Product Designer (Part time Contract, Portugal Only)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Part-time Contract)

Company: Dragonboat Inc.

Location: Portugal Only

Job Type: Contract, Part-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-02-28

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Remote Solely (Portugal)

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a focused, part-time contract role (10-20 hours per week) for a UX Designer specializing in B2B SaaS products.

• The primary objective is to enhance product usability and interaction design, making workflows smoother and more intuitive for users.

• Key responsibilities include streamlining navigation, improving interaction patterns, and introducing a modern, elevated visual style while ensuring pattern consistency.

• The role requires a candidate comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, remote environment, adapting to evolving product needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The original job title is "Product Designer," but the description clearly defines the role as a "UX Designer" with a focus on usability and interaction. The "Product Designer" title is retained for searchability, but the description emphasizes UX-specific responsibilities. The "Part time Contract" and "Portugal Only" specifics are crucial for targeting. The AI-derived experience level of "2-5" years aligns well with the "3+ years" requirement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth UX research and user journey mapping to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement within the B2B SaaS platform.

• Design and prototype intuitive navigation structures and user flows to streamline complex workflows for product and portfolio leaders.

• Develop and implement modern, elevated UI styles and design patterns that enhance visual appeal while maintaining consistency across the product.

• Collaborate closely with the product engineering lead to translate design concepts into functional, user-friendly features.

• Add thoughtful design elements and micro-interactions that improve the overall user experience and product enjoyment.

• Iterate on designs based on feedback from stakeholders, user testing, and data analysis to ensure continuous product enhancement.

• Maintain a high standard of design quality, ensuring consistency with existing design systems and brand guidelines where applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities are derived from the "Job Description" section. The emphasis is on actionable design tasks, user-centric improvements, and collaboration within a remote, fast-paced environment. Keywords like "UX research," "user journey mapping," "design concepts," "user testing," and "data analysis" are integrated to reflect typical UX responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and proficiency in UX design principles is expected.

Experience: 3+ years of hands-on experience designing B2B SaaS products, with a proven track record of improving usability and interaction in live, multi-role environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in UX Design and Interaction Design for B2B SaaS applications.

• Expertise in streamlining navigation, enhancing user flows, and improving UI consistency.

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

• Ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and user-friendly design solutions.

• Strong understanding of design thinking methodologies and user-centered design principles.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and deliver high-quality work in a remote setting.

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

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-powered platforms or strategic product/portfolio management tools.

• Familiarity with design system principles and contributing to style guides.

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

• Experience working with remote, distributed teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications are directly extracted from the "Qualifications" section. The "3+ years" experience and specific B2B SaaS product design focus are highlighted. The "Required Skills" are expanded to include common UX design proficiencies and tools, while "Preferred Skills" add value based on the company's domain (AI, portfolio management).

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3 relevant B2B SaaS projects, with a strong emphasis on UX/UI design improvements.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the design process, including problem definition, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final UI implementation.

• Specific examples of how your design contributions led to measurable improvements in usability, navigation, interaction efficiency, or user satisfaction.

• Visual representations of modern design styles and consistent pattern application within B2B contexts.

Process Documentation:

• For each project, clearly outline the design methodology employed, including any user testing or feedback loops.

• Document the rationale behind key design decisions, particularly those related to streamlining workflows and enhancing navigation.

• Illustrate the evolution of designs, showing how iterative feedback was incorporated to refine the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crafted to guide candidates on what Dragonboat Inc. would likely expect in a UX/Product Designer's portfolio, given the role's emphasis on improving existing products and working in a "live, multi-role environment." The focus is on demonstrating process, impact, and specific design improvements relevant to B2B SaaS.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on market research for part-time contract UX/Product Designers in Portugal, with 3+ years of experience in B2B SaaS, an estimated hourly rate would range from €25 to €45 per hour.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours within the 10-20 hours per week commitment.

• Opportunity to work with an innovative AI platform in the Strategic Product and Portfolio Management space.

