Assistant Manager, Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Assistant Manager, Product Designer

Company: ST Engineering Group

Location: Digital Hub, SG (Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: April 22, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (8+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user-centered design initiatives across the entire product lifecycle, from initial research to post-launch enhancements.

• Champion user needs and advocate for user experience best practices within cross-functional teams and client engagements.

• Drive product strategy and direction through rigorous user research, analysis, and validation of assumptions.

• Empower and mentor client design teams to build sustainable design capabilities and elevate their craft.

• Facilitate collaborative design processes, including workshops and co-creation sessions, to align stakeholders and drive decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Assistant Manager, Product Designer," the responsibilities and experience requirements (8+ years) suggest a senior individual contributor or a lead role rather than a traditional management position. The focus is on leading design execution and mentorship, aligning with senior product design roles in consultancy settings. The location "Digital Hub, SG" mapped to "Aachen, Germany" indicates a specific operational presence in Germany within the ST Engineering Group.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and execute generative and evaluative user research methodologies, including user interviews, usability tests, and field studies, to deeply understand user problems and needs.

• Synthesize complex research findings into actionable insights that inform product strategy, validate hypotheses, and challenge existing assumptions.

• Lead the design process within cross-functional teams, translating user needs and business requirements into intuitive and scalable user experiences from concept through high-fidelity mockups.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and visual designs, ensuring a cohesive and effective user journey.

• Design and facilitate impactful co-creation workshops, such as journey mapping and design studios, involving diverse client and stakeholder groups to foster alignment and innovation.

• Present design work and strategic recommendations to senior leadership, effectively facilitating decision-making processes.

• Provide direct coaching and mentorship to client designers through daily pairing, tailoring enablement strategies to individual strengths, learning styles, and developmental gaps.

• Cultivate a psychologically safe environment that encourages experimentation, constructive feedback, and continuous improvement of design craft within teams.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across product offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic user advocacy, and significant client enablement. This aligns with a senior-level product designer role in a consultancy or a strategic design function within a larger enterprise. The mention of "Mission Software & Services" and "C3 systems" suggests a focus on complex, mission-critical software applications, likely for defense, government, or commercial sectors.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and extensive experience in design are paramount. A degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial for understanding technical constraints and user psychology.

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience across the full product design lifecycle, encompassing user research, interaction design, visual design, prototyping, and post-launch iteration. Experience in a consultancy or client-facing capacity is a key requirement.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design (UCD): Deep understanding and practical application of UCD principles throughout the product lifecycle.

• User Research: Proficiency in conducting generative and evaluative research, including user interviews, usability testing, and field studies.

• Interaction Design: Ability to define user flows, information architecture, and interaction models for complex systems.

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sensibility and the ability to create clear, compelling visual interfaces.

• Prototyping: Expertise in creating interactive prototypes at various fidelities using tools like Figma.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems.

• Consultancy/Client-Facing Experience: Proven ability to work effectively with external clients, manage relationships, and deliver design solutions in a client-centric environment.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Demonstrated ability to enable and develop junior designers through pairing, workshops, and formal mentorship.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to design solutions with an understanding of broader system impacts and scalability.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Thinking: Familiarity with Design Thinking frameworks and their application in problem-solving.

• Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD): Understanding of the JTBD framework for identifying user needs.

• Service Design: Experience in designing end-to-end service experiences.

• WCAG & Inclusive Design: Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles to ensure products are usable by all.

• Workshop Facilitation: Experience designing and leading workshops (e.g., journey mapping, design studios) with diverse stakeholder groups.

• SG Government Design System (SGDS): Familiarity with SGDS and related government design standards.

• SHIP-HATS: Knowledge of or experience with SHIP-HATS (Smart Health Information Platform - Healthcare Analytics and Telemedicine Services).

• Singapore Government Agency Experience: Prior work with government agencies in Singapore.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills clearly point to a senior product designer with a strong foundation in research and interaction design, coupled with essential consulting skills. The preferred skills highlight a specific advantage if candidates have experience with Singaporean government digital initiatives, suggesting potential project focus areas for this role within ST Engineering.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating a strong user-centered design process.

• Case studies must clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process undertaken (including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing), key decisions made, and the impact of the design solutions.

• Evidence of experience in a consultancy or client-facing capacity, highlighting your ability to manage stakeholder expectations and deliver client-focused outcomes.

• Examples of work that demonstrate proficiency in Figma, including complex user flows, interactive prototypes, and potentially design system components.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, including user journey maps, research findings summaries, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Highlight instances where you've contributed to or maintained design systems, providing examples of components, guidelines, or style guides.

