Senior UX Designer (all genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer Company: Starface GmbH Location: Karlsruhe, Germany Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design Date Posted: July 10, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (3+ years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the establishment and growth of an interdisciplinary UX/UI team, fostering a strong design culture within the STARFACE Group.
• Drive the user experience vision across all digital platforms, including PBX systems, mobile applications, desktop apps, and web portals for both end-users and administrators.
• Translate user needs and business requirements into intuitive and engaging user interfaces through comprehensive wireframing, mockups, and interactive prototyping.
• Champion data-driven decision-making by planning, executing, and analyzing usability tests, user interviews, and other user research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is listed as "UX Designer," the responsibilities, particularly "Aufbau eines interdisziplinären UX-/UI-Teams" (Building an interdisciplinary UX/UI team) and "Etablierung und Weiterentwicklung von Designprozessen" (Establishing and further developing design processes), strongly suggest a Senior or Lead UX Designer capacity, focusing on team building and strategic process implementation within a B2B SaaS context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing UX/UI design team, defining roles, responsibilities, and career paths within the design function.
• Conceive, design, and iteratively enhance user interfaces for STARFACE's core PBX systems, mobile applications, desktop clients, and web portals, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience.
• Develop detailed wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and enable early validation with stakeholders and users.
• Orchestrate and execute comprehensive usability testing sessions, user interviews, surveys, and heuristic evaluations to gather actionable insights and inform design iterations.
• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Product Managers, and Engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of UX/UI designs into the product development lifecycle, balancing user needs with technical feasibility and business objectives.
• Facilitate and lead cross-functional workshops for requirements gathering, ideation, and collaborative problem-solving, ensuring alignment across departments.
• Define, implement, and continuously refine design processes, establish robust design systems, and select appropriate toolchains to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency in design output across all STARFACE digital products.
• Conduct ongoing market research and trend analysis in UX, UI, and business communication technologies to identify opportunities for product innovation and competitive differentiation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Aufbau eines interdisziplinären UX-/UI-Teams" and "Etablierung und Weiterentwicklung von Designprozessen" indicates a significant strategic component to this role, requiring leadership in process definition and team development, not just individual design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in UX/UI Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Digital Design, or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design is necessary, with a strong preference for experience within Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), enterprise software, or mobile product environments, particularly in a Business-to-Business (B2B) context.
• Demonstrated experience in leading design initiatives, managing design projects, or providing technical guidance to junior designers or cross-functional teams is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• User Interface (UI) Design: Proficiency in creating visually appealing, intuitive, and consistent user interfaces across various digital platforms.
• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, user journey mapping, information architecture, and interaction design.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Expertise in creating low-fidelity wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.
• Usability Testing & User Research: Proven ability to plan, conduct, analyze, and present findings from usability tests, user interviews, and other qualitative/quantitative research methods.
• Design Tools Proficiency: Advanced proficiency with design and prototyping software such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar tools.

Preferred Skills:

