🎨 Product Designer (Open to full remote 🇫🇷)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer
Company: Staycation
Location: Paris, Île-de-France, France (Open to full remote within France)
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)
Date Posted: August 25, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in Paris per month)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on shaping the user experience for Staycation's platform, encompassing mobile apps, websites, and internal tools, by designing end-to-end solutions from ideation to delivery.
• The Product Designer will be a key contributor to the product team, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Developers to identify and solve user needs and pain points.
• A significant aspect of this role involves establishing and elevating design best practices, taking ownership of the design system, and ensuring a high-quality user experience across all touchpoints.
• The position requires a strong emphasis on user research, with the expectation to define personas, understand user needs deeply, and implement continuous research processes.
• This role is ideal for a versatile designer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment, possesses a strong craftsperson's eye, and is passionate about contributing to the company's design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities and required skills (User Research, Design Systems, end-to-end solutions) strongly indicate a role that blends Product Design with UX Design, emphasizing user-centric problem-solving and strategic design thinking. The requirement for 5 years of experience and proficiency in Figma with design system building points towards a senior or lead-level individual contributor.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design comprehensive, end-to-end product solutions, actively participating in all phases of the product development lifecycle, from user needs identification and solution definition to final delivery and iterative improvement.
• Serve as the primary advocate for the user's perspective in new feature development, ensuring that user personas, their constraints, needs, and pain points are thoroughly understood and integrated into every design decision.
• Establish and champion best practices in design processes, take ownership of the company's design system, and collaborate closely with developers to ensure the delivery of a high-quality, polished user experience.
• Contribute to the growth of the design culture by collaborating with other Product and Visual Designers to maintain design consistency across all user touchpoints and by integrating external creative talent (illustrators, 3D artists) to enhance user delight.
• Implement and lead robust User Research processes, including conducting in-depth user studies to define user personas, thoroughly understand user needs, and establish continuous feedback loops to enrich and track user insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a senior-level Product Designer role with a strong emphasis on user research, design system ownership, and cross-functional collaboration. The expectation to "grow the design culture" suggests a desire for a proactive individual who can influence and elevate design standards within the organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background or demonstrable expertise in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is expected, given the focus on user research and product design principles.
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Product Design, with a proven track record of designing and delivering user-centric digital products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Expertise in end-to-end product design, from concept to delivery, covering user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and final UI.
• Figma Proficiency: Advanced mastery of Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Design System Development: Proven experience in building and maintaining robust design systems for consistency and scalability.
• User Research: Deep knowledge and practical experience in conducting various user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) to gather insights and define user needs.
• Collaboration: Strong ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Developers) and contribute to a collaborative, co-creative environment.
• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail in design execution, adhering to grids, typography, and visual hierarchy.
• User Needs Analysis: Ability to empathize with and translate user needs, constraints, and pain points into effective design solutions.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for tackling complex problems with elegant and user-friendly design solutions.
• Adaptability: Proven ability to adapt to a fast-paced startup environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• French Fluency: Complete fluency in French for effective communication within the team and with users.

Preferred Skills:

• English Fluency: Near-fluent or fluent English proficiency for expanded communication and potential international collaboration.
• Discovery Methods: Experience with product discovery methodologies and a proactive approach to user engagement.
• Visual Design Craftsmanship: A strong "craftsperson's eye" for aesthetics, detail, and adding "magical touches" to interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between "Must-haves" and "Nice-to-haves" clearly delineates the core requirements. The emphasis on Figma and design systems points to a need for a designer who can contribute to scalable design infrastructure. The requirement for French fluency is a critical localization factor.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your product design process from problem identification through to shipped solutions, highlighting your role and contributions at each stage.
• Figma & Design System Examples: Include specific examples of your work in Figma, particularly demonstrating your ability to build or contribute significantly to a design system, including component libraries, style guides, and usage documentation.
• User Research Integration: Provide evidence within your case studies of how user research informed your design decisions, including examples of research artifacts, insights derived, and how these insights translated into design iterations and improvements.
• Problem-Solving & Solutions: Clearly articulate the problems you were solving and present the iterative design process leading to your final solutions, emphasizing user-centricity and business impact.
• Collaboration & Impact: Demonstrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (developers, product managers) and highlight the impact of your designs, ideally with quantifiable results or user feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Design Workflow: Illustrate your typical design workflow, including how you approach discovery, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and handoff to development.
• User Research Framework: Detail your approach to setting up and conducting user research, including methodology selection, participant recruitment, and data synthesis.
• Design System Management: Explain your process for managing and evolving a design system, including version control, documentation, and ensuring adoption by development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, especially given the emphasis on end-to-end design, user research, and design systems. Candidates should prepare to walk through their process and articulate the rationale behind their design choices, demonstrating their ability to impact product strategy and user experience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While not explicitly stated, for a Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Paris, France, a competitive salary range would typically fall between €55,000 to €75,000 annually, depending on the depth of experience, specific skills, and the company's compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Impactful Work: Opportunity to significantly influence the user experience and future of a growing hospitality tech company.
• Collaborative Environment: Work within a cross-functional, passionate team that values co-creation and user-centricity.
• Growth Opportunities: Potential to grow within the product and design function in a dynamic startup setting.
• Flexibility: Option for full remote work within France, with required monthly visits to Paris.
• Company Culture: Be part of a team focused on reimagining hospitality and urban living.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, with flexibility expected in a startup environment. The role requires 3 days per month in Paris, suggesting a hybrid work model within France.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimations are based on industry benchmarks for experienced Product Designers in the Paris tech market. The benefits highlight the startup culture and the opportunity for significant impact, which are often key attractors for candidates in these roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Hospitality Technology / Travel Tech. Staycation operates within the intersection of hospitality and urban lifestyle, offering unique hotel experiences to city residents. Company Size: With 3.5 million users and 2,000+ partner hotels, Staycation is a growing scale-up, likely employing a team that balances established processes with the agility and innovation characteristic of startups. The product team is described as a cross-functional powerhouse. Founded: Staycation was founded with the goal of making hotels more accessible and desirable for city dwellers, positioning itself as a modern alternative to traditional urban leisure activities.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer reports to the CTO, indicating a direct line of communication with technical leadership.
• You will be part of a dedicated squad, which typically includes a Product Manager, a Lead Developer, and several other Developers, fostering a close-knit, project-focused working dynamic.
• Collaboration extends across the product team (Developers, Product Managers, other Product Designers) and potentially with marketing and operations teams.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: The core methodology emphasizes keeping the user at the heart of all product development, driven by user research and feedback.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Agile methodologies are likely employed, with squads working collaboratively to identify problems, design solutions, and iterate.
• Design System Ownership: A focus on building and maintaining a design system suggests a commitment to scalable, consistent, and efficient design practices.

Company Website: https://www.staycation.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to transform urban living through hospitality experiences is a key differentiator. The team structure, reporting to the CTO and working in squads, suggests a flat hierarchy and a focus on efficient execution, common in tech startups.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level Product Designer role. With 5 years of experience, you are expected to be autonomous in your design process, contribute significantly to product strategy, and mentor junior designers if they join the team. The role involves taking ownership of key design areas like the design system and user research processes. Reporting Structure: You will report directly to the CTO, providing a clear line of communication with executive leadership and direct exposure to strategic decision-making. Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly shapes the user experience of the Staycation platform, influencing user acquisition, engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's revenue and market positioning in the hospitality sector. Your designs will be critical in making hotels the "new go-to city spots."

