UX/UI Designer / Product Designer (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer / Product Designer (m/f/d)

Company: Placetel

Location: Köln, Germany

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: October 28, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Remote OK (Remote-First Setup)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation and optimization of user-centered designs across Placetel's digital platforms, including websites, landing pages, product pages, and self-service portals, with a strong emphasis on conversion optimization and customer experience enhancement.

• Develop and refine interactive prototypes to validate user flows and interface concepts, ensuring seamless and intuitive user journeys from initial exploration to ongoing customer management.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product owners, marketing, and development, to translate business requirements and user needs into compelling and effective design solutions.

• Contribute to UX research initiatives, usability testing, and A/B experiments to inform design decisions and ensure a data-driven approach to product development and digital presence.

• Maintain and evolve Placetel's design systems to ensure a consistent, on-brand, and accessible digital experience across all customer touchpoints, fostering a cohesive brand identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is UX/UI Designer / Product Designer, the responsibilities heavily lean into product design with a focus on digital platforms and customer journeys, particularly within a SaaS and B2B context. The emphasis on conversion optimization, self-service flows, and collaboration with product owners suggests a role deeply integrated into the product development lifecycle, aiming to improve user engagement and business outcomes. The "Digital & Growth Team" context implies a focus on acquisition and retention through design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) for Placetel's primary digital touchpoints, including the main website, marketing landing pages, customer self-service portals, and product-specific interfaces.

• Craft engaging and functional interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools like Figma, enabling quick validation of design concepts and user flows with stakeholders and potential users.

• Conduct comprehensive usability testing and A/B experiments, analyzing results to identify areas for improvement in usability, performance, accessibility, and conversion rates.

• Collaborate effectively with product owners and marketing teams to understand user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints, translating these into actionable design strategies.

• Ensure design consistency and brand alignment across all digital channels by refining and extending the existing design system, advocating for its adoption by development teams.

• Support UX research activities by gathering user feedback, conducting interviews, and synthesizing insights to inform design decisions and product roadmaps.

• Implement and maintain design best practices for accessibility (WCAG standards) and performance optimization within digital assets, ensuring inclusive and efficient user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and hands-on execution, crucial for a Product Designer role within a growth-focused team. The emphasis on "measurable impact" and "data-driven design decisions" suggests that quantitative outcomes are as important as qualitative user satisfaction.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically beneficial. Practical experience and a strong portfolio are prioritized.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in UX/UI design, with a demonstrated track record of creating impactful digital experiences. Experience within a SaaS or B2B environment is highly preferred, providing context for the specific challenges and user behaviors in such sectors.

Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design Expertise: Proven ability to design intuitive and engaging user interfaces and user experiences, encompassing wireframing, user flow mapping, and visual design.

• Portfolio of Work: A strong, well-documented portfolio showcasing user-centered design processes, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact on key metrics (e.g., conversion rates, user engagement, task completion).

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping software, with a strong emphasis on Figma. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD) is also valuable.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions effectively to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Data-Driven Design: Analytical mindset and experience using data (e.g., from analytics tools, A/B tests, user feedback) to inform and validate design choices.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent communication skills in German (written and spoken) and comfortable working in an English-speaking team environment.

• Self-Management: Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and prioritize tasks effectively in a remote-first setting.

Preferred Skills:

• HTML/CSS Fundamentals: Basic understanding of HTML and CSS to facilitate effective communication with development teams and ensure designs are technically feasible and efficiently implemented.

• SaaS/B2B Experience: Prior experience designing for Software-as-a-Service products or in a Business-to-Business context, understanding the unique user needs and business models.

• Usability Testing & Research: Experience conducting or supporting user research, usability testing, and A/B experiments.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of web accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG) and experience designing for inclusivity.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, maintaining, or contributing to design systems.

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Familiarity with CRO principles and strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3+ years of experience, coupled with proficiency in Figma and a strong portfolio, positions this role as mid-level. The emphasis on a "remote-first setup" and fluency in both German and English suggests a company that values flexibility and diverse talent. The mention of HTML/CSS is practical, ensuring designers can bridge the gap with developers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate User-Centered Design Process: Showcase a clear, step-by-step approach to problem-solving, from understanding user needs and business goals through research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Highlight Measurable Impact: Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, the proposed solution, and the quantifiable results achieved. Metrics such as conversion rate improvements, user engagement increases, task success rates, or reduction in support tickets are highly valued.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Evidence of expertise in modern design and prototyping tools, particularly Figma, should be apparent through the quality and interactivity of presented prototypes.

