Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Clera

Location: Vienna, Austria

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design & Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-08-31

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design, branding, and design team management for a fast-growing AI-powered B2B SaaS company.

• Drive user experience enhancements for thousands of European business customers across three core product areas.

• Foster a shipping-focused culture with daily releases and measurable design impact through an AI-first workflow.

• Collaborate closely with founders and engineering teams in tight feedback loops to iterate on product strategy and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a hybrid hands-on design and leadership position, requiring a candidate who can both execute detailed design work and strategically guide a design team. The emphasis on AI tools and a fast-paced, shipping-focused culture indicates a need for adaptability and proactive problem-solving within the operations of the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of product design strategy, branding execution, and the design team, establishing and upholding high design standards across all product interfaces and marketing materials.

• Allocate approximately 50% of time to hands-on design tasks, including wireframing, UI design, and prototyping, and 50% to leading and mentoring the design team.

• Conduct regular customer interviews with Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) users, such as tradespeople, medical practices, and professional offices, to gather actionable insights that directly inform design decisions and product roadmap prioritization.

• Simultaneously manage and drive design initiatives for three distinct product areas, ensuring alignment and consistency while collaborating closely with product managers and engineering leads.

• Build, scale, and maintain robust design systems to ensure a cohesive and consistent user experience across multiple product lines and touchpoints.

• Integrate and leverage modern AI tools within the design workflow to accelerate prototyping, ideation, and the overall design process.

• Champion and cultivate a shipping-focused culture, supporting daily releases and demonstrating measurable design impact on key business metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility for owning three product areas simultaneously suggests a need for strong project management and prioritization skills. The emphasis on customer interviews and data-driven design highlights the importance of a user-centric approach integrated into the design operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience in design principles, user experience, and visual communication is essential.

Experience: 5+ years of hands-on product design experience with a proven track record of end-to-end ownership across multiple product areas, coupled with experience in leading or managing a design team, or a clear aptitude and desire to step into such a role.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of hands-on product design experience with end-to-end ownership across multiple product areas.

• Native-level German fluency (essential for effective communication within the DACH market).

• Proficient in Figma for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting customer interviews and user research.

• Proven ability to build and maintain design systems at scale across multiple product areas.

• Hands-on experience with AI tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude, v0) to accelerate design and prototyping workflows.

• Strong understanding of branding principles and website design, with the ability to manage visual identity alongside product design.

• Good English proficiency for effective collaboration within an international team. Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience in a team leadership or management capacity within a design function.

• Background in B2B SaaS, professional services, or CRM-like environments.

• A data-driven design mindset, with the ability to measure design impact and iterate based on analytics.

• Experience working within an AI-first product development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory requirement for native-level German fluency is critical for market penetration and customer engagement in the DACH region. The dual focus on hands-on design and leadership implies a need for a versatile candidate who can adapt to different demands and contribute at both strategic and tactical levels.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design ownership for at least two distinct product areas, detailing the problem, your process, and the impact.

• Include case studies demonstrating the creation and scaling of design systems, highlighting consistency and efficiency gains.

• Present examples of branding and website design work that align with a company's visual identity and business objectives.

• Feature projects where AI tools were utilized to enhance design or prototyping workflows, with clear articulation of the benefits.

• Demonstrate experience in user research and customer interviews, explaining how insights were translated into design solutions. Process Documentation:

• Articulate your process for conducting user interviews and synthesizing findings into actionable design requirements.

• Detail your methodology for designing, implementing, and scaling design systems for consistency and maintainability.

• Explain your approach to collaborating with product and engineering teams in a fast-paced, iterative environment with daily releases.

• Illustrate how you measure the impact of design decisions using data and analytics, and how this informs iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not only display finished work but also provide deep dives into the candidate's thought process, problem-solving strategies, and their understanding of how design integrates into the broader business operations and product lifecycle.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €80,000 – €150,000 per year. This range reflects the senior nature of the role, the leadership responsibilities, and the specific market conditions in Vienna, Austria.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary within the stated range.

• Opportunity to shape the design function and product vision of a rapidly growing AI-powered B2B SaaS company.

• Direct collaboration with founders and engineering leadership.

• Significant impact on thousands of European business customers.

• Exposure to cutting-edge AI tools and methodologies in product development.

• Potential for career growth as the company scales.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with an expectation of a shipping-focused culture and daily releases, implying a need for efficient time management and flexibility. Approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The broad salary range (€80,000 - €150,000) suggests that compensation will be heavily dependent on the candidate's experience, leadership capabilities, and proven impact in previous roles, particularly concerning B2B SaaS and design system scaling. Visa sponsorship is not provided, indicating candidates must already have the right to work in Austria.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: B2B SaaS (Software as a Service), with a focus on serving Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the DACH region. The company leverages AI to provide innovative solutions.

Company Size: Fast-growing startup environment. This implies a dynamic, agile, and potentially resource-constrained setting where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Clera was founded in 2020. This indicates a relatively young company, likely still defining its processes and culture, offering an opportunity for the Lead Product Designer to heavily influence its direction.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small and integrated within product development. The Lead Product Designer will manage this team and work closely with founders and engineering.

