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: 2026-08-23

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design, branding, and design team management for an AI-powered communication platform.

• Drive user experience by collaborating directly with founders, product, and engineering teams.

• Contribute hands-on to feature design, customer research, and brand evolution with a focus on high shipping velocity.

• Maintain and scale design systems to ensure consistent execution across multiple product areas and touchpoints.

• Utilize AI-first workflows and data-driven insights to accelerate design processes and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with a strong leadership component, indicating a need for both deep design expertise and the ability to mentor and grow a team. The emphasis on AI and high shipping velocity suggests a dynamic, fast-paced environment common in high-growth tech startups.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of product design, branding, and design team leadership across the company's offerings.

• Dedicate approximately 50% of time to hands-on design activities, including feature design, user research, and brand development.

• Lead design initiatives across three distinct product areas, fostering close collaboration with product managers and engineering leads.

• Manage, mentor, and grow a design team responsible for website, branding, and core product design.

• Conduct regular customer interviews and user research, particularly within target industries like trades, healthcare, and professional services, to build deep customer understanding.

• Establish and enforce design standards and best practices across product, web, and brand touchpoints to ensure a cohesive user experience.

• Develop, scale, and maintain robust design systems to facilitate consistent and efficient execution across multiple product areas.

• Contribute to frequent product releases, ensuring direct, measurable impact on user engagement and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and tactical execution. The requirement to "own" multiple aspects of design, from product features to brand and team management, indicates a senior role with significant autonomy and responsibility for the overall design output and team performance.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior design roles.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of end-to-end product design experience, with demonstrated ownership of multiple product areas. Proven experience in design leadership, either through formal management roles or by leading significant design initiatives and mentoring junior designers.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of end-to-end product design experience, including ownership of multiple product areas.

• Demonstrated senior individual contributor (IC) background with strong potential or proven experience in design team management.

• Native-level German proficiency for effective communication within the DACH market.

• Solid English communication skills for an international team environment.

• Deep hands-on proficiency in Figma, including advanced prototyping and user research capabilities.

• Experience owning both branding and website design in conjunction with core product design.

• Strong analytics and data-driven mindset; ability to measure design impact and iterate based on data.

• Proven experience building and scaling design systems across multiple product surfaces.

• Familiarity with AI-first workflows and practical experience using AI design tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude). Preferred Skills:

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

• Experience working in a fast-growing AI-powered communication platform.

• Understanding of SME customer needs and market dynamics in the DACH region.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on native German proficiency is a critical requirement due to the company's focus on the DACH market. The blend of hands-on design skills, leadership potential, and AI tool fluency points to a modern product design role demanding adaptability and a forward-thinking approach.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects demonstrating ownership from concept to launch, with a clear articulation of user problems and solutions.

• Include examples of branding and website design projects, highlighting strategic thinking and creative execution.

• Present case studies that detail the process of building, scaling, or maintaining design systems, emphasizing consistency and efficiency gains.

• Demonstrate experience with user research and customer interviews, illustrating how insights informed design decisions.

• Highlight projects where data analytics and user metrics were used to drive design iterations and measure success.

• Include examples of AI-first workflows or practical applications of AI tools within the design process. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, including discovery, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and iteration phases.

• Detail how you establish and evolve design standards and best practices within a team or organization.

• Explain your approach to managing and growing a design team, including mentorship and performance management strategies.

• Illustrate how you collaborate with product management and engineering to ensure seamless integration and timely delivery of design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, as it will be the primary method for evaluating hands-on design skills, leadership potential, and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to walk through their projects, detailing their thought process, challenges encountered, and the impact of their design solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €80,000 – €150,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to shape the product and brand of a fast-growing AI-powered communication platform.

• Direct impact on thousands of SME customers across Europe.

• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a focus on high shipping velocity.

• Potential for significant career growth and leadership development within the design team.

• Exposure to AI-first workflows and cutting-edge technology.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The emphasis on "shipping frequently" suggests a results-oriented culture where flexibility may be valued, but consistent contribution is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator of a senior-level position requiring significant experience and leadership capabilities. For Vienna, this range is competitive, especially for a tech company with growth potential. Researching comparable Lead Product Designer roles in Vienna's tech scene would further validate this range.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / AI / Communication Platforms. Clera operates in the B2B SaaS space, providing an AI-powered communication platform to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong focus on user experience, and data-driven decision-making.

Company Size: Fast-growing startup. This implies a dynamic, agile environment where roles can be broad, and individuals are expected to be adaptable and take initiative. The "fast-growing" nature suggests potential for rapid expansion and increased responsibilities.

