Senior Product Designer (w/m/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (w/m/d)

Company: HERO Software GmbH

Location: Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-03-27

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation of user-centered product experiences that drive tangible impact within the digitalization of the crafts industry.

• Lead product discovery initiatives, employing research methodologies to identify user needs and market opportunities.

• Champion data-driven design principles, ensuring that product decisions are informed by relevant metrics and user feedback.

• Drive product design excellence from initial concept to final interface, with a focus on advancing the company's design system and integrating emerging AI tools.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration within the Product Trio (Product Management, Engineering) and with adjacent teams like Research, Analytics, and Brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as Senior, indicating a need for significant autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor junior team members. The emphasis on "Product Design Excellence" and "advancing our Design System" suggests a strategic contribution rather than purely execution. The mention of "AI Tools" and "Digitalization in the Crafts Industry" provides specific industry context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth discovery and research to uncover user pain points and opportunities, ensuring a strong foundation for product development.

• Integrate data analytics and user feedback into the design process to inform decision-making and measure the success of design solutions.

• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and conduct rigorous user testing to validate design concepts and iterate on solutions.

• Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial sketching and wireframing to detailed interface design, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience.

• Contribute to and evolve the company's design system, promoting consistency and efficiency across all product touchpoints.

• Proactively research and introduce new design trends, methodologies, and AI tools to enhance the team's capabilities and product innovation.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams to define product roadmaps, prioritize features, and ensure successful product launches.

• Actively engage with Research, Analytics, and Brand teams to align product design with broader company objectives and user insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are detailed, covering the full product design lifecycle from discovery to iteration. The emphasis on advancing the design system and integrating AI tools points towards a forward-thinking role that requires continuous learning and strategic application of new technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is expected for a Senior Product Designer.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in Product Design, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in SaaS or startup environments. Experience with mobile app design is also highly desirable. Familiarity with agile methodologies like ShapeUp, Scrum, and Continuous Discovery practices is a significant advantage.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in Product Design, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centered solutions and end-to-end product development.

• Demonstrated ability in user research methodologies and translating findings into actionable design insights.

• Proficiency in prototyping and user testing to validate design concepts and gather feedback.

• Advanced skills in Figma for creating wireframes, mockups, and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Strong understanding of design systems, their implementation, and their role in maintaining product consistency.

• Ability to think strategically, understand business objectives, and contribute to product roadmaps and prioritization.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific tools such as Dovetail (for research organization), Mixpanel (for product analytics), and various AI design tools.

• Familiarity with methodologies like ShapeUp, Scrum, and Continuous Discovery.

• Experience designing for mobile applications.

• A track record of measuring design success through key metrics like CSAT, CES, Conversion Rate, and Customer Lifetime Value.

• Ability to mentor and guide junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is explicitly stated as "5-10 years," and the mention of specific methodologies (ShapeUp, Scrum, Continuous Discovery) and tools (Dovetail, Mixpanel, AI tools) provides clear guidance on desired expertise. The emphasis on measuring success with specific KPIs like CSAT and CLV highlights a data-driven approach expected from a senior role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong grasp of user-centered design principles and the end-to-end product design process.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process undertaken (including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing), and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Examples showcasing your ability to contribute to or evolve design systems, highlighting consistency and scalability.

• Visualizations of your work with Figma, demonstrating proficiency in creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished UI designs.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to product discovery, including methods for identifying user needs and market opportunities.

• Detail your process for integrating data and user feedback to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.

• Present your methods for prototyping and user testing, including how you validate designs and gather actionable insights.

• Illustrate your workflow for developing and refining interfaces, ensuring high standards of quality and usability.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is critical. The emphasis here is on demonstrating not just design skills but also a strategic, data-informed, and iterative process that leads to measurable business outcomes. The mention of specific tools like Dovetail and Mixpanel implies that candidates should be prepared to discuss how they use such systems in their workflow.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and location in Hanover, Germany, a competitive salary range would typically fall between €65,000 and €85,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in Germany, considering the tech sector and the company's SaaS focus.

Benefits:

• Flexibility & Mobility:

  • Time-flexible and location-independent remote work.
  • €29/month subsidized Deutschlandticket for public transport.
  • 30 vacation days per year, including Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
  • Additional days off for rest and recovery.
  • A Volunteering Day for a social project of your choice.

• Health & Wellness:

  • Jobrad (bike leasing) program.
  • Access to sports facilities via Hansefit or EGYM Wellpass.
  • Comprehensive mental health support through Bloom.
  • Supplementary corporate health insurance (Allianz).
  • Monthly professional shoulder and neck massages at the Hanover office.

