Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Despegar

Location: Alphaville, Brazil

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-03

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design user-centric digital experiences across web and mobile platforms, focusing on key business objectives like acquisition, activation, conversion, and retention.

• Leverage data-informed design principles to translate product strategies and business goals into intuitive, scalable, and innovative user interfaces.

• Drive continuous experimentation through the design of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), A/B tests, and rapid iterations to validate hypotheses and optimize user journeys.

• Analyze user behavior metrics and conversion funnels to identify friction points and opportunities for significant UX improvements.

• Foster seamless collaboration within cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and Marketing specialists, to ensure aligned product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is presented as a talent pool for future openings, emphasizing a proactive approach to hiring experienced Product Designers. The focus on "Data-Informed Design," "experimentation," and "impact mensurável" (measurable impact) strongly indicates a need for candidates who can not only design but also strategically use data to drive product decisions and demonstrate ROI. The company is actively seeking individuals who can operate with high autonomy and contribute directly to business OKRs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design end-to-end user experiences for digital products, with a specific emphasis on driving user acquisition, activation, conversion, and retention metrics.

• Translate complex product strategies and business objectives into clear, intuitive, and scalable user interfaces and interaction designs.

• Actively participate in a continuous experimentation environment by designing MVPs, formulating A/B testing hypotheses, and executing rapid design iterations to validate product concepts.

• Generate actionable design proposals based on user behavior insights and data analysis that directly contribute to achieving squad OKRs and overall business goals.

• Conduct thorough analysis of user usage data and conversion funnels to pinpoint user journey friction points and identify key areas for design-driven improvement.

• Collaborate effectively with Product Managers, Engineering teams, Data Analysts, Marketing, and Business stakeholders in a fluid, cross-functional manner, ensuring alignment and minimizing silos.

• Continuously iterate on designs based on a combination of quantitative performance data and qualitative user feedback to refine user experiences.

• Document design processes comprehensively and ensure high-quality deliverables for the Engineering team to guarantee accurate and faithful implementation of designs.

• Contribute actively to the evolution and maintenance of the company's Design System, promoting UI consistency and design best practices across all products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and tactical execution. The emphasis on "data-informed design," "experimentation," and "impact mensurável" suggests that this role requires a proactive designer who can not only create aesthetically pleasing interfaces but also understand and influence business outcomes through design. The mention of "OKRs" and "squads" indicates an agile, results-oriented team structure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is highly beneficial. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Product Designer working on digital products, encompassing both web and mobile platforms.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in designing user-centric digital experiences with a focus on acquisition, activation, conversion, or retention.

• Strong "Data-Informed Design" mindset: proven ability to interpret quantitative metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement data) and translate them into effective design solutions.

• Mandatory proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Extensive experience working with and contributing to Design Systems to ensure UI consistency and scalability.

• Proven ability to iterate rapidly on designs while maintaining system consistency and quality.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with experience working effectively in multidisciplinary teams and articulating complex design concepts simply.

• Hands-on experience in User Research, utilizing both quantitative analytics tools and qualitative methods such as user interviews and usability testing.

• High degree of autonomy and proactivity: candidates should be self-starters who propose experiments, challenge assumptions, and drive solutions independently. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in design, particularly for experience personalization.

• Proficiency with data analytics and user behavior mapping tools such as Mixpanel, Hotjar, Contentsquare, or Amplitude.

• Experience implementing Lean UX methodologies and engaging in rapid discovery cycles.

• Prior experience working in environments with a high degree of experimentation, including A/B testing and feature flag implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "5+ years of experience" and specific tool proficiencies like Figma, coupled with "Data-Informed Design" and a focus on metrics, positions this as a mid-to-senior level role. The emphasis on autonomy and proactive problem-solving suggests the company values designers who can operate with minimal supervision and drive innovation. The "Nice to have" section indicates areas where candidates can further differentiate themselves, particularly in advanced analytics and AI.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that demonstrate your end-to-end product design process, from initial problem definition and research to final high-fidelity design and iteration.

• Clearly articulate the business problem or user need addressed in each project, detailing your specific role and contributions.

• Include examples of how you leveraged quantitative data (analytics, A/B test results) and qualitative research (user interviews, usability tests) to inform your design decisions and iterations.

• Highlight your experience with Figma, including complex prototyping, component usage, and contributions to Design Systems.

