Lead Product Designer, AI Builder (all genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer, AI Builder (all genders)

Company: Babbel

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / AI Product Development

Date Posted: October 02, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead product design strategy and execution for innovative AI-powered language learning experiences.

• Drive design discovery and delivery processes, ensuring high-quality, user-adopted product features.

• Champion an AI-first design methodology, leveraging AI tools for research, prototyping, and development acceleration.

• Mentor and guide a small, experienced design team, fostering a culture of AI-first design principles and excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a hands-on design leadership opportunity within a specialized AI product unit (Babbel Labs). The emphasis on "AI Builder" and "prototype in code" indicates a need for a designer who is not only a strong conceptual thinker but also technically proficient and comfortable working at the intersection of design and development, particularly with emerging AI technologies and coding for prototypes. The hybrid work arrangement suggests a blend of collaborative in-office work and remote flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design process for AI-driven language learning features, from initial concept and user research to final delivery and iteration.

• Define and own key design decisions, ensuring alignment with product strategy and user needs within an AI-first framework.

• Craft intuitive and engaging user interfaces and interaction models for AI-powered features, focusing on clarity, trustworthiness, and pedagogical effectiveness.

• Actively utilize and integrate AI tools (e.g., Claude Code) into the design workflow for rapid ideation, concept validation, and research acceleration.

• Develop functional prototypes using SwiftUI and HTML/CSS/JS to test hypotheses, demonstrate vision, and facilitate seamless handoffs to engineering teams.

• Coach and mentor experienced designers, guiding their craft, promoting AI-first design principles, and elevating the overall quality of design output.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including product managers, engineers, linguists, and language learning specialists, to ensure cohesive product development.

• Contribute to the evolution and application of AI-first design principles across the Babbel Labs design team.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and A/B testing to gather insights and inform design iterations for AI features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic design leadership and hands-on execution, with a significant emphasis on AI integration. The requirement to "prototype in code" and use "Figma is one tool among several" points to a modern, technically integrated design workflow where code-based prototyping is as critical as visual design tools. The leadership aspect is explicitly defined as "craft and direction" rather than people management, suggesting a senior individual contributor role with significant influence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for such senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of proven experience in product design, with a significant portion dedicated to leading design initiatives and shipping successful, user-adopted products.

Required Skills:

• Design Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading product design efforts, with a strong portfolio showcasing successful product launches and user adoption.

• UI Craft & Motion Design: Exceptional skills in visual design, interaction design, and purposeful motion design to create engaging learning experiences.

• Hands-on Prototyping (Code): Proficiency in building functional prototypes using SwiftUI and/or HTML/CSS/JS for user testing and vision demonstration.

• AI Fluency: Experience and comfort using AI tools (e.g., Claude Code) as an integral part of the design process, from discovery to delivery.

• Design Systems: Solid understanding and practical experience working with design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Coaching & Mentoring: Proven ability to coach and mentor designers, raising team standards through feedback and shared practices.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent communication and collaboration skills, working effectively with diverse technical and non-technical partners.

• Agility & Ambiguity: Comfort working in fast-paced, iterative environments and navigating ambiguity to drive projects forward.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the EdTech or language learning industry.

• Familiarity with AI-specific design challenges (e.g., conversational AI, AI feedback, trust in AI).

• Experience with specific AI prototyping tools beyond Claude Code.

• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of traditional design excellence (UI craft, motion design) with cutting-edge technical and AI proficiency. The explicit mention of "prototype in code" and "AI fluency" suggests that candidates who can demonstrate practical application of these skills in their portfolio will have a significant advantage. The "coaching mindset" points to the leadership aspect of guiding the team's craft and principles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Products: A curated selection of products or features you have led design for, demonstrating user adoption and impact.

• AI-First Case Studies: Detailed case studies showcasing your process for designing AI-powered experiences, including problem definition, AI tool usage, user research, prototyping (especially code-based), and outcomes.

• Code-Based Prototypes: Demonstrations of prototypes built with SwiftUI and/or HTML/CSS/JS, highlighting their functionality and how they were used for testing or vision setting.

• UI/UX Excellence: Examples of polished UI craft and effective motion design that enhance user learning and engagement.