• Illustrate experience with iterative design processes, including how you incorporated feedback and iterated on designs post-launch or post-testing.

• Provide examples of how you've facilitated design workshops or co-creation sessions, including agendas, participant engagement strategies, and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior product design role, especially one with consultancy aspects, a robust portfolio demonstrating a mature design process, strong problem-solving skills, and client-facing experience is critical. The emphasis on Figma and design systems, alongside research synthesis, indicates the technical and strategic expectations for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (8+ years), the Assistant Manager title, and the location (Aachen, Germany), a competitive salary range for a Product Designer in this region typically falls between €65,000 and €90,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the seniority, specialized skills (Figma, user research, consultancy), and the cost of living in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Benefits:

• Competitive remuneration package.

• Comprehensive benefits package, which may include:

  • Health insurance and wellness programs.

  • Retirement savings plans or contributions.

  • Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.

  • Professional development opportunities and training.

  • Potential for performance-based bonuses. Working Hours: A standard full-time work week, typically around 40 hours, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team agreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for the German market at this experience level and role complexity. Actual compensation will depend on specific candidate qualifications, negotiation, and ST Engineering's internal compensation structure. The benefits are based on standard offerings for full-time positions in Germany and the mention of "comprehensive benefits" in the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Defence, and Engineering. ST Engineering Group operates across diverse sectors including aerospace, smart city solutions, defense, and public security, demonstrating a broad technological and engineering footprint. The "Mission Software & Services" business specifically focuses on command, control, and communications (C3) systems, secured IT infrastructure, and managed services, utilizing cloud computing, analytics, and AI.

Company Size: ST Engineering Group is a large, global organization, ranking among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. This indicates a significant operational scale, with established processes and a wide reach across multiple continents.

Founded: Over 50 years ago. This long history signifies stability, deep industry expertise, and a proven track record in technology and engineering solutions.

Team Structure: The role is within the "Mission Software & Services" business unit. While the exact team size isn't specified, it's likely a dedicated unit focused on developing and delivering mission-critical C3 systems. The Assistant Manager, Product Designer will work within cross-functional teams, collaborating with engineers, product managers, researchers, and potentially client stakeholders. The role also involves coaching client design teams, suggesting a strong emphasis on external collaboration and capability building.

Methodology: The business unit emphasizes "design thinking, analytics, and AI-enabled decision support" to provide "intelligent, actionable insights and sustainable solutions." The product designer role explicitly leverages user-centered design, generative research, and iterative design processes. The company values are Integrity, Value Creation, Courage, Commitment, and Compassion, which guide their business and culture.

Company Website: https://www.stengg.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Given ST Engineering's global presence and focus on defense and government sectors, the "Mission Software & Services" business likely operates with a high degree of rigor, security, and a focus on long-term, impactful solutions. The company's established history and size suggest a structured environment where process and quality are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior individual contributor or lead level, indicated by the 8+ years of experience requirement and the responsibility for leading user-centered design and coaching others. As an "Assistant Manager," it suggests a stepping stone towards more senior design leadership roles, potentially a Design Lead or Head of Design in a specific product area or business unit.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Product, or a Senior Leader within the Mission Software & Services business unit. They will collaborate closely with product managers, engineering leads, and potentially project managers. The role also involves significant interaction with external client teams, requiring strong communication and influence skills.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is crucial for ensuring that ST Engineering's mission-critical systems are not only functional and secure but also usable and effective for end-users. By championing user-centered design and coaching client teams, this role directly contributes to the successful adoption, efficiency, and overall value proposition of the company's software solutions, impacting client satisfaction and operational outcomes in defense, government, and commercial sectors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Progression to a Design Lead or Managerial role, overseeing larger design initiatives or teams.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like complex systems design, C3 systems, or user research methodologies.

• Consultancy Expertise: Develop advanced skills in client engagement, stakeholder management, and strategic design consulting.

• Cross-Business Unit Mobility: Opportunities to contribute to design efforts in other ST Engineering business segments (aerospace, smart city, etc.).

• Mentorship & Enablement: Further develop coaching and training capabilities, potentially leading design enablement programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Assistant Manager" title, combined with the senior experience requirement and coaching responsibilities, points to a role that bridges senior individual contribution with emergent leadership. Growth opportunities would likely focus on deepening design expertise, expanding influence, and potentially moving into formal leadership or strategic consulting roles within ST Engineering.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is based at the "Digital Hub, SG" in Aachen, Germany, implying a modern, potentially collaborative workspace designed for technology and innovation teams. It is an on-site role, suggesting a physical office environment.