• Reporting structure will place the Lead Product Designer directly under a founder or Head of Product, with direct reports likely consisting of other product designers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, with tight feedback loops between design, product management, and engineering teams, emphasizing an agile and iterative development process. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are key, with a requirement for an "analytics-driven design mindset" to measure impact and iterate.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be driven by customer feedback and business objectives, with an emphasis on shipping frequently.

• Automation and efficiency practices are expected, particularly through the use of AI tools in the design process.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The startup environment and "fast-growing" nature suggest that adaptability, a proactive approach, and a willingness to build processes from the ground up will be crucial. The "AI-first" approach and use of AI tools point to a forward-thinking company embracing new technologies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level role, designated as "Lead Product Designer." It combines significant hands-on design expertise with managerial responsibilities. The scope includes end-to-end ownership of product design, branding, and team leadership, positioning the individual as a key strategic contributor to the company's product vision and execution.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report directly to a founder or a senior executive (e.g., Head of Product), overseeing a team of product designers. This provides visibility and influence at the highest levels of the organization.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on Clera's revenue and business decisions by shaping the user experience of its B2B SaaS products. Effective product design, branding, and user acquisition/retention are critical drivers of growth for SaaS companies, especially those serving SMEs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership Expansion: As the company scales, there will be opportunities to grow the design team, define its structure, and potentially evolve into a Head of Design or similar executive role.

• Strategic Product Influence: Deep involvement with founders and engineering provides opportunities to influence product strategy beyond just design, contributing to market positioning and feature development.

• AI Design Specialization: Leading in an "AI-first" environment offers a chance to become a specialist in leveraging AI tools for design, a highly in-demand skill.

• Process Development: The opportunity to build and refine design processes, systems, and team operations from an early stage offers significant professional development and a chance to leave a lasting impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for a designer who is ready to transition into or has experience in leadership, with a strong desire to build and scale a design function within a high-growth startup context, leveraging modern technologies like AI.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in Vienna, Austria. This indicates a preference for in-person collaboration and team cohesion, essential for a fast-paced startup environment where quick iterations and direct communication are key.

Office Location(s): Vienna, Austria. This location offers access to a vibrant tech scene and talent pool within Central Europe.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely to be collaborative and dynamic, reflecting a startup culture. Expect open-plan areas or shared team spaces designed to foster interaction.

• Access to modern design tools, including Figma, prototyping software, and AI-powered design utilities, will be standard.

• Opportunities for frequent interaction with founders, engineering teams, and product managers are integral to the daily workflow, facilitating rapid problem-solving and decision-making.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with an emphasis on productivity and delivering results. While a standard workweek is expected, the "shipping-focused culture with daily releases" suggests a need for dedication and potentially some flexibility to meet release cycles and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Vienna underscores the company's commitment to fostering a strong team culture and facilitating immediate, face-to-face collaboration, which is often prioritized in early-stage, high-growth companies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly design experience, leadership potential, and fluency.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present your portfolio, focusing on key case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership, design system development, and AI tool utilization. Expect in-depth questions about your process, decision-making, and impact.

• Team & Founder Interviews: Meetings with founders and engineering leads to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and your understanding of the B2B SaaS market and AI integration.

• Design Challenge (Potential): You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or discuss how you would approach a specific design problem relevant to Clera's products. This could involve demonstrating your Figma skills or outlining a strategy for a new feature.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Leadership: For this role, explicitly showcase instances where you led design initiatives, mentored junior designers, or influenced team direction.

• Process Over Polish: While polish is important, focus on clearly articulating your design process, the rationale behind your decisions, and how you leveraged data and customer feedback.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, aim to quantify the impact of your design work using metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, time saved for users).

• AI Integration: Clearly demonstrate how you've used AI tools in your workflow and the specific benefits or efficiencies gained.

• German Fluency: Be prepared to conduct at least part of the interview or portfolio walkthrough in German to demonstrate your proficiency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Clera's products, target market (SMEs in DACH), and competitors. Understand their value proposition and how design contributes to it.

• AI & Design Thinking: Be ready to discuss your perspective on AI's role in design and how you approach problem-solving in an AI-augmented workflow.

• Design System Philosophy: Be prepared to discuss your philosophy on building and maintaining scalable design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on native German fluency suggests that the interview process may include assessments of this skill, potentially involving portions of the interview or portfolio review conducted in German. The combination of hands-on design and leadership means interviewers will probe for both tactical execution skills and strategic thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential for hands-on design work.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, familiarity with dedicated prototyping tools might be beneficial for advanced interactivity.

• AI Design Tools: Explicitly mentioned are tools like Cursor, Claude, and v0. Experience with these or similar AI-powered design assistants is a significant advantage for accelerating workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Tools like Google Analytics or similar platforms to track website performance and user behavior.

• Product Analytics Tools: Solutions like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo for understanding in-product user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion funnels.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Metabase for creating dashboards and reporting on key design metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is a plus, given the B2B SaaS context and potential need to understand customer lifecycle management.

