Product Designer (6-month contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (6-month contract) Company: ProtoPie Location: Seoul, South Korea Job Type: Contract Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: 2025-12-18 Experience Level: 8+ years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design the end-to-end user experience for ProtoPie's software products, from concept to implementation, driving innovation in user interface and interaction design.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Quality Assurance teams within an agile development framework to translate user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective product solutions.
• Leverage a deep understanding of user research methodologies to uncover user pain points and needs, informing design decisions with both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive design systems and guidelines that ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the ProtoPie product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description is for a Product Designer, the focus on operational aspects like collaborating with PMs, Engineers, and QAs, understanding technical constraints, and working within agile methodologies suggests a role that requires strong operational integration within the product development lifecycle. This is common for senior design roles that need to ensure designs are feasible, implementable, and contribute to overall product efficiency and user satisfaction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the design process for designated product areas, guiding initiatives from initial user discovery and problem definition through ideation, detailed UI/UX design, implementation support, and ongoing post-launch iteration.
• Conduct thorough user research, employing various qualitative and quantitative methods to identify and understand user problems, needs, and behaviors, translating these insights into actionable design strategies.
• Define clear design challenges and measurable goals for product features, using collected data to drive informed decision-making and validate design solutions.
• Conceptualize and interpret solution ideas into user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience.
• Work collaboratively and proactively with cross-functional agile team members, including Product Managers, Engineers, and QAs, to ensure smooth product implementation and successful delivery.
• Develop and maintain robust design systems, style guides, and component libraries to ensure design consistency, promote reusability, and accelerate the design and development process across the product portfolio.
• Create high-fidelity prototypes and interactive mockups to effectively communicate design concepts, user flows, and interaction patterns to stakeholders and development teams.
• Provide detailed design specifications and implementation support to engineering teams, ensuring the accurate translation of designs into functional product features while respecting technical constraints.
• Continuously iterate on product designs based on user feedback, performance data, and evolving business objectives, driving ongoing product improvement and optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a holistic design ownership, from discovery to iteration, which is characteristic of senior product design roles. The mention of "limited project direction" in the initial description, contrasted with "Take ownership of the design process," suggests a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level product design roles. Experience: Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in software companies, with a demonstrated track record of designing and shipping successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• 8+ years of professional software design experience, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design capabilities.
• Proficiency in the full design process, including user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and UI/UX design.
• Proven ability to operate independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams with minimal supervision, demonstrating strong initiative and ownership.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to dissect complex challenges and devise effective design solutions.
• Expertise in creating and utilizing comprehensive design systems and style guides tailored to various service use cases and contexts.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and articulate visions clearly.
• Proficiency in prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, ProtoPie) to create interactive user flows and mockups.
• Solid understanding of software development processes, agile methodologies, and technical constraints to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel abroad without any restrictions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting diverse user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys) and effectively integrating insights into product design.
• Substantial hands-on professional experience with ProtoPie, demonstrating advanced prototyping capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both English and Korean, facilitating seamless communication with global teams and local stakeholders.
• Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques to interpret user behavior and performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience and the emphasis on autonomy and cross-functional collaboration indicate a senior-level position. The explicit request for a portfolio and specific prototyping skills (ProtoPie) are critical qualifications. The "Plus" section highlights valuable but not strictly mandatory skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 8 years of professional product design work, with a strong emphasis on software companies.
• Demonstrate end-to-end design ownership for at least 2-3 significant product areas or features, detailing the problem, your process, and the impact of your solutions.
• Include case studies that highlight your ability to conduct user research, define design challenges, interpret user needs, and translate them into user interfaces.
• Showcase examples of your work with design systems, including how you've contributed to or utilized them to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Provide evidence of your prototyping skills through interactive prototypes or detailed walkthroughs of complex user flows.
• Clearly articulate your role in cross-functional collaboration with PMs, Engineers, and QAs, demonstrating how you effectively partnered to bring designs to life.
• Quantify the impact of your design decisions wherever possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or efficiency improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Detailed descriptions of your design process, highlighting methodologies used for user research, ideation, prototyping, and user testing.
• Examples of how you have defined design challenges and goals using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Documentation of your experience in developing or contributing to design systems, including style guides and component libraries.
• Evidence of how you have supported the implementation phase, including providing design specifications and collaborating with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio and the mention of "8+ years of professional experiences" strongly suggest that the portfolio will be a critical component of the evaluation process. Candidates should be prepared to present detailed case studies that demonstrate their entire design process and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the 6-month contract nature, the seniority (8+ years), and the location in Seoul, South Korea, a competitive daily or monthly rate is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for senior contract product designers in major tech hubs, a rough estimate would be between ₩5,000,000 to ₩9,000,000 per month (approximately $3,700 to $6,700 USD per month), depending on skill specialization and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Welcome Awards: KRW 1,000,000 (approx. USD 830) for new joiners to purchase personal peripherals or items that enhance work efficiency (e.g., desk, chair, tablet PC, mobile, smartwatch).
• Education Benefits: Support for purchasing books and taking classes for personal and professional development (language, instruments, etc.).
• Healthcare Benefits: Comprehensive support including medical check-ups, gym memberships, physical activities, vision care, and even medical treatment for pets.
• Internet & Communication Benefits: Reimbursement or support for internet and mobile expenses, particularly beneficial for remote work flexibility.
• Congratulations & Condolences: Support for significant life events, acknowledging both joyous occasions and times of sorrow.
• Flexible Working Hours: Generally from 10 AM to 7 PM KST in HQ, offering a degree of autonomy in managing the workday.

