Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: R3 Robotics

Location: Foetz, Luxembourg / Kuppenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Job Type: Permanent employee

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-26

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end design of human-facing interfaces for industrial robotics, focusing on operator HMIs, digital operations platforms, and fleet management portals.

• Drive user research and validation to ensure designs are grounded in real-world operator workflows, prioritizing safety, efficiency, and reduced training times.

• Collaborate closely within a product trio (Product Owner, Engineering Leads) to translate complex problems into intuitive and effective user experiences.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency and facilitate rapid extension of all R3 Robotics software surfaces.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of product development by bringing a strong usability perspective to early-stage decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a critical component of R3 Robotics' Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, as the user experience directly impacts operational efficiency and adoption of their advanced AI-powered dismantling platform. The emphasis on safety-critical industrial contexts and the development of a design system highlights the need for a designer who can balance user needs with rigorous engineering and operational requirements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for operator HMIs, the Battery Disassembly Digital Platform (DigiOps), and the Fleet Management Portal, encompassing user flows, interaction design, and interface aesthetics.

• Design specifically for safety-critical industrial environments, ensuring clear system states, unambiguous error handling, and intuitive recovery mechanisms that function under high operational pressure.

• Architect and maintain a robust, shared design system to enforce consistency across all R3 Robotics software products and accelerate future feature development.

• Conduct thorough user research, including workflow mapping and usability testing with actual operators, to gather evidence-based insights that inform design iterations.

• Define and monitor key usability metrics such as time on task, error rates, and training time to quantitatively assess design effectiveness.

• Actively participate as a core member of the product trio, contributing usability expertise from problem definition through to product delivery.

• Partner with Software Engineering leads to ensure practical, efficient, and timely implementation of designed solutions.

• Champion the user's perspective, advocating for operator needs and operational context in all product discussions and decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to design, requiring the candidate to not only create visual designs but also to deeply understand the operational context and user workflows. The "product trio" collaboration model is common in agile development environments and requires strong communication and teamwork skills, particularly bridging the gap between user needs, technical feasibility, and business objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, or a related field is highly beneficial. Equivalent practical experience and a compelling portfolio will be considered. Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or interaction design, with a proven track record in complex software applications.

• Experience designing for B2B, enterprise, industrial, or control-system interfaces is highly preferred. Required Skills:

• Interaction Design: Proficient in designing intuitive and efficient user interactions for complex systems.

• Interface Design: Expertise in creating clear, functional, and aesthetically consistent user interfaces.

• User Research: Skilled in conducting user interviews, workflow mapping, and usability testing to gather actionable insights.

• Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, and utilizing design systems for consistency and scalability.

• Prototyping & Tool Fluency: Proficient with modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and capable of clean handoffs to engineering.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• HMI/Dashboard Design: Specific experience designing Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), dashboards, or operator interfaces for machinery, robotics, or manufacturing control systems.

• Safety-Critical Systems: Familiarity with the design considerations and constraints of safety-critical or industrial environments.

• Agile/Startup Experience: Comfort and adaptability in a fast-scaling startup environment, with a willingness to help build and refine design practices.

• Multilingualism: English proficiency is mandatory; German and/or French language skills are a significant advantage given the company's locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5+ years of experience, coupled with the preference for industrial design backgrounds and familiarity with safety-critical systems, indicates that R3 Robotics is seeking a seasoned designer capable of handling significant responsibility and complex technical challenges. The emphasis on building the design practice suggests an opportunity for a candidate to shape processes and standards.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies that illustrate your process from problem definition through to final design solution and its impact.

• Operational Focus: Highlight projects involving data-rich operational products, control systems, or industrial interfaces where usability and efficiency were paramount.

• Interaction & Interface Design: Clearly demonstrate your skills in both interaction flow and visual interface design, including wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• User Research & Validation: Provide evidence of your user research methodologies, testing protocols, and how user feedback directly influenced design decisions and outcomes.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, include examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, showcasing your understanding of consistency and scalability.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Mapping: Demonstrate your ability to map complex operator workflows, identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement.

• Usability Metrics: Show how you define, track, and report on usability metrics (e.g., time on task, error rate) to measure design success.

• Iteration & Feedback Loops: Illustrate your process for iterating on designs based on user feedback and testing, showcasing your ability to adapt without ego.

• Collaboration Evidence: Include examples of how you worked within cross-functional teams (product, engineering) to deliver successful product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role in industrial robotics, the portfolio needs to go beyond typical consumer-facing UX. It must clearly demonstrate an understanding of operational pressure, safety requirements, and the need for unambiguous, efficient interfaces. Case studies should explicitly detail how designs were tested with real operators and how those findings led to tangible improvements in usability or efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for experienced Product Designers (5-10 years) in Luxembourg and Germany, a competitive annual salary range is estimated between €70,000 and €95,000. This range accounts for the specialized nature of industrial/robotics design, the required experience level, and the cost of living in these regions. Benefits:

• Complementary Health Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage beyond standard statutory requirements.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.

• Autonomy & Ownership: High degree of autonomy in your role, allowing for significant impact and ownership.

• Collaborative Environment: Work with a highly skilled, committed, and supportive team of peers.

• Transparent Culture: A workplace that values open communication and employee contributions.

