Senior Product Designer (Digital) - Design System

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (Digital) - Design System Company: SQLI Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Operations Date Posted: February 11, 2026 Experience Level: Senior (10+ years implied) Remote Status: Hybrid (1 day office, 4 days remote within Spanish Borders)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design, implementation, and ongoing evolution of comprehensive design systems, including design tokens, components, content guides, and design patterns to ensure a unified and scalable design language across digital products.
• Drive the optimization and standardization of design processes and workflows, focusing on file management, version control, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance team efficiency and design output quality.
• Champion brand values and visual consistency by creating aesthetically captivating designs that embody the essence of luxury, ensuring alignment with brand identity and overarching business objectives.
• Conduct in-depth user research and usability testing, employing data-driven insights and A/B testing methodologies to refine designs, enhance user experience, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement in design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role title, "Senior Product Designer (Digital) - Design System," indicates a focus on the operational aspects of design, specifically the creation and maintenance of a design system. This implies a strong emphasis on process, scalability, and cross-functional collaboration, aligning with Revenue Operations and GTM principles of standardization and efficiency. The required experience level of 10+ years (implied by 8 years in product design + 4 years in design systems) suggests a leadership and strategic component to the role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of design systems, including design tokens, components, content guides, and design patterns, ensuring a cohesive and scalable visual language across all digital platforms.
• Develop and maintain detailed design documentation, guidelines, and best practices to ensure consistency and facilitate knowledge sharing among design, product, and engineering teams.
• Optimize and standardize design processes, encompassing file management, version control, and collaborative workflows, to improve efficiency and reduce time-to-market for design assets.
• Conduct comprehensive user research to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points, translating these insights into actionable design improvements and identifying opportunities within design operations.
• Create wireframes, mock-ups, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that effectively communicate design concepts, interactions, and user flows to stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to translate user needs, business goals, and technical constraints into effective, user-centered design solutions.
• Enhance the cross-platform user experience by crafting cohesive and responsive design solutions that span web and mobile applications, ensuring seamless integration and consistent branding.
• Facilitate usability testing sessions, analyze feedback, and utilize A/B testing methodologies to iterate on designs and optimize user journeys based on data-driven insights.
• Mentor and guide other Product Designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement in areas such as persona development, targeting strategies, and advanced data analysis within the design function.
• Stay abreast of the latest design trends, tools, and technologies, proactively recommending their integration into design processes to foster innovation and maintain competitive relevance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize process optimization, standardization, and the operational management of design assets and workflows through a design system. This directly maps to core operations principles of efficiency, scalability, and data-driven decision-making, particularly relevant for a "Design System" focused role. The mention of mentoring and advocating for design within the organization also points to a senior-level, operational leadership capacity.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is implicitly expected given the experience requirements and the nature of the role. Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in digital product design.
• A minimum of 4 years of dedicated experience in designing and managing Design Systems.
• Strong experience in native app design for both iOS and Android platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to advocate for design within an organization, influencing product strategy and aligning with business goals.
• Experience working within Agile development environments.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in leading the design and implementation of comprehensive Design Systems, including design tokens, components, content guides, and design patterns.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proven ability to conduct thorough User Research, analyze findings, and translate them into actionable design strategies.
• Skilled in creating detailed Wireframes, engaging Mock-ups, and interactive Prototypes to visualize and communicate design concepts effectively.
• Exceptional Collaboration and Communication skills, with a proven track record of presenting design decisions and strategies to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in planning and executing Usability Testing and A/B Testing to gather feedback and validate design solutions.
• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, responsive design, and mobile-first approaches.
• Familiarity with project management and collaboration software platforms, such as Jira and Confluence, for workflow management and team coordination.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in motion design, animation, and video editing.
• Keen interest and proficiency in exploring generative AI tools and techniques for design innovation.
• Knowledge of front-end development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
• A good understanding of native app coding languages, design patterns, and technical implementation aspects.
• Previous experience in the Food & Beverage and Luxury Brand sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize both deep design craft and the operational discipline required for design systems. The "advocating for design" and "influencing product strategy" points highlight the strategic and operational leadership expected from a senior role. The specific mention of iOS and Android native app experience alongside general digital design indicates a need for platform-specific operational knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing digital design expertise, with a dedicated section detailing experience in designing, implementing, and optimizing Design Systems.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of how design systems contribute to efficiency, scalability, and brand consistency across multiple digital products.
• Include case studies that highlight your ability to advocate for design within an organization, influencing product strategy and aligning design initiatives with business goals.
• Showcase examples of your process for creating and maintaining design libraries, including design tokens, components, content guides, and design patterns.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of design documentation, guidelines, and best practices you have developed to ensure consistency and alignment across design teams and digital products.
• Illustrate your approach to optimizing and standardizing design processes, including file management, version control, and collaborative workflows.
• Present case studies that demonstrate your ability to conduct user research, facilitate usability testing, and utilize A/B testing to inform design decisions and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer focused on Design Systems, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond visual aesthetics to demonstrate a deep understanding of operationalizing design at scale. This means showcasing the process of creating and managing a design system, the impact it has on efficiency and consistency, and the collaboration involved.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 10+ years of experience, specifically in Design System roles, and considering Barcelona's cost of living and tech market, an estimated annual salary range would be €55,000 - €75,000 gross. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, negotiation skills, and the precise scope of responsibilities.
• Methodology: This estimate is derived from analyzing salary data for similar roles in major European tech hubs, with adjustments for the Barcelona market. Data sources considered include industry salary reports, professional networking site salary data, and recruitment agency insights for senior design and operations roles in Spain.