Working Hours:

• Flexible working hours are offered, with a general guideline of 10 AM to 7 PM KST at the headquarters. This role is a 6-month contract position.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry standards for contract roles at this seniority level in a high-cost-of-living city like Seoul. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, negotiation, and ProtoPie's internal compensation structure for contractors. The benefits listed are quite generous for a contract role, indicating ProtoPie's commitment to employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology (specifically, interactive prototyping tools for product design). ProtoPie operates in a competitive space with companies like Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision, focusing on high-fidelity, code-free prototyping. Company Size: ProtoPie's size is not explicitly stated in the provided data, but its global presence and product suite suggest it's a growing mid-sized to large tech company. Founded: ProtoPie was founded in 2017, making it a relatively young but established player in the design tool market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will join the "Design Team" and work within agile product development squads, implying a matrixed structure where designers collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and QAs.
• Reporting is likely to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, while day-to-day work is project-focused within specific product teams.
• Collaboration is expected to be high, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork, communication, and trust.

Methodology:

• The company operates with agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and close collaboration between design and development.
• A data-driven approach is expected, utilizing both qualitative user feedback and quantitative performance metrics to inform design decisions.
• Emphasis on autonomy and responsibility suggests a culture that empowers individuals to take ownership of their work and drive projects forward.

