Senior Platform Product UX Group UX Designer at Rakuten

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Platform Product UX Group UX Designer Company: Rakuten Location: Tokyo, Japan Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Design Date Posted: 2025-08-20 Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years implied) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead the end-to-end User Experience (UX) design process for Rakuten Senior's platform products and services, from initial planning through to execution.
Champion Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodologies to deeply understand and address the unique characteristics and needs of the senior demographic.
Drive user-centered design principles with a strong emphasis on accessibility (WCAG, ARIA, color vision accessibility) to ensure inclusive product experiences.
Leverage and adapt design guidelines from industry leaders like Google (Material Design) and Apple (Human Interface Guidelines) to elevate UX and UI quality.
Contribute to enhanced business outcomes by improving user satisfaction, retention rates, and overall user loyalty through strategic UX/UI enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data specifies "Senior Platform Product UX Group UX Designer," the core responsibilities and qualifications strongly indicate a focus on UX/Product Design within the "Rakuten Senior" business vertical. The "Platform" aspect likely refers to the digital services offered by this business unit. The experience level is inferred as Senior based on the responsibilities and the explicit mention of 3+ years of professional experience, suggesting a mid-to-senior level role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Spearhead the entire UX design lifecycle for Rakuten Senior's app and web services, encompassing user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and final UI design.
Conduct comprehensive user research and usability testing specifically targeting the senior demographic to gather actionable insights and validate design decisions.
Develop and maintain user personas and user journey maps that accurately reflect the needs, behaviors, and pain points of senior users.
Design and implement robust design systems that ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across Rakuten Senior's digital product portfolio.
Propose and execute data-driven UX improvements by analyzing user behavior data, A/B test results, and feedback to optimize conversion rates and user engagement.
Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements and user needs into intuitive and effective design solutions.
Advocate for accessibility best practices throughout the design process, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and guidelines for senior users.
Contribute to the strategic planning of new senior business opportunities by identifying user needs and market gaps through design thinking and research.
Foster a culture of innovation within the design team by exploring and adopting new design tools, methodologies, and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities are extrapolated from the "Position Details" and "Mandatory Qualifications" sections of the input description, focusing on the core UX design tasks and their application within the Rakuten Senior context. The emphasis on the senior demographic and accessibility is a key differentiator for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior UX roles, though equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience:

A minimum of 3+ years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) or User Interface (UI) design, with a proven track record of delivering impactful digital products.
Demonstrated experience in leading UX design initiatives from conception to launch, managing the full design process.
Experience in designing for diverse user groups, with a strong emphasis on understanding and catering to the specific needs of the senior demographic.
Proven ability to contribute to tangible business outcomes, such as increased conversion rates, improved user retention, enhanced customer satisfaction, or reduced support costs, through strategic UX/UI improvements.

Required Skills:

Expertise in Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and their practical application in product development.
Proficient knowledge and hands-on experience with accessibility standards and guidelines (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA, ARIA, understanding of color vision accessibility).
Skillful application of established design guidelines, specifically Google's Material Design and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, for platform optimization.
Experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing insights from various user research methodologies, including interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiry.
Proven ability to conduct and analyze usability testing sessions to identify design flaws and areas for improvement.
High proficiency in wireframing and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar industry-standard software.
Demonstrated ability to create effective user journeys, user flows, and personas to guide design decisions.
Experience in building, maintaining, and evolving design systems to ensure product consistency and design efficiency.
Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data to inform UX design decisions and propose data-backed improvements.
Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to effectively present design concepts and rationale to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

A genuine passion for and interest in services or products specifically designed for the senior demographic.
Basic understanding of front-end development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.
Experience working within an Agile development environment, adapting designs to iterative sprints and feedback cycles.
Familiarity with or prior experience utilizing the Rakuten ecosystem (e.g., Rakuten Points, Rakuten ID, Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Pay) to inform product design.
Experience in introducing and championing new UX design methods, tools, or processes within a team or organization.
Experience with social entrepreneurship principles and a drive to create socially meaningful products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Mandatory Qualifications" and "Ideal Candidate Profile" sections were synthesized to create a comprehensive list of required and preferred skills. The experience level is interpreted as 5-10 years, aligning with a "Senior" designation and the scope of responsibilities. The "Platform Product UX Group UX Designer" title is understood to mean a senior designer focused on the digital platform of the Rakuten Senior business.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that demonstrate end-to-end UX design ownership, from user research and problem definition to final design and impact.
Include case studies that highlight the application of Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and how user needs were central to the design process.
Present specific examples of how accessibility considerations were integrated into designs, detailing the challenges and solutions implemented.
Demonstrate proficiency in using wireframing and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) through interactive prototypes or detailed visual examples.
Provide evidence of user research and usability testing, including methodologies used, key findings, and how these insights influenced design iterations.
Illustrate experience with data analysis and how user behavior data or A/B testing results were leveraged to drive UX improvements and business outcomes.
Include examples of design system components or guidelines developed, showcasing consistency and scalability.