Benefits:

• Permanent contract.
• Hybrid work policy (1 day in office, 4 days remote within Spanish Borders).
• Competitive salary.
• Flexible Remuneration package, including:
  • Meal vouchers
  • Kindergarten support
  • Public Transport/Mobility allowance
• Private health insurance (including dental care).
• Juno Journey Premium member platform offering extensive online learning resources (certifications, courses, etc.).
• Individual yearly training and certification budget.
• Intensive working hours on Fridays, and throughout July and August.
• Full salary coverage for sick leave.
• Relocation package for eligible candidates.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexible arrangements including intensive hours on Fridays and throughout July and August, allowing for enhanced work-life balance crucial for sustained productivity in design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on the role's seniority, location, and specialization. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with typical offerings for senior tech roles, with a notable emphasis on professional development and flexible work arrangements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Agency / IT Consulting. SQLI Group operates as a digital agency with a significant presence in implementing and managing digital experiences for clients across various sectors. Company Size: Over 2500 employees globally, operating in more than 13 countries across 3 continents. This indicates a large, established organization with opportunities for diverse project exposure and a robust internal structure. Founded: 30 years ago, suggesting a long history of digital innovation and a wealth of experience in the market.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a larger design function, likely within a "Creative Studio" category as indicated by job details, collaborating with Product Managers and Developers.
• Reporting structure will likely involve a Design Lead or Head of Design, with the Senior Designer expected to mentor junior team members.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, particularly with Product Management and Engineering teams to ensure design systems are effectively integrated and utilized.

Methodology:

• SQLI emphasizes a "human touch" and partnership with large international companies, suggesting a client-centric and collaborative approach.
• Their core values of #Perceive, #Challenge, #Deliver, #Inspire point to a culture of understanding client needs, innovative problem-solving, effective execution, and continuous improvement.
• The role specifically mentions improving design processes, enhancing user experience on e-commerce platforms, and aligning designs with brand and business objectives, indicating a data-driven and results-oriented operational mindset.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: SQLI's description as a global digital agency with a long history and a focus on "human touch" suggests a dynamic, client-facing environment. The emphasis on collaboration and innovation aligns well with the operational demands of managing a design system, requiring strong communication and strategic thinking.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level Product Designer role with a specialization in Design Systems. It represents a significant step beyond individual contributor design roles, requiring strategic thinking, process ownership, and leadership in establishing and maintaining design standards. The role is positioned to influence product development at a systemic level.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or a Director of Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, acting as a key interface between design strategy and execution. They are also expected to mentor and guide other Product Designers.

Operations Impact: The core impact of this role lies in enabling the efficient and consistent delivery of high-quality digital products. By establishing and maintaining a robust design system, this Senior Designer will:

• Significantly reduce design and development time through reusable components and clear guidelines.
• Ensure brand consistency and a superior user experience across all digital touchpoints, directly impacting customer perception and loyalty.
• Facilitate scalability of design efforts as the company and its product offerings grow.
• Improve collaboration and communication between design, product, and engineering teams by providing a shared language and set of tools.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Potential to evolve into a dedicated Design System Lead or Manager role, responsible for the strategic direction and team management of the design system.
• Product Strategy Influence: Deeper involvement in product strategy discussions, leveraging design system insights to inform future product roadmaps and innovation.
• Cross-functional Expertise: Expanding influence across broader GTM operations, potentially contributing to how design thinking is applied in marketing, sales enablement, or customer success initiatives.
• Industry Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific sectors like Luxury Brands or e-commerce, becoming a subject matter expert within SQLI.
• Mentorship & Training: Formalizing mentorship programs and developing training materials for design system adoption and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for growth beyond traditional design, moving into operational leadership and strategic product influence. The emphasis on design systems positions this individual as a critical enabler of efficient and scalable product development, a highly valued skill in operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with 1 day per week required in the Barcelona office and 4 days remote. This suggests a blend of in-person collaboration and independent, focused work. Office Location(s): SQLI Spain, Barcelona. Specific office details are not provided but are assumed to be in a central, accessible location within the city.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for focused work on design system components and detailed documentation remotely, while leveraging office time for collaborative sessions, brainstorming, and team building with colleagues.
• Access to standard office technology and collaboration tools will be available in the office, complemented by the necessary remote setup. The role requires proficiency with digital design tools like Figma, suggesting a digitally-enabled workspace.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow Designers will be concentrated on office days, fostering strong working relationships and efficient problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, with intensive working hours on Fridays and throughout July and August. This provides a degree of flexibility and a compressed work schedule during peak summer months, which is a significant perk.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, offering flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration crucial for design system development. The intensive summer schedule is a notable benefit that enhances work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Phone Interview: An initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit. Be prepared to briefly discuss your passion for design systems and your relevant experience.
• HR Interview: A more in-depth conversation about your career aspirations, motivation for applying, understanding of SQLI's values, and overall fit within the company culture.
• Tech Interview: This will likely be a deep dive into your design process, technical skills (Figma, Adobe Suite), and specific experience with design systems. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research, testing, and creating scalable design solutions.
• Interview with the Project Lead: This final stage will focus on your ability to lead design initiatives, mentor others, and contribute to project success. Expect discussions around strategic thinking, problem-solving, and how you handle complex design challenges.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Design System Focus: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to your design system work. Clearly articulate the problem your design system solved, your role in its creation/management, the components and guidelines you developed, and the measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, consistency improvements).
• Process & Methodology: Showcase your end-to-end design process. For each project, explain your methodology, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Highlight how you ensure designs are user-centered and align with business objectives.
• Visual Storytelling: Use compelling visuals (screenshots, mock-ups, prototypes) to illustrate your work. Tell a clear story for each case study, guiding the reviewer through the problem, your solution, and the outcome.
• Quantifiable Results: Where possible, include metrics that demonstrate the impact of your work. For design systems, this could be reduced development time, increased design consistency scores, or faster onboarding of new designers.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize experience relevant to luxury brands, e-commerce, and native app design if you have it, as these are mentioned as pluses.

Challenge Preparation:

• While not explicitly mentioned, be prepared for potential design challenges or take-home assignments that test your ability to think systematically and solve complex design problems under constraints. Practice designing components or flows that could be part of a larger design system.
• Be ready to discuss how you would approach a specific design system challenge for a company like SQLI, considering their client-facing nature and focus on user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured and progressive. The portfolio review will be critical, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just design skills but also operational expertise in building and maintaining scalable design systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaborative design system development. Proficiency is a must.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Likely used for more advanced graphic design, image editing, and potentially motion graphics (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects).
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with tools like InVision or similar for advanced prototyping and user testing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting surveys, interviews, and analyzing user feedback.
• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with web and app analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.
• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with platforms for running controlled experiments to optimize user journeys.

CRM & Automation:

• Jira & Confluence: Explicitly mentioned for project management and documentation, crucial for design system workflow and collaboration.
• Version Control Systems: Implicitly required for managing design system assets and ensuring smooth integration with development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tech stack highlights a strong focus on collaborative design tools (Figma), with an expectation of broader design production software. The mention of Jira/Confluence and the emphasis on user research/testing indicate a need for designers to be integrated into agile development workflows and data-driven decision-making processes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• #Perceive: Demonstrating a deep understanding of client needs, user behaviors, and market trends through thorough research and analysis, forming the foundation for all design operations.
• #Challenge: Proactively identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement in design processes, tools, and user experiences, pushing boundaries and questioning the status quo.
• #Deliver: Executing high-quality, scalable design solutions efficiently and effectively, ensuring that design systems are not just theoretical but functional assets that drive business outcomes.
• #Inspire: Fostering a culture of creativity, continuous learning, and collaboration within the design team and across the organization, motivating others through impactful work and shared knowledge.
• Data-Driven Design: Emphasizing the use of user data, analytics, and testing results to inform design decisions and measure the operational impact of design system implementation.
• Efficiency & Scalability: A core focus on creating systems and processes that enable the organization to design and develop products more efficiently and at scale.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A strong emphasis on working seamlessly with Product Managers, Engineers, and QA teams, ensuring design systems are understood and adopted across disciplines.
• Iterative Feedback Loops: Encouraging open communication and regular feedback exchange to refine designs, processes, and the design system itself.
• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, design patterns, and lessons learned to elevate the entire team's capabilities.
• Client-Centricity: While this role is internal, the agency context means that ultimately, the design system must serve the needs of SQLI's clients and their end-users.

