(Junior) Product Designer (f/m/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: (Junior) Product Designer (f/m/d)

Company: smava GmbH

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-05

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design user interfaces and experiences for new financial products (Credit Card, Insurance, Mortgage) with a focus on usability and brand consistency.

• Develop and maintain design assets, icons, and components within a comprehensive visual design system.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers, in an agile, self-organized environment.

• Ensure responsive layouts and consistent interaction states across all product pages and platforms.

• Deliver production-ready design files and provide implementation support to development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a FinTech company, indicating a need for designers to understand financial product nuances and regulatory considerations. The emphasis on a self-organized model suggests a highly collaborative and autonomous work environment where designers are expected to take initiative and contribute to team culture.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design user-centric interfaces for new OTR (Originating to Reporting) products, including credit cards, insurance offerings, and mortgage solutions, ensuring adherence to smava's brand guidelines and design system.

• Create a variety of design assets such as hero banners, illustrative icons, and reusable UI components, maintaining visual and behavioral consistency across all digital touchpoints.

• Actively participate in design sprints and brainstorming sessions with the Product Design Team to generate innovative user flow scenarios and identify opportunities for interface enhancements.

• Implement responsive design principles to guarantee seamless user experiences across various devices and screen sizes, with meticulous attention to interaction states and transitions.

• Produce polished, production-ready Figma files, including detailed specifications and assets, and provide ongoing support to engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle to ensure accurate implementation.

• Contribute to the evolution and expansion of smava's existing visual design system, developing new components and patterns to support upcoming features like advanced filtering mechanisms and multi-option user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role with significant ownership over feature design and system contribution. The mention of "OTR products" suggests the designer will be involved in the end-to-end product lifecycle, from initial concept to final implementation, within a financial services context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating proficiency in Product Design, UX/UI, or a related field is paramount.

Experience: A minimum of 2 years of proven experience in designing interfaces for web products is required, with a demonstrable focus on usability, consistency, and user-centered design principles.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in designing intuitive and engaging user interfaces for web-based applications.

• Solid understanding of user experience (UX) principles, including user research interpretation and application.

• Proficiency in modern UI/interaction design patterns relevant to web products.

• Demonstrated ability to translate research findings, data insights, and business requirements into actionable design solutions.

• Advanced proficiency in design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.

• Familiarity with collaboration and project management tools such as Jira and Miro.

• Experience ensuring responsive layouts and consistent interaction states across different devices.

• Ability to contribute to and maintain visual design systems and component libraries.

• Experience working within agile or cross-functional team structures alongside product managers and developers.

• Proactive, detail-oriented approach to design work with a strong capacity for collaboration and receptiveness to feedback. Preferred Skills:

• Basic knowledge of the German language.

• Experience in the FinTech industry or with financial products.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and data-driven design iteration.

• Experience in creating and maintaining design systems.

• Understanding of web development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and their implications on design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "2+ years" suggests a role that is beyond entry-level but still offers significant learning and development opportunities, fitting a junior to mid-level profile. The preference for German language skills indicates a strong focus on integration within the local Berlin team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 well-documented case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design processes for web products.

• Emphasis on projects that highlight problem-solving, user research, ideation, UI/UX design, and the impact of design decisions on user experience and business outcomes.

• Clear articulation of your role and contributions within each project, especially in collaborative or team-based environments.

• Examples of responsive design implementation and interaction design patterns.

• Demonstrations of contributions to or creation of design systems or component libraries. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly outline the design process followed, including discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases.

• Showcase how user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints were balanced to arrive at optimal design solutions.

• Detail the use of specific design tools (Figma) and collaboration platforms (Jira, Miro) in managing the design workflow.

• Present key metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success and impact of your design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating a structured design process, problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate complex requirements into elegant, user-friendly interfaces. The ability to articulate design decisions and their impact is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Junior Product Designer (2-5 years experience) in Berlin, Germany, the estimated annual salary range is €45,000 - €65,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major German tech hubs, considering the FinTech sector and the specified experience level.

Benefits:

• Career Development: Access to internal career programs, further training opportunities, and language courses (German).

• Work Environment: A modern, well-equipped office featuring a roof terrace and lounge area.

• Social & Team Building: Regular company events such as Company Lunch, Table Tennis Tournament, and Summer Party to celebrate successes and foster team spirit.

• Daily Perks: Subsidized lunch delivered directly to the office.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous 30 days of vacation annually, plus 10 child sick days for parents, in addition to statutory entitlements.

• Health & Wellness: Collaborations with sports providers and weekly sports activities held in the office.

• Sustainability & Commute: Support for social projects and a subsidy for public transport tickets.

• Employee Discounts: Exclusive offers through a Corporate Benefits partnership with numerous brands.

• Financial Security: A subsidized company pension plan for long-term financial planning.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment in Germany. While the role is on-site, the company culture emphasizes flexibility and autonomy within the agile framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on common market rates for a Junior Product Designer in Berlin. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, interview performance, and the company's internal compensation structure. The extensive benefits package reflects a commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech (Financial Technology), specifically focusing on online credit comparison platforms. smava operates within a dynamic and competitive market, aiming to simplify and democratize access to consumer loans.

