UX-Designer (w/m/d) Control Panel

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX-Designer (w/m/d) Control Panel Company: IONOS SE Location: Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: UX/UI Design & Product Development Date Posted: 2025-12-12 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Conceptualize and design exceptional user experiences for the IONOS Control Panel, enhancing the digital product integration and marketing campaign engagement for millions of existing customers.
• Translate complex customer needs and technical requirements into intuitive, visually appealing, and user-friendly interfaces and workflows.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Campaign Management, and Software Development, to ensure seamless implementation of design solutions.
• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of a comprehensive design system, fostering UI consistency and brand integrity across the IONOS ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for enhancing the self-service portal of a leading European cloud infrastructure and hosting provider. The focus on existing customer experience and the integration of new digital products and marketing campaigns suggests a strong emphasis on retention, upselling, and customer satisfaction through refined UX. The role requires a blend of creative design, analytical problem-solving, and collaborative execution within a dynamic tech environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct user research, analyze customer behavior, and identify pain points within the Control Panel to inform design decisions and strategic product enhancements.
• Develop innovative ideas, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes that clearly articulate user journeys and interface designs for new digital products and marketing initiatives.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and Campaign Managers to align design concepts with business objectives, product roadmaps, and marketing strategies.
• Work closely with Software Developers to ensure the technical feasibility and efficient implementation of designed solutions, providing clear design specifications and ongoing support.
• Continuously optimize user guidance, UI consistency, product activation flows, online engagement metrics, and overall marketing performance through iterative design improvements.
• Actively participate in the ongoing development and refinement of the company's design system, ensuring its scalability and adherence to best practices.
• Engage in cross-border collaboration within the international brand network to share insights, best practices, and contribute to a unified design approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive approach to UX design, extending beyond visual design to encompass strategic input on product integration, marketing effectiveness, and performance optimization. The emphasis on "implementable solutions" and coordination with developers underscores the need for practical, production-ready design outputs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring several years of experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Several years of professional UX design experience, with a proven track record of analyzing customer problems, deriving concepts, and implementing user-centered solutions.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to visualize design concepts.
• Design Tools: Mastery of design and prototyping tools, with a strong preference for Figma.
• User Research & Analysis: Ability to conduct user research, analyze data, and translate insights into actionable design improvements.
• UI Consistency & Design Systems: Experience in developing and maintaining design systems and ensuring UI consistency across platforms.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong ability to analyze complex user needs and technical requirements, translating them into clear, understandable user flows and optimizing performance indicators.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively present ideas, concepts, and solutions to diverse stakeholders, including product managers, campaign managers, and developers.
• Technical Understanding: Good foundational knowledge of current frontend technologies and their implications for UX design.
• Design Sensibility: A keen eye for aesthetics, layout, typography, and visual hierarchy, with a focus on creating engaging and intuitive interfaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
• Experience in the cloud services, hosting, or SaaS industry.
• Knowledge of current UX and UI trends and innovations.
• Experience in visual communication for marketing campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "several years of UX experience" and the ability to analyze complex problems and derive solutions points towards a mid to senior-level UX Designer. The explicit mention of Figma as a preferred tool is a critical technical requirement for applicants.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, from initial research and concept development to final implementation and outcomes.
• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions made, and the measurable impact of your solutions.
• Highlight projects involving the integration of new digital products or marketing campaigns into existing platforms.
• Showcase experience with creating and utilizing design systems and ensuring UI consistency.
• Present examples of user research methodologies applied and how insights were translated into design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of user flow diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that illustrate complex user journeys.
• Documentation of how you collaborated with developers and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.
• Evidence of how you measured and optimized user experience and performance metrics (e.g., click-through rates, conversion rates, task completion rates).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX design role, a robust portfolio is paramount. It should not only display visual design skills but also demonstrate a strategic, analytical, and problem-solving approach to UX challenges, with a clear focus on measurable results and process efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (5-10 years), location (Karlsruhe, Germany), and the nature of the role within a large tech company, the estimated annual gross salary range for a UX Designer in Germany can be between €55,000 and €75,000. More specific figures would depend on the exact scope of responsibilities and the candidate's negotiation.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to balance on-site and remote work.
• Subsidized Canteen: On-site dining options at reduced prices.
• Free Beverages: Access to complimentary drinks.
• Modern Office Spaces: Well-equipped and contemporary work environment in Karlsruhe.
• Employee Discounts: Opportunities to save on various products and activities.
• Employee Events: Company-sponsored social gatherings and team-building activities (e.g., summer/winter parties, workshops).
• Training and Development Opportunities: Access to numerous learning resources, courses, and professional development programs to enhance skills.
• Health Programs: Initiatives focused on employee well-being, including sports and health courses.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The hybrid model suggests flexibility in scheduling within operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for experienced UX Designers in Germany, considering the cost of living in Karlsruhe and the industry standards for a company like IONOS. The listed benefits are comprehensive and reflect typical offerings for a mid-to-large sized tech company in Germany.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: IONOS operates in the Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Services, and Hosting Services sector, serving primarily Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). This industry is characterized by rapid technological advancement, competitive pricing, and a strong focus on customer support and service reliability.

