Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Clera

Location: Vienna, Austria

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design & Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-28

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and own end-to-end product design, branding, and the design team for a fast-growing AI communication SaaS company.

• Drive hands-on product design, conduct customer interviews, and evolve the company's brand identity, with a significant creative authority.

• Collaborate closely with founders and engineering teams to shape user experiences for thousands of business customers across Europe.

• Manage and develop a design team responsible for web, branding, and product design, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

• Contribute to a high-impact, daily shipping cadence with a focus on rapid iteration and customer-centric product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead Product Designer," the description emphasizes significant leadership responsibilities alongside hands-on design work. This suggests a hybrid role requiring both strategic vision and tactical execution, typical for senior design leaders in fast-paced startups. The AI communication SaaS context implies a need for understanding complex user workflows and translating them into intuitive interfaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Design Ownership: Take full responsibility for product design strategy, brand development, and the overall design output of the company.

• Hands-on Design Execution: Dedicate approximately half of your time to hands-on product design, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design, using tools like Figma.

• Customer Empathy & Insights: Conduct regular customer interviews and user research sessions with target audiences (tradespeople, medical practices, professional service firms) to gather actionable insights and validate design decisions.

• Brand Evolution: Drive the evolution and consistency of the company's brand identity across all touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and professional image.

• Design Team Leadership & Development: Manage, mentor, and develop a design team, fostering their growth and ensuring high-quality output in web, branding, and product design.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work in close partnership with product management and engineering teams to translate business requirements and user needs into effective design solutions.

• Design System Scalability: Build, maintain, and scale design systems to ensure consistency, efficiency, and maintainability across multiple product areas and features.

• Data-Driven Design: Employ a strong product and analytics mindset, using data and user feedback to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design initiatives.

• Daily Shipping Cadence: Contribute to and support a high-velocity development cycle with a focus on daily releases and rapid iteration.

• Design Standards: Set, communicate, and uphold high design standards across product, web, and brand, ensuring alignment with company goals and market expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on individual contribution (hands-on design, customer interviews) and team leadership (managing designers, setting standards). The "daily shipping cadence" implies a need for efficient workflows and a pragmatic approach to design, prioritizing impact and speed.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is paramount. A background in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is advantageous. Experience:

• Minimum of five years of progressive, end-to-end product design experience.

• Demonstrated experience owning and delivering design solutions across multiple product areas or complex projects.

• Proven track record of building and scaling design systems that enhance consistency and efficiency.

• Experience in a leadership capacity, either managing a design team or demonstrating strong leadership potential within a design function.

• Experience working within a fast-paced, iterative development environment, ideally with a SaaS or technology company. Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of the product design lifecycle from concept to launch, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced hands-on expertise with Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• User Research & Interviewing: Proven ability to conduct user interviews, gather qualitative feedback, and translate insights into actionable design improvements.

• Design System Development: Experience creating, implementing, and scaling robust design systems for consistent UI/UX across multiple platforms and products.

• Branding & Visual Identity: Strong capabilities in brand development, visual identity design, and maintaining brand consistency.

• Product & Analytics Mindset: Ability to define and track design success metrics, interpret user data, and iterate designs based on performance and analytics.

• AI-First Approach: Practical experience leveraging modern AI tools, including AI assistants and code-based design tools, to accelerate design workflows and enhance productivity.

• German Language Proficiency: Native-level German is essential for effective communication and market understanding within the DACH region.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the AI or communication SaaS industry.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Strong understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate collaboration with engineering.

• Experience with user journey mapping and service design.

• Public speaking or presentation skills related to design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-first approach" and "code-based design tools" suggests a forward-thinking company looking for designers who are not only skilled in traditional design but also adept at leveraging emerging technologies to boost efficiency and innovation. Native German is a critical requirement, underscoring the importance of the DACH market for Clera.

📊 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, from initial problem definition and user research to final UI implementation and iteration.

• Design Leadership Examples: Include examples demonstrating your ability to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or influence design strategy within a team or organization. This can be through project leadership, process improvement, or team development.

• Design System Implementation: Provide evidence of your experience in building, scaling, or maintaining design systems. Detail the challenges faced, the components created, and the impact on design consistency and development efficiency.

• User Research & Impact: Demonstrate your approach to user research, including methodologies used (interviews, surveys, usability testing) and how user insights directly informed design decisions and led to measurable improvements.