• Direct impact on product usability and user experience for enterprise clients.

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

• Remote work flexibility, specifically within Portugal.

Working Hours: Part-time commitment of 10 to 20 hours per week, with flexibility to align with project needs and team collaboration, primarily within Portuguese working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range is estimated based on typical contract rates for UX Designers in Portugal with the specified experience level for a part-time role. Benefits are inferred from the company description and the nature of the contract role, focusing on flexibility and impact.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / AI Platform / Enterprise SaaS (Strategic Product and Portfolio Management)

Company Size: The description indicates a "fast-growing SaaS startup with remote teams in Portugal and the US," suggesting a team size likely between 50-200 employees, though it could be smaller or larger. This size implies a dynamic, agile environment.

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, Dragonboat is described as "venture-backed," indicating a company that has likely secured significant funding and is in a growth phase, typically a few years post-inception.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will likely report to a Product Engineering Lead or a Head of Product/Design, given the collaborative mention.

• The role involves close collaboration with product engineers and potentially product managers.

Methodology:

• Dragonboat emphasizes an AI-driven approach to product and portfolio management, suggesting a data-informed and technology-forward methodology.

• The focus on improving workflows and user experience implies an iterative design process, likely incorporating agile principles.

• Collaboration is key, suggesting a culture that values open communication and shared problem-solving.

Company Website: https://dragonboat.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context is derived from the "Company Description" and general knowledge of venture-backed SaaS startups. The implication of a "fast-growing" company suggests an agile, potentially less hierarchical structure, with a strong emphasis on innovation and execution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Mid-Level UX/Product Designer position, focusing on executing design improvements within an established product. It offers a chance to deepen expertise in B2B SaaS UX and interaction design.

Reporting Structure: The designer will work closely with the Product Engineering Lead, indicating a direct reporting line or a very tight collaborative loop, allowing for rapid feedback and iteration.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" role, this position has a significant impact on the company's product success. By improving usability and user experience, the designer directly influences customer satisfaction, adoption rates, retention, and ultimately, the perceived value of Dragonboat's AI platform, contributing indirectly to revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deeper specialization in UX for AI-driven enterprise software.

• Potential to influence product strategy and roadmap based on user insights.

• Expanded responsibilities and potential for more hours or a full-time role if performance is exceptional and business needs align.

• Opportunity to contribute to building out design processes and best practices within a growing startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on how a UX/Product Design role fits within a growth-stage SaaS company and its impact on business outcomes, framing it within an "operations" context of product success and customer value delivery.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote, with the requirement that the contractor is based in Portugal. This implies a distributed team structure.

Office Location(s): While the company has teams in the US and Portugal, this specific role is limited to individuals residing in Portugal.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is dynamic and fast-paced, typical of a venture-backed SaaS startup.

• Collaboration is primarily digital, utilizing online tools for communication, project management, and design reviews.

• Expectations include a high degree of autonomy and self-management for remote work.

• The focus is on delivering tangible design improvements to the Dragonboat AI OS.

Work Schedule: Flexible part-time (10-20 hours/week), allowing for work-life integration. The designer will need to coordinate with the US-based team for key meetings and collaboration, potentially requiring some overlap with US business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described based on the "remote" and "fast-growing startup" aspects, highlighting the need for self-discipline and digital collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with B2B SaaS UX requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, detailing your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss how you improved navigation, interaction, and UI consistency.

• Technical/Design Challenge: You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or discuss a hypothetical design problem related to the Dragonboat platform to assess your problem-solving approach and design thinking.

• Culture & Collaboration Fit: An interview to discuss your work style, how you collaborate in remote settings, and your adaptability.

• Final Discussion: A wrap-up with the hiring manager or product lead to discuss terms, expectations, and answer any final questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you solved, your role, the design solutions you implemented, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved task completion time, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Process: Walk through your design thinking, from research and ideation to iteration and final implementation. Explain why you made certain design choices.

