PreMaster (m/w/d) im Bereich User Experience (UX) Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: PreMaster (m/w/d) in User Experience (UX) Design

Company: SYNTEGON

Location: Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Job Type: Full-time (Vollzeit)

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: March 5, 2026

Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This PreMaster role focuses on enhancing User Experience (UX) and optimizing design systems for complex industrial machinery within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food industries.

• The position involves hands-on contributions to prototype design, HMI (Human-Machine Interface) redesigns, and the creation of visual assets like icons and illustrations, directly impacting product usability and efficiency.

• A key aspect of this role is supporting customer-centric design processes through user research, prototyping, and rigorous testing, ensuring that design decisions are data-driven and user-validated.

• The PreMaster will also contribute to the evolution of the company's Design System, including guidelines for icons and illustrations, requiring strong visual design and graphic design expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "PreMaster" program, indicating it's a structured, temporary position (12 months) designed for Bachelor's graduates who intend to pursue a Master's degree. It's a developmental role offering practical experience before further academic study, aligning with a career path in product development and design operations within a technical manufacturing environment. The focus on industrial machinery (process and filling machines) suggests a need for clarity, efficiency, and robust design in a high-stakes operational context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Actively contribute to the optimization of User Experience (UX) across Syntegon's product portfolio, ensuring intuitive and efficient human-machine interactions.

• Drive the development and improvement of internal systems and design processes, particularly those related to HMI and user interface design.

• Independently design and develop prototypes, including wireframes and click-dummies, to visualize and test new interface concepts and user flows.

• Lead the redesign efforts for Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) on process and filling machines, catering to the specific needs of the food and pharmaceutical industries.

• Conduct user research activities to gather insights into user needs, pain points, and behaviors, informing design decisions and strategy.

• Create and revise icons and illustrations, ensuring adherence to the established Design System and brand guidelines for consistent visual communication.

• Support the continuous development and refinement of the company's Design System, contributing expertise in icon and illustration design principles.

• Participate actively in planning, executing, and evaluating human-centered design processes, including usability testing and user feedback sessions.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product management, and quality assurance, to ensure design solutions meet technical and business requirements.

• Analyze user feedback and testing results to iterate on designs and implement improvements that enhance product usability and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative design execution (prototypes, HMI, icons) and strategic process involvement (user research, design system development, human-centered design). The context of industrial machinery in the food and pharma sectors implies a high need for clarity, precision, and regulatory compliance in UX/UI design. The "PreMaster" nature suggests a learning and development focus, with support provided for skill enhancement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Initial experiences in creating icons, illustrations, wireframes, and designs/click-dummies are desirable, particularly within a technical or industrial domain.

Required Skills:

• Visual & Graphic Design: Strong capabilities in visual design principles, graphic design, and aesthetic execution.

• User Experience (UX) & Usability: Profound understanding of UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and usability best practices.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes, wireframes, and click-dummies using industry-standard tools.

• Design System Management: Experience in working with, and ideally contributing to, design systems, including icon and illustration libraries.

• Software Proficiency: Expertise in common design tools such as Figma and Adobe Illustrator.

• Language Proficiency: Excellent German (C1 level) and English (C1 level) language skills, both written and spoken, are mandatory.

• Creativity & Problem-Solving: Demonstrated creativity, strong analytical skills, and effective problem-solving abilities.

• Process Orientation: A structured approach to design work, with an understanding of design processes and workflows.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Thinking: Familiarity with and application of Design Thinking methodologies for innovation and problem-solving.

• HMI Redesign: Experience in redesigning Human-Machine Interfaces for industrial or technical equipment.

• User Research: Practical experience in conducting user research, including interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries.

• Gestalt Principles: Application of Gestalt principles to enhance visual perception and user understanding in interface design.

• Technical Domain Familiarity: Prior exposure to the food or pharmaceutical industries, or complex machinery design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on C1 German and English is critical for effective communication within the international Syntegon organization and with local stakeholders. The "PreMaster" designation implies that while some experience is preferred, the role is geared towards developing these skills further. "Process orientation" is a key keyword for operations roles, indicating a need for structured and repeatable design work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your process from problem definition to final design solution, highlighting your role and contributions.

• UX/UI Design Examples: Include examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs for web, mobile, or desktop applications.

• Visual Asset Creation: Present a selection of icons and illustrations you have designed, demonstrating adherence to style guides or design systems.

