Lead Product Designer - App Experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer - App Experience

Company: Jobgether (on behalf of a partner company)

Location: Portugal

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / App Experience Operations

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

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

Remote Status: Remote OK (Primary focus on Portugal-based talent)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end design of high-impact mobile app experiences focused on health and science-backed insights.

• Translate complex nutritional and behavioral data into intuitive, engaging, and clear user journeys for native iOS and Android platforms.

• Drive product direction from early discovery through to polished execution within cross-functional squads.

• Elevate design craft, usability, and impact by influencing both product experience and design culture.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, and data teams in a mission-driven, fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, the emphasis on translating complex data into user journeys, optimizing user flows for health outcomes, and collaborating with data teams suggests a strong need for operations-minded thinking within the design process. This role requires not just aesthetic and UX skills, but also an understanding of how design impacts user behavior and business objectives, aligning with GTM and RevOps principles of driving user adoption and engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the full product design lifecycle for mobile applications, from initial problem definition and exploration to final delivery and iterative improvements.

• Shape product strategy and direction by employing design thinking methodologies, actively participating in discovery phases beyond pure execution.

• Conceptualize and design native iOS and Android experiences, adhering to platform conventions, best practices, and user-centric interaction patterns.

• Create detailed UI and interaction designs, including sophisticated layouts, typography, motion graphics, and subtle micro-interactions that enhance user engagement.

• Foster deep collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Data Science teams to define problems, explore innovative solutions, and maximize product impact.

• Actively participate in design critiques, providing constructive feedback to peers and contributing to the continuous elevation of the team's design quality and standards.

• Ensure all design solutions are technically feasible, scalable, and strategically aligned with overarching business objectives and technical constraints.

• Translate complex scientific concepts (e.g., nutrition, behavioral science) into easily understandable and actionable insights for end-users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product input and detailed execution. The emphasis on "shaping solutions through design thinking, not just execution" and "actively contributing to product direction and discovery" indicates a need for a designer who can think critically about the product's goals and how design supports them, which is a key operational consideration for GTM success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of proven experience as a Product Designer, with a significant focus on end-to-end mobile application design.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and shipping consumer-facing (B2C) native mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms.

• Exceptional UI and interaction design skills, with a meticulous eye for detail, visual hierarchy, and overall clarity.

• Proven ability to navigate and excel in ambiguous environments, from early-stage ideation through to final, polished execution and delivery.

• Deep understanding of mobile design systems, platform-specific guidelines (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Material Design), and modern interaction patterns.

• Proficiency in using design as a strategic problem-solving tool, not merely as a visual execution function.

• Ability to think holistically about systems, user flows, and behavioral patterns, rather than focusing on isolated screens.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design decisions persuasively to diverse stakeholders.

• Experience working effectively within cross-functional squads alongside Product Managers and Engineers.

• Pragmatic, low-ego mindset with a strong sense of ownership and a commitment to follow-through on design initiatives.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in health, wellness, or behavioral science-related digital products.

• Familiarity with data analysis and A/B testing methodologies to inform design decisions.

• Experience with motion design and micro-interactions to enhance user engagement and feedback.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies and ability to integrate findings into the design process.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level, combined with "Lead" in the title, implies a senior individual contributor role with mentorship potential. The emphasis on "product sense" and "strategic thinking" suggests that candidates who can demonstrate how their designs contribute to business objectives (e.g., user retention, engagement metrics) will be highly valued, aligning with operational goals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end mobile app design projects, detailing your role and contributions from discovery to launch.

• Highlight specific case studies demonstrating how you translated complex data (e.g., scientific, behavioral) into intuitive user experiences.

• Include examples of native iOS and Android app designs, illustrating adherence to platform conventions and strong UI/UX principles.

• Present designs that reflect a systems-thinking approach, showing how individual screens connect into cohesive user flows and journeys.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured design process that includes user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iterative refinement.

• Provide examples of how you collaborate with product managers, engineers, and data teams throughout the design lifecycle.

• Illustrate your approach to creating and maintaining design systems or style guides for consistency and scalability.

