Lead Product Designer (all genders) for reev

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer (all genders) for reev

Company: Future Energy Ventures

Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: July 03, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end product experience for reev, a key portfolio company of Future Energy Ventures, focusing on intuitive and impactful design solutions.

• Establish and scale the design function from its foundation, defining design culture, workflows, and implementing robust design systems.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Engineers throughout the product development lifecycle, from discovery to delivery.

• Leverage both qualitative and quantitative user insights to rigorously inform design decisions and validate solutions that drive significant business impact and user value.

• Integrate emerging AI-powered design tools to enhance creative output and optimize the efficiency of the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Lead" Product Designer, indicating a significant opportunity to build and shape the design function from the ground up. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership" and "scaling the design function" suggests a strategic leadership component, requiring not just design execution but also the ability to define processes, mentor others, and influence design direction within the organization. The role's focus on B2B SaaS and complex product ecosystems, combined with the industry (eMobility and energy), points to a need for sophisticated problem-solving and a deep understanding of user needs within a technical and regulated environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the complete product experience across reev's portfolio, ensuring outstanding usability, consistency, and visual excellence.

• Build and scale the design function from scratch, establishing best practices for design culture, workflows, and future team growth.

• Collaborate hands-on with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Engineers from discovery through delivery, transforming complex challenges into inspired prototypes and high-fidelity designs.

• Utilize qualitative and quantitative insights to inform design decisions and validate solutions that achieve key business objectives and enhance user value.

• Explore and integrate emerging and AI-powered design tools to boost creativity and efficiency across the entire design process.

• Translate complex requirements into thought-through user experiences, demonstrating deep UX thinking and refined visual craft.

• Mentor junior designers and effectively collaborate with external agencies and freelancers to augment design capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: hands-on design execution and strategic leadership in building the design function. This implies the need for a candidate who can both "do" and "lead," setting standards, defining processes, and fostering a strong design culture while also being a primary contributor to the design output. The mention of "disrupt and evolve" suggests an expectation for proactive innovation rather than just incremental improvements.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a Lead Product Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in designing digital products, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in B2B SaaS or complex product ecosystems.

• Proven track record of owning and delivering end-to-end product experiences.

• Experience in building and scaling design functions, including establishing design systems and workflows.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Expertise in end-to-end product design, from concept to delivery, for digital products.

• UX Research & Insights: Ability to leverage qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating intuitive prototypes and high-fidelity designs.

• Visual Design & Craft: A refined sense of visual aesthetics and a strong portfolio showcasing design execution.

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

• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Engineers.

• Communication & Storytelling: Strong skills in articulating design decisions and influencing stakeholders.

• Mentoring: Experience in guiding and developing other designers.

• Figma Proficiency: High proficiency in Figma for design and prototyping.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: Curiosity and willingness to explore and integrate AI tools into the design workflow.

Preferred Skills:

• B2B SaaS Experience: Direct experience designing for business-to-business software solutions.

• Complex Product Ecosystems: Experience navigating and designing for intricate product suites.

• EV Charging/Energy Market Knowledge: Genuine curiosity and understanding of the eMobility and energy sector.

• German Language Proficiency: A significant plus for enhanced communication and integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7+ years of experience, coupled with the "Lead" title, strongly suggests this is a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic responsibilities. The emphasis on "building and scaling the design function from the ground up" indicates that candidates who have experience in establishing design processes, mentoring, and setting up design systems in earlier-stage or growing companies will be highly valued. The specific mention of Figma and AI design tools points to the need for modern skillsets.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio demonstrating deep UX thinking, refined visual craft, and the ability to translate complex requirements into well-thought-out user experiences.

• Case studies showcasing end-to-end product design ownership, highlighting problem definition, design process, iteration, and final outcomes.

• Examples of how user insights (qualitative and quantitative) were integrated into the design process to drive decisions and impact.

• Demonstration of experience in setting up or contributing to design systems, including components, guidelines, and their application.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of experience in defining and documenting design workflows from discovery to delivery.

