Product Designer • Lead

Who you are

You have a strong background in product design, particularly in creating and managing design systems — your experience allows you to architect scalable solutions that enhance usability and accessibility across multiple platforms. You are a hands-on leader who enjoys mentoring others while still being deeply involved in the design craft. Your expertise in Figma enables you to create design libraries that are both functional and enjoyable for users.

You understand the importance of collaboration between design and engineering — you have successfully guided teams in implementing design principles that ensure consistency and clarity across all surfaces. Your ability to balance technical accuracy with usability makes you a trusted resource for both designers and engineers. You take pride in your attention to detail and your commitment to delivering high-quality work that meets user needs.

You are passionate about evolving design systems and have a keen eye for identifying areas of improvement — you thrive in environments where you can influence design direction and contribute to the overall user experience. Your experience includes managing contribution models, governance, and versioning to ensure that design systems run smoothly as they scale.

Desirable

Experience with multi-platform design systems, particularly across web, iOS, and Android, is a plus. Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices will enhance your contributions to the team. You may also have experience in setting up QA processes to maintain the integrity of the design system as it evolves.

What you'll do

As the Lead Product Designer at Checkatrade, you will shape and evolve the design system that serves as the foundation for our designers and engineers. You will manage the full architecture of the design system, including components, tokens, patterns, and documentation. Your role will involve spending approximately 70% of your time designing directly within the system, ensuring that it remains clear, scalable, and consistently used across all platforms.

You will work closely with engineers to ensure that the design system is implemented effectively and that designers are equipped to contribute to it. Your leadership will guide the team in understanding how to design within the system and leverage its components to create cohesive user experiences. You will also mentor junior designers, helping them grow their skills and confidence in using the design system.

In addition to hands-on design work, you will set direction and define principles that guide the evolution of the design system. You will create design libraries that are not only functional but also enjoyable to use, balancing usability with technical accuracy. Your contributions will help establish governance and versioning models that ensure the design system remains robust and adaptable as the company grows.

What we offer

At Checkatrade, you will be part of a dynamic team that is dedicated to building the UK’s leading home improvement marketplace. We offer a collaborative work environment where your contributions will have a direct impact on millions of homeowners. You will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that help tradespeople grow their businesses and improve the lives of homeowners.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn't match every requirement — we value diverse perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. Join us in making a difference in the home improvement industry.