Lead UX/ UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX/UI Designer Company: HERE Technologies Location: Berlin, Germany Job Type: OTHER Category: Design & Product Development Date Posted: February 9, 2026 Experience Level: 6+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design and evangelization of next-generation design resources for applications across diverse industries and consumer products, focusing on web, mobile, and in-car automotive solutions.
• Drive the standardization of creation, processing, quality assurance, and final implementation of design assets within the HERE Design System.
• Design for simplicity within a complex ecosystem of highly technical products and services, translating user needs into intuitive and effective interfaces.
• Collaborate closely with software engineering and fellow designers to ensure seamless implementation, gather continuous feedback, and iteratively improve the HERE Design System.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Lead" and focuses on a Design System, indicating a significant strategic and influential component. The emphasis on standardization, evangelization, and cross-functional collaboration suggests a senior individual contributor role with leadership potential, rather than direct people management. The "OTHER" employment type is unusual but likely refers to a standard full-time role within the tech industry.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design user-centric solutions for a broad spectrum of applications, ensuring simplicity and usability across web, mobile, and automotive platforms.
• Develop comprehensive design documentation, including style guides, component libraries, and usage guidelines, to facilitate knowledge transfer and ensure consistency among designers, developers, and stakeholders.
• Work in close partnership with software engineers to understand technical constraints and opportunities, ensuring accurate and high-quality implementation of design assets.
• Actively participate in feedback loops with developers and designers to continuously refine and enhance the HERE Design System, incorporating user insights and best practices.
• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, effectively prioritizing tasks, managing stakeholder expectations, and consistently meeting deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
• Confidently apply data-driven insights and established UX best practices to solve customer problems and improve product usability.
• Contribute to the evolution and scaling of the HERE Design System by leveraging research, data analysis, and user testing to inform and validate design decisions.
• Apply common design processes and standards, adhering to agile development methodologies to ensure efficient and iterative design delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and strategic oversight related to the Design System. The focus on documentation, technical collaboration, and data-informed decision-making points to a need for strong analytical and communication skills in addition to core design expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: BA/BS degree in Digital Design, Interaction Design, Software Product Design, or a related discipline.

Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of experience in a similar UX/UI design role, with a proven track record in developing and managing design systems.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional UI and UX portfolio demonstrating user-centric design, prototyping, and development of web and mobile applications.
• Systematic approach to problem-solving, with the ability to break down complex user-centric challenges into clear, actionable solutions.
• High proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and component creation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, capable of articulating design decisions to diverse audiences.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Comprehensive understanding of design systems, including concepts like design tokens, components, color systems, accessibility standards, and documentation best practices.
• Experience in applying common design processes and standards, coupled with familiarity with agile development practices.
• Knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for automotive applications.
• Experience working with version control systems (e.g., GitLab, SVN, GitHub).
• Familiarity with data visualization principles and applications.
• Experience in quality assurance processes for design assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a strong portfolio is paramount, especially one that demonstrates systematic problem-solving and user-centricity. Proficiency in Figma is a critical technical skill, and a solid grasp of design system principles is non-negotiable for this role. Familiarity with HTML/CSS and version control suggests an appreciation for the implementation side of design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 6+ years of UX/UI design work, with a strong emphasis on user-centric problem-solving and narrative articulation.
• Include case studies demonstrating the design, prototyping, and building of user-centric web and mobile applications, with automotive applications being a significant plus.
• Highlight examples of your systematic approach to design, illustrating how you break down user problems and translate them into effective solutions.
• Provide evidence of your collaboration skills, showcasing how you've worked with developers, designers, and stakeholders to achieve design goals.
• Demonstrate your understanding and application of design system principles, with examples of component design, token usage, or accessibility considerations.

Process Documentation:

• Present examples of comprehensive design documentation created for past projects, illustrating your ability to ensure knowledge transfer for designers, developers, and stakeholders.
• Include documentation related to the creation, processing, quality assurance, and implementation phases of design assets within a design system context.
• Showcase your experience in gathering feedback and testing designs to drive continuous improvement, as applied to design systems or product UIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is expected to be highly detailed, showcasing not just aesthetic output but also the process, problem-solving methodology, and collaborative efforts behind the designs. Specific emphasis on design system components and documentation is crucial for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead UX/UI Designer in Berlin, Germany, with 6+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is €65,000 - €85,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Berlin and the competitive nature of the tech industry for specialized design roles.

