Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: FREENOW

Location: Hamburg, Germany or Barcelona, Spain

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: June 13, 2025

Experience Level: Senior (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Flexible location in Hamburg or Barcelona)

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead the design process for a new strategic product focused on enabling traditional taxi dispatchers to scale operations by integrating with FREENOW's digital capabilities.
• Elevate the user experience across FREENOW's supply-focused products, potentially including the Taxi Driver app and back-office tools, through user-centered design and data-driven iteration.
• Champion experimentation and collaborate closely with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Data Analysts to define problem spaces, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and interpret results.
• Translate complex business requirements and user needs into intuitive conceptual designs, user journeys, and high-fidelity interfaces for web, iOS, and Android platforms.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Act as the primary UX subject-matter expert within cross-functional product development squads, providing design leadership and guidance throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead discovery and exploration phases by conducting user research, analyzing data, and collaborating with stakeholders to deeply understand user problems and business requirements.
• Craft high-quality, production-ready design assets, including wireframes, prototypes, and final UI designs, ensuring they adhere to design system standards and best practices.
• Facilitate brainstorming and product discovery sessions with diverse stakeholders to generate innovative solutions and build consensus around design direction.
• Support and mentor other Product Designers through design critiques, knowledge sharing, and guidance on design processes and best practices.
• Ensure quality and consistency across all product interfaces by working closely with engineering teams during implementation and advocating for adherence to the design system.
• Continuously use quantitative and qualitative data to challenge assumptions, validate design decisions, and identify opportunities for ongoing user experience improvements.
• Clearly articulate design vision, rationale, and ideas through effective verbal communication, written documentation, sketching, and rapid prototyping to various audiences, including leadership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies.

Experience: Approximately 3-5 years of professional experience as a Product Designer, with significant experience working in fast-paced environments such as startups or technology companies. A strong portfolio demonstrating successful product design outcomes and a solid design process is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing for complex web applications, iOS, and Android mobile platforms.
• Strong proficiency in working with and contributing to Design Systems to ensure product scalability, consistency, and efficiency.
• Exceptional ability to craft delightful, efficient, accessible, and scalable user interfaces with a keen eye for detail and visual design principles.
• Demonstrated experience in translating complex business requirements and user needs into intuitive and effective user flows and interaction designs.
• Experience utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data to inform, validate, and iterate on design decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and present ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
• Experience facilitating workshops, brainstorming sessions, and product discovery activities to align stakeholders and drive consensus.
• Proficiency in quickly converting ideas into tangible design artifacts (sketches, wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to support efficient communication and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Fluency in German (advanced or native level) to support communication within the Hamburg office and potentially with local stakeholders.
• Experience designing for B2B or marketplace platforms, particularly in the mobility or logistics sector.
• Familiarity with experimentation methodologies (A/B testing, multivariate testing) and interpreting results to inform design iterations.
• Experience working with remote or distributed design teams.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Include 3-5 detailed case studies showcasing end-to-end design processes for significant product features or initiatives.
• Clearly articulate the problem statement, user needs, business goals, and your role in addressing them.
• Demonstrate your iterative design process, including research methods, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Showcase high-fidelity UI designs and functional prototypes for web, iOS, and Android, highlighting attention to detail and adherence to design system principles.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to the research and discovery phase, including how you gathered user insights and defined the problem space.
• Illustrate your methods for ideation and iteration, showing exploration of different design solutions and rationale for chosen approaches.
• Explain your strategies for validation and testing, including how you collected user feedback and measured design effectiveness.
• Showcase how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering, Research, Data) throughout the design process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on market data for Senior Product Designer roles in Hamburg, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain, with 3-5 years of experience, the estimated annual gross salary range is typically between €60,000 and €85,000. This range can vary based on specific experience, skills, and negotiation. (Source: Based on Glassdoor, SalaryExpert, and other regional salary benchmarks for tech roles in these locations, adjusted for experience level and design specialization).

Benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements, offering flexibility in terms of work location (Hamburg or Barcelona) and potentially hours to support work-life balance.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning platform for continuous professional development and skill enhancement in design and related areas.
• Sabbatical and special leave policies providing opportunities for extended time off.
• Partnership with WeRoad, potentially offering travel or mobility-related benefits.
• Additional paid days off for your birthday, December 24th, and December 31st.
• Short-term EU work policy, allowing for temporary work from other EU locations.
• Mobility Credit, likely providing a budget for using FREENOW services or other mobility options.
• Health Insurance coverage to support employee well-being.
• Employee Assistance Program offering confidential support for personal and work-related challenges.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (typically around 40 hours per week), with flexibility supported by the flexible working arrangements policy. The design workflow allows for managing creative tasks and collaboration effectively within these hours.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Internet Marketplace Platforms / Mobility Tech. FREENOW operates in the competitive urban mobility sector, focusing on aggregating various transportation options within a single app. Design plays a critical role in creating seamless, intuitive experiences for both users (passengers) and suppliers (drivers, dispatchers), navigating complex logistics and diverse user needs across multiple markets.

