Product Designer

Clera
Full-time•$100k-180k/year (USD)•Copenhagen, Denmark

šŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Clera

Location: Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark (Remote)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations (Design & Strategy)

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with preference for European time zones)

šŸš€ Role Summary

  • This is a foundational Product Designer role within a seed-stage AI SaaS startup, focusing on shaping the product from its inception.

  • You will be instrumental in designing complex, AI-powered interfaces that are both intuitive and highly functional, directly impacting the core product offering.

  • The role demands end-to-end design ownership, from initial concept ideation through to the delivery of polished, shippable UI.

  • Close collaboration with the engineering team on a React/TypeScript frontend is a key aspect of this position.

  • Direct customer interaction is expected to deeply understand user needs and translate them into effective design solutions.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the emphasis on "founding" and "shaping the product from the ground up" suggests a strategic role that bridges design with early-stage GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy by defining the user experience and product direction. This role will heavily influence how the product is perceived and adopted by its target market, making it crucial for GTM success.

šŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • End-to-End Product Design Ownership: Lead the design process for new features and existing products, from initial wireframing and user flows to high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience.

  • AI-Powered Interface Design: Conceptualize and design complex, AI-driven user interfaces, focusing on translating sophisticated functionalities into simple, accessible, and powerful user interactions.

  • User Research & Needs Translation: Conduct regular customer interviews and user research to gather insights, identify pain points, and validate design decisions, ensuring designs are user-centric and address real-world business problems.

  • Rapid Prototyping & Iteration: Utilize Figma and potentially AI tools (e.g., Lovable, Cursor) or code for rapid prototyping, enabling quick iteration and testing of design concepts to accelerate product development.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation of designs on a React/TypeScript frontend, providing clear design specifications and supporting development through agile sprints.

  • Cross-Functional Support: Contribute design expertise beyond core product features, including creating pitch decks, marketing assets, and other visual materials to support broader business and GTM initiatives.

  • Design System Development: Contribute to or establish design system components and guidelines to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across the product.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Contribute wherever the business needs design help — pitch decks, marketing assets, and beyond" highlights the GTM aspect. This designer will be crucial in visually communicating the product's value proposition to potential customers and investors, directly impacting early-stage sales and marketing efforts.

šŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating design expertise and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles is paramount. Exceptional recent graduates with a robust portfolio of built and shipped projects will be considered.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 3 years of dedicated product design experience.

  • Proven track record of designing and shipping products, ideally within an early-stage startup environment.

  • Demonstrated experience in 0-to-1 product development, having built products from scratch. Required Skills:

  • Product Design: Comprehensive understanding of the product design lifecycle, from discovery and ideation to delivery and iteration.

  • Figma Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.

  • UI/UX Design: Strong ability to create beautiful, intuitive, and user-friendly interfaces with meticulous attention to detail.

  • Prototyping: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes to test and communicate design concepts effectively.

  • Customer Research: Experience conducting user interviews, synthesizing feedback, and translating insights into actionable design decisions.

  • Startup Acumen: Proven experience working in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments with a high degree of ownership.

  • Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, particularly engineering.

Preferred Skills:

  • AI Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Lovable or Cursor for AI-assisted design and prototyping.

  • Webflow Proficiency: Experience with Webflow for prototyping or content design.

  • Conceptual React/TypeScript Understanding: Ability to grasp frontend code concepts, with a bonus for individuals who can prototype in code.

  • Design System Experience: Experience in developing or contributing to design systems.

  • SaaS Product Design: Specific experience designing for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "exceptional recent graduates with a strong portfolio of built and shipped projects" suggests that while experience is valued, demonstrable impact and a strong portfolio can outweigh formal years of experience, especially for a founding role. This indicates a focus on practical application and potential.

šŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Shipped Work Showcase: A portfolio that clearly demonstrates 3+ years of product design experience with tangible examples of shipped products.

  • 0-to-1 Product Examples: Specific case studies detailing the design process for products built from inception, highlighting problem definition, ideation, user research, design execution, and launch outcomes.