• Branding & Visual Design: Showcase your branding work, including logo design, style guides, and brand collateral, alongside examples of strong visual design execution in product interfaces.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for identifying bottlenecks in design workflows and implementing solutions to improve efficiency and speed of delivery.

• Design Decision Rationale: Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design choices, supported by user data, analytics, or research findings, demonstrating a data-driven approach.

• Collaboration & Communication: Illustrate how you collaborate with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, marketing) and communicate design concepts effectively to diverse stakeholders.

• AI Tool Integration: Be ready to discuss how you've integrated AI tools into your design process to accelerate tasks, generate ideas, or enhance output.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a leadership role with a "daily shipping cadence," the portfolio should emphasize not just the aesthetic outcome but also the efficiency, scalability, and strategic impact of the design work. Demonstrating how the candidate has influenced process and leveraged technology (especially AI) will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: 80,000 to 150,000 EUR annually.

Benefits:

• Creative Authority: Significant influence and creative control over product design and branding.

• Direct Impact: Opportunity to shape the experience for thousands of business customers and contribute directly to the company's growth.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Work within a dynamic startup culture with short feedback loops and daily shipping of features.

• Growth Opportunities: Potential to grow with the company, taking on increasing leadership responsibilities and impacting strategic direction.

• Collaborative Team: Work alongside founders and a dedicated engineering team in a close-knit environment.

• Professional Development: Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI tools and contribute to an AI-first product.

Working Hours:

• Typically 40 hours per week, with an expectation of flexibility to meet the demands of a fast-growing startup and a daily shipping cadence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Lead Product Designer role in Vienna, especially considering the significant leadership and hands-on responsibilities. The benefits lean towards the intrinsic rewards of a startup environment: impact, autonomy, and growth potential, rather than extensive traditional benefits. Visa sponsorship is explicitly not available.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI Communication SaaS (Software as a Service) for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) across Europe. Clera operates in the B2B technology sector, focusing on enhancing business communication through AI.

Company Size: Fast-growing startup (exact size not specified, but implied to be small enough for founders to work directly with design leads and for a "daily shipping cadence"). This size suggests a lean, agile, and highly collaborative environment.

Founded: Recently founded (implied by "fast-growing AI communication SaaS company" and "working directly alongside founders"). This indicates a culture that is likely innovative, adaptable, and focused on rapid product development and market penetration.

Team Structure:

• Founders & Leadership: Direct collaboration with founders, indicating a flat hierarchy and high visibility for the Lead Product Designer.

• Product & Engineering: Close working relationships with product managers and engineering teams, crucial for rapid iteration and feature delivery.

• Design Team: Leadership and management responsibility for a team comprising web designers, brand designers, and product designers.

• Cross-Functional: The role requires extensive collaboration across departments, emphasizing teamwork and shared goals.

Methodology:

• AI-First: Core to the company's product development and likely influences its operational methodologies, encouraging the use of AI for efficiency and innovation.

• Agile & Iterative: Implied by the "short feedback loops and daily shipping cadence," suggesting an agile development process focused on continuous delivery and rapid response to market needs.

• Customer-Centric: A strong emphasis on building customer understanding through regular conversations, indicating a user-focused design and development approach.

• Data-Driven: The requirement for a "strong product and analytics mindset" points to a culture that values data in decision-making and performance measurement.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and SaaS for SMBs in Europe suggests a need for designers who can understand complex business needs and translate them into user-friendly solutions. The startup environment implies a dynamic, hands-on culture where individuals can make a significant impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior/Lead position, placing the individual at a critical juncture in their career. It's a blend of individual contributor (hands-on design) and management, often a stepping stone to Head of Design or VP of Design roles in larger organizations or a key leadership position in a growing startup. The "significant creative authority" and direct work with founders underscore its strategic importance.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report directly to one of the founders or a very senior executive (e.g., Head of Product, CEO). This close proximity to leadership facilitates quick decision-making and direct influence on company strategy.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact is central to Clera's success. By owning product design, branding, and the design team, they directly influence:

• Customer Acquisition & Retention: Through intuitive UI/UX and a strong brand identity.

• Product Value Proposition: Ensuring the AI communication features are effectively communicated and easy to use.

• Development Efficiency: Through scalable design systems and close collaboration with engineering.

• Market Perception: Shaping how Clera is perceived by its target SMB market in Europe.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Opportunity to grow the design team, build out design operations, and establish a mature design function within Clera.

• Strategic Influence: Deeper involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and business decision-making as the company scales.

• Specialization: Potential to become a deep expert in AI-driven communication tools and their design challenges.

