UX Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer (m/w/d) Company: TFJ buycycle GmbH Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: October 16, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is centered on designing and owning critical product experiences within an expanding marketplace environment, focusing on buyer and seller journeys and transaction flows.
• The UX Designer will be responsible for transforming complex marketplace dynamics (payments, shipping, trust) into simple, intuitive user experiences across various sports categories.
• A key aspect of this position involves defining and implementing scalable design patterns and systems to support multi-category expansion and maintain design consistency.
• Success in this role will be measured by tangible improvements in key metrics such as conversion rates, transaction completion, and user satisfaction, alongside the ability to operate with extreme ownership and autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a highly impactful, craft-heavy individual contributor role within a lean design team, emphasizing hands-on execution and direct influence on product evolution. The focus on scaling from a single vertical to multiple sports categories suggests a need for robust, scalable design systems and pragmatic decision-making.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and meticulously design critical product experiences, including buyer and seller journeys, pre and post-transaction flows, and expanding sports categories.
• Translate complex marketplace functionalities like payments, shipping, trust, and protection into effortless and sophisticated user interfaces.
• Develop and define scalable interaction models and design systems that can be applied consistently across diverse sports verticals.
• Create prototypes and conduct user testing to rapidly validate design concepts and product decisions.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Customer Service teams to collaboratively define problems and deliver effective solutions.
• Exercise pragmatic judgment to balance the need for speed in shipping value with the requirement for exceptional craft when critical.
• Contribute to the growth and excellence of the design culture by mentoring teammates, advocating for design quality, and actively sharing knowledge.
• Drive improvements in key performance indicators such as conversion rates, transaction completion rates, and overall user satisfaction for owned product areas.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy, proactively identifying needs and taking ownership of tasks without requiring constant direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking (defining scalable patterns) and tactical execution (prototyping, testing, shipping). The emphasis on "exercising pragmatic judgment" and "knowing when 'good enough' ships value fast" suggests a fast-paced startup environment where efficiency and impact are paramount, rather than absolute perfection.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of UX principles is expected.

Experience:

• Proven experience in shipping e-commerce or marketplace products, with a solid understanding of conversion optimization, user trust mechanisms, and C2C dynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to design across multiple platforms, including desktop, mobile web, and mobile applications.
• Experience in balancing rapid execution with meticulous attention to detail, understanding when to prioritize speed and when to focus on granular improvements.
• Proven track record of thinking in systems, considering scalability and long-term implications in design decisions.
• Experience in creating and maintaining scalable design systems and architecture.
• Comfort and proficiency in interpreting quantitative data and user feedback to inform design strategies and product iterations.
• Experience integrating AI tools into the design process and understanding their practical applications.

Required Skills:

• E-Commerce & Marketplace Design: Deep understanding of user journeys, conversion funnels, and trust-building elements specific to online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms.
• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in using Figma for design, prototyping, and managing design systems.
• Design Systems: Expertise in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems for consistency and efficiency across multiple product verticals.
• Data Interpretation & User Feedback: Ability to analyze quantitative data (e.g., conversion rates, user flows) and qualitative user feedback to drive informed design decisions.
• AI Integration: Practical experience in leveraging AI tools within the design workflow to enhance efficiency and creativity.
• Extreme Ownership: A proactive, self-starter attitude with a demonstrated ability to take full responsibility for projects and outcomes.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with product managers, engineers, and customer support teams, with the ability to articulate design decisions respectfully.
• Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to design, ensuring high quality and polish in all delivered work, balanced with pragmatic execution.

Preferred Skills:

• Prototyping & Testing: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes and conducting user testing to validate design concepts.
• Scalability Thinking: Ability to design solutions with future growth and expansion into new product categories in mind.
• C2C Dynamics: Specific understanding of the nuances and challenges of peer-to-peer marketplace interactions.
• Active Sports Hobby: A personal interest or hobby in sports that aligns with buycycle's mission, indicating a deeper connection to the user base.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must Have Experience" section strongly emphasizes hands-on execution, pragmatic decision-making, and a systems-thinking approach. The explicit "Who This Role Is Not For" section provides critical insight into the company's culture and expectations, highlighting a preference for proactive, execution-oriented individuals over those who need significant direction or prefer pure strategy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• E-Commerce/Marketplace Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 in-depth case studies of e-commerce or marketplace products you have designed and shipped, detailing your role, process, and impact.
• Systems Thinking Examples: Include examples demonstrating your ability to design scalable patterns, interaction models, or contribute to design systems that support multi-product or multi-category expansion.
• Figma Mastery: Be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency in Figma, including your approach to design systems, component libraries, and prototyping within the tool.
• Impact Demonstration: Clearly articulate the measurable impact of your design work, using metrics such as conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, or transaction completion rates.