Company Size: FREENOW has a significant employee base (501-1,000 employees according to LinkedIn). Working in a company of this size means designers often work within structured teams (squads), contribute to established design systems, and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across different departments.

Founded: 2009. Founded as mytaxi, the company has a history of evolving within the mobility sector, indicating a culture of adaptation and growth. This history likely influences the current design culture, which needs to balance innovation with maintaining and improving existing products.

Team Structure:

• Product designers likely work within cross-functional "squads" or teams, each focused on a specific area of the product (e.g., passenger experience, driver experience, new initiatives like the dispatcher product).
• Collaboration is key, working closely with Product Managers, Engineering Managers, Data Analysts, UX Researchers, and UX Writers.
• There is likely a dedicated UX or Design team reporting structure, potentially with Design Leads or Managers overseeing multiple squads and focusing on design consistency and talent development.

Methodology:

• The emphasis on experimentation, data analysis, and close collaboration with Product and Engineering points towards an Agile development methodology, likely incorporating aspects of Lean UX or Design Thinking.
• Design processes will involve user research (qualitative and quantitative), ideation, prototyping, user testing, and iterative refinement.
• Utilizing a Design System is explicitly mentioned, indicating a focus on efficiency, consistency, and scalability in the design process.

Company Website: http://www.free-now.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level role, indicating expectations for significant experience, independent work, leadership within a team context, and the ability to influence product direction through design. Senior designers are typically expected to mentor junior colleagues and contribute to improving design processes.

Reporting Structure: As a Senior Product Designer, you would likely report to a Design Lead or Design Manager within the UX or Product Design organization. You would work day-to-day within a specific cross-functional squad, collaborating closely with the Product Manager and Engineering Lead for that area.

Design Impact: Design has a high impact at FREENOW, directly influencing the user experience for millions of users (passengers and drivers) and contributing to the success of strategic initiatives like the new dispatcher product. Senior designers are expected to drive significant improvements and contribute to key business metrics through their design work.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for growth into a Design Lead or Manager role, taking on more responsibility for managing designers and shaping the design team's strategy.
• Opportunity to specialize in specific areas, such as complex B2B tools, platform design, or specific aspects of the user journey (e.g., booking, payments, support).
• Development of leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and leading design initiatives.
• Exposure to a wide range of design challenges in a dynamic, multi-market environment, fostering continuous learning and skill development.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid. The role offers flexibility to be based in either Hamburg, Germany or Barcelona, Spain, suggesting a blend of in-office and remote work. This indicates a company infrastructure that supports distributed teams and remote collaboration.

Office Location(s): Hamburg, Germany and Barcelona, Spain. Both cities are vibrant tech hubs with good accessibility. The choice of location offers flexibility for candidates based in either region or willing to relocate.

Design Workspace Context:

• In-office workspaces likely offer collaborative areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated design studio spaces to facilitate teamwork and creative sessions.
• The hybrid model suggests robust tools and infrastructure for remote collaboration, including video conferencing, online whiteboarding tools, and shared design platforms.
• Regular team meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional syncs will be conducted both in-person (when in the office) and remotely to maintain communication and collaboration.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours are likely expected, but the "flexible working arrangements" suggest some autonomy in managing your schedule, particularly in the context of a hybrid setup. Effective communication and coordination with the team across potentially different time zones (though Hamburg and Barcelona are in the same time zone) will be important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call with a recruiter to discuss your background, experience, and interest in the role. Prepare to articulate your career journey and key product design achievements.
• Portfolio review session with members of the design team (likely a Design Manager or Senior Designer). Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key case studies in detail, focusing on your process, decision-making, and impact.
• Design challenge or take-home exercise. This will likely involve a realistic product design problem related to FREENOW's domain. You'll be given a timeframe to complete it and present your solution. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving skills, design process, and rationale.
• Team interviews with cross-functional stakeholders (Product Manager, Engineering Lead, UX Researcher). These interviews will assess your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to work effectively within a squad. Prepare to discuss how you've partnered with these roles in the past.
• Final interview(s) with design leadership or hiring manager. This stage will likely focus on your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit within the FREENOW design organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select case studies that demonstrate your experience designing for complex problems and across multiple platforms (web, iOS, Android), as required by the role.
• Structure your case studies to clearly show your design process: problem -> research -> ideation -> prototyping -> testing -> iteration -> outcome/impact.
• Quantify the impact of your design work whenever possible (e.g., improvements in key metrics, user feedback, business outcomes).
• Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
• Highlight your collaboration with cross-functional teams and your contribution to the overall product strategy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Carefully read and understand the design challenge prompt. Ask clarifying questions if anything is unclear.
• Allocate your time effectively between research, ideation, design, and presentation preparation.
• Focus on demonstrating your design process and rationale, not just the final solution. Show your thinking.
• Prepare a clear and concise presentation that walks the interviewers through your process and solution.
• Be ready to discuss alternative solutions and trade-offs you considered.

