UX Designer @ING Bank

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer Company: ING Bank Romania Location: Expo Business Park, Bucharest, Romania Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Product Design Date Posted: October 3, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop user-centered interfaces for ING's Home’Bank mobile application, focusing on delivering a superior customer experience.
• Manage the end-to-end UX design process, from conceptualization through to final implementation, ensuring high-quality, user-friendly, and engaging digital solutions.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, developers, researchers, and stakeholders to translate user insights and business requirements into intuitive and effective design patterns.
• Champion brand guidelines, usability, simplicity, and accessibility to maintain ING's reputation as a best-in-class digital bank.
• Contribute to the evolution of the user experience design library and propose innovative components and interactions to enhance the overall Home’Bank platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Retail User Experience (UX) chapter of ING Bank Romania's CX, Innovation & UX Centre of Expertise. The primary focus is on enhancing the digital banking experience for retail customers through the Home’Bank application, emphasizing innovation, ease of use, personalization, and real-time interactions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design & Prototyping: Create wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools like Figma.
• End-to-End Ownership: Take full responsibility for the UX process of assigned projects from initial concept, through research and design, to successful implementation.
• User Research Collaboration: Work closely with the research team to understand user insights, behavior patterns, and pain points, translating them into informed design decisions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to define project scope, provide design rationale, and ensure seamless integration of designs into the product.
• Quality Assurance: Advocate for and ensure adherence to brand guidelines, usability best practices, simplicity, and accessibility standards in all design outputs.
• Innovation & Evolution: Propose and develop new UI components, interaction models, and user experiences to expand and refine the existing design system and library.
• Industry Awareness: Continuously research and stay updated on the latest UX/UI design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices within the digital banking and financial services sectors.
• Design Critique: Articulate design decisions clearly, provide constructive feedback on others' work, and effectively present design solutions to diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibility lies in elevating the Home’Bank mobile application's user experience to be not only exceptionally functional but also a delightful and intuitive platform for retail customers. This requires a deep understanding of user needs within the financial services context and the ability to translate that into tangible design solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, human-computer interaction, or a related field is expected. Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional experience as a UX Designer, with a preference for candidates who have worked within the financial services industry.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Expertise: Proven ability to design user-centered interfaces for mobile applications.
• Prototyping Tools: Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, high-fidelity design, and prototyping.
• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Design Process Management: Experience managing the complete UX design lifecycle for projects, from ideation to completion.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for articulating design rationale and collaborating with diverse teams.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams (product managers, developers, researchers).
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying user needs and translating them into effective, user-friendly design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Financial Services Experience: Prior experience designing digital products within the banking or financial services sector.
• Design Software: Proficiency in Sketch; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is considered a plus.
• Technical Understanding: Basic knowledge of HTML/CSS to better understand development constraints and possibilities.
• Design Critique: Experience in articulating and receiving design critique effectively.
