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

Date Posted: 2026-01-20T09:56:03.931

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (1 day office, 4 days home office within Spanish Borders)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation and evolution of comprehensive design systems to ensure a unified, scalable, and efficient design language across digital products.

• Drive the optimization of design processes, workflows, and tools, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the design team.

• Champion user-centered design principles and best practices, translating user needs and business objectives into intuitive and visually captivating digital experiences.

• Mentor and guide fellow Product Designers, developing team capabilities in areas such as persona development, targeting strategies, and advanced data analysis for design operations.

• Act as a Brand Champion, ensuring all digital creations embody the essence of luxury and align with brand values through a strong systemic and aesthetic perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer with a specific focus on Design Systems, indicating a need for leadership in standardization, scalability, and process optimization within the design function. The emphasis on "luxury brand sectors" and "global markets" suggests a need for sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities and an understanding of diverse user bases and brand positioning. The AI-identified experience level of "10+" years is derived from the explicit requirement of 8 years in digital product design and 4 years in Design Systems, implying a senior individual contributor or lead role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire design and implementation lifecycle of our design systems, including design tokens, reusable components, content guidelines, and established design patterns.

• Develop and maintain robust design documentation, style guides, and best practices to ensure consistency, accessibility, and alignment across all design teams and digital product touchpoints.

• Standardize and optimize design workflows, encompassing file management, version control, and inter-team collaboration protocols to enhance overall design operational efficiency.

• Conduct in-depth user research to identify user needs, behaviors, pain points, and opportunities for enhancing design operations and user experience.

• Create and iterate on wireframes, mock-ups, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs to effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions to stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to translate user needs, business goals, and technical constraints into effective, user-centric design solutions.

• Guarantee a cohesive and responsive cross-platform experience across web and mobile applications, maintaining a consistent and user-friendly interface.

• Facilitate qualitative user testing sessions, gather feedback, and utilize A/B testing methodologies to refine designs and measure their impact on user journeys.

• Stay current with emerging design trends, tools, and technologies, proactively recommending their integration to foster innovation within the design process.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to other Product Designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic design leadership (leading design systems, brand championing) and tactical execution (wireframing, prototyping, user testing), with a strong operational focus on process optimization and standardization. The mention of "design operations" and "advanced data analysis" within the mentoring responsibility points to a need for candidates who can contribute to the operational maturity of the design function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in digital product design.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience specifically in developing and managing Design Systems.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in digital product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing design process and workflow optimization.

• Ability to advocate for design within an organization and influence product strategy.

• Proficiency in core design and prototyping tools: Figma, Adobe Creative Suite.

• Familiarity with project management and collaboration software: Jira, Confluence.

• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, responsive design, and mobile-first approaches.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for articulating design decisions to diverse stakeholders.

• Experience working within Agile development environments.

• Expert knowledge of UX/UI best practices, testing methodologies, and accessibility standards.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of front-end development technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript.

• Understanding of native app coding languages, design patterns, and technical implementation aspects.

• Proficiency in motion design, animation, and video editing.

• Keen interest in exploring generative AI tools and techniques.

• Previous experience in the Food & Beverage and Luxury Brand sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications highlight a significant need for both deep practical design skills and strategic thinking, particularly concerning design systems and process improvement. The explicit mention of "advocating for design" and "influencing product strategy" points to a senior role requiring strong soft skills and business acumen. The AI-identified experience level of "10+" years is a reasonable inference given the combined years of experience required (8+ years product design + 4+ years design systems).

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong track record in digital product design, with a significant emphasis on Design Systems.

• Showcase examples of how you have designed, implemented, and evolved design systems, including components, design tokens, and style guides.

• Include case studies that highlight your process for optimizing design workflows and improving design operational efficiency.

• Demonstrate instances where you have advocated for design and influenced product strategy, leading to measurable business outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating and maintaining design documentation, guidelines, and best practices.

• Examples of standardized design processes, including file management, version control, and collaboration protocols.

• Case studies detailing how you have improved cross-functional collaboration between design, product management, and engineering teams.

• Demonstrations of how you have applied user-centered design principles and accessibility standards in your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role focused on Design Systems, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just visual design examples to explicitly demonstrate strategic thinking around process, scalability, and operational efficiency within the design function. The emphasis on "design operations" and "workflow optimization" suggests that candidates should be prepared to discuss the "how" behind their design decisions and system implementations, not just the "what."

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 10+ years of experience in major European tech hubs like Barcelona, and considering the hybrid work model and benefits offered, an estimated salary range would be €65,000 - €90,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the specialized expertise in Design Systems and the luxury brand sector focus.

Benefits:

• Permanent contract.

• Hybrid/Remote policy work within Spanish Borders (1 day office, 4 days home office).

• Competitive salary.

• Flexible Remuneration (Meal vouchers, kinder garden, Public Transport/Mobility).

• Private health insurance (including dental care).

• Juno Journey Premium member platform with extensive online learning resources (certifications, courses, etc.).

• Individual yearly training and certification budget.

• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday.

• Intensive working hours on Fridays and all week in July and August.