Process Documentation:

• Problem Definition & Solutioning: Demonstrate how you approach understanding complex user problems within a marketplace context and how you translate that understanding into elegant design solutions.
• Prototyping and Iteration: Showcase your process for rapid prototyping and user testing, illustrating how you iterate on designs based on feedback and data.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide examples of how you have effectively collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.
• Scalability & Maintainability: Illustrate your considerations for designing solutions that are scalable, maintainable, and can be adapted across different product verticals or categories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping smart, not just polished" and "exercising pragmatic judgment" suggests that portfolio pieces should highlight not only the final design but also the decision-making process, trade-offs made, and the rationale behind shipping a solution that might not be "perfect" but delivers significant value quickly.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: €60,000 - €85,000 per year
• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for experienced UX Designers (5-10 years) in Munich, Germany, considering the company's likely stage (scaling startup) and the hybrid work model. The range accounts for variations in specific experience, the breadth of skills (e.g., design systems, AI integration), and the impact of the role. Salary data was cross-referenced from reputable sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and local German job market reports for UX/Product Designers in major tech hubs.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: As outlined in the estimated range, reflecting your skills and experience.
• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to work from home 1 day per week, with 4 days in the modern Munich office.
• Impactful Role: Opportunity to shape critical product experiences and directly influence the growth of a rapidly expanding marketplace.
• Lean, High-Ownership Team: Work in a collaborative environment with minimal hierarchy and significant autonomy.
• Design Culture Contribution: Chance to mentor, push for excellence, and contribute to shaping the design team's practices.
• Employee Stock Options (Potential): Common in scaling startups, offering a stake in the company's future success.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth, potentially including conferences or training relevant to UX and AI.
• Team Events & Social Activities: Opportunities to bond with colleagues and enjoy the workplace culture.
• Standard German Benefits: Including health insurance, pension contributions, and paid time off.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week.
• While a hybrid model offers flexibility, the role's emphasis on "extreme ownership" and "shipping smart" suggests a need for dedication and responsiveness, particularly during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the company is a GmbH and likely a growth-stage startup, benefits like potential stock options are a strong possibility and a key differentiator for attracting talent. The salary range is set to be competitive for Munich's tech market for this experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-Commerce / Online Marketplace (specifically for sports equipment) Company Size: Small to Medium-sized (derived from "just two designers," suggesting a lean design team within a growing company, likely in the 50-200 employee range). Founded: Not explicitly stated, but the company is described as being at an "exciting inflection point" and expanding rapidly, indicating a relatively young or fast-growing organization.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: Very lean, currently consisting of just two designers, implying a high degree of individual responsibility and direct collaboration with other departments.
• Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a Head of Design or Product Lead, working closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaboration is highlighted as a core element, with close ties to Product Management, Engineering, and Customer Service to define problems and ship solutions.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using quantitative insights and user feedback to inform design decisions and measure success.
• Agile & Iterative: The description implies an agile approach, focusing on shipping value quickly, iterating, and adapting based on market feedback and user behavior.
• Systems Thinking: A deliberate approach to creating scalable patterns and design systems to support growth and consistency across multiple product verticals.
• Pragmatic Execution: A culture that values shipping effective solutions rapidly over chasing absolute perfection, especially in a fast-paced startup environment.

Company Website: buycycle.de (derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a startup mentality: fast-paced, high-ownership, lean teams, and a direct impact on product growth. The expansion into multiple sports categories signifies a significant growth phase.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role (5-10 years experience). It's a "craft-heavy, impact-heavy" role where deep expertise in UX design and execution is valued. It's not an entry-level position, nor is it explicitly a management role, but it offers leadership potential through design influence and mentoring.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a Head of Design or a senior product leader. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams, forming core product development squads.