• Career & Development:

  • Annual continuing education budget of €800 for courses, books, or coaching.
  • Regular feedback and development discussions.
  • A clear HERO career plan for internal growth opportunities.

• Team Spirit:

  • Frequent summer and Christmas parties.

  • Regular team events.

  • Annual co-working trips with the HERO team within the EU. Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time commitment, likely around 40 hours per week, with significant flexibility in terms of daily scheduling due to the remote and flexible working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from comparing similar Senior Product Designer roles in Germany, specifically within the SaaS and startup sectors, factoring in the specified experience level and location. The benefits package is extensive and clearly outlined, offering strong support for employee well-being and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / SaaS, specifically focused on Digitalization for the Crafts Industry. This niche focus suggests a company dedicated to understanding and serving a specific market segment with tailored digital solutions.

Company Size: HERO Software GmbH appears to be a growing company, likely in the mid-size range (e.g., 50-250 employees, based on typical growth trajectories for SaaS startups with this level of detail). This size often offers a balance between the agility of a startup and the structure of a more established organization, providing opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's focus on "digitalization in the crafts industry" and its current stage suggest it's likely a relatively modern company, possibly founded within the last 5-10 years, capitalizing on the digital transformation trend.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is likely part of a larger Product department, working within a "Product Trio" model alongside Product Management and Engineering.

• This structure emphasizes close, agile collaboration and shared ownership of product development.

Methodology:

• The company embraces agile methodologies such as Scrum and Continuous Discovery, suggesting a dynamic and iterative approach to product development.

• Data-driven decision-making is a core principle, with an emphasis on utilizing analytics and user feedback.

• The design process is user-centric, prioritizing user needs and quality.

Company Website: https://www.hero-software.de/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's specialization in serving the crafts industry is a key differentiator. The "Product Trio" model is a common and effective agile structure, and the mention of collaboration with R&D, Analytics, and Brand suggests a holistic approach to product creation. The company's emphasis on growth and digitalization implies a forward-looking and innovative culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a high level of autonomy, expertise, and strategic contribution. Senior designers are expected to lead complex projects, mentor junior team members, and significantly influence product direction and design system development.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to the Head of Product Design (Max is mentioned as a contact), working within the "Product Trio" structure. This means close daily interaction with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant and directly tied to product success. By driving user-centered design, improving user experience, and contributing to key metrics like CSAT, CES, Conversion Rate, and Customer Lifetime Value, the designer directly influences customer satisfaction, retention, and revenue growth. Their work on the design system also impacts development efficiency and brand consistency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, advanced prototyping, or user research methodologies. Potential to become a Design Lead or Architect.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and contribute to strategic product planning.

• Specialization: Focus on specific product areas or user segments within the crafts industry, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a clear career progression path beyond this role, likely into lead or management positions within the design team or broader product organization. The emphasis on impact through key metrics and strategic contribution is crucial for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is remote-friendly, the company maintains an office in Hanover, Germany, which offers amenities like massages and co-working opportunities. This suggests a hybrid or flexible work model may be available, with the primary offering being remote work.

Office Location(s): Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany. This provides a physical hub for team events, co-working trips, and on-site amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Remote-First/Hybrid: The company supports remote work, implying a need for strong digital collaboration tools and asynchronous communication practices.

• Collaborative Environment: The "Product Trio" model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest an environment where teamwork and open communication are valued.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma, Dovetail, and Mixpanel, and an openness to integrating AI tools, indicates a technologically advanced workspace.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are explicitly mentioned, allowing for remote work and time-bound flexibility. This allows designers to structure their day around personal needs while ensuring core collaboration hours are met and project deadlines are achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first approach is complemented by a physical office in Hanover, offering a blend of flexibility and in-person connection opportunities. This setup is common for modern tech companies and caters to diverse employee preferences.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a conversation with Martine (Talent Attraction) to assess general fit, experience, and interest.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A session with Max (Head of Product Design) and potentially other designers. This will involve a deep dive into your portfolio, discussing specific case studies, your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you've used tools like Figma. Expect questions on user-centered design, data integration, and design system contributions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Interview: Discussions with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to assess your ability to work effectively within the Product Trio and collaborate with other departments. This may involve discussing hypothetical scenarios or past experiences in cross-functional projects.

• Cultural Fit & Values Interview: A conversation to assess alignment with HERO Software's values, team spirit, and approach to work.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role (SaaS, mobile apps, user-centered design, data-driven approach, design system contributions).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, your key decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify your achievements wherever possible (e.g., "Increased conversion rate by X%", "Reduced user task completion time by Y%").