• Visual Design & UI Execution: Present high-fidelity mockups and UI designs that demonstrate a strong aesthetic sense, attention to detail, and adherence to design principles and brand guidelines.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you have mapped out user journeys, identified pain points, and designed streamlined workflows to enhance user efficiency and satisfaction.

• System Implementation & Integration: If applicable, demonstrate experience with how designs were implemented within specific platforms or systems, and how they integrated with existing functionalities.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Detail how you have used data analytics, A/B testing results, or user feedback to validate design effectiveness and drive iterative improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, particularly in a "Digital & Growth" team, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond aesthetics to demonstrate a strategic understanding of how design contributes to business objectives like conversion and customer retention. The emphasis on A/B testing and data-driven decisions means portfolio pieces should ideally show an iterative process informed by performance metrics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a UX/UI Designer / Product Designer with 3-5 years of experience in Germany, particularly in a Cologne-based tech company with a remote-first policy, the estimated annual gross salary range is approximately €50,000 - €65,000. This estimate considers the company's likely growth stage, the tech industry's compensation trends in Germany, and the cost of living in Cologne.

Benefits:

• Remote-First Setup & Flexible Working Hours: Empowers employees to work from where they are most productive and manage their schedules to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

• Modern Workspaces & Equipment: Access to well-equipped, centrally located offices in Cologne, providing a comfortable and productive alternative to remote work when desired.

• Young, Motivated, Interdisciplinary Team: Opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic and engaged group of digital professionals, fostering a supportive and innovative work environment.

• Flat Hierarchies & Ownership: A culture that encourages autonomy, provides significant freedom, and offers a high degree of responsibility and ownership over projects.

• Stability & Forward-Thinking Environment: The security of working for a growing SaaS company that is AI-driven, combined with opportunities to contribute to future innovations.

• Regular Team Events & Collaborative Atmosphere: Opportunities for social interaction, team building, and fostering strong working relationships through company-organized events.

• Continuous Learning & Development: Implicitly supported by the nature of working in a growing tech company and potentially through access to training and industry events.

Working Hours: The role specifies "flexible working hours" and a "remote-first setup," implying a degree of autonomy in structuring the workday. While the standard full-time workload is estimated at 40 hours per week, the focus is on output and effectiveness rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for the German market, specifically Cologne, tailored for a mid-level designer role in a SaaS company. Benefits are derived directly from the job description, emphasizing flexibility and a positive team environment, which are attractive to tech professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Placetel operates within the Communication Technology and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sectors, specializing in AI-native cloud communication and Customer Experience (CX) solutions. As part of Gamma Communications, a leading UCaaS provider, Placetel is positioned in a rapidly evolving and competitive market.

Company Size: Placetel is part of Gamma Communications, a larger entity. Internally, Placetel serves over 40,000 business customers. The "Digital & Growth Team" is described as "young, motivated, and interdisciplinary," suggesting a dynamic and collaborative work environment within the company, likely comprising specialists from various digital disciplines.

Founded: Placetel was founded in 2008, indicating a solid history and established market presence, now amplified by its integration into Gamma Communications. This blend of established experience and forward-thinking growth provides a stable yet innovative operational context.

Team Structure: The UX/UI Designer / Product Designer will join the "Digital & Growth Team." This team likely operates with a degree of autonomy, focusing on initiatives that drive user acquisition, engagement, and retention through digital channels. Collaboration is expected to be cross-functional, involving Product Owners, Marketing, and Development teams, typical in agile product development environments.

Methodology: The company emphasizes "advanced, data-driven processes" and an "AI-driven environment." This suggests a culture that values quantitative analysis, user feedback, and leveraging technology to optimize performance. The design process is expected to be user-centric, iterative, and focused on achieving measurable business outcomes.

