Senior Product Designer, Advertising at Rome2rio

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, Advertising Company: Omio (Rome2Rio Brand) Location: Berlin, Germany Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / Advertising Technology Date Posted: November 6, 2025 Experience Level: 5-8 Years Remote Status: Remote Eligible (primarily based in Berlin)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end design of advertising and monetization products for the Rome2Rio platform, focusing on user-centered ad experiences across web and mobile.
• Drive the strategic integration of advertising within the existing travel ecosystem, ensuring relevance, trustworthiness, and aesthetic quality.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and data teams to translate business objectives and revenue goals into intuitive and visually appealing design solutions.
• Develop and extend comprehensive design systems and ad-specific components to maintain consistency and brand integrity across all advertising placements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is pivotal in establishing Rome2Rio's new advertising business. The Senior Product Designer will not just execute designs but will significantly influence the foundational strategy and user experience of monetized features, requiring a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "publisher side" adtech experience suggests a focus on how ads are presented to users within content, rather than ad creation tools themselves.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization, design, and iteration of advertising products, including sponsored listings, native ad placements, and branded content formats.
• Craft elegant and user-centric ad experiences that seamlessly integrate into the Rome2Rio user journey across both web and mobile platforms.
• Partner with cross-functional teams in Berlin and Melbourne to ensure advertising initiatives align with overall product strategy and user experience goals.
• Translate complex revenue targets and business requirements into intuitive, visually refined design frameworks and interactive prototypes.
• Collaborate with Data, Research, and Product teams to analyze ad performance metrics and user feedback, informing design decisions and driving continuous improvement.
• Maintain and evolve the Rome2Rio and Omio design system by creating and implementing ad-specific components, ensuring visual consistency and adherence to established standards.
• Advocate for best practices in accessibility, usability, and overall design craftsmanship throughout the advertising product development lifecycle.
• Facilitate design sprints and workshops to explore innovative advertising formats and user engagement strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can balance user experience with monetization goals. This involves not just aesthetic design but also a deep understanding of user psychology in relation to advertising and the ability to measure the impact of design choices through data. The dual location collaboration (Berlin/Melbourne) emphasizes the need for strong remote collaboration skills and asynchronous communication proficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience is paramount. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, UX/UI, or a related field is typically beneficial. Experience: 5-8 years of progressive experience in product design, with a substantial portion dedicated to digital product development.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing impactful, user-centered digital products, with a specific emphasis on adtech or monetization experiences (publisher-side preferred).
• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding of user needs and the ability to translate them into intuitive and engaging ad experiences.
• Adtech & Monetization: Proven experience designing and implementing advertising solutions within consumer-facing products.
• Interaction Design: Strong command of interaction design principles and the ability to map complex user flows.
• UI Systems & Visual Design: Proficiency in UI systems, visual composition, typography, layout, spacing, and hierarchy.
• Prototyping Tools: Expertise in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Responsive Design: Ability to design effectively for both mobile and desktop environments.
• Ambiguity Navigation: Demonstrated skill in defining design direction and solutions in fast-evolving and ambiguous product spaces.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and time zones.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to connect user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility into cohesive design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design iteration for advertising products.
• Familiarity with advertising platforms and their technical constraints.
• Experience contributing to or extending established design systems.
• Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their application to ad experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "strong portfolio showcasing impactful, user-centered digital products" is critical. For this role, it should specifically highlight examples of ad placements, sponsored content, or other monetization strategies that were designed with user experience and business goals in mind. The emphasis on "publisher side" suggests that candidates who have worked on platforms that display ads, rather than create ads, will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Detailed case studies that demonstrate end-to-end product design ownership for advertising or monetization features. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your process, design decisions, user impact, and business outcomes.
• User-Centricity: Showcase how user research, testing, and feedback informed your design process for ad experiences.
• System Integration: Examples of how you designed components or features that integrated seamlessly with existing design systems or product frameworks.
• Metrics & Impact: Quantifiable results demonstrating the success of your designs, such as increased engagement, conversion rates, or revenue, while maintaining user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process: Clearly outline your design process from discovery and ideation through to detailed UI design and collaboration with engineering.
• Collaboration Evidence: Demonstrate how you worked with product managers, engineers, and data analysts to refine designs and ensure successful implementation.
• Iterative Design: Provide examples of how you iterated on designs based on user feedback, A/B testing results, or performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to present specific examples of how they've balanced user experience with monetization goals. This could include a case study on designing a sponsored listing feature, a native ad unit that felt integrated, or a strategy for presenting advertising content that maintained user trust and minimized disruption. Demonstrating an understanding of the "publisher side" of adtech, focusing on user perception and platform integration, will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 5-8 years of experience in Berlin, Germany, a competitive salary range would likely be between €65,000 - €85,000 per year. This estimate considers the city's cost of living, the specialized nature of advertising product design, and the seniority of the role within a growing tech company.