• Team Leadership/Mentorship: Experience in building, managing, or mentoring design teams, or leading design processes.
• Design Systems: Experience in creating, implementing, and maintaining design systems to ensure brand consistency and efficient design workflows.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development frameworks like Scrum and experience working within agile teams, utilizing tools like JIRA and Confluence.
• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and present concepts effectively to diverse audiences.
• B2B SaaS/Communication Software: Prior experience or knowledge within the PBX, Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), or Business Communication sectors is a significant plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Aufbau eines interdisziplinären UX-/UI-Teams" and "Erfahrung im Führen von Designteams oder in der fachlichen Anleitung von Designprozessen ist ein großes Plus" indicates that leadership and team-building capabilities are highly valued, possibly suggesting a path towards a Lead Designer or Design Manager role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects, demonstrating a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and problem-solving abilities.
• Examples of successful UI designs for SaaS, web, mobile, or desktop applications, highlighting your design process from initial concept to final implementation.
• Case studies detailing your approach to user research, usability testing, and how you translated user insights into design improvements, ideally with measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrations of wireframing, prototyping skills, and experience with design systems, including examples of their application and benefits.
• Evidence of your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering) and manage design projects from inception to delivery.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in establishing and refining design workflows, including user story mapping, persona development, and journey mapping.
• Showcase your process for conducting and analyzing user research and usability testing, including how findings were integrated into design iterations.
• Provide examples of how you've worked with or contributed to design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability in design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on building a team and processes, candidates should be prepared to discuss not only their individual design contributions but also their philosophy and experience in establishing effective design operations and fostering a collaborative design environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For a Senior UX Designer with 3+ years of experience in Karlsruhe, Germany, a competitive salary range can be estimated between €60,000 and €80,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Germany, considering the cost of living in Karlsruhe and the specialized skills required for building a design team and processes within a B2B SaaS company.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Hours: Enjoy flexibility in managing your workday, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.
• Hybrid Work Model: Benefit from a hybrid work arrangement, combining office-based collaboration with remote work flexibility.
• Company Events: Participate in regular company events and social gatherings, fostering team cohesion and a positive work environment.
• Retirement Plan: Access to a company-sponsored betriebliche Altersvorsorge (company pension scheme) for long-term financial security.
• Ergonomic Workspace: Work at electrically height-adjustable desks for improved comfort and well-being.
• Health & Wellness: Access to complimentary fruit baskets and beverages to support a healthy lifestyle.
• Mobile Office & International Work: Opportunity for mobile office arrangements and up to two weeks of work from EU countries annually.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered as long as service times are not impacted, aligning with agile team needs and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from reputable German job market analysis sites and industry reports for UX/UI Design roles in the Karlsruhe region, adjusted for the seniority and team-building aspects of the role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the Information Technology and Services sector, specifically focusing on Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) and Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions. STARFACE GmbH develops and markets communication software and hardware tailored for business users, positioning itself in the competitive B2B SaaS market. Company Size: STARFACE GmbH is a growing company, likely falling into the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) category based on typical tech company structures. This size often means a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant impact and direct interaction with leadership. Founded: STARFACE GmbH was founded with the goal of simplifying business communication through innovative, user-friendly solutions. Its history is rooted in the development of PBX systems and evolving into comprehensive UCC platforms.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI team is currently being built, with the Senior UX Designer playing a pivotal role in its formation and leadership. You will collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering (developers, QA), and Support teams.
• Reporting lines are expected to be relatively flat, with direct communication channels to product leadership and potentially executive management, reflecting a typical startup or growth-stage company structure.
• Cross-functional collaboration is integral, with designers working alongside product owners to define requirements and with developers to ensure the successful implementation of user-centric designs.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Decisions are expected to be data-driven, utilizing user research, usability testing, and product analytics to inform design strategies and product enhancements.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role involves establishing and optimizing design processes to ensure efficiency, consistency, and high-quality output in a fast-paced environment.
• Automation & Efficiency: While not explicitly stated as a primary focus for UX, leveraging tools and processes that enhance design efficiency and collaboration will be key.

Company Website: http://starface.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on B2B communication solutions implies that user experience design must balance feature-rich functionality with ease of use for business professionals who rely on these tools for daily operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is designated as "Senior," indicating a level of expertise and responsibility beyond entry-level or mid-level roles. It involves not only individual contribution but also strategic input, process development, and potentially team leadership. The "all genders" designation signifies an inclusive hiring approach. Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Product Director, or a similar senior management role responsible for digital product strategy. The role is instrumental in building and leading a new UX/UI team, implying a direct influence on the team's structure and reporting dynamics as it grows. Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the usability and adoption of STARFACE's products, influencing customer satisfaction, user efficiency, and ultimately, customer retention and revenue growth within the B2B market. By shaping the user experience, this role contributes directly to product market fit and competitive advantage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Leadership: The primary growth path is the opportunity to build and lead the UX/UI function at STARFACE, evolving from a senior individual contributor to a Design Lead or Manager.
• Strategic Influence: Gain significant influence over product strategy and roadmap development by championing user needs and driving design innovation across the product portfolio.
• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as design systems, user research methodologies, or interaction design for complex B2B applications.
• Industry Exposure: Develop specialized knowledge in the Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and business communication technology sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, combined with the mandate to build a team, suggests a fast-track opportunity for individuals looking to step into a leadership role and shape the design direction of a growing technology company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: STARFACE GmbH offers a modern office environment located in the heart of Karlsruhe, Germany. This setting is designed to foster collaboration and innovation. Office Location(s): The primary office is situated in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, a city known for its technological and academic institutions, providing a vibrant and accessible work location.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is geared towards collaboration, with an expectation of direct interaction with product, engineering, and support teams. This environment encourages open communication and knowledge sharing.
• As part of a growing tech company, employees can expect access to up-to-date design and development tools, including Figma and potentially other relevant software.
• The culture emphasizes an "open door" policy and communication at eye level, facilitating easy access to colleagues and management for problem-solving and idea exchange.

