Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer (Web3/DeFi) Company: MLabs Location: Germany (Remote) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: 2025-12-10 Experience Level: 5+ Years Senior/Lead Level Remote Status: Fully Remote (with overlap requirement)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process, encompassing User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and Brand Design for a cutting-edge Web3/DeFi platform.
• Own and develop the design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all product touchpoints.
• Champion design thinking and user-centricity to translate complex financial protocols into intuitive and delightful user experiences.
• Drive rapid iteration cycles and deliver high-quality designs in a fast-paced, high-ambiguity environment, crucial for GTM strategy effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead Product Designer, indicating significant ownership and strategic influence over the product's visual and interactive direction. The emphasis on Web3/DeFi suggests a need for domain-specific understanding, which is critical for effective user onboarding and engagement in this complex market. The compensation range and equity/token allocation point to a senior, impactful role within a high-growth startup environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the complete design lifecycle, from initial user research and conceptualization to final production-ready interface delivery.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system that supports rapid iteration and ensures a cohesive brand identity.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and product management teams to translate complex DeFi mechanics into intuitive user flows and engaging interfaces.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather feedback to inform design decisions and drive continuous product improvement.
• Define and advocate for design principles that foster simplicity, clarity, and delight within the Web3/DeFi ecosystem.
• Own the brand identity and visual design language, ensuring it resonates with the target audience and differentiates the platform in a competitive market.
• Foster a culture of design excellence and contribute to the strategic direction of the product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a holistic ownership of the design function for the product. This includes not just execution but also strategic input, user advocacy, and cross-functional leadership, which are key for a "Lead" role and directly impact Go-To-Market (GTM) success by ensuring product usability and market appeal.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and practical application is essential. A degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is a plus. Experience: 5+ years of proven experience in designing and shipping complex digital products, with a significant portion focused on the crypto, fintech, or Web3 space.

Required Skills:

• Full-Spectrum Design: Demonstrated expertise across User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and Brand Design.
• Design System Development: Proven ability to create, implement, and maintain robust design systems.
• User Research & Empathy: Deep understanding of user research methodologies and a strong ability to empathize with end-users.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.
• Rapid Iteration: Ability to deliver high-quality designs quickly and iterate effectively based on feedback and evolving requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with engineering, product management, and marketing teams.
• Complex Problem Solving: Aptitude for translating intricate technical concepts into simple, intuitive user interfaces.
• Customer Obsession: A dedication to understanding and advocating for the end-user's needs and pain points.

Preferred Skills:

• Web3/DeFi Domain Knowledge: In-depth understanding of Decentralized Finance protocols, blockchain technology, and the broader crypto landscape.
• Fintech Product Design: Experience designing for financial services or complex transactional platforms.
• Brand Strategy: Experience in developing and evolving brand identities for digital products.
• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of WCAG or other accessibility guidelines.
• Data-Informed Design: Ability to leverage analytics and user feedback to drive design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping complex crypto or fintech products" is a key differentiator. Candidates will need to demonstrate not just design skills but also an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within these regulated and rapidly evolving sectors. The "well-rounded skillset" combined with "execution focus" and "full ownership" points to a need for a designer who can operate autonomously and strategically.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing detailed case studies of 2-3 significant projects, highlighting the end-to-end design process.
• Problem/Solution Framing: Clear articulation of the design problem, the user needs addressed, and the strategic thinking behind proposed solutions.
• Process Documentation: Examples of wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI designs, demonstrating the evolution of the design.
• Metrics & Impact: Evidence of how design decisions influenced key metrics (e.g., user adoption, engagement, conversion rates, task completion, reduction in support queries). Quantifiable results are highly valued.
• Design System Contribution: Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, showcasing consistency and scalability.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstration of how research findings were translated into design solutions.
• Examples of iterative design processes, including how feedback was incorporated.
• Clear presentation of the final implemented designs and their user impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Product Designer role, especially in a startup environment, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic capability but strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to drive tangible business outcomes. The inclusion of "DeFi Knowledge" and "Fintech Knowledge" in the skills section suggests that case studies within these domains will be particularly impactful.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000+ USD per year (This range is provided in the job description and is considered competitive for a Lead Product Designer role in high-growth Web3 companies, especially with the specified remote locations and overlap requirements).

Benefits:

• Significant Company Equity and/or Token Allocation: Provides direct alignment with the protocol's growth and success, a common and highly valued incentive in Web3.
• Fully Remote Work: Maximum flexibility in terms of work location within specified regions (US, Europe, Latam, Dubai).
• Career Growth: Unparalleled opportunity to shape the user experience and brand of a foundational DeFi infrastructure project.
• Expert Team & Funding: Opportunity to work alongside a well-funded, expert team backed by premier industry investors.
• Time Overlap Flexibility: While remote, the requirement for 5 hours overlap with EST (Eastern Standard Time) offers some flexibility in structuring the workday.

