TWIN - Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: TWIN - Senior Product Designer Company: IOTA Foundation Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / UX/UI Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-11 Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Product Designer role is critical for defining and evolving new production solutions within the IOTA Foundation's TWIN project, requiring a strong focus on user-centric design principles and business-to-business (B2B) applications.
• The position involves close collaboration with technical delivery teams, architects, software developers, and IOTA engineering experts, emphasizing seamless integration of design with blockchain and data space technologies.
• Key responsibilities include driving complex, ambiguous design challenges, aligning senior stakeholders, and championing design excellence through usability and accessibility standards across all product initiatives.
• The role requires the ability to proactively contribute to product vision, lead the definition of new solutions from concept to high-fidelity design, and integrate design thinking into agile development processes.
• A significant aspect of the role involves maturing and owning a unified Design System, defining its principles, governance, and ensuring engineering alignment for scalable and adaptable solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Product Designer," the responsibilities, particularly around maturing a Design System, collaborating with technical teams on blockchain and data space technology, and external engagements with government and industry, suggest a role that bridges product design with elements of UX/UI operations and potentially GTM support for the technical solutions. The focus on B2B and integration with external IT departments highlights a strategic operational component.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the exploration and definition of new production solutions for TWIN, supporting both 0-1 product processes and longer-term agile development cycles.
• Lead the end-to-end design process for new solutions, from initial ideation and concept development through wireframing, user flows, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design, leveraging expert Figma skills.
• Collaborate closely with architects and software developers to ensure design feasibility, technical excellence, and seamless integration of design components, particularly within blockchain and data space technology contexts.
• Champion design excellence by advocating for and embedding best-in-class usability, accessibility, and visual design standards across all product offerings and initiatives.
• Identify and implement appropriate user research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) in partnership with product owners to gather insights and translate them into actionable design improvements.
• Contribute to and shape the product vision by proactively identifying new opportunities, anticipating future user needs, and staying abreast of market trends in decentralized applications and related technologies.
• Integrate design thinking directly into agile development processes, working within 2-week sprints and contributing to longer-term product roadmaps.
• Define, champion, and evolve the core design system principles and governance, ensuring a scalable and sustainable framework for TWIN platforms and solutions.
• Oversee and own component inclusions within the design system, performing QA on new contributions from internal teams and ensuring engineering alignment for ongoing maintenance and technical excellence.
• Develop and execute strategies to educate and onboard internal teams on design system usage, fostering widespread adoption and consistent application of best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a senior-level individual contributor role with significant ownership and strategic input. The emphasis on "sole designer" initially, coupled with leading the design system evolution and collaborating with engineers, positions this role as a key player in shaping the user experience and operational efficiency of TWIN's product suite. The mention of "supporting multiple product development initiatives" suggests a dynamic workload requiring strong organizational and prioritization skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or equivalent industry experience in a design-focused discipline.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of dedicated experience in a product design-related role, with a proven track record of shipping successful Business to Business (B2B) solutions.
• Demonstrated experience in a startup-like environment, showcasing comfort with ambiguity, adapting to shifting priorities, and thriving in a fast-paced, iterative workflow.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design Expertise: Proven ability to create intuitive and effective user interfaces and experiences, with a strong portfolio showcasing this.
• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for wireframing, user flows, interactive prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Deep experience in creating detailed wireframes, comprehensive user flows, and interactive prototypes to articulate design solutions.
• Visual Design Skills: Excellent visual design capabilities with a keen sensitivity to user-system interaction and a high standard of aesthetic quality.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with project examples demonstrating creative and effective design resolutions for complex challenges.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Agile Methodologies: Experience integrating design thinking and workflows within agile development processes and sprints.
• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to or evolving design systems, understanding principles of consistency, scalability, and component management.
• Usability & Accessibility: Advocacy for and understanding of best-in-class usability and accessibility standards in design.
• Front-end Fundamentals: Some knowledge of HTML, CSS, and front-end technologies, providing a fundamental comprehension of how designs are implemented in web solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Blockchain/Supply Chain Interest: Familiarity or a strong interest in blockchain technology or supply chain management.
• Technical Concept Acumen: An interest in highly technical concepts such as self-sovereign identity, verifiable credentials, trust hierarchies, wallets, and decentralized application standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum of five years of experience and the "expert proficiency in Figma" are key indicators of the senior level. The "startup-like environment" experience is crucial for candidates to highlight, as it signals adaptability and resilience. The preferred skills, particularly around blockchain and technical concepts, are important for candidates to address if they possess them, as they align directly with IOTA's core technology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of five years of product design experience, with a strong emphasis on successful B2B solutions that have been shipped to market.
• Clear demonstration of expertise in UI/UX design principles applied to web and mobile applications, with specific examples of complex problem-solving and user-centric design outcomes.
• Evidence of proficiency in creating wireframes, detailed user flows, and interactive prototypes, ideally presented in a way that highlights the design process and decision-making.
• Showcase of visual design craft and aesthetic sensibility, alongside a consistent approach to usability and accessibility standards.
• Examples of contributions to or understanding of design systems, including how components were managed, scaled, or integrated.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies within the portfolio should clearly articulate the design process followed for specific projects, from initial problem definition through to final implemented solution.
• Demonstrate how user research (quantitative or qualitative) was integrated into the design process to inform decisions and improve user experiences.
• Provide examples of how design thinking was integrated into agile development workflows or sprints.
• Highlight instances of effective collaboration with engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation and technical excellence of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating qualifications. Candidates should curate their portfolio to specifically highlight B2B projects, complex problem-solving, and their proficiency with Figma. Emphasizing the process behind the design—how they arrived at the solution—is as important as the final output, especially for a senior role. Demonstrating an understanding of design systems and how to scale them will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and the location in Barcelona, Spain, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major European tech hubs, the estimated annual salary range would likely fall between €55,000 and €75,000. This estimate considers the specialized nature of working with blockchain technology and the high demand for experienced product designers in the tech sector.

