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VP, Product Design

Chicago

JOIN US ON OUR MISSION TO BECOME THE #1 RETAIL TRADING PLATFORM IN THE WORLD

Welcome to the dynamic world of NinjaTrader! As an industry-leading trading platform and futures broker, we're on a mission to empower traders to take control of their financial destiny. How do we do it? We provide cutting-edge products and services that enhance the trading journey. Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, NinjaTrader equips traders with award-winning software and brokerage services to navigate the world's leading financial markets with confidence.  

Our growth story is nothing short of exhilarating. Over the last 20 years, NinjaTrader has been dedicated to understanding and supporting traders on their journey toward trading triumph. In the last 5 years alone, our user base has grown by 400% to over 2 million users and we have become the number one rated futures brokerage worldwide. 

But we're not stopping there. We're constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and modernizing the futures industry. Our commitment to innovation means users will always have access to dynamic tools, real-time support, and a community of like-minded traders.  

So, why work at NinjaTrader? Here, you're not just part of a team; you're part of a movement. We empower employees to reach new heights in their careers by providing a dynamic culture focused on social connection, professional development, and employee recognition initiatives. Sounds too good to be true? Take it from our employees. 

Join us as we redefine what's possible in trading, advocate for our customers, and continue our journey toward becoming the world's top retail-focused trading platform in the world.  

Product and Design at NinjaTrader

At NinjaTrader, we believe that great design is at the heart of transforming complex workflows into intuitive, delightful experiences. If you’re passionate about solving complexity through design and shaping the future of fintech, let’s create something extraordinary together. As the Product Design leader at NinjaTrader, you can expect:

  • Impactful work: Shape the future of trading experiences for a diverse audience of new and experienced traders
  • Innovative culture: Work with a team of forward-thinkers in a company that values design and creativity
  • Growth opportunities: Lead a design organization that is central to NinjaTrader’s growth and success
  • Cutting-edge products: Help evolve a platform and ecosystem used by millions of traders

If you’re a design leader ready to make an impact in a dynamic, high-growth environment, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and portfolio detailing your relevant experience and vision for design at NinjaTrader.

 

What you'll do:

As the Vice President of Product Design, you will play a pivotal role in defining the future of our trading platform and services. You will lead a talented, multidisciplinary design organization that spans Product Design, UX Research, and UX Writing. Your focus will be on crafting user experiences that are as powerful as they are intuitive, helping traders navigate complex workflows with ease.

This is an opportunity to shape the user experience in a high-stakes domain, collaborating closely with Product, Engineering, and Executive Leadership to drive business outcomes while delighting users.

In this role you will:

Visionary leadership

  • Set a forward-thinking design vision that aligns with NinjaTrader’s mission to empower traders to take control of their financial destiny
  • Advocate for design excellence at all levels of the organization, balancing creative innovation with execution discipline

Team building & culture

  • Recruit, mentor, and retain top-tier talent across Product Design, UX Research, and UX Writing
  • Foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning within the design team
  • Create opportunities for growth and development, ensuring team members thrive professionally

Strategic collaboration

  • Partner with Executive Leadership to inform business strategy and product roadmaps through design insights
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to deliver cohesive, user-centered experiences
  • Represent the voice of the user in key decision-making forums, leveraging data and research to inform strategies

Operational excellence

  • Establish scalable processes, tools, and design systems that enable the team to deliver consistent, high-quality work
  • Lead the integration of design thinking into product development cycles and cross-functional collaboration
  • Ensure that designs are accessible, inclusive, and meet the needs of a diverse audience

User-centric execution

  • Stay close to customers by participating in user research and directly engaging with traders to understand their pain points and opportunities
  • Solve complex interaction problems with elegant, scalable design solutions that anticipate user needs
  • Oversee the evolution of NinjaTrader’s visual identity and design systems to reflect its position as an industry leader

What you'll need:

  • 7+ years in design leadership roles, with a track record of managing multidisciplinary teams
  • Proven ability to lead design in complex, highly regulated, data-driven industries, preferably in fintech, trading, or similar domains
  • Deep expertise in solving complex interaction problems and creating intuitive workflows for multiple personas
  • A visionary thinker who balances creativity with pragmatism, delivering innovative solutions that align with business goals
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to inspire teams and influence stakeholders at all levels
  • Experience building and scaling design systems and processes in high-growth environments
  • Strong analytical skills and a data-informed approach to design decisions
  • Familiarity with the trading or fintech industry, with a genuine interest in futures markets and trading workflows
  • Collaborative, curious, and adaptable, with a user-first mindset
  • Excitement for working in a fast-paced, high-impact environment
  • Desire to drive change and transformation—from start-up to scale-up

Bonus points for:

  • Passion for fostering an inclusive, user-centered design culture

Compensation: 

The annual salary for this role is $225,000 - 275,000 USD. In addition, this position will also receive an annual target bonus of up to 20%. Bonus pay at NinjaTrader is based on individual performance (50%) as well as company/team performance (50%).  

Salary and bonus earnings are only two components of the total compensation package offered by NinjaTrader. NinjaTrader offers a 401K plan through ADP under which the company will match up to 3.5% of employee contributions. Annual PTO allowance begins at 20 days per year. Additional details on our total compensation package and benefits are listed below in the Core Benefits section of this posting. 

Our Core Benefits Include:

  • Hybrid Schedule with Extra Remote Flexibility (Totaling over 55% remote time)
  • Generous PTO
  • 7 Paid Holidays Annually + 5 Conditional Holidays Annually
  • 1 Service Day Annually
  • 401k with 3.5% Company Match
  • Health, Vision, Dental Coverage
  • Life and Disability Insurance Covered 100% by NinjaTrader
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for Transit and Parking
  • Gym Membership

Location: This role is based in Chicago, IL. There may be remote flexibility for exceptional candidates in the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

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