• Process Documentation: Illustrate your design process, including user research findings, iteration stages, and rationale behind design decisions.

• Tool Proficiency Evidence: Examples that implicitly or explicitly showcase your skills in Figma and Adobe Illustrator.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate understanding of user-centered design workflows, from ideation and research to prototyping, testing, and implementation.

• Design System Application: Show how you have applied or contributed to design systems, including the creation or adaptation of style guides, component libraries, and asset management.

• Testing & Iteration: Evidence of how user feedback and testing results were incorporated into design iterations to improve usability and effectiveness.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Examples of how you have collaborated with engineering, product management, or other stakeholders to bring design solutions to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a PreMaster role, the portfolio should emphasize potential and understanding of process, rather than extensive professional experience. The focus should be on demonstrating a structured approach to design challenges and a strong grasp of UX/UI principles, even if derived from academic projects or personal initiatives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Hours: A 35-hour work week with flexible, individual working time arrangements (Gleitzeit) is offered.

• Mobile Working: Possibility of hybrid work arrangements, subject to coordination with the line manager, allowing for flexibility.

• Training & Development: Access to extensive further training opportunities through the digital learning platform "KEY" and LinkedIn Learning.

• Student Network: Active participation in a student network at the Crailsheim site with various joint activities.

• Student Academy: Involvement in interdisciplinary workshops to gain exposure to other departments and functions.

• Subsidized Meals: Company canteen with subsidized prices for student employees.

• Holistic Health Management: Comprehensive health offerings, including:

  • Height-adjustable desks
  • Company doctor services
  • Employee counseling
  • Health lectures
  • Gym partnerships
  • Free Gymondo subscription

• Mentorship: Personal mentoring provided during the Master's phase as part of the PreMaster program.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are 35 hours per week, with flexible Gleitzeit (flexitime) arrangements available. Mobile working is possible in coordination with the manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical graduate trainee programs in Germany, particularly in technical fields. The extensive benefits package, especially the health and development programs, highlights Syntegon's investment in its employees, including those in developmental roles like this PreMaster position. The "DU-Form" (informal address) in communication reflects the company's culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Syntegon operates in the high-tech manufacturing sector, specifically providing process and packaging technology solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food industries. This means the company is deeply integrated into supply chains critical for health and consumer goods.

Company Size: With approximately 6,900 employees worldwide and 1,300 at the Crailsheim site, Syntegon is a large, established player in its field. This size offers stability and opportunities for structured career development, while the Crailsheim site functions as a center of excellence.

Founded: Syntegon Technology was formerly the packaging technology division of Bosch, becoming an independent company in 2020. This history suggests a blend of established engineering expertise and a dynamic, forward-looking approach as a standalone entity.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team likely operates within a broader product development or engineering division.

• Reporting structure would typically be to a Head of UX/Design or a Product Management lead, with close collaboration with engineering teams responsible for HMI software and hardware.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes user research, prototyping, and testing, indicating a strong commitment to data-informed design decisions.

• Human-Centered Design: The core of the role is centered around understanding and addressing user needs, ensuring products are intuitive and efficient.

• Agile/Iterative Processes: While not explicitly stated, the nature of software and product development in this industry often involves agile methodologies, with continuous iteration and improvement cycles.

• Design System Governance: The focus on the Design System implies structured approaches to maintaining consistency and scalability in design assets and principles.

Company Website: Syntegon Technology Website (Assuming the provided URL syntegon.com is correct)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on critical industries like pharma and food means reliability, precision, and user safety are paramount. This translates to UX/UI design needing to be robust, clear, and error-minimizing, rather than purely aesthetic. The "PreMaster" status means the candidate will be learning these nuances within the company's established operational framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level, developmental role ("PreMaster") designed for individuals with a Bachelor's degree who aspire to a Master's degree. It provides foundational experience in UX/UI design within a large industrial manufacturing context, focusing on practical application and process understanding.

Reporting Structure: The PreMaster will likely report to a Senior UX Designer, a UX/UI Lead, or a Product Design Manager. They will work closely with software engineers and product teams on specific projects.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is on improving the usability, efficiency, and user satisfaction of Syntegon's complex machinery. By optimizing HMIs and user interfaces, the PreMaster contributes directly to operational efficiency for Syntegon's clients, potentially reducing errors, training time, and downtime. This indirect impact on client operations and Syntegon's market competitiveness is significant.