Benefits:

• Travel Perks: Discounted travel through the Rome2Rio platform, allowing employees to experience the journeys they help users plan.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for significant professional development, influencing strategy, and taking on high-impact responsibilities.
• Flexibility & Trust: A remote-first approach with a focus on results, offering autonomy in how and where work is performed.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance and wellness programs (details to be confirmed).
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation and sick leave policies.
• Professional Development: Budget for training, conferences, and continuous learning.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility in scheduling to accommodate cross-timezone collaboration and personal needs, aligned with a results-oriented work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for Senior Product Designers in Berlin, factoring in the specialized adtech/monetization experience and the company's position within the travel tech industry. The provided benefits align with typical offerings for tech roles in major European hubs, with a unique emphasis on travel perks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel Technology & E-commerce. Rome2Rio operates within the highly competitive global travel market, focusing on route discovery and planning. As part of the Omio Group, it contributes to a broader ecosystem aimed at simplifying travel booking. Company Size: Rome2Rio is described as a "small team with big ambition," and is part of the Omio Group, a larger global entity. This suggests a dynamic environment where individual contributions are visible, with the backing of a larger corporate structure for resources and reach. Founded: Rome2Rio was founded in 2011, with Omio (formerly GoEuro) founded in 2013. This indicates established companies with a history of innovation in the travel tech space.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be the first dedicated Advertising Designer within the Rome2Rio team, indicating a foundational role.
• They will partner closely with Advertising Product and Engineering teams located across Europe (Berlin) and Melbourne.
• The role sits within Rome2Rio's core design team in Melbourne, implying a primary reporting line and cultural integration with that group, while collaborating heavily with Berlin-based counterparts.
• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with Data, Research, Product Management, and Engineering.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on evaluating ad performance and user impact through data analysis and insights.
• User-Centric Approach: Prioritizing user trust, relevance, and a delightful experience in all advertising integrations.
• Iterative Development: Continuous improvement based on performance metrics and user feedback.
• Design Systems: Leveraging and extending existing design systems for consistency and efficiency.

Company Website: www.rome2rio.com and www.omio.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is described as "culture-first" and "small team with big ambition," suggesting a collaborative, fast-paced environment where initiative is valued. The dual locations (Berlin and Melbourne) require a strong understanding of remote collaboration and asynchronous workflows. Being the "first dedicated Advertising Designer" means this role has a significant opportunity to shape processes and standards from the ground up.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a highly experienced individual contributor expected to lead design initiatives, mentor junior team members (potentially in the future), and influence product strategy. The role requires autonomy and the ability to drive complex projects from conception to launch. Reporting Structure: While the role is part of Rome2Rio's core design team in Melbourne, the specific reporting manager is not detailed. However, collaboration with Advertising Product and Engineering teams in Berlin and Melbourne is a key aspect. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts revenue generation through the successful design and implementation of advertising products. It also influences user experience and brand perception by ensuring advertising is integrated meaningfully and respectfully. Success in this role will be measured by the effectiveness of ad placements in driving business value while maintaining user trust and engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Foundational Role: Opportunity to build and define the design strategy and processes for a new advertising business unit.
• Leadership Potential: Influence product direction and potentially mentor future designers as the advertising initiative grows.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepen understanding of adtech, monetization strategies, and global product development by working with diverse teams across continents.
• Design System Contribution: Play a key role in expanding and refining the Omio/Rome2Rio design system.
• Skill Expansion: Develop expertise in balancing user experience with complex business objectives in a high-impact area.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a unique opportunity for a senior designer to be a foundational member of a new business initiative. The growth potential lies not just in advancing to a lead or management position, but also in becoming a subject matter expert in advertising product design within the travel tech industry, with the ability to shape how a global travel platform monetizes its audience.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company culture promotes a "remote-first, results-focused" environment, suggesting that while there may be office spaces in Berlin and Melbourne, the expectation is for employees to work effectively from their chosen locations. Office Location(s): The role is based in Berlin, Germany, but the company also has a significant presence in Melbourne, Australia, and other global locations. This implies a distributed team structure.

Workspace Context:

• Remote-First: Emphasis on providing the tools and flexibility for employees to work effectively from home or other remote locations.
• Collaborative Tools: Expectation to utilize digital collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Slack, video conferencing) for seamless interaction across distributed teams and time zones.
• Autonomy: A high degree of trust and autonomy is granted to employees regarding their work schedule and location.
• Berlin Hub: While remote-first, being based in Berlin offers access to a vibrant tech scene and potential for in-person collaboration with local colleagues when needed or desired.

