Product Designer (f/m/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (f/m/d)
Company: Contentful
Location: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / User Experience
Date Posted: December 18, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Level (3 years minimum)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to shaping user-centered digital experiences by leveraging design thinking and AI solutions to empower content creators.
• You will collaborate within a cross-functional product development team, focusing on enhancing platform usability and business success through innovative design.
• Key responsibilities include facilitating user research, defining user needs, and translating them into intuitive UI mockups, prototypes, and UX copy.
• The position requires a strong advocate for the user, capable of communicating complex design concepts to diverse stakeholders, including company leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Product Designer," has significant overlap with User Experience (UX) Design, particularly in its emphasis on user research, empathy building, and cross-functional collaboration within a product development context. The mention of AI solutions suggests a forward-thinking approach to design tools and methodologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct and facilitate user research studies and team workshops to deeply understand user needs and foster empathy among stakeholders.
• Explore and define user journeys, concept maps, and information architecture to address complex user scenarios and business objectives.
• Create high-fidelity UI mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear UX copy that effectively communicates design solutions.
• Assist in the definition of user stories and product requirements, ensuring alignment with business strategy and success metrics.
• Present design concepts, findings, and team contributions to business stakeholders and leadership, articulating the rationale and impact.
• Design and execute experiments, including user testing, to gather feedback and drive iterative improvements in the user experience.
• Collaborate closely with other designers across the organization to maintain and elevate the overall quality and consistency of design standards.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of product usability and business outcomes through a user-centered design approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking, hands-on execution, and strong communication. The emphasis on "shaping team goals and success metrics" and "representing your team's work" indicates a mid-level role with significant ownership and influence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating design thinking, user research, and UI/UX execution is paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is often beneficial.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in Product Design, UX Design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of delivering user-centered solutions.

Required Skills:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in Product Design or UX Design.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a self-starter, possess strong organizational skills, and navigate ambiguity with clarity.
• Proficiency in creating user journeys, concept maps, UI mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• Experience working with and contributing to design systems, with a solid understanding of interaction patterns.
• Knowledgeable and passionate about AI solutions and relevant tooling for design and product development.
• Experience conducting user research, usability testing, and facilitating meetings and workshops.
• Strong conceptual skills applicable to designing for complex scenarios.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to advocate for users and articulate design decisions to leadership.
• Openness to trade-offs and negotiation in design and development processes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the SaaS or digital experience platform industry.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.
• Proficient in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Experience with UX writing and content strategy.
• A strong understanding of how AI can be integrated into user experiences to enhance efficiency and personalization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "3 years of experience" clearly positions this as a mid-level role. The emphasis on "navigating ambiguity," "conceptual skills for complex scenarios," and "communicating to company leadership" further reinforces the expectation of a candidate who can operate independently and strategically. The passion for AI is a key differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of design projects that showcase your end-to-end product design process, from discovery to delivery.
• Case studies demonstrating how you identified user needs, explored design solutions, and iterated based on feedback and data.
• Examples of your work with design systems, highlighting your understanding of component-based design and scalability.
• Prototypes that effectively illustrate user flows and interaction design principles.
• Projects that demonstrate your problem-solving approach to complex design challenges.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process for each project, including research methodologies, ideation techniques, and validation methods.
• Showcase how you facilitate workshops and user research, providing examples of outputs and insights generated.
• Demonstrate your ability to define and track success metrics for design initiatives, linking them to business objectives.
• Detail your experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers) and how you integrated their feedback into your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on research, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration, the portfolio should not just showcase final UI but the entire design thinking and execution process. Evidence of working with design systems and understanding AI's role in design will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 3+ years of experience in Dublin, Ireland, a competitive salary range for this role is estimated to be between €60,000 and €85,000 annually. This range accounts for the cost of living in Dublin and the specific demands of a hybrid work model within a leading tech company like Contentful.