• Full salary coverage for sick leave.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, Monday to Friday.

• Intensive working hours on Fridays.

• Extended intensive working hours during July and August.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for senior-level design roles in Barcelona, Spain, factoring in the specified experience level, specialized skills (Design Systems), and the company's industry (digital agency, luxury focus). The benefits package is comprehensive, with particular emphasis on professional development and work-life balance initiatives like flexible remuneration and intensive summer hours.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Agency, Technology, Consulting. SQLI Group specializes in digital transformation and user experience implementation for international companies.

Company Size: Over 2500 employees across more than 13 countries. This indicates a large, established organization with global reach and potentially complex project structures.

Founded: 30 years ago, suggesting a mature company with a long-standing presence and experience in the digital space.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to Product Managers and works closely with Developers and QA Engineers. This implies a cross-functional team environment where design is integrated into the product development lifecycle.

• The "Senior" title suggests potential for leading design initiatives within a pod or project team, possibly mentoring junior designers.

Methodology:

• Agile environments are explicitly mentioned, indicating a preference for iterative development, collaboration, and flexibility.

• The emphasis on design systems and standardization suggests a focus on efficiency, scalability, and consistency in design processes.

• User research and usability testing are key components, pointing to a data-informed and user-centric approach to design.

• The company values a "human touch" and "reinvented user experience," suggesting a culture that prioritizes empathy and innovation.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: SQLI's size and global presence suggest that this role may involve working on large-scale projects with diverse client needs. The company's long history implies stability and deep expertise. The "human touch" and "reinvented user experience" slogans suggest a culture that values creativity, collaboration, and a people-centric approach to digital solutions. The integration with Product Managers, Developers, and QA Engineers is standard for a mature product development process.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level typically implies significant autonomy, leadership in specific design domains (like Design Systems), and the ability to mentor others. It sits above mid-level designers and below design leads or managers, often focusing on deep expertise and complex problem-solving.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to Product Managers and collaborates closely with Developers and QA Engineers. This indicates a flat, cross-functional reporting structure common in agile environments, where direct collaboration is prioritized over strict hierarchical management for day-to-day tasks.

Operations Impact: This Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on the efficiency and consistency of the design process across multiple digital products through the management of the design system. By improving design workflows, they enable faster iteration, higher quality output, and a more cohesive user experience, ultimately contributing to client satisfaction and business success for SQLI's clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Design Manager role, overseeing larger design teams or strategic design initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, UX research, or advanced prototyping, becoming a go-to expert.

• Client Strategy: Develop strategic client-facing skills, advising on digital transformation and UX strategy for high-profile luxury brands.

• Mentorship: Formalize mentorship responsibilities, guiding junior designers and contributing to the overall skill development of the design department.

• Innovation: Lead initiatives exploring new design tools and technologies, such as generative AI, and integrate them into the company's workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential, particularly for individuals interested in leading design operations, strategic design direction, and team development. The emphasis on Design Systems at a senior level can be a strong stepping stone to more strategic or leadership roles within a design organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model with 1 day per week in the Barcelona office. This suggests a professional office environment designed for collaboration, meetings, and focused work, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): SQLI Spain, Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is a vibrant tech hub in Europe, offering a dynamic professional and cultural environment.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to facilitate collaboration with Product Managers, Developers, and QA Engineers, likely through shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and project areas.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology will be provided, with an expectation for the Senior Designer to be proficient and potentially champion new tools.

Work Schedule:

• Standard Monday to Friday schedule.

• Intensive working hours on Fridays, and a compressed schedule during July and August, offering enhanced work-life balance during summer months.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring self-discipline and effective communication for remote collaboration. The intensive summer hours are a significant perk, indicating a company that values employee well-being and work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Phone Interview: Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• HR Interview: Deeper dive into career aspirations, motivation for the role, and company culture alignment.

• Tech Interview: Focused assessment of technical design skills, proficiency with design tools (Figma, Adobe Suite), understanding of design systems, and UX/UI principles.

• Interview with the Project Lead: Discussion on design strategy, leadership potential, problem-solving approach, and how your experience aligns with specific project needs and client expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Design System Deep Dive: Be prepared to walk through specific examples of design systems you've worked on. Detail your process for creating components, tokens, and documentation, and explain the impact these systems had on efficiency and consistency.

• Process Optimization Case Studies: Select 1-2 case studies that clearly illustrate how you identified inefficiencies in design workflows or processes and implemented solutions. Quantify the impact where possible (e.g., reduced design time, fewer design-related bugs).

• User-Centered Approach: Showcase projects where user research directly informed your design decisions. Explain your methodology for user research and usability testing, and how you integrated feedback.

• Brand Alignment: If possible, highlight experience with luxury brands or in sectors requiring high aesthetic standards. Demonstrate an understanding of how design contributes to brand perception and luxury experience.

• Technical Understanding: Be ready to discuss your knowledge of HTML/CSS/JavaScript and native app development patterns, explaining how this informs your design decisions and collaboration with engineers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect a potential design challenge or case study that involves designing a component or workflow within a given system, or proposing improvements to an existing design system.