Company Website: https://www.protopie.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: ProtoPie is known for its innovative approach to prototyping. Understanding their specific market niche and the competitive landscape is crucial for a Product Designer to align their work with business goals and user needs. The company values highlight a culture of trust, autonomy, and global perspective.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicated by the 8+ years of experience requirement and the expectation of taking ownership with minimal handholding. It's an individual contributor role focused on deep product design expertise. Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a Design Lead or Product Manager within an agile team structure, working collaboratively with Engineers and QAs. This structure fosters direct impact on product development cycles. Operations Impact: As a Senior Product Designer, the role has a direct impact on the usability, functionality, and overall success of ProtoPie's products. By designing intuitive and effective user experiences, this role contributes significantly to user adoption, satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, the company's revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific product areas or user experience challenges within ProtoPie's ecosystem.
• Leadership: Potential to mentor junior designers or lead design initiatives within specific product squads, paving a path towards a Lead Designer or Design Manager role.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning through working on cutting-edge prototyping technology and collaborating with a global team. The education benefits further support skill enhancement.
• Contract to Full-Time: While this is a 6-month contract, successful performance could lead to opportunities for longer-term engagement or full-time positions, depending on business needs and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The contract nature of the role offers flexibility and exposure to ProtoPie's operations. Growth potential hinges on performance and the company's evolving needs, with opportunities for skill depth and potential leadership within project teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Seoul, South Korea, at the company's headquarters. This implies an on-site work environment with opportunities for in-person collaboration. Office Location(s): Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. This is a well-known business district, suggesting a modern and accessible office location.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as collaborative, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and communication across departments (Design, Product, Engineering, QA).
• Expect access to modern design tools and technologies, including ProtoPie itself, as well as standard design software.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues will be frequent, fostering a dynamic and interactive work setting.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are available, generally aligning with a 10 AM to 7 PM KST schedule at HQ. This allows for some personal flexibility while ensuring core collaboration hours are met. The role is a 6-month contract.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Gangnam, Seoul, suggests a professional and dynamic work environment typical of major tech hubs. Flexible hours are a plus, but the contract duration and on-site nature are key considerations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Step 1: Resume/CV Submission: Submit your resume and, critically, your portfolio. The portfolio is essential for demonstrating your experience and skills.
• Step 2: 1st Interview: Likely a screening interview with HR or a hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and initial understanding of the role.
• Step 3: 2nd Interview: A more in-depth interview, possibly with design team members or a design lead, focusing on your design process, problem-solving abilities, and specific project experience. This may include a portfolio review.
• Step 4: 3rd Interview: Potentially with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, CTO, or CEO, given the company's size and the role's seniority) or a broader cross-functional panel to assess strategic thinking, collaboration capabilities, and overall fit. This interview might be conducted via video call.
• Step 5: Decision and Negotiation: Final decision, offer extension, and salary/contract negotiation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to ProtoPie's product and the job description (e.g., complex UI/UX, interaction design, design systems, user research).
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, your design process, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes or impact of your work. Use visuals extensively.
• Highlight Process: Detail your methodology – how you conducted user research, brainstormed ideas, iterated on designs, and collaborated with teams.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user engagement, improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time).
• ProtoPie Proficiency: If you have ProtoPie experience, make sure to showcase it prominently, perhaps with a dedicated case study or by highlighting its use in other projects.
• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and clearly written. Be prepared to walk through your portfolio verbally during interviews.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design exercises or case studies that assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work under constraints. These might be presented during the interview process or as a take-home assignment.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely, especially when discussing trade-offs and technical limitations.
• Familiarize yourself with ProtoPie's product and its competitive landscape to understand their unique value proposition and potential design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-stage interview process, including three distinct interviews, indicates a thorough evaluation. The portfolio is paramount, and candidates should prepare to present it comprehensively, focusing on their process, impact, and relevant skills like ProtoPie proficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: ProtoPie (highly preferred/required), Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision. Candidates are expected to be proficient in at least one primary design tool and ideally have experience with ProtoPie.
• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Maze).
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for project management and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and product performance metrics.
• Experience interpreting data to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design changes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how design impacts CRM workflows and customer journeys can be beneficial. Familiarity with CRM systems like Salesforce or HubSpot might be a plus for understanding the broader business context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with design and prototyping tools, especially ProtoPie, is a key technical requirement. Experience with user research platforms and an understanding of analytics tools are also highly valuable for a data-informed design approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Autonomy & Responsibility: Expectation to take ownership of your work, make independent decisions, and be accountable for outcomes. This implies a trust-based environment where individuals are empowered to lead their design initiatives.
• Communication & Trust: Open and transparent communication is valued. Building trust with colleagues is essential for effective cross-functional collaboration. Expect regular feedback and open dialogue.
• Integrity: Professionalism and high moral standards are expected, maintaining clear boundaries between personal and professional life and acting ethically in all dealings.
• Global Citizenship: Respect for diverse cultural traits and a mindset that considers the global market are integral, reflecting ProtoPie's international presence and user base.
• Team Player: Emphasis on active collaboration, mutual support, and respect for colleagues' professionalism and authority. This fosters a supportive and productive team dynamic.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile Squads: Work within cross-functional agile teams, ensuring close, daily collaboration between designers, PMs, and engineers.
• Iterative Design: A continuous feedback loop is encouraged, with regular design reviews and open discussions on design solutions.
• Knowledge Sharing: Expect a culture that promotes sharing best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the team and potentially the wider organization.
• Proactive Communication: Given the global nature of the company and potentially remote team members, proactive and clear communication is vital for alignment and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: ProtoPie's core values are deeply ingrained in their operational culture, emphasizing individual empowerment, ethical conduct, and a global, collaborative spirit. Understanding these values is crucial for cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Fidelity Prototyping Complexity: Designing for a sophisticated prototyping tool like ProtoPie requires a deep understanding of its capabilities and limitations, as well as the ability to translate complex interactions into intuitive user flows.
• Balancing User Needs and Technical Constraints: Effectively mediating between user desires and the realities of software development, ensuring designs are both user-centric and technically feasible within agile sprints.
• Global User Base: Designing for a diverse, international user base with varying cultural expectations and technical environments requires a nuanced and adaptable design approach.
• Contractual Duration: The 6-month contract nature means a need to quickly onboard, deliver significant impact, and adapt to the team's existing workflows and product roadmap within a limited timeframe.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• ProtoPie Expertise: Deepen your mastery of ProtoPie, becoming a subject matter expert in advanced prototyping techniques and best practices.
• Cross-Functional Acumen: Enhance your understanding of product management, software engineering processes, and QA methodologies through close collaboration.
• Global Design Perspectives: Gain exposure to design challenges and solutions for a global market, expanding your cultural design intelligence.
• Portfolio Enhancement: The contract provides a significant opportunity to add high-impact projects to your portfolio, potentially leading to future opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to the nature of the role and the product. The growth opportunities are framed around skill enhancement and leveraging the contract experience for future career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a complex design problem you solved for a software product. Walk us through your process from discovery to implementation, including how you used user research and data to inform your decisions." Preparation: Have a detailed case study ready, focusing on your specific contributions and the impact. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and how you handled unexpected challenges.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently? Describe a time you had to negotiate design decisions with stakeholders." Preparation: Focus on your communication style, your understanding of agile workflows, and your ability to advocate for user needs while respecting technical realities.
• Design Systems & Scalability: "What is your experience with design systems? How have you contributed to or utilized them to ensure consistency and scalability in your designs?" Preparation: Be ready to discuss principles of design systems, component libraries, and how they streamline the design and development process.

