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: August 1, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end product design strategy and execution for a fast-growing European AI SaaS company, focusing on the DACH market.

• Drive branding initiatives across product, web, and marketing touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand identity.

• Manage and scale the design team, fostering a culture of high-quality delivery and continuous improvement.

• Conduct deep customer research to understand the needs of SMBs in sectors like medical practices, trades, and law firms, translating insights into user-centric designs.

• Champion the development and evolution of robust design systems to support rapid, consistent, and high-quality product delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid individual contributor (IC) and management position, requiring a strong balance of hands-on design execution and strategic team leadership. The emphasis on AI tools and B2B SaaS for SMBs in the DACH region is a critical differentiator for potential candidates.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the entire product design lifecycle, from ideation and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and implementation, dedicating approximately 50% of time to hands-on design work.

• Lead and mentor the design team, setting direction, providing constructive feedback, and fostering professional growth for designers working on website, branding, and product design.

• Conduct regular customer interviews and user research with target demographics (tradespeople, physicians, professional service providers) to build profound domain expertise and inform design decisions.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive brand strategy that extends across the product interface, company website, and all marketing materials.

• Establish and enforce rigorous design standards and guidelines to ensure visual and functional consistency across all product areas and customer touchpoints.

• Build, scale, and continuously improve design systems that empower the product and engineering teams to deliver features efficiently and maintain design integrity.

• Collaborate directly with the founding team and engineering leads to facilitate rapid decision-making, short iteration cycles, and agile product development.

• Drive high-impact product releases by leveraging daily deployment cycles, direct customer feedback, and significant creative autonomy.

• Actively contribute to the strategic direction of the product by integrating user insights, market trends, and design best practices into the product roadmap.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility split of 50% hands-on IC and 50% team leadership is a key aspect of this role, requiring a candidate who is comfortable and effective in both capacities. The emphasis on direct customer interaction and rapid iteration cycles suggests a fast-paced, agile environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and brand strategy is expected.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of comprehensive end-to-end product design experience, with a proven track record of owning and delivering design solutions across multiple product areas. Demonstrated experience in leading or managing design teams, or a clear aptitude and strong intent to transition into design leadership, is essential.

Required Skills:

• Native German speaker: Crucial for effective communication and understanding within the core DACH market.

• Fluent English: Necessary for collaboration within an international team and for accessing global resources.

• End-to-End Product Design: Proven ability to manage the entire design process from concept to launch, including user flows, wireframing, UI design, and prototyping.

• Design Team Leadership/Management: Experience in guiding, mentoring, and managing designers, or a strong demonstrated potential and desire for this function.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level skill in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• User/Customer Research: Demonstrated experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user interviews and other qualitative research methods.

• Design Systems: Proven experience in building, scaling, and maintaining robust design systems that support multiple product lines and ensure consistency.

• Branding & Visual Identity: Hands-on experience developing and evolving brand identities across digital products and marketing collateral.

• Data-Driven Design: Ability to leverage product analytics and user data to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design initiatives.

• AI-First Design Workflow: Comfort and experience with modern AI tools (e.g., Cursor, v0, Claude) to enhance prototyping speed and design efficiency.

Preferred Skills:

• B2B SaaS Experience: Prior work in Software-as-a-Service environments, particularly for business clients.

• Professional Services Software/CRM: Familiarity with software solutions for professional services, or CRM-adjacent products, is a plus.

• Scaling Design Organizations: Experience collaborating with senior designers and contributing to the development of processes for scaling design functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a native German speaker highlights the strategic importance of the DACH market for Clera. The emphasis on AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design processes, and candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to adopt these technologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing end-to-end product design projects, emphasizing problem definition, user research insights, design process, iterations, and measurable outcomes.

• Leadership Examples: Include examples of how you have guided design direction, mentored team members, or influenced design strategy, even if informal.

• Design System Contributions: Demonstrate experience with design systems, including examples of components, patterns, or guidelines you've contributed to or built.

• Branding Work: Present examples of brand development or evolution across digital touchpoints, illustrating your ability to create cohesive visual identities.

