Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Lightspeed Commerce Location: Berlin, Germany Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2025-07-30T09:59:34 Experience Level: 5-10 years Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote OK, with potential for office work)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives for B2B web and mobile platforms, focusing on streamlining complex restaurant operations.
• Drive UX strategy and direction, empowering product and engineering teams with clarity and purpose through user-centered design methodologies.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Marketing) to translate user needs and business objectives into elegant, intuitive, and impactful digital experiences.
• Contribute to and evolve the company's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across diverse product touchpoints.
• Act as a design advocate and culture carrier within the organization, promoting best practices and fostering a shared understanding of design's value.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Senior Product Designer, the emphasis on B2B experiences for restaurants and streamlining complex processes points towards a strong need for understanding operational workflows and user pain points within a business context, which aligns with principles found in Revenue Operations and Sales Operations roles focused on process efficiency and user enablement. The "streamline complex processes" aspect suggests a need for methodical problem-solving and a focus on operational efficiency from a design perspective.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead high-level design projects from conception to delivery, autonomously facilitating design studios, working sessions, and ideation workshops to guide teams towards optimal solutions.
• Leverage deep UX expertise, including proficiency in design systems, UI design principles, and the strategic application of micro-interactions to enhance user task completion and overall experience.
• Transform abstract concepts and business requirements into concrete, delightful, and user-friendly end-to-end digital product experiences that address specific user needs.
• Design holistic user journeys, interaction flows, and interfaces that are characterized by simplicity, elegance, and intuitive usability, ensuring a seamless user experience.
• Effectively utilize and contribute to the enhancement of the existing design system, guaranteeing visual and functional consistency across all product platforms and touchpoints.
• Synthesize insights derived from user research, data analysis, and market trends to inform design decisions and translate findings into actionable, tangible design solutions.
• Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering, Marketing) and champion the voice of the user in all collaborative discussions and decision-making processes.
• Serve as a positive role model for the design team, embodying and promoting a strong design culture and acting as a consistent advocate for design thinking and user-centricity throughout the wider Lightspeed organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level contribution to product strategy and execution, requiring not only strong design skills but also leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional influence. This mirrors the strategic and collaborative demands placed on senior operations professionals who often bridge gaps between departments to drive efficiency and achieve business goals.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A design-thinking oriented educational background, such as a Bachelor's degree in Design, Visual Arts, Architecture, Industrial Design, or Communication.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of practical, hands-on experience in product design, UX/UI design, preferably within an in-house corporate environment.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead high-level design projects with autonomy, guiding teams through complex problem-solving processes.
• UX/UI Expertise: Deep understanding of user experience principles, user interface design best practices, and the impact of micro-interactions on usability.
• Design Systems Proficiency: Demonstrated experience working with and contributing to design systems to ensure brand consistency and scalable design solutions.
• User Research & Data Synthesis: Ability to draw actionable insights from user research, analytics, and data, and translate these into effective design strategies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with product managers, engineers, and marketing teams, advocating for user needs.
• Prototyping & Design Tools Fluency: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Maze, Google Suite, and JIRA.

Preferred Skills:

• Service Design Acumen: Applied experience with service design practices and a commitment to continuously evolving personal and team design processes.
• Multi-Platform Design: Experience designing for diverse digital and physical manifestations, including responsive web, native mobile applications, and emerging technologies.
• Conceptual & Aesthetic Skills: Strong aesthetic sensibility and conceptual thinking to elevate the visual identity and overall user appeal of the brand.
• German Language Skills: Fluency in spoken German is considered a plus, enhancing collaboration within the Berlin-based team.
• Product Strategy Acumen: A deep curiosity and understanding of product strategy and vision, enabling contributions to the "why" behind design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5 years of practical, in-house product, UX/UI design experience" combined with "lead high-level project work" and "advocate for the user" strongly suggests a need for candidates with a proven track record of driving design strategy and influencing cross-functional teams, similar to how senior operations roles require strategic thinking and stakeholder management. The emphasis on understanding the "why" behind design decisions is akin to operations professionals needing to understand the business case for process improvements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies showcasing End-to-End Design Process: Present detailed case studies that illustrate your journey from problem identification and user research through ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final implementation.