• Examples of how design processes were adapted or created to fit specific project needs or team structures.

• Demonstration of how design processes were integrated with engineering and product management workflows.

• Showcase of how design systems documentation was created and maintained to ensure consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. It needs to go beyond showcasing pretty interfaces. Applicants must demonstrate a strategic approach to design, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to influence product direction. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership," "scaling the design function," and "transforming complex problems" means portfolios should highlight projects where the candidate took significant initiative, navigated ambiguity, and delivered measurable impact. Including examples of how they've influenced process or mentored others would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead Product Designer with 7+ years of experience in Munich, Germany, the estimated annual salary range is typically between €75,000 and €100,000. This can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, the company's financial health, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Holiday Entitlement: 28 days of holiday per year, plus additional days off between Christmas and New Year.

• Onboarding: Comprehensive cross-team onboarding and an assigned onboarding buddy for smooth integration.

• Wellness & Wellbeing: Free access to the platform nilo and its offerings; EGYM Wellpass membership for fitness and wellness.

• Sustainable Commuting: Subsidized public transport tickets or a JobRad (company bicycle) membership.

• Learning & Development: A dedicated learning budget of €1,000 per year for individual learning needs, plus extensive non-monetary growth options.

• Team & Culture: Monthly team events and cross-office visits to foster collaboration and team spirit.

• Employee Benefits Platforms: Access to benefits through cooperations with FutureBens and Corporate Benefits.

• Hybrid Work: A flexible hybrid work setup, balancing remote work with collaborative office days.

Working Hours: The standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement that allows for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for Lead Product Designer roles in Munich, Germany, considering the experience level (5-10 years). Benefits are comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, professional development, and sustainable practices, aligning with modern tech company offerings. The inclusion of a specific learning budget is a significant perk for career growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Energy, Environmental & Sustainability, Software. reev operates within the rapidly growing eMobility sector, focusing on smart energy and charging management platforms. Future Energy Ventures invests in companies driving the energy transition.

Company Size: Future Energy Ventures is an established venture capital firm, and reev, as a portfolio company, is likely a growing scale-up. The description implies reev is a significant operation with over 6,000 B2B clients, suggesting a team size that supports this scale, potentially ranging from 50-200 employees.

Founded: Future Energy Ventures was founded in 2016. The founding of reev itself is not specified, but its operational success in 2024 indicates it's an established entity within the FEV portfolio.

Team Structure:

• The design function is being built from the ground up, suggesting a foundational team structure where the Lead Product Designer will be instrumental in shaping it.

• Collaboration is highly emphasized, with close partnerships expected between Product Management, UX Research, and Engineering.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes leveraging qualitative and quantitative insights to inform design decisions, indicating a data-informed approach.

• Agile Development: Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers suggests an agile or iterative development methodology.

• User-Centricity: A core focus on creating intuitive, impactful designs that delight customers points to a strong user-centric design philosophy.

• Innovation: The exploration of emerging and AI-powered design tools highlights a commitment to innovation and efficiency.

Company Website: https://fev.vc/ (Future Energy Ventures), and reev's platform details are integrated into the job description.

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Future Energy Ventures as an investor in sustainable energy solutions provides a strong mission-driven backdrop for reev. For a designer, this means working on products with a tangible positive impact on the environment and the energy transition. The "building from the ground up" aspect for the design function is a key differentiator, offering a unique opportunity for influence and shaping the future of design at reev.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, designated as "Lead Product Designer." It signifies a significant step beyond individual contributor roles, requiring leadership in design strategy, execution, and team building. The scope includes owning the product experience end-to-end and establishing the design function's infrastructure.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Lead Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Product, VP of Product, or potentially a CTO/CPO in a company of reev's implied size. They would be responsible for guiding and mentoring other designers within their team.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the user experience and usability of reev's platform. By creating intuitive and delightful designs, they will drive customer satisfaction, adoption, and retention, which are critical metrics for B2B SaaS success. Their work will also influence the company's ability to attract and retain clients in the competitive eMobility market. The focus on AI and emerging technologies suggests an impact on future-proofing the product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and lead a design team, defining its structure, processes, and culture. This is a significant step towards a Head of Design or Design Director role.