📝 Enhancement Note: SQLI's stated values strongly align with operational excellence. The emphasis on perceiving needs, challenging the norm, delivering results, and inspiring innovation are all critical for a Senior Designer managing a design system. The collaborative environment is essential for ensuring the design system's successful adoption and impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adoption & Governance: Ensuring widespread adoption and consistent adherence to the design system across various product teams and designers with differing skill levels and priorities. Establishing clear governance and contribution models.
• Balancing Standardization and Flexibility: Creating a design system that is robust enough to enforce consistency but flexible enough to accommodate unique product requirements and future innovation.
• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously updating the design system to incorporate new design trends, accessibility standards, and emerging technologies like generative AI.
• Measuring ROI: Quantifying the return on investment for the design system, demonstrating its value in terms of efficiency, cost savings, and improved user experience to stakeholders.
• Cross-Cultural/Global Consistency: If SQLI works with international clients, ensuring the design system can accommodate localization and regional design nuances while maintaining core brand identity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Strategy: Deepening expertise in design system architecture, governance, and scaling strategies for large organizations.
• Generative AI in Design: Exploring and integrating cutting-edge AI tools and techniques into the design process and design system.
• Accessibility Leadership: Becoming a subject matter expert in digital accessibility, ensuring all design system components meet the highest standards.
• Product Strategy & Roadmapping: Gaining exposure to product strategy development, leveraging design system insights to influence future product direction.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Developing leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to design system management and require strong operational, strategic, and interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities are substantial, allowing for deep specialization or broad strategic development within the operations and product domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing and implementing a comprehensive design system from the ground up. What were the key phases and considerations?" (Focus on process, governance, and stakeholder buy-in).
• "How do you ensure a design system remains relevant and scalable as product offerings and design trends evolve? Provide an example of how you've adapted a design system." (Highlight your forward-thinking and iterative approach).
• "Walk me through a time you had to advocate for design system adoption or a specific design decision. How did you influence stakeholders and overcome resistance?" (Demonstrate your influence and negotiation skills).
• "Imagine you're tasked with integrating generative AI into our design system. What would be your initial steps and potential applications?" (Showcase your interest in innovation and proactive thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to SQLI, and how do you see your skills in design systems aligning with our values of #Perceive, #Challenge, #Deliver, #Inspire?" (Research SQLI's work, values, and market position. Connect your experience to their ethos).
• "How would you approach building relationships with product managers and engineers to ensure successful integration and ongoing collaboration with the design system?" (Emphasize your collaboration and communication strategies).
• "Describe a situation where you had to compromise on a design system component for the sake of a specific product's immediate needs. How did you manage that compromise and ensure long-term consistency?" (Showcase your pragmatism and strategic thinking).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your design philosophy and your core expertise in design systems.
• Case Study Deep Dive: Select 2-3 key projects, with at least one dedicated to a design system. For each, clearly articulate:
  • The Challenge: What problem were you solving? What were the business and user needs?
  • Your Role: What was your specific contribution?
  • The Process: Detail your methodology (research, ideation, design, testing, iteration).
  • The Solution: Showcase the design system components, guidelines, or user interfaces.
  • The Outcome: Present quantifiable results and the impact of your work.
• Demonstrate Operational Thinking: Explain how you managed the design system – its governance, contribution model, documentation, and how you ensured its adoption and maintenance.
• Interactive Elements: If possible, include interactive prototypes or live demos of components. Be prepared to navigate and explain them clearly.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to be engaging and impactful without exceeding allocated time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing both design craft and operational leadership. For a design system role, demonstrating an understanding of process, scalability, collaboration, and measurable impact is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on SmartRecruiters.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to prominently feature your experience in design systems. Highlight specific achievements in creating, implementing, and managing design components, tokens, and guidelines. Showcase case studies that demonstrate your process, collaboration, and the measurable impact of your work.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 8+ years in digital product design and 4+ years in design systems. Use keywords from the job description such as "Design Systems," "Figma," "User Research," "Usability Testing," "Agile," and "Responsive Design." Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design system process, your approach to user research and testing, and your ability to collaborate effectively with product and engineering teams. Prepare to discuss your experience with luxury brands or e-commerce if applicable.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with SQLI's website, their client portfolio, and their stated values (#Perceive, #Challenge, #Deliver, #Inspire). Understand their positioning as a digital agency and how a robust design system contributes to their client success.

⚠️ 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.