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: 2026-08-15

Experience Level: Junior (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop end-to-end product experiences for an AI-powered B2B SaaS platform in the procurement intelligence and supply chain domain.

• Define novel UX patterns for human-AI agent interaction, focusing on supervision, task surfacing, and trust-building mechanisms.

• Rapidly prototype and iterate on designs using Figma, AI tools, and potentially code to deliver impactful features to paying customers.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and domain experts within a cross-functional team to ensure seamless product development and delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on the nascent field of Human-AI interaction within a B2B SaaS context. The emphasis on "agentic AI products" and "inventing UX patterns that don't yet exist" indicates a significant opportunity to shape the future of AI-driven workflows in industrial sectors. Candidates should highlight experience with complex systems and a proactive approach to defining user experiences where established patterns may not apply.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design comprehensive product flows, user interfaces, and interactive prototypes that are ready for development and customer deployment within tight timelines.

• Conceptualize and refine user interactions for AI agents, including how they present tasks, how users review and approve them, and how trust is fostered through continuous interaction.

• Utilize a range of prototyping tools, including Figma and AI-driven design tools (e.g., v0, Figma Make), to quickly visualize and test design concepts.

• Actively participate in cross-functional team meetings, providing design expertise and collaborating on problem-solving with product management and engineering.

• Conduct design reviews for code implementations (PRs) and execute final visual and interaction adjustments to ensure design fidelity in the shipped product.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of a shared design system, promoting visual consistency and interaction standards across the product.

• Take full ownership of product features from initial discovery and user research through to final launch and post-launch iteration.

• Analyze customer feedback and in-production usage data to inform design decisions and drive continuous improvement of the product experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "minimise handoff friction" and "review PRs and make last-mile interaction and visual tweaks" suggests a hands-on role where designers are deeply integrated with the development process, rather than operating in a silo. Expect to work closely with engineers and potentially have some exposure to front-end code, especially for prototyping.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 0-2 years of professional product design experience, with a strong emphasis on a portfolio showcasing shipped work. Relevant internships with demonstrable impact will be considered.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in end-to-end product design, from user research and ideation to detailed UI/UX design and final implementation oversight.

• Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity interface design.

• Experience contributing to or maintaining a design system, ensuring consistency and scalability of design elements.

• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0, Figma Make) to enhance the design workflow, including ideation, content generation, or prototyping.

• Strong foundation in both visual design principles (aesthetics, typography, layout) and interaction design (user flows, microinteractions, usability).

• Excellent systems thinking capabilities, with the ability to understand and design for complex, interconnected product features.

• A bias for action and a pragmatic approach to shipping products, comfortable with ambiguity and iterative development.

• Solid understanding of the design-to-development lifecycle and effective cross-functional collaboration skills. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for B2B SaaS products, particularly those involving complex workflows or data-heavy applications.

• Experience with coding for prototyping, specifically HTML, CSS, and React.

• Demonstrated interest or experience in designing for non-technical users in specialized industry verticals.

• Articulated opinions and insights on the integration of AI into product interfaces beyond basic conversational elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI tools in your design workflow" is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific AI tools they've used and how these tools have tangibly improved their design process, efficiency, or output. This is not just a nice-to-have but a core requirement for this position.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing at least one significant B2B product design project with shipped work.

• Demonstrated experience in designing complex workflows or data-intensive applications.

• Evidence of end-to-end product ownership, from initial concept and discovery through to launch and iteration.

• Case studies that highlight the use of AI tools in the design process, detailing how they were leveraged for ideation, prototyping, or problem-solving.

• Examples of contributions to a design system, illustrating consistency and scalability. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process followed, including user research methodologies, ideation techniques, and prototyping approaches.

• Document the iterative process, showing how feedback from customers or stakeholders influenced design decisions and product improvements.

• Illustrate the collaboration process with engineering and product management, detailing how design challenges were overcome and how handoffs were managed.

• For any code-based prototyping, provide insights into the technical considerations and implementation details.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role, especially given the junior experience level. It needs to go beyond static mockups and demonstrate a deep understanding of the design process, problem-solving skills, and the ability to deliver tangible results. Specific examples of how AI tools were integrated into the design workflow will be crucial for evaluation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the role is based in Munich, Germany, and for a Junior Product Designer with 0-2 years of experience in a Series A B2B SaaS company, a competitive salary range would typically fall between €45,000 - €60,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for junior design roles in major German tech hubs, considering the company's funding stage and the specialized nature of AI product design.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for equity/stock options.

• Comprehensive health insurance and benefits package compliant with German regulations.

• Opportunities for professional development, including workshops, conferences, and training.

• Contribution to a dynamic and innovative work environment within a growing AI-focused company.

• Generous paid time off and public holidays.