• Research Integration: Ability to leverage user research insights to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level suggests a mid-level designer who can work independently on projects but may still benefit from guidance on complex strategic initiatives. The emphasis on Figma and mobile application design points towards a need for practical, hands-on skills in modern digital product development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Mobile-First Design: Showcase a strong collection of projects demonstrating expertise in designing user-centered interfaces specifically for mobile applications (iOS and Android).
• End-to-End Process: Include case studies that illustrate your involvement across the entire UX design lifecycle, from initial research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final design.
• Tool Proficiency: Highlight your mastery of design and prototyping tools, with a clear emphasis on Figma.
• Problem/Solution Focus: Present projects that clearly define the user problem or business challenge, detail your design process, and showcase the resulting solution and its impact.
• Metrics & Impact: Where possible, include examples of how your designs have positively impacted key metrics such as user engagement, conversion rates, task completion times, or customer satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Demonstrate clear examples of wireframes and interactive prototypes that effectively communicate user flows and interface layouts.
• User Flow Mapping: Provide examples of user flow diagrams that map out user journeys and interactions within the application.
• Design System Contribution: Showcase any experience in developing or contributing to design systems, component libraries, or style guides, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Designer role, a strong portfolio is paramount. It should not just be a collection of screens but a narrative that explains the "why" and "how" behind each design decision, demonstrating a strategic and empathetic approach to problem-solving. Clear articulation of the design process and measurable outcomes is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for mid-level UX Designers in Bucharest, Romania, with 3-5 years of experience in the financial sector, a competitive salary range would likely be between 75,000 RON and 110,000 RON annually (gross). This estimate considers the cost of living in Bucharest and the specialized nature of financial UX design.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to balance remote work with in-office collaboration.
• Flexible Working Schedule: Options for adjustable working hours to accommodate personal needs.
• Short Week Options: Potential for compressed work weeks, offering extended weekends.
• Benefit Platform Budget: A monthly allocation to a platform for choosing various benefits (e.g., gym memberships, wellness, etc.).
• Extra Annual Leave Days: Additional paid time off, scaling with total years of professional work experience.
• Growth & Development: Access to upskilling/reskilling programs, extensive learning platforms (ING Learning Centre, Udemy, Bookster), trainings, and certifications.
• Impactful Work: Opportunity to contribute to projects that have a tangible effect on customer experience and business success.
• Collaborative Environment: Work within a fun and supportive team atmosphere.
• Modern Office Space: Open-concept offices designed for both collaborative work and relaxation.
• Social Activities: Participation in corporate events and social gatherings for team building and networking.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with the flexibility for adjusted schedules and potential for short weeks, aligning with a hybrid and employee-centric approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is an estimate based on market research for similar roles in Bucharest. Actual compensation will be determined by the candidate's specific experience, skills, and performance during the interview process. The benefits package is quite comprehensive, emphasizing work-life balance and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking & Financial Services. ING Bank Romania operates as a universal bank and is a significant player in the Romanian financial market, known for its organic growth and focus on digital innovation. The company has been active in Romania for over 30 years. Company Size: ING is a large, global financial institution. ING Bank Romania, specifically, serves over 1.8 million customers across retail, SME, Mid-Corporate, and Wholesale Banking segments. This scale implies structured processes and a significant impact. Founded: ING's origins trace back to the 19th century, with ING Group as we know it today being formed through mergers in the late 20th century. ING Bank Romania has been established for over 30 years.

