Junior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Product Designer

Company: Tacto

Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

Experience Level: 0-2 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office/week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process for AI agent-driven workflows, from initial concept to shipped features.

• Innovate and define novel user experiences for non-technical users interacting with complex AI agents in a B2B procurement context.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to rapidly iterate on designs and ensure high-quality product delivery.

• Leverage AI tools in daily workflows to accelerate ideation, prototyping, and research, pushing the boundaries of AI-human interaction design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a unique opportunity to shape a nascent product category. The emphasis on "writing the patterns" for AI agent supervision suggests a high degree of autonomy and creative problem-solving for a junior designer, which is uncommon and indicates significant potential for impact and learning.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for new features, including user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes for AI agent supervision and interaction.

• Design intuitive interfaces that enable non-technical procurement professionals to effectively manage, supervise, and trust AI agents performing complex workflows like sourcing, negotiation, and market monitoring.

• Develop and maintain design system components, ensuring visual and interaction consistency across the product as the engineering team scales.

• Collaborate with engineering by contributing to code for last-mile polish, interaction tweaks, and ensuring design integrity within the codebase.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather feedback, identify pain points, and iterate on designs to optimize user experience and build trust in AI outputs.

• Actively use and experiment with AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0) for design ideation, rapid prototyping, and enhancing design workflow efficiency.

• Contribute to raising the overall visual and interaction design quality of the product, establishing best practices for AI-powered B2B applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description explicitly mentions "shipping to paying customers within weeks, not quarters" and "getting your hands dirty in the codebase for last-mile polish," indicating a fast-paced, hands-on environment. This suggests a need for designers who are comfortable with rapid iteration, direct code contribution, and a focus on shipping functional, impactful designs quickly rather than extensive, long-term design research cycles typical in larger organizations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, human-computer interaction, and user-centered design methodologies is expected, often gained through formal education (e.g., degrees in Design, HCI, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 0-2 years of product design experience. Strong internships or demonstrable project work in product design, UX design, or interaction design will be considered. Experience with shipped products, particularly in B2B, complex workflow applications, or data-intensive domains, is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Figma for creating user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Strong visual and interaction design skills, with a keen eye for detail and user experience optimization.

• Understanding of design system principles and their application for maintaining design consistency.

• Familiarity with the design-to-development lifecycle and effective cross-functional collaboration.

• Experience or strong eagerness to integrate AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, v0) into the design workflow for enhanced efficiency and innovation.

• Ability to think systematically about product design, considering the holistic user experience across multiple features.

• Comfort working in ambiguous environments and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience prototyping in code (HTML, CSS, React).

• Prior design experience for non-technical users within complex or specialized domains.

• Demonstrated interest or expertise in designing AI-driven products beyond simple chat interfaces.

• Experience with user research methodologies and translating findings into design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools in the daily workflow is a critical differentiator. Candidates are expected to not only be familiar with but actively integrate tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and v0. This signals a forward-thinking design team that sees AI as a core component of the design process, not just a feature to be designed.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end ownership of at least one significant product design project, showcasing problem definition, design process, and final solution.

• Include examples of designing for complex workflows or data-heavy applications, highlighting how you simplified intricate processes for users.

• Showcase your ability to create clear, intuitive user flows and interactive prototypes, ideally using Figma.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from initial problem understanding and user research to iterative prototyping and final implementation handoff.

• Explain how you collaborate with engineering and product management, emphasizing your role in ensuring design integrity throughout the development lifecycle.

• Include examples of how you have used data or user feedback to inform design iterations and optimizations.

• Highlight your experience with design systems and how you ensure consistency and scalability in your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on AI agents and novel user experiences, portfolios should ideally demonstrate an ability to tackle undefined problems and propose innovative solutions. Case studies that show how a designer navigated ambiguity and contributed to defining a new interaction paradigm will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Junior Product Designer (0-2 years experience) in Munich, Germany, with a hybrid work arrangement and strong investor backing, a competitive salary range would typically be between €50,000 and €65,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Munich, the demand for skilled product designers, and the company's stage and funding.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and equity in the company, providing a stake in Tacto's success.

• A dedicated development budget to support continuous learning and professional growth.

• Generous vacation allowance of 26 + 4 company-fixed rest days per year.

• Wellpass membership for health and wellness.

• Access to a fruit basket in the office.

• Jobrad bicycle leasing program for commuting and personal use.

• Voluntary pension contribution.

• Voluntary KITA (childcare) subsidy for employees with children.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, with an expectation of being in the office for at least 4 days per week. The company culture emphasizes high performance and autonomy, suggesting flexibility within the work week as long as objectives are met and collaboration needs are fulfilled.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry benchmarks for junior roles in Munich. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio, and performance during the interview process. The comprehensive benefits package reflects a well-resourced startup environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software, AI, B2B SaaS, Procurement Technology, Manufacturing Technology. Tacto operates at the intersection of AI and industrial enterprise software, focusing on transforming traditional procurement processes through intelligent automation.