• Strategic Influence: Shape the product vision and strategy by translating complex user needs and business goals into effective design solutions.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the eMobility and energy management sector, becoming a specialist in a high-growth, impactful industry.

• Skill Expansion: Continuously explore and integrate new design tools, including AI-powered technologies, to stay at the forefront of the design field.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain experience in influencing cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering) and driving design best practices across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path here is substantial, offering a chance to define a discipline within a growing company. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they would build a design team, establish a design system, and integrate design thinking into a product development culture. The "Lead" title implies not just managing projects but also managing people and strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates on a hybrid work setup, indicating a blend of remote and in-office work. Office days are considered crucial for achieving meaningful results and fostering collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Munich, Bavaria, Germany. This provides a central hub for in-person collaboration and team events.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on "office days" suggest a culture that values in-person interaction, brainstorming, and team cohesion. Monthly team events and cross-office visits further enhance this collaborative spirit.

• Tools & Technology: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is expected, with an openness to adopting and integrating AI-powered design technologies. Access to necessary hardware and software for design work is assumed.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with Product Managers, UX Researchers, Engineers, and potentially other designers (as the function scales) is integral to the role. The "onboarding buddy" system also facilitates integration into the team.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected, with the flexibility afforded by the hybrid work arrangement. This setup aims to balance productivity with work-life integration, allowing for focused work both remotely and collaboratively in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with this arrangement and understand the value the company places on in-office collaboration for achieving strategic goals. The emphasis on team events and cross-office visits suggests a company that actively invests in building a strong, connected team culture, even within a dispersed working model.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on key case studies that demonstrate UX thinking, visual craft, and end-to-end ownership. This will likely involve discussion about design decisions, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: Potential for a design exercise or a deeper dive into specific skills like Figma, design systems, or AI tool integration. This might involve a take-home assignment or a live design challenge.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Engineers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work within a cross-functional team.

• Leadership & Culture Fit: Interviews with senior leadership to evaluate leadership potential, strategic thinking, cultural alignment with Future Energy Ventures and reev, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and impact. Prioritize B2B SaaS or complex product examples if available.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, the challenges encountered, the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact (metrics are key!).

• Showcase UX Thinking: Detail your research methods, user journey mapping, wireframing process, and how you iterated based on feedback and data.

• Highlight Visual Craft: Ensure high-fidelity mockups and prototypes are polished and visually compelling.

• Design System Experience: If applicable, include examples of your contribution to or creation of design systems.

• AI & Emerging Tech: If you've experimented with AI design tools, be ready to discuss your findings and potential applications.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently within the allocated time.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research the eMobility and energy management industry, understanding key challenges and user needs.

• Design Thinking: Be ready to apply design thinking principles to a given problem, focusing on user empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

• Process & Collaboration: Consider how you would approach building a design function from scratch, establishing workflows, and collaborating with remote and in-office teams.

• AI Integration: Think about how AI tools could be leveraged to solve specific design challenges or improve efficiency in the context of reev's products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be comprehensive, assessing both hard design skills and soft leadership capabilities. The portfolio review is a critical gate. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but why and how it drove value, especially in a B2B context. The emphasis on building the design function means preparation should also include thoughts on design strategy, team building, and process definition.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. High proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: Curiosity and willingness to explore and integrate emerging AI tools (e.g., for content generation, image creation, design exploration, workflow automation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar for understanding user behavior, tracking conversions, and measuring product performance.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools for creating dashboards and reports (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) to present insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for B2B SaaS roles, especially regarding user onboarding and engagement flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI-powered design tools is significant. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and enthusiasm for these technologies. A strong understanding of how design outputs integrate into the broader product development pipeline, including analytics and potentially CRM, is also a valuable asset for a lead role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact & Vision: A strong desire to make a difference and contribute to changing something significant, aligning with reev's mission in eMobility and sustainable energy.

