Junior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Product Designer

Company: Clera

Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-07

Experience Level: 0-2 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design innovative UX patterns for AI-agent-driven procurement tools, shaping the future of human-AI collaboration in complex workflows.

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial discovery and problem framing to launching production-ready features.

• Rapidly prototype and iterate on product flows, screens, and interactions using a blend of Figma, AI tools, and potentially code.

• Contribute to and enhance a robust product design system, ensuring visual and interaction consistency across the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a fast-paced, Series A B2B SaaS company focusing on procurement intelligence and supply chain solutions. The emphasis on "shaping UX patterns that don't yet exist" and defining how users "supervise and collaborate with AI agents" suggests a highly innovative and forward-thinking design challenge, moving beyond traditional dashboards to truly agentic systems. The "shipping weekly" cadence highlights a strong Agile development environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design comprehensive product flows, user interfaces, and interactive prototypes for AI-powered procurement tools, ensuring they are intuitive and efficient for industrial sector users.

• Define novel interaction models for how AI agents present tasks to users, how users review and approve AI-generated actions, and how trust is built between humans and automated systems.

• Utilize Figma, alongside AI design tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0), for rapid ideation, prototyping, and communication of design concepts.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and subject matter experts to ensure seamless design-to-development handoffs and maintain high design quality throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Conduct thorough design reviews of code contributions, providing precise feedback for last-mile interaction and visual adjustments to align with design intent.

• Actively contribute to the evolution of the product design system, focusing on visual standards, component reusability, and interaction pattern consistency.

• Take full ownership of features, guiding them from user research and problem definition through to successful launch and post-launch iteration based on feedback and data.

• Implement a user-centric design approach, iterating designs based on direct customer feedback, usage data, and A/B testing insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to design, requiring the candidate to not only create but also to actively participate in the implementation and refinement of features. The focus on "shipping weekly" and "iterating rapidly" indicates a need for agility and a pragmatic approach to design, prioritizing impactful solutions over perfection. Ownership of features from "discovery through launch" is a key differentiator for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for product design roles.

Experience: 0-2 years of professional product design experience, including strong internship contributions, with a demonstrated portfolio of shipped work, preferably in B2B SaaS, complex workflow management, or data-intensive product environments.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Lifecycle: Proven ability to manage the entire design process from user research and problem framing to detailed UI/UX design, prototyping, and post-launch iteration.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficient in Figma for creating user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• AI Design Tools: Daily practical experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0) for design ideation, content generation, prototyping assistance, or workflow enhancement.

• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to, maintaining, and leveraging design systems for consistent UI/UX across a product.

• Interaction Design: Strong understanding of user interaction principles and the ability to design intuitive and efficient user journeys.

• Visual Design: Solid visual design instincts, with a keen eye for detail, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, and domain experts, facilitating smooth design-to-development handoffs.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Comfort working in an Agile environment with a bias for shipping functional, iterative solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Code-Based Prototyping: Experience with prototyping or developing interfaces using HTML, CSS, and/or React.

• Complex Domain Design: Experience designing user interfaces for non-technical users navigating intricate business domains.

• AI Behavior Design: Considered opinions and practical experience in designing how AI systems should behave and communicate within user interfaces beyond simple chat functionalities.

• User Research: Experience conducting user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing feedback to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipped work" and "daily use of AI tools" in the requirements strongly suggests that candidates will be assessed on their practical application of design skills and their ability to integrate emerging AI technologies into their workflow. The "bias for shipping over endless polish" points to a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing at least 2-3 distinct projects, with a strong emphasis on shipped B2B SaaS or complex workflow products.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed, key design decisions, and the resulting impact or outcomes.

• Include examples of how you defined and addressed complex user needs and designed for AI-human interaction.

• Showcase your proficiency with Figma and how you leverage AI tools in your design workflow.

• Demonstrate contributions to or use of a design system, highlighting consistency and scalability. Process Documentation:

• Within your portfolio, provide clear documentation of your design process, including user research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration phases.

• Detail how you collaborated with engineering and product teams during the development and handoff stages.

• Include examples of how you measured the success of your designs, referencing user feedback, usage data, or business metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, especially given the junior experience level. The emphasis on "shipped work" and "end-to-end lifecycle" means the portfolio should not just be conceptual but demonstrate tangible results and a mature design process. Explicitly showing how AI tools were integrated and how complex workflows were simplified will be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Junior Product Designer with 0-2 years of experience in Munich, Germany, the estimated annual gross salary typically ranges from €45,000 to €60,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major German tech hubs, considering the company's Series A funding stage and the specialized nature of AI and procurement technology.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for stock options as part of a growing Series A company.