Benefits:

• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision) to support employee well-being.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, including access to training, workshops, conferences, and resources to enhance design skills and technical knowledge in areas like blockchain.
• Flexible Work Environment: While the role is on-site, there might be flexibility in working hours to accommodate personal needs and promote work-life balance.
• Collaborative Workspace: Access to a modern and well-equipped office space in Barcelona designed to foster collaboration and innovation.
• Impactful Work: The opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking technology with a direct and visible impact on the product and the organization's growth.
• Team Engagement: Regular team events and activities to foster a strong sense of community and collaboration within the IOTA Foundation.

Working Hours:

• The role is full-time, typically aligning with standard European business hours. While the role is on-site, the "startup-like environment" suggests potential for some flexibility in daily schedules, provided core responsibilities and team collaboration needs are met. A standard 40-hour work week is anticipated.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on location (Barcelona, Spain), experience level (Senior, 5-10 years), and industry (Tech/Blockchain). The specific benefits package would be detailed by the IOTA Foundation upon further engagement. The emphasis on professional development is particularly relevant for a role in a rapidly evolving field like blockchain.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Blockchain, Decentralized Technologies, Data Space Technology. The IOTA Foundation is at the forefront of developing an open-source distributed ledger technology (DLT) that enables secure, scalable, and feeless data transfer, aiming to power the Internet of Things (IoT) and beyond. Company Size: The IOTA Foundation is a growing organization, likely falling into the medium-sized enterprise category (50-200 employees), with a global, distributed team structure but a significant presence in key tech hubs like Barcelona. This size implies a dynamic environment where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful. Founded: The IOTA Foundation was established in 2015, indicating a mature but still innovative organization that has navigated the early stages of the DLT space and is now focused on scaling its technology and ecosystem.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will report directly to the Head of Product, indicating a clear reporting line within the product management hierarchy.
• The role involves close collaboration with technical delivery teams, including architects and software developers experienced in blockchain and data space technologies.
• There will also be interaction with other IOTA engineering teams and experts, as well as external collaborators from government and industry.
• As a "sole designer" initially, the role requires significant autonomy, but the intention is to support broader product development initiatives, suggesting potential future team growth or integration with other design resources.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: The team operates within agile development processes, with a focus on 2-week sprints, requiring designers to integrate seamlessly into this iterative workflow.
• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes gathering quantitative or qualitative insights to inform design decisions and improve user experiences, suggesting a data-informed approach.
• Process Optimization: A core function involves defining, championing, and evolving design principles and systems, indicating a focus on establishing efficient and scalable design processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role necessitates strong collaboration with engineering and product management to ensure alignment between user needs, technical feasibility, and business requirements.