• Responsibility & Ownership: Each team member is responsible for their own work, fostering an environment of accountability and autonomy.

• Openness & Diversity: An inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and experiences, recognizing that uniqueness enriches the team and drives innovation.

• Collaboration: Working together across teams to achieve strategic company targets, with an emphasis on shared goals.

• Continuous Learning: A passion for development and growth, supported by individual learning needs, growth options, and a dedicated learning budget.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close collaboration with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Engineers is fundamental.

• User-Centric Problem Solving: A collective approach to understanding user needs and solving complex problems through design.

• Feedback & Iteration: An environment where feedback is exchanged and designs are iterated upon to achieve optimal outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights and best practices, particularly as the design function is established.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is geared towards individuals who are proactive, responsible, and driven by a mission. The emphasis on diversity and inclusivity is a strong signal. For a Lead Product Designer, demonstrating how they embody these values in their leadership and design approach will be crucial.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing a design function, including culture, processes, and a design system, for the first time requires significant strategic thinking and execution.

• Balancing Innovation & Scalability: Integrating cutting-edge AI tools while ensuring designs are robust, scalable, and meet the needs of a growing B2B SaaS product.

• Navigating a Complex Market: Understanding and designing for the nuances of the EV charging and energy market, which involves technical complexities and diverse user groups (B2B clients, electricians).

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring design vision and standards are understood and adopted across Product, Engineering, and other departments, especially in a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership & Team Building: Develop skills in hiring, mentoring, and managing a design team.

• Strategic Design Impact: Influence product strategy and business outcomes through impactful design leadership.

• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in the rapidly evolving eMobility and energy tech sector.

• Technology Adoption: Lead the adoption of new design technologies, particularly AI, within the organization.

• Professional Development: Utilize the €1,000 learning budget for courses, conferences, or certifications relevant to design leadership, AI, or the energy sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but also present substantial growth opportunities. Candidates looking for a role where they can truly build something and have a direct, measurable impact will find this appealing. The ability to proactively address these challenges through strategic planning and execution will be key to success.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach establishing a design function and design system from the ground up at reev?" (Focus on phases, key deliverables, team structure, and stakeholder buy-in.)

• "Describe a time you transformed a complex B2B SaaS problem into an intuitive user experience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight UX thinking, problem-solving, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you leverage qualitative and quantitative insights to inform design decisions? Provide an example." (Demonstrate data-driven design methodology.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about reev's mission and mission in the eMobility sector?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with the company's purpose.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative design culture, especially within a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss communication, feedback mechanisms, and team building.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each project, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact/Results.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you took initiative, led discussions, mentored others, or influenced product direction, even if not formally a "lead" in a previous role.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement uplift, time saved, customer satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the value of your design work.

• Visuals: Ensure your slides are clean, well-designed, and visually support your narrative. Use mockups, prototypes, user flows, and data visualizations effectively.

• Engagement: Be prepared for in-depth questions. Treat it as a collaborative discussion rather than a one-way presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also leadership potential, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to building processes and teams. Articulating how you would tackle the "building from scratch" challenge will be a key differentiator.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your comprehensive application through the provided link on join.com.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in end-to-end product design, B2B SaaS, design system implementation, and any leadership or mentoring responsibilities. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most impactful projects that showcase UX thinking, visual design, and measurable results, particularly those demonstrating ownership and complex problem-solving. Prepare a concise presentation.

• Research reev and Future Energy Ventures: Understand their mission, products, and the eMobility market. Formulate initial thoughts on design challenges and opportunities.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice articulating your design process, decisions, and the impact of your work clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss how you would build a design function.

⚠️ 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.

---