• Design System Contribution/Usage: Evidence of your understanding and application of design systems for efficiency and consistency.

• Mentorship Examples: If possible, examples or descriptions of how you have coached or mentored other designers.

Process Documentation:

• Discovery & Delivery Frameworks: Illustrate your approach to both the early stages of product discovery and the later stages of design delivery, emphasizing speed and precision.

• AI Integration Workflows: Showcase how you integrate AI tools into your design workflow, from research and ideation to prototyping and final asset creation.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Detail how you engage with product managers, engineers, and subject matter experts throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific, reflecting the "AI Builder" and "prototype in code" mandate. Candidates must be prepared to showcase not just visual designs but also functional, code-based prototypes and demonstrate a clear process for integrating AI into their work. The emphasis on "delivery-ready prototypes" and "faster, better design work" means the portfolio should highlight efficiency gains and tangible outputs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: TBD. Based on the experience level (5-10 years), leadership responsibilities, and location (Berlin, Germany), a competitive salary range for a Lead Product Designer in the tech industry in Berlin would typically fall between €70,000 and €95,000 annually. This estimate considers market rates, the seniority of the role, and the specialized nature of AI product development.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Pay commensurate with the role's impact and seniority.

• Learning Opportunities: Significant room to learn and experiment with new AI tools and technologies as they emerge, with the potential to influence team adoption.

• Global Product Impact: Opportunity to design for a widely used consumer product with a global user base, impacting millions of language learners.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility combining in-office collaboration with remote work.

• Professional Development: Potential for training, conferences, and skill enhancement in cutting-edge AI and design fields.

• Standard Benefits: Likely includes health insurance, paid time off, and other standard benefits offered by European tech companies.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected given the fast-paced, iterative nature of the role and the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is explicitly marked as TBD. The provided range is an estimate based on typical Lead Product Designer salaries in Berlin for a company like Babbel, considering the specific requirements of AI product development and design leadership. The benefits section elaborates on the "Room to learn new tools" and "Consumer product used around the world" points, framing them as key advantages for a growth-oriented designer.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, EdTech, AI, Language Learning. Babbel operates in the fast-growing digital language learning market, leveraging technology to make learning accessible and effective. Babbel Labs focuses specifically on pushing the boundaries with AI.

Company Size: Babbel is a well-established company, likely medium to large in size (hundreds to a few thousand employees), with Babbel Labs operating as a more agile, independent unit within the larger organization. This structure allows for both the stability of a larger company and the speed of a startup.

Founded: Babbel was founded in 2007. Babbel Labs is a newer initiative focused on AI innovation.

Team Structure:

• Babbel Labs: A small, fast-moving, AI-first independent unit within Babbel.

• Design Team: A small, experienced team of designers who also function as "AI builders." This role is a design leadership position, guiding craft and direction, but not direct people management.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with engineers, product managers, linguists, and language learning specialists.

Methodology:

• AI-First: AI tools are integrated into every stage of the workflow, from discovery to delivery.

• Agile & Iterative: Emphasis on speed, precision, rapid iteration, and figuring things out as you go.

• Code-Based Prototyping: Utilizing SwiftUI and HTML/CSS/JS for prototyping is a core part of the methodology.

• Data-Driven: Using A/B testing and user research to inform design decisions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The context emphasizes Babbel Labs as an innovative, AI-focused arm of a larger, established company. This suggests a dynamic environment where cutting-edge technology is explored with the backing of a successful business. The "AI Builder" and "AI-first" methodologies are central to the team's operational approach, requiring designers to be technically adept and comfortable with rapid experimentation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Product Designer. This is a senior individual contributor role with significant design leadership responsibilities. It sits above a standard Product Designer and below a Head of Design or Design Director. The focus is on driving design vision, mentoring peers, and ensuring the quality and impact of design output for a critical product area.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Director of Product, or a Lead within Babbel Labs. They will mentor a small team of experienced designers who also operate as AI builders.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the success of Babbel Labs' AI-powered language learning experiences. This includes shaping the user experience of new AI features, driving user adoption, improving learning outcomes, and influencing the overall product direction of AI integration within Babbel. Their work directly contributes to Babbel's mission and competitive edge in the language learning market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI Design: Deepen expertise in designing for AI, conversational interfaces, and emerging technologies within a practical, product-focused setting.