Company Size: 100+ employees. This size indicates a growing startup with established processes and a significant team, yet small enough to maintain agility and a close-knit culture.

Founded: The company's founding date is not explicitly stated but is implied to be recent enough to be in a high-growth phase, backed by significant venture capital.

Team Structure:

• The Product, Engineering, and Design teams likely operate in close collaboration, forming an "AI-native" ecosystem with minimal silos.

• The reporting structure for a Junior Product Designer would typically be to a Lead Product Designer or Head of Design, with direct collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making and user feedback loops to guide product development and design iterations.

• Agile development methodologies are implied, with a focus on rapid shipping cycles (weekly) and iterative improvements.

• AI tools are integrated into core workflows for efficiency and innovation across product, design, and engineering.

Company Website: https://www.tacto.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be fast-paced, highly collaborative, and deeply integrated with AI technologies. The "full ecosystem from day one" and "no silos" points suggest an environment where designers are exposed to all aspects of product development and have direct influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the Junior or Associate level within the Product Design discipline. It's an entry point into designing complex B2B SaaS products, with a unique specialization in AI agent interaction. The primary focus is on execution, learning, and contributing to shipped features under guidance.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Product Designer will report to a more senior design lead or manager. They will work closely with Product Managers to understand requirements and with Engineering teams for implementation. This structure provides mentorship and clear direction while fostering collaboration.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "Operations" role (like RevOps or SalesOps), this Product Designer role has a significant impact on how the company's operations (procurement workflows) are executed. By designing intuitive interfaces for AI agents, the designer directly influences the efficiency, effectiveness, and adoption of Tacto's platform, thereby impacting customer operational success and, consequently, Tacto's revenue and growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deep expertise in designing for AI agents and complex B2B workflows, a rapidly growing and high-demand field.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to Mid-Level Designer, Senior Designer, Lead Designer, or even Design Manager as the company scales and the product matures.

• Leadership Potential: Opportunities to take ownership of significant product areas and potentially mentor future junior designers.

• Domain Expertise: Developing a strong understanding of procurement processes and the manufacturing industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "writing the patterns" aspect of this role means that a successful Junior Product Designer here could quickly gain experience and visibility that positions them for rapid career advancement, potentially faster than in more established product categories or companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Tacto emphasizes an "in-office" culture, with a requirement for employees to be present in the office for at least 4 days per week. This suggests a preference for collaborative, in-person work, fostering team cohesion and spontaneous ideation.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in a beautiful, central Munich location, Germany. This provides a professional and accessible workspace in a major European tech hub.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is described as "vibrant," implying a dynamic and engaging atmosphere conducive to collaboration.

• Access to modern tools and technology is a given, with a strong emphasis on AI tools as part of the daily workflow for designers.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with design, engineering, and product teams are abundant due to the integrated team structure and in-office requirement.

Work Schedule: While a standard full-time schedule is expected, the culture seems to value output and impact over strict adherence to hours. The rapid shipping cycles suggest a dynamic work pace that requires efficiency and focus, but likely offers some flexibility in how the work is managed day-to-day, provided objectives are met and collaborative needs are addressed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "in-office" requirement, specifically "more than 4 days/week," indicates a strong preference for in-person collaboration. This is a key factor for candidates to consider, as it contrasts with fully remote or more flexible hybrid models.

📄 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, particularly your experience with B2B, complex workflows, and AI tools.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely present your portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies. Expect in-depth questions about your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you tackled challenges. Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools and your thoughts on designing for AI agents.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise, potentially involving a small design problem or a critique of an existing interface, to assess your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate your approach. This might involve Figma work or a whiteboard session.

• Team Interviews: Discussions with potential team members (designers, PMs, engineers) to evaluate cultural fit, collaboration style, and how you approach working with others.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a founder or senior leadership, focusing on your long-term vision, ambition, and alignment with Tacto's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 2-3 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills for this role. Prioritize B2B, complex systems, or projects involving AI if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, iteration), your key decisions, and the outcome/impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight AI Integration: If you have projects where you used AI tools (even for research or ideation), make sure to mention and showcase this. Discuss your approach to designing for AI.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Demonstrate your understanding of how individual features fit into a larger product ecosystem.

• Be Ready for Code Discussion: If you have coding experience, be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with engineers or contributed to front-end code.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Problem Domain: Research Tacto's product, the procurement industry, and the challenges of AI agent supervision.

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: Be ready to explain why you made certain design decisions, not just what you designed.