• AI Tool Integration: If possible, include a project where AI tools were used to accelerate design or prototyping, clearly explaining the process and benefits.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Evidence of designing and optimizing complex design workflows, detailing how you ensure efficiency and quality.

• System Implementation: Examples of how you've implemented or scaled design systems, including the rationale behind your approach and the impact on delivery speed and consistency.

• Performance Measurement: Showcase how you measure the success of design initiatives, using metrics and data to demonstrate impact and inform future iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio for this role should strongly emphasize not just individual design execution but also leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and experience with modern design methodologies, including AI integration and design systems. Demonstrating an understanding of B2B SaaS and the DACH market context will be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €80,000 – €150,000 per year. This range is competitive for a Lead Product Designer role with significant leadership responsibilities in Vienna, Austria, especially within the tech and SaaS sector. The exact figure will depend on the candidate's experience, demonstrated leadership capabilities, and specific impact on previous projects.

Benefits:

• Equity-aligned upside: Opportunity to benefit financially from the company's growth through stock options or similar equity arrangements, reflecting the early-stage nature of the company.

• Direct access to founders: Close collaboration with the founding team, offering unparalleled insight into company strategy and decision-making processes.

• Fast-paced, shipping-focused culture: An environment that prioritizes rapid iteration, continuous delivery, and tangible product development.

• Meaningful individual impact: The ability to significantly influence product direction, brand identity, and team growth from an early stage.

• Work at the intersection of AI, Product, and Brand: A unique opportunity to contribute to a cutting-edge AI SaaS product in a rapidly evolving market.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a full-time role in a fast-paced startup environment typically implies a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility often available as long as responsibilities and deadlines are met. The emphasis on rapid iteration and direct customer access may necessitate occasional flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a direct conversion from USD to EUR, assuming a similar purchasing power and market rate for a lead role in Vienna. The benefits highlight the attractive aspects of joining an early-stage, high-growth startup, particularly the potential for significant impact and equity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) focusing on intelligent phone assistant software for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). The company operates within a rapidly growing sector at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and business automation.

Company Size: Seed-stage, fast-growing. This implies a dynamic, agile, and potentially resource-constrained environment where individual contributions have a significant and immediate impact. Team members often wear multiple hats.

Founded: The company is seed-stage, indicating it is relatively new and in a phase of rapid development and market penetration. This suggests a culture driven by innovation, speed, and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The design team is expected to be led by this role, with potential for growth.

• Close collaboration with the founding team (CEO, CTO, etc.) and engineering.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with designers working hand-in-hand with product managers and engineers.

• The company operates with high autonomy and fast feedback loops, suggesting a flat or semi-flat organizational structure. Methodology:

• AI-First Design Workflow: Embraces modern AI tools to accelerate design processes, prototyping, and potentially content generation.

• Data-Driven Design: Utilizes product analytics and customer feedback to inform design decisions and measure success.

• Agile Development: Operates with short iteration cycles and daily releases, requiring a design process that can keep pace.

• Customer-Centricity: Emphasizes deep understanding of customer needs through direct interviews and research.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The seed-stage nature of Clera means the culture is likely to be entrepreneurial, demanding, and highly rewarding for individuals who thrive in fast-paced, impact-driven environments. The "AI-first" and "data-driven" methodologies are core to how they operate and should be central to a candidate's approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Lead" position, indicating a senior individual contributor with significant leadership responsibilities. It bridges the gap between hands-on design and team management. The role offers the opportunity to shape the design function from its early stages within the company.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report directly to a member of the founding team (likely a CEO or CTO, depending on the company's internal structure). This offers direct visibility and influence at the highest levels of the organization.

Operations Impact: The design function, under this lead, will have a direct and measurable impact on customer acquisition, retention, user satisfaction, and brand perception. By automating communication and appointment booking for SMBs, the product's usability and user experience are paramount to its success and adoption. The design lead's strategic decisions will directly influence revenue through improved product efficacy and market penetration.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership Expansion: As the company scales, there's a clear path to grow the design team and potentially establish a more formal design department, with the Lead Designer potentially evolving into a Head of Design or Design Director role.

