Lead Product Designer - AirHelp Mobile App

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer - AirHelp Mobile App

Company: AirHelp

Location: Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: April 24, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for the AirHelp mobile application, transforming it into a proactive, intelligent travel assistant.

• Drive hypothesis-driven development and rapid iteration cycles, leveraging AI tools for accelerated prototyping and validation.

• Shape the strategic direction of the mobile app, focusing on user engagement, organic growth, and long-term user relationships.

• Collaborate closely with product and engineering teams in a hybrid work environment to deliver impactful, high-quality mobile experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes a blend of strategic product thinking and hands-on design leadership, with a strong focus on using AI tools to expedite the design and validation process. The target is to evolve the app from a reactive tool to a proactive, category-defining mobile experience.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle for the AirHelp mobile app, from initial problem definition and hypothesis formation through to shipped outcomes and continuous iteration.

• Operate with a hypothesis-driven mindset, clearly framing problems, aligning stakeholders quickly, and moving rapidly into testing and learning phases.

• Utilize AI tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude) for early-stage prototyping, treating prototypes as the starting point for production-ready designs.

• Validate design directions through real user behavior, direct user feedback, and data analysis to inform iterative adjustments.

• Translate validated concepts into production-ready designs with meticulous attention to clarity, edge cases, system alignment, and overall user experience.

• Balance the need for speed in exploration with the craft required for polished, scalable solutions, particularly within Figma.

• Manage both day-to-day improvements and larger strategic initiatives, prioritizing efforts based on evolving business needs and user impact.

• Contribute significantly to product strategy by identifying new opportunities and leading initiatives from ideation to execution.

• Elevate the design practice within the team through systems thinking, knowledge sharing, and active mentorship of other designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and autonomous approach, expecting the candidate to not only execute but also to define and influence product strategy. The emphasis on AI tools and hypothesis-driven development suggests a modern, agile design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for a Lead role.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in product design, with a significant portion focused on mobile application development and shipping end-to-end products. Proven experience in a design leadership capacity is essential.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead design initiatives and influence product strategy.

• Mobile UX/UI Design: Deep understanding of mobile design principles, patterns, and best practices for iOS and Android.

• End-to-End Product Development: Experience guiding products from concept to launch and beyond, including iteration.

• Prototyping: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes, ideally with experience using modern tools and AI assistance.

• Figma Expertise: Advanced skills in Figma for design, prototyping, and system management.

• AI Tool Integration: Experience leveraging AI tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude) to accelerate design workflows and ideation.

• Hypothesis-Driven Development: Ability to frame problems, form testable hypotheses, and iterate based on data.

• User Research & Validation: Experience conducting user research, usability testing, and validating design decisions with real user data.

• Data Analysis: Comfort interpreting user behavior data and analytics to inform design choices.

• Design Systems: Experience building, maintaining, or working with robust design systems for scalability and consistency.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Exceptional Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence decisions.

• Business English Fluency: Professional proficiency in English for all business communications.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the travel technology (Travel Tech) sector.

• Knowledge of mobile app architecture and technical constraints.

• Experience with product-led growth strategies and driving organic acquisition.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements heavily emphasize a blend of strategic product thinking, hands-on design execution, and modern workflow acceleration through AI. The "Lead" title and the scope of responsibilities imply a need for significant autonomy and influence.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your involvement in the entire product design lifecycle for significant mobile app features or products.

• Problem Definition & Hypothesis: Clearly articulate the user problems and business goals addressed, along with the hypotheses formed.

• Process & Tools: Detail your design process, including research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping (mentioning AI tools if applicable), and the specific tools used (e.g., Figma).

• Validation & Iteration: Demonstrate how you validated designs through user testing and data analysis, and how you iterated based on feedback and outcomes.

• Metrics & Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs with relevant metrics (e.g., engagement, conversion, retention improvements) and explain how they align with business objectives.

• Design System Contribution: Highlight any work related to design systems, including contributions to consistency, scalability, or efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you've designed and optimized user workflows for mobile applications, ensuring clarity and efficiency.