Company Website: http://iota.org

📝 Enhancement Note: The IOTA Foundation's mission to enable DLT for IoT and data transfer is a key differentiator. The "startup-like environment" note is important for candidates to understand; it means embracing change, being proactive, and navigating potential ambiguities. The collaborative nature with technical teams is paramount given the company's focus on complex technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is clearly a Senior-level individual contributor role within the product design function. It carries significant responsibility for defining product direction, establishing design standards, and owning critical components like the design system. The role offers the opportunity to influence product strategy and operationalize design best practices within a growing, innovative organization.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer reports to the Head of Product. This structure places the role within the product management vertical, allowing for direct influence on product roadmaps and strategy. Collaboration will extend across engineering, product ownership, and potentially external partner teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant. By defining user experiences for TWIN's B2B solutions and maturing the design system, the Senior Product Designer will directly influence the usability, adoption, and scalability of IOTA's technology integrations with government and industry partners. This operational efficiency in design directly supports the foundation's growth and its mission to become a recognized international organization.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As the design system matures and the team potentially grows, opportunities for leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and taking on more strategic design leadership roles are likely.
• Specialization: Deepening expertise in blockchain-specific UX/UI challenges, decentralized application design, and B2B solution integration offers a unique specialization path.
• Cross-functional Mastery: Gaining deeper insights into the technical intricacies of blockchain and data space technology through close collaboration can lead to expanded skill sets and a broader understanding of operational technology implementation.
• Influence on Company Strategy: By shaping product vision and design standards, the designer can significantly influence the company's overall product strategy and market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for a Senior Product Designer in this environment is strong, moving from individual contribution to potential team leadership and strategic influence. The niche area of blockchain UX/UI is also a significant growth factor.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Barcelona, indicating a physical office presence. The IOTA Foundation likely provides a modern, collaborative workspace conducive to innovation and team interaction, typical of tech companies in major European cities.