Operations Impact: The role has direct and significant impact on the company's core business:

• Revenue Growth: By improving conversion rates, transaction completion, and user satisfaction in key buyer and seller journeys.
• Scalability: By creating design systems and patterns that enable efficient expansion into new sports categories, directly contributing to market share growth.
• User Trust & Retention: By simplifying complex processes and ensuring a seamless, trustworthy user experience, fostering long-term customer loyalty.
• Brand Perception: By delivering high-quality, intuitive user experiences that define the buycycle brand across all its offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a lead designer role, mentoring junior designers, and taking on more strategic design initiatives as the team expands.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, AI-driven design, or e-commerce UX within niche sports categories.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a strong understanding of product management, engineering processes, and business strategy through close collaboration.
• Impactful Portfolio Building: Deliver high-visibility projects with measurable results that can significantly enhance a designer's professional portfolio.
• Company Growth: As the company scales, opportunities for advancement into management or more senior strategic roles may emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is ideal for an experienced UX designer who wants to make a tangible impact in a fast-growing company, contribute to building scalable design frameworks, and potentially step into leadership as the team grows, rather than immediately managing a team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, with a requirement to be in the Munich office 4 days per week. This suggests a modern office space designed for collaboration. Office Location(s): Atelierstraße 12, 81671 München, Bayern, Germany. This location in Munich likely offers good accessibility via public transport.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The 4-day in-office requirement indicates an emphasis on in-person collaboration, team interaction, and a dynamic office culture.
• Tools and Technology: Expect access to standard design tools like Figma, potentially with advanced features for design systems and prototyping. Collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Jira) will also be integral.
• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and Customer Service teams, contributing to a cross-functional and integrated work environment. Direct interaction with the other designer in the team is also a key aspect.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week).
• The hybrid nature allows for some flexibility in work location, but the expectation of "extreme ownership" and "shipping smart" implies a dedication to meeting project deadlines and contributing effectively during core working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a strong in-office component suggests a company that values face-to-face interaction for ideation, problem-solving, and team building, while still offering some flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1 - Initial Conversation (Online): A screening call to assess mutual fit, understand expectations, and discuss candidate experience.
• Stage 2 - Deep Dive (One Day in Munich Office):
  • Team Meet & Greet: In-person introductions to the design, product, and engineering teams.
  • Design Case Study: Candidates will work on a practical design challenge, likely simulating a real-world problem buycycle faces.
  • Approach & Thinking Presentation: Presenting their problem-solving methodology, design decisions, and rationale for the case study.
  • Collaboration Experience: Observing and experiencing the team's day-to-day collaboration dynamics.
• Stage 3 - Alignment & Offer (Online or In-Person): Final discussions on terms, conditions, and extending an offer if Stage 2 feedback is positive.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role, the design process, and most importantly, the measurable business impact (e.g., conversion lift, user satisfaction improvement).
• Showcase Systems Thinking: Include examples of how you've designed scalable components, patterns, or contributed to design systems. Demonstrate how your work supports future growth and consistency.
• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, especially regarding design systems, component libraries, and prototyping. If possible, share a link or walkthrough of a relevant system.
• Pragmatism in Action: Demonstrate instances where you made pragmatic trade-offs to ship value quickly, explaining the rationale and the outcome. This aligns with the "good enough" vs. "exceptional craft" balance mentioned.
• Tailor to Buycycle: Research buycycle.de and understand their current product offerings and challenges. Frame your portfolio examples to show how your skills can address their specific needs, especially regarding marketplace complexity and multi-category expansion.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Thoroughly research buycycle's business model, target audience, and mission. Understand the challenges of a multi-category sports marketplace.
• Embrace Complexity: Be ready to tackle a design problem that involves complex flows (payments, shipping, trust) and potentially ambiguous requirements.
• Think Systems and Scalability: Consider how your proposed solutions can scale across different sports categories and user segments.
• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to clearly explain your design process, from problem definition and research to ideation, testing, and final implementation considerations.
• Focus on Impact: Frame your solutions in terms of how they will improve key business metrics and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The one-day in-office deep dive is a significant part of the process, emphasizing hands-on assessment and cultural fit. Candidates should be prepared for a practical design exercise and be ready to articulate their thought process clearly and concisely.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required skill mastery. This will be the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools like InVision, ProtoPie, or Adobe XD might be beneficial, though likely secondary to Figma.
• Design System Management: Tools or methodologies for managing and scaling design systems within Figma or integrated platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with tools for interpreting quantitative data, such as Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar product analytics platforms.
• User Feedback Platforms: Experience with tools for gathering and analyzing qualitative user feedback (e.g., surveys, user interviews tools, customer support ticket analysis).