• Strategic Product Influence: Continued opportunity to shape product strategy, contribute to market positioning, and influence the overall business direction through design leadership.

• Skill Development in AI & SaaS: Deepen expertise in AI-driven product design and the B2B SaaS landscape, becoming a specialist in a high-demand field.

• Mentorship and Team Building: Develop strong leadership and mentorship skills by building and guiding a high-performing design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity for career advancement, particularly for individuals looking to transition into a leadership role within a high-growth startup. The direct line to founders and the impact on a core product area provide a strong foundation for future leadership positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role in Vienna, Austria. The company is likely to have a modern office space designed to foster collaboration and innovation, typical of a growing tech startup.

Office Location(s): Vienna, Austria. Specific details about the office location within Vienna are not provided, but candidates should expect a professional office environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on close collaboration with founders and engineering suggests an open and interactive workspace designed to facilitate quick communication and brainstorming.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, prototyping software, and potentially AI-assisted design tools will be provided. The company is committed to using modern technology to enhance productivity.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for frequent interaction with product, engineering, and founding teams, fostering a strong sense of shared purpose and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: As a full-time role in a fast-paced startup, the typical work schedule would be around 40 hours per week. However, the nature of rapid iteration and direct customer engagement may require some flexibility to meet deadlines and respond to urgent needs. The focus is on impact and delivery rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Vienna is crucial. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Austria and willing to commute to the office. The environment is expected to be dynamic and collaborative, aligning with startup culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly German language proficiency and leadership potential.

• Hiring Manager/Founder Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, leadership approach, and understanding of the AI SaaS and DACH market context. Expect questions about your approach to user research and data-driven design.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Deep Dive: This may involve presenting your portfolio in detail, discussing specific case studies, or undertaking a small design exercise to assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your rationale. Focus on how you'd approach designing for their specific user base (SMBs).

• Team/Engineering Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential collaborators and assess cultural fit, communication style, and ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team.

• Final Founder Interview: A concluding conversation to discuss overall fit, compensation, equity, and answer any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies that highlight problems, your process (research, ideation, iteration), solutions, and quantifiable results. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) where applicable.

• Showcase Leadership: Explicitly call out instances where you led design efforts, mentored others, or influenced strategic decisions.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, especially how you use user research and data to drive your design decisions. Explain your approach to building and maintaining design systems.

• Highlight AI & Brand: Feature projects that showcase your experience with AI tools or branding initiatives. Explain how you've integrated these into your workflow.

• Tailor to Clera: Emphasize projects relevant to B2B SaaS, SMB clients, or complex user flows. Show an understanding of the DACH market if possible.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the User: Research the types of SMBs Clera serves (medical practices, trades, law firms) and their typical communication and operational needs.

• Focus on AI & Automation: Be prepared to discuss how AI can solve specific user problems within Clera's domain.

• Design System Thinking: If a challenge involves UI design, be ready to discuss how your solutions would fit into or extend a design system.

• Articulate Rationale: Clearly explain the "why" behind your design choices, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess both your design craft and your leadership potential. Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools and your approach to building and scaling design systems. A strong understanding of the B2B SaaS landscape and the DACH market will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool for all product design and collaboration. Proficiency is a must-have.

• Prototyping Tools (integrated with Figma or standalone): For creating interactive user flows and testing design concepts.

• Customer Interview/User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting and recording user interviews, potentially including platforms like Lookback, UserTesting.com, or internal survey tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Likely platforms such as Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar, used to track user behavior, measure feature adoption, and identify areas for design improvement.

• Dashboarding Tools: Tools for visualizing key metrics and design performance, potentially integrated with analytics platforms or BI tools.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a design tool, understanding how the product integrates with or complements CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is beneficial for B2B SaaS context.

• AI Tools for Design: Specifically mentioned are Cursor (AI-powered code editor), v0 (AI model for generating UI components), and Claude (large language model). Familiarity or a strong willingness to learn and integrate these into the design workflow is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with Figma in detail, including its advanced features for collaboration and design systems. Familiarity with AI tools like Cursor, v0, and Claude is a key differentiator and indicates a forward-thinking approach to design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of SMB customers through thoughtful design and user research.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on metrics and analytics to validate design hypotheses and measure the impact of design work.

