Senior Product Designer

Wheely
Full-timeNicosia, Cyprus

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Wheely

Location: Nicosia, Cyprus

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office expected)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead end-to-end product design initiatives for Wheely's premium ride-hailing service, encompassing both mobile and web platforms.

  • Drive design strategy and execution as a key, self-directed member of cross-functional teams, influencing product direction from ideation through to launch.

  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and implementing product enhancements, evolving the design system, and conceptualizing new user-centric features.

  • Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive, visually compelling, and seamless user experiences that align with Wheely's high-end brand identity.

  • Craft precise and contextually relevant UX copy that enhances user understanding and guides interaction effectively across the product.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a need for significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. The emphasis on "high visual bar" and "five-star chauffeuring" suggests a strong focus on premium aesthetics and a polished user experience, a key differentiator for Wheely in the competitive ride-hailing market.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Spearhead the design lifecycle for new features and product improvements, from initial concept generation and user research to detailed wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.

  • Collaborate intimately with engineering teams to ensure feasibility, provide design specifications, and iterate on solutions, maintaining a high standard of quality and user experience.

  • Actively contribute to the evolution and maintenance of Wheely's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product touchpoints.

  • Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to gather insights, validate design decisions, and identify opportunities for UX optimization and innovation.

  • Develop and present compelling design rationale, prototypes, and final designs to cross-functional stakeholders, effectively communicating design decisions and their impact.

  • Write clear, concise, and context-aware UX copy to enhance user understanding, guide actions, and reinforce the brand's premium voice.

  • Proactively identify and prioritize UX issues, leveraging data and user feedback to drive improvements and ensure a frictionless user journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "defining and prioritizing UX issues" and "collecting and assessing relevant data" highlights a data-informed approach to design, crucial for operations and product success. The senior level implies ownership of significant product areas and potential mentorship.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., Graphic Design, Interaction Design, HCI) or a related field is typically expected for senior roles, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 3+ years of progressive experience as a Product Designer, with a proven track record of designing user-facing digital products, preferably within fast-paced environments or scale-ups.

Required Skills:

  • Demonstrable strength in visual design craft, with a keen eye for polish, detail, and aesthetic quality that aligns with premium brands.

  • Proven ability to design complex features and user flows, ensuring consistency and coherence across both mobile and web platforms.

  • Expertise in crafting well-balanced interactions that create natural, intuitive, and delightful user interfaces.

  • Technical confidence, including an understanding of engineering constraints and the ability to collaborate effectively with developers.

  • Proactive problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify, assess, and prioritize UX issues using relevant data and user insights.

  • Excellent communication and organizational skills, enabling clear articulation of design rationale and efficient iteration based on feedback.

  • Experience with UX copywriting, tailoring content to specific contexts and user needs.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with design system development and maintenance.

  • Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing.

  • Experience in the ride-hailing, transportation, or premium service industries.

  • Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better inform design decisions.

  • Experience mentoring junior designers or leading design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "technical confidence" and "understanding engineering constraints" is critical for a Senior Product Designer, as it implies a need for practical design solutions that can be effectively implemented, bridging the gap between creative vision and technical reality.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, highlighting your role and contributions.

  • Case studies demonstrating your ability to tackle complex problems, from initial user research and ideation through to final design and launch.

  • Examples of high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that illustrate your visual design skills and interaction design expertise.

  • Evidence of your ability to maintain design consistency and manage complexity across multiple user touchpoints and platforms (mobile/web).

Process Documentation:

  • Showcase projects where you have contributed to or led the evolution of a design system, demonstrating an understanding of scalable design principles.

  • Include examples of how you have written UX copy, illustrating your ability to create clear, concise, and contextually relevant microcopy.

  • Present case studies that detail your approach to identifying and resolving UX issues through iterative design and user feedback loops.

  • Demonstrate how you've collaborated with engineering teams, including understanding technical constraints and contributing to the implementation phase.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer, the portfolio is paramount. The emphasis should be on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to drive projects independently, not just execution skills. Case studies that clearly articulate the "why" behind design decisions and the measurable impact are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The base salary is up to €95,000 per year, with an additional performance-based bonus. This aligns with senior-level product design roles in major European cities, considering the cost of living and market demand for experienced designers in the tech sector.

Benefits:

  • Performance-based bonus, rewarding contributions to company success.

  • Private health insurance, providing comprehensive medical coverage.

  • Professional development subsidies, supporting continuous learning and skill enhancement.

  • Best-in-class equipment, ensuring designers have the tools necessary to perform at their highest level.

  • Flexible working hours, allowing for better work-life integration.

  • Potential for remote work, though an in-office presence is generally expected.