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung and/or private options).

• Generous paid time off (Urlaubstage) and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and access to cutting-edge AI design tools.

• A dynamic and collaborative work environment with a focus on innovation and rapid iteration.

• Potential for team events and social gatherings.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours in Germany are typically 38-40 hours per week. While the role requires on-site presence, Clera likely offers some flexibility within core business hours, common in tech companies, to accommodate efficient workflow and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for junior design roles in Munich and the specified industry. Exact compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the company's compensation structure. The benefits listed are standard for full-time employees in Germany and common for tech startups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the B2B SaaS sector, specifically within procurement intelligence and supply chain management, leveraging AI to drive innovation. This industry is characterized by complex data, critical business processes, and a growing demand for intelligent automation.

Company Size: Approximately 150 employees, indicating a mid-stage startup environment that is past the initial seed stage but still agile and growing rapidly. This size often means a balance of established processes and room for individual impact.

Founded: As a Series A company, Clera was likely founded within the last 5-8 years, suggesting a modern, tech-forward culture and a focus on scalable solutions.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as "small" and "cross-functional," implying close collaboration and direct interaction with product managers and engineers.

• Designers are integrated into feature teams, working on weekly shipping cycles.

• The reporting structure likely involves a Head of Product or Lead Designer overseeing the design function. Methodology:

• Agile Development: Weekly shipping cycles strongly suggest an Agile or Scrum-based development methodology.

• Data-Driven Design: Iteration based on "production usage data" indicates a strong emphasis on analytics and performance measurement to inform design decisions.

• AI Integration: A core methodology involves integrating AI agents into procurement workflows, requiring designers to think about human-AI collaboration as a primary design challenge.

Company Website: https://www.getclera.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and focused on rapid execution. The emphasis on AI and cutting-edge technology suggests an environment that values technical curiosity and forward-thinking design. The "small, cross-functional team" aspect means the Junior Product Designer will have significant visibility and direct impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level to junior Product Designer role (0-2 years of experience). It's an opportunity to gain significant hands-on experience in a specialized and rapidly evolving field (AI in B2B SaaS).

Reporting Structure: The Junior Product Designer will likely report to a Senior Product Designer, Design Lead, or Head of Product, who will provide mentorship and guidance. They will work closely within cross-functional teams comprising Product Managers and Software Engineers.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, the product designed directly impacts the operational efficiency of procurement departments. Success in this role means improving how businesses manage their supply chains and procurement processes through intuitive AI-driven tools, directly contributing to the company's revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Develop deep expertise in designing for AI-human interaction, complex B2B workflows, and specific procurement/supply chain domains.

• Career Progression: Potential to grow into a Product Designer, Senior Product Designer, or even a Product Design Lead role as the company scales.

• Technical Proficiency: Gain hands-on experience with advanced design tools, AI technologies, and potentially coding for prototyping.

• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, opportunities to mentor future junior designers or lead specific feature areas may emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior role, the primary growth opportunity lies in skill acquisition and demonstrating impact. The unique challenge of designing for AI agents offers a significant differentiator for career development in the product design field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is strictly on-site in Munich, Germany. This implies a traditional office environment designed for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Munich, Bavaria, Germany. This is a major European tech hub, offering access to a vibrant ecosystem of startups, talent, and innovation. Specific office details (e.g., amenities, accessibility) would be provided upon further inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement facilitates direct, spontaneous collaboration with colleagues, crucial for rapid iteration and problem-solving in a startup setting.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), AI tools, and potentially company-provided hardware and other development resources.

• Team Interaction: Daily opportunities to interact with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers, fostering a strong team dynamic and shared understanding of product goals.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site in Munich. While core business hours are expected, a startup environment often allows for some flexibility in daily schedules, provided work is completed and collaboration is maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor for candidates. It suggests a preference for in-person synergy and is critical for candidates who can legally work in Germany and are looking for an office-based role in Munich.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio by the hiring team. Focus on demonstrating shipped work and relevant experience.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio to the design/product team. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects, explaining your process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be given a small design task or case study to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work with AI tools or complex workflows.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with product managers and engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a company leader or founder to discuss your fit with the company's vision and long-term goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly showcase how you've used AI tools in your design process and the impact of those tools.

• Focus on Shipped Work: Prioritize projects that have been launched and had real user impact. Quantify this impact where possible.

• Articulate Your Process: Clearly explain your design methodology, decision-making rationale, and how you navigated constraints.