Team Structure:

• Retail UX Chapter: The UX Designer will be part of the Retail User Experience chapter, which is a specialized unit within the CX, Innovation & UX Centre of Expertise.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with Product Managers, Developers, Researchers, and various business stakeholders across different departments.
• Reporting: The UX Designer will likely report to a UX Chapter Lead or a Design Manager, with direct interaction with Product Owners and development teams for specific projects.

Methodology:

• Customer-Centricity: The core mission is to create customer-centric products and services, prioritizing ease, personalization, and instant relevance.
• Agile & Iterative: Given the digital product development context, agile methodologies are likely employed, involving iterative design, testing, and development cycles.
• Data-Informed Design: Insights from user research and performance analytics are crucial for making informed design decisions.
• Design System Adoption: Emphasis on evolving and scaling user experience design patterns through a consistent design system.

Company Website: ING Romania

📝 Enhancement Note: ING's culture emphasizes autonomy, responsibility, and continuous improvement ("do your thing"). For a UX Designer, this translates to an environment where initiative is valued, and there's an opportunity to influence product direction, supported by a strong organizational framework and a clear focus on digital transformation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the Mid-Level UX Designer stage. It signifies a designer who has moved beyond junior responsibilities and can independently manage design tasks for specific features or products. They are expected to contribute significantly to design quality and process, and potentially mentor junior designers.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report within the Retail UX chapter, likely to a Chapter Lead or a Design Manager. They will work closely with Product Owners, Product Managers, and Engineering teams on a project-by-project basis, indicating a matrixed reporting structure common in agile environments.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work directly influences customer satisfaction, engagement, and retention for ING's flagship Home’Bank application. By creating intuitive and delightful user experiences, they contribute to ING's strategic goal of being a leader in digital financial services, impacting customer acquisition, loyalty, and overall brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX design, such as interaction design, information architecture, or user research for financial products.
• Leadership: Progress to Senior UX Designer roles, potentially leading design initiatives, mentoring junior team members, or taking on Chapter Lead responsibilities.
• Cross-Functional Roles: Transition into Product Management or CX Strategy roles by leveraging a strong understanding of user needs and product development.
• Skill Development: Utilize the extensive learning platforms (ING Learning Centre, Udemy, Bookster) and training programs to acquire new skills in areas like service design, design thinking, or emerging technologies.
• Global Mobility: As part of a global organization, opportunities for international collaboration or mobility might exist.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a UX Designer at ING is likely structured, offering clear progression routes from mid-level to senior and leadership positions. The company's investment in learning and development, combined with the opportunity to work on a high-impact digital product, provides a strong foundation for career growth within the financial technology sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This indicates a blend of remote work and in-office presence. The company promotes an open-concept office design. Office Location(s): Expo Business Park, Bucharest, Romania. This is a modern business hub, suggesting a professional and accessible working environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The open-concept offices are designed to foster teamwork, innovation, and spontaneous interactions among colleagues.
• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) and collaboration platforms is expected to support efficient workflow.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with UX team members, product managers, developers, and other stakeholders, encouraging knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week, but the "flexible working schedule" and "short week options" offer significant autonomy in managing one's time, allowing for better work-life integration and accommodating focused work periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible schedule are designed to offer employees greater autonomy and work-life balance, reflecting ING's "do your thing" philosophy. The open-concept office environment suggests a culture that values transparency and collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess your qualifications and experience against the role requirements.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Expect to present your portfolio, detailing 2-3 key projects. Be prepared to discuss your design process, decision-making rationale, challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved. This is where you demonstrate your UX thinking.
• Skills Assessment/Case Study: You may be given a small design challenge or asked to analyze a specific UX problem, requiring you to apply your design skills and problem-solving approach. This could involve creating quick wireframes or outlining a design strategy.
• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with a Product Manager, Developer, or another stakeholder to assess your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to work within a team.
• Cultural Fit Interview: A discussion to gauge your alignment with ING's values and culture, focusing on aspects like autonomy, curiosity, and ambition.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose projects that best showcase your mobile UX design skills, your process, and your impact. Focus on quality over quantity.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your key decisions, and the results. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your expertise in Figma, showing how you leverage its features for complex design and prototyping.
• Showcase Problem-Solving: Demonstrate how you approach challenges, iterate on designs, and arrive at user-centered solutions.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or testimonials that highlight the positive impact of your design work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a challenge, quickly grasp the business and user context. Ask clarifying questions if needed.
• Focus on Process: Even if time is limited, outline your approach and the steps you would take to solve the problem.
• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your thought process, design choices, and any assumptions you're making.
• Prioritize: For quick challenges, focus on the most critical aspects of the UX design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not just your design skills but also your ability to think critically, collaborate effectively, and fit within ING's culture. A strong portfolio that tells a compelling story about your design journey and impact is crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for wireframing, high-fidelity design, and prototyping. Proficiency is essential.
• Sketch: Mentioned as a plus, indicating familiarity with other industry-standard design tools is beneficial.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Also listed as a plus, suggesting broader design software knowledge is valued.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, UX Designers in this role would likely interact with data from:
  • Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal dashboards to understand user behavior within Home'Bank.
  • User Feedback Tools: Platforms for collecting and analyzing customer feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback mechanisms).

