Lead Product Designer, Ads & Monetization

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace that connects businesses with highly skilled, AI-enabled independent talent from across the globe. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies rely on Upwork’s trusted platform and its mindful AI companion, Uma, to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With on-demand access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, Upwork enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams for the age of AI and beyond.

Upwork’s platform has facilitated more than $25 billion in economic opportunity for talent around the world. Learn more at Upwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

We’re looking for a Lead Product Designer to help shape the future of monetization on Upwork. You’ll design the experiences that power how we grow and evolve our advertising ecosystem, from surfacing the right work and talent at the right moment, to helping businesses connect with the best-fit freelancers through promoted listings, sponsored placements, and emerging ad formats.

This is a high-impact opportunity to influence the core revenue engine of a two-sided marketplace, working at the intersection of discovery, search, and performance-based design. You’ll lead end-to-end experiences that connect value to visibility and collaborate deeply with cross-functional partners to unlock new monetization pathways. Join us in reimagining how Upwork monetizes its platform—and make a lasting impact on how independent work thrives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design strategy and execution across the Ads & Monetization space, delivering high-quality product experiences that balance business goals with user value.
   

• Partner with product managers, engineers, and data scientists to identify opportunities to enhance visibility, promote relevance, and drive conversions through ads and sponsored placements.
   

• Translate complex monetization goals into intuitive, ethical, and user-centered design flows that integrate into core marketplace interactions.
   

• Prototype and test new ad formats, surfacing strategies, and placement mechanics with a bias toward experimentation and iteration.
   

• Leverage data and user insights to continuously improve performance-focused features and workflows, optimizing for both client and talent satisfaction.
   

• Collaborate across functions to ensure design consistency, clarity, and impact—building shared frameworks and scalable patterns.
   

• Contribute to Upwork’s design culture by mentoring peers, sharing best practices, and advocating for quality and customer impact.
   

What it takes to catch our eye

• Experience designing for monetization, advertising platforms, or performance marketing—ideally within a marketplace or search-heavy environment.
   

• Strong product thinking with a demonstrated ability to align design decisions with business metrics and growth goals.
   

• A portfolio that showcases user-first monetization design across web and/or mobile, with clarity on your role, thought process, and results.
   

• Proficiency in tools like Figma and comfort with rapid prototyping, experimentation frameworks, and working with data-rich interfaces.
   

• Familiarity with AI-powered systems, relevance models, or surfacing logic is a plus.
   

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 21 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page to learn more about opportunities at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.