• Design Leadership Evolution: Transition into more formal people management roles or become a recognized expert/principal designer in AI product development.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Enhance skills in coding for prototypes (SwiftUI, HTML/CSS/JS), AI tool utilization, and working closely with complex technical and linguistic domains.

• Influence on Product Strategy: Play a key role in defining the future of AI in language learning at Babbel.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to innovative work that could lead to industry presentations or publications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique growth path for designers interested in AI and technical prototyping. The "Lead" title signifies a step towards senior leadership, focusing on influence and mentorship within a specialized and forward-thinking product area. The emphasis on learning new tools and applying them to real-world problems provides a strong foundation for future career development in AI-driven product design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Babbel operates a hybrid work model. This means there will be days spent collaborating in the office and days working remotely. The office environment in Berlin is likely modern, designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): Berlin, Germany. This is a major European tech hub, offering a vibrant professional community and lifestyle.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office space is designed to encourage interaction, brainstorming, and team cohesion, especially for hybrid teams.

• Tech-Enabled: Access to modern design tools, development environments, and potentially specialized hardware for AI-related work.

• Cross-functional Proximity: Opportunities for spontaneous interactions and quick discussions with engineers, product managers, and other specialists.

• Flexible Work: The hybrid model allows for focused work at home and collaborative sessions in the office.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 per week) with an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and accommodate iterative development cycles inherent in AI product work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment in Berlin is a key aspect. It suggests a balance between in-person collaboration essential for design leadership and team alignment, and remote flexibility for focused individual work. The "AI Builder" context implies a tech-forward workspace that supports experimentation and rapid development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager. Focus on alignment with core requirements like design leadership, AI experience, and code prototyping.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Deep Dive: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, focusing on key case studies that demonstrate their AI-first approach, code-based prototyping skills, and design leadership. Expect in-depth questions about their process, decision-making, and how they've used AI and coding in previous roles.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Linguists/Learning Specialists to assess collaboration style, communication, and technical understanding.

• Design Craft & Leadership Assessment: A session focused on UI/UX critique, design principles, and how they would approach mentoring and guiding the design team.

• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader or executive to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly articulate how AI tools were used in your design process and the impact they had.

• Showcase Code Prototypes: Include working examples or detailed descriptions of prototypes built in SwiftUI and/or HTML/CSS/JS. Explain the purpose and outcomes.

• Demonstrate Design Leadership: Use case studies to show how you led design initiatives, mentored others, and made key strategic decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success and adoption of your designs.

• Tailor to Babbel: Research Babbel's existing products and mission to show alignment and understanding of their user base.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Design Prompt: Be prepared for a hypothetical design challenge involving an AI-powered language learning feature.

• Prototyping Exercise: You might be asked to sketch out or even code a small interactive element related to an AI interaction.

• Process Explanation: Be ready to explain your design process for complex problems, especially those involving new technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess both design craft and technical/AI capabilities. The portfolio review is critical, with a strong emphasis on demonstrating practical application of AI tools and code-based prototyping, aligning with the "AI Builder" ethos. Candidates should be ready to discuss their leadership approach and how they foster innovation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (mentioned as one tool among others), SwiftUI (for iOS/macOS prototyping), HTML/CSS/JS (for web prototypes).

• AI Design Tools: Claude Code (specifically mentioned), and likely other AI tools for research, content generation, or ideation.

• Collaboration: Tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, etc., are standard for cross-functional teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for user analytics (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) to track user behavior and feature adoption.

• A/B testing platforms to validate design hypotheses. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly listed, standard CRM and marketing automation tools might be used by other departments, but the design team's focus will be on product and design-specific tools.

• Version control systems like Git for code-based prototypes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily weighted towards modern design and development tools, with a specific emphasis on code-based prototyping (SwiftUI, HTML/CSS/JS) and AI tools like Claude Code. This indicates a design team that is deeply integrated with the engineering workflow and at the forefront of using AI to enhance product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & AI-First: A strong commitment to exploring and integrating AI into all aspects of product development, pushing the boundaries of language learning.