Process Documentation:

For each project presented, clearly outline the design process followed, including phases such as discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation.
Document how user feedback and data were collected, analyzed, and incorporated into design iterations to achieve optimal user experience and business goals.
Detail the methodologies used for collaboration with cross-functional teams (e.g., product managers, engineers) and how design decisions were communicated and justified.
Showcase examples of how design challenges were overcome, particularly those related to user needs, technical constraints, or accessibility requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are inferred based on the "Mandatory Qualifications" emphasizing HCD, user research, accessibility, prototyping tools, and data-driven improvements. The "process documentation" aspect is added to reflect the need for candidates to articulate their design methodology clearly.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the "Senior" title, location in Tokyo, Japan, and the required 3+ years of experience, a competitive salary range for a Senior UX Designer in Tokyo would typically fall between ¥7,000,000 to ¥12,000,000 JPY per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for design roles in major Japanese tech hubs and considers the comprehensive skill set required, including specialization in HCD and accessibility.

Benefits:

Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision.
Paid time off (PTO), including annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays.
Retirement savings plans or pension contributions.
Employee stock purchase plans or stock options, common in tech companies like Rakuten.
Professional development opportunities, including training, workshops, and conference attendance.
Access to Rakuten's extensive ecosystem of services and potential discounts.
Potential for performance-based bonuses.
Commuting allowances or support for transportation costs.
Flexible work arrangements are generally limited as this role is specified as on-site.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday. Specific working hours may be subject to team or departmental needs, but flexibility around start and end times may be available, provided core business hours and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated for Tokyo, Japan, based on industry data for senior UX/Product Designers. Benefits are based on common offerings in large Japanese tech companies and the information implied by Rakuten's status as a major corporation. Working hours are standardized for a full-time role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Internet Services, Fintech, and increasingly, services targeting the senior demographic. Rakuten operates across a diverse range of sectors, leveraging its strong e-commerce foundation. Company Size: Rakuten is a large, global technology conglomerate with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This specific business unit, Rakuten Senior, is a rapidly growing division within the larger organization. Founded: Rakuten, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani. The Rakuten Senior business is a more recent initiative, reflecting the company's strategic expansion into new markets.

Team Structure:

The Rakuten Senior department is responsible for a broad spectrum of services including the "Rakuten Senior" app/web platform, "Raku-Ken" health media, senior events, and government collaborations, indicating a multi-faceted operational structure.
The UX design team likely operates within a product development group, reporting to a Head of Design or a Product Lead, and collaborates closely with product management, engineering, marketing, and business development teams.
Cross-functional collaboration is a key characteristic, with a strong emphasis on leveraging the wider Rakuten Group's ecosystem (e.g., Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Pay) to develop senior-focused initiatives.

Methodology:

Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, utilizing Rakuten's vast membership data and transactional information for marketing and product development.
Agile methodologies are likely employed for product development, focusing on iterative design and development cycles.
A strong emphasis is placed on social entrepreneurship and social innovation, aiming to address societal issues like an aging population through business solutions.
User-centricity is promoted, with a commitment to understanding and serving user needs, particularly for the senior demographic.

Company Website: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company culture and team structure details are inferred from the provided job description, highlighting Rakuten's scale, its focus on innovation and data, and the specific mission of the Rakuten Senior business. The "social entrepreneurship" aspect is a unique cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior" UX Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level position within the UX design career ladder. It involves leading significant design efforts, mentoring junior designers (potentially), and influencing product strategy. Reporting Structure: The Senior Platform Product UX Group UX Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or a Product Director within the Rakuten Senior business unit. They will collaborate extensively with product managers, engineers, researchers, and marketing professionals across various Rakuten services. Operations Impact: The UX Designer will have a direct impact on the success of Rakuten Senior's digital platforms by enhancing user experience, driving user acquisition and retention, and contributing to the business's mission of improving the lives of senior citizens. Their work will influence user satisfaction, brand perception, and ultimately, revenue generation within this growing market segment.