• Showcase Process: Detail your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing methods. Explain why you chose certain approaches.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, showcase your experience with or contributions to design systems.

• Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with Figma, Dovetail, Mixpanel, and any AI tools you've used.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge, either as a take-home assignment or a live exercise during the interview process. This might involve solving a specific design problem related to the crafts industry or improving an existing feature.

• Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving process, your user-centric thinking, and your ability to articulate your design decisions clearly and concisely.

• Practice presenting your work and rationale under time constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess technical skills, strategic thinking, collaborative abilities, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just design output but also the process and impact behind it.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design. Mastery is expected.

• Dovetail: Preferred for organizing and analyzing user research data. Familiarity is a plus.

• Mixpanel: Preferred for product analytics and understanding user behavior. Familiarity is a plus.

• AI Tools: Openness to and experience with integrating AI tools into the design workflow is highly valued and encouraged for innovation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency in using product analytics platforms (like Mixpanel) to inform design decisions and measure outcomes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly listed as a primary tool for the designer, understanding how design integrates with CRM and automation workflows within a SaaS product can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is clearly defined, with Figma as a core requirement. Experience with Dovetail and Mixpanel is preferred, indicating a strong emphasis on data-informed and research-driven design. The explicit mention of AI tools signals a forward-thinking approach to design technology.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and solving real user needs within the crafts industry.

• Quality & Excellence: Striving for the highest standards in product design, from usability to visual execution.

• Data-Driven: Making informed decisions based on user research and product analytics.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within cross-functional teams (Product Trio, Research, Analytics, Brand).

• Innovation: Embracing new design trends, methodologies, and AI tools to push product boundaries.

• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeking feedback and opportunities to enhance both products and personal skills.

Collaboration Style:

• Product Trio Model: Close, integrated working relationship with Product Management and Engineering.

• Open Communication: Encouraging active feedback exchange and knowledge sharing.

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with Research, Analytics, and Brand teams to ensure a holistic product approach.

• Mentorship: Senior members are expected to share knowledge and help develop fellow team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be highly collaborative, data-driven, and focused on delivering high-quality, user-centric products within a specific industry niche. The emphasis on innovation and continuous improvement is a hallmark of progressive tech companies.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging the Digital Divide: Designing intuitive and effective digital tools for a potentially less tech-savvy user base in the crafts industry.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Ensuring designs meet user requirements while also driving business objectives and revenue growth.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Identifying practical and impactful applications for AI in the design process and product features, rather than just adopting trends.

• Evolving Design System: Continuously updating and expanding the design system to accommodate new features and design trends while maintaining consistency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design: Exploring and experimenting with emerging AI tools and their applications in product design.

• Advanced User Research: Deepening skills in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

• Product Strategy: Contributing more significantly to product roadmapping and strategic decision-making.

• Mentorship: Developing leadership skills through guiding junior designers and leading design initiatives.

• Industry Specialization: Becoming an expert in the digital needs and challenges of the crafts industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to the company's industry and the nature of a senior design role. The growth opportunities are well-aligned with these challenges, offering clear pathways for professional development and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used data to significantly influence a product design decision. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, the data used, and the measurable impact.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers to define and prioritize product features?" (Highlight your understanding of the Product Trio model and agile workflows.)

• "Walk me through your process for designing a new feature or improving an existing one, from initial concept to launch." (Emphasize your user-centered approach, research, prototyping, and testing.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about HERO Software GmbH and our mission to digitalize the crafts industry?" (Research the company's mission and target market.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment and share knowledge with your colleagues?" (Provide examples of mentorship or knowledge-sharing activities.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, your solutions, and the results. Use a consistent structure.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points. Avoid walls of text.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rates, engagement, user satisfaction).

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design choices, referencing user research, data, or design principles.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect questions about specific design decisions, challenges encountered, and alternative approaches you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a data-informed and user-centric process, and strong collaborative skills, all within the context of the crafts industry and SaaS products.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your comprehensive application, including your CV and a compelling cover letter, through the provided application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your experience in SaaS, mobile app design, user-centered design, and your ability to contribute to or lead design systems. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process and quantifiable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, key responsibilities, and achievements relevant to product design, particularly in startup or SaaS environments. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, and any familiarity with Dovetail, Mixpanel, or AI design tools.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HERO Software GmbH's mission, values, and target market (the crafts industry). Understand their product offerings and identify potential areas where your design skills can add significant value.

⚠️ 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.