  • AI Interface Design: Examples of designing complex interfaces, ideally with elements of AI or sophisticated functionality, showcasing the ability to simplify intricate user journeys.

  • Figma Mastery: Evidence of proficiency in Figma, including complex file structures, component libraries, and advanced prototyping techniques.

  • User-Centricity: Case studies that explicitly detail customer interview findings and how those insights directly influenced design decisions and product direction.

Process Documentation:

  • Design Process Walkthrough: Clearly articulate your design process, detailing how you move from problem identification to a final, shipped product, emphasizing iterative loops and user feedback integration.

  • Problem-Solution Framing: Demonstrate how you frame design challenges, define user problems, and develop innovative solutions, supported by your portfolio examples.

  • Tooling & Collaboration: Explain how you leverage tools like Figma and collaborate with engineering teams, providing examples of design handoff and communication strategies.

  • Impact Measurement: Showcase how you track and measure the success of your designs, using metrics and user feedback to demonstrate product improvements or business impact.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: For a founding role, the portfolio should not just showcase finished products but also the thought process, adaptability, and strategic thinking involved in building something new. The ability to demonstrate how design decisions directly contributed to business objectives (even early-stage ones like user acquisition or engagement) will be critical.

šŸ’µ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 – $180,000 USD annually. This range reflects a mid-level to senior individual contributor role, acknowledging the "founding" nature and high ownership expectations. The specified range is based on industry benchmarks for experienced Product Designers in remote roles, with adjustments for the US dollar currency and the high-impact nature of a founding team position.

Benefits:

  • Visa Sponsorship: Available for qualified candidates, indicating a commitment to global talent acquisition.

  • Equity Potential: While not explicitly stated, founding team members in seed-stage startups often receive equity grants as part of their compensation package, reflecting the high-risk, high-reward nature of the role.

  • Remote Work Flexibility: Fully remote position with flexibility in time zones, prioritizing European or US East Coast.

  • Founding Team Impact: The opportunity to be a core part of a new venture and influence its direction from the outset.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time commitment, likely around 40 hours per week, but with the flexibility inherent in a remote, early-stage startup environment. There may be periods of higher intensity, especially during critical product development phases.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in USD, which is a strong indicator for a remote role, even for candidates based in Europe. This suggests the company operates with a US-centric compensation structure for its remote talent, or that the role is primarily aimed at candidates comfortable with USD compensation. The absence of explicit mention of equity is common for early-stage roles, but it's a crucial component to inquire about during the interview process.

šŸŽÆ Team & Company Context

šŸ¢ Company Culture

Industry: AI SaaS (Software as a Service) focused on automating office work for home-service businesses. This positions Clera within the rapidly growing AI and vertical SaaS markets.

Company Size: Seed-stage startup. This implies a small, agile team with a flat hierarchy, high levels of autonomy, and a strong emphasis on rapid iteration and impact.

Founded: Seed-stage, meaning the company is in its early phases of development and market penetration. This suggests a dynamic, potentially chaotic, but exciting environment.

Team Structure:

  • Founding Team Focus: You will work directly with the founding team, indicating close collaboration and direct access to leadership.

  • Lean & Agile: Expect a small, cross-functional team where roles may be fluid and everyone contributes across disciplines.

  • Engineering-Centric: Close collaboration with a React/TypeScript frontend engineering team is a core part of the role.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on customer interviews and user insights to inform design decisions.

  • Rapid Prototyping & Iteration: Utilizing tools like Figma and AI to quickly test and refine concepts.

  • Agile Development: Working closely with engineers in an agile framework to deliver features efficiently.

  • 0-to-1 Product Development: A focus on building and launching new products and features from scratch.

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

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: As a seed-stage company, Clera is likely prioritizing individuals who are comfortable with ambiguity, can self-start, and are excited by the prospect of building a product and company from the ground up. The "AI SaaS for home-service businesses" niche suggests a focus on practical, problem-solving software for a specific market.

šŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Founding Product Designer. This is a critical early-stage role that offers significant influence and ownership. It sits at a mid-level to senior individual contributor level, with potential for leadership as the company scales.