Working Hours: The role is expected to align with a standard full-time workload (approximately 40 hours per week), with the flexibility to manage hours around the required 5-hour overlap with EST.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated as $150K - $200K USD, with an indication of "+", suggesting potential for higher compensation based on experience. The inclusion of Company Equity and Token Allocation is a significant part of the total compensation package in the Web3 space and should be carefully evaluated alongside the base salary. The requirement for 5 hours overlap with EST is critical for remote candidates outside of North American time zones.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Web3. The company is building a "unified yield engine for the crypto economy." Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but described as a "well-funded, expert-led team." This suggests a growing startup environment, likely with a lean, agile team structure. Founded: Not explicitly stated, but the context of building foundational DeFi infrastructure implies a relatively young company focused on innovation.

Team Structure:

• Likely a small, agile, and highly collaborative team composed of experienced individuals in Web3, engineering, product, and design.
• The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, CTO, or CEO, depending on the company's current structure.
• Close collaboration with engineering and product management is a core expectation.

Methodology:

• Agile & Iterative: The emphasis on "rapid iteration" and "fast-paced environment" points to an agile development methodology.
• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the need for user research and feedback implies a data-informed approach to design decisions.
• Customer-Centric: A strong focus on understanding and serving the end-user is a stated core value.

Company Website: mlabs.io (derived from the domain_derived field).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates in a highly dynamic and innovative sector (Web3/DeFi). The culture is likely to be fast-paced, experimental, and focused on rapid growth and technical excellence. The "fully remote" nature and overlap requirement suggest a global, distributed team.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" role, indicating a senior position with significant responsibility and autonomy. It's a critical individual contributor role that shapes the product's user experience and brand, with potential for leadership as the team grows. Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a senior leadership role (e.g., Head of Product, CTO, or CEO). This structure offers direct access to decision-makers and a high level of influence. Operations Impact: The role has a direct and substantial impact on the success of the platform by defining its usability, appeal, and market positioning. Effective UX/UI and brand design are crucial for user adoption, retention, and overall GTM success in the competitive DeFi space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Foundational Role: Opportunity to build and scale the design function from the ground up, establishing design principles and processes.
• Strategic Influence: Direct input into product strategy and vision, influencing the direction of a core DeFi infrastructure project.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in Web3/DeFi design challenges, user behavior in crypto markets, and complex financial product UX.
• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, there may be opportunities to build and manage a design team.
• Industry Impact: Contribute to a project aiming to redefine yield generation in the crypto economy, offering significant professional and personal satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer to make a significant mark on a foundational Web3 project. The growth potential is tied to the company's success and the individual's ability to lead and innovate within a nascent technology space.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This indicates a distributed workforce with no central physical office required for day-to-day operations. Office Location(s): Remote within the US, Europe, Latam, or Dubai. Candidates must be able to overlap for 5 hours with EST. Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: High degree of autonomy and flexibility in managing the workday and work location.
• Technology Stack: Access to modern design tools and collaboration platforms will be essential for effective remote work and design execution.
• Collaboration: Emphasis on digital collaboration tools and asynchronous communication, supplemented by synchronous overlap for critical discussions.