Company Size: IONOS is a significant player in the European market, with over six million customers and active presence in 18 markets. This scale implies a structured organization with established processes, yet the description emphasizes open working structures, a "Du" (informal address) culture, and flat hierarchies, suggesting a dynamic and collaborative work environment.

Founded: IONOS has a history that supports its position as a leading European provider. Its continuous growth and expansion into new markets indicate a forward-thinking and adaptable company culture.

Team Structure:

• The UX team likely operates within a product development or digital experience division, collaborating closely with product managers, campaign managers, and engineering teams.
• Reporting structures are described as flat, suggesting direct access to decision-makers and less bureaucratic processes.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core element, with designers working alongside various departments to bring products and campaigns to life.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on optimizing performance indicators like click-through and conversion rates points to a data-driven approach to design.
• Agile Development: The mention of coordinating with software developers suggests an agile or iterative development process.
• User-Centricity: The core of the role is to enhance user experiences, indicating a strong focus on understanding and meeting customer needs.

Company Website: https://www.ionos.de

📝 Enhancement Note: IONOS's positioning as a leading digital partner for SMBs means the UX team plays a vital role in making complex technical services accessible and user-friendly. The company culture values collaboration, growth, and a direct approach to problem-solving, which is reflected in the "Du" culture and flat hierarchies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level UX Designer, requiring independent problem-solving and conceptualization abilities. It's a key contributor role focused on enhancing a critical customer-facing product (Control Panel).