Reporting Structure: Will likely report directly to a founder (e.g., CEO, CTO, or Head of Product, if one exists). The structure is flat, emphasizing direct contribution and collaboration.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the success of the product and its adoption by the target market. Their work will shape the user experience, influence customer acquisition and retention, and form a core part of the product's value proposition, thereby directly impacting GTM success and revenue potential.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Product Leadership: As the company grows, the opportunity to build and lead a design team, establishing design strategy and processes.

  • Strategic Influence: Deep involvement in product strategy and roadmap planning, beyond just UI execution.

  • Skill Expansion: Opportunity to gain experience in various aspects of product development, from user research and UX strategy to potentially contributing to product marketing and GTM initiatives.

  • Equity Growth: Significant potential for equity growth as the company scales and achieves milestones.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for rapid career progression. The "founding" aspect means the designer will be instrumental in defining not just the product's look and feel, but also how it's positioned and perceived in the market, bridging design with early GTM strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This offers maximum flexibility in terms of location and working hours.

Office Location(s): While fully remote, there's a preference for candidates based in European time zones or the US East Coast. This facilitates better real-time collaboration with the founding team and engineering.

Workspace Context:

  • Remote Collaboration Tools: Expect extensive use of collaboration tools such as Slack, Zoom, Figma, and project management software.

  • Autonomy & Flexibility: High degree of autonomy in managing workload and work schedule, with an emphasis on results and effective communication.

  • Cross-Functional Interaction: Frequent interaction with founders, engineers, and potentially early customers.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, but with flexibility to accommodate different time zones and personal needs. The focus is on delivering high-quality work and meeting project deadlines, rather than strict adherence to office hours.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The preference for specific time zones is a practical consideration for a remote startup to ensure effective synchronous collaboration. Candidates outside these zones will need to demonstrate exceptional communication and time management skills to bridge potential gaps.

šŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and startup experience.

  • Portfolio Deep Dive: A session dedicated to walking through selected portfolio projects, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and impact.

  • Design Challenge: Likely an exercise to assess your ability to tackle a specific design problem relevant to Clera's domain, potentially involving AI or complex interfaces.

  • Founder/Team Interviews: Discussions with the founding team to evaluate cultural fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the company's vision.

  • Technical/Engineering Collaboration Discussion: A conversation to assess your ability to collaborate effectively with engineers and understand technical constraints.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight 0-to-1 Work: Prioritize case studies that demonstrate building products from scratch, showcasing your ability to navigate ambiguity and define solutions.

  • Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success and impact of your designs on user behavior or business outcomes.

  • Showcase AI/Complex Interfaces: Include examples that illustrate your capability in designing for complex functionalities, especially those involving AI.

  • Detail Your Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, research methods, and decision-making rationale for each project. Use visuals to support your narrative.

  • Tailor to Clera: Briefly explain why your skills and experience are a strong fit for Clera's mission and the specific challenges of this founding role.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand Clera's Domain: Research home-service businesses and their operational challenges. Consider how AI can solve these problems.

  • Focus on Intuitive AI: Prepare to discuss how to make complex AI features user-friendly and accessible.

  • Problem Framing: Practice articulating problems clearly and proposing well-reasoned design solutions.

  • Rapid Iteration Mindset: Be ready to discuss how you would approach rapid iteration and feedback incorporation in a startup setting.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "founding" nature of this role means interviewers will be looking for more than just design skills; they'll be assessing your strategic thinking, your ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, and your potential to grow with the company. Your portfolio should reflect this by demonstrating your proactive approach and business acumen.

šŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Essential for all aspects of UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration.

  • AI Prototyping Tools (Lovable, Cursor): Familiarity or willingness to learn these tools for rapid AI-assisted design and prototyping.

  • Webflow: A plus for prototyping or content-focused design tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly listed as a designer tool, understanding how to interpret product analytics (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to inform design decisions will be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

  • Familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and automation platforms are used by home-service businesses could provide valuable context for designing relevant features. Frontend Technologies (Conceptual Understanding):

  • React/TypeScript: Essential to collaborate effectively with the engineering team. Conceptual understanding is required, with coding skills being a significant advantage.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The mention of AI tools like Lovable and Cursor is cutting-edge and indicates the company is embracing new technologies for design efficiency. Proficiency or a strong interest in these areas will be a significant differentiator.