• Demonstrate your ability to design for both web and mobile platforms, showcasing responsive design principles. Process Documentation:

• For each project, clearly outline the design thinking phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test.

• Detail the specific research methodologies employed and the insights derived, explaining how these insights guided the design process.

• Illustrate the iterative nature of your design work, showing how feedback and data led to design refinements.

• Provide examples of how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (PMs, Engineers, Data) throughout the design lifecycle.

• Document the final design deliverables and, where possible, the impact of the design on key metrics or OKRs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "data-informed design," "experimentation," and "measurable impact," the portfolio should strongly emphasize the candidate's ability to translate data into design decisions and demonstrate the tangible outcomes of their work. A clear, structured presentation of the design process, with specific examples of data analysis and iteration, will be crucial. The mention of "Design System" implies a need to showcase how candidates contribute to or utilize design systems effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the company's location in Brazil (Alphaville), the experience level (5+ years), and the nature of the role (Product Designer with a focus on data and experimentation), a competitive salary range can be estimated. For a mid-to-senior level Product Designer in a major metropolitan area in Brazil, the annual salary typically ranges from R$ 100,000 to R$ 180,000 (Brazilian Reais). This can vary significantly based on specific skills, the company's compensation philosophy, and the exact region within Brazil.

Benefits:

• Autonomy: Significant freedom to shape product direction and design solutions.

• Impactful Work: Opportunity to influence products used by millions of users across Latin America.

• Inclusive Environment: Work within a diverse team that prioritizes people and collaboration.

• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities and exposure to cutting-edge design and experimentation practices.

• Potential for growth within a leading travel tech company.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role in Brazil. While a standard schedule is expected, the company's emphasis on autonomy and agile methodologies may offer some flexibility in how work is structured and managed, provided deliverables are met and collaboration is maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges for Brazil are highly variable. The estimate provided is a general benchmark for a mid-to-senior Product Designer in a tech-focused company in a significant economic hub. It's crucial for candidates to research local market rates in Alphaville and São Paulo (as Alphaville is part of the Greater São Paulo area) for Product Designers with 5+ years of experience and specialized skills in data-informed design and experimentation. The provided benefits are directly extracted from the "Nice to have" section, recontextualized as core offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The travel and tourism industry, specifically focusing on online travel agencies (OTAs) and related digital services. Despegar (Decolar) is a major player in the Latin American market, operating in a dynamic and competitive digital landscape. This industry context means a strong focus on user experience, conversion optimization, and adapting to rapidly changing market trends and consumer behaviors.

Company Size: Despegar is a large, publicly traded company with a significant global presence, employing thousands of individuals. This scale implies established processes, potential for structured career paths, and a robust operational framework. For operations professionals, this means opportunities to work on large-scale challenges, impact millions of users, and collaborate within a structured, often matrixed, organizational environment.

Founded: Despegar was founded in 1999. This long history in the digital travel space indicates a mature organization with deep industry knowledge, experience navigating market shifts, and a proven track record of innovation and adaptation. This longevity suggests a stable yet forward-thinking company culture.

Team Structure:

• The Design team is likely organized into squads, each focused on specific product areas (e.g., Growth, Core Product, Checkout, Loyalty, Emerging Businesses).

• Designers typically report to a Design Lead or Manager within their respective product vertical, but also work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts within their squad.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with designers expected to be integrated members of agile teams, contributing to strategy and execution. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are heavily influenced by quantitative metrics, user analytics, and A/B testing results.

• Experimentation Culture: Continuous testing of hypotheses through MVPs, A/B tests, and feature flags is standard practice.

• Agile & Lean Principles: Work is conducted in iterative cycles, prioritizing speed, flexibility, and rapid feedback loops.

• User-Centricity: Deep understanding of user needs and behaviors is paramount, driven by both qualitative and quantitative research.