• Prepare to articulate your design rationale clearly, focusing on scalability, usability, accessibility, and brand consistency.

• Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, anticipating questions about trade-offs, technical constraints, and stakeholder management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a range of skills from technical proficiency to strategic thinking and leadership potential. The portfolio review is paramount, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just design output but also the strategic and operational thinking behind their work, especially concerning design systems and process improvement.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in its advanced features, including component libraries and auto-layout, will be crucial.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Likely used for asset creation, image editing, and potentially motion graphics (After Effects).

• Jira: For project management, sprint planning, and tracking design tasks within Agile workflows.

• Confluence: For documentation, design guidelines, and knowledge sharing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

CRM & Automation:

Other Technologies:

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript: Knowledge is highly valuable, indicating an ability to understand technical feasibility and collaborate effectively with developers.

• Motion Design/Animation Software: Proficiency in tools for creating animations and motion graphics for enhanced user experiences.

• Generative AI Tools: Interest and potential exploration of these tools for design ideation and creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes modern design workflows, with Figma at the core. The mention of HTML/CSS/JavaScript and native app coding knowledge suggests the company values designers who can bridge the gap between design and development, understanding technical constraints and possibilities. An interest in emerging technologies like Generative AI is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human Touch: Emphasizing empathy and a people-centric approach in all design solutions and interactions.

• User Experience: A relentless focus on creating intuitive, engaging, and effective user experiences.

• Innovation: Encouraging creativity, exploration of new technologies, and reinventing digital solutions.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong partnerships across teams (Product, Engineering, QA) to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence: Striving for high quality in both design output and process efficiency.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding brand values and ensuring consistent, beautiful, and luxurious design execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is deeply integrated with Product Management and Engineering, requiring proactive communication and shared ownership.

• Systemic Thinking: Encouraging a mindset of looking at the bigger picture, ensuring consistency and scalability through design systems.

• Feedback Loops: Openness to constructive feedback and iterative refinement of designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that supports sharing best practices, learnings, and new techniques within the design team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: SQLI's stated values suggest a culture that is both people-oriented and results-driven, with a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality digital experiences. The emphasis on "human touch" combined with the "reinvented user experience" indicates a drive for both empathetic and innovative design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Standardization with Flexibility: Maintaining a robust, scalable design system while accommodating unique project requirements and client-specific needs.

• Cross-Team Alignment: Ensuring consistent adoption and utilization of the design system across diverse teams and projects, especially in a large, global organization.

• Evolving Design Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in design tools, methodologies, and AI, and integrating them effectively into existing workflows.

• Driving Adoption: Persuading teams and stakeholders of the value of design systems and new processes, overcoming resistance to change.

• Working with Luxury Brands: Translating high-end brand aesthetics and user expectations into digital experiences that feel authentic and premium.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Becoming a leading expert in design system architecture, governance, and implementation.

• Strategic Design Leadership: Developing skills in influencing product strategy, leading design initiatives, and managing design operations.

• Emerging Technologies: Gaining hands-on experience with generative AI tools and other cutting-edge design technologies.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Working with clients across various sectors, including luxury and F&B, broadening design perspective.

• Mentorship and Training: Access to a yearly training budget and online learning platforms for continuous skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles focused on design systems and process improvement within larger organizations. They present significant opportunities for growth in leadership, strategic thinking, and technical expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the creation or significant evolution of a design system. What were the key challenges, how did you address them, and what was the impact on design efficiency and product consistency?"

• "How do you balance the need for a standardized design system with the unique requirements of different projects or clients, especially in a luxury context?"

• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research to inform design system components or features. How do you ensure the system meets diverse user needs?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about SQLI and our work with luxury brands?"

• "How do you see your expertise in design systems contributing to our 'human touch' and 'reinvented user experience' philosophy?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around key themes: Design System Development, Process Optimization, User-Centric Design, and Brand-Aligned Design.

• Case Studies: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role and process, the solutions implemented (emphasizing design system components or workflow improvements), and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals extensively.

• Design System Focus: Dedicate a significant portion to showcasing your design system work. Detail the architecture, component library, design tokens, and documentation. Explain how it facilitated faster development and ensured brand consistency.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., reduced design time by X%, improved user satisfaction by Y%, increased component reusability by Z%).

• Storytelling: Frame your experience as a narrative, highlighting your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and ability to drive positive change through design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating strategic thinking around design systems, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should be ready to articulate the "why" and "how" behind their design decisions and system implementations, using concrete examples from their portfolio.

📌 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 highlight your experience with Design Systems, digital product design, user research, and process optimization. Showcase specific examples of design system components, documentation, and workflow improvements.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your years of experience in digital product design and design systems, as well as proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Jira, and Confluence. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to building and managing design systems, and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams. Prepare to discuss your experience with luxury brands and your understanding of user-centered design principles.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with SQLI's portfolio, client work (especially in luxury sectors), and their stated values (#Perceive, #Challenge, #Deliver, #Inspire). Understand how your role contributes to their mission of delivering reinvented user experiences.

⚠️ 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.