Office Location(s): Digital Hub, SG (Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). This location suggests a presence within a tech-focused hub, potentially offering networking opportunities and access to a skilled talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic, cross-functional team setting where collaboration with engineers, product managers, and potentially clients is frequent. The role involves facilitating workshops and co-creation sessions, underscoring the importance of interactive workspaces.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, and other collaborative platforms necessary for effective design work. The company's focus on advanced technologies implies a modern tech stack.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for direct interaction with design peers, product teams, and leadership, fostering a culture of shared learning and feedback. The emphasis on coaching client teams also means significant external interaction.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with standard working hours likely aligned with local German business practices (e.g., ~40 hours per week). While on-site, there may be some flexibility. However, the consultancy aspect and client-facing responsibilities might require adaptability to meet project deadlines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Digital Hub" designation suggests an environment geared towards innovation and modern work practices. As an on-site role, it emphasizes direct collaboration and the benefits of a shared physical workspace for team cohesion and idea generation. The Aachen location positions the role within a significant region for technology and engineering in Germany.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a senior design role at a global technology company like ST Engineering would likely involve:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, discussing design process, problem-solving, and specific project details. This may include a design exercise or challenge.

• Cross-Functional Interview: Meeting with potential team members (e.g., product managers, engineers) to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.

• Leadership/Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager or senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.

• Final Round/Offer: Potential final discussions and offer negotiation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end product design capabilities, research skills, Figma proficiency, and consultancy experience.

• Highlight Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project. Use visuals to illustrate key stages: user research findings, problem definition, ideation, wireframes, prototypes, usability testing, and final design solutions.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success and impact of your designs (e.g., improved usability, increased adoption rates, positive user feedback).

• Showcase Figma Expertise: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your advanced skills in Figma, including complex interactions, component usage, and potentially design system work.

• Explain Your Role: Be explicit about your specific contributions, especially in team projects, and highlight instances where you led design efforts or mentored others.

• Address Consultancy: If applicable, showcase projects where you managed client relationships, navigated stakeholder feedback, and delivered solutions in a client-facing context.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared for potential design challenges that may involve problem-solving, ideation, or critiquing an existing design, likely within the domain of mission-critical software or complex systems.

• Structure Your Approach: For any design exercise, outline your problem-solving framework, research approach (even if hypothetical), ideation methods, and how you would validate solutions.

• Think Systems: Consider the broader system implications and scalability of your proposed solutions, aligning with ST Engineering's focus on robust engineering.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process, design decisions, and rationale concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio, detailed case studies, and the ability to articulate a user-centered process are paramount for this role. Given the consultancy aspect and the focus on complex systems, candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, and effective stakeholder communication.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly listed as an expert-level requirement for design, prototyping, collaboration, and potentially design system management.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficient with various prototyping tools beyond Figma, allowing for flexibility in creating different fidelity prototypes.

• Collaborative Platforms: Familiarity with platforms for team collaboration, project management, and communication (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) and understanding how to interpret data to inform design decisions would be highly valuable for validating designs and understanding user behavior.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly mentioned as a core requirement for the designer role, but an understanding of how design integrates with broader business systems (like CRM or automation platforms) could be beneficial, especially in a consultancy context.

• Experience with integration tools or platforms that connect different software components might be a plus for understanding the technical landscape of mission-critical systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the required toolset. The role implies a need for a designer who is not only proficient in creating interfaces but also in using advanced features of design tools for collaboration, prototyping, and potentially system design. Understanding the broader technical ecosystem, even if not directly using CRM/automation tools, is beneficial for designing integrated solutions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity: Upholding honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all design work and client interactions.

• Value Creation: Focusing on delivering design solutions that provide tangible business value and solve real-world problems for users and clients.

• Courage: Being bold in advocating for user needs, challenging assumptions, and proposing innovative solutions, even when difficult.

• Commitment: Dedication to project success, client satisfaction, and continuous improvement of design craft and processes.

• Compassion: Empathy towards users, colleagues, and clients, fostering a supportive and understanding work environment.

Collaboration Style:

• User-Centric & Empathetic: A strong focus on understanding and advocating for the user's perspective in all design and collaboration efforts.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working seamlessly with product managers, engineers, researchers, and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Coaching & Enablement: A proactive approach to sharing knowledge, mentoring, and empowering others to improve their design capabilities.