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the company grows, there's potential to grow into a lead design role, managing a design team or taking on more strategic product ownership.
• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas like user research methodologies, advanced prototyping, and contributing to product strategy through design thinking.
• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in the rapidly evolving hospitality tech industry and a fast-paced startup environment.
• Cross-functional Influence: Develop strong collaboration and communication skills by working closely with engineering, product management, and leadership teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential, particularly for a designer who can drive initiatives like research processes and design system maturity. Reporting to the CTO provides direct visibility and influence on product direction, accelerating career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, with the option for full remote within France, requiring presence in Paris 3 days per month. This suggests a flexible work arrangement that balances remote autonomy with in-person collaboration. Office Location(s): While specific office details are not provided, the requirement to be in Paris 3 days a month indicates a central hub for team meetings, collaborative sessions, and company events.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office days are likely dedicated to high-impact team activities, brainstorming sessions, design critiques, and strategic planning, fostering a strong sense of team cohesion.
• Remote Flexibility: The full remote option within France allows for a comfortable and productive home working environment, catering to individual work preferences.
• Tech-Enabled: Expect access to modern collaboration tools and potentially a well-equipped office space for in-person interactions.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours, with an understanding of startup dynamics that may occasionally require flexibility. The monthly requirement for in-person presence in Paris needs to be factored into personal scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to offer the best of both worlds: the focus and flexibility of remote work, combined with the collaborative and bonding benefits of in-person interaction. Candidates should be comfortable with this blended approach.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Intro Call (Isabella, People Lead): A preliminary screening to assess cultural fit, basic qualifications, and alignment with the company's mission. Be prepared to discuss your career aspirations and why Staycation interests you.
• Manager Interview (Robin, CTO): A deeper dive into your technical skills, design philosophy, experience with user research, and design systems. Expect questions about how you approach problem-solving and collaborate with engineering teams.
• Take-home Case Study: This will assess your practical design skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to deliver within a timeframe. Focus on demonstrating your end-to-end process, user-centricity, and design system thinking.
• Case Study Presentation (Maxime & Robin): Present your case study findings and design solutions to key stakeholders. This is an opportunity to articulate your rationale, defend your design choices, and showcase your communication skills.
• Final Meeting (Co-founders): A final conversation to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the company's vision. This is your chance to ask high-level questions about the company's future.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies that showcase end-to-end product design, user research integration, and design system contributions.
• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your process, your solutions, and the impact. Clearly articulate your role and contributions.
• Highlight Figma & Design Systems: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your Figma work, including examples of design system components, style guides, and how you've applied them consistently.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows, research insights) to illustrate your points. If possible, include interactive prototypes.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Staycation: Research the company's mission, target audience, and current product offerings thoroughly.
• Design Process: Be ready to articulate your design process in detail, from discovery and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• User Research: Prepare to discuss your experience with various user research methods and how you translate insights into actionable design improvements.
• Design Systems: Be ready to discuss your experience building and maintaining design systems, their benefits, and how you ensure their adoption.
• Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with developers and product managers, managing feedback and ensuring smooth handoffs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate a candidate's entire skillset, from initial screening to strategic alignment. The take-home case study and presentation are critical for demonstrating practical abilities and communication skills. A well-prepared portfolio is non-negotiable for this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and design system management. Proficiency is essential.
• Prototyping Tools (within Figma or standalone): Tools for creating interactive prototypes to test user flows and gather feedback.
• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and analyzing user data (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Maze).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and product performance.
• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that help visualize user data and design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not primary for a Product Designer, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation tools integrate with the product can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool mentioned. Familiarity with user research platforms and product analytics tools will be highly advantageous for demonstrating a data-driven design approach and understanding user behavior post-launch.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: Placing the user at the core of every decision and design.
• Collaboration: Working closely with cross-functional teams to co-create solutions.
• Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality design, attention to detail, and a polished user experience.
• Innovation: A passion for reimagining urban living and hospitality through technology.
• Ownership: Taking responsibility for design processes and outcomes.
• Efficiency: Striving for elegant and effective solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work seamlessly with Product Managers and Developers within squads, fostering a shared understanding of goals and challenges.
• Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and utilized to improve designs and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Designers are encouraged to share insights, best practices, and learnings to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration, user-centricity, and craftsmanship aligns with a mature design culture in a forward-thinking tech company. The values suggest a team that is passionate, detail-oriented, and driven by impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating user research insights into design solutions that also meet business objectives in a fast-paced startup.
• Scaling Design Processes: As the company grows, maintaining design quality and consistency while scaling design systems and research methodologies.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless communication and alignment with product management and engineering teams to deliver cohesive product experiences.
• Adapting to Startup Pace: Thriving in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift and rapid iteration is key.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced User Research: Deepen expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods and their application in product strategy.
• Design System Mastery: Contribute to the evolution and scalability of the design system, potentially leading its future development.
• Product Strategy Input: Influence product roadmap and strategy through user-centric design thinking and research insights.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers as the team expands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a growing startup, offering ample opportunities for a proactive designer to learn and grow by solving these problems. The emphasis on scaling design processes and influencing product strategy presents significant career development pathways.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through your design process for a recent feature or product you worked on." Focus on the user research, problem definition, ideation, iteration, and how you collaborated with stakeholders.
• "How do you approach building and maintaining a design system?" Discuss your philosophy, preferred tools (Figma), best practices, and how you ensure adoption and consistency.
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs or stakeholder opinions. How did you resolve it?" Highlight your problem-solving skills, negotiation abilities, and user advocacy.
• "How do you incorporate user research into your design workflow?" Provide specific examples of research methods used and how insights directly influenced your design decisions.
• "What are your thoughts on Staycation's current product or user experience? What opportunities do you see?" Demonstrate your understanding of the company and your ability to think critically about its product.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Staycation and our mission?" Connect your personal values and career goals to the company's mission.
• "How do you contribute to a positive team culture?" Discuss your collaboration style, communication preferences, and how you support your colleagues.
• "How do you stay updated on design trends and best practices?" Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by case study. For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, design), your solutions, and the outcomes/impact.
• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, prototypes, and any relevant user research artifacts. Ensure your Figma work is showcased effectively.
• Narration: Be prepared to verbally walk through your portfolio, explaining your thought process, design decisions, and the rationale behind them.
• Interactivity: If possible, include interactive prototypes that allow interviewers to explore your work.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work during presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating your design process, showcasing your user research capabilities, and demonstrating your understanding of design systems within the context of Figma. Being able to connect your work to business impact and company culture is also key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your experience with end-to-end product design, user research, and Figma. Ensure your best work demonstrating design system contributions is prominently featured.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of product design experience, specific achievements in user research and design system development, and proficiency in Figma. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Rehearse answers to common product design interview questions, focusing on your process, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Practice presenting your portfolio and case study.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Staycation's mission, product, and target market. Understand their user base and the hospitality industry context to articulate informed insights during interviews.

⚠️ 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.