šŸ‘„ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • High Ownership: A strong sense of responsibility and accountability for outcomes.

  • Low Ego: A collaborative mindset where ideas are shared and debated openly, prioritizing the best solution over individual credit.

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of customers.

  • Speed & Agility: A preference for rapid iteration, learning, and adapting quickly to new information.

  • Impact-Driven: A focus on delivering tangible results and contributing to the company's growth.

Collaboration Style:

  • Direct & Transparent: Open communication channels with founders and engineering.

  • Cross-Functional: Working closely with different disciplines to achieve common goals.

  • Iterative Feedback: A culture that encourages continuous feedback and refinement of designs and processes.

  • Problem-Solving Focused: Collaborating to find the most effective solutions to complex challenges.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "low ego, high ownership" values are critical for any startup, especially a founding team. This means being willing to do whatever it takes to make the product and company successful, even if it falls outside traditional job descriptions.

⚔ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Building from Scratch: The primary challenge is establishing the product's core user experience and design language from the ground up in a nascent market.

  • AI Complexity: Translating sophisticated AI capabilities into intuitive and reliable user interfaces for a potentially less tech-savvy audience (home-service businesses).

  • Startup Ambiguity: Navigating the inherent uncertainties and rapid changes typical of a seed-stage company.

  • Balancing Speed and Quality: Ensuring designs are both high-quality and delivered quickly to meet aggressive product roadmaps.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

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

  • Founding Team Experience: Gaining invaluable experience as a core member of an early-stage startup.

  • AI Design Specialization: Developing expertise in designing for AI-powered applications.

  • Cross-Functional Skill Development: Expanding skills beyond design into areas like product management, GTM strategy, and user research.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for someone who thrives on challenges and sees them as opportunities for growth. The ability to adapt, learn quickly, and contribute broadly will be key to success and development.

šŸ’” Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you took a product from 0-to-1. What were the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, decision-making, and outcomes.)

  • "How would you approach designing an AI feature that automates scheduling for home-service technicians? What are the key user needs and potential pitfalls?" (Demonstrate domain understanding and AI design thinking.)

  • "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration in a startup with ensuring a high-quality, polished user experience?" (Showcase your understanding of startup dynamics and design trade-offs.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about Clera's mission to automate office work for home-service businesses?" (Show your research and alignment with the company's vision.)

  • "Describe your ideal work environment and how you collaborate with founders and engineers." (Assess your fit with the startup culture and your communication style.)

  • "How do you measure the success of your design work, and what metrics would you prioritize for a product like Clera's?" (Demonstrate your data-driven approach and understanding of impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Storytelling: Frame each portfolio case study as a narrative – the problem, your approach, your solutions, and the results.

  • Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process, research, and decision-making, not just the final visuals.

  • Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to support your claims about design success.

  • Demonstrate Adaptability: Highlight instances where you had to pivot or adapt your designs based on feedback or changing requirements.

  • Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most impactful projects efficiently and clearly.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and your comfort level with coding concepts. Your ability to articulate how design directly contributes to business goals and revenue will be a significant plus.

šŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the Ashby portal link provided.

  • Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience with 0-to-1 product development, startup environments, and any relevant AI or SaaS design projects. Use keywords from the job description.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your 0-to-1 experience, complex interface design skills, and user-centered approach. Ensure clear documentation of your process and impact.

  • Prepare Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting your chosen portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and potentially AI design tools.

  • Research Clera: Understand their target market (home-service businesses) and their mission. Think about how AI can genuinely solve their operational pain points. Prepare to discuss your initial design thoughts or areas of interest.

āš ļø 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.

Application Requirements

Requires 3+ years of product design experience with a strong portfolio of shipped work, specifically in early-stage startups. Proficiency in Figma and familiarity with React/TypeScript or AI prototyping tools is essential.