Company Website: https://placetel.de

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "AI-native SaaS communication and CX solutions" is key. This means the designer will be working on products that likely incorporate intelligent features, requiring an understanding of how design can enhance AI capabilities and user trust. The "Digital & Growth Team" context implies a strong focus on metrics and performance.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer (2-5 years of experience). It offers the opportunity to take ownership of significant digital product areas, contribute directly to growth strategies, and influence user experience across key customer touchpoints. It's a step beyond junior design roles, requiring more autonomy and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The designer will be part of the "Digital & Growth Team." While specific reporting lines aren't detailed, it's common in such teams for designers to report to a Design Lead, Head of Digital, or a Product Manager who oversees the digital product roadmap. Collaboration will be extensive with Product Owners and development squads.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will have a direct impact on Placetel's revenue and business growth by:

• Improving website conversion rates for new customer acquisition.

• Enhancing the usability and efficiency of self-service portals, leading to higher customer satisfaction and potentially reduced support costs.

• Optimizing user flows within the product itself, which can drive adoption, retention, and upsell opportunities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX research, UI design, interaction design, or conversion rate optimization within the SaaS/B2B context.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Designer role, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, or contributing to the strategic direction of Placetel's digital products.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain deeper insights into product management, marketing strategies, and software development processes by working closely with these teams.

• Design System Ownership: Opportunity to take a leading role in the evolution and governance of Placetel's design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for impact in a growth-stage SaaS company. The career path likely involves deepening expertise in product design and potentially moving into leadership or specialized roles within the digital product domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Placetel operates with a "remote-first setup," meaning remote work is the primary mode of operation. However, they maintain a "centrally located office in Cologne’s Südstadt" with "modern workspaces." This suggests a hybrid model is supported, where employees can choose to work remotely or from the office as needed.

Office Location(s): The primary physical office is located in Cologne, Germany, specifically in the Südstadt district. This location is described as "centrally located," implying good accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: The remote-first approach allows for personal customization of the work environment, promoting work-life balance.

• Collaboration Tools: Implicitly, a strong set of digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma) will be essential for effective communication and teamwork in a remote setting.

• Technology & Equipment: The office provides "excellent equipment," suggesting that both remote workers and those in the office have access to the necessary tools and technology to perform their roles effectively.

• Team Interaction: Despite the remote-first nature, the presence of a physical office and "regular team events" facilitates in-person collaboration and team bonding, creating opportunities for spontaneous interaction and stronger relationships.

Work Schedule: The company offers "flexible working hours" to support work-life balance. While the standard full-time workweek is approximately 40 hours, the emphasis is on results and individual effectiveness, allowing employees to adapt their schedules accordingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" model with an accessible office in Cologne offers a desirable blend of flexibility and in-person collaboration potential, attractive to many tech professionals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking through 2-3 key projects. Be prepared to discuss your design process, the challenges faced, your role, the solutions implemented, and the impact of your work. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and design thinking.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a practical design exercise or a deep dive into specific design tools and methodologies. For this role, expect questions about Figma, prototyping, user testing, and accessibility.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues from the Digital & Growth Team, Product Owners, and possibly development leads. This assesses cultural fit, collaboration style, and your ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm mutual interest.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your skills relevant to SaaS/B2B product design, conversion optimization, and user-centric problem-solving. Focus on quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), your specific contributions, the challenges encountered, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include data and metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on user behavior or business goals.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Ensure your presentation demonstrates your mastery of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Interactive prototypes are a plus.

• Address Collaboration: Show examples of how you collaborated with product managers, developers, and marketing teams.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home or live design challenge. This might involve redesigning a specific feature or flow, or solving a hypothetical user problem. Focus on applying a structured design process and clearly explaining your rationale.

• Process Articulation: Practice explaining your design process succinctly and compellingly. Be ready to discuss how you approach user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare to discuss how you would handle design disagreements, incorporate feedback from non-designers, and advocate for user needs while balancing business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio, data-driven decisions, and cross-functional collaboration suggests the interview process will be thorough, aiming to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking and cultural fit within a growth-oriented team.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required proficiency. This will be the core tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Adobe Creative Suite (CC): Mentioned as a preferred skill, likely for asset creation (Illustrator) or potentially other design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial for specific workflows or historical projects.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Matomo, or similar platforms to track user behavior, website performance, and conversion rates.

• A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with platforms for conducting and analyzing A/B experiments (e.g., VWO, Optimizely, Google Optimize).

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, basic ability to interpret data from dashboards is implied by the "data-driven design" requirement.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct design tool, understanding how design impacts CRM data entry, lead flow, and customer management (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be advantageous in B2B SaaS.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Awareness of how digital designs integrate with marketing automation workflows.