Company Size: smava is a significant player in the German FinTech landscape, with a substantial employee base (indicated by the "more than 300,000 satisfied customers" and the team coming "from over 50 nations," suggesting a company of considerable scale, likely in the 100-500+ employee range). This size implies a structured yet agile environment with opportunities for impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, smava has established itself as a leading FinTech company in Germany, suggesting a history of innovation and growth in the digital consumer finance sector.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design Team is integrated within a larger Product and Tech department, which operates in a self-organized, hierarchy-free model. This team comprises Product Designers, Researchers, and Graphic Designers.

• Product Designers are embedded within cross-functional, self-organized teams that include Product Managers, Engineers, Analytics specialists, Marketing, and Customer Success personnel.

• This structure fosters close collaboration and shared responsibility for product development and design culture. Methodology:

• The company employs a collaborative, lean, and hypothesis-driven approach to its work.

• Product and Tech teams operate autonomously, moving away from traditional hierarchical structures.

• Design decisions are informed by a combination of research findings, data insights, and business needs.

Company Website: https://www.smava.de/ (Corporate site) and https://jobs.smava.de/ (Career page)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at smava is characterized by a strong emphasis on collaboration, agility, and a flat organizational structure. This FinTech environment likely values innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a (Junior) Product Designer, indicating an opportunity for individuals with foundational experience (2+ years) to grow their expertise. It’s a crucial stepping stone for aspiring Senior Product Designers, offering exposure to complex product challenges and a collaborative design ecosystem.

Reporting Structure: Product Designers work embedded in cross-functional, self-organized teams. While there isn't a strict hierarchy, they report to the broader Product Design Team and collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their respective teams. The Design team collectively nurtures design culture and spirit.

Operations Impact: Product Designers at smava have a direct impact on the user experience of core financial products like credit cards, insurance, and mortgages. Their work influences customer acquisition, engagement, and satisfaction, thereby contributing directly to the company's FinTech success and market position. They are instrumental in translating complex financial concepts into accessible and user-friendly interfaces.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of product design, such as interaction design, visual design systems, or user research methodologies, within the FinTech domain.

• Leadership Potential: Through active contribution to design culture, mentorship of interns or junior designers, and leading design initiatives within cross-functional teams, there's potential to grow into more senior or lead design roles.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working in diverse, self-organized teams provides broad exposure to various business functions, enhancing understanding of product strategy and market dynamics.

• Continuous Learning: Access to internal training programs, further development opportunities, and language courses supports ongoing professional and personal growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Junior" aspect of the title, combined with the 2+ years of experience and the emphasis on growth within a self-organized structure, suggests a role focused on skill development and increasing autonomy. The impact on FinTech products means exposure to high-stakes design challenges.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The description mentions a "modern equipped office with roof terrace, lounge and much more," suggesting a contemporary, amenity-rich workspace designed to foster collaboration and employee well-being. This is an on-site role.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Berlin, Germany. This places the role within a vibrant European tech hub known for its startup and FinTech scene.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office design, including lounges and terraces, likely encourages informal interactions and collaborative work sessions among team members.

• Tools & Technology: Designers will have access to modern design tools like Figma, Jira, and Miro, and will work closely with developers, implying a digitally integrated and technologically advanced workspace.

• Team Interaction: Daily collaboration with product managers, engineers, researchers, and graphic designers within cross-functional teams is a core aspect of the work environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. While on-site, the company promotes a lean and hypothesis-driven approach within self-organized teams, which often implies a degree of flexibility and autonomy in managing one's workday, provided project deadlines and team collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a modern office with amenities and collaborative spaces indicates a company that invests in its physical workspace to support employee comfort and productivity, particularly for an on-site role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV (preferably PDF) and potentially a cover letter via the online application form.

• Portfolio Review: The hiring team will thoroughly review submitted portfolios to assess design skills, process documentation, and relevant experience. Expect to present specific case studies.

• Screening Call: A brief introductory call with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss your background, interest in smava, and initial fit for the role.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or present a detailed walkthrough of one or more portfolio case studies to the Product Design team. This will assess your problem-solving approach, design methodology, and communication skills.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with members of the Product Design team and potentially cross-functional team members (Product Manager, Engineer) to evaluate cultural fit, collaboration style, and technical capabilities.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role (web products, FinTech potential).

• Structure for Clarity: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your design thinking, research methods, ideation techniques, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.

• Showcase Tools: Explicitly mention your proficiency with Figma, Jira, and Miro and how you used them in your workflow.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, ensure you understand the business goals and user needs behind it. Ask clarifying questions.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your structured approach to problem-solving, even if you can't complete the entire task within the allotted time.

• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your thought process, design decisions, and trade-offs made.

• Be Realistic: For on-site roles, understand the constraints of working within a team and delivering production-ready assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process likely involves a strong emphasis on the portfolio, as it's the primary way to assess a designer's practical skills and methodology. Preparation should focus on clearly articulating design thinking and demonstrating concrete results.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential for delivering production-ready files and contributing to the design system.