Growth Opportunities:

• Master's Degree Sponsorship: The primary growth path is the completion of a Master's degree, often with company support or partnership, as part of the PreMaster program.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as UX research, interaction design, visual design, or HMI development for industrial applications.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining exposure to various departments (engineering, product management, quality assurance) and understanding their roles in the product lifecycle.

• Career Progression: Post-Master's, potential pathways include roles like UX/UI Designer, Product Designer, UX Researcher, or even specialized roles in Design System management within Syntegon.

• Industry Knowledge: Developing a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical, biotech, and food processing industries and their unique design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "PreMaster" program is explicitly designed to facilitate academic and professional growth. The 12-month practical phase is a stepping stone, and the subsequent Master's program, coupled with continued mentorship and project involvement, provides a structured path for career advancement within Syntegon.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is primarily on-site in Crailsheim, Germany, as indicated by the "On-site" remote status. This suggests a collaborative office environment typical for a large manufacturing and engineering company.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Blaufelder Straße, 74564 Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This site is a major competence center for Syntegon.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a dynamic work environment with opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues, including designers, engineers, and product managers, fostering idea exchange and problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Illustrator) and potentially specialized hardware or simulation tools relevant to industrial machine interfaces.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, design reviews, and project-specific discussions are integral to the daily workflow. The "DU-Form" culture encourages open communication and approachability.

Work Schedule: The standard work week is 35 hours, with flexible "Gleitzeit" (flexitime) and the possibility of mobile working in coordination with management. This offers a degree of autonomy in managing daily schedules while ensuring project timelines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature is typical for roles involving hands-on creation and collaboration with engineering teams, especially in a manufacturing setting where physical prototypes or machine interactions might be relevant. The flexibility offered within the structured framework is a key benefit.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review, focusing on academic background, relevant skills, and alignment with the PreMaster program's goals.

• Technical/Skills Interview: Likely involves a discussion about design principles, UX methodologies, and a review of the candidate's portfolio. This may include specific questions about their experience with Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and design systems.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will be expected to present and walk through selected case studies from their portfolio, explaining their design process, problem-solving approach, and the outcomes.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Assessing creativity, problem-solving abilities, process orientation, communication skills, and alignment with Syntegon's "DU-Form" culture. Questions about motivation for the PreMaster program and future Master's study will be common.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior management or department heads to discuss the role in detail and confirm suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, from understanding the problem to delivering the solution.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: Highlight specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them with creative and effective design solutions.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and other relevant tools, and how they aided your design work.

• Highlight Design System Understanding: If you have experience with design systems, showcase how you applied or contributed to them. For this role, demonstrating an understanding of icon and illustration guidelines is key.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that involve complex interfaces, technical applications, or visual asset creation (icons, illustrations), aligning with Syntegon's industrial context.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Even for academic projects, try to articulate the potential impact of your design choices on user efficiency or clarity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design exercise or a take-home assignment that might involve creating a simple UI element, redesigning a basic interface, or developing a set of icons based on a brief.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions about how you would approach a specific design problem, such as improving the usability of a machine control panel or designing an alert system.

• Process & Methodology: Be ready to discuss your understanding of human-centered design, Design Thinking, and iterative design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a developmental role like this will balance technical design skills with potential and cultural fit. The portfolio is critical, and candidates should prepare to articulate their thought process and learning journey.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration, likely used for wireframing, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for creating and editing vector graphics, particularly icons and illustrations, ensuring scalability and quality.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX design role, but the design work will impact systems that may integrate with CRM or automation platforms used by Syntegon's clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Illustrator is explicitly mentioned and is a core requirement. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their skills and workflow within these tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A strong emphasis on understanding and serving the needs of clients in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and food industries, ensuring their operational success.

• Innovation & Technology: A commitment to developing cutting-edge technologies and solutions that drive efficiency and progress in their client sectors.

• Quality & Reliability: A fundamental value in industries where precision and dependability are critical for safety and product integrity. This translates to robust and error-minimizing design.

• Sustainability: As mentioned in the company description, Syntegon aims for sustainable solutions, which may extend to design choices that optimize resource usage or longevity.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The "DU-Form" culture and emphasis on cross-functional work highlight the importance of open communication and mutual support.