Company & Culture Questions:

• ProtoPie's Product: "What are your thoughts on ProtoPie's product and its place in the market? How do you see your design expertise contributing to its future development?" Preparation: Research ProtoPie thoroughly. Understand its core features, target audience, and competitive advantages. Formulate opinions on its design and user experience.
• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal team environment. How do you contribute to a positive and productive team culture, especially within an agile framework?" Preparation: Align your answers with ProtoPie's stated values (Autonomy, Communication, Integrity, Global Citizenship, Team Player).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation around compelling narratives for each project. Start with the problem, explain your approach, showcase key design artifacts (wireframes, mockups, prototypes), and conclude with the outcomes and learnings.
• Highlight ProtoPie Skills: If you have ProtoPie experience, dedicate specific time to showcasing it, explaining why you chose ProtoPie for certain projects and demonstrating its advanced capabilities.
• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the "so what?" of your designs. How did your work benefit users and the business? Use data and metrics to support your claims.
• Visuals & Interactivity: Use high-quality visuals and interactive prototypes where possible to bring your work to life. Be prepared to navigate through your prototypes smoothly.
• Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time. Be clear, concise, and engaging. Practice your presentation to fit within the allocated timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing not just design skills, but also operational understanding of agile development, cross-functional collaboration, and a deep appreciation for ProtoPie's product and mission.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on rippling.com.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and specifically tailored to highlight your experience in software product design, user research, design systems, and prototyping. If you have ProtoPie experience, make it prominent.
• Resume Optimization: Craft your resume to clearly emphasize your 8+ years of professional experience in software companies. Use keywords from the job description such as "product design," "user experience," "UI/UX," "agile," "design systems," and "prototyping." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research ProtoPie, its products, and its market. Prepare detailed case studies from your portfolio to present, focusing on your process, impact, and collaboration skills. Practice articulating your design rationale and experience with ProtoPie.
• Company Research: Understand ProtoPie's company values and culture. Prepare to discuss how your working style and values align with theirs, particularly regarding autonomy, communication, and global citizenship.

⚠️ 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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