• Highlight B2B SaaS Relevance: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with complex workflows, enterprise user needs, and B2B design patterns.

• Demonstrate Modern Design: Showcase your ability to introduce contemporary aesthetics while maintaining usability and consistency.

• Be Concise and Clear: Prepare a focused presentation that respects the time constraints of the interview.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with product portfolio management and AI platforms to understand the domain.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale for specific decisions.

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach improving user flows or navigation for a complex enterprise application.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines a typical interview process for a UX/Product Designer role in a tech company, with specific advice tailored to the "usability," "interaction," and "B2B SaaS" aspects of this particular position.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision (proficiency in at least one is expected).

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams (for remote team interaction).

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, Monday.com (or similar tools for tracking tasks and progress).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the UX design role itself, but understanding how the product integrates with or supports CRM and automation workflows could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for UX/Product Designers in SaaS environments. The emphasis is on design software, but awareness of collaboration and project management tools is crucial for remote work. Familiarity with analytics tools is a plus for validating design impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and serving the needs of B2B users, prioritizing usability and effectiveness.

• Data-Informed Innovation: Leveraging data and AI to drive product decisions and create intelligent solutions.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork across remote teams to achieve shared goals.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change and iterating quickly to respond to market needs and user feedback.

• Quality & Polish: Striving for a high standard in design execution and user experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a highly collaborative, digital-first environment.

• Designers work closely with engineers and product management, requiring strong communication and the ability to provide clear design specifications.

• Feedback is likely to be frequent and constructive, encouraging an iterative design process.

• Cross-functional interaction is essential to ensure design solutions align with business objectives and technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values are inferred from the company's description as a "fast-growing," "venture-backed," "AI platform" provider that emphasizes "smarter decisions" and "automating manual work."

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Modern Aesthetics with B2B Usability: Introducing a fresh visual style without compromising the intuitive functionality required for enterprise users.

• Streamlining Complex Workflows: Simplifying intricate product and portfolio management tasks into user-friendly interfaces.

• Working Independently in a Remote Setting: Maintaining high productivity and effective communication without direct in-person oversight.

• Adapting to a Fast-Paced, Evolving Product: Quickly understanding new features and requirements and iterating on designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Gain deep expertise in the domain of Strategic Product and Portfolio Management and AI-driven product solutions.

• Develop advanced UX skills for complex enterprise software.

• Opportunity to contribute to the growth and design maturity of a promising SaaS startup.

• Potential to build a strong portfolio of impactful B2B SaaS design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on the specific responsibilities and the nature of working in a startup environment. Growth opportunities are framed around skill development and career advancement within the company's domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you significantly improved the usability or navigation of a B2B SaaS product. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome?"

• "How do you balance introducing modern design trends with maintaining established UX patterns and consistency for enterprise users?"

• "Walk me through your process for streamlining a complex workflow within a software application. What tools and methods do you use?"

Company & Culture Questions:

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

• "How do you stay motivated and productive when working independently on a remote contract?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Problem -> Your Role -> Solution/Process -> Outcome/Impact.

• Quantify: Use metrics (even if estimated) to demonstrate the impact of your design changes (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "improved user satisfaction score by Y points").

• Visuals: Ensure your design examples are clean, well-annotated, and clearly illustrate the improvements you made.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as compelling stories of problem-solving and user advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are designed to probe the candidate's experience with B2B SaaS UX, their process, and their ability to work remotely and adapt effectively, aligning with the job description's key requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight specific B2B SaaS projects where you demonstrably improved navigation, interaction, and overall usability. Showcase your ability to introduce modern design elements while maintaining consistency.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your 3+ years of B2B SaaS UX design experience and proficiency in relevant design tools. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, explain your decision-making rationale, and discuss the impact of your work during a portfolio presentation. Practice explaining how you would approach the challenges outlined in the job description.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Dragonboat Inc.'s AI platform, its target audience (product and portfolio leaders), and its company mission to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.