• Career Progression: A clear path to Head of Design or similar executive roles as Clera expands.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in AI technologies, design leadership, and scaling design systems in a high-growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, particularly for individuals looking to make a substantial impact in a scaling startup. The combination of hands-on work and leadership makes it an attractive position for experienced designers aiming for greater responsibility and strategic involvement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "On-site in Vienna, Austria," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This setup typically fosters strong team cohesion, spontaneous collaboration, and a clear separation between work and personal life.

Office Location(s): Vienna, Austria. This provides access to a vibrant European tech hub with a high quality of life. Specific details about the office amenities or neighborhood would typically be available upon inquiry.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: Expect an office environment designed to encourage interaction between founders, product, engineering, and design teams, supporting the "short feedback loops and daily shipping cadence."

• Technology & Tools: Access to the necessary design software (Figma), prototyping tools, and potentially other collaboration and project management platforms used by the company. The "AI-first" approach suggests an environment that embraces technological innovation.

• Team Interaction: Ample opportunities for direct, in-person collaboration with colleagues, fostering a strong team dynamic and shared understanding. This is crucial for a role that involves managing a team and working closely with engineering.

Work Schedule:

• While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "daily shipping cadence" and startup nature suggest a dynamic schedule where flexibility might be required to meet project deadlines and shipping targets. However, the on-site requirement points towards structured working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Vienna is a key factor. It suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and team synergy, which can be beneficial for a leadership role requiring close alignment with founders and engineering. Vienna offers a high quality of life, which can be a significant draw for candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A preliminary call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on key case studies that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, leadership, design system experience, and user research impact. This is where the "hands-on design," "branding," and "team leadership" aspects will be scrutinized.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: Potentially a practical exercise or workshop, either take-home or on-site, to assess problem-solving skills, design thinking, and proficiency with tools like Figma. This might involve critiquing an existing design, proposing solutions for a given problem, or sketching out a user flow.

• Founder/Leadership Interviews: In-depth conversations with founders and senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, alignment with company vision and values, and potential for long-term impact.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (e.g., Product Managers, Engineering Leads) to assess collaboration style and ability to work effectively within the existing team structure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives. Start with the problem, detail your process and decisions (explaining the "why"), showcase your solutions, and conclude with the impact and learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. For this role, highlight improvements in user engagement, conversion rates, efficiency gains, or brand perception.

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly articulate your role in leading design initiatives, mentoring others, or influencing design strategy. Use specific examples of how you guided the team or improved processes.

• Showcase Design Systems: Detail your experience with design systems, including their architecture, implementation, and the benefits they brought to the product and development teams.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: Be ready to discuss specific instances where you've used AI tools to enhance your design workflow, solve problems, or improve efficiency.

• Tailor to Clera: Research Clera's current product, brand, and target market. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with their specific needs and challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the AI SaaS Context: Familiarize yourself with common challenges and user needs in AI communication tools for SMBs.

• Practice Figma & Prototyping: Ensure you are highly proficient with Figma for rapid prototyping and collaboration.

• Articulate Design Rationale: Practice explaining your design decisions clearly and concisely, backing them up with user insights and data.

• Prepare for Leadership Questions: Be ready to discuss your management philosophy, how you foster team growth, and how you handle design conflicts or disagreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, given the seniority and scope of the role. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate both deep design craft and strong leadership capabilities, with a particular emphasis on their ability to thrive in a fast-paced, AI-driven startup environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of product design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. High proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, familiarity with dedicated prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) might be beneficial for more complex interactions.

• AI Design Tools: Experience with AI-powered design assistants, generative design tools, or code-based design tools is explicitly requested. Examples could include tools for AI-assisted content generation, image creation, or rapid prototyping based on prompts.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and managing participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar platforms to track user behavior, measure design impact, and inform iteration.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that can help visualize user data and design performance metrics (e.g., Tableau, Looker, or built-in platform analytics dashboards).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Basic understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) function, as the product likely interacts with or supports business processes managed via CRM.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing design tasks, workflows, and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-first approach, including practical use of modern AI tools such as code-based design tools and AI assistants" is a critical differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to showcase practical applications of these tools in their portfolio and interviews, not just theoretical knowledge.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & AI Adoption: A core value centered around leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to solve business problems and drive product innovation. Expect a culture that encourages experimentation with new tools and methodologies.

• Customer Focus: Deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of SMB customers, driving design decisions based on user feedback and market demands.