• Potential for team events and social activities.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Clera likely offers some flexibility in daily scheduling to accommodate personal needs, provided core business hours and team collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and industry reports for Junior Product Designers in Munich, Germany, for tech companies with Series A funding. The specific benefits package should be confirmed directly with Clera, but typical offerings for a company of this stage and location include health insurance, PTO, and professional development allowances.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Clera operates in the B2B SaaS sector, specifically focusing on Procurement Intelligence and Supply Chain management, leveraging AI to automate and optimize these processes. The company is at a Series A funding stage, indicating rapid growth and innovation.

Company Size: With over 150 employees, Clera is a mid-sized startup. This size typically offers a balance between the agility and impact of a smaller team and the resources and structure of a more established organization. For operations professionals, this means potential for broad exposure and influence, but also a need for adaptability and self-direction.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, Clera is a Series A company, suggesting it was founded within the last 5-7 years, positioning it as a modern, forward-thinking tech company.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is described as "small" and "cross-functional," implying close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering.

• Designers will likely work within specific product squads or feature teams, reporting to a Head of Product or Design Lead.

• Collaboration is expected to be direct and frequent, with a focus on rapid iteration and shipping. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes an agile development methodology with a focus on shipping products "within weeks — not quarters."

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through "customer feedback and in-production usage data."

• The core methodology revolves around developing "agentic AI products," requiring a novel approach to UX design and human-AI interaction.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI-powered procurement intelligence suggests a complex B2B domain where deep understanding of user workflows and data is critical. The "agentic AI" aspect implies a shift from traditional tools to more autonomous systems, presenting unique design challenges and opportunities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Junior Product Designer role, suited for individuals with 0-2 years of experience. It offers a foundational opportunity to learn and grow within a specialized area of product design. The role emphasizes hands-on contribution and end-to-end feature ownership, providing significant learning opportunities.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Product Designer will likely report to a Product Design Lead or Head of Product. They will be an integral part of a small, cross-functional product team, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers.

Operations Impact: While not directly an "operations" role in the traditional sense (like RevOps or SalesOps), Product Design plays a critical role in the operational efficiency and adoption of the B2B SaaS product. Effective UX and UI design directly impact user productivity, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's ability to retain and grow its customer base. Designing intuitive interfaces for complex AI workflows can reduce training costs, improve data accuracy, and streamline procurement processes, contributing significantly to the overall operational success of Clera's clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for AI-powered products, human-AI interaction, and complex B2B workflows.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to Product Designer, Senior Product Designer, or even lead design initiatives for specific product areas as the company scales.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain valuable experience working across product management, engineering, and potentially sales/customer success teams.

• Leadership Potential: As experience grows, opportunities to mentor junior designers and influence design strategy may arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: Although the title is "Junior Product Designer," the description emphasizes "end-to-end ownership" and "owning features from discovery through launch." This suggests a fast-paced learning environment where a junior designer can gain significant practical experience and autonomy, accelerating their career growth beyond typical junior roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site in Munich, Germany. This suggests a traditional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Munich, Bavaria, Germany. This is a major European tech hub, offering a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and talent.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to foster close collaboration among cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Design).

• Designers will have access to the necessary tools and technology, including Figma and potentially AI design tools.

• The "small, cross-functional team" structure encourages direct interaction and knowledge sharing among team members.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, there is likely an expectation of flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and team collaboration needs, balanced with work-life integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on being "on-site in Munich" and the absence of visa sponsorship indicates a preference for local talent or those already authorized to work in Germany. This also highlights the company's commitment to in-person collaboration for its core product development teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio. A strong portfolio showcasing relevant shipped work is critical.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Expect a practical exercise or a deep dive into a portfolio project. This will likely assess your problem-solving approach, design thinking, and ability to articulate your process and rationale. For this role, specific attention will be paid to how you approach AI integration and complex workflows.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Team/Leadership Interviews: Discussions with design leadership or senior team members to evaluate design philosophy, growth potential, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase AI Integration: Clearly demonstrate how you've used AI tools in your design process. Detail the specific tools, your methods, and the impact on your design outcomes.

• Focus on Shipped Work: Prioritize projects that have been launched and are in production. Quantify the impact of your designs where possible (e.g., improved conversion, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

• Detail Complex Workflows: For B2B or data-heavy products, clearly outline the complexity of the user problems you solved and the elegance of your solutions.

• Explain Your Process: Walk through your design thinking, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, and iteration. Explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: If applicable, describe how you collaborated with engineers and product managers.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Workflow Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss hypothetical scenarios involving human-AI collaboration in procurement or supply chain contexts.

• System Design Thinking: Practice articulating how different product features and AI components interact to form a cohesive user experience.

