Senior Product Designer (UX/UI)
π Job Overview
Job Title: Senior Product Designer (UX/UI)
Company: lastminute.com
Location: Madrid, Spain
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: October 21, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid / Full Remote (within Spain)
π Role Summary
- Drive end-to-end product design initiatives, from initial discovery and user research to final asset delivery and engineering collaboration, focusing on user-centric solutions.
- Specialize in designing intuitive and high-converting checkout flows within the e-commerce and online travel agency (OTA) sectors, balancing user needs with business objectives.
- Contribute to the strategic revamp of the product's UI/UX, aiming to elevate the user experience and competitive positioning within the Travel-Tech industry.
- Leverage qualitative and quantitative data analysis to generate actionable design insights and inform design decisions for continuous improvement.
π Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Professional" level, indicating a focus on individual contribution and technical/discipline expertise rather than people management. The emphasis on "mobile first" for web product design and the "full remote from Spain" option highlights flexibility and a modern approach to talent acquisition.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the entire design lifecycle for product features, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and user testing.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, Marketing) to define product strategy and deliver user-centered solutions.
- Develop and maintain high-fidelity UI designs, ensuring pixel perfection and adherence to established design principles and brand guidelines.
- Contribute to and influence the evolution of the company's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across products.
- Analyze user feedback, A/B test results, and performance metrics to iteratively improve existing product features and design solutions.
- Champion user advocacy within the product development process, ensuring that user needs and pain points are understood and addressed.
- Consult with engineering teams during the implementation phase to ensure design fidelity and provide necessary design assets and specifications.
π Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Challenge everything" suggests an environment that values proactive problem-solving and innovative thinking. Owning the "full design process" implies a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for design outcomes.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, user experience, and visual design is expected, often acquired through formal education (e.g., Graphic Design, HCI, Interaction Design) or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on experience as a Product Designer, UX Designer, or UI Designer, with a significant portion focused on e-commerce or online travel agency (OTA) platforms. Proven experience in designing complex user flows, particularly checkout processes, is critical.
Required Skills:
- UX/UI Design: Expertise in user-centered design principles, wireframing, prototyping, and creating intuitive user interfaces.
- E-commerce/OTA Experience: Proven experience designing for online retail or travel platforms, specifically with a focus on conversion-oriented checkout flows.
- Design Systems: Deep understanding and practical experience contributing to or utilizing design systems at scale for consistency and efficiency.
- Portfolio: A strong, compelling portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design initiatives, demonstrating problem-solving skills and impactful UX/UI solutions.
- Collaboration & Communication: Excellent ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, articulate design decisions, and incorporate feedback.
- Data-Driven Design: Proficiency in translating qualitative and quantitative data into actionable design insights and informing design decisions.
- Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify root causes and develop effective design solutions.
- English Fluency: Fluent in spoken and written English for effective communication in an international environment.
Preferred Skills:
- Mobile App Design: Experience in designing for native mobile applications, complementing web product design.
- Product Discovery: Familiarity with product discovery methodologies and user research techniques.
- Continuous Improvement: Experience in iterating on designs based on user feedback and performance data.
- Pixel Perfection: A keen eye for detail and a commitment to achieving high visual fidelity in designs.
π Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "pixel perfection" and a "strong portfolio showcasing great UX and UI solutions" indicates that strong visual design skills, coupled with robust UX methodology, are highly valued. The requirement for humility and collaboration suggests a team-oriented culture.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Showcase end-to-end design initiatives, from initial concept and user research through to final implementation and post-launch analysis.
- Highlight specific examples of designing "high-converting checkout flows" within e-commerce or OTA contexts.
- Demonstrate the application of user-centered design principles and how user needs were balanced with business goals.
- Include case studies that detail the problem, your process, the solutions you designed, and the quantifiable impact or outcomes.
Process Documentation:
- Clearly articulate your design process, including how you approach user research, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and iteration.
- Provide examples of how you have utilized design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency in your work.
- Illustrate how you translate qualitative and quantitative data into actionable design insights that drive product improvements.
- Show evidence of collaboration with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.
π Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component. Candidates should be prepared to walk through specific projects, detailing their role, the challenges faced, the design decisions made, and the measurable results achieved. Focus on impact and the "why" behind design choices.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer (5-10 years experience) in Madrid, Spain, the estimated annual salary range is approximately β¬45,000 - β¬65,000 gross. This range can vary based on specific experience, skills, and negotiation.
Benefits:
- Shorter Working Week: 36 hours/week, full-time, with a half-day on Fridays, offering enhanced work-life balance.
- Flexible Working Hours: Ability to adjust start and end times of the workday.
- Remote Work Option: Possibility to work fully remote from anywhere within Spain for a defined period annually.
- Professional Development: Access to extensive e-learning platforms (Oβreilly, Udemy, Coursera, internal platform) and specific training paths for professional and managerial skills.
