Lead Product Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer (m/w/d)

Company: Clera

Location: Vienna, Austria

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and own end-to-end product design strategy, branding, and team outcomes across multiple product areas, ensuring alignment with executive vision and engineering execution.

• Drive hands-on product design initiatives, including user research, brand direction, and the development and scaling of design systems.

• Foster strong partnerships with Product and Engineering teams to maintain continuous alignment and facilitate rapid, customer-focused design iterations.

• Guide and mentor a design team responsible for website, branding, and product design, upholding high standards for consistent delivery and user experience.

• Champion an analytics-driven approach to design, leveraging data and user feedback to inform decisions and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a senior, hands-on design leader. The emphasis on "owning design, branding, and team outcomes" and "collaborating closely with executives and engineering" indicates a strategic position with significant influence. The requirement for "fast decisions and short feedback loops" and "shipping focus with high impact in daily releases" suggests a fast-paced, agile environment typical of growth-stage tech companies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee and execute comprehensive product design strategies, ensuring alignment with Clera's brand identity and business objectives across all product lines.

• Lead the creation and refinement of user-centered design solutions, from conceptualization and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and final implementation.

• Conduct in-depth customer interviews and user research to gather critical insights that inform design decisions and product development roadmaps.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system, ensuring scalability and consistency in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) elements across the product suite and web presence.

• Collaborate effectively with Product Managers and Engineering leads to define product requirements, prioritize features, and ensure seamless integration of design into the development lifecycle.

• Establish and enforce stringent design standards and guidelines for product, web, and brand assets, ensuring a cohesive and professional brand experience.

• Drive continuous improvement by analyzing product performance data and user feedback to identify areas for design optimization and innovation.

• Leverage AI tools to enhance design workflows, accelerate iteration cycles, and explore novel design solutions.

• Manage and mentor a team of designers, fostering a collaborative environment and promoting professional growth and skill development.

• Actively participate in strategic discussions with leadership to shape product vision and drive business growth through exceptional design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "scaling design systems" and "analytics-driven approach" points to a need for systematic thinking and data proficiency. The mention of "AI tools" indicates a forward-thinking approach to design technology.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and practical application of design principles is essential.

• Advanced degrees or certifications in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or related fields are a plus. Experience:

• Minimum of five years of comprehensive end-to-end product design experience, with a proven track record of ownership across multiple product areas.

• Demonstrated experience in leading design initiatives, with a clear readiness to take on team leadership responsibilities while remaining a hands-on contributor. Required Skills:

• Product Design: Expertise in the full product design lifecycle, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and UI/UX design.

• Branding: Strong understanding and practical experience in shaping and maintaining brand identity across digital platforms.

• Design Systems: Proven ability to build, scale, and manage design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency in product development.

• Prototyping: Proficiency with modern prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) for creating interactive and realistic design mockups.

• User Interviews: Skill in conducting effective customer interviews and user research to gather actionable insights.

• Leadership: Experience in leading design teams or a demonstrated potential for leadership, including mentoring and guiding junior designers.

• Analytics: Ability to interpret data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design initiatives.

• AI Tools: Familiarity and experience using AI tools to enhance design workflows and productivity.

• Web Design: Experience in designing for web platforms, ensuring responsive and engaging user experiences.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management and Engineering.

Preferred Skills:

• Native-level German language proficiency.

• Professional-level English language proficiency.

• Experience in a fast-paced, growth-stage technology environment.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "native-level German and professional English" is a critical qualification for this role, suggesting significant interaction with local stakeholders and a need for clear, nuanced communication. The emphasis on "ownership across multiple product areas" and "scaling design systems" indicates a need for a candidate who can manage complexity and think systemically.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design ownership across multiple product areas, demonstrating your ability to drive initiatives from conception to launch.

• Detailed case studies that highlight your process for user research, problem-solving, design iteration, and final solution implementation, with clear articulation of the challenges faced and solutions developed.

• Examples of how you have built, scaled, and maintained design systems, illustrating their impact on consistency, efficiency, and brand cohesion.

• Evidence of your hands-on prototyping skills and your approach to user testing and feedback incorporation.

• Demonstrations of your experience with analytics-driven design, showing how you've used data to inform design decisions and measure outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your structured approach to user research, including methodologies for conducting customer interviews and synthesizing findings.

• Document your workflow for designing and iterating on user interfaces and experiences, emphasizing your problem-solving techniques and decision-making rationale.

• Illustrate your process for defining and implementing design standards and brand guidelines across various platforms.

• Provide examples of how you have collaborated with Product and Engineering teams, detailing your communication and integration strategies.