Office Location(s): Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. This location is a vibrant tech hub, offering access to a strong talent pool and a dynamic professional community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The workspace will facilitate direct interaction with architects, developers, and product managers, fostering a culture of shared problem-solving and knowledge exchange.
• Technology-Rich Environment: Expect access to up-to-date design tools, software, and hardware necessary for high-quality product design and prototyping.
• Innovation Focus: The environment is geared towards innovation, encouraging designers to experiment, iterate, and contribute to cutting-edge technology development.
• International Team: Likely a diverse and international team, promoting a rich cultural exchange and varied perspectives.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with an anticipated 40-hour work week. As an on-site position in a "startup-like environment," core working hours will be expected for team collaboration and project continuity, though some flexibility may be offered.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Barcelona is a key factor for applicants. The emphasis on collaboration and innovation within the workspace is typical for tech organizations, especially those in rapidly evolving fields.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of the application, focusing on the resume and portfolio, to assess experience, skills, and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key B2B projects, design processes, problem-solving approaches, and their experience with Figma and design systems. This stage assesses design craft, strategic thinking, and communication skills.
• Technical/Product Deep Dive: Interviews with the Head of Product and/or senior engineers to discuss specific design challenges, agile integration, and understanding of blockchain/data space technologies. This may include hypothetical problem-solving scenarios.
• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: A session with potential team members or other stakeholders to evaluate collaboration style, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and alignment with IOTA Foundation's values.
• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader to confirm alignment and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest B2B projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), your specific contributions (especially in Figma), and the final outcome/impact.
• Highlight B2B Focus: Ensure your portfolio prominently features B2B solutions and addresses the unique design considerations for enterprise users.
• Showcase Design System Work: If you have experience with design systems, dedicate a section or specific project to showcase your contributions, principles, and governance understanding.
• Figma Mastery: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, custom components, and prototyping techniques.
• Quantify Results: Where possible, include metrics or evidence of how your designs improved user experience, efficiency, or business outcomes.
• Prepare for Ambiguity: Be ready to discuss how you handle ambiguous problems and shifting priorities, common in startup environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise focused on a hypothetical TWIN product feature or a problem related to blockchain/data integration.
• Process Thinking: Demonstrate your ability to think through user flows, information architecture, and UI elements logically and efficiently.
• Figma Skills: Ensure you can work efficiently in Figma and present your work clearly.
• Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the portfolio presentation and potential design challenges highlights the practical, skills-based nature of this hiring process. Candidates should meticulously prepare their portfolio and practice articulating their design process and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool and requires expert proficiency. Candidates should demonstrate advanced skills in its features for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe XD, Sketch with plugins, InVision) might be beneficial for cross-tool understanding.
• Design System Management Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for creating, documenting, and managing design system components (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration with design tools).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar for understanding user behavior and gathering quantitative insights.
• Heatmapping/Session Recording: Tools like Hotjar or FullStory can be useful for qualitative user behavior analysis.
• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, an understanding of how designs translate into data visualizations for reporting and analysis is valuable.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by the designer, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms integrate with B2B products can provide valuable context for user journey mapping and data flow.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the non-negotiable tool. Proficiency in user analytics platforms is crucial for the "identify research methods" and "gathering insights" responsibilities. An understanding of design system infrastructure is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering tangible results and creating visible impact on the product and the organization's growth, aligning with the "sole designer" and "strategic impact" aspects.
• User-Centricity: Prioritizing user needs and translating them into effective, intuitive designs, as evidenced by the emphasis on research and usability.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with technical teams and stakeholders, sharing insights openly, and fostering a collaborative design process.
• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to best-in-class design practices, usability, accessibility, and a high standard of visual quality.
• Adaptability & Proactivity: Thriving in a dynamic, "startup-like environment" by being proactive, embracing ambiguity, and driving initiatives forward.
• Innovation: Contributing to cutting-edge technology and exploring new opportunities within the blockchain and data space.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless integration with engineering and product management teams is essential, requiring clear communication and mutual understanding of technical constraints and user goals.
• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs to ensure continuous improvement and alignment.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and insights to elevate the collective design capability within the organization.
• Proactive Engagement: Actively participating in team discussions, contributing ideas, and seeking opportunities to support other product development initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of individual initiative, technical collaboration, and a commitment to quality and user experience, which are critical for success in a fast-paced, innovative environment like IOTA.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity and Rapid Iteration: Navigating a "startup-like environment" means dealing with evolving priorities and ambiguous problem spaces, requiring strong adaptability and resilience.
• Technical Complexity: Designing for blockchain and data space technologies presents unique challenges related to user understanding, security, and the inherent complexities of decentralized systems.
• Establishing Design Standards: As a potentially early or evolving design function, a key challenge will be establishing and embedding consistent design processes, standards, and a mature design system.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent alignment between design vision, technical feasibility, and business objectives across diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Sole Designer Responsibility: Initially, managing all design aspects autonomously requires exceptional time management, prioritization, and the ability to wear multiple hats.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Blockchain UX: Gaining specialized expertise in designing for decentralized applications, self-sovereign identity, and related technical concepts.
• Design System Leadership: Taking ownership of and maturing a design system, which offers significant opportunities for strategic impact and leadership.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Working closely with highly technical teams (blockchain architects, engineers) to deepen understanding of technology implementation.
• Industry Engagement: Contributing to external collaborations with government and industry bodies, offering exposure to real-world technology integration challenges.
• Skill Expansion: Potential to expand skills into areas like user research methodology development, design operations, and contributing to product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth by tackling complex technical challenges and taking ownership of critical operational components like the design system. Candidates who are proactive learners and enjoy problem-solving in evolving environments will thrive.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a complex B2B design challenge you faced and how you approached it. Walk me through your process from problem definition to solution, highlighting your role and key decisions." (Focus on your structured thinking, Figma usage, and problem-solving methodology.)
• Design System Experience: "Tell me about your experience with design systems. Have you contributed to building or evolving one? What principles do you believe are essential for a scalable system, and how do you ensure engineering alignment?" (Prepare examples of component management, governance, and collaboration.)
• Agile Integration: "How do you integrate design into agile development sprints? What are the key challenges, and how do you ensure design quality and consistency within rapid iteration cycles?" (Showcase your understanding of agile workflows and collaboration.)
• User Research & Insights: "How do you identify and gather user insights, and how do you translate them into design improvements? Can you give an example of a time user research significantly changed your design direction?" (Highlight your data-informed approach.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• IOTA's Mission: "What interests you about IOTA's mission and the TWIN project specifically? How do you see your design skills contributing to our goals in blockchain and data space technology?" (Research IOTA's whitepaper, technology, and current initiatives.)
• Startup Environment: "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, potentially ambiguous, or startup-like environment. How do you manage shifting priorities and maintain design quality?" (Emphasize your adaptability and proactive nature.)
• Collaboration: "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers? What's your approach to receiving and giving constructive feedback?" (Prepare examples of successful cross-functional teamwork.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: For each project, establish a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.
• Figma Demonstration: Be prepared to quickly navigate through your Figma files to showcase wireflows, prototypes, and UI details.
• Focus on B2B: Emphasize the B2B context and the specific user needs you addressed.
• Highlight Design System Work: If applicable, dedicate a specific segment to showcase your design system contributions and principles.
• Conciseness: Aim for approximately 5-7 minutes per project to allow time for discussion.
• Anticipate Questions: Think about potential questions related to your design choices, trade-offs, and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a cultural fit for a dynamic, technology-focused organization. Understanding IOTA's specific domain is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the provided application link on join.com and submit your resume and portfolio through the platform.
• Portfolio Optimization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest B2B projects, clearly showcasing your end-to-end design process, Figma proficiency, and problem-solving skills. Ensure it highlights any experience with design systems or complex technical domains.
• Resume Tailoring: Tailor your resume to align with the job description, emphasizing keywords such as UI/UX design, Figma, wireframing, prototyping, B2B solutions, design systems, agile methodologies, and any relevant technical interests (blockchain, data space). Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research the IOTA Foundation, its mission, and the TWIN project. Prepare to present your portfolio effectively, articulating your design process, decision-making, and impact. Practice answering common interview questions related to design strategy, collaboration, and your experience in dynamic environments.
• Company & Culture Research: Understand IOTA Foundation's values and culture. Be ready to discuss why you are a good fit for their team and how your proactive, collaborative approach aligns with their operational style.

⚠️ 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.

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