• System Implementation: Illustrate how you translate validated concepts into production-ready designs, adhering to system alignment and technical feasibility.

• Performance Analysis: Showcase how you use data and user feedback to measure the performance of your designs and drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process, emphasizing how they use data, user feedback, and modern tools (including AI) to solve complex mobile product challenges and deliver measurable business impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead Product Designer role in Warsaw, Poland, with an estimated 5-10 years of experience, the salary range is likely to be between PLN 15,000 - 25,000 gross per month. This can vary based on specific experience, skills, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Personal Development Plans: Structured support for career growth and skill enhancement.

• Internal Workshops: Opportunities for continuous learning within the company.

• Mentorship Programs: Guidance from senior professionals.

• Language Classes: Support for language acquisition, likely English for international roles.

• Team Events: Opportunities for team building and social interaction.

• Flexible Benefits Package: Choice between:

  • Gym Pass
  • Personal Development Fund
  • Childcare Subsidies
  • Transport Subsidies
  • Travel Subsidies

• Global Workstyle: Ability to work from anywhere for up to 2 weeks per year.

• Hybrid Work Model: 2 days per week in the office, offering a balance of collaboration and flexibility.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are assumed, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered within the hybrid model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designer roles in major European tech hubs like Warsaw, considering the estimated experience level and hybrid work arrangement. The comprehensive benefits package offers significant flexibility and investment in employee well-being and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel Technology (Travel Tech). AirHelp operates in a dynamic sector focused on simplifying air travel and advocating for passenger rights.

Company Size: AirHelp is a growing international company. Based on LinkedIn data, it likely falls within the 500-1000 employees range, indicating a substantial but still agile organization.

Founded: AirHelp was founded in 2015. This suggests a company that has moved past its startup phase and established significant market presence and operational maturity, while still retaining a growth-oriented mindset.

Team Structure:

• Product Tribes: The role operates within a "product tribe" structure, a common agile methodology where cross-functional teams (product managers, designers, engineers) are organized around specific product areas or user journeys.

• Reporting: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or a similar senior product ownership role. Collaboration will be extensive with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their tribe.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with engineering teams (potentially distributed or external), product managers, user researchers, and other designers. The hybrid model necessitates strong communication and asynchronous collaboration skills.

Methodology:

• Hypothesis-Driven Development: Core to the team's approach, focusing on formulating testable hypotheses to guide product development.

• Agile & Iterative: The team operates in an agile environment, emphasizing rapid prototyping, testing, and iterative improvements based on user behavior and data.

• AI-Augmented Design: Active integration of AI tools to accelerate ideation, prototyping, and workflow efficiency.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Strong reliance on user data and analytics to validate product direction and measure impact.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: AirHelp's culture appears to be built around autonomy, growth, and a mission-driven purpose. The "product tribe" structure points to an agile, collaborative environment where designers are integral to strategic decision-making.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Lead" within Product Design. It signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant ownership and influence. It's a step beyond Senior Product Designer, implying leadership in design thinking, process, and potentially mentoring. While not a direct management role (managing people), it's a leadership role in terms of product vision and design execution.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product or a Director of Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within specific product tribes or feature areas.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer will have a direct and substantial impact on the core product's success, user engagement, and ultimately, AirHelp's ability to deliver value and grow its user base. Their work directly influences user acquisition, retention, and satisfaction, which are critical drivers of revenue and market position in the Travel Tech industry.

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Leadership: Potential to grow into a Head of Product Design or similar senior leadership roles, managing larger teams or broader product portfolios.

• Strategic Impact: Deepen influence on company-wide product strategy and vision.

• Specialization: Further specialize in areas like mobile architecture, AI-driven design, or user engagement strategies within the travel domain.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop deeper understanding and collaboration skills across engineering, product management, and marketing.