• Speed & Precision: A culture that values quick iteration, efficient workflows, and high-quality execution.

• Collaboration & Cross-Functionality: Openness to working closely with diverse teams (engineering, linguistics, product) to achieve shared goals.

• User-Centricity: A dedication to creating effective and engaging learning experiences that meet user needs.

• Continuous Learning: Encouragement to explore new tools, technologies, and methodologies, especially in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Collaboration Style:

• Hands-on & Integrated: Designers work closely with engineers and product managers, often contributing directly to code-based prototypes.

• Mentorship & Craftsmanship: A supportive environment where experienced designers mentor others, focusing on elevating design quality and principles.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of clear communication and feedback exchange across disciplines to ensure alignment and efficient problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by a forward-thinking, experimental approach driven by AI. The "AI Builder" identity for designers means the team values technical proficiency, rapid prototyping, and a collaborative spirit that breaks down traditional silos between design and engineering.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI Trust: Ensuring AI-generated feedback and interactions are clear, accurate, and trustworthy, even when the AI makes mistakes.

• Balancing Innovation with Pedagogy: Integrating cutting-edge AI features without compromising the core principles of effective language learning.

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of new AI tools and techniques and adapting design processes accordingly.

• Technical Prototyping Demands: Consistently delivering high-quality, code-based prototypes that effectively test ideas and inform engineering.

• Mentoring a Skilled Team: Guiding experienced designers who are also technically proficient requires a strong leadership presence and collaborative approach.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Becoming an expert in designing for AI, including conversational interfaces, generative AI applications, and personalized learning systems.

• Advanced Prototyping Skills: Mastering SwiftUI and other coding languages for advanced prototyping and potentially contributing to actual product code.

• Leadership Development: Honing skills in mentoring, design strategy, and influencing product direction.

• Industry Trends: Gaining deep insights into the future of AI in education and technology through hands-on work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative nature of AI product development and the specific technical requirements of the role. The growth opportunities are substantial for individuals looking to become leaders in the field of AI-driven product design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the design for a complex, AI-powered feature. What was your process, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on AI integration, user research, and outcomes).

• "How would you approach building trust with users when designing AI interactions that might occasionally err?" (Assess understanding of AI limitations and user psychology).

• "Walk us through your process for creating a code-based prototype in SwiftUI/HTML. What problem were you solving, and what did you learn?" (Evaluate technical prototyping skills and rationale).

• "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration and experimentation with ensuring high-quality UI craft and design systems consistency?" (Assess agility and quality standards). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Babbel Labs' mission and our AI-first approach to language learning?" (Gauge genuine interest and alignment with the company's vision).

• "How would you coach and mentor designers who are experienced but perhaps new to AI-first design or code-based prototyping?" (Assess leadership and mentoring approach).

• "Describe a situation where you had to collaborate closely with engineers and linguists on a product feature. How did you ensure alignment and successful delivery?" (Evaluate cross-functional collaboration skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by case study, starting with the problem, your role, the process, key decisions, challenges, and outcomes.

• Highlight AI & Code: Explicitly call out where AI tools were used and where code was employed for prototyping. Show, don't just tell.

• Quantify Results: Use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design work (user adoption, engagement, learning improvements).

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your prototyping code, design decisions, and tool choices.

• Show Leadership: Frame your contributions in terms of leadership, mentorship, and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating practical experience with AI tools and code-based prototyping, alongside strong design leadership and communication skills. Candidates should be ready to articulate their "AI Builder" mindset and how they contribute to a fast-paced, innovative environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your design leadership, experience with AI-first methodologies, and proficiency in code-based prototyping (SwiftUI/HTML). Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product design leadership, AI product development, UI/UX craft, and hands-on prototyping with code. Use keywords from the job description like "AI Builder," "SwiftUI," "Design Leadership," and "AI-first."

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on how you've driven design strategy, mentored teams, and utilized AI and code to deliver impactful user experiences. Be ready to articulate your thought process and decision-making.

• Research Babbel Labs: Understand Babbel's mission, its approach to language learning, and the specific goals of Babbel Labs. Prepare to discuss how your skills and experience align with their innovative, AI-driven direction.

⚠️ 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.

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