Collaboration Style:

• Informal & Direct: The "DU-Form" communication style promotes approachability and direct interaction across all hierarchical levels.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with engineers and product managers, requiring clear communication of design intent and understanding of technical constraints.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on designs and processes to foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share insights and best practices, particularly through the student network and internal learning platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are deeply tied to the critical nature of the industries it serves. For a UX designer, this means understanding that design decisions have real-world impacts on production, safety, and quality.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Industrial Interfaces: Designing intuitive UIs for complex machinery with numerous functions and potential error states requires significant skill and attention to detail.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Aligning user desires with the technical capabilities and limitations of industrial hardware and software.

• Adherence to Strict Standards: Working within regulated industries (pharma, biotech) may mean adhering to specific design guidelines or validation processes.

• Transitioning from Academia to Industry: Adapting academic design projects to meet the demands of commercial product development and enterprise-level design systems.

• Master's Degree Pursuit: Juggling the responsibilities of a full-time role with the demands of a Master's program requires excellent time management and dedication.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Formal Master's Program: The core opportunity is academic advancement with industry-relevant curriculum and thesis projects.

• Mentorship: Dedicated mentorship from experienced professionals within Syntegon to guide both academic and professional development.

• Hands-on Experience: Practical application of UX/UI design skills on real-world industrial products, leading to significant skill enhancement.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining deep insights into the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food processing sectors.

• Professional Networking: Building a professional network within Syntegon and potentially through industry events or academic collaborations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is managing the dual demands of a full-time role and a Master's degree. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a unique blend of practical experience and formal education designed for rapid career acceleration.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Describe your typical design process for a new feature or interface. How do you incorporate user feedback and research?" (Prepare to walk through a case study from your portfolio, emphasizing iterative steps and user validation.)

• Tool Proficiency: "How do you leverage Figma (or Adobe Illustrator) to create efficient and scalable design assets? Can you show an example of a complex icon set or a well-structured prototype you built?" (Be ready to demonstrate specific features or workflows.)

• Design System Understanding: "What is a design system, and why is it important for a company like Syntegon? How would you contribute to or work within an existing design system?" (Focus on consistency, scalability, and efficiency.)

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine you need to design an HMI for a critical machine function where errors can be costly. What are your primary considerations?" (Think about clarity, error prevention, feedback mechanisms, and user states.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation: "Why are you interested in the PreMaster program at Syntegon, and what are your goals for your Master's degree?" (Connect your aspirations to Syntegon's industry and the program's structure.)

• Cultural Fit: "Syntegon uses the 'DU-Form' for communication. How do you feel about this informal approach, and how do you typically collaborate with colleagues?" (Emphasize your adaptability and collaborative spirit.)

• Industry Interest: "What interests you about the pharmaceutical, biotech, or food processing industries?" (Show genuine curiosity about the sectors Syntegon serves.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the outcome.

• Focus on "Why": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions, not just what you designed.

• Showcase Iteration: Highlight how feedback or testing led to design changes.

• Demonstrate Technical Skills: Be ready to discuss the tools used and specific techniques applied.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present key projects within a set time limit, focusing on the most relevant examples for this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also a proactive, process-oriented mindset and a genuine interest in Syntegon's specific industry challenges.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this PreMaster (m/w/d) in User Experience (UX) Design position:

• Submit Your Application: Use the provided link on the Syntegon careers page to submit your CV and cover letter.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a digital portfolio (PDF or website link) that showcases 2-3 strong case studies focusing on UX/UI design, HMI redesigns, icon/illustration creation, and your design process. Ensure it highlights your skills in Figma and Adobe Illustrator.

• Tailor Your Resume & Cover Letter: Clearly articulate your Bachelor's degree, any relevant design experience, your language proficiency (German C1, English C1), and your motivation for pursuing a Master's degree through Syntegon's PreMaster program.

• Research Syntegon: Familiarize yourself with Syntegon's products, the industries they serve (pharma, biotech, food), and their company culture (e.g., the "DU-Form"). Understand the challenges of designing for industrial machinery.

• Practice Interview Answers: Prepare to discuss your design process, portfolio projects, and motivations, especially focusing on how your skills align with the role's responsibilities and Syntegon's values.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description provides a comprehensive overview based on the provided information and industry standards. The duration of the PreMaster program is 12 months, followed by a Master's study phase. All details regarding salary, benefits, and program specifics should be confirmed directly with Syntegon during the application process.