CRM & Automation:

• Design System Tools: Internal tools or platforms for managing design components, style guides, and ensuring consistency across the application.
• Collaboration Tools: Platforms like Jira, Confluence, or Microsoft Teams for project management, documentation, and team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. The mention of Sketch and Adobe Creative Suite suggests a preference for designers with broader toolset experience. Familiarity with how design integrates with analytics and project management tools is also implicitly important for effective collaboration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Autonomy & Responsibility: Employees are empowered to "do their thing" but are expected to take ownership and deliver significant results for customers and the company.
• Curiosity & Change: A culture that encourages continuous learning, embraces change, and actively seeks innovative solutions.
• Energy & Ambition: Team members are energetic, ambitious, and driven to achieve great things.
• Respect & Collaboration: A foundation of respect among colleagues, fostering a friendly and supportive environment where collaboration thrives.
• Customer Focus: All efforts are geared towards making a tangible difference in customers' lives through relevant and superior digital experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (product, development, research) to achieve common goals.
• Open Communication: Encouragement of clear, concise, and respectful communication to articulate design rationale and facilitate understanding.
• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that supports the sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings to foster collective growth and innovation.
• Feedback Loops: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: ING's culture emphasizes a balance between individual autonomy and collective achievement. For a UX Designer, this means having the freedom to innovate while being accountable for delivering high-quality, user-centric solutions in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating user desires and business objectives into coherent and feasible design solutions within the constraints of a large financial institution.
• Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying ahead of rapid technological advancements and shifting customer expectations in the competitive digital banking space.
• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience across all features and updates of the Home’Bank application, especially with a growing design system.
• Cross-Team Alignment: Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes and ensuring buy-in and alignment from various departments for design initiatives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Upskilling/Reskilling: Access to structured programs to enhance existing skills or acquire new ones relevant to UX and digital product design.
• Platform Access: Extensive use of learning platforms like ING Learning Centre, Udemy, and Bookster for self-paced learning and skill development.
• Training & Certifications: Opportunities to attend specialized trainings and pursue relevant industry certifications.
• Mentorship: Potential to learn from senior designers within the UX chapter or participate in mentorship programs.
• Innovation Exposure: Involvement in innovation projects and exposure to new technologies and design methodologies within ING.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a UX Designer in a large, dynamic organization like a bank. ING's commitment to learning and development provides ample resources for designers to overcome these challenges and advance their careers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through your process for designing a new feature for a mobile banking app, from initial concept to final handoff." Focus on your methodology, user research integration, and iteration.
• Problem-Solving: "Describe a time you encountered a significant UX challenge. How did you approach it, what solutions did you propose, and what was the outcome?" Be ready to discuss trade-offs and compromises.
• Collaboration: "How do you effectively collaborate with product managers and developers to ensure your designs are implemented accurately and meet user needs?" Emphasize your communication and negotiation skills.

Company & Culture Questions:

• ING's Digital Strategy: "What are your thoughts on ING's current digital banking offerings, and how would you contribute to its leadership in the market?" Research Home'Bank and ING's recent digital initiatives.
• Values Alignment: "How do you embody ING's values of 'doing your thing,' curiosity, and taking responsibility in your daily work?" Prepare examples that demonstrate these traits.
• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive and productive team culture."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative-Driven: Structure your presentation around compelling stories for each project. Clearly define the problem, your role, your design process, your solutions, and the impact.
• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) and keep text concise. Use annotations to highlight key design decisions.
• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be prepared to show specific examples of how you used Figma's features for complex layouts, interactive prototypes, or component creation.
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, back up your claims with data, metrics, or user feedback to demonstrate the tangible value of your design work.
• Engage Your Audience: Be enthusiastic, articulate, and ready to answer questions thoroughly, showing your passion for UX and your ability to think on your feet.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. A well-rehearsed portfolio presentation that highlights impact and process is key to standing out.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the ING careers portal and submit your CV and any required documents through the provided link.
• Tailor Your CV: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your experience in UX design, proficiency with Figma, mobile application design, and any relevant financial services industry experience. Use keywords from the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest mobile UX design projects that showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure it is easily accessible (e.g., via a link) and well-organized.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, decisions, and outcomes for each portfolio project. Be ready to explain why you made certain choices and what the results were.
• Research ING: Familiarize yourself with ING Bank Romania, its mission, values, and the Home’Bank application. Understand their digital strategy and competitive landscape.

⚠️ 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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