Product Designer (Part time Contract, Portugal Only)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Part-time Contract)

Company: Dragonboat Inc.

Location: Portugal (Remote)

Job Type: Part-time Contract

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: February 28, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Focus on enhancing the user experience of an AI platform for Strategic Product and Portfolio Management, directly impacting decision-making and workflow efficiency for product leaders.

• Drive improvements in navigation, interaction design, and overall product usability within a B2B SaaS environment.

• Contribute to the visual design and consistency of the product, ensuring a modern aesthetic while adhering to established design patterns.

• Collaborate closely with the product engineering lead in a fast-paced, remote startup setting.

• Work on a part-time contract basis, dedicating 10-20 hours per week to specific design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original title is "Product Designer," the description heavily emphasizes UX design responsibilities, focusing on usability, interaction, and navigation. This enhancement clarifies the role's core function as a UX Designer within the broader Product Designer title, aligning with the detailed responsibilities outlined. The "Portugal Only" restriction is critical for candidate targeting.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct user research and analysis to identify pain points and opportunities for improving product usability and interaction within the Dragonboat AI OS.

• Redesign and streamline navigation structures to enhance findability and reduce cognitive load for users across various roles.

• Optimize user flows and interaction patterns to make common workflows smoother, more intuitive, and more efficient.

• Develop and implement a modern, elevated visual style guide, ensuring consistency across all product touchpoints while respecting existing design systems.

• Introduce thoughtful UI/UX enhancements that improve user satisfaction and delight, contributing to a more enjoyable product experience.

• Collaborate with the Product Engineering Lead to translate design concepts into actionable specifications for development.

• Participate in design reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to refine solutions.

• Maintain a strong understanding of B2B SaaS design best practices and emerging UX trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to reflect typical UX design tasks within a B2B SaaS context. Emphasis is placed on user-centric processes, iterative design, and collaboration, which are crucial for this type of contract role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 3+ years of professional experience in UX/Product Design, specifically for B2B Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products.

• Proven track record of designing and improving navigation, interaction, and UI consistency for complex B2B applications.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in UX design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and interaction design.

• Strong command of design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

• Ability to create wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Experience in visual design, including style guide creation and pattern application.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines in a remote setting.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-powered platforms or enterprise portfolio management software.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate collaboration with engineers.

• Experience conducting user research and usability testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications have been detailed to reflect industry standards for a UX/Product Designer with 3+ years of experience. Specific tool proficiencies are implied, and an emphasis is placed on the ability to work within a B2B SaaS, multi-role environment, which is critical for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing 3-5 B2B SaaS design projects that demonstrate your ability to improve usability, streamline navigation, and enhance interaction design.

• Projects should highlight your process from problem identification to solution implementation, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and final UI design.

• Evidence of maintaining design consistency and introducing modern aesthetic improvements within existing product frameworks.

• Case studies demonstrating your approach to solving complex UX challenges in a multi-role, live environment.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to walk through your design process for at least one key project, explaining your rationale, methodologies, and iterative steps.

• Demonstrate how you approach user flow optimization and navigation redesigns.

• Showcase examples of how you collaborate with engineering and product teams to bring designs to fruition.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific portfolio guidance is crucial for design roles. This section emphasizes showcasing B2B SaaS experience, process, and impact, directly aligning with the job description's core requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As this is a part-time contract role (10-20 hours/week) for Portugal-based talent, the hourly rate is estimated to be between €25 - €45 per hour, depending on experience and portfolio strength.

Benefits:

• Flexible work schedule with 10-20 hours per week, allowing for work-life balance.

• Opportunity to work remotely within Portugal, eliminating commute time and costs.

• Direct impact on a leading AI platform for Strategic Product and Portfolio Management.

• Collaboration with a fast-growing, venture-backed SaaS startup.

• Exposure to cutting-edge AI and product management technologies.

Working Hours:

• Part-time contract, approximately 10-20 hours per week.

