Product Designer (Junior/Intermediate)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Junior/Intermediate)

Company: Merantix (operating as FICUS Health)

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-time / Permanent (Festanstellung)

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: May 06, 2026

Experience Level: Junior/Intermediate (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design, from initial discovery and UX/UI conception through to implementation and quality assurance, leveraging AI-assisted workflows.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system to ensure consistency, quality, and speed across all product initiatives and team activities.

• Foster close collaboration with Product, Engineering, and other cross-functional teams, operating with short communication lines and significant autonomy.

• Conduct user research both remotely and on-site at partner clinics to gather insights and translate user needs into effective product decisions.

• Translate complex requirements into clear, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly concepts, experiences, and user interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "Product Designer (Junior/Intermediate)" and the description indicating "0-2 years" of experience, combined with the mention of working directly with the code base and AI-assisted workflows, suggest a hands-on role focused on execution and iteration rather than high-level strategic design. The emphasis on developing and maintaining the design system points to a need for strong foundational design skills and an eye for detail.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product feature lifecycle, from initial user research and concept validation through wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and final quality assurance checks.

• Actively contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the company's design system, ensuring adherence to established patterns, components, and style guides for consistent user experiences.

• Collaborate daily with product managers and software engineers to ensure seamless integration of design into the development process, providing clear design specifications and feedback.

• Engage in direct user interaction by visiting partner clinics to observe workflows, interview healthcare professionals, and gather qualitative data to inform product strategy and feature development.

• Translate functional requirements and user feedback into intuitive and engaging user interfaces, focusing on usability, accessibility, and visual appeal.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design improvements and new feature development, contributing to the product roadmap and strategic vision of FICUS Health.

• Implement and advocate for accessibility best practices throughout the design and development process, conducting regular accessibility audits.

• Utilize AI-powered tools and workflows to enhance design efficiency, accelerate iteration cycles, and explore innovative design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core design execution and strategic input. The mention of "implementing features yourself" and "working directly with the code base" suggests a high degree of technical understanding or direct coding contribution, which is atypical for a pure designer role and might indicate a need for a designer with some front-end development appreciation or a more integrated Product Designer role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant design skills and experience is paramount. A background in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 0-2 years of professional experience in Product Design, UX Design, or UI Design. Experience in a fast-paced startup or tech environment is advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Proven proficiency in Figma for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and component-based design.

• Strong understanding of UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and interaction design patterns.

• Excellent visual design skills with a keen eye for aesthetics, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Experience in developing, maintaining, or extending design systems and component libraries.

• Ability to create interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Experience with user research methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing, and persona development.

• Familiarity with product discovery processes and translating user needs into actionable design solutions.

• Understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and experience conducting accessibility audits.

• Proficiency in German at a minimum of B2 level for effective communication with local users and internal teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with AI-assisted design workflows and tools.

• Experience with version control systems like GitHub.

• Knowledge of issue tracking and project management tools like Linear.

• Exposure to the healthcare technology or digital health sector.

• Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better collaborate with engineers.

• Experience in Quality Assurance (QA) for design implementations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "working directly with Figma, Linear, GitHub, and the actual codebase" and implementing features suggests a hands-on role that may require some technical overlap or at least a deep appreciation for how designs are translated into code. The emphasis on AI-assisted workflows indicates a need for adaptability and a willingness to explore cutting-edge design practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects, detailing your role, process, and impact from discovery to implementation.

• Highlight at least one project demonstrating significant contributions to a design system, including component creation, pattern definition, and consistency enforcement.

• Include case studies that illustrate your ability to translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective UX/UI solutions.

• Present examples of prototypes created in Figma, demonstrating interactive user flows and design iterations.

• Detail your experience with user research, including methodologies used, key findings, and how research informed design decisions.

• Showcase your understanding of accessibility principles and how you integrated them into your designs.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from initial problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, user testing, and final implementation.

• Demonstrate how you manage design iterations and incorporate feedback from product, engineering, and user testing.

• Explain your approach to maintaining design consistency and quality through the use of design systems and style guides.

• Illustrate how you collaborate with engineering teams during the implementation phase, including QA activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on direct implementation and working with code, a portfolio that includes examples of how designs were translated into functional features, or even UI code snippets if applicable, would be highly advantageous. The "AI-assisted workflows" mention suggests that showcasing projects where AI tools were leveraged to improve efficiency or outcomes would be a strong differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Junior/Intermediate Product Designer in Berlin, Germany, with 0-2 years of experience, a competitive salary range would typically fall between €45,000 and €65,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major German tech hubs, considering the company's size and the startup environment.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours to accommodate personal needs and optimize productivity.

• Hybrid work model, offering a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration at the Berlin AI Campus.

• Opportunity to actively shape the digitalization of the healthcare sector and establish a cutting-edge solution within medical institutions.

• Direct mentorship and development from an experienced founder team and a dedicated Product Design Lead.

• Access to a fully integrated, AI-supported design and development environment, enhancing efficiency and innovation.

• The chance to contribute your own ideas and actively influence the company's platform development and product roadmap.