• Design System Management: Processes and tools for managing and distributing design system components and guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a critical requirement. The role also necessitates an understanding of how design integrates with analytics, A/B testing, and the broader digital marketing and sales funnel, especially in a B2B SaaS context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental value driving all design decisions, ensuring that user needs and experiences are prioritized.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A commitment to using analytics, A/B testing, and user feedback to validate design hypotheses and measure impact.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and close teamwork with product, marketing, and development teams to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Simplicity: A focus on creating clear, usable, and streamlined experiences that make complex communication solutions accessible and easy to manage.

• Continuous Improvement: An iterative approach to design, constantly seeking ways to enhance user satisfaction, performance, and conversion rates.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The designer will work closely with Product Owners, Marketing specialists, and Development teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate between disciplines.

• Feedback-Driven: An environment that encourages constructive feedback on designs and processes, fostering a culture of shared learning and improvement.

• Agile Methodologies: Likely adherence to agile principles, involving iterative design cycles, regular stand-ups, and sprint reviews.

• Ownership & Autonomy: Team members are expected to take initiative, drive projects forward, and contribute actively to discussions and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture emphasizes a blend of user advocacy, data-informed strategy, and collaborative execution. The "AI-native" and "SaaS" context suggests a forward-thinking, technically adept, and results-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating user desires and business objectives into cohesive, high-impact designs within a competitive SaaS market.

• Designing for Complex SaaS Workflows: Creating intuitive interfaces for potentially complex self-service and product management features that are technically robust and user-friendly.

• Maintaining Design Consistency at Scale: Ensuring brand and UX consistency across a growing number of digital touchpoints and features, leveraging and evolving the design system.

• Adapting to AI-Driven Features: Designing interfaces that effectively integrate and communicate the value of AI-powered functionalities to users.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong team cohesion and efficient workflow in a remote-first environment, requiring proactive communication and asynchronous collaboration skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/Product Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like user research methodologies, interaction design, information architecture, and advanced prototyping.

• Data Analysis & CRO: Enhance skills in leveraging analytics and A/B testing to drive design decisions and measure business impact.

• SaaS Product Strategy: Gain a deeper understanding of SaaS business models, customer lifecycle management, and product strategy within a growing tech company.

• Design System Development: Contribute to or lead the expansion and refinement of Placetel's design system, a valuable skill in the industry.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Develop a broader understanding of marketing, product management, and software development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a growing tech company, requiring adaptability and a strong problem-solving mindset. The growth opportunities are significant, offering clear paths for skill development and career progression within the product design and operations sphere.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used data to inform a significant design decision. What was the outcome?" - Preparation: Select a portfolio case study where metrics played a key role in your design process and be ready to articulate the data points and their impact.

• "How do you approach designing for complex user flows in a SaaS product?" - Preparation: Discuss your process for mapping user journeys, identifying pain points, and simplifying intricate tasks through design. Reference examples from your portfolio.

• "How do you balance user experience with business objectives like conversion rates?" - Preparation: Explain your framework for integrating user needs with commercial goals, emphasizing how good UX can drive business results. Use examples of successful balance.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Placetel and its mission of simple communication?" - Preparation: Research Placetel's products, market position, and company values. Connect your passion for design to their mission.

• "How do you see your role contributing to the 'Digital & Growth Team'?" - Preparation: Articulate how your design skills can directly support acquisition, engagement, and retention goals. Mention specific contributions you envision.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize projects where you can demonstrate tangible results (e.g., increased conversion, improved engagement). Quantify whenever possible.

• Show Your Process: Clearly outline the steps you took: understanding the problem, research, ideation, design, testing, and iteration. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders. Discuss how you incorporated feedback.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about specific design choices, technical constraints, and alternative solutions you considered.

• Keep it Concise: Aim for 3-4 strong case studies, dedicating sufficient time to each without rushing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on practical application of design skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a growth-oriented, remote-first team. Demonstrating a data-driven approach and a clear understanding of SaaS product design principles will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer / Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on join.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your experience in SaaS/B2B environments, user-centered design processes, and measurable impact through design. Focus on 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, proficiency in key tools (especially Figma), and specific accomplishments related to UX/UI design, conversion optimization, and collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the quantitative/qualitative outcomes of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with data-driven design and remote collaboration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Placetel's products, target audience, and company mission. Understand their position in the market and how their "AI-native" approach influences their offerings.

⚠️ 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.