Benefits:

• Excellent work-life balance
• Hybrid work model
• Opportunities to solve challenging problems
• Collaborative and encouraging work environment with supportive colleagues
• Dedicated opportunities for learning, growth, and professional development, including company hackathons, technical talks, and training programs.
• Regular feedback sessions to support career progression.
• 30 paid vacation days per year.
• Flexible working hours to accommodate personal needs and optimize productivity.
• Competitive salary with performance-based bonus potential.
• BVG company ticket for public transportation in Berlin.
• German language courses to support integration and professional development.
• Access to the Insight Timer app for mindfulness and well-being practices.
• A diverse and inclusive team environment with colleagues from over 60 countries.
• Engaging team events, brown bag talks, and rooftop BBQs.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model and flexible working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical market rates for a senior design role in a major European tech hub. The comprehensive list of benefits highlights HERE Technologies' commitment to employee well-being, professional development, and work-life balance, which are attractive factors for experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Location Data and Technology Platform. HERE Technologies provides a platform that empowers customers to achieve better outcomes through location intelligence, impacting areas from city infrastructure management to navigation and asset optimization.

Company Size: HERE Technologies is a large, globally operating company with a significant presence in the tech industry. This implies a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for impact across a wide scale.

Founded: HERE Technologies has a history dating back to the early 1980s, evolving through various acquisitions and transformations. This long tenure suggests stability and a deep understanding of the location data market, while also indicating a company that embraces innovation and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The HERE Design System team is likely a specialized unit within a larger design or product organization, comprising designers and potentially developers focused on creating and maintaining a unified design language and toolset.
• Reporting structure may involve a Design Lead or Manager, with the Lead UX/UI Designer contributing significantly to strategic direction and best practices within the team.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, with close partnerships expected with software engineering teams, product managers, researchers, and other designers across various product lines.

Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are crucial for informing design decisions, validating improvements, and understanding user behavior within the HERE Design System and its applications.
• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are applied to the design process itself, ensuring efficiency and scalability of design asset creation and distribution.
• Automation and efficiency practices are likely employed to streamline design operations and facilitate faster iteration cycles.

Company Website: https://company.here.com/here/

📝 Enhancement Note: HERE Technologies operates in a complex, data-intensive field. The company culture is likely to value precision, innovation, and collaboration, especially within a specialized team like the Design System unit. The emphasis on being "the change we wish to see" suggests a forward-thinking and proactive approach to problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a "Lead" position within the UX/UI Design discipline, specifically focused on a Design System. It represents a senior individual contributor role that requires not only strong design execution skills but also strategic thinking, influence, and the ability to drive standardization and adoption across multiple product teams. It's a critical role for ensuring design consistency and efficiency at scale.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Head of Design, with close collaboration with engineering leads, product managers, and other senior designers. The role involves influencing design direction and best practices across various product teams rather than direct people management.

Operations Impact: The role has a significant impact on operational efficiency and product quality by establishing and maintaining a robust design system. This directly influences the speed and consistency of design and development across all digital platforms, ultimately affecting user experience, product adoption, and brand perception. By ensuring well-documented and reusable design components, the role helps reduce redundant design and development efforts, leading to cost savings and faster time-to-market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, accessibility, and scalable design strategies, potentially leading to Principal or Architect roles within design.
• Leadership: Transition into a management role, leading a design team or taking on more strategic responsibilities for the overall design vision and operations.
• Cross-functional Mobility: Leverage design system expertise to consult or move into related roles in product management, UX research, or even front-end development strategy.
• Industry Influence: Contribute to industry best practices in design systems through speaking engagements, publications, or open-source contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title signifies a progression beyond individual execution, emphasizing strategic contribution, mentorship (even without direct reports), and the ability to influence broader design practices. The growth paths are geared towards deepening specialized expertise or moving into broader leadership and strategic roles within the design and product development ecosystem.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: HERE Technologies offers a hybrid model of work, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. This suggests a modern, flexible work environment designed to accommodate diverse working styles and promote work-life balance.

Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is Berlin, Germany (Invalidenstrasse, 10115). Berlin is a vibrant tech hub, offering a dynamic environment for professionals. The company also has global offices, suggesting potential for international collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters a collaborative environment where in-office days can be dedicated to team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and intensive design sprints, while remote days allow for focused individual work and deep concentration.
• Employees will have access to modern design tools and technologies, with Figma being a primary requirement. The company likely provides robust IT infrastructure to support both remote and in-office work, including access to necessary software and communication platforms.
• Opportunities for interaction with a diverse team of talented individuals from over 60 countries are abundant, promoting a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are offered, allowing employees to structure their workday to align with personal preferences and peak productivity times, while still meeting core business hours and team collaboration needs. This flexibility is crucial for operations roles that often involve deep work and data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible hours are key features of the work environment, catering to the modern workforce's desire for autonomy and work-life integration. This setup is conducive to the focused work often required in design and operations roles, while still enabling essential team collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on alignment with the core requirements and experience level. Be prepared to discuss your interest in HERE Technologies and the Design System team.
2. Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: You will present your portfolio, highlighting specific projects that demonstrate your UX/UI design skills, systematic problem-solving, and experience with design systems. Expect in-depth questions about your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you've handled technical constraints and stakeholder feedback. This stage will heavily assess your Figma proficiency and understanding of design system principles.
3. Team/Stakeholder Interviews: You'll likely meet with other designers, engineers, and product managers to assess your collaborative abilities, communication style, and cultural fit within the HERE Technologies team. These interviews may include scenario-based questions or discussions about your approach to cross-functional collaboration.
4. Final Interview: A final conversation, potentially with a senior leader, to discuss your overall fit, long-term career aspirations, and how you envision contributing to HERE Technologies.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience with user-centric design, systematic problem-solving, and especially, your work with design systems. Include examples that demonstrate your ability to design for web, mobile, and ideally, automotive applications.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the impact of your work. Use visuals effectively but focus on the narrative and your role.
• Highlight Design System Contributions: If you have direct experience with creating, evolving, or evangelizing design systems, make this a central theme. Detail your contributions to component libraries, design tokens, documentation, and adoption strategies.
• Showcase Figma Skills: Be ready to walk through your Figma files or demonstrate specific techniques that highlight your proficiency in creating reusable components, managing design systems, and prototyping complex interactions.
• Demonstrate Collaboration: Provide examples of how you've collaborated with engineers and other stakeholders, and how you've used feedback to improve designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design challenges, which might involve solving a specific UX problem within a given timeframe or critiquing an existing design. Focus on demonstrating your systematic approach, user empathy, and ability to communicate your thought process clearly.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale concisely. Understand how to balance ideal design solutions with technical feasibility and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a rigorous evaluation of design skills, process, and collaborative capabilities. The portfolio review is a critical gate, requiring candidates to not only present polished work but also to articulate the strategic thinking and execution behind it, with a strong focus on design system expertise.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of design, prototyping, component creation, and design system management. Advanced proficiency is expected for creating and maintaining reusable components, design tokens, and ensuring system scalability.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma includes robust prototyping features, familiarity with other tools like InVision or Adobe XD might be beneficial for specific workflows.
• Design System Platforms: Experience with platforms or methodologies for managing design tokens, component libraries, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specialized product analytics platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude) to gather data and insights that inform design decisions.
• A/B Testing Tools: Understanding of how to leverage A/B testing for validating design changes and optimizing user flows.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, an understanding of how design integrates with user journeys and customer data managed in CRM systems is beneficial.
• Familiarity with agile project management tools like Jira or Confluence for workflow tracking, documentation, and collaboration with engineering teams.

Other Relevant Technologies:

• HTML & CSS: Foundational knowledge is required for understanding front-end implementation constraints and possibilities.
• Version Control Systems (e.g., GitLab, SVN, GitHub): Experience working with these systems is a significant plus, indicating an understanding of developer workflows and collaborative code management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily centered around design tools, with Figma being the cornerstone. The inclusion of analytics and version control tools signifies a data-driven and technically aware approach to design, bridging the gap between design and development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Openness & Collaboration: A culture that encourages open communication, honest feedback, and active collaboration across disciplines to achieve collective goals. This translates to a design team that readily shares work, seeks input, and works synergistically with engineering and product.
• Honesty & Integrity: A commitment to transparency and ethical practices in all aspects of work, from design decisions to stakeholder interactions.
• Excellence & Striving for the Best: A drive to produce high-quality work, continuously improve processes, and push the boundaries of what's possible in location technology and design.
• Customer-Centricity: A core focus on understanding and serving the needs of users, ensuring that all design decisions are grounded in user research and best practices.
• Impact & Contribution: A value placed on making a tangible difference through one's work, where every team member's contribution is recognized and valued.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A highly integrated approach where designers, developers, product managers, and researchers work closely together throughout the product development lifecycle, fostering a shared understanding and ownership.
• Process Review & Feedback: An established culture of regular design reviews, retrospectives, and feedback sessions to continuously refine workflows, improve designs, and enhance team dynamics.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, insights, and learnings through internal talks, documentation, and collaborative platforms to foster continuous learning and collective growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values of openness, collaboration, and striving for the best directly influence how teams operate. For a Design System role, this means a collaborative approach to development and a culture that values continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence in design and user experience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Standardization and Innovation: Effectively managing the HERE Design System to ensure consistency and efficiency while also allowing for innovation and tailored solutions for specific product needs.
• Driving Adoption: Encouraging and enabling various product teams to adopt and consistently use the Design System, which can involve overcoming resistance to change and providing robust support.
• Technical Complexity: Designing for a wide range of highly technical products and services requires a deep understanding of underlying technologies and the ability to simplify complex user interactions.
• Evolving Technologies: Staying abreast of rapidly changing design tools, technologies, and user expectations in the fast-paced tech industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepen expertise in advanced design system methodologies, component architecture, accessibility standards, and scaling strategies.
• Industry Exposure: Participate in conferences, workshops, and online courses focused on UX/UI design, design systems, and emerging design trends.
• Mentorship and Leadership: Gain mentorship from senior design leaders and develop leadership skills through influencing design direction, guiding junior designers, and potentially leading initiatives.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Collaborate closely with engineers and product managers to gain a broader understanding of the product development lifecycle and technical considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to managing a design system in a large tech organization, requiring strong strategic thinking, communication, and change management skills. The growth opportunities are geared towards becoming a leading expert in design systems and UX strategy within the company and potentially the broader industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design system or a new design standard. How did you gain buy-in from stakeholders, especially engineers and product managers?" (Focus on your communication, influence, and understanding of different perspectives.)
• "How do you approach designing for complex, technical products? Walk us through your process for simplifying user experiences in such environments." (Highlight your systematic problem-solving, user research methods, and ability to translate technical concepts.)
• "Imagine we need to introduce a new type of component into the HERE Design System. What steps would you take from initial concept to full implementation and documentation?" (Demonstrate your understanding of design system workflows, collaboration, and quality assurance.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about HERE Technologies and our mission in location data?" (Research the company's latest projects, values, and industry impact.)
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our culture of openness and collaboration?" (Provide examples of how you foster teamwork and share knowledge.)
• "How do you measure the success of a design system or a specific design initiative?" (Discuss your approach to metrics, user feedback, and ROI.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your career and your passion for design systems. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects, dedicating significant time to those that best illustrate your design system experience.
• Focus on Process and Rationale: For each project, clearly explain the problem, your approach, key design decisions, and the outcomes. Use visuals to support your narrative, but prioritize explaining why you made certain choices.
• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be ready to show specific examples of how you've built reusable components, managed design tokens, or implemented accessibility features within Figma.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs or the positive impact of the design system on development efficiency or user satisfaction.
• Engage and Listen: Be prepared to answer questions thoughtfully and ask clarifying questions to show your engagement and critical thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of design systems, a user-centric approach, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to articulate complex design decisions. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the HERE Technologies careers portal.
• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 6+ years of UX/UI design experience, specific achievements in design systems, proficiency in Figma, and any experience with automotive applications or version control systems. Use keywords from the job description to optimize for ATS.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your systematic approach, user-centric problem-solving, and detailed work on design systems. Be ready to articulate your process, rationale, and impact for each project.
• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation of key portfolio pieces, focusing on clear communication of challenges, solutions, and outcomes. Practice answering common UX interview questions, especially those related to design systems, collaboration, and technical constraints.
• Research HERE Technologies: Understand the company's mission, its role in the location data industry, and its product offerings. Familiarize yourself with their design philosophy and any publicly available design system information to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment.

⚠️ 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.