• Showcase Collaboration: Provide examples of how you worked with engineers and product managers, and how you handled feedback.

• Keep it Concise: For a junior role, focus on quality over quantity. Ensure your best work is presented clearly and effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with procurement intelligence, supply chain management, and the challenges of human-AI collaboration in B2B SaaS.

• Think Systemically: Consider how designs fit into a larger system and impact overall business operations.

• Practice AI Integration: Be ready to discuss how AI could be applied to solve the design problem presented.

• Structure Your Response: Prepare a clear outline for presenting your solution, including problem framing, proposed solution, and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is geared towards assessing practical design skills, a strong understanding of the product lifecycle, and the ability to integrate novel technologies like AI. The portfolio is paramount, and candidates should tailor it to highlight the specific requirements of this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is essential.

• AI Design Tools: Daily use of tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0, or similar for ideation, content generation, and rapid prototyping. Familiarity with how these tools can augment the design process is key.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Pendo) are used to track feature adoption and user behavior is beneficial for iterative design. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) or automation platforms is not explicitly required but would be helpful for understanding the B2B context and user workflows. Development & Prototyping:

• HTML/CSS/React: Preferred skills for prototyping, allowing for more interactive and code-accurate mockups. Understanding front-end development principles aids collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI design tools is a significant differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and how they leverage them to enhance their design workflow, not just as experimental additions but as integral parts of their process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to explore and implement new technologies, particularly AI, to solve complex business problems.

• Execution: A strong bias for action and shipping features rapidly, valuing progress over perfection.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork and open communication between design, product, and engineering.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and solving real customer problems, leveraging data and feedback to guide design decisions.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of learning and iteration, constantly seeking ways to enhance the product and the design process.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work embedded within cross-functional teams, fostering close alignment and shared ownership.

• Direct Feedback: An environment where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged between team members to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share insights, best practices, and learnings across the team and organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be one that thrives on speed, innovation, and teamwork. The emphasis on "shipping weekly" and "iterating rapidly" suggests a culture that embraces experimentation and learning from real-world application.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Novelty: Creating intuitive UX patterns for emergent AI-agentic systems where established best practices may not yet exist.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Delivering high-quality designs on a weekly release cadence requires efficient workflows and pragmatic decision-making.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring clear communication and alignment with product managers and engineers on complex technical and business requirements.

• AI Integration Complexity: Understanding and designing for the nuances of human-AI trust, control, and collaboration.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Expertise: Becoming a go-to person for designing AI-driven user experiences.

• Product Ownership: Gaining experience leading features from concept to launch in a fast-growing startup.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skills: Developing a deeper understanding of B2B SaaS, procurement, and supply chain domains.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced product and engineering leaders within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary growth opportunity lies in tackling the unique challenges of designing for AI-human collaboration, a rapidly evolving field that will be highly valuable for future career development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a feature that required significant iteration based on user feedback or data. What was your process, and what were the key learnings?" (Focus on your iterative process and data utilization).

• "How would you approach designing the interface for an AI agent that manages a user's procurement tasks? What are the key considerations for trust and control?" (Assess your AI design thinking and problem-framing).

• "Imagine you need to prototype a new AI-driven workflow quickly. What tools would you use, and how would you ensure the prototype effectively communicates your design intent to engineers?" (Evaluate your prototyping skills and tool proficiency, including AI tools). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Clera's mission and the specific problem we're solving in procurement intelligence?" (Research the company's mission and market).

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers, especially when there are differing opinions on design decisions?" (Demonstrate your teamwork and communication skills).

• "What are your thoughts on the balance between design polish and shipping speed in a startup environment?" (Align with the company's "bias for shipping" mentality). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative for each project, highlighting the problem, your role, your process, your solutions, and the outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data whenever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase AI Usage: Clearly articulate how you used AI tools in your design process for each relevant project.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and the challenges you faced.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, clear, and within the allocated time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on showcasing practical experience with AI tools and a strong understanding of the product lifecycle in a fast-paced B2B environment. The ability to articulate design decisions and their impact is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 of your strongest projects that align with the job requirements, emphasizing shipped work, B2B SaaS experience, and any use of AI design tools.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight relevant experience, skills (Figma, AI tools, design systems), and quantifiable achievements. Ensure it clearly states your availability to work on-site in Munich.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your design process, decision-making, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI design tools and human-AI interaction design.

• Research Clera: Understand Clera's mission, its product, and the challenges in the procurement intelligence and supply chain space. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company vision.

⚠️ 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.