Company Website: https://www.despegar.com/ (Note: The provided URL was despegar.com, which is the correct domain.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Despegar's position as a major OTA in Latin America is key. The "AI_keywords" list, including terms like "Conversion," "Retention," "User Journey," and "Cross-functional Collaboration," reinforces the company's focus on performance marketing and user lifecycle management. The team structure emphasizes agile methodologies and cross-functional integration, common in tech companies of this size.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This "Product Designer" role, with a requirement of "5+ years of experience" and a focus on "Data-Informed Design," "experimentation," and "impact mensurável," is positioned at a Mid-to-Senior level. It implies a designer who can operate with significant autonomy, contribute strategically to product development, mentor junior designers (potentially), and lead design initiatives within their domain. The expectation to "propose experiments, question assumptions, and bring solutions" further solidifies this senior standing.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager, who oversees a specific product area or vertical. Within their day-to-day work, they will be embedded in agile squads, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts. This structure allows for both specialized design leadership and deep integration into product teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to improving key business metrics such as user acquisition, conversion rates, customer retention, and overall user engagement. By designing data-informed experiments and optimizing user journeys, the Product Designer plays a critical role in driving revenue growth and enhancing the customer experience for millions of users across Latin America. Their work directly influences the company's ability to achieve its OKRs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like Growth Design, Conversion Optimization, or AI-driven personalization.

• Leadership: Progress to Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or Design Manager roles, potentially managing a team or a larger product portfolio.

• Cross-functional Mastery: Develop advanced skills in areas like A/B testing strategy, data analysis, and Lean UX, becoming a highly sought-after specialist.

• Industry Exposure: Gain extensive experience within the competitive travel tech industry, a valuable asset for future career moves.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design practice within Despegar.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years of experience" requirement, combined with the emphasis on autonomy and strategic contribution to OKRs, clearly indicates a Mid-to-Senior level role. The growth opportunities are framed around deepening expertise, moving into leadership, and enhancing cross-functional skills, which are typical progression paths for experienced designers in tech companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," suggesting a blend of remote work and in-office presence. Alphaville is a significant business hub near São Paulo, known for its modern corporate infrastructure. Despegar likely maintains a professional office environment designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is Alphaville, Brazil. This area is a well-developed business district with excellent infrastructure, easily accessible for professionals in the Greater São Paulo region. The hybrid model would typically involve 2-3 days per week in the office, allowing for in-person collaboration with team members and access to office resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is expected to feature collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan areas conducive to team discussions and brainstorming sessions.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software (Figma), high-speed internet, and potentially specialized hardware for prototyping or testing. The company's tech stack will be readily available.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with squad members (PMs, Engineers, Data) and other designers, fostering strong working relationships and efficient communication.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied for a full-time role, the hybrid nature and emphasis on autonomy suggest potential flexibility in daily start and end times, provided core collaboration hours and project deadlines are met. The focus will be on results and impact rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" work arrangement is a key piece of information. For Alphaville, this means candidates should be prepared to commute to the office on designated days. The description implies a modern, collaborative office setup typical of large tech companies in major business districts.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio, focusing on relevant experience and skills.

• Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: An introductory conversation to discuss your background, interest in the role, and Despegar's culture.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You will likely be asked to present a case study from your portfolio, detailing your process, decisions, and impact. A practical design exercise or problem-solving task might also be included.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (other designers) and cross-functional collaborators (PMs, Engineers) to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, your process (emphasizing data and research), your solutions, and the measurable impact (quantify results whenever possible).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, data charts) to illustrate your design process and outcomes.

• Highlight Data-Informed Decisions: Explicitly state how data (analytics, A/B tests, user feedback) influenced your design choices and iterations.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Showcase complex prototypes, component usage, and any contributions to Design Systems.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify the results of your designs whenever possible (e.g., "Increased conversion by X%," "Reduced user drop-off by Y%").

• Tailor to Despegar: Briefly explain why Despegar and this specific role appeal to you, and how your skills align with their mission and values.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly understand the business goals and user needs presented.

• Outline Your Approach: Clearly articulate your design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing phases.

• Prioritize and Justify: Explain your design choices, especially any trade-offs made, and how they align with the objectives.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively across research, design, and presentation.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence. Be prepared to answer questions about your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "data-informed design," "experimentation," and "measurable impact" means the portfolio review and any design challenge will heavily scrutinize how candidates use data and demonstrate results. Candidates should prepare to walk through their thought process, justify decisions with data, and articulate the business value of their design work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Candidates are expected to have deep proficiency.

• Design Systems: Experience working with, contributing to, or building Design Systems is crucial for ensuring consistency and scalability.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/Mobile Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms for tracking user behavior and conversion funnels.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that help interpret and present data, though specific tools might vary.