Working Hours: While specific hours aren't detailed, the mention of "flexible working hours" and the typical 40-hour work week in the tech industry suggests a standard full-time commitment that can be managed with some flexibility. The expectation of being in the office at least four days a week indicates a hybrid model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary of "up to €95,000" is a strong indicator of the seniority and expertise expected. Salary research for Senior Product Designers in Cyprus or similar European tech hubs supports this range, factoring in the company's profitability and funding. The bonus structure suggests a performance-driven culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wheely operates in the premium ride-hailing and transportation technology sector, a competitive space that demands a high level of service quality, technological innovation, and user experience excellence.

Company Size: Wheely is described as a "profitable, fast-growing scale-up" that has raised $43M. This indicates a company that has moved beyond the startup phase, possesses proven market traction, and is in a significant growth trajectory, likely employing several hundred to a few thousand employees.

Founded: Founded prior to its current scale-up phase, Wheely has established a presence in "major cities in Europe and the Middle East" and is expanding into the US. This suggests a mature operational framework and a global outlook.

Team Structure:

  • The design team is integrated within cross-functional product teams, likely comprising Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Researchers.

  • Designers are expected to be "self-directed members," implying a flat hierarchy within teams and a high degree of autonomy.

Methodology:

  • Design is "central to everything we build," suggesting a user-centered and quality-driven approach.

  • The company emphasizes "turning complex problems into intuitive user experiences" and creating "seamless and personal" products.

  • Iterative development and a commitment to "frictionless" interactions are core to their product philosophy.

Company Website: https://wheely.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "high-end ride-hailing service" positioning is critical. This implies a focus on user experience that mirrors luxury services, demanding impeccable visual design, intuitive interfaces, and a seamless customer journey. The company's growth stage and funding suggest a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a mid-to-senior level position. It requires independent contribution, strategic thinking, and the ability to take ownership of significant design challenges. Senior designers are expected to influence product direction and potentially mentor others.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior Product Designers typically report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a Director of Product. Within their cross-functional teams, they work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, acting as the primary design voice.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work directly impacts customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction by shaping the core user experience of Wheely's premium service. Their contributions are crucial for maintaining brand perception, driving user engagement, and supporting the company's revenue growth objectives through a superior product offering.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design Leadership: Potential to move into Lead Designer or Head of Design roles as the company continues to scale and the design team expands.

  • Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas such as mobile UX, interaction design, design systems, or user research.

  • Mentorship: As a senior member, there will be opportunities to mentor junior designers, contributing to their professional development and honing leadership skills.

  • Strategic Influence: Greater involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and driving design initiatives that have a significant business impact.

  • Professional Development: Access to subsidies for courses, conferences, and workshops to stay current with design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "scale-up" nature of Wheely suggests a rapidly evolving environment. This presents both challenges and significant growth opportunities. A Senior Product Designer here can expect to shape processes and contribute to building out the design function, not just execute on existing frameworks.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an "office-based role located in Nicosia," with an "in-person culture." However, it balances this with "flexible working hours and work from home when needed," indicating a hybrid approach where in-office presence is valued for collaboration.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Nicosia, Cyprus. Specific details about the office environment (e.g., modern, collaborative workspaces) are not provided but can be inferred from a premium service company aiming for high talent attraction.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on an "in-person culture" and hybrid model suggests a workspace designed to foster interaction, brainstorming, and serendipitous collaboration among team members.

  • Tools & Technology: As a tech company, it's expected that designers will have access to "best-in-class equipment" and modern design software.

  • Team Interaction: The structure encourages close working relationships with product managers, engineers, and other designers, facilitating rapid feedback loops and iterative design.

Work Schedule: The company offers "flexible working hours," allowing employees to manage their schedules to some extent. However, the expectation of being in the office "at least four days a week" sets a clear guideline for the hybrid model, ensuring consistent team presence for collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a strong emphasis on in-office presence (at least 4 days/week) indicates that Wheely values face-to-face collaboration for innovation and team cohesion, a common trait in companies aiming for rapid growth and complex problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

  • Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A session where you will present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially tackle a design problem relevant to Wheely's service. Expect to articulate your rationale, problem-solving approach, and ability to handle complexity and detail.

  • Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

  • Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, career aspirations, and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase end-to-end product design, visual craft, and problem-solving. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to handle complexity and maintain consistency.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration, testing), your key decisions, and the outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively to guide the narrative.

  • Highlight Seniority: Emphasize your autonomy, strategic contributions, problem-definition skills, and any mentorship or leadership experience.

  • Showcase UX Copy: If possible, include examples of UX copy you've written and explain the rationale behind your choices.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle feedback, how you collaborate with engineers, and how you approach ambiguous problems.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Business: Research Wheely's premium service, target audience, and competitive landscape. Think about the unique challenges and opportunities in the high-end ride-hailing market.

  • Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining your design process and project outcomes concisely and compellingly.