• Show how you leverage data and user feedback to inform design iterations and optimizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Lead" role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to showcase not just design output, but also the candidate's strategic thinking, problem-solving methodology, and ability to influence product direction. The emphasis on translating complex data and driving user journeys aligns with operational goals of user adoption and retention.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (Portugal), experience level (5-10 years Lead), and remote-first nature, a competitive salary range for a Lead Product Designer in Portugal typically falls between €45,000 - €70,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Portugal, industry benchmarks for senior design roles, and the remote work flexibility offered. Precise compensation will depend on the specific partner company's compensation structure, the candidate's experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Remote-first working environment built on trust and flexibility.

• Opportunity to work on meaningful, science-driven products with a tangible real-world health impact.

• Collaboration with world-class experts across science, product, engineering, and design disciplines.

• High-impact role where you will significantly shape core user journeys within a fast-growing product.

• A culture that strongly emphasizes learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement.

• Robust cross-functional collaboration within a mission-driven organizational framework.

• Significant opportunity to influence both product direction and the overall standard of design craft at scale.

Working Hours: While the exact working hours are not specified, a full-time role typically involves around 40 hours per week. The remote-first nature suggests flexibility in scheduling, allowing for asynchronous collaboration and a focus on output rather than strict adherence to office hours, which is beneficial for deep work and design iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on aggregated data for senior product design roles in Portugal, considering factors like market demand, cost of living, and the specific industry (health tech). The benefits listed are directly from the job description, highlighting aspects that appeal to professionals seeking impactful and flexible work environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The partner company operates within the Health Technology (HealthTech) and potentially Biotechnology or Scientific Research sectors, focusing on leveraging science-backed insights for user health improvement. This industry context means a strong emphasis on data integrity, scientific accuracy, and ethical considerations in product development.

Company Size: As the role is posted by Jobgether on behalf of a partner company, the exact size is not specified. However, the description implies a fast-growing, mission-driven environment with cross-functional squads. This suggests a company that is likely beyond the startup phase but still agile and focused on rapid product development, possibly ranging from 50-250 employees.

Founded: The founding date is not provided. However, the emphasis on "science-backed insights" and "world-class experts" suggests an organization with a strong foundation in research or scientific principles, possibly spun out of academic research or founded by experts in related fields.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates within a matrixed structure, with designers embedded into cross-functional "squads" (product, engineering, data).

• This squad structure fosters close collaboration and shared ownership of product outcomes.

• The Lead Product Designer will likely have a direct reporting line to a Head of Design, Design Director, or a Product Lead, while also working closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned squad.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on translating "nutritional and behavioural data" into user experiences implies a strong reliance on data analysis and interpretation to inform design decisions.

• Agile/Lean Product Development: The mention of "fast-paced environment" and "cross-functional squads" points towards agile methodologies, focusing on iterative development, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• User-Centricity: The core of the role is creating "intuitive and engaging user journeys," highlighting a commitment to understanding and meeting user needs.

• Scientific Rigor: The "science-backed insights" aspect suggests a methodical approach to product development that prioritizes accuracy and evidence-based design.

Company Website: The primary website for the partner company is not directly provided but can likely be found through Jobgether's platform or by searching for companies in the HealthTech space with a focus on personalized health and behavioral science.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "operations" aspect here lies in how the company structures its product development and design teams to achieve its mission. The cross-functional squad model is a common operational structure for agile product development, emphasizing efficiency and speed to market. The integration of scientific data into design is a core operational challenge for health-tech companies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Lead Product Designer." In operations terms, this signifies a senior individual contributor role. It involves not only high-level design execution but also strategic input, mentorship of junior designers (if applicable), and a significant influence on product direction and design standards within their domain. The focus is on ownership and impact rather than direct people management, though it may involve informal leadership and guidance.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Director, or a Senior Product Lead. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned cross-functional squad, participating in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives. This structure emphasizes collaborative decision-making and shared responsibility for product outcomes.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact is measured by their ability to translate complex scientific and behavioral data into user-friendly, engaging mobile experiences that drive specific user behaviors (e.g., adherence to health plans, improved nutritional habits). Success is tied to improving user health outcomes, increasing user engagement, retention, and ultimately contributing to the company's mission and business objectives. This aligns directly with operational goals of user acquisition, activation, retention, and revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in designing for health, wellness, and behavioral science applications, a high-demand niche.