• "Nice to have" Analytics Tools: Mixpanel, Hotjar, Contentsquare, Amplitude are specifically mentioned, indicating these are highly desirable for deeper user behavior analysis and heat mapping.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the Product Designer role, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms might be indirectly beneficial for understanding the broader user lifecycle and campaign execution. The primary focus remains on the user-facing product interface and optimization.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how design impacts integrated systems is generally useful, though specific tool requirements are not listed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as mandatory. The "Nice to have" section provides a strong indication of the preferred analytics and data tools, suggesting that familiarity with these platforms will significantly strengthen a candidate's profile. The company clearly values data-driven insights for design decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value emphasizing that design decisions should be informed by quantitative and qualitative data, not just intuition.

• Experimentation & Innovation: A culture that encourages continuous testing, learning, and exploring new ideas to improve user experience and business outcomes.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take initiative, own their work, and drive projects forward with minimal supervision.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where teams work together seamlessly, share knowledge openly, and communicate effectively across departments.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the user, placing them at the center of all design and product decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be active participants within agile squads, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts on a daily basis.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes to foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings across the design team and broader organization.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing iterative workflows and a flexible approach to problem-solving, adapting quickly to new information and changing priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style strongly reflect a modern, agile tech company culture. The emphasis on "Data-Driven," "Experimentation," and "Autonomy" aligns perfectly with the role's responsibilities and requirements. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Data and Intuition: Effectively integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights and design intuition to make well-rounded decisions.

• Rapid Iteration vs. System Consistency: Maintaining high-speed iteration cycles while ensuring the integrity and consistency of the Design System.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Navigating diverse stakeholder priorities and ensuring buy-in for design solutions across multiple departments.

• Measuring Design Impact: Clearly attributing business impact (e.g., revenue, conversion) to specific design initiatives in a complex product environment.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Keeping pace with evolving user expectations, design trends, and emerging technologies like AI in the competitive travel tech landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Experimentation: Deepen expertise in A/B testing methodologies, statistical analysis, and experimental design.

• AI in Design: Explore the application of AI for personalization, content generation, or user research, as mentioned in the "Nice to have" section.

• Data Analysis Skills: Enhance capabilities in interpreting complex user data and analytics dashboards to drive design strategy.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities for growth into senior or lead roles, focusing on mentorship, strategic planning, and team management.

• Industry Insights: Continuous learning through exposure to the dynamic travel tech market and Despegar's strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior designers in data-driven, fast-paced tech environments. The growth opportunities are aligned with advancing specialized skills and moving into leadership positions, offering clear career progression pathways.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used data to significantly improve a product's conversion rate. What was the data, your hypothesis, your design solution, and the outcome?" (Focus on demonstrating data-informed design and quantifiable impact.)

• "How do you approach balancing rapid iteration with maintaining consistency within a Design System? Can you provide an example?" (Assess ability to manage competing priorities and system thinking.)

• "Walk me through a complex design challenge you faced where you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders (e.g., PM, Engineering, Marketing). How did you ensure alignment and achieve your design goals?" (Evaluate collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management skills.)

• "Imagine you're tasked with designing a new feature for user acquisition. What would be your initial steps, what data would you look for, and how would you propose testing your solution?" (Assess strategic thinking, research approach, and experimentation mindset.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Despegar, and specifically in this Product Designer role?" (Prepare to connect your motivations with Despegar's mission, market position, and the role's focus.)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with our emphasis on 'Data-Informed Design' and continuous experimentation?" (Demonstrate understanding of Despegar's core values and how you embody them.)

• "Describe your experience working in agile, cross-functional teams. What is your preferred collaboration style?" (Highlight your ability to integrate and contribute effectively within agile squads.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling is Key: Frame each project as a narrative with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, decisions, iterations), and end (solution, impact).

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use metrics, percentages, and data points to showcase the success and impact of your designs.

• Showcase Your Process: Visually present your wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and research findings to illustrate your thinking.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Demonstrate complex interactions, component usage, and any Design System contributions.

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

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to the role's strong emphasis on data, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should be ready to provide concrete examples and quantify their achievements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 5+ years of experience in product design, specifically mentioning Figma, Design Systems, Data-Informed Design, and any experience with A/B testing or user research. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your process, data utilization, experimentation, and measurable impact. Ensure it is well-organized, visually appealing, and clearly articulates your contributions and results.

• Prepare Your Case Study Presentation: Practice walking through one or two key portfolio projects, focusing on your thought process, data-driven decisions, and quantifiable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your Figma proficiency and Design System experience.

• Research Despegar: Understand their business model, target audience, recent news, and company culture. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the team, challenges, and opportunities.

⚠️ 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.