• Demonstrate your experience with AI tools in the design process, highlighting specific use cases and efficiency gains.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It must not only showcase the breadth of design skills but also the depth of strategic thinking, leadership potential, and process-oriented approach required for managing design functions and teams. The emphasis on analytics and AI tools suggests a need for practical examples of their application.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Explanation for Estimate: This range is based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designer roles in Vienna, Austria, considering the experience level (5-10 years), leadership responsibilities, and the company's stated focus on rapid growth and innovation. The upper end of the range reflects significant leadership and strategic impact.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package within the specified range.

• Opportunity to shape the design function and brand of a growing company.

• Collaborative and fast-paced work environment with a focus on innovation.

• Professional development opportunities, including potential for further leadership growth.

• Contribution to a product that aims to make a significant impact.

• Standard Austrian benefits (e.g., paid time off, health insurance contributions, social security).

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. While the core hours are standard, the emphasis on "fast decisions and short feedback loops" and "shipping focus with high impact in daily releases" suggests a dynamic work environment that may require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is broad, reflecting the significant variance in compensation based on candidate experience, specific skill sets (especially leadership and AI tool proficiency), and negotiation. The benefits are standard for a full-time role in Austria, with the primary draw being the opportunity for impact and growth within a dynamic startup.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on windows and related smart home/building solutions (implied by "clerawindows.com" and the nature of product design). Clera appears to be a modern, tech-forward company aiming to innovate within its sector.

Company Size: Based on the Ashby job posting format and the description of scaling design systems and teams, Clera is likely a growth-stage startup or a rapidly expanding SME (Small to Medium-sized Enterprise), potentially in the range of 50-250 employees.

Founded: While not explicitly stated, the company's focus on modern design, AI tools, and rapid iteration suggests a relatively young company, likely founded within the last 5-10 years, aiming to disrupt an established market.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small but growing, with this Lead role being pivotal for its expansion and strategic direction.

• This role will report to a senior executive (e.g., Head of Product, CTO, or CEO), given the collaboration with "executives."

• Close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams is a cornerstone of this role, implying a matrixed or highly integrated structure. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: A strong emphasis on using analytics and user feedback to guide design decisions and measure the effectiveness of implemented solutions.

• Agile Development: The "fast decisions," "short feedback loops," and "daily releases" indicate an agile or lean development methodology.

• Customer-Centricity: Regular conversations with target users are a core part of understanding customer needs and ensuring the product is user-focused.

• Systematic Scaling: Focus on building and scaling design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency as the product and company grow.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on innovation and technology within a potentially traditional industry (windows) suggests a culture that values modern design thinking, efficiency, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The "m/w/d" designation (männlich/weiblich/divers) indicates a commitment to diversity and inclusion in hiring.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position within the design function. The role is responsible for not just individual contribution but also for setting strategic direction, managing a team, and influencing product outcomes across multiple areas. It’s a critical role for shaping the company's product and brand identity.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report to a senior executive leader, likely the Head of Product, CTO, or CEO, and will, in turn, lead a team of product designers. This structure positions the role for significant visibility and influence within the organization.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact will be directly tied to the success of Clera's products. By owning design, branding, and team outcomes, this role will influence user acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall customer satisfaction, all of which are critical drivers of revenue and business growth. The strategic implementation of design systems and an analytics-driven approach will contribute to operational efficiency and scalable product development.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Head of Design or VP of Design role as the company scales, with increased responsibility for broader design strategy and team management.

• Strategic Product Influence: Deeper involvement in product strategy and roadmap planning, influencing the direction of multiple product lines.

• Technical Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in advanced design technologies, including AI-driven design tools and complex design system architecture.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to lead larger, cross-functional initiatives that bridge design, product, and engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career advancement, particularly for individuals looking to build and scale a design function within a growing company. The emphasis on "owning" and "leading" suggests a clear path for those who can demonstrate impact and strategic thinking.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site work arrangement in Vienna, Austria. This suggests a traditional office setting designed to foster collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Specific details about the office amenities or accessibility would typically be provided during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting is designed to facilitate close collaboration between the design team, product managers, and engineers, enabling the "fast decisions and short feedback loops" mentioned in the role description.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools, prototyping software, and potentially AI-powered design applications will be standard. The company's commitment to innovation suggests a well-equipped workspace.

• Team Interaction: Regular in-person meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions are expected, fostering a strong team dynamic and shared understanding of project goals.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and support rapid release cycles. The emphasis on "daily releases" implies a need for responsiveness and continuous engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Vienna is a key factor for candidates. It indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often valued in design roles for spontaneous ideation and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess alignment with the core requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, focusing on key case studies, your design process, leadership experience, and how you've utilized analytics and AI tools. Expect to discuss your approach to branding and design systems.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Management and Engineering leads to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate design into development workflows.

• Executive/Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and alignment with Clera's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate end-to-end ownership, leadership, design system experience, and analytics-driven decision-making. Tailor your selection to highlight how you've addressed challenges similar to those at Clera.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Highlight Leadership & Process: Emphasize your experience leading design efforts, mentoring teams, and your structured approach to design systems and branding. Showcase how you've fostered collaboration and driven efficiency.