• A collaborative team environment that values initiative, clear opinions, and constructive feedback.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work model and flexible scheduling options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for junior to intermediate product designers in Berlin. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the company's compensation strategy. The provided benefits are directly extracted from the job description and tailored for clarity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Software / Artificial Intelligence. FICUS Health operates at the intersection of these rapidly evolving fields, developing AI-powered solutions for medical documentation to support healthcare professionals.

Company Size: FICUS Health was founded in 2024 and is actively growing its team. While specific employee numbers aren't provided, its status as a startup implies a dynamic, agile, and potentially smaller team environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: 2024. As a relatively new company, FICUS Health is in a phase of rapid innovation and market establishment, aiming to be a leader in AI-driven medical documentation in Germany.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely works closely with Product Management and Engineering, forming a core part of the product development unit.

• There is a clear reporting line to a Product Design Lead, who will provide mentorship and guidance.

• Collaboration extends across the entire company, including founders and technical experts, suggesting a flat hierarchy and open communication channels.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, data analysis, and AI-assisted workflows to inform product decisions and enhance user experiences.

• Agile Development: The mention of Linear and GitHub suggests an agile development process with iterative cycles and continuous integration.

• Design System Centricity: A strong focus on building and maintaining a design system to ensure efficiency, consistency, and scalability of the product.

• User-Centricity: Direct engagement with users in clinical settings to understand their needs and challenges firsthand.

Company Website: https://merantix.com/ (Note: The job posting links to Merantix's careers page, implying Merantix is the parent or umbrella organization for FICUS Health, which is described as developing solutions for the hospital of the future.)

📝 Enhancement Note: FICUS Health is presented as a startup founded in 2024, focused on AI in healthcare. Merantix appears to be the parent company or the entity hosting the job application. The culture is described as valuing initiative, clear opinions, and direct collaboration, typical of early-stage tech ventures.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Junior/Intermediate Product Designer. It offers hands-on experience in all phases of the product design lifecycle, from initial concept to implementation and QA. The role provides opportunities to take ownership of features and contribute to the design system, laying a strong foundation for a career in product design.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to the Product Design Lead and work in close collaboration with Product Managers and Software Engineers. This structure allows for direct mentorship and integration within the product development team.

Operations Impact: As a Product Designer at FICUS Health, you will have a direct and tangible impact on the product and its users. Your design decisions will influence how healthcare professionals interact with AI-powered tools, directly contributing to improved patient care and operational efficiency in hospitals. You will be instrumental in shaping the user experience of a novel solution in a critical industry.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design, design systems, user research, and prototyping through hands-on project work and mentorship from experienced professionals.

• Specialization: Gain exposure to AI-assisted design workflows and potentially specialize in areas like healthcare UX, AI interaction design, or advanced design system management.

• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, opportunities may arise for increased ownership, leading design initiatives, or mentoring junior designers. The ability to contribute to product strategy and roadmap will also foster growth.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of digital health and AI in medicine.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear growth path from junior to potentially more senior design responsibilities. The emphasis on working with founders and a Design Lead suggests significant mentorship opportunities. The growth is not just in design skills but also in understanding the complexities of the healthcare industry and AI applications.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Berlin, offering a hybrid work model. This means a blend of remote work and in-office presence at the AI Campus. The AI Campus likely provides a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and cross-team interaction.

Office Location(s): Max-Urich-Str. 3, AI Campus, Berlin, Germany. This location places the company within a hub for technology and innovation in Berlin.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration for brainstorming, team meetings, and design critiques, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

• Tools & Technology: Access to a fully integrated, AI-supported design and development environment, including tools like Figma, Linear, and GitHub, facilitating efficient workflows.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with product, engineering, founders, and other design team members, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is flexible, with approximately 40 hours per week. This flexibility allows designers to manage their time effectively, balancing project deadlines with personal well-being, crucial for creative roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and the mention of the "AI Campus" suggest a modern, tech-forward work environment. The emphasis on collaboration within this setup is key for designers who benefit from in-person feedback and idea-sharing.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process is likely to be structured to assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, cultural fit, and understanding of the company's mission. Expect stages such as:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise to evaluate your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and proficiency in Figma. This might involve a take-home assignment or an in-person/remote design session.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into your portfolio projects, discussing your process, decision-making, and the impact of your work. This is where you'll demonstrate your ability to articulate your design rationale.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interviews: Conversations with the Product Design Lead, Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially founders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with company values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a founder or senior leadership to discuss overall fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end design thinking, from discovery to implementation.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role and process, the challenges you faced, your design decisions (and why), and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Design System Work: If you have experience with design systems, dedicate specific sections to demonstrate your contributions, component design, and understanding of scalability.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, demonstrating your use of components, prototyping features, and organizational structure.

• Address AI Integration: If you've used AI tools in your design process, be ready to explain how they enhanced your workflow or outcomes.