• Demonstrate Ambiguity Navigation: Practice articulating how you would approach a loosely defined problem.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you would work with engineers and PMs to refine designs and ensure successful implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "writing the patterns" and "shipping work that defines a category" means interviewers will be looking for initiative, a pioneering spirit, and the ability to contribute foundational design thinking, not just execute on well-defined specs.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is expected.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, candidates might use other tools for more complex interactions or to demonstrate specific functionalities.

• AI Design Tools: Explicitly mentioned are Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and v0. Proficiency or a strong willingness to learn and integrate these into the workflow is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a direct responsibility for a junior designer, understanding how to interpret user analytics and feedback is important. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel might be beneficial for understanding product performance post-launch.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant for this design role, but understanding the context of B2B SaaS sales and customer success processes can provide valuable insights into user needs.

Development & Code:

• HTML, CSS, React: Bonus points for experience here, indicating an ability to contribute to front-end implementation and understand technical constraints.

• Version Control (e.g., Git): Implied by the mention of "checking out PRs," suggesting some familiarity with development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and v0 is a strong signal. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their current usage of these tools and how they envision them enhancing the design process for Tacto's product.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Pioneering: A drive to create new standards and define a category, particularly in AI-human interaction.

• Execution & Shipping: A strong bias for action, focusing on delivering functional products quickly and efficiently. "Quality matters, but stuck-in-Figma perfectionists won't be happy."

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working in an integrated "full ecosystem" with no silos, emphasizing open communication and cross-functional alignment.

• Ambiguity Tolerance: Comfort with undefined problems and a proactive approach to figuring out solutions.

• AI-Native Mindset: Embracing AI as a core leverage point in all aspects of work.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work hand-in-hand with product managers and engineers.

• Rapid Feedback Loops: Designs are iterated upon quickly based on feedback from internal teams and customers.

• Direct Contribution: Designers are expected to contribute to the codebase for polish, indicating a highly collaborative and hands-on engineering culture.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring product integrity from ideation to launch requires constant communication and alignment across disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The value placed on "shipping" over "perfectionism" suggests a culture that prioritizes iterative progress and market feedback. Designers who thrive on constant improvement and rapid deployment will likely find this environment appealing.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Category: Designing user experiences for AI agents where established patterns do not exist requires significant creativity, research, and experimentation.

• Balancing Ambiguity with Execution: Navigating a landscape where the exact product direction may still be evolving, while still needing to deliver shipped features on a tight cadence.

• Building Trust in AI: Designing interfaces that foster user trust in AI outputs, especially for critical business functions like procurement.

• Technical Integration: Collaborating closely with engineers and potentially contributing to code requires a strong understanding of technical constraints and possibilities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge AI Design: Gaining unique expertise in a rapidly evolving field of human-AI interaction.

• End-to-End Product Ownership: Experience in taking features from concept to launch in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced designers, engineers, and product leaders within a high-talent-density team.

• Domain Expertise: Deepening knowledge of the manufacturing and procurement industries.

• Professional Development: Access to a development budget and exposure to exceptional people through learning sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is also the greatest growth opportunity: being at the forefront of defining how humans will interact with AI agents in a professional setting. This role offers a chance to build a foundational skill set in a domain that will be critical for future technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed an experience for a complex workflow. What were the key challenges, and how did you simplify it for the user?" (Focus on process, user empathy, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you approach building trust between a user and a system, especially when that system is AI?" (Highlight your understanding of UX principles for AI.)

• "Imagine we're building a feature for an AI agent to automatically negotiate supplier contracts. What are the first 3-5 things you'd consider designing?" (Assess your ability to think through complex AI interactions.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about Tacto, what do you think are the biggest design challenges we face?" (Show your research and strategic thinking.)

• "How do you handle feedback on your designs, especially constructive criticism from engineers or product managers?" (Assess your collaboration and adaptability.)

• "How do you balance speed of delivery with design quality? Can you give an example?" (Address the company's emphasis on shipping.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved efficiency, user satisfaction scores, adoption rates).

• Explain Your "Why": Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Demonstrate how your designs fit into a larger product ecosystem.

• Highlight AI Collaboration (if applicable): If you've used AI tools in your projects, explicitly mention and show how.

• Be Ready for Iteration Talk: Discuss how you've iterated on designs based on feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your personal philosophy on AI in design and how you see it evolving. Tacto is looking for designers who are not just users of AI tools but thinkers about AI-driven user experiences.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate experience with complex workflows, B2B applications, or any work involving AI/automation. Ensure it clearly showcases your Figma skills and design process.

• Resume Optimization: Emphasize relevant keywords such as "Product Design," "UX Design," "Figma," "Prototyping," "B2B," "AI," "Interaction Design," and any experience with code (HTML, CSS, React). Highlight achievements with quantifiable results where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and experiences with AI tools. Prepare to present 1-2 key case studies that best showcase your skills for this role.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Tacto's product, mission, and the procurement industry. Understand their focus on AI agents and their "AI-native" culture.

⚠️ 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.

---