Work Schedule: The company offers flexible working hours, acknowledging the need for work-life balance. While a standard full-time week is expected (around 40 hours), the flexibility allows for adaptation to project needs and personal schedules, provided service requirements are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Startup Charakter" and "flachen Hierarchien" (flat hierarchies) suggests a dynamic and less bureaucratic work environment, which can be highly appealing to individuals who thrive on autonomy and direct impact.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess initial fit for the role and required skills. Be prepared to articulate your design philosophy and approach to building UX/UI teams.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or key stakeholders to delve deeper into your experience, leadership potential, and understanding of UX/UI principles in a B2B context. This stage may include behavioral questions.
• Design Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: A practical exercise or a presentation of your portfolio showcasing your design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to create user-centered solutions. Focus on how you would approach building a design system and team at STARFACE.
• Final Interview: Potentially an interview with higher management to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term vision for the UX/UI function.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your UX/UI process, problem-solving skills, and impact, particularly those relevant to SaaS or B2B environments.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes or impact achieved. Quantifiable results are highly valuable.
• Highlight Leadership/Process: Since team building is a key aspect, include examples of how you've influenced design processes, mentored others, or contributed to establishing design standards or systems.
• Tool Proficiency: Clearly mention and, if possible, demonstrate your proficiency with key design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.
• B2B Relevance: If you have B2B experience, emphasize it, explaining how your approach differs from B2C and the specific challenges of designing for business users.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand STARFACE Products: Familiarize yourself with STARFACE's current product offerings to better understand their user base and potential UX challenges.
• Design System Thinking: Prepare to discuss your approach to creating or evolving a design system, including its components, governance, and benefits for a growing company.
• Team Building Strategy: Be ready to outline how you would approach building and structuring a UX/UI team from the ground up, including hiring, onboarding, and fostering a collaborative culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess both your technical design skills and your leadership capabilities, with a strong emphasis on how you can contribute to building and scaling the UX/UI function within STARFACE.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be a primary tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration, given its industry prevalence.
• Sketch / Adobe XD: Proficiency in these or similar design tools is highly valued for UI design and prototyping.
• Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools like InVision, ProtoPie, or Axure for creating interactive prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).
• Analytics Tools: Exposure to product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Experience with agile project management tools such as JIRA and Confluence for task tracking, collaboration, and documentation.
• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with communication and collaboration platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, proficiency in modern UX/UI design and collaboration software is critical. The ability to adapt to and potentially select new tools for the team's workflow will also be an asset.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value is placing the user at the center of all design decisions, ensuring products are intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
• Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative environment where designers work closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging a culture of innovation, experimentation, and a commitment to continuously refining designs and processes.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasizing the use of data from user research and analytics to inform design strategies and validate solutions.
• Ownership & Accountability: Taking ownership of design outcomes and being accountable for delivering high-quality, impactful user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The design team is expected to be deeply integrated with product and engineering, working collaboratively throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes, essential for growth and refinement.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and insights among team members to elevate the collective design capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated "Startup Charakter" and "kommunikation auf Augenhöhe" (communication at eye level) suggest a culture that values open dialogue, direct feedback, and a shared sense of purpose among all employees, including the design team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building a New Team: Establishing a UX/UI team from scratch, defining its structure, processes, and culture, requires strong leadership and strategic thinking.
• Balancing B2B Complexity: Designing for a B2B audience often involves complex functionality and diverse user roles, requiring a nuanced approach to user experience.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and consistent user experience across multiple platforms (web, desktop, mobile) for a range of products.
• Integrating Design into Agile: Effectively embedding UX/UI design processes within an agile development framework to maintain momentum without compromising design quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Direct opportunity to develop leadership skills by building and managing a design team.
• Strategic Impact: Influence product strategy and contribute to the company's growth by shaping core product experiences.
• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge within the UCaaS and business communication technology sectors.
• Process Innovation: Opportunity to define and implement cutting-edge design processes and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity for professional growth, particularly for individuals aspiring to leadership positions and seeking to make a substantial impact on a company's product and design maturity.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Team Building: "How would you approach building a UX/UI team from the ground up at STARFACE? What would be your initial priorities for team structure, processes, and hiring?"
• Design Process: "Describe your ideal design process for a complex B2B SaaS product. How do you ensure user needs are met while balancing technical constraints and business goals?"
• Design Systems: "What is your philosophy on design systems? How would you advocate for and implement a design system at STARFACE to ensure consistency and efficiency?"
• Collaboration: "How do you foster effective collaboration between design, product management, and engineering teams in an agile environment?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• STARFACE Understanding: "What are your impressions of STARFACE's current product offerings and user experience? Where do you see opportunities for improvement?"
• Cultural Fit: "How do you align with a company culture that emphasizes flat hierarchies, open communication, and a startup mentality?"
• Impact Measurement: "How would you measure the success and impact of the UX/UI function at STARFACE?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Problem/Solution Focus: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge for each project and detail how your design solution addressed it.
• Process Walkthrough: Guide interviewers through your design process, highlighting key decision points and research methodologies used.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your work (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).
• Team/Process Contributions: If applicable, showcase examples of how you've contributed to team processes, design systems, or mentored junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience in both individual design contributions and your vision for leading and developing a design function, demonstrating strategic thinking and practical execution capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your UX/UI expertise, leadership potential, and experience in building design processes or teams. Focus on B2B SaaS examples if available.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize achievements related to user research, usability testing, UI design, prototyping, and any experience in team guidance or process improvement. Use keywords relevant to UX/UI design and team leadership.
• Interview Preparation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, prepare answers to common UX and leadership interview questions, and research STARFACE's products and company culture thoroughly.
• Company Research: Understand STARFACE's market position, product suite, and company values. Be ready to articulate how your skills and vision align with their goals for building a strong UX/UI capability.

⚠️ 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.