• Flexible scheduling to accommodate project needs and personal commitments, with a focus on asynchronous communication and collaboration where possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: Benefits for contract roles are typically limited compared to full-time positions. The focus here is on flexibility, remote work, and the professional opportunity itself, which are key selling points for contract engagements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Enterprise Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Product Management Software, Portfolio Management Software.

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized (Venture-backed startup, with remote teams in Portugal and the US).

Founded: Dragonboat was founded in 2019, indicating a relatively young but established company with a clear mission.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will report to the Product Engineering Lead, indicating a close working relationship within the product development team.

• The company operates with remote teams in Portugal and the US, suggesting a distributed and potentially asynchronous work culture.

Methodology:

• Dragonboat emphasizes an AI-driven approach to product and portfolio management, suggesting that data analysis and intelligent automation are core to their product offering and internal operations.

• The company likely follows agile development practices common in SaaS startups to facilitate rapid iteration and responsiveness to market needs.

• A focus on outcomes and driving value for enterprise clients is central to their mission.

Company Website: www.dragonboat.io

📝 Enhancement Note: This section integrates company information with implications for the operations role. The startup environment suggests agility, direct impact, and a need for self-starters. The AI focus implies a data-driven culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level, contract Product/UX Designer. It offers a focused opportunity to apply and refine existing design skills within a specific product context.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report directly to the Product Engineering Lead, ensuring clear direction and feedback channels. This structure allows for direct collaboration and influence on product development decisions.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will directly influence the usability, adoption, and perceived value of Dragonboat's AI platform. Streamlining workflows and improving user experience can lead to increased customer satisfaction, reduced support needs, and a stronger competitive position for the company's product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX for B2B SaaS and AI platforms, potentially focusing on specific areas like interaction design for complex enterprise workflows.

• Project Scope Expansion: Depending on performance and business needs, there may be opportunities to take on larger or more complex design challenges within the product suite.

• Long-Term Engagement: Successful contractors may be considered for extended contract periods or future opportunities as the company scales.

• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience working with an AI platform that is at the forefront of Strategic Product and Portfolio Management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth for contract roles is often project-based. This analysis focuses on skill development, potential for extended engagements, and industry exposure rather than traditional linear career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company has established remote teams, indicating a mature approach to distributed work.

Office Location(s): While the company has US presence, this specific role is restricted to contractors located in Portugal.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Although remote, the role requires active collaboration with the Product Engineering Lead and potentially other team members via digital tools. Expect regular virtual meetings and communication.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard design collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma) is expected. The company will likely provide access to necessary project management and design platforms.

• Operations Team Interaction: You will be an integral part of the product development cycle, working closely with engineering to implement design solutions efficiently.

Work Schedule:

• Part-time (10-20 hours/week) with flexibility. The focus will be on delivering high-quality design work within agreed-upon timelines. Asynchronous communication will be key, but availability for scheduled meetings during core Portuguese business hours may be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature and Portugal-specific requirement are highlighted. The focus is on how the remote environment fosters collaboration and workflow for design tasks.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present selected projects from your portfolio, discussing your design process, rationale, and impact. Expect in-depth questions about your approach to B2B SaaS, navigation, and interaction design.

• Technical/Design Exercise: Potentially a small design challenge or a discussion around a specific design problem relevant to Dragonboat's product.

• Cultural Fit & Collaboration Assessment: Discussion with the Product Engineering Lead to gauge your ability to work independently, collaborate effectively, and adapt to a fast-paced remote environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience with B2B SaaS, complex workflows, navigation improvements, and UI consistency.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the outcomes achieved. Use visuals effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design work.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your problem-solving methodology, how you iterate, and how you collaborate with stakeholders.

• Address B2B SaaS Nuances: Show that you understand the specific needs and constraints of designing for enterprise users.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach improving a specific feature or workflow within a hypothetical B2B SaaS product.

• Think about how you would balance introducing modern design with maintaining existing patterns and user familiarity.