• Project Management Tools: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks, sprints, and cross-functional workflows.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily communication and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI design tools like Cursor, Claude, and v0 indicates that candidates should not only be familiar with traditional design tools but also be eager and capable of integrating AI into their daily workflow, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven: A strong emphasis on using data and analytics to inform design decisions, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement. Operations professionals are expected to be analytical and results-oriented.

• Efficiency & Velocity: A culture that values shipping frequently and leveraging AI to accelerate processes. This means an appreciation for streamlined workflows and iterative development.

• Customer-Centricity: Deep understanding of SME users, with a commitment to conducting customer interviews and translating insights into valuable product experiences.

• Ownership & Accountability: High degree of autonomy and responsibility, with individuals expected to take full ownership of their areas and drive outcomes.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with founders and engineering in tight feedback loops requires open communication and a collaborative spirit.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Expect a fast-paced environment with daily releases, requiring quick feedback cycles and continuous iteration.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is tightly integrated with product and engineering, demanding strong communication and partnership skills to ensure alignment and efficient execution.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages direct feedback and open discussion to resolve challenges and optimize processes.

• Shared Learning: An environment where team members are encouraged to share knowledge and experiment with new tools and methodologies, particularly in AI and design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of "Efficiency & Velocity" and "AI-first" are central to Clera's operations, suggesting that candidates who thrive in fast-paced, technologically advanced environments will be a strong fit. The emphasis on ownership aligns with a startup culture where individuals are empowered to make significant contributions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Hands-on Design with Leadership: Effectively managing time between detailed design execution and team leadership responsibilities can be demanding.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring design consistency and efficiency across three product areas while maintaining a scalable design system requires robust processes and strong governance.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively leveraging AI tools to enhance, rather than complicate, the design workflow requires ongoing learning and adaptation.

• Fast-Paced Environment: The "shipping-focused culture with daily releases" can be intense, requiring strong prioritization and time management skills to maintain quality.

• Market Specificity: Deeply understanding the diverse needs of SMEs across the DACH region and translating them into a unified product experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Expertise: Becoming a recognized expert in applying AI tools to product design challenges.

• Scaling Design Operations: Gaining experience in building and structuring design teams and processes within a rapidly growing startup.

• Strategic Product Leadership: Developing a deeper understanding of business strategy and product-market fit through close collaboration with founders.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Enhancing skills in influencing product direction and collaborating effectively across diverse technical and business functions.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the DACH SME market and the B2B SaaS landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a lead role in a high-growth startup, offering significant opportunities for professional development in leadership, process optimization, and cutting-edge technology integration.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to owning product design and branding end-to-end for multiple product areas simultaneously. How would you prioritize your time and resources?" (Focus on prioritization frameworks, delegation, and strategic alignment.)

• "How do you leverage customer interviews and data analytics to drive design decisions? Provide an example of how user insights led to a significant product improvement." (Emphasize your data-driven methodology and user-centric approach.)

• "Discuss your experience in building and scaling design systems. What are the key challenges, and how do you ensure consistency across different product lines?" (Be prepared to talk about governance, documentation, and adoption strategies.)

• "How have you integrated AI tools into your design process? What benefits did you achieve, and what are your thoughts on the future of AI in design?" (Showcase hands-on experience and strategic foresight.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Clera and our mission to serve SMEs in the DACH region with AI-powered SaaS?" (Research Clera's website and understand their value proposition.)

• "How do you see your role in fostering a 'shipping-focused culture with daily releases'?" (Discuss your approach to agile development, efficiency, and managing release cycles.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with founders and engineering teams in a fast-paced startup environment." (Highlight your communication skills, adaptability, and cross-functional partnership.)

• "What are your expectations for leading and mentoring a design team?" (Demonstrate your leadership philosophy and experience in team development.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, focusing on 2-3 key projects that best represent your end-to-end ownership, leadership, and AI integration skills.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project: the problem, your role, your process, the solutions, and the quantifiable impact.

• Leadership Emphasis: Clearly articulate your contributions as a leader or potential leader, highlighting decision-making, team collaboration, and mentorship.

• AI Demonstration: If possible, show a live demo or screenshots of how AI tools were used within the project workflow.

• German Fluency: Be prepared to present a portion of your portfolio or answer questions in German to showcase your native-level proficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize both design execution capabilities and leadership potential. Candidates should be prepared to speak fluently in German and demonstrate a strong understanding of B2B SaaS operations and AI integration within design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of product design experience, any leadership or management roles, and specific achievements in building design systems and using AI tools. Quantify your impact wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select case studies that best showcase end-to-end ownership, leadership potential, AI tool integration, and experience with B2B SaaS or similar environments. Ensure it's well-organized and easy to navigate.

• Prepare for a German Interview: Be ready to conduct parts of the interview, including your portfolio presentation, in native-level German.

• Research Clera: Understand their product offerings, target market (SMEs in DACH), and company mission. Familiarize yourself with their current design aesthetic and branding.

⚠️ 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.