• Showcase Analytics & AI: Clearly present how you've used data and AI tools to inform your design decisions and improve outcomes. Provide specific examples and metrics.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, your approach to brand development, how you scale design systems, and your experience working in fast-paced environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design exercise or a deep dive into a specific case study that requires you to articulate your problem-solving approach under pressure.

• Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, focusing on the "why" behind your design decisions and the business impact.

• Think about how you would approach establishing or scaling a design system and brand guidelines for a company like Clera, given its product focus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "hands-on product design," "customer interviews," and "scaling design systems" means candidates should be ready to present detailed examples of their practical work and strategic thinking in these areas. The interview process will likely assess both individual design craft and leadership capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends), Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP.

• Design Systems: Tools for managing design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integrations) and proficiency in building/scaling them.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, Slack, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel.

• Product Analytics: Tools for tracking user behavior and product performance within the application.

• Dashboarding: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (or similar tools for visualizing data and design KPIs).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for cohesive customer experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools, particularly Figma, is almost a given. The emphasis on "scaling design systems" suggests a need for candidates who understand the architecture and maintenance of such systems. Familiarity with analytics tools is crucial for the "analytics-driven approach." Experience with AI tools in design is a specific advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of Clera's customers through thoughtful and effective design.

• Excellence & High Standards: A drive to achieve exceptional quality in all design outputs, from pixel-perfect UI to cohesive branding.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork, open communication, and mutual support to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Agility: A willingness to explore new ideas, leverage emerging technologies (like AI), and adapt quickly to changing market demands and feedback.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes and proactively driving initiatives to successful completion.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Design is not siloed but integrated directly with Product and Engineering, fostering a continuous feedback loop and shared ownership.

• Data-Informed Discussions: Design decisions are backed by data and user insights, leading to productive, evidence-based conversations.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouragement of constructive feedback among team members and across departments to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Proactive Communication: A preference for clear, timely, and transparent communication to ensure alignment and prevent misunderstandings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a blend of creative excellence, rigorous execution, and collaborative problem-solving, typical of successful tech startups. The "m/w/d" designation underscores a commitment to diversity.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Managing rapid release cycles while maintaining high design standards and a cohesive user experience across multiple product areas.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring the design system remains robust, scalable, and adopted across evolving product lines and potentially new product ventures.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Maintaining consistent alignment and effective communication with Product and Engineering teams who may have different priorities or timelines.

• Brand Evolution: Continuously evolving and strengthening the Clera brand in a competitive market, ensuring it resonates with target customers.

• Leading a Growing Team: Effectively mentoring, managing, and scaling a design team while still contributing hands-on expertise.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Leadership: Opportunities to refine leadership skills, strategic planning, and team-building within a growing organization.

• Product Strategy Input: Deeper involvement in shaping the overall product roadmap and business strategy.

• Emerging Technology: Hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools and their application in design workflows.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to represent Clera at industry events or contribute to design best practices within the company's sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges common to fast-growing tech companies, requiring adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to influence without direct authority. The growth opportunities are substantial for a candidate looking to make a significant impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a product from concept to launch, specifically focusing on your role in driving end-to-end design ownership."

• "How would you approach building or scaling a design system for a company with multiple product areas like Clera? What are the key considerations for ensuring adoption and maintenance?"

• "Walk us through a time you used customer interviews and analytics to significantly influence a product design decision. What was the outcome?"

• "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration and shipping with maintaining high design quality and brand consistency?"

• "Describe your experience leading design teams. How do you foster collaboration and mentor designers?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clera's mission and products, and how do you see design contributing to our success in the windows/smart home industry?"

• "How would you contribute to our collaborative and fast-paced work environment, particularly in your interactions with Product and Engineering?"

• "Given our focus on AI tools, what are your thoughts on integrating AI into the design process, and can you share any relevant experience?"

• "How do you approach defining and upholding design standards for both product and brand?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the decisions you made, and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced support tickets).

• Showcase Leadership & Systems: Explicitly highlight instances where you led design efforts, managed teams, or developed/scaled design systems.

• Explain Your "Why": Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind your design choices, demonstrating strategic thinking and a deep understanding of user needs and business goals.

• Be Ready for AI/Analytics: Have specific examples of how you've used AI tools or analytics to drive design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their design craft but also their strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The interview process will likely assess how well their approach aligns with Clera's emphasis on speed, data, and innovation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio and resume to highlight your experience in end-to-end product design ownership, leadership, design systems, and analytics-driven design, with specific examples relevant to Clera's industry if possible.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of experience, leadership capabilities, and proficiency with modern design tools and methodologies, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership approach, and experience with case studies. Be ready to discuss how you'd leverage AI and data in the role.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Clera, its products, target market, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during interviews.

⚠️ 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.