• Demonstration of UX Strategy & Problem-Solving: Highlight instances where you defined UX goals, direction, and strategy for complex B2B challenges, showcasing your ability to tackle nebulous concepts.
• Design System Contributions: Include examples of your work with design systems, demonstrating how you ensured consistency and potentially how you contributed to their evolution or maintenance.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: Showcase projects where you effectively collaborated with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) and how you advocated for user needs within those collaborations.
• Impact and Results: Quantify the impact of your design work where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion rates, efficiency improvements, or user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Provide examples of how you've mapped out user flows, system processes, or operational workflows to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
• Prototyping and User Testing Methods: Detail your approach to creating interactive prototypes and conducting user research or usability testing to validate design concepts and gather feedback.
• Design System Implementation: Illustrate how you've applied design system components and patterns in your work, and how you've contributed to maintaining or expanding these systems.
• Cross-functional Communication: Showcase how you communicate design decisions, rationale, and user insights to diverse stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a robust portfolio is crucial. The emphasis on "streamlining complex processes" for B2B users suggests that case studies demonstrating an understanding of operational efficiency and the ability to simplify intricate workflows will be highly valued. This aligns with the portfolio expectations for operations roles, which often require showcasing process improvements, data analysis, and quantifiable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Berlin, Germany, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is approximately €70,000 - €95,000. This range considers the cost of living, market demand for design talent, and Lightspeed's positioning as a global tech company.

Benefits:

• Lightspeed Equity Scheme: Opportunity to become a shareholder and benefit from the company's growth.
• Health & Wellness Credit: Annual allowance of up to €400 for gym memberships, yoga, or other health-related activities.
• Mental Health Support: Access to the Modern Health App for meditation, coaching, and counseling services.
• People Experience (Remote Work Flexibility): A benefit allowing employees to work from anywhere in the world for up to 60 days per year.
• LinkedIn Learning Access: Free access to a comprehensive library of online courses for continuous professional development and skill expansion.
• Public Transport Subsidy: Reimbursement for annual travel passes for commuting to the Berlin office via public transport.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are estimated at 40 hours per week, with a flexible work culture that supports remote work and accommodates different working styles within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in Berlin, Germany, considering the specified experience level (5-10 years). Benefits are directly pulled from the provided text, highlighting Lightspeed's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth. The "People Experience" benefit is particularly noteworthy for its global remote work allowance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Lightspeed Commerce operates within the SaaS (Software as a Service) sector, specifically focusing on providing integrated commerce solutions for retail, hospitality, and golf businesses. This industry context means the company is driven by innovation, scalability, and delivering value through technology to help merchants succeed. Company Size: Lightspeed Commerce is a significant global technology company with a considerable employee base across multiple continents, indicating a structured environment with opportunities for diverse career paths and cross-functional collaboration. This size suggests a dynamic environment with established processes but also the potential for innovation and agility. Founded: Founded in Montreal, Canada, in 2005, Lightspeed has a history rooted in inclusivity and a mission to empower businesses. Its journey from inception to a dual-listed public company reflects a strong track record of growth and market penetration.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will likely be part of a Product Design team, which is typically embedded within product development squads or feature teams.
• This team structure emphasizes close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering a shared ownership of product development.
• Reporting lines would likely be to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Director of Product, with direct interaction across various product verticals.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: A core methodology involving user research, usability testing, and iterative design to ensure products meet user needs and expectations.
• Agile Development: Likely follows Agile or Scrum methodologies, requiring designers to work in sprints, adapt to changing requirements, and deliver incrementally.
• Data-Informed Decisions: Encourages the use of data analytics and user feedback to guide design choices and measure the impact of implemented solutions.
• Design System Adoption: Emphasis on leveraging and contributing to a robust design system for consistency, efficiency, and scalability across products.