• Data-Informed & Evidence-Based: Utilizing research insights and data to guide design decisions and validate outcomes.

• Iterative & Experimental: Embracing a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and feedback to refine designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: ST Engineering's core values are deeply integrated into their operations. For a product designer, this means not only technical proficiency but also a commitment to ethical design, user advocacy, and collaborative problem-solving. The emphasis on coaching and enabling others highlights a culture that values knowledge sharing and team development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex Systems: Working with mission-critical command, control, and communications (C3) systems requires a deep understanding of complex requirements, security considerations, and user workflows in high-stakes environments.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical/Business Constraints: Effectively advocating for user experience while navigating technical limitations, security protocols, and business objectives inherent in defense and government projects.

• Enabling Client Capabilities: Successfully coaching and mentoring diverse client design teams, adapting to their existing skill levels and organizational culture to foster lasting design capability.

• Navigating Ambiguous Consultancy Environments: Thriving in a client-facing role that often involves evolving project scopes, diverse stakeholder needs, and the need for rapid adaptation.

• Staying Current with Technology: Keeping pace with advancements in design tools, methodologies, and emerging technologies relevant to ST Engineering's portfolio.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like complex interaction design, information architecture for large-scale systems, and advanced user research methods.

• Industry Trends & Certifications: Potential for ST Engineering to support participation in industry conferences, workshops, and relevant certifications in design, UX, or specific technology domains.

• Leadership Development: Acquiring skills in team leadership, project management, client relationship management, and strategic design consulting.

• Cross-Domain Exposure: Learning about the unique challenges and user needs within ST Engineering's diverse sectors (defense, smart city, aerospace).

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in complex, mission-critical technology environments, particularly within a consultancy framework. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening technical and leadership skills, making this a role with significant potential for professional development in specialized areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Strategy & Methodology: "Describe a time you led user research for a complex system. How did you synthesize your findings to influence product direction, and what was the outcome?" (Be prepared to discuss your research methods, synthesis process, and ability to translate insights into actionable design.)

• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "How do you approach coaching less experienced designers or client teams? Can you provide an example of a challenging stakeholder interaction and how you managed it to achieve a positive design outcome?" (Focus on your communication, mentorship, and conflict-resolution skills.)

• Problem-Solving & Efficiency: "Imagine you're tasked with redesigning a critical dashboard for mission operators. What are the first steps you would take, and how would you ensure the design is both efficient and error-proof?" (Demonstrate your structured problem-solving approach, focus on user workflows, and understanding of high-stakes environments.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Operations & Culture: "Based on your understanding of ST Engineering and the Mission Software & Services unit, how would your design philosophy and approach contribute to our goals of providing intelligent, actionable insights?" (Research ST Engineering's mission, values, and business objectives. Connect your design principles to their strategic aims.)

• Team Dynamics & Collaboration: "How do you foster psychological safety and encourage constructive feedback within a design team or during client workshops?" (Highlight your experience in creating inclusive environments and facilitating effective collaboration.)

• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your design work, especially in a consultancy context where long-term impact might be harder to track immediately?" (Discuss your methods for evaluating design effectiveness, user satisfaction, and business value, linking back to ST Engineering's value creation.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the key decisions, and the measurable impact. Use a consistent structure.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be ready to navigate your Figma files live (if requested) or present detailed screenshots/recordings that highlight your advanced skills, component usage, and prototyping capabilities.

• Emphasize Consultancy: If applicable, clearly differentiate your contributions in client projects and demonstrate your ability to manage client expectations and deliver value.

• Tell a Story: Engage your interviewers by telling a compelling story about each project, focusing on the user's journey and how your design solved their problems.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, research methodologies, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and an understanding of ST Engineering's mission and values. The portfolio is a critical tool; candidates must be able to articulate their process, decisions, and impact effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Assistant Manager, Product Designer position:

• Visit the ST Engineering Group careers portal at https://careers.stengg.com/ and locate the job posting to submit your application.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest end-to-end product design case studies that highlight your user-centered design process, Figma proficiency, and any consultancy experience. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, solutions, and impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to emphasize keywords relevant to product design, user research, interaction design, Figma, design systems, and consultancy. Quantify your achievements where possible, showcasing your impact on projects.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, rationale behind key decisions, and the outcomes achieved. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research, stakeholder management, and mentorship.

• Research ST Engineering: Familiarize yourself with ST Engineering Group's mission, values, and the specific focus of the Mission Software & Services business unit. Understand their commitment to technology, defense, and public security sectors.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.