Founded: The company's founding date is not specified, but its current stage as a "fast-growing AI-powered communication platform" indicates it has moved beyond the early startup phase and is scaling its operations and customer base.

Team Structure:

• The design team will likely be integrated within product development, working closely with product managers and engineering teams.

• As Lead Product Designer, you will manage a team covering website, branding, and product design, implying a reporting structure where designers report to you.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with direct interaction with founders, product, and engineering to shape the overall user experience. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: A strong data-driven mindset is required, using analytics to measure design impact and inform iterations.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role involves optimizing design processes, scaling design systems, and leveraging AI tools to accelerate workflows.

• Automation & Efficiency: Emphasis on "high shipping velocity" and AI-first workflows suggests a focus on efficient processes and automation within the design and development lifecycle.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and serving SMEs in the DACH region suggests a practical, results-oriented culture. The "fast-growing" aspect means the Lead Product Designer will likely play a pivotal role in shaping not just the product's design but also the design team's processes and culture as the company scales.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level position, explicitly a "Lead" role. It encompasses both individual contributor (IC) responsibilities, such as hands-on design and research, and leadership responsibilities, including team management, setting design standards, and strategic input on product direction. The role requires someone who can operate autonomously at a high level while also guiding and developing others.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a higher-level executive, likely a Head of Product, CTO, or directly to one of the founders, given the startup environment and the role's scope. You will, in turn, manage a team of designers.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer has a direct and significant impact on Clera's success. By owning product design, branding, and the design team, this role influences customer acquisition (through branding and website design), customer retention and satisfaction (through product UX), and overall product quality and consistency. The focus on AI and high shipping velocity implies that design decisions directly contribute to the platform's competitiveness and market penetration.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and scale a design team, developing management and mentorship skills.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the company's product strategy, brand identity, and user experience vision.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, B2B SaaS UX, and design system scalability.

• Career Progression: Potential to move into a Head of Design or Product role as the company grows, or to become a recognized leader in AI-powered UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a compelling growth trajectory for a designer ready to step into leadership. The opportunity to influence a company's core product and brand from a senior position in a fast-growing environment is a significant draw.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in Vienna, Austria. This indicates a traditional office-based work setting, fostering in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Vienna, Austria. This central European location offers a vibrant urban environment and access to a strong talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement suggests opportunities for spontaneous collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and direct interaction with colleagues across product, engineering, and potentially sales/marketing.

• Operations Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, AI design tools (Cursor, Claude), and potentially other project management or collaboration software.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional project discussions will be integral to the daily workflow.

Work Schedule: While full-time is standard, the emphasis on "shipping frequently" and "high shipping velocity" suggests a results-oriented culture. This might involve some flexibility in daily hours but requires consistent dedication to meeting release cycles and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Vienna is a key factor for candidates. It suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and team building, which can be beneficial for design cohesion and rapid iteration cycles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present key projects from your portfolio, discussing your process, design decisions, challenges, and impact. This will likely include hands-on design exercises or case studies.

• Team & Leadership Interviews: Meetings with founders, product leaders, and engineering managers to evaluate your collaboration style, leadership potential, and strategic thinking.

• Customer/User Interaction Discussion: You may be asked to discuss your approach to user research and how you gather customer insights.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership to finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Select 2-3 strong projects that clearly demonstrate your ability to take a product or feature from conception through to launch and iteration.

• Highlight Leadership & Management: If you have management experience, include a case study on how you led a team, set standards, or mentored designers. If transitioning, articulate your leadership philosophy and how you'd approach team growth.

• Emphasize Data & AI Integration: Clearly illustrate how you used data analytics, user feedback, and AI tools to inform your design decisions and measure their impact.

• Detail Design System Work: If you have experience building or scaling design systems, showcase the system's components, guidelines, and the benefits it brought to the product and team.

• Articulate Brand Strategy: For branding projects, explain the strategic thinking behind the visual identity and how it aligns with business goals.

• Prepare for Figma & Prototyping: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow and potentially demonstrate advanced prototyping techniques.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve a product critique, a feature design task, or a problem-solving scenario relevant to Clera's platform.

• Practice articulating your design process concisely and clearly, focusing on the "why" behind your decisions.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach customer interviews and translate findings into actionable design improvements.