• Mentorship: Formalize mentorship of junior designers, contributing to the team's overall capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within product design leadership, emphasizing strategic contribution and impact on a widely used mobile application. The focus is on driving product outcomes rather than people management, though mentorship is a key component.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: AirHelp operates with a hybrid work model, requiring 2 days per week in the office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, brainstorming, and team cohesion, while also supporting focused individual work.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Warsaw, Poland, with potential for hybrid work in other listed offices (Barcelona, Berlin, Kraków, Gdańsk). Warsaw offers a vibrant tech scene and a good quality of life. The hybrid setup means the office will be a hub for team interactions, design reviews, and strategic discussions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices likely feature spaces conducive to team meetings, workshops, and spontaneous collaboration sessions essential for agile product development.

• Technology & Tools: Access to the necessary hardware, software (including licenses for Figma, AI tools), and stable internet required for design and remote collaboration.

• Team Interaction: The 2-day in-office requirement is designed to foster strong team connections, facilitate in-person brainstorming, and ensure alignment on complex design challenges.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected, with flexibility inherent in the hybrid model. The emphasis on hypothesis-driven development and iteration means work can be dynamic, with focused periods of intense activity followed by periods of reflection and analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model indicates a deliberate effort to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, common in modern tech companies. The Warsaw office will serve as a key touchpoint for team engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your application and resume, focusing on alignment with key requirements.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session (or initial stage) where you present your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 1-2 key case studies in detail, explaining your process, decisions, and impact.

• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: Deeper dive into your experience, design philosophy, leadership style, and how you approach problem-solving and collaboration.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to assess your collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work within an agile, hypothesis-driven framework.

• Take-Home Challenge (Potential): Some companies may issue a small design challenge to assess practical skills, though for a Lead role, portfolio review and live discussions are often prioritized.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, CTO) to assess strategic fit and overall alignment with company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story: Problem -> Hypothesis -> Process (Research, Ideation, Prototyping, Testing) -> Solution -> Impact (Metrics) -> Learnings.

• Highlight AI & Speed: Explicitly mention how you used AI tools to accelerate your workflow or explore ideas faster. Quantify this if possible.

• Showcase Leadership: Emphasize instances where you influenced strategy, mentored others, or drove a significant initiative.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the business value and user impact of your work.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle trade-offs, your collaboration style, and how you approach ambiguity.

• Focus on Mobile: Ensure your mobile design examples are strong and showcase your understanding of mobile-specific UX challenges and opportunities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Core Problem: If given a hypothetical challenge, focus on clearly defining the problem and user needs before jumping into solutions.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your rapid design process, including how you'd leverage AI and user feedback to validate your approach quickly.

• Prioritize and Justify: Demonstrate an ability to prioritize features or design elements based on impact and feasibility.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your ideas concisely and persuasively, as if presenting to a mixed audience of designers, product managers, and engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not just design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, collaboration abilities, and proficiency with modern, accelerated design workflows. A strong, data-backed portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool for creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and managing design systems. Proficiency is essential.

• AI Design Tools (Cursor, Claude): Expected to be used for rapid ideation, generating copy, code snippets, or even initial design concepts. Familiarity and comfort with these emerging tools are key.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, potentially other specialized tools for advanced interactions or specific testing scenarios.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mobile Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics for Firebase, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar to track user behavior, engagement metrics, and conversion funnels within the app.

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially tools like Tableau, Looker, or Power BI for creating dashboards and reports that inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data flows from the app to CRM-like systems for marketing or support purposes may be beneficial.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for managing design tasks, sprints, and collaborating with engineering teams.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily team communication and asynchronous collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a given. The emphasis on AI tools like Cursor and Claude indicates a forward-thinking approach to design workflows, aiming for speed and efficiency. Understanding analytics is crucial for data-driven iteration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Autonomy & Ownership: A culture that empowers individuals to take ownership of their work without micromanagement.

• Builder Mentality: A focus on creating, shipping, and iterating, rather than getting bogged down in politics or bureaucracy.

• Growth & Learning: Investment in personal development, continuous learning, and skill enhancement through workshops and mentorship.