Benefits:

• Stock Options: Opportunity to share in the company's success through equity.
• Fertility and Family Building Benefits: A lifetime reimbursable wallet to support family growth.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Includes vacation days, sick days, education days, compassion days, and volunteer days, emphasizing Work-Life balance and "You Time."
• Family Care Leave: Time off to care for and focus on a growing family.
• Annual Education Budget: Funds for personal skill development and career growth.
• Wellbeing Stipend: An annual allowance for physical, financial, or emotional health.
• Communication Stipend: Monthly allowance for phone/internet and hardware upgrade reimbursement.
• New Hire Office Equipment Stipend: For hybrid or distributed employees to acquire necessary work gear.
• Virtual and In-Person Events: Workshops, guest speakers, and team activities supporting learning and networking.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement allowing for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are extensive and focus on employee well-being, professional development, and family support, aligning with modern tech company offerings. The salary estimate is a benchmark for Dublin and the specified experience level; actual compensation may vary based on individual experience and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience Platform (DXP) and Content Management Systems (CMS). Contentful operates in a rapidly evolving market driven by the increasing demand for scalable, personalized digital content across various channels. The integration of AI is a key strategic focus. Company Size: Over 700 employees, indicating a mid-to-large-sized tech company with established processes but still retaining agility and a sense of community. Founded: Contentful was founded with the goal of modernizing content management, evolving into a leading DXP. This history suggests a culture of innovation and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of a cross-functional product development team, likely including Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers.
• They will also be part of a broader "design guild," comprising passionate design generalists who engage in continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
• Reporting likely to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, with strong collaboration lines to product management and engineering leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, experimentation, and user testing to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Agile & Iterative Development: The role involves assisting in story/requirements definition and iterative improvements, suggesting an agile workflow.
• Collaborative Design: Working within a design guild and cross-functional teams points to a strong emphasis on shared learning, feedback, and collective improvement.

Company Website: https://www.contentful.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Contentful's focus on composability and AI in content management positions it as an innovative player. The "design guild" structure suggests a strong internal community for designers, fostering mentorship and skill development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer. It requires demonstrated experience (3+ years) and the ability to work independently, take ownership of design initiatives, and contribute strategically to team goals. The expectation to communicate with leadership and facilitate workshops indicates a level of autonomy and influence beyond junior roles.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Manager within the UX team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers within their assigned cross-functional product team, fostering a collaborative and integrated development environment.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the usability and effectiveness of Contentful's platform, influencing how marketing and digital teams worldwide can efficiently build and deliver content experiences. Their contributions are critical to customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and ultimately, the company's success in a competitive digital experience market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, advanced prototyping, user research methodologies, or design system leadership.
• Leadership Development: Potential to move into Senior Product Designer roles, lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or transition into management roles within the design organization.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper insights into product management, engineering, and business strategy, enabling a more holistic understanding of product development.
• Learning and Development: Leverage the annual education budget and internal workshops to acquire new skills, stay abreast of industry trends (especially in AI), and pursue certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path suggests progression towards senior individual contributor roles or potential leadership within the design team, supported by Contentful's focus on continuous learning and development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. The mention of a "New hire office equipment stipend" supports this model. Office Location(s): The role is based in Dublin, Ireland, with the expectation of working from the Dublin office on a hybrid schedule. Specific office address details would typically be provided during the hiring process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely supports teamwork with meeting rooms, breakout areas, and communal spaces conducive to brainstorming and cross-functional interaction.
• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, collaboration tools, and potentially Contentful's own platform for internal use. The company provides stipends for personal equipment.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular in-person collaboration with the immediate product team and broader design guild, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid arrangement offering flexibility. This allows designers to balance focused work, collaborative sessions, and personal commitments effectively. Days in the office are likely structured around team meetings, workshops, and collaborative design sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model implies a need for strong self-management and communication skills, as well as the ability to be productive both independently and in group settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review applications and conduct a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will typically be asked to present their portfolio, walking through 1-2 key projects that highlight their process, problem-solving skills, and impact. This is a critical stage for assessing design thinking and communication.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussions with the hiring manager and potential cross-functional team members (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Designer) to delve deeper into design approach, collaboration style, and experience with specific tools and methodologies.
• Design Exercise/Case Study: A practical design challenge, either take-home or live, to evaluate problem-solving abilities, design execution, and thought process in a simulated work scenario.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership or other key stakeholders to assess strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall candidacy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 strong projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to Contentful's domain (DXP, content, AI).
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you overcame, the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact or learnings.
• Highlight Process: Showcase your design thinking, user research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration stages. Don't just show final screens; explain why you made certain decisions.
• Demonstrate Collaboration: If possible, highlight how you worked with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders, and how you incorporated their feedback.
• Emphasize AI Relevance: If you have projects involving AI or automation, be prepared to discuss them in detail, explaining your approach and understanding of the technology's application in design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Contentful, its product, and its target users to inform your approach.
• Define Scope: Clearly articulate your assumptions and the scope of your solution. It's better to solve a well-defined, smaller problem thoroughly than to attempt a broad, shallow solution.
• Focus on Process: Even in a limited time, demonstrate your design process – how you'd approach research, ideation, and validation.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you'd measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and a potential design exercise suggests that practical application and the ability to articulate one's thought process are highly valued. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with AI in design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, given industry trends), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Jira, Confluence.
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or internal methodologies for conducting user interviews and usability tests.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and product performance is beneficial.
• Experience with data visualization tools or dashboards might be an advantage for understanding user data.