Work Schedule: While the role is full-time, the remote nature and overlap requirement offer flexibility. The specific hours will need to be coordinated to ensure effective collaboration with the EST team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote work environment requires strong self-discipline, excellent communication skills (both written and verbal), and comfort with asynchronous collaboration tools. The overlap requirement is a key filter for candidates geographically and time-zone-wise.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a Lead Product Designer role would include:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio.
• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their work, explaining their process, decisions, and impact. This is crucial for assessing design thinking and communication.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: A take-home assignment or live exercise to evaluate problem-solving skills, execution capabilities, and domain understanding.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with engineering, product management, and potentially leadership to assess collaboration, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Final Round: Interviews with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to narrate a clear problem, your thought process, design solutions, and the resulting impact (quantified where possible).
• Demonstrate Process: Show the evolution of your designs, from initial sketches and wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes and final UI. Explain why you made certain decisions.
• Highlight Web3/DeFi Relevance: If possible, include projects that demonstrate your understanding of crypto, DeFi, or complex financial products. If not, clearly articulate how your transferable skills apply.
• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business goals your design work helped achieve. Use data and metrics to support your claims.
• Design System Expertise: If you have experience building or contributing to design systems, showcase this clearly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with current trends, challenges, and common user flows in Web3 and DeFi.
• Think Strategically: For any design challenge, consider the business objectives, user needs, and technical constraints.
• Communicate Your Thinking: Be prepared to articulate your design rationale clearly and concisely, especially if it's a live exercise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical element for this role. Candidates should prepare to walk through their projects in detail, emphasizing their strategic contributions and the measurable impact of their design decisions. Understanding the Web3/DeFi context will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable and industry standard for collaborative design), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).
• User Research & Testing Platforms: UserTesting.com, Maze, Optimal Workshop, or similar tools for gathering user feedback and insights.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Slack, Discord (common in Web3), Asana, Jira, Trello, Notion.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility of a designer, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) and how design impacts key metrics is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to a Product Designer role, but understanding how user data flows and impacts product decisions can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a prerequisite for modern collaborative design roles. Given the Web3 context, familiarity with Discord for community and team communication is highly likely. The company will likely provide access to necessary software licenses.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: Deep empathy for the end-user and a commitment to creating simple, clear, and delightful experiences.
• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for design problems from inception to completion and driving positive outcomes.
• Rapid Iteration & Agility: Thriving in a fast-paced environment, embracing change, and delivering quickly.
• Simplicity & Clarity: Translating complex technical concepts into intuitive and understandable designs.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across disciplines to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation: Pushing boundaries in the Web3/DeFi space to create next-generation financial tools.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships with engineering and product management are essential for successful product development.
• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and transparent communication, especially given the remote and distributed nature of the team.
• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback for continuous improvement of both the product and team processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values emphasize a forward-thinking, user-centric, and execution-driven approach, which is typical of successful tech startups, particularly in the innovative Web3 space.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Ambiguity: Navigating a rapidly evolving Web3/DeFi landscape with often unclear user needs or established best practices.
• Complexity of DeFi: Translating intricate and potentially risky financial protocols into user-friendly interfaces.
• Rapid Iteration Pace: Maintaining high design quality while working under tight deadlines and frequent changes.
• Building from Scratch: Establishing a design system and brand identity for a new, foundational protocol requires significant strategic effort.
• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring effective communication and collaboration across different time zones and cultures.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Becoming a leading designer in the Web3/DeFi space.
• Strategic Impact: Directly influencing the success of a key player in the decentralized finance ecosystem.
• Building a Design Function: Opportunity to lay the groundwork for future design teams and processes.
• Industry Exposure: Working with premier investors and a network of experts in the crypto space.
• Skill Expansion: Potentially exploring tokenomics, decentralized governance interfaces, and advanced blockchain interactions from a design perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in a cutting-edge, high-growth startup within a complex and evolving industry. These challenges also represent significant opportunities for professional development and making a substantial impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a highly complex technical concept into a simple user experience. What was your process?" (Focus on problem framing, user research, iterative design, and outcome).
• "How would you approach building a design system from scratch for a new DeFi protocol?" (Assess understanding of scalability, consistency, and collaboration).
• "What are the biggest UX challenges in the Web3/DeFi space today, and how can a designer address them?" (Demonstrate domain knowledge and strategic thinking).
• "How do you balance rapid iteration with maintaining high design quality and user experience standards?" (Assess ability to manage trade-offs and prioritize).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Web3/DeFi and MLabs specifically?" (Show genuine interest and research).
• "How do you approach collaboration with engineering and product teams, especially in a remote setting?" (Highlight communication and partnership skills).
• "Describe your ideal remote work environment and how you ensure productivity and collaboration." (Address remote work readiness).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Have a clear flow for each case study: Problem, Your Role, Process, Solution, Outcome, Learnings.
• Quantify Impact: Use numbers and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs.
• Articulate 'Why': Be ready to explain the rationale behind every significant design decision.
• Tailor to MLabs: Emphasize projects or skills that align with MLabs' focus on DeFi, yield engines, and user experience in complex financial systems.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect questions that probe the details of your process, your technical understanding, and your ability to handle challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to showcase not just their design output but their strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of the Web3/DeFi landscape. The portfolio presentation is a critical assessment point.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact, ideally with relevance to complex digital products, fintech, or Web3/DeFi.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to UX, UI, Brand Design, Design Systems, Web3, DeFi, Fintech, Rapid Iteration, and Cross-Functional Collaboration. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of your design rationale, and demonstrating the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss the specific challenges of designing in the DeFi space.
• Research MLabs: Understand their mission, the product they are building (unified yield engine), and the broader DeFi landscape. Prepare thoughtful questions about their product, design challenges, and company vision.

⚠️ 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.