  • Simulate Problem-Solving: If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the problem statement thoroughly, defining scope, outlining potential solutions, and articulating trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "high visual bar" and "five-star chauffeuring" means your portfolio should not only demonstrate functional design but also a sophisticated aesthetic that reflects premium quality. Be ready to defend your design choices with strong reasoning.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma is highly likely to be a primary tool, given its industry prevalence for collaborative design, wireframing, and high-fidelity prototyping. Sketch and Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) may also be used for specific tasks or asset creation.

  • Prototyping/Animation: Tools like InVision, Principle, or After Effects might be used for more advanced prototyping and micro-interaction design to showcase dynamic elements.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics are crucial for understanding user behavior, tracking feature adoption, and identifying areas for improvement. A Senior Designer should be comfortable interpreting data from these platforms.

  • Dashboarding: While not directly a design tool, familiarity with how data is presented in tools like Tableau or Looker could be beneficial for understanding performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

  • While not a direct design tool, understanding the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms can provide context on user journeys and customer segmentation, informing design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern product design roles. The ability to use it for collaborative workflows, interactive prototyping, and potentially design system management will be key. Understanding how to leverage product analytics data to inform design decisions is a critical aspect of a Senior Product Designer's role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Quality & Craftsmanship: A deep commitment to high standards in design, resulting in polished, intuitive, and visually appealing products that reflect the premium nature of Wheely's service.

  • User-Centricity: A relentless focus on understanding and meeting user needs, ensuring every design decision prioritizes a seamless and exceptional customer experience.

  • Collaboration & Communication: Open and transparent communication within cross-functional teams, fostering a shared understanding and collective ownership of product success.

  • Proactivity & Ownership: Taking initiative to identify opportunities, solve problems, and drive projects forward with a strong sense of responsibility and accountability.

  • Innovation & Iteration: A willingness to explore new ideas, experiment with solutions, and continuously refine the product based on feedback and data.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers as integral partners throughout the development lifecycle.

  • Data-Informed Decisions: Design choices are backed by user research, analytics, and feedback, rather than solely intuition.

  • Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular communication and feedback sessions are expected to facilitate rapid iteration and ensure alignment across disciplines.

  • Design System as a Unifier: The design system acts as a central point of reference and collaboration, ensuring consistency and shared understanding across the product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "premium" service implies a culture that values attention to detail, sophisticated aesthetics, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Designers are expected to embody these values in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Premium Experience with Scalability: Ensuring that the high-end user experience remains consistent as the company scales rapidly and expands into new markets.

  • Technical Constraints: Designing within the sometimes-complex constraints of mobile and web development while pushing the boundaries of user experience.

  • Defining and Evolving the Design System: Continuously improving and expanding the design system to support new features and maintain consistency across a growing product suite.

  • Data Interpretation: Effectively translating data from analytics tools into actionable design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge interaction design patterns and visual design trends.

  • Product Strategy Involvement: Gaining experience in shaping product roadmaps and influencing strategic business decisions through design.

  • Mentorship and Leadership: Developing leadership skills by guiding junior designers and contributing to the growth of the design function.

  • Industry Exposure: Learning about the intricacies of the premium transportation and ride-hailing market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges here are typical for a growing tech company in a competitive niche. A Senior Designer will be instrumental in navigating these by establishing robust processes and driving user-centric solutions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a complex feature you designed from concept to launch. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" (Focus on demonstrating end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and impact.)

  • "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints?" (Prepare to discuss your decision-making framework and negotiation skills.)

  • "How do you approach evolving or building a design system? What are the key considerations?" (Highlight your understanding of scalability, consistency, and collaboration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about Wheely's mission and its focus on premium transportation?" (Research Wheely's brand, values, and market position.)

  • "How do you contribute to a collaborative and iterative team environment?" (Provide specific examples of your teamwork and communication style.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem statement, your specific role, the challenges faced, your design process, key decisions made (and why), and the measurable results or impact.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, task completion times) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

  • Showcase Visuals: Use high-quality mockups and prototypes to illustrate your design solutions. Walk through the user flows and interactions.

  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your technical choices, UX copy, and how you handled specific design challenges.

  • Articulate Your "Why": Clearly explain the rationale behind your design decisions at every stage.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role, interviewers will be looking for strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a deep understanding of the entire product development lifecycle, not just aesthetic execution. Be ready to discuss your process, reasoning, and impact in detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

  • Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to product design, UX/UI, visual design, and collaboration, using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Improved user engagement by X% through redesign of Y feature").

  • Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases your best end-to-end projects, and clearly articulates your design process and impact. Tailor the selection of projects to align with Wheely's premium positioning and the requirements of this role.

  • Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, strong rationale, and demonstrating your ability to handle complex problems.

  • Research Wheely: Understand their business model, target audience, brand values, and recent developments. Prepare thoughtful questions about the product, design team, and company culture.

⚠️ 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.


Application Requirements

Candidates should have 3+ years of experience as a Product Designer with a strong focus on visual craft and attention to detail. They must be able to design complex features while maintaining consistency and be proactive in defining and prioritizing UX issues.