Growth Opportunities:

Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing a team and shaping the design vision for Rakuten Senior.
Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in designing for specific demographics (seniors) and accessibility, becoming a subject matter expert.
Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse teams across the Rakuten Group, broadening understanding of different business models and technologies.
Innovation & New Product Development: Contribute to the ideation and launch of innovative new services that address social issues, offering a unique career path in social entrepreneurship.
Skill Enhancement: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, external workshops, and exposure to cutting-edge design tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career growth analysis is based on the "Senior" designation and the nature of the role within a large, innovative company. The "Operations Impact" is framed in terms of how UX design contributes to business objectives within the specific context of Rakuten Senior.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Futakotamagawa Rise Office in Tokyo, Japan, suggesting a modern, professional office environment typical of large technology companies. Office Location(s): The primary location specified is Futakotamagawa Rise Office, Tokyo, Japan. This implies an on-site work arrangement.

Workspace Context:

The workspace is expected to be collaborative, with opportunities for interaction with design peers, product managers, engineers, and other business stakeholders.
Access to standard office amenities and potentially advanced design tools and technologies will be provided to support the design process.
The environment likely fosters a blend of focused individual work for design tasks and dynamic team collaboration for ideation and problem-solving.
Being part of Rakuten means access to a large corporate infrastructure, potentially including shared resources and company-wide events.

Work Schedule:

The typical work schedule will be Monday to Friday, aligning with standard business hours. While the role is on-site, Rakuten may offer some flexibility in daily start and end times, provided core collaboration hours and project deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are inferred from the location provided and the general understanding of large tech company office settings. The emphasis is on collaboration and the resources available within a corporate structure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, approach to UX design, and understanding of the Rakuten Senior mission.
Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discuss specific case studies, and potentially complete a design challenge that simulates real-world problems faced by Rakuten Senior. This will assess problem-solving skills, design process, and communication clarity.
Cross-functional Team Interviews: Interviews with key collaborators such as product managers, engineers, or other designers to evaluate teamwork, communication, and ability to integrate into the existing team structure.
Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader in the product or design organization to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Storytelling: Structure portfolio case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed, key decisions, and the impact of your design solutions using metrics where possible.
Focus on Impact: Highlight how your designs contributed to business goals (e.g., increased user satisfaction, conversion rates, engagement) and user well-being, especially for the senior demographic.
Showcase HCD & Accessibility: Explicitly demonstrate your application of Human-Centered Design principles and your approach to accessibility throughout your projects.
Process Clarity: Detail your design process, including research methods, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. Explain your rationale behind key design choices.
Tailor to Rakuten Senior: If possible, show projects that align with the mission of serving seniors or indicate how your skills are transferable to this context.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the User: Research the needs, behaviors, and challenges of the senior demographic in Japan. Consider digital literacy, physical limitations, and common life stages.
Rakuten Ecosystem: Familiarize yourself with Rakuten's services and how they might integrate with or support the Rakuten Senior platform.
Design Principles: Be prepared to discuss and apply Google's Material Design and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.
Accessibility: Review WCAG guidelines and common accessibility issues that might affect senior users.
Problem-Solving: Practice thinking through design problems methodically, articulating your thought process, and justifying your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and preparation tips are structured based on common practices for senior UX roles in tech companies, with specific emphasis on the requirements mentioned in the job description (HCD, accessibility, senior demographic, Rakuten ecosystem).

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Wireframing & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (proficiency in at least one is essential).
User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or similar tools for remote usability testing and qualitative feedback.
Design System Management: Tools for creating and maintaining design system libraries (e.g., Storybook, Figma's component features).
Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools for task tracking and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or Rakuten's internal analytics platforms to track user behavior and performance metrics.
Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools for creating dashboards and presenting data insights.
A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize, or internal A/B testing frameworks to measure the impact of design changes.

CRM & Automation:

While not directly a UX tool, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can provide context for user data and customer journeys.
Understanding of basic HTML/CSS/JavaScript is beneficial for collaborating with engineers and understanding implementation constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are inferred based on standard industry practices for senior UX designers, with specific mention of prototyping tools, user research platforms, and analytics tools commonly used in digital product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, especially the senior demographic, through rigorous research and empathetic design.
Innovation & Social Impact: A drive to create novel solutions that not only meet business objectives but also contribute positively to society by addressing the challenges of an aging population.
Data-Driven Excellence: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design decisions, measure impact, and continuously optimize user experiences.
Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and all team members are empowered to contribute to the best of their abilities, with a particular focus on accessible design.
Agility & Adaptability: Embracing iterative processes and adapting quickly to new insights, technologies, and market trends within a fast-paced business environment.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Partnership: Proactive engagement with product managers, engineers, researchers, and marketing teams to ensure alignment and shared understanding of user needs and business goals.
Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback exchange within the design team and with cross-functional partners to refine designs and processes.
Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings from user research and design experiments to elevate the collective skill set of the team.
Process Improvement Focus: A willingness to explore and implement new design methodologies and tools to enhance team efficiency and product quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values are extrapolated from the company's mission statement for Rakuten Senior, the emphasis on social entrepreneurship, and standard tech industry collaboration norms. The focus is on user advocacy, innovation, and data-informed decision-making within an accessible design framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Understanding Senior User Needs: Deeply empathizing with and accurately representing the diverse needs, behaviors, and potential limitations of the senior demographic requires specialized research and design approaches.
Bridging Digital Divides: Designing intuitive and accessible digital experiences for users who may have varying levels of digital literacy or physical impairments.
Leveraging Rakuten Ecosystem: Effectively integrating and communicating the value of various Rakuten services within the senior-focused platform can be complex.
Balancing Business Goals with User Needs: Ensuring that design decisions effectively serve both user satisfaction and the business objectives of a rapidly expanding market.
Navigating a Large Corporate Structure: Collaborating effectively across different departments and leveraging resources within a large organization like Rakuten.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Specialized UX Training: Opportunities to attend workshops or courses focused on designing for aging populations, accessibility standards, and advanced user research techniques.
Industry Conferences: Potential to attend relevant UX, accessibility, or aging technology conferences to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices.
Mentorship: Access to senior design leaders within Rakuten for guidance on career development, design strategy, and leadership skills.
Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to business strategy, marketing analytics, and technology development within the broader Rakuten Group.
Tool & Technology Adoption: Opportunities to learn and implement new design and research tools as they emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on the specific user demographic and the nature of the business. Growth opportunities are aligned with typical career progression and skill development paths in senior UX roles within large tech companies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

Vision & Mission Alignment: "How does your design philosophy align with Rakuten Senior's mission to enrich the lives of the senior generation and address social issues?" Prepare to discuss your passion for social impact.
HCD & Accessibility: "Describe a project where you applied Human-Centered Design principles to solve a complex user problem, with a specific focus on accessibility considerations. What were the key insights and outcomes?"
Data-Driven Design: "How do you use data and user research to inform your design decisions? Can you provide an example of a time when data led you to significantly change a design direction?"
Design System Management: "What is your experience in building or contributing to design systems? How do you ensure consistency and scalability across a product suite?"
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a challenging situation where you had to gain buy-in for your design recommendations from stakeholders who had different priorities. How did you approach it?"

Company & Culture Questions:

"What excites you most about working for Rakuten Senior specifically?"
"How do you approach working in a fast-paced, agile environment?"
"What are your thoughts on social entrepreneurship and its role in technology?"
"How do you stay updated on the latest UX trends and best practices, particularly concerning accessibility and design for seniors?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the steps you took (research, ideation, testing), key design decisions, and the measurable impact of your work.
Highlight Process: Emphasize your UX process, showing how you moved from understanding the problem to delivering a solution. Use visuals like user flows, wireframes, and prototypes.
Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "increased conversion by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y%", "improved user satisfaction scores").
Showcase Accessibility: Dedicate specific slides or sections in your case studies to how you addressed accessibility requirements and the solutions you implemented.
Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, and how you would handle specific scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are tailored to assess the candidate's fit for the specific role at Rakuten Senior, focusing on HCD, accessibility, data-driven design, collaboration, and understanding of the company's mission. Portfolio presentation advice emphasizes storytelling, impact, and process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Platform Product UX Group UX Designer position:

Submit your application directly through the Rakuten careers portal via the provided URL.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in end-to-end UX design, Human-Centered Design, accessibility, user research, and your contributions to business outcomes. Use keywords from the job description.
Portfolio Customization: Prepare a portfolio that showcases 3-5 strong case studies demonstrating your UX process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Explicitly include projects that highlight your experience with accessibility and user research, ideally with a senior demographic focus or transferable skills.
Company Research: Deeply research Rakuten's mission, values, and specifically the goals of the Rakuten Senior business unit. Understand their current services and target market.
Interview Practice: Practice articulating your design process, explaining your portfolio case studies, and preparing for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and adapting to new challenges. Be ready to discuss your approach to designing for seniors and accessibility.

Senior Platform Product UX Group UX Designer