• Speed & Agility: Embracing a fast-paced environment with rapid iteration cycles and frequent product releases.

• Ownership & Impact: Encouraging individuals to take full responsibility for their work and drive meaningful outcomes for the company.

• Innovation: A proactive approach to leveraging new technologies, such as AI, to enhance product capabilities and design processes.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where cross-functional teams work closely together to achieve common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Close-Knit Founding Team Collaboration: Direct and frequent interaction with founders, ensuring alignment and rapid feedback.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Seamless integration with engineering and product management teams to ensure design is embedded throughout the development lifecycle.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback among team members to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting an environment where best practices, learnings, and insights are shared openly to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of entrepreneurial drive, technical innovation (AI), and customer focus, all within a collaborative and results-oriented framework. Candidates should align with these principles and be prepared to discuss how they embody them in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing IC and Leadership Duties: Effectively managing time and energy between hands-on design work and team leadership responsibilities.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring design systems remain robust, scalable, and adaptable as the product and team grow.

• Deepening DACH Market Understanding: Continuously gaining nuanced insights into the specific needs and cultural contexts of diverse SMBs in the German-speaking region.

• Integrating AI Tools Effectively: Mastering and strategically applying AI tools to enhance design workflows without compromising quality or user experience.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: Maintaining high design quality and strategic alignment within a context of daily releases and fast feedback loops.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone management, mentorship, and strategic planning skills by building and leading a design team.

• AI Design Specialization: Becoming a leader in applying AI tools and methodologies to product design within the SaaS domain.

• B2B SaaS Product Strategy: Gaining deep experience in the strategic aspects of B2B SaaS product development and market penetration.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Developing a comprehensive understanding of engineering, product management, and business operations through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in this role are directly tied to its growth potential. Successfully navigating these challenges will provide invaluable experience and propel career advancement, particularly in the high-demand fields of AI, SaaS, and design leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a design system from scratch for a B2B SaaS product targeting SMBs in the DACH region?" (Focus on process, scalability, and user needs.)

• "Describe a time you used customer research to significantly pivot or improve a product's design. What was your methodology, and what were the outcomes?" (Highlight research skills and impact measurement.)

• "How do you balance your time between hands-on design work and leading a design team? Provide an example of how you've managed this in a previous role." (Assess leadership and time management capabilities.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Clera's mission and our approach to AI-powered customer communication for SMBs?" (Showcase understanding of the business and passion.)

• "How do you see your role in shaping the brand identity of a fast-growing AI SaaS company?" (Demonstrate strategic brand thinking.)

• "Describe your experience working with AI tools in a design context. How do you see them evolving the future of product design?" (Assess familiarity with AI and forward-thinking approach.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Frame each case study as a story—the problem, your journey to the solution, and the impact.

• Data Visualization: Clearly present metrics and KPIs to demonstrate the quantitative impact of your design work. Use charts and graphs where appropriate.

• Process Transparency: Be ready to walk through your thought process, including research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, and iteration stages. Explain the "why" behind your decisions.

• Leadership Highlights: Integrate examples of your leadership, mentorship, or strategic influence within your case studies or as separate points.

• AI Integration Showcase: If possible, explicitly point out where and how AI tools were used to accelerate your process or enhance the outcome.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with specific AI tools mentioned (Cursor, v0, Claude) and how you would integrate them into a product design workflow. Emphasize your leadership potential and your understanding of the B2B SaaS market and the DACH customer base.

📌 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 end-to-end product design experience, any design leadership or management roles, your proficiency with Figma and design systems, and your experience with user research and AI tools. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best demonstrate your skills in product design, leadership, branding, and design systems. Ensure they clearly articulate the problem, your process, your solution, and measurable outcomes. Include examples of AI tool usage if applicable.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Briefly explain why you are a strong fit for Clera, emphasizing your native German language skills, your interest in AI SaaS, and your enthusiasm for leading a design team in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Prepare for the Interview: Research Clera's product and market. Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership approach, and how you leverage data and AI in your work. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your portfolio.

⚠️ 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.