- "Fri-Yays": Dedicated Friday mornings for deep work, personal growth, and learning, with a no-meeting mandate.
- Travel Industry Discounts: Access to staff fares and discounts within the travel industry.
- Volunteering Leave: Two paid days off per year for volunteering activities.
- Social Events: Occasional company-sponsored events to foster team connections.
- Life Event Support: Leave options for significant life events (parental, marriage, bereavement, relocation) in line with local laws.
Working Hours: 36 hours per week, with a half-day on Fridays. Flexible start and end times are permitted.
π Enhancement Note: The 36-hour work week and the half-day on Fridays are significant benefits that contribute to a strong work-life balance. The "Fri-Yays" initiative is a unique approach to professional development and focused work. Salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in Madrid, considering the specified experience level and industry.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Travel-Tech, focusing on Dynamic Holiday Packages. This sector is characterized by fast-paced innovation, a strong emphasis on customer experience, and leveraging technology to facilitate travel planning and booking. Company Size: Approximately 1,700 employees worldwide, indicating a medium to large organization with established processes but still agile enough for impactful individual contributions. Founded: Exact founding date not specified, but its position as a "European Travel-Tech leader" suggests a significant history and established market presence.
Team Structure:
- The role is within the "Product Designer team" situated within the "Value Stream department."
- This structure implies a focus on optimizing the end-to-end customer journey and value delivery.
- Collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers within this department and potentially across other Value Streams.
Methodology:
- User-Centricity: A core tenet, focusing on creating products that customers love.
- Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data to guide design and product strategy.
- Agile Collaboration: Working in teams, sharing feedback, and iterating on designs.
- Innovation & Challenge: Encouraging employees to question existing approaches and seek better solutions.
Company Website: https://www.lastminute.com/
π Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "turn spontaneous thoughts into meaningful experiences" highlights a customer-centric approach. The "Travel-Tech leader" positioning suggests a competitive and technologically advanced environment. The mention of +10 countries and 48 nationalities points to a highly diverse and international workforce.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Professional role, focusing on deep expertise and individual contribution within the Product Design discipline. It sits above a standard Product Designer but does not typically involve direct people management responsibilities. The emphasis is on technical and discipline knowledge.
Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report into the Product Design team leadership, likely within the Value Stream department. They will work collaboratively with peers and report to a Design Manager or Head of Product Design.
Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on key business metrics such as conversion rates, customer satisfaction (CSAT), user engagement, and retention, particularly through the optimization of critical user journeys like checkout. Their work directly influences the user experience and, consequently, revenue generation for holiday packages.
Growth Opportunities:
- Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design, mobile-first design, or specific areas like conversion rate optimization (CRO) through complex projects.
- Design Leadership: Transition into a Lead Product Designer role, mentoring junior designers, or taking on more strategic design initiatives.
- Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Management roles by leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and business objectives.
- Skill Development: Continuous learning through provided training resources, workshops, and exposure to cutting-edge Travel-Tech innovations.
π Enhancement Note: The "Professional" level designation suggests a career path focused on becoming a subject matter expert and high-impact individual contributor, with potential for growth into lead or principal designer roles.
π Work Environment
Office Type: The role is offered as Hybrid in Madrid or Full Remote in Spain. For those in Madrid, a modern office environment supporting collaboration is expected. Office Location(s): Primarily Madrid, Spain, with the option for full remote work within Spain.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model in Madrid implies access to office spaces designed for teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional interaction.
- Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software, collaboration platforms, and potentially a well-defined design system.
- Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to connect with fellow designers, product managers, and engineers for feedback, knowledge sharing, and project alignment.
Work Schedule: A 36-hour work week with flexible start/end times and half-day Fridays promotes a healthy work-life balance, allowing for focused work and personal time.
π Enhancement Note: The hybrid and full-remote options indicate a modern, flexible work environment that prioritizes employee well-being and autonomy while maintaining a strong sense of team connection.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- HR Interview (10-30 mins): Initial screening to assess cultural fit, basic qualifications, and salary expectations.
- 1st Interview (Manager): Focus on soft skills, behavioral questions, and technical design knowledge relevant to the role.
- 2nd Interview (Manager + Team Member): Deeper dive into technical skills, design process, problem-solving abilities, and team collaboration dynamics. This is where your portfolio will likely be discussed in detail.
- Final Meeting (Director): A high-level discussion to assess strategic thinking, overall fit with the company vision, and confirm suitability for the senior role.
- Offer Extended: Following successful interviews.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that best demonstrate your UX/UI skills, problem-solving capabilities, and impact, especially focusing on e-commerce/OTA checkout flows.
- Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed (research, ideation, testing), key design decisions, and the quantifiable outcomes or learnings.
- Highlight Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "increased conversion by X%", "reduced user error by Y%", "improved task completion time by Z%").
- Showcase Design Systems: If applicable, demonstrate your experience with design systems, including contributions or how you've leveraged them.
- Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design rationale, challenges you faced, how you handled constructive criticism, and what you would do differently.
Challenge Preparation:
- Design Exercise: Expect a design challenge, possibly a take-home assignment or a live design exercise during an interview. This will likely involve solving a specific problem related to the lastminute.com product, focusing on UX/UI principles and your design process.
- Presentation Skills: Practice articulating your design process and solutions clearly and concisely. Be prepared to present your portfolio and any design challenge work effectively.
- Stakeholder Communication: Understand how to communicate design decisions and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
π Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a candidate thoroughly across multiple dimensions. The portfolio review is crucial, and candidates should prepare to present detailed case studies that highlight their impact and design methodology.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and team collaboration focus), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).
- Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack.
- User Research & Testing: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), and potentially analytics integration.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (or similar platforms) for tracking user behavior and conversion funnels.
- Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or in-house dashboards for analyzing performance metrics and presenting insights.
CRM & Automation: While not directly for design, an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with the customer journey can be beneficial.
π Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern collaborative design tools like Figma is almost certainly expected. Familiarity with web analytics tools is also highly valuable for a data-driven designer.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Customer Obsession: A fundamental value, driving the creation of products that "customers love" and "meaningful experiences."
- Collaboration & Humility: Emphasis on teamwork, mutual support, and open feedback exchange ("we want to work with people who can truly collaborate and help each other").
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Using research and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.
- Continuous Improvement: A mindset of iterating and refining products to enhance user experience and business outcomes.
- Innovation & Challenge: Encouraging proactive problem-solving and questioning the status quo.
- Diversity & Inclusion: A strong commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates uniqueness and different viewpoints.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers to ensure alignment and holistic product development.
- Feedback-Oriented: Regular opportunities for sharing work and receiving constructive feedback within the design team and with broader stakeholders.
- Agile Principles: Adaptability, iterative development, and a focus on delivering value incrementally.
π Enhancement Note: The company strongly emphasizes diversity and inclusion, which should be reflected in how candidates approach their interactions and present themselves. The culture appears to be one of proactive collaboration and continuous learning.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Balancing User Needs and Business Goals: Effectively navigating the inherent tension between creating ideal user experiences and meeting aggressive business targets, especially in a competitive e-commerce landscape.
- Scaling Design Systems: Contributing to and ensuring the effective use of a design system across a complex product suite to maintain consistency and efficiency.
- Driving Innovation in a Mature Market: Identifying opportunities for significant UX/UI improvements within the online travel sector, which can be highly competitive and fast-evolving.
- Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and design quality when working in a hybrid or fully remote setting.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in areas like interaction design, micro-interactions, accessibility, and advanced prototyping.
- Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest trends in Travel-Tech, e-commerce UX, and design methodologies through internal resources and external training.
- Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior designers or, conversely, to mentor junior team members.
- Strategic Design Input: Contributing to product strategy and roadmap discussions, influencing the direction of the product from a user experience perspective.
π Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role in a dynamic industry, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs and business requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, compromise, and result).
- "How do you approach designing a complex, multi-step checkout flow? What are the key considerations and potential pitfalls?" (Showcase your understanding of conversion optimization and user psychology).
- "Walk me through a project from your portfolio where you significantly improved a user experience through design. What was the problem, your process, and the impact?" (Be ready to deep-dive into your case studies).
- "How do you incorporate user feedback and data into your design process, especially when it contradicts your initial ideas?" (Demonstrate your iterative and data-driven approach).
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What interests you about lastminute.com and the travel industry?" (Show genuine interest and research).
- "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers who may have different priorities?" (Highlight your communication and negotiation skills).
- "Describe your experience with design systems. How have you contributed to or utilized them?" (Focus on scalability and consistency).
- "What does 'user-centered design' mean to you in practice?" (Articulate your philosophy and how you apply it).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure: For each project, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact/Learnings.
- Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes (if interactive), and clear explanations. Avoid dense text on slides.
- Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Focus on the most critical aspects of each project.
- Engage: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and the reasoning behind your choices.
π Enhancement Note: Candidates should research lastminute.comβs current product, understand their market position, and be prepared to discuss how their skills can directly contribute to the company's goals, particularly in enhancing the travelerβs journey and checkout experience.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Senior Product Designer (UX/UI) position:
- Submit your application through the provided SmartRecruiters link.
- Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects, emphasizing e-commerce/OTA checkout flows and end-to-end design processes. Prepare detailed case studies highlighting problem, process, solution, and quantifiable impact.
- Tailor Your Resume: Highlight relevant experience in UX/UI design, e-commerce, design systems, and collaboration. Use keywords from the job description to ensure ATS compatibility.
- Prepare for Interviews: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Research Lastminute.com: Understand their business, target audience, and current product offerings to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.
β οΈ 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 solid hands-on experience as a product designer, preferably in e-commerce or online travel agencies. A strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design initiatives and the ability to balance user needs with business goals is essential.