• Product Strategy Influence: Grow by taking on more strategic product discovery and definition responsibilities, influencing the roadmap based on design insights.

• Design Leadership: Develop informal leadership skills by mentoring junior designers, leading design initiatives within squads, and contributing to the evolution of the design system and team processes.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Enhance skills in collaborating with data scientists and engineers, understanding technical constraints and data interpretation, which are valuable operational skills.

• Potential for Management: While not a direct management role, consistent high performance and leadership can open doors to future design management or director-level positions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title signifies a step up from a standard Product Designer role, requiring a blend of technical skill, strategic thinking, and influencing ability. The growth opportunities highlight how this role can serve as a stepping stone for further career advancement in both design and product operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job explicitly states a "Remote-first working environment built on trust and flexibility." This means that while there may be occasional in-person meetups or team retreats, the primary mode of operation is remote. This is a key aspect of the company's operational philosophy.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Portugal, indicating that candidates should ideally be located within Portugal to leverage local time zones for collaboration or for potential in-person team gatherings. The remote nature means candidates can work from anywhere within Portugal.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the role emphasizes "strong cross-functional collaboration" and participation in "design critiques." This implies a culture that actively fosters connection and communication through digital tools.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to modern design and collaboration tools necessary for remote work, such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, Slack, Zoom, and project management software.

• Team Interaction: Interactions will be frequent with product managers, engineers, researchers, and fellow designers, primarily through video calls, instant messaging, and collaborative design platforms.

Work Schedule: A "remote-first" and "flexible" environment typically means core working hours are established to facilitate team collaboration (likely aligned with European time zones), but there's autonomy in how the remaining work is structured. This allows for deep work sessions and better work-life integration, which is crucial for sustained creative output in design roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first aspect is a significant operational characteristic. It dictates how communication, collaboration, and team cohesion are managed. For a designer, this means proficiency with digital collaboration tools and the ability to communicate effectively without physical proximity is paramount.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Your resume and portfolio will be reviewed by Jobgether's AI system and then by the hiring company's internal team for initial fit.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager or key team members to discuss your experience, design philosophy, and fit with the team culture. Expect questions about your background and motivation.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: A practical exercise, potentially involving a take-home challenge or a live design critique of a past project. You'll need to present your work, articulate your design process, and justify your decisions. Focus on demonstrating how you translate complex problems into elegant solutions.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: Meet with Product Managers and Engineers to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work effectively within a squad.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest mobile app design projects that best demonstrate end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and impact. Prioritize projects similar to the company's domain (health, science, behavioral data).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed (ideation, research, iterations), key design decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or learnings. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Data Translation: Explicitly show how you translated complex scientific or behavioral data into user-friendly interfaces and intuitive journeys. This is a key differentiator for this role.

• Showcase Platform Nuances: Demonstrate your understanding of native iOS and Android design principles and how you applied them.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, how you handled feedback, and how your designs contributed to business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Problem: If given a take-home challenge, ensure you fully understand the prompt and the business/user context.

• Focus on Process: Even if you can't complete everything, clearly articulate your thought process, assumptions, and how you would approach the problem if you had more time.

• Prioritize: Identify the most critical aspects of the challenge and focus your efforts there.

• Presentation is Key: Practice presenting your work concisely and persuasively, highlighting your design thinking and problem-solving skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design craft but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and operational effectiveness. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate how their design decisions align with business objectives and user outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Figma (highly probable, as it's industry standard for collaborative design), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's native prototyping features, InVision, Principle, or similar tools for creating interactive mockups and animations.

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct requirement for the designer, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) and understanding how to interpret user data will be highly beneficial for informing design decisions and measuring impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Not typically a core toolset for a Product Designer. However, understanding how user data flows from CRM and marketing automation platforms into product experiences can provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for this role. The emphasis on data-driven design means that an awareness of analytics tools and how to interpret user behavior data is a significant advantage, bridging the gap between design and operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user problems, prioritizing intuitive and engaging experiences that genuinely improve health outcomes.

