Senior Product Designer (Student Loans)

About the Role

The Senior Product Designer will play a key role in shaping the product direction and defining the design vision for NerdWallet's student loan marketplace. You will be responsible for driving experimentation, insight, and close partnership with various stakeholders to deliver polished and high-impact experiences. This role reports to the Senior Product Manager and offers a unique opportunity to make a real impact on the company's growth and success.

NerdWallet is committed to creating a culture that is inclusive, flexible, and candid. The company believes in empowering its employees to grow, take smart risks, and be unapologetically themselves. With a strong focus on remote work and employee well-being, NerdWallet offers a unique work environment that allows employees to thrive.

What You Will Do

• Lead end-to-end design for private student loan and refinance experiences, creating user journeys that increase engagement, conversion, and long-term trust.
• Drive experimentation across high-intent marketing funnels to uncover new growth opportunities and optimize performance.
• Define and execute research strategies that uncover insights, validate concepts, and inform product decisions at scale.
• Partner with Product to translate strategy and OKRs into clear design problems, hypotheses, and success metrics.
• Design clear, compliant financial workflows that balance regulation with usability.
• Identify and shape 0→1 opportunities in ambiguous spaces, bringing structure, direction, and creativity to early-stage initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Content, and SEO to deliver experiences that are technically feasible, accessible, performant, and search-optimized.
• Influence product and design decisions by articulating strong rationale, using data and research to drive alignment and outcomes.
• Contribute to and evolve shared design systems and patterns across multiple properties.

What We Are Looking For

• 5+ years of experience designing consumer-facing digital products, with a strong portfolio demonstrating measurable business impact.
• Experience designing fintech or regulated product experiences, such as loans, credit, or financial comparison tools.
• Proven ability to independently lead research, experimentation, and end-to-end design.
• Expertise in Figma and modern prototyping tools.
• Strong understanding of UX for high-intent acquisition funnels and conversion optimization.
• Experience designing complex, multi-step workflows with disclosures or compliance requirements.
• Ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative insights into clear recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and comfort partnering across Product, Engineering, and Growth teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment.
• Familiarity with design systems and pattern libraries.
• Knowledge of front-end development principles and technologies.
• Experience with A/B testing and experimentation frameworks.

Benefits and Perks

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents.
• Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + holiday company shutdown.
• New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care.
• Mental health support and resources.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment.

• To stand out as a candidate, be prepared to showcase a strong portfolio that demonstrates your expertise in UX design, fintech, and product development.
• Familiarize yourself with NerdWallet's products and services, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's goals.
• Highlight your ability to work independently and lead research, experimentation, and end-to-end design.
• Emphasize your experience with design systems and pattern libraries, as well as your knowledge of front-end development principles and technologies.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing complex, multi-step workflows with disclosures or compliance requirements.
• Research the company culture and be prepared to discuss how you would thrive in a remote or distributed team environment.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview process, such as what a typical day looks like in the role or what opportunities there are for professional growth and development.