• Demonstrate User Research: Clearly explain your user research methods and how insights directly influenced your design choices.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth, concise, and engaging delivery. Be ready to answer questions thoughtfully and demonstrate your passion for design and the company's mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly analyze the problem statement, target users, and business goals.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your thought process, not just the final deliverable. Explain your assumptions, research methods, and design decisions.

• Pragmatism is Key: Given the mention of balancing time, scope, and quality, show how you make pragmatic trade-offs.

• Accessibility & Design Systems: Be prepared to incorporate accessibility considerations and leverage design system principles if applicable.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your ideas verbally and visually.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be rigorous, focusing on practical design skills, problem-solving, and a good cultural fit. The portfolio review will be a critical component, requiring candidates to clearly articulate their design process and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Linear: Used for issue tracking, project management, and agile development workflows. Familiarity will streamline collaboration with engineering.

• GitHub: A version control system essential for code collaboration; understanding how designs integrate with code repositories is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) used to track user behavior and product performance would be advantageous for understanding design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this design role, but understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM or marketing automation platforms could provide broader context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, Linear, and GitHub points to a modern, integrated tech stack for product development. Designers are expected to be proficient in Figma and comfortable working within agile development environments managed by tools like Linear and GitHub.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Initiative & Ownership: The company values individuals who take initiative, bring their own perspectives, and own their work from start to finish.

• Clear Opinions & Collaboration: Encourages open communication, constructive debate, and the sharing of diverse viewpoints to drive better decision-making.

• Pragmatism: A focus on making practical decisions that balance time, scope, and quality, particularly relevant in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to make things better, as indicated by the statement that "imperfect states motivate you to make things better."

• User-Centricity & Impact: A core value of understanding users and creating solutions that have a real impact, especially in the critical healthcare sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Works closely with Product, Engineering, and founders, emphasizing short communication lines and collaborative problem-solving.

• Direct Feedback Culture: Encourages open dialogue and feedback exchange to refine designs and product direction.

• Shared Responsibility: Team members are expected to contribute actively and support each other in achieving common goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative, typical of a growing tech startup. The values emphasize proactivity, clear communication, and a results-oriented approach, particularly within a mission-driven context of improving healthcare through technology.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design Excellence with Speed: The need to deliver high-quality, user-centered designs quickly in a startup environment requires strong prioritization and efficient workflows.

• Translating Complex Healthcare Needs: Understanding and effectively designing for the intricate workflows and needs of healthcare professionals presents a unique challenge.

• Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of AI advancements and integrating them effectively and ethically into design processes requires continuous learning.

• Design System Maintenance: Ensuring the design system remains scalable, consistent, and up-to-date as the product evolves requires ongoing effort and discipline.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunity to hone skills in complex UX challenges, advanced prototyping, and sophisticated design system management.

• Industry Specialization: Gain deep expertise in the digital health and AI in medicine sectors, a rapidly growing and impactful field.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Develop a strong understanding of product management and software engineering processes through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Benefit from direct guidance from experienced founders and a dedicated Product Design Lead, accelerating professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly linked to the startup environment, the specific industry (healthcare), and the cutting-edge technology (AI). The growth opportunities are framed to leverage these challenges into skill development and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a time you had to balance competing priorities (time, scope, quality) when designing a feature. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" Prepare examples showcasing your pragmatic decision-making.

• Collaboration & Communication: "How do you collaborate with engineers and product managers to ensure your designs are implemented effectively? Describe a situation where you had to advocate for a design decision." Focus on your communication strategies and how you handle feedback.

• Design System & UI Excellence: "How do you approach building or maintaining a design system? Walk us through a component you designed and explain your rationale." Be ready to discuss your Figma skills and understanding of UI patterns.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "What interests you about FICUS Health's mission to improve healthcare with AI?" Research the company's mission and be ready to express genuine enthusiasm.

• Team Dynamics: "How do you prefer to work within a cross-functional team? What’s your approach to receiving and giving feedback?" Highlight your collaborative spirit and openness to constructive criticism.

• Proactivity & Initiative: "Describe a situation where you identified a problem or opportunity and took the initiative to address it, even if it wasn't explicitly part of your role." Showcase your proactive mindset.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process (discovery, ideation, design, testing, implementation), key decisions, and outcomes. Use visuals to support your story.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, positive user feedback).

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to navigate your Figma files, demonstrating your understanding of components, auto-layout, prototyping, and design system integration.

• Emphasize AI Integration: If AI tools were used, explain their role and how they contributed to efficiency or innovation in your design process.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and fits within the allotted time, keeping the audience engaged.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skills but also a pragmatic approach, strong collaboration abilities, and a genuine interest in the company's mission. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase all these aspects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Merantix careers page.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight relevant experience, skills (especially Figma, UX/UI, design systems), and any exposure to AI or healthcare technologies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end design projects. Ensure each project clearly details the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to showcase your Figma skills and design system work.

• Prepare for the Design Challenge: If a challenge is provided, focus on demonstrating your problem-solving process and pragmatic approach to design.

• Research FICUS Health: Understand their mission, the problems they are solving in healthcare, and their use of AI. Be ready to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and goals.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio and discussing your design decisions confidently and concisely.

⚠️ 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.