ATS Keywords: Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, User Experience, User Interface, Design Systems, Mobile Design (iOS, Android), Web Design, User Research, Data-Driven Design, Experimentation, A/B Testing, Prototyping, Wireframing, Usability Testing, Information Architecture, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Design Thinking, Lean UX, Agile, Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Zeplin, Abstract, Collaboration, Communication, Stakeholder Management, Facilitation, Mentoring, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Accessibility, Scalability, Iteration, Discovery, Strategy, Mobility, Marketplace, B2B, SaaS, Hamburg, Barcelona, German (preferred).

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma or Sketch: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in at least one industry-standard tool is required, with Figma being increasingly common for its collaboration features and design system capabilities.
• Prototyping Tools (e.g., InVision, Principle, Figma's built-in tools): Necessary for creating interactive prototypes to test user flows and communicate design interactions.
• Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator): May be used for specific visual asset creation or manipulation, although primary UI work is usually in dedicated design tools.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Zeplin or Abstract: Tools for design handoff to engineering, ensuring specifications, assets, and code snippets are easily accessible and version-controlled.
• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Used for tracking design tasks, collaborating with engineering, and managing workflow within Agile sprints.
• Communication Tools (e.g., Slack, Google Meet, Zoom): Essential for daily communication, stand-ups, and remote collaboration, especially in a hybrid setup.

Research & Testing:

• User Research Platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Dovetail): Tools for conducting remote or in-person user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing research findings.
• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Google Analytics, Mixpanel): Used to analyze user behavior data, track the performance of design changes, and identify areas for improvement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and advocating for the needs of both passengers and drivers/dispatchers, the core users of FREENOW's platform.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Using quantitative and qualitative data to guide design choices, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of design solutions.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with cross-functional teams and making design work visible and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Quality & Consistency: Striving for high-quality, polished designs that are consistent with brand guidelines and the established design system.
• Experimentation & Iteration: Embracing an experimental approach to design, constantly testing and refining solutions based on feedback and data.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration within dedicated squads, working closely with Product, Engineering, and Research.
• Regular design critiques and feedback sessions within the design team to share work, get constructive feedback, and maintain quality standards.
• Proactive communication and stakeholder management to ensure alignment and gather input throughout the design process.
• Contribution to and utilization of a shared design system to facilitate efficient collaboration and maintain consistency.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Designing for a complex, multi-sided marketplace platform with diverse user groups (passengers, drivers, dispatchers) and varying needs across different markets.
• Building a brand new product (the dispatcher tool) from the ground up while ensuring seamless integration with existing FREENOW systems and maintaining a consistent user experience.
• Balancing the needs of traditional taxi dispatchers with modern digital capabilities and scaling solutions for a wide range of operational sizes and complexities.
• Working effectively within a hybrid and potentially distributed team structure across two different locations.
• Continuously iterating and improving existing products like the Taxi Driver app based on user feedback, data analysis, and evolving market demands.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in designing for complex B2B SaaS platforms within the mobility sector.
• Develop skills in designing for diverse international markets and understanding regional nuances in user behavior and operational requirements.
• Enhance leadership and mentoring skills by supporting other designers and leading design initiatives within your squad.
• Gain experience in championing experimentation and leveraging data to drive significant product outcomes.
• Opportunity to contribute to the evolution of FREENOW's design system and overall UX culture.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through a challenging product design project from your portfolio, detailing each stage of your process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration). Focus on your decision-making rationale and how you incorporated user feedback and data.
• Discuss a time you had to make a difficult design trade-off. Explain the factors you considered and the outcome.
• Describe your approach to working with a Design System. How do you utilize it, and how would you contribute to its evolution?
• Explain your methodology for conducting user research and incorporating findings into your designs. Provide specific examples of how research insights influenced your design decisions.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research FREENOW's values and mission. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values and working style align with the company culture, particularly the emphasis on collaboration, data, and user focus.
• Ask questions about the design team structure, collaboration patterns within squads, and the relationship between design, product, and engineering.
• Inquire about the design critique process and how feedback is given and received within the team.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Choose case studies that highlight your experience with the types of challenges mentioned in the job description (e.g., complex interfaces, platform design, B2B tools if applicable).
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, the process you followed, the key design decisions you made (and why), and the impact of your work.
• Use visuals effectively to illustrate your process, including sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI designs.
• Allocate sufficient time to discuss the research and data that informed your design choices.
• Be prepared to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your case studies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link on the FREENOW Greenhouse careers page.
• Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant experience as a Senior Product Designer, emphasizing your work on complex products, experience with design systems, data-informed design, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Use keywords from the ATS list provided.
• Prepare a compelling portfolio that showcases your best product design work, with detailed case studies that outline your process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your designs. Ensure easy navigation and clear presentation of your work.
• Craft a cover letter that specifically addresses your interest in FREENOW, your relevant experience designing for platforms and potentially B2B tools, and why you are excited about the opportunity to work on the new dispatcher product or other supply-focused initiatives. Mention your location preference (Hamburg or Barcelona) if applicable.
• Practice walking through your portfolio case studies to effectively communicate your design process and rationale during potential interviews.