• Jira: Used for project management, task tracking, and workflow management within agile teams. Familiarity is needed for collaboration and understanding project progress.

• Miro: A collaborative online whiteboard platform used for brainstorming, ideation, user journey mapping, and team workshops. Essential for cross-functional design collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a designer tool, a strong understanding of how to interpret and utilize data insights from analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) is implied by the requirement to find solutions between research, data, and business needs. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRM and automation platforms could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. The inclusion of Jira and Miro points to a collaborative and agile development environment where designers actively participate in team workflows and ideation sessions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration & Team Spirit: The company emphasizes an open, dynamic, and collaborative working environment where team members from diverse backgrounds share skills and ideas. Designers are expected to actively contribute to building this spirit.

• Lean & Hypothesis-Driven: Work is conducted with a focus on efficiency, continuous learning, and testing assumptions through data and user feedback.

• Diversity & Inclusion: smava actively promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace, valuing different perspectives, skills, and experiences.

• User-Centricity: The design process is rooted in understanding user needs and translating them into intuitive and effective product experiences.

• Proactivity & Detail-Orientation: Individuals are expected to be proactive in their work, pay close attention to detail, and be open to feedback.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded & Cross-functional: Designers work embedded in cross-functional teams, fostering close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders on a daily basis.

• Agile & Self-Organized: The team operates within agile methodologies and a self-organized model, encouraging autonomy, shared responsibility, and open communication.

• Design Culture Contribution: Product Designers are encouraged to actively build and nurture the design culture within the company, sharing best practices and fostering a strong team spirit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at smava appears to be progressive, valuing collaboration, diversity, and a modern, agile approach to work. Designers are expected to be team players who contribute actively to both product development and the overall company culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for FinTech Complexity: Translating intricate financial products (credit cards, insurance, mortgages) into simple, user-friendly interfaces requires a deep understanding of the domain and careful attention to detail and compliance.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively navigating the balance between user experience, business objectives, and technical feasibility within cross-functional teams.

• Maintaining Design System Scalability: Contributing to and evolving a design system that supports a growing product suite and diverse features, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Remote Collaboration (if applicable): While this is an on-site role, understanding how to effectively collaborate and maintain design consistency in a hybrid or remote-first context can be a valuable skill for future roles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into FinTech Design: Gain specialized experience in designing for a regulated and complex industry, understanding user needs specific to financial services.

• Design System Mastery: Contribute significantly to a live, evolving design system, learning best practices for component creation, documentation, and governance.

• Agile & Self-Organization Exposure: Develop strong skills in working within highly autonomous and collaborative team structures, enhancing project management and communication abilities.

• Professional Development: Access to internal career programs, further training, and language courses supports continuous skill enhancement and career progression.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the complexity of the FinTech domain and the need for meticulous design execution. The growth opportunities are strong for a designer looking to specialize in financial services and work within a modern, agile organizational structure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a complex financial product. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them?" (Preparation: Focus on your FinTech experience or similar complex domains, emphasizing your problem-solving process, user research, and how you simplified complex information.)

• "How do you ensure visual and interaction consistency across multiple product features and platforms, especially when contributing to a design system?" (Preparation: Discuss your experience with design systems, component libraries, style guides, and your process for maintaining brand integrity.)

• "Walk us through a challenging design project where you had to balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints. What was your role, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Select a relevant case study from your portfolio and detail your decision-making process, trade-offs, and the measurable impact of your design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about smava and the FinTech industry specifically?" (Preparation: Research smava's mission, products, and recent news. Understand the FinTech landscape and articulate why you want to contribute to this sector.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a cross-functional, self-organized team?" (Preparation: Discuss your experience with agile methodologies, your communication style, and how you contribute to team goals and culture.)

• "Describe a situation where you received constructive criticism on your design. How did you handle it, and what did you learn?" (Preparation: Showcase your openness to feedback and your ability to iterate and improve based on input.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, frame it as a narrative – the problem, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Focus on "Why": Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions. Why did you choose a particular pattern, color, or interaction?

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and user flow diagrams to illustrate your designs.

• Highlight Your Process: Dedicate time to explaining your research methods, ideation techniques, and how you validated your designs.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your work, from initial concept to final implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should center on demonstrating a strong understanding of product design principles, a structured and user-centric process, and the ability to articulate design decisions and their impact effectively, especially within a FinTech context and an agile team environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided online application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (link provided in your CV or application) and showcases 2-3 strong case studies relevant to web product design, highlighting your process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Tailor your presentation to emphasize how your skills align with smava's FinTech focus and collaborative culture.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly highlight your 2+ years of experience in UI/UX design, proficiency in Figma, Jira, and Miro, and any experience with agile methodologies or FinTech. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and presenting your case studies. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research, ideation, and problem-solving, as well as your understanding of design systems and responsive design. Prepare to discuss why smava and the FinTech industry appeal to you.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with smava's products, mission, and values. Understand their approach to design and their place in the FinTech market. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, the team, and the company 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.