Company Website: https://www.lightspeedhq.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Lightspeed's foundation in empowering businesses and its growth trajectory suggest a culture that values innovation, customer success, and employee development. The company's emphasis on inclusivity from its founding is a key cultural differentiator. The B2B focus for restaurants implies a need for designers to understand business operational needs and how technology can solve them, resonating with operational efficiency goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the Product Design function. Senior designers are expected to operate with significant autonomy, influence product strategy, mentor junior designers, and lead complex design initiatives. Their impact extends beyond individual features to shaping the overall user experience and design direction for their product area. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Lead within the Product organization. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within cross-functional product teams, collaborating on feature development and strategic product planning. Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, a Senior Product Designer significantly impacts operational efficiency for Lightspeed's B2B clients (restaurants) by creating intuitive and streamlined interfaces that simplify complex business processes. The design directly influences how easily customers can manage their operations, which in turn affects their satisfaction, retention, and Lightspeed's revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into Lead Designer or Design Manager roles, managing a team of designers and influencing broader design strategy.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of B2B design, hospitality technology, or complex workflow simplification.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Exposure to Product Management, User Research, or even business strategy roles may be possible within a growing tech company of Lightspeed's size.
• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: Actively participate in design critiques, share best practices, and mentor junior designers, building leadership and teaching skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The senior designation implies a significant level of responsibility and potential for leadership. The impact on customer operational efficiency is a key parallel to the goals of revenue and sales operations professionals. Growth opportunities are tied to developing leadership, specialization, and contributing to strategic decision-making.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Lightspeed operates with a hybrid work model, offering flexibility. This means there are likely physical office spaces available in Berlin that provide collaborative environments, but the company also supports remote work. Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is Berlin, Germany. Specific office amenities and accessibility would need to be confirmed, but typically, tech companies in major European hubs like Berlin offer modern, well-equipped workspaces designed for collaboration and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is expected to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and open-plan workspaces designed to facilitate interaction with team members.
• Tools and Technology: Designers will have access to standard industry tools like Figma, Maze, and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, JIRA). High-performance hardware and software are generally provided to support design workflows.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders through daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and ad-hoc discussions.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work week is around 40 hours, with flexibility in start and end times to accommodate different working styles and personal needs, within the framework of supporting cross-functional team collaboration and meeting deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid and remote-friendly nature of the role suggests a modern work environment that prioritizes employee well-being and productivity. The emphasis on collaboration within teams is a common thread in successful product development and operations environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Initial review of your resume and portfolio for relevant experience, skills, and a strong design process.
• Hiring Manager/Recruiter Screen: A preliminary conversation to assess cultural fit, understand your career aspirations, and discuss the role in more detail.
• Design Portfolio Presentation & Challenge: A key stage where you will present your portfolio, often focusing on 1-2 specific case studies that demonstrate your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and impact. This may be followed by a design challenge or take-home assignment.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to evaluate your collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate into the team.
• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, VP of Product) to discuss strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit within Lightspeed's culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the decisions you made, and the measurable outcomes.
• Focus on Process: Emphasize your design thinking, how you approached complex problems, and how you navigated challenges rather than just showing final mockups.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).
• Tailor to Lightspeed: Select case studies that align with Lightspeed's B2B focus, particularly those involving complex workflows or operational improvements. Show an understanding of their industry and user base.
• Clarity and Brevity: Present your work clearly and concisely. Be prepared to articulate your design decisions with focus and brevity, as requested in the job description.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement and any constraints provided.
• Simulate the Environment: Practice working within time limitations, as if you were in a live design session.
• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to walk through your thought process, explaining the "why" behind your design choices, much like explaining the "why" behind an operational process change.
• Focus on User Needs: Ensure your solutions are grounded in user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior design role emphasizes not just visual skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative capabilities. A well-structured portfolio that clearly articulates process and impact will be critical for success, mirroring the need for clear process documentation and ROI demonstration in operations roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool for creating interfaces, user flows, and interactive prototypes. Proficiency is essential for collaborative design and handoff.
• Maze: A user testing platform that integrates with Figma for rapid prototyping and user research, allowing for quick validation of design concepts.
• Google Suite: For document creation, collaboration, presentations, and general productivity (e.g., Google Docs, Slides).
• JIRA: A project management and issue tracking tool used for agile development, task management, and collaboration with engineering teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as design tools, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker) would be beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by designers, understanding the role of CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms in the broader business context can inform B2B product design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed tools are standard for modern product design. For a Senior role, the expectation is not just proficiency but the ability to leverage these tools strategically for efficient workflow, effective collaboration, and robust user testing. Understanding how these tools integrate with broader business systems (like CRM) can be a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs and experiences in every design decision.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing cross-functional partnerships and open communication to achieve shared goals and deliver cohesive products.