• Agility & Speed: A value placed on rapid iteration, quick decision-making, and a high shipping cadence. The culture likely embraces change and adaptability.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and close teamwork between founders, product, engineering, and design are essential for success in this environment.

• Ownership & Accountability: Individuals are expected to take full ownership of their work, from concept to execution, and be accountable for its outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Frequent: Expect close, frequent, and direct collaboration across all levels. The "short feedback loops" and "daily shipping cadence" necessitate constant communication and alignment.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: A highly integrated approach where design, product, and engineering work hand-in-hand, with designers actively participating in product strategy and development discussions.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, as a means to continuously improve the product and processes.

• Problem-Solving Focus: The team likely operates with a collective mindset focused on identifying and solving customer and business problems efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and very hands-on, characteristic of successful early-stage startups. Candidates should be comfortable with ambiguity, eager to learn, and proactive in their approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Leadership and Hands-on Work: Effectively managing a design team while also dedicating significant time to hands-on design and branding can be demanding. Prioritization and delegation will be key.

• Scaling Design Systems: As the company grows and product complexity increases, maintaining and scaling the design system efficiently will be an ongoing challenge.

• Rapid Iteration Demands: The "daily shipping cadence" requires a robust design process that can keep pace with development, potentially leading to pressure and the need for continuous optimization of workflows.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Staying ahead of AI advancements and integrating new tools and techniques into the design process in a meaningful, impactful way.

• Market Penetration: Ensuring the product design and branding effectively resonate with diverse SMBs across the DACH market and Europe.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Design Innovation: Deep dive into the practical application of AI in product design, exploring new tools and methodologies.

• Design Leadership: Develop advanced skills in team management, strategic design planning, and building design operations from the ground up.

• Product Strategy: Gain significant experience contributing to high-level product strategy and business decision-making in a growth-stage company.

• SaaS & SMB Market Expertise: Become an expert in the challenges and opportunities within the SaaS market for small and medium-sized businesses.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Enhance collaboration skills with engineering and product teams, understanding the full product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle significant challenges in scaling a design function and product in a competitive market. The learning curve will be steep but rewarding for ambitious professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to leading a design team while remaining hands-on. How do you balance these two critical aspects?" (Focus on delegation, prioritization, and mentorship).

• "Walk us through a case study where you significantly influenced product strategy or brand direction. What was your process, and what was the measurable impact?" (Highlight strategic thinking, research, and ROI).

• "How would you approach building or scaling a design system for a rapidly growing AI SaaS product? What are the key considerations?" (Emphasize scalability, consistency, and collaboration with engineering).

• "Describe a time you used AI tools to accelerate your design process or achieve a breakthrough. What was the tool, and what was the outcome?" (Showcase practical AI application).

• "How do you ensure design decisions are data-driven and aligned with business objectives, particularly in a fast-paced, daily shipping environment?" (Focus on metrics, analytics, and iterative design). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about Clera and our mission to improve AI communication for SMBs?" (Research Clera's website, product, and market position).

• "How do you see your leadership style contributing to our team culture, especially given our fast-paced, AI-first environment?" (Align your values with Clera's).

• "What are your expectations regarding collaboration with founders and engineering teams?" (Emphasize partnership and open communication).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in AI, design technology, and SaaS product development?" (Demonstrate continuous learning). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Select case studies that clearly demonstrate quantifiable results and strategic impact, not just aesthetic outcomes.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each case study, detail the problem, your role, your process (including research and decision-making), your solutions, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Leadership Elements: Explicitly point out instances where you led, mentored, or influenced others within your case studies.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and how you would apply your experience to Clera's specific context.

• Demonstrate AI Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and how they enhance your design workflow, perhaps even showcasing an example within a case study.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to defend their design decisions with data and user insights, articulate their leadership philosophy, and demonstrate a clear understanding of Clera's business and market. The AI aspect is crucial and should be woven throughout the application and interview responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your most impactful case studies that highlight end-to-end ownership, leadership, design system experience, and a strong product/analytics mindset. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your ability to work with AI tools and drive measurable results.

• Optimize Your Resume: Focus on keywords related to product design leadership, AI tools, Figma, design systems, user research, and SaaS. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of your process, and demonstrating your strategic impact. Be ready to discuss your leadership approach and your experience with AI technologies.

• Research Clera: Thoroughly understand Clera's product, target market (SMBs in DACH), competitive landscape, and company mission. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

⚠️ 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.