• Scientific Integrity: Upholding accuracy and evidence-based approaches in all product development, ensuring that insights and recommendations are scientifically sound.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data (behavioral, nutritional, scientific) to inform design choices, validate hypotheses, and measure impact.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where ideas are shared freely, feedback is constructive, and team members work cohesively across functions.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for design outcomes, from ideation through to successful implementation and iteration.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages learning, experimentation, and ongoing refinement of both the product and internal processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within squads, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Scientists. This ensures design is integrated into the entire product development lifecycle.

• Design Critiques: Regular participation in design reviews to provide and receive constructive feedback, aiming to elevate the quality and effectiveness of designs.

• Open Communication: Utilizing digital tools for constant communication, idea sharing, and problem-solving, ensuring alignment and efficiency across remote teams.

• Iterative Approach: Embracing a philosophy of continuous iteration based on user feedback, data insights, and evolving product needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style described are crucial for understanding how the team operates and makes decisions. For a designer, aligning with these values means being proactive, data-informed, and a strong team player, all of which are key operational attributes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complexity: Effectively simplifying highly complex scientific and behavioral data into easily digestible and actionable insights for a diverse user base.

• Balancing Needs: Navigating the inherent tension between user desires, scientific accuracy, technical feasibility, and business objectives.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong design cohesion and effective communication within a remote, cross-functional team structure.

• Driving Adoption of Health Behaviors: Designing experiences that not only inform but also motivate and sustain long-term positive behavior change in users.

• Platform Nuances: Ensuring a consistent yet platform-appropriate experience across both iOS and Android.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in health tech, behavioral science, and nutrition, becoming a go-to expert in these areas.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Explore and apply cutting-edge interaction design, motion design, and data visualization techniques within a real-world product context.

• Product Strategy Acumen: Develop a stronger understanding of product management, data science, and business strategy through close collaboration.

• Leadership Skills: Hone leadership and mentorship capabilities by contributing to design critiques, guiding junior designers, and influencing product direction.

• Industry Exposure: Potential opportunities to attend relevant industry conferences or workshops focused on health tech, UX, or behavioral design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying these challenges allows candidates to prepare their responses and highlight how their skills and experience can overcome them. The growth opportunities show a clear path for career development within this specialized area.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated complex scientific or behavioral data into a simple, intuitive user experience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on data translation, user-centricity, and measurable impact)

• "How do you approach balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives when designing a new feature for a mobile app?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking and problem-solving trade-offs)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing for health and behavioral change? How do you see design impacting user outcomes in this space?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the domain)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially in a remote setting?" (Address communication, feedback, and teamwork skills)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, clearly present the problem, your role, the specific design process employed, key decisions, and the tangible results or learnings. Use a clean, visual narrative.

• Quantify Outcomes: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. For example, "Increased feature adoption by X%," or "Reduced user drop-off by Y%."

• Articulate Rationale: Be ready to explain why you made specific design choices, referencing user research, data, or design principles.

• Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you collaborated with product managers, engineers, and researchers throughout the process.

• Address the "Lead" Aspect: Emphasize instances where you took initiative, influenced direction, or mentored others.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for these types of questions and presentation strategies will allow candidates to effectively showcase their qualifications and align with the company's operational focus on data, impact, and collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Jobgether link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 of your strongest mobile app design projects, specifically showcasing your ability to translate complex data into user-friendly experiences and your end-to-end design process. Prioritize B2C mobile apps.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific achievements in mobile app design, proficiency with relevant design tools, and experience in cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords like "Product Design," "Mobile App Design," "UI/UX," "Design Thinking," and "Data Visualization."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design decisions, and project outcomes. Prepare to discuss how your work contributes to user engagement and business objectives. Be ready to present your portfolio case studies effectively.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with the partner company's mission and the health tech/behavioral science industry. Understand their focus on science-backed insights and user health improvement to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

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