• Curiosity & Learning: Encouraging a mindset of continuous learning, exploration, and a desire to understand the "why" behind user behaviors and business objectives.
• Impact & Ownership: Taking pride in delivering tangible results that help customers succeed and driving ownership of design outcomes within product teams.
• Excellence & Craftsmanship: Striving for high-quality design solutions that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with attention to detail.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply integrated into product teams, working hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the development lifecycle.
• Open Feedback Culture: A collaborative environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and shared openly among designers, and with other disciplines, to refine designs and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings through design reviews, internal presentations, and documentation.
• Data-Driven Dialogue: Engaging in discussions informed by user research, analytics, and performance data to support design rationale and drive consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Lightspeed's culture appears to value proactive collaboration, a strong user focus, and a commitment to continuous improvement, which are essential traits for successful operations professionals as well. The emphasis on understanding the "why" is particularly relevant to operations roles that focus on process optimization and strategic alignment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complex B2B Workflows: The primary challenge will be designing intuitive interfaces for restaurant operations, which can involve intricate processes, diverse user roles, and technical limitations.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating user needs and business objectives into cohesive and achievable design solutions within a fast-paced development environment.
• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience across a growing product suite and evolving design system.
• Influencing Product Strategy: Leveraging design expertise to proactively shape product roadmaps and strategic decisions, moving beyond execution to strategic contribution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge design practices, research techniques, and tools.
• Industry Exposure: Working with a global user base in the dynamic hospitality technology sector provides exposure to unique business challenges and customer needs.
• Mentorship: The senior role offers opportunities to mentor junior designers and develop leadership skills, potentially through formal or informal mentorship programs.
• Career Pathing: Clear pathways for advancement into design leadership roles, or specialization within specific product areas or design disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior product designers in B2B SaaS, requiring strategic thinking and deep user empathy. The growth opportunities are substantial, focusing on leadership, specialization, and impact within a growing company, mirroring the career trajectories sought by operations professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you had to simplify a complex user workflow. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving approach, user research, and quantifiable results.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints?" (Highlight your ability to make trade-offs and find pragmatic solutions.)
• "Describe your experience with design systems. How do you ensure consistency and contribute to their evolution?" (Showcase your understanding of system thinking and collaboration.)
• "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Provide an example of a successful collaboration and a challenging one." (Demonstrate your cross-functional communication and teamwork skills.)
• "What does 'user-centricity' mean to you, and how do you embed it in your design process?" (Articulate your philosophy and practical application.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Lightspeed? What interests you about our mission and the hospitality industry?" (Research Lightspeed's values, recent news, and their impact on merchants.)
• "How do you see your role contributing to the Lightspeed culture?" (Align your values with those mentioned in the job description and company information.)
• "How do you handle constructive criticism or design feedback you disagree with?" (Showcase your professionalism, openness, and negotiation skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• "Choose 1-2 case studies that best represent your senior-level capabilities in simplifying complex B2B workflows. Be prepared to walk us through your entire process." (Select projects that demonstrate strategic impact and detailed problem-solving.)
• "Clearly articulate the problem, your specific contributions, the research and design decisions you made, and the measurable impact of your work." (Focus on storytelling, clarity, and data-driven results.)
• "Be ready to explain the 'why' behind your design choices and how you collaborated with stakeholders." (Prepare to defend your decisions and showcase your communication skills.)
• "Practice your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within any time limits provided." (Rehearse to deliver a polished and confident presentation.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should mirror the structured approach required for senior operations roles. Candidates need to demonstrate not only technical design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and strong communication and collaboration abilities, backed by tangible examples from their portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application via the provided Greenhouse link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of product design experience, specific achievements in UX/UI, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description like "streamline complex processes," "user-centric," and "design systems."
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 impactful case studies that showcase your ability to simplify complex B2B workflows, demonstrate your design process, and quantify the results of your work. Ensure it's easily navigable and clearly communicates your role.
• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on problem definition, your strategic approach, design decisions, collaboration, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to articulate the "why" behind your work.
• Research Lightspeed: Familiarize yourself with Lightspeed's products, their target market (restaurants, hospitality), company values, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ 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.