CRM & Automation:

• Generally not a direct requirement for Product Designers, but an understanding of how design impacts CRM workflows or customer journeys could be valuable. Familiarity with marketing automation platforms or customer data platforms might provide context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is expected. An understanding of how design integrates with product management and engineering workflows, as well as user analytics, is key. An awareness of AI tools that can assist in design processes is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs as the primary driver for design and product decisions.
• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where open communication, mutual respect, and shared problem-solving are paramount, both within the product team and the broader design guild.
• Innovation & Continuous Learning: Encouraging experimentation, embracing new technologies (like AI), and continuously seeking to improve skills and product offerings.
• Impact & Ownership: Taking responsibility for design outcomes and striving to create solutions that deliver tangible business value and enhance customer experiences.
• Empathy: Cultivating understanding and consideration for colleagues, users, and stakeholders in all interactions and design decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure design solutions are technically feasible, strategically aligned, and meet business objectives.
• Feedback Culture: Participating in design critiques, providing constructive feedback, and being open to receiving and incorporating feedback from peers and leadership.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to the design guild through presentations, discussions, and sharing best practices, fostering a collective growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Contentful's emphasis on "Everyone is welcome here" and their stated values suggest an inclusive, collaborative, and growth-oriented culture where design plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Adapting to evolving product roadmaps and market demands, requiring the ability to define clarity and direction in uncertain situations.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively advocating for the user while ensuring design solutions are aligned with strategic business objectives and technical constraints.
• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Designing intuitive and valuable user experiences that leverage AI capabilities without overwhelming or confusing users.
• Maintaining Design Quality at Scale: Ensuring consistency and high standards across a growing product suite and diverse user base, often within tight deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design: Exploring and applying emerging AI tools and methodologies to enhance the design process and create innovative user experiences.
• Advanced UX/Product Design: Deepening expertise in areas such as complex system design, user research methodologies, accessibility standards, and content strategy.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the strategic direction of the design team.
• Industry Exposure: Attending conferences, workshops, and webinars to stay current with design trends, AI advancements, and best practices in the DXP space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a growing tech company in a dynamic market, requiring adaptability, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to learning, particularly regarding AI. The growth opportunities are well-aligned with career progression in the design field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex design problem you solved. What was your process, what were the trade-offs, and what was the outcome?" Preparation: Focus on a project that showcases your end-to-end process, your ability to handle ambiguity, and quantify impact. Be ready to discuss the why behind your decisions.
• "How do you approach integrating new technologies, like AI, into user experiences? Can you give an example?" Preparation: Connect your passion for AI to practical design applications. Discuss how you'd research user needs related to AI features, prototype potential interactions, and test for usability and value.
• "How do you ensure your designs are user-centered while also meeting business objectives?" Preparation: Provide examples of how you've balanced these competing priorities, perhaps through user research, stakeholder alignment, or data analysis.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Contentful and our mission?" Preparation: Research Contentful's product, values, and recent news. Understand their DXP positioning and how AI fits into their strategy.
• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?" Preparation: Discuss your experience working with cross-functional teams, participating in design critiques, and sharing knowledge.
• "How do you handle feedback, especially constructive criticism on your designs?" Preparation: Emphasize your openness to feedback as a tool for improvement and growth, and how you incorporate it into your iterative process.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your role and the project's context. Clearly state the problem and your objective.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your process and solutions.
• Narrate Your Journey: Walk through your design decisions, explaining the rationale, research findings, and user insights that informed them.
• Quantify Outcomes: Whenever possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the impact of your design on users and the business.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical constraints, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, demonstrate problem-solving skills, and showcase their understanding of user-centered design principles, especially in the context of complex platforms and emerging technologies like AI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through Contentful's Greenhouse portal.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure these highlight your experience in user research, UI/UX design, and ideally, any work involving complex systems or AI.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3+ years of relevant experience, key skills like user research, design systems, and AI passion. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, clearly articulating the problem, your role, your process, key decisions, and outcomes. Be ready to answer questions about your methodology and collaboration style.
• Research Contentful: Understand their product, target audience, company mission, and recent developments, especially regarding AI integration. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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