• Prepare to discuss your strategies for ensuring design consistency across a complex application.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides practical advice tailored to a contract design role, emphasizing portfolio demonstration and the specific skills requested in the job description.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Likely the primary tool for design and prototyping, given its industry prevalence for collaborative SaaS design. Proficiency is highly recommended.

• Sketch: Another widely used design tool for macOS users; familiarity is beneficial.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop): Useful for asset creation and image editing.

Prototyping & Collaboration Tools:

• InVision / Marvel: For creating interactive prototypes and gathering feedback.

• Miro / Mural: For collaborative whiteboarding, user journey mapping, and brainstorming sessions.

• Figma’s Collaboration Features: Direct real-time collaboration within the design tool.

Communication & Project Management:

• Slack: For day-to-day communication and team interaction.

• Zoom / Google Meet: For virtual meetings, presentations, and discussions.

• Jira / Asana / Trello: To understand project workflows and track tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Listing relevant tools helps candidates assess their fit and prepare for potential technical discussions. Figma is highlighted as a key tool for modern SaaS design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and solving user problems through thoughtful design.

• Efficiency & Automation: A drive to streamline processes and leverage technology (like AI) to improve outcomes.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of working together across disciplines to achieve shared goals.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change and iterating quickly in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Using insights from data and user feedback to guide design choices.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First: Expect a culture that prioritizes clear digital communication, asynchronous work where possible, and intentional virtual team building.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The designer will work closely with product engineering, requiring clear communication of design intent and constructive feedback loops.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages open and honest feedback to continuously improve the product and individual contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values and collaboration style are inferred from its description as an AI-driven SaaS startup with remote teams, emphasizing efficiency, data, and agility.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Modernization with Consistency: Introducing a fresh aesthetic while ensuring existing users can navigate and use the product without disruption.

• Designing for Multi-Role Environments: Catering to the diverse needs and workflows of different user personas within a single B2B SaaS application.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively communicating and collaborating on complex design problems with a distributed team.

• Part-Time Constraint: Managing workload effectively within a 10-20 hour per week timeframe to deliver impactful results.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Skills: Gaining deep experience in designing for enterprise-level B2B SaaS products, particularly in the complex domain of Product and Portfolio Management.

• AI Product Design: Understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of designing user experiences for AI-powered platforms.

• Startup Environment Acumen: Developing skills in rapid iteration, adaptability, and working within lean product development cycles.

• Networking: Building professional connections within the tech and AI product space in Portugal and globally.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare, while highlighting growth opportunities makes the role more attractive by framing it as a learning experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you significantly improved the navigation or usability of a B2B SaaS product. What was your process, and what was the impact?"

• "How do you approach introducing a new visual style to an existing product while maintaining consistency and avoiding user disruption?"

• "Walk us through a complex user workflow you've designed. What were the key interaction points, and how did you ensure efficiency?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Dragonboat's AI platform and its role in product/portfolio management?"

• "How do you adapt to changes in project scope or direction in a remote, startup setting?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with a Product Engineering Lead."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your problem-solving methodology and how you arrived at your solutions, rather than just showcasing final designs.

• Quantify Impact: Prepare to discuss metrics, user feedback, or business outcomes related to your projects.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you handled specific challenges.

• Tailor to B2B SaaS: Frame your examples within the context of enterprise software, highlighting your understanding of this market.

📝 Enhancement Note: Providing specific examples of interview questions and preparation strategies gives candidates actionable steps to prepare for the interview process, increasing their chances of success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features B2B SaaS projects that demonstrate improvements in usability, navigation, and interaction design. Tailor your project selection to highlight the skills mentioned in this job description.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3+ years of experience in B2B SaaS product design, emphasizing achievements in improving user workflows and UI consistency. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your experience with remote collaboration and working in a fast-paced environment.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Dragonboat's AI platform, its target market, and its mission. Understand how your design contributions can support their strategic goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Dragonboat Inc. through their application process.