an iterative design process, apply design systems and accessibility standards, and explore AI-assisted design techniques to advance our digital products.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience delivering complex digital product experiences in partnership with Product and Engineering.
• Strong product thinking balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.
• Strong interaction and visual design skills for complex workflows.
• Experience applying user-centered design methods and research insights.
• Ownership mindset with progress in ambiguous environments.
• Clear communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficiency with Figma and prototyping tools.

Responsibilities

• Own product design work from problem framing through validation, delivery, and iteration.
• Translate needs into workflows, IA, interactions, and product experiences.
• Make tradeoffs to align near-term needs with long-term opportunities.
• Use qualitative and quantitative insights to inform design decisions.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Research, and business teams to frame problems and gain alignment.
• Apply design systems and accessibility standards in daily work.
• Explore AI-assisted design tools to improve delivery.

Skills

Product Design

Strategic Thinking

Cross-Functional Partnering

Analytical Thinking

Learning Agility

Customer Centricity

User-Centered Design

Job description

Summary

The Product Designer III delivers thoughtful, user-centered product experiences through an iterative, evidence-based design process. This role works on complex product problems from early exploration through delivery, translating user, business, and technical needs into clear, intuitive experiences. We're looking for a strategically minded, hands-on designer who is comfortable working through ambiguity, takes initiative, and partners effectively with Product, Engineering, Research, and other cross-functional partners.

What You’ll Do

Own product design work from problem framing and exploration through validation, delivery, and iteration. Translate complex user, business, and technical needs into clear workflows, information architecture, interactions, and product experiences. Connect design decisions to broader user and business goals and make thoughtful tradeoffs between near-term needs and longer-term opportunities. Use Figma and prototyping tools to explore ideas, communicate intent, and create high-quality product experiences. Use qualitative and quantitative insights to understand user needs and inform design decisions. Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Research, and business partners to frame problems, evaluate options, and build alignment. Proactively seek context, identify gaps and opportunities, and move work forward in ambiguous environments. Apply design systems, accessibility standards, and UX best practices while contributing thoughtful new ideas. Explore emerging tools and approaches, including AI-assisted design and prototyping, that can improve how products are designed and delivered. Contribute to design critique, shared practices, and the overall quality of the team’s work.

What You’ll Bring to the Role

Demonstrated experience delivering complex digital product experiences in partnership with Product and Engineering. Strong product thinking and ability to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints. Strong interaction and visual design skills, particularly for complex workflows and information. Experience applying user-centered design methods and research insights throughout the design process. Ability to take ownership of work and make progress without highly prescriptive direction. Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration and alignment skills. Strong proficiency with Figma and contemporary design and prototyping tools. Curiosity and willingness to experiment with new tools and ways of working. Portfolio demonstrating product thinking, design craft, process, and outcomes. Helpful, but not required: Experience with enterprise, financial-services, CRM, workflow, or other complex products. Experience working in regulated or operationally complex environments. Familiarity with front-end technologies or functional prototyping. Experience with AI-assisted design, prototyping, or development workflows.

Skills You Have

Product Design (NM): Applies an end-to-end design process to create effective product experiences, including concept development, prototyping, testing, and system design. Identifies and addresses risks to ensure solutions meet user needs and business goals. Strategic Thinking (NM): Uses critical thinking and an understanding of business needs to plan, prioritize, and deliver high-impact design initiatives. Cross-Functional Partnering & Planning (NM): Collaborates with partners across product, engineering, research, and other business areas to coordinate work, solve problems, and achieve shared goals. Analytical Thinking (NM): Organizes and evaluates information to identify key issues, consider different perspectives, and make informed design decisions. Learning Agility & Critical Thinking (NM): Continuously builds knowledge of relevant design methods, tools, and trends. Uses feedback, lessons learned, and critical thinking to adapt approaches and improve outcomes. Customer Centricity (NM): Applies a customer-first mindset when designing and improving products, services, and experiences while supporting business priorities and outcomes. User-Centered Design Process (NM): Designs products, services, and experiences around the needs, preferences, and behaviors of the end user.

Compensation Range

Pay Range - Start: $113,040.00 Pay Range - End: $169,560.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: $108,160.00 USD - $162,240.00 USD Structure 115: $113,040.00 USD - $169,560.00 USD

We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process.

Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do.

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

At Northwestern Mutual, we believe relationships are built on trust. That our lives and our work matter. These beliefs launched our company over 160 years ago. Today, they're just a few of the reasons why people choose to build careers at Northwestern Mutual. What started in Milwaukee, WI has grown into 7,000+ home office professionals split across 3 campuses: New York City, Franklin and downtown Milwaukee (HQ) - each one bringing with it its own unique talent and culture. In a company with such a long and storied history, this may be the most exciting and important time to be a part of Northwestern Mutual as we are growing our digital and tech capabilities and are always on the lookout for bright, tech-savvy candidates.