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the UX designer role, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation tools integrate with user journeys and customer data can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is mastery of Figma for design and design systems. The emphasis on data and user feedback suggests that the designer will work closely with product analytics tools and potentially user research platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Extreme Ownership: Taking full responsibility for problems and solutions, driving initiatives forward without constant oversight.
• Pragmatism & Speed: Valuing efficient solutions that deliver value quickly, balancing speed with necessary craft.
• Collaboration & Humility: Working effectively with others, taking feedback constructively, and maintaining a collaborative, ego-free environment.
• Craftsmanship & Detail: Pursuing excellence in design execution, paying attention to details that enhance user experience, while knowing when to zoom out.
• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering measurable improvements to key business metrics and user satisfaction.
• Mission Alignment: A passion for buycycle's mission and a connection to sports and recreation is a plus.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Highly integrated work with Product Management, Engineering, and Customer Service to ensure holistic problem-solving and solution delivery.
• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging respectful feedback exchange to push for design excellence and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the design team and with wider stakeholders.
• Hands-on and Direct: Given the lean team structure, collaboration is likely direct, informal, and highly participatory.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values a proactive, execution-oriented culture where individuals take ownership, collaborate effectively, and strive for impactful results with a pragmatic approach to design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Systems: Expanding design systems and patterns to effectively cover multiple, diverse sports categories while maintaining consistency and usability.
• Balancing Speed and Quality: Navigating the startup imperative to ship fast with the need for high-quality, user-centric design that builds trust in a marketplace.
• Simplifying Marketplace Complexity: Continuously finding innovative ways to make intricate processes like payments, shipping, and trust mechanisms intuitive for users.
• Ambiguity and Fast Pace: Thriving in a dynamic startup environment that requires adaptability, quick decision-making, and comfort with evolving priorities.
• Resource Constraints: Working effectively within a lean team and potentially limited resources, requiring creative problem-solving.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening E-commerce/Marketplace Expertise: Gaining extensive experience in designing for complex transaction environments and C2C dynamics.
• Design Systems Leadership: Opportunity to play a key role in evolving and scaling a growing design system.
• AI in Design Exploration: Further developing skills in integrating and leveraging AI tools within the design workflow.
• Cross-Functional Acumen: Expanding understanding of product strategy, engineering constraints, and business operations.
• Mentorship and Influence: Contributing to the growth of the design team and influencing product direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of a scaling tech company and offer significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development, particularly in areas of design systems, marketplace UX, and agile product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Marketplace Complexity: "How would you approach designing a more seamless dispute resolution process for a C2C marketplace, considering the need for fairness to both buyers and sellers?" (Focus on process, user journeys, and trust.)
• Scalability & Design Systems: "Describe a time you designed a component or pattern that needed to scale across multiple product lines or categories. What were the challenges, and how did you address them?" (Focus on systems thinking, Figma, and future-proofing.)
• Data-Informed Design: "Walk us through a situation where you used data or user feedback to significantly change a design direction. What was the data, what was the change, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on data interpretation, user feedback, and impact.)
• Pragmatic Judgment: "Tell us about a time you had to make a trade-off between design perfection and shipping speed. How did you decide what was 'good enough,' and what was the result?" (Focus on balancing speed and craft, pragmatic decision-making.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation for Buycycle: "Why are you interested in buycycle specifically, and what excites you about our mission or our expansion into new sports categories?" (Research the company, understand their growth phase.)
• Startup Environment: "How do you thrive in a fast-paced, potentially ambiguous startup environment? What are your strategies for staying organized and effective?" (Highlight adaptability, ownership, and self-management.)
• Team Collaboration: "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Engineers. How do you ensure alignment and handle disagreements constructively?" (Emphasize humility, communication, and shared goals.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing) -> Solution -> Measurable Impact.
• Highlight Pragmatism: Explicitly discuss the trade-offs made, why certain decisions were prioritized, and how you balanced speed with quality.
• Showcase Systems Thinking: If possible, present how your designs contribute to or leverage a design system, demonstrating scalability.
• Figma Walkthrough: Be ready to briefly demonstrate key aspects of your Figma work, especially related to components, prototyping, or design system elements.
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use numbers and data to demonstrate the success of your designs. Connect your design choices directly to business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just their design skills but also their strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, understanding of business impact, and cultural fit for a fast-paced, ownership-driven startup. The emphasis on "pragmatic judgment" and "shipping smart" should be a recurring theme in their responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the buycycle.jobs.personio.com portal.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description such as "E-Commerce," "Marketplace," "Figma," "Design Systems," "Conversion Optimization," "User Trust," and "Extreme Ownership." Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best showcase your experience in e-commerce or marketplace design, system thinking, and measurable impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your role and process.
• Prepare for the Case Study: Research buycycle.de thoroughly. Anticipate a design challenge related to their marketplace, focusing on complexity simplification, user journeys, or multi-category expansion. Practice articulating your thought process under time constraints.
• Research Buycycle's Mission: Understand their expansion strategy into various sports categories and be ready to discuss why this mission resonates with you, especially if you have a relevant hobby.

⚠️ 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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