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a Head of UX/Design, a Product Lead, or a similar managerial position within the product development or digital experience department. The flat hierarchy suggests direct interaction with product managers and potentially higher-level stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work directly impacts customer satisfaction, product adoption, user engagement, and ultimately, the revenue generated through the Control Panel. By optimizing user journeys and making digital products more accessible, they contribute to customer retention, upselling opportunities, and overall business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific UX areas such as user research, interaction design, or design systems.
• Leadership: Progress into a Senior UX Designer role, mentoring junior designers, or potentially moving into a Lead UX Designer or UX Manager position.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into Product Management or Product Marketing roles by leveraging deep understanding of user needs and product strategy.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning through workshops, conferences, and internal training programs offered by IONOS, focusing on emerging UX trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a major tech company, allowing for specialization or leadership development in the UX field, with a strong potential for impact on business outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. This indicates a blend of remote work and in-office presence, offering flexibility while maintaining opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Karlsruhe, Germany. The description mentions modern office spaces with excellent public transport connections, facilitating easy access for employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: The emphasis on flat hierarchies and "Du" culture suggests an open and collaborative workspace where teamwork and idea sharing are encouraged.
• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to modern office facilities and the necessary tools and technology to perform their roles effectively, including Figma and other relevant design and development software.
• Team Interaction: The hybrid model and collaborative culture provide opportunities for regular interaction with colleagues across different departments, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Full-time employment (approximately 40 hours per week) with a hybrid arrangement. This allows for a degree of flexibility in daily scheduling, accommodating personal needs while ensuring operational coverage and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key aspect of the work environment, catering to modern workforce expectations. The combination of flexible work with structured collaboration in modern offices aims to optimize both productivity and employee well-being.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: An HR or recruiter call to assess initial qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deeper dive into your portfolio with the hiring manager or senior UX team members. Expect to walk through 2-3 key projects, discussing your design process, decision-making, problem-solving approaches, and quantifiable results. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Figma and design systems.
• Case Study/Design Challenge: You may be asked to complete a design challenge (take-home or live) to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work within defined constraints. This will likely focus on improving a specific user flow or feature within the Control Panel.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (e.g., Product Managers, Developers) to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and how well you integrate with the existing team dynamics.
• Final Interview: A concluding conversation with a senior leader to finalize the decision and discuss the role in more detail.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role: Control Panel UX, digital product integration, marketing campaign design, and design system contributions.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your approach, the tools used (especially Figma), the challenges faced, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "increased conversion by X%," "reduced task completion time by Y%").
• Highlight Process: Detail your research methodologies, ideation process, iterative design steps, and how you incorporated feedback from stakeholders and users.
• Showcase Figma Skills: Be ready to demonstrate specific features or workflows within Figma that highlight your proficiency.
• Design System Experience: If you have experience with design systems, clearly articulate your role in their creation or maintenance.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research IONOS, its products (especially the Control Panel if possible), and its target audience (SMBs).
• Focus on Process: For design challenges, emphasize your thinking process, problem-solving approach, and how you would gather requirements and validate solutions, rather than just delivering a polished final design.
• Communicate Assumptions: Clearly state any assumptions you make during the challenge.
• Prepare for Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss design trade-offs and prioritize solutions based on impact and feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be thorough, with a strong emphasis on evaluating practical UX skills through portfolio review and potentially a design challenge. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design thinking and demonstrate their ability to deliver impactful, implementable solutions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a preferred tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.
• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for user interviews, surveys, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback).
• Design System Management: Tools or methods for managing and documenting design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Experience with tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior and track performance metrics.
• BI/Dashboard Tools: Familiarity with tools for visualizing data and reporting on UX performance (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or internal dashboards).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX impacts CRM usage and customer management could be advantageous (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot).
• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing tasks and collaborating with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone tool for this role. Proficiency in this and related UX/UI design software is non-negotiable. Awareness of analytics and project management tools is also important for understanding the broader product development lifecycle and impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of millions of customers, ensuring their digital journey is seamless and productive.
• Innovation & Growth: A drive to continuously improve products and services, embracing new digital products and marketing strategies to foster company growth.
• Collaboration & Transparency: An open working culture with flat hierarchies, encouraging direct communication, teamwork, and knowledge sharing across departments.
• Efficiency & Performance: A focus on delivering implementable solutions that optimize user experience and drive measurable business results (e.g., conversion rates).
• Quality & Consistency: Upholding high standards in design and user experience, ensuring a consistent and branded customer ecosystem.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers, Campaign Managers, and Developers, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills to bridge different functional perspectives.
• Iterative Feedback: An environment that values constructive feedback through regular design reviews and agile sprints.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, design trends, and insights within the UX team and across the international brand network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's culture appears to be a blend of a large, established tech company's structure with a more agile, collaborative, and informal startup-like approach, emphasizing results and teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating diverse customer needs and complex technical requirements into user-friendly designs that also meet business objectives and marketing targets.
• Integrating New Products: Seamlessly integrating new digital products and marketing campaigns into an existing, established Control Panel without disrupting current user flows or negatively impacting usability.
• Maintaining UI Consistency at Scale: Ensuring a consistent and cohesive user experience across a vast product ecosystem with multiple teams and ongoing development.
• Working in a Hybrid Environment: Adapting to the nuances of hybrid collaboration, ensuring effective communication and design alignment across remote and in-office team members.
• Staying Ahead of Trends: Keeping pace with rapidly evolving UX/UI standards, design technologies, and market innovations within the competitive cloud services industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Techniques: Opportunities to attend workshops or training on advanced user research, interaction design patterns, or UX strategy.
• Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge in building, scaling, and managing design systems.
• Industry Conferences: Potential for participation in leading UX and digital design conferences.
• Mentorship: Access to experienced designers and product leaders for guidance and career development.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining a deeper understanding of product management, marketing, and development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a UX role in a growing tech company, requiring adaptability and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering pathways for specialization and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements for a UX design. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?"
  • Preparation: Think of a project where you had to mediate between product managers, developers, or marketing teams. Focus on your communication, negotiation, and problem-solving approach.
• "How would you approach designing the integration of a new digital product into an existing customer control panel for millions of users?"
  • Preparation: Outline your process: research, user segmentation, user flow mapping, prototyping, usability testing, and iteration. Emphasize how you'd ensure minimal disruption and maximize adoption.
• "Walk us through a complex UX challenge you solved, focusing on your analytical process and the metrics you used to measure success."
  • Preparation: Choose a project where you faced a significant user problem. Detail your analysis, the design solutions you proposed, and the specific KPIs you tracked (e.g., conversion rates, task completion, user satisfaction scores).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about IONOS and our mission to support SMBs digitally?"
  • Preparation: Research IONOS's website, recent news, and its market position. Understand their value proposition for small and medium-sized businesses.
• "How do you envision yourself contributing to our flat hierarchy and 'Du' culture?"
  • Preparation: Express your comfort with direct communication, collaboration, and a less formal work environment. Highlight how you foster teamwork.
• "How do you measure the impact of your UX designs on business objectives like conversion rates or customer retention?"
  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss specific metrics and how you've used data to demonstrate the value of your design work.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the business problem or user need that drove each project.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) extensively.
• Focus on Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially in team projects.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.
• Explain Your Process: Detail your research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration steps.
• Be Prepared for Figma Questions: Have specific examples of how you've used Figma's features for efficiency, collaboration, or advanced prototyping.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the UX lifecycle, a data-driven approach, excellent communication skills, and a cultural fit with IONOS's collaborative environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

1. Submit your application through the provided link on join.com.
2. Tailor your Resume: Highlight your years of experience, proficiency with Figma, experience with design systems, and any relevant experience in cloud services or SaaS. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
3. Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your UX process, problem-solving skills, and measurable results. Include examples relevant to control panels, digital product integration, or marketing campaign UX.
4. Prepare for Portfolio Review: Be ready to articulate your design decisions, research methodologies, and the impact of your work for 2-3 key projects. Practice explaining your workflow in Figma.
5. Research IONOS: Understand their business, target audience (SMBs), and their existing products, particularly the Control Panel. This will help you tailor your answers and show genuine interest.

⚠️ 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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