Product Designer, Design Systems
Summary
A Product Designer who owns and evolves NZTE's design system — reusable components, patterns and documentation in Figma — to improve consistency, accessibility and quality across customer-facing digital products like myNZTE, partnering with product and dev teams and exploring how AI can shape design practice.
This role is based in New Zealand within commuting range of our offices, Wellington (preferred)
Who we are
At New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), our purpose is to help New Zealand businesses grow internationally, bigger, better, faster. Every day, we work alongside ambitious businesses, helping them take on new markets, seize new opportunities and create greater prosperity for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our digital products are an important part of that journey. They connect businesses with the insights, tools and support they need to succeed globally. We're investing in strengthening our digital experiences and are looking for a passionate Product Designer, Design Systems to help shape the foundations that enable great design at scale.
What you'll be doing
Design systems sit at the heart of great digital experiences. We are proud of the work so far that we have achieved through our digital platform myNZTE and are looking for someone who will continue raising the bar in how we provide salient and impactful advice that empowers Kiwi exporters to take on the world stage.
In this role, you'll help create consistency, quality and efficiency across NZTE's customer-facing digital products. You'll work closely with designers, developers and product teams to ensure our products feel connected, intuitive and accessible for customers.
The most important work of this role is to:
- Own and evolve NZTE's design system, including reusable components, patterns and documentation.
- Improve consistency, accessibility and quality across our digital products.
- Partner with product and technology teams to ensure design solutions are delivered to a high standard.
- Explore emerging technologies and help shape how AI can be thoughtfully incorporated into design practice.
What you'll need to be successful
We're looking for someone who genuinely cares about design craft and enjoys refining the details that elevate a good experience into a great one. You'll be naturally curious, enjoy solving complex problems, and understand how individual design decisions contribute to a larger system.
Our ideal candidate will:
- Bring strong UI design capability and experience designing within or contributing to design systems.
- Be proficient in Figma and comfortable creating scalable component libraries and design patterns.
- Demonstrate systems thinking and an ability to balance customer needs, business goals and platform consistency.
- Be curious about AI, emerging technologies and the future of digital design.
You may come from a dedicated design systems background or broader product design experience. What matters most is your passion for great design, your commitment to quality, and your ability to work collaboratively with others.
Why you'll love working here
This is an opportunity to work on products that support businesses across New Zealand and make a genuine contribution to New Zealand's economic success.
You'll have the chance to influence the future of NZTE's digital experiences, help grow our design maturity, and contribute to how AI-enabled ways of working evolve within our design practice. You'll be surrounded by smart, supportive people who value collaboration, experimentation and continuous improvement.
At NZTE, we embrace diverse perspectives, flexible ways of working and lifelong learning. We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we're committed to helping them thrive.
What's next
Before applying, we encourage you to explore NZTE's digital products and customer experiences on Grow your business overseas - myNZTE and via the position description - here. We want to hear from people who are excited about the opportunity to improve the way New Zealand businesses interact with NZTE.
Please apply with your resume and cover letter telling us why this opportunity interests you; with your portfolio showcasing relevant product design and design systems work.
Applications close Wednesday 23 September, 11:59pm NZST.
Applicants must be legally entitled to live and work in New Zealand.
We believe New Zealand is good for the World. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is an equal opportunity employer. At NZTE it is all about our people and we seek diversity of thought; we welcome and encourage you to apply regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodiversity or disability. If we need to make specific accommodations in any part of the interview process, please note this in your application or discuss with the Talent Acquisition Partner.
Skills
As published by lever · 15 questions · 5 written answers
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Please confirm your age range:, Please confirm what ethnicity you identify as:Select all that apply, Please let us know what gender you identify as:, Please confirm if you experience any of the following:
Short answers (1)
- If you are currently working, how long is your resignation notice period?
Pick from a list (7)
- Are you currently legally entitled to work in the advertised location of this position? optional
- Do you have an injury or illness which may affect your ability to carry out the position you are applying for? optional
- Do you have any criminal charges pending or have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence either in New Zealand or overseas, not including those concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004? If you want to know more about what this means for you, check the Ministry of Justice website www.justice.govt.nz optional
- Do you consent to the disclosure to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise of whether you have been subject to a serious misconduct investigation, either concluded and upheld or currently under investigation, from all previous Public Service and statutory Crown entity employers for the last three years? This will usually be conducted at the preferred candidate stage. optional
- Some of our roles require travel. Do you currently possess a full driver's licence? optional
- If your application is progressed, you will need to disclose if you hold shares in a NZ business that we engage with. You don’t need to tell us now, but please indicate if you have an interest or shares in a NZ business and we will discuss this with you at a later stage in the process and how NZTE could manage any potential conflicts of interest. optional
- Declaration optional
Written answers (5)
- If you hold a work visa or a student visa please enter the expiry date and any conditions optional
- As part of NZTE's commitment to diversity and inclusion, where possible, we aim for ethnically diverse longlists of applicants for all roles. To support this commitment, we invite you to share your ethnicity information (please note: this question answer is optional). Please confirm what ethnicity (or ethnicities) you identify as. If New Zealand or Cook Islands Māori, please include your Iwi. optional
- If you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence either in New Zealand or overseas please provide details here
- What salary or salary range would you expect in this role (inclusive of superannuation/benefits/bonuses)? Are you open to negotiation?
- How did you find out about this opportunity? (Please list specific job site)
Attachments (2)
- Please add your cover letter here
- Please submit your portfolio showcasing relevant product design and design systems work here.