• Think about how you would set design standards and manage a team in a fast-paced, growing environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your portfolio. Candidates should select projects that best demonstrate the specific requirements of this role: end-to-end product design, leadership, data-driven decision-making, design systems, branding, and AI tool proficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of product design, including wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is required.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities are key, but familiarity with other advanced prototyping tools may be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting interviews, usability testing, and gathering qualitative feedback (e.g., Lookback, UserTesting.com, or even direct video conferencing tools).

• Design System Tools: Platforms or methodologies for managing and documenting design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal documentation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics to track user behavior, feature adoption, and design impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret and present data using dashboards or reporting tools to communicate design performance to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with B2B CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is a plus, especially for understanding the context of B2B software and professional services.

• AI Design Tools: Explicitly mentioned are Cursor and Claude, indicating an expectation to leverage AI for accelerating design tasks, code generation, content creation, or research synthesis.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The explicit mention of AI tools like Cursor and Claude indicates a forward-thinking approach to design workflows. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and comfort level with integrating AI into their design process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value, emphasizing the use of analytics and user feedback to guide design choices and measure impact.

• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of SME customers through regular interaction and research.

• Efficiency and Velocity: A culture that values rapid iteration, frequent shipping, and streamlined processes, likely supported by AI tools.

• Collaboration and Ownership: Expectation for strong teamwork across product and engineering, with individuals taking ownership of their areas.

• Innovation and AI Adoption: Embracing new technologies and methodologies, particularly AI, to enhance design and product development.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with product management and engineering are paramount for successful product development.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages direct feedback, constructive critique, and transparent discussions about design decisions and challenges.

• Agile and Iterative: A working style that embraces agile methodologies, allowing for quick adaptation and continuous improvement based on feedback and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of startup agility, a strong emphasis on data and customer focus, and a modern approach to technology adoption (AI). Candidates should demonstrate an ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and results-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Hands-on Design with Leadership: Effectively managing time between individual design contributions and team leadership responsibilities.

• Rapid Iteration and High Shipping Velocity: Maintaining design quality and consistency while working under tight deadlines and frequent release cycles.

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

• Integrating AI Effectively: Navigating the evolving landscape of AI tools and integrating them meaningfully into design workflows without compromising quality or user experience.

• Building Customer Understanding: Deepening understanding of diverse SME customer needs across different industries to inform product strategy.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership and Team Building: Opportunities to hone management skills, mentor designers, and shape the future of the design team at Clera.

• Product Strategy and Vision: Contribute directly to the strategic direction of an AI-powered communication platform.

• Advanced Design System Practices: Deepen expertise in creating and managing scalable design systems for complex B2B products.

• AI in Design: Become a leader in leveraging AI tools and workflows for design and product development.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in the B2B SaaS sector, specifically within AI and communication technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are also excellent growth opportunities. Successfully navigating these challenges will position the candidate for substantial career advancement within the company or the broader tech industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a product feature from initial concept to a shipped product. How do you ensure alignment with product and engineering?"

• "How would you approach building or scaling a design system for a growing B2B platform like Clera? What are the key considerations?"

• "Walk us through a time you used data or user research to significantly change a design direction. What was the impact?"

• "How do you see AI tools like Cursor or Claude changing the product design workflow? How would you integrate them into our team's process?"

• "What is your philosophy on design leadership and team management? How would you foster a collaborative and high-performing design team?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clera's mission and the AI-powered communication platform?"

• "How do you think your design approach would align with our emphasis on high shipping velocity and data-driven decisions?"

• "Describe your experience working in a fast-growing startup environment."

• "How would you ensure the brand identity remains consistent across product, web, and marketing efforts?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project, focusing on the problem, your process, your specific contributions, the solution, and the measurable impact.

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative, highlighting the challenges faced, the decisions made, and the lessons learned.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement increases, task completion times) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Highlight Leadership/Mentorship: If you have leadership experience, clearly articulate your role in guiding team members, setting standards, or driving design initiatives.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical constraints, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and how you see them impacting design. Also, clearly articulate your leadership style and how you would manage and grow a design team, as this is a significant component of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end product design, branding, design system development, user research, and data-driven decision-making. Prioritize examples that showcase leadership potential or actual team management experience.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of experience, leadership capabilities, native German fluency, and proficiency with Figma and AI design tools. Use keywords from the job description to align with ATS scanning.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling and articulating your thought process. Prepare answers to common design leadership and strategy questions, especially those related to AI integration and team management.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Clera, its product, target market (SMEs in DACH), and any available information on its company culture and values. Understand their AI-powered communication platform and its competitive landscape.

⚠️ 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.