• Impact-Driven: A strong emphasis on delivering tangible value and making a measurable difference in the user experience and business outcomes.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are grounded in user data and analytics, promoting an objective approach to problem-solving.

• Pragmatism: Balancing high standards with the need to move fast and ship effectively in a dynamic environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with product management and engineering is key, forming "product tribes" that work towards shared goals.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of open dialogue, feedback exchange, and knowledge sharing, facilitated by tools and hybrid work practices.

• Hypothesis-Based Discussions: Design and product discussions are often framed around testing hypotheses, leading to more focused and productive problem-solving.

• Speed & Iteration: A culture that embraces rapid prototyping and testing, with a willingness to learn from failures and iterate quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: AirHelp fosters a culture that values proactive contribution, continuous improvement, and a results-oriented approach. The emphasis on autonomy and a "builder mentality" suggests an environment for motivated individuals who thrive on creating and iterating.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Craft: Navigating the tension between rapid iteration using AI and maintaining a high standard of design polish and system integrity.

• Transforming User Perception: Shifting the mobile app's perception from a reactive tool to a proactive, indispensable travel assistant requires significant strategic design and execution.

• Driving Engagement: Increasing user engagement and re-engagement beyond immediate trip needs, building long-term user habits and loyalty.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring the design system remains robust and scalable as the app's features and complexity grow.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Thriving in a fast-paced environment where clear direction may not always be immediately available, requiring proactive problem-solving.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI in Design: Opportunity to become a leader in integrating cutting-edge AI tools into the product design workflow.

• Product Strategy Influence: Deepen expertise in shaping product strategy and identifying new market opportunities within Travel Tech.

• Mobile Architecture Insights: Gain a stronger understanding of mobile app architecture and technical constraints through close collaboration with engineers.

• Leadership Skills: Develop and refine leadership skills through mentorship, strategic planning, and influencing cross-functional teams.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences or workshops related to product design, mobile UX, or Travel Tech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex product challenges in a dynamic industry, leveraging innovative technologies, and developing leadership capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Vision & Strategy: "How would you approach transforming AirHelp's mobile app into a proactive travel assistant? What are the key user problems to solve?" (Prepare to discuss your process, hypothesis framing, and initial ideas).

• Design Process & Tools: "Describe your end-to-end design process for a complex mobile feature. How do you incorporate AI tools like Cursor or Claude, and what are their benefits and limitations?" (Be ready to showcase your portfolio and discuss specific examples).

• Problem Solving & Trade-offs: "Imagine we need to increase engagement for the day-of-flight experience. What are your initial hypotheses, and how would you validate them quickly?" (Focus on your iterative approach, data usage, and decision-making under pressure).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding AirHelp: "What excites you about AirHelp's mission and the Travel Tech industry?" (Research the company's mission, recent news, and competitive landscape).

• Collaboration Style: "How do you typically collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe a time you had a disagreement and how you resolved it." (Emphasize your cross-functional communication and conflict resolution skills).

• Design Leadership: "How do you define 'great mobile UX'? How do you ensure design quality and consistency across a growing product?" (Discuss your approach to design systems, craft, and raising the bar).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative for each case study, focusing on the journey from problem to solution and impact.

• Emphasize AI & Speed: Clearly articulate how you used AI tools to accelerate your workflow or achieve better outcomes faster.

• Quantify Everything: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If metrics aren't available, explain how you would measure success.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively, but be prepared to dive deep into the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Be open to questions throughout and tailor your explanations to the interviewer's background.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a modern, AI-enhanced design process, strong collaboration skills, and a clear understanding of how design drives business impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest mobile product design case studies that best showcase end-to-end ownership, AI tool integration, hypothesis-driven development, and measurable impact. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, solution, and results.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to mobile app design, product strategy, design leadership, AI tool usage, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description to ensure ATS compatibility.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on your role, decision-making process, and the outcomes achieved. Be ready to articulate your design philosophy and leadership approach.

• Research AirHelp: Understand the company's mission, its target audience, the current state of its mobile app, and its position in the Travel Tech market. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.