Work Schedule: While generally full-time, the "remote-first, results-focused" culture suggests flexibility in how hours are structured, provided that work is completed effectively and collaboration across time zones is managed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" nature is a significant aspect, meaning candidates should be comfortable and adept at working independently and collaborating digitally. While based in Berlin, the ability to work asynchronously with the Melbourne team is crucial, requiring proactive communication and robust self-management skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, focusing on relevant case studies (especially adtech/monetization). Expect in-depth questions about your design process, decision-making, and impact.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Data Analysts from both Berlin and Melbourne teams. These will assess your collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to integrate advertising into the user experience.
• Design Challenge (Potentially): You might be given a take-home assignment or a live design exercise focused on a specific advertising product problem.
• Final Round: Discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select 2-3 strong case studies that specifically highlight your experience with advertising, monetization, or highly integrated user experiences. Prioritize examples that show end-to-end ownership.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Clearly articulate the problem, your approach, design decisions, user impact, and measurable business outcomes. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data) and incorporated their feedback.
• Address Ambiguity: Showcase projects where you had to define direction in uncertain situations.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Rome2Rio, Omio, their user base, and the travel tech market. Understand their current monetization strategies and the goals for the new advertising business.
• Adtech Fundamentals: Refresh your knowledge of common ad formats, how publishers monetize, and the balance between user experience and revenue.
• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would extend or contribute to a design system for ad components.
• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Think about strategies for effective communication and collaboration with teams in different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review will be critical. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their most relevant projects step-by-step, explaining not just what they designed but why, and how it impacted users and the business. Specificity regarding adtech experience, user trust, and balancing revenue with UX will be key differentiators.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (mandatory, with proficiency expected for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows).
• Collaboration: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (or similar for communication and document sharing).
• Design Systems: Experience working with or contributing to established design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and ad performance data.
• Ability to interpret data visualizations and reports to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM/automation role, understanding how advertising platforms integrate with user data and booking systems is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience using Figma for complex design systems, collaborative prototyping, and handoff to engineering. Familiarity with how adtech platforms function and integrate with user data will be a strong advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, even within advertising contexts.
• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by analytics, user research, and performance metrics.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams and geographical locations.
• Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and aesthetic excellence.
• Innovation: A willingness to explore new formats and solutions for advertising within the travel space.
• Integrity: Maintaining user trust and transparency in all advertising initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and transparent communication, especially across different time zones.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with Product, Engineering, and Data to achieve shared goals.
• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback and continuous improvement.
• Remote-First Adaptability: Mastering asynchronous communication and digital collaboration tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "culture-first" and "small team" description, candidates should emphasize their ability to be proactive, communicative, and a positive influence within a distributed team. The values of user-centricity, data-driven decision-making, and craftsmanship are paramount for a design role, especially one tasked with building a new advertising offering.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Experience and Monetization: Designing ad experiences that are effective for advertisers without alienating users or degrading the core travel planning experience.
• Establishing a New Business Unit: Being the first dedicated designer for advertising means defining processes, standards, and best practices from scratch.
• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Effectively working with teams in Melbourne from Berlin requires careful planning, clear communication, and embracing asynchronous workflows.
• Navigating Ambiguity: The advertising space is dynamic; the role will require adapting to evolving market trends and product requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Adtech Expertise: Becoming a specialist in designing for advertising within the travel technology sector.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the commercial strategy and product roadmap for a new revenue stream.
• Design System Expansion: Contributing significantly to the growth and evolution of the Omio/Rome2Rio design system.
• Global Product Development: Gaining experience in building products for a global audience across different markets.
• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should frame the challenges as opportunities for growth. For example, "Balancing User Experience and Monetization" can be presented as an opportunity to innovate and define new standards for ethical and effective advertising in travel tech. The "Establish a New Business Unit" challenge is a clear indicator of high impact and potential for career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a native advertising unit for a travel itinerary page that feels both integrated and valuable to the user, while also driving revenue for Rome2Rio?" (Focus on user-centricity, integration, and business value).
• "Describe your process for collaborating with product managers and engineers across different time zones on a critical product initiative." (Focus on communication, async work, and tools).
• "Imagine we're considering a new sponsored content format. What steps would you take to explore, design, and test this concept?" (Focus on design process, research, and iteration).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about the opportunity to build Rome2Rio's advertising design from the ground up?" (Assess passion, vision, and proactive nature).
• "How do you balance user trust and data privacy with the need for effective advertising?" (Assess ethical considerations and user-centricity).
• "How would you contribute to a 'culture-first' and 'remote-first' environment as the first dedicated advertising designer?" (Assess cultural fit and collaboration skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly define the "Problem," "My Role," "Solution," and "Impact."
• Visual Storytelling: Use mockups, wireframes, user flows, and prototypes to illustrate your design journey and final concepts.
• Quantify Results: Be ready to discuss the metrics you influenced and how you measured success.
• Explain Your 'Why': For every significant design decision, explain the rationale behind it, linking it back to user needs, business goals, or technical constraints.
• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, trade-offs made, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a strategic thinker who can balance creative design with business objectives. Be prepared to discuss the nuances of adtech from a publisher's perspective – focusing on user experience, trust, and ethical considerations, alongside revenue generation. Demonstrating an understanding of how to work effectively in a distributed, remote-first team will also be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided SmartRecruiters link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in product design, specifically mentioning adtech, monetization, user-centered design, and your proficiency with Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 strong case studies relevant to advertising, monetization, or complex user experience challenges. Focus on demonstrating end-to-end ownership and measurable impact.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, clearly articulating your process, decisions, and outcomes, with a focus on the advertising aspect of this role.
• Research Rome2Rio & Omio: Understand their mission, user base, current product offerings, and the strategic importance of this new advertising initiative.

⚠️ 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.