• Iterative Design: Understand how to incorporate user feedback and data into design iterations, especially in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Daily use of AI tools" requirement means your portfolio and any design challenges will likely scrutinize your practical experience with AI in design. Be ready to discuss specific AI tools, techniques, and outcomes beyond generic statements.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, wireframing, and prototyping. Proficiency is a must.

• AI Design Tools: Daily use expected for ideation, prototyping, or collaboration. Examples include Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0, Figma Make. Candidates should be ready to discuss their preferred tools and applications.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with other rapid prototyping tools might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how to interpret user data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is valuable. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with B2B SaaS CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and workflow automation concepts can provide context for the user environment, though direct experience is not a primary requirement for this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI tools" in the requirements and the specific examples provided (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0, Figma Make) are critical. Candidates should not only list these but be prepared to demonstrate how they've integrated them into their workflow to achieve specific design outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Agility: A strong emphasis on shipping quickly and iterating based on real-world feedback, characteristic of a fast-paced Series A startup.

• Customer Focus: Designing for "paying customers in a real industry vertical" means a deep understanding of user needs and business impact is paramount.

• Collaboration: Working in small, cross-functional teams requires strong communication and a willingness to contribute across disciplines.

• Data-Driven Approach: Iteration based on "customer feedback and in-production usage data" highlights the importance of metrics and evidence in decision-making.

• Embracing New Technology: The core product is AI-powered, indicating a culture that embraces cutting-edge technology and is open to exploring new design paradigms.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers are expected to work "closely with product managers, engineers" with "minimal handoff friction," suggesting a highly integrated and collaborative approach.

• Proactive Communication: The "small, cross-functional team" environment likely fosters open and frequent communication, encouraging designers to voice ideas and concerns early.

• Shared Ownership: The emphasis on "owning features from discovery through launch" implies a culture of shared responsibility and collective success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "agentic AI products" and "inventing UX patterns that don't yet exist" suggests a culture that values experimentation, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to challenge conventional design thinking.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining Novel UX for AI: The primary challenge is to design intuitive and trustworthy user experiences for AI agents, where established patterns are scarce. This requires significant creativity and strategic thinking.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: Working in a fast-paced environment with "shipping within weeks" demands efficiency, adaptability, and the ability to make quick, informed design decisions.

• Balancing Complexity and Usability: Designing for complex B2B procurement workflows while ensuring the AI interaction remains accessible to users, potentially those less tech-savvy.

• Technical Constraints: Understanding and working within the technical possibilities and limitations of AI development and front-end implementation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Human-AI Interaction Expertise: Become a specialist in a rapidly evolving field of design.

• B2B SaaS Design Mastery: Gain deep experience in designing for complex enterprise software.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Develop advanced skills in leveraging AI to enhance the design process.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Grow alongside product managers and engineers, understanding the full product lifecycle.

• Impactful Product Development: Contribute directly to a product used by paying customers, seeing the real-world impact of your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "comfort with ambiguity and a bias toward shipping rather than endless polish" highlights a key challenge: learning to deliver value incrementally and effectively manage scope in a dynamic environment. This is a crucial skill for growth in a startup setting.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a user experience for a task or workflow that didn't have existing precedents. How did you approach it?" (Focus on your process, research, and how you defined new patterns.)

• "How do you use AI tools in your design process? Can you walk us through an example where AI significantly improved your outcome?" (Be specific about tools, methods, and results.)

• "Imagine designing the interface for an AI agent that manages purchase orders for a procurement team. What are the key user needs and potential challenges you'd consider?" (Demonstrate your understanding of AI interaction, B2B workflows, and user trust.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clera's mission and the specific challenges of designing for AI-powered procurement intelligence?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers, especially when facing tight deadlines?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are not just aesthetically pleasing but also drive business value and improve operational efficiency for users?" (Connect design to impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, solutions, AI integration), and end (outcome, impact).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively. Highlight key screens, flows, and interactive elements.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Explain Your "Why": Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind every significant design decision.

• Address AI Usage Explicitly: Dedicate a portion of your presentation to how AI tools were used, the benefits gained, and any lessons learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss the "design-to-development lifecycle" and how you navigate it. This includes understanding how to hand off designs effectively and how to collaborate with engineers to ensure the final product matches design intent, especially with the added complexity of AI features.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby HQ.

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience with Figma, design systems, AI tools, and any B2B or complex workflow design projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 key projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, your ability to tackle complex problems, and your practical experience with AI in design. Ensure it is easily navigable and clearly showcases shipped work.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on the problem, your process (including AI integration), your solutions, and the outcomes. Be ready to discuss your design philosophy and why you're excited about Clera.

• Research Clera: Understand their product, their market (procurement intelligence, supply chain), and their AI focus. This will help you tailor your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.