• Access to Cutting-Edge Technologies: Work with advanced robotics, AI, and computer vision technologies.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines and operational needs in a fast-scaling startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for Product Designers with 5-10 years of experience in Western Europe, considering the tech and industrial sectors in Luxembourg and Germany. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and negotiation. The benefits package emphasizes professional growth and a supportive, innovative work environment, common for tech startups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Industrial Robotics, AI, Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainable Technology (Circular Economy)

Company Size: Growing startup (likely 50-150 employees based on Series A funding and expansion plans)

Founded: R3 Robotics was founded to address the growing need for automated recycling solutions, particularly for electric vehicle components. Its focus on AI and robotics positions it at the forefront of industrial automation for sustainability.

Team Structure:

• Product Trio Model: Designers work in close collaboration with Product Owners and Software Engineering Leads, forming integrated product teams.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close liaison with engineering, product management, and potentially operations/field teams to ensure designs are practical and meet user needs.

• Flat Hierarchy: As a scaling startup, expect a relatively flat organizational structure with direct access to leadership and a focus on collaborative decision-making.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: The "product trio" approach aligns with Agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and rapid deployment.

• Data-Driven Design: Strong emphasis on user research, usability testing, and metric tracking to inform design decisions and validate solutions.

• Systematic Approach: The development of a design system reflects a commitment to scalable, consistent, and efficient product development processes.

Company Website: https://r3robotics.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: R3 Robotics operates in a highly innovative and technically demanding field. The culture is likely to be fast-paced, collaborative, and focused on solving complex engineering challenges. The company's mission-driven approach (transforming end-of-life EV systems) will appeal to individuals seeking impactful work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Senior Level Product Designer. This role is not entry-level; it requires significant experience and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy. The designer is expected to "own" significant portions of the product experience.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or CTO, depending on the current organizational structure. The direct collaboration within the "product trio" is more defining than the hierarchical reporting line for day-to-day work.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the efficiency, safety, and ease of use of R3 Robotics' AI-powered dismantling platform. Successful designs will lead to faster operational throughput, reduced error rates, lower training costs for operators, and ultimately, increased adoption and ROI for customers, which is critical for the company's GTM success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Practice: Opportunity to shape and grow the design function within a scaling startup, potentially leading to a Design Lead or Head of Design role as the company expands.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for industrial automation, robotics, AI interfaces, and safety-critical systems.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Develop a strong understanding of product management and software engineering, opening doors to product-focused leadership roles.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in UX/UI for the burgeoning field of industrial robotics and sustainable technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant potential for growth, particularly for designers who thrive in dynamic environments and want to build out design capabilities. The opportunity to influence product strategy and contribute to a company with a strong sustainability mission is a key differentiator.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "On-site," indicating a requirement to work from one of the company's physical offices. This is common for roles involving close collaboration, hardware interaction, and a need for dedicated workspace.

Office Location(s):

• Foetz, Luxembourg: Located in a business district, likely offering modern office facilities. Luxembourg is known for its international business environment and high quality of life.

• Kuppenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany: Situated in a region with a strong industrial and technological base, particularly in automotive and engineering. This location may offer closer proximity to R&D or manufacturing aspects of robotics.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect modern office environments with dedicated areas for team collaboration, design reviews, and focused work.

• Access to Technology: The workspace will be equipped with standard design software and hardware, with opportunities to interact with the robotics and AI technologies the company develops.

• Team Interaction: Regular in-person interaction with product, engineering, and potentially R&D teams to foster strong working relationships and facilitate design discussions.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is typical. However, in a startup environment, flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines, attend crucial meetings, or participate in on-site user testing. This flexibility is often balanced with a focus on delivering results rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement underscores the importance of in-person collaboration and the hands-on nature of designing for physical products and industrial environments. Candidates should be prepared to relocate or commute to either the Luxembourg or German office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a hiring manager will review applications and portfolios.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, focusing on your process, problem-solving approach, and impact. Expect in-depth questions about your case studies.

• Product Trio Interview: Meet with the Product Owner and Engineering Leads to discuss your design philosophy, collaboration style, and how you approach complex technical challenges.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: Potentially a practical exercise or workshop to assess your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to work under simulated conditions.

• Cultural Fit & Values Interview: Discussion to assess alignment with R3 Robotics' values, culture, and mission.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the measured impact.

• Process over Polish: While polished visuals are good, emphasize your process – how you identified problems, researched, iterated, and collaborated.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "decreased error rate by Y%").

• Focus on Relevance: Prioritize projects that showcase experience with complex software, B2B, industrial interfaces, or safety-critical systems.

• Be Prepared to Defend: Know your work inside and out. Be ready to explain every decision and trade-off.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research R3 Robotics' mission, technology, and target users (operators, fleet managers).

• Think Operationally: Consider the constraints and requirements of an industrial robotics environment: safety, efficiency, clarity, and robustness.

• Structure Your Approach: For any design challenge, outline your steps: understanding the problem, identifying key user needs, brainstorming solutions, defining success metrics, and proposing an implementation plan.

• Highlight Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you would work with engineers and product managers to solve the challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both technical design skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a demanding, technically-focused environment. A strong emphasis on portfolio review and practical application indicates that R3 Robotics values demonstrated experience and a clear, evidence-based design methodology.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely given modern industry standards and team collaboration needs), Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting remote or in-person usability tests, surveys, and interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Google Forms).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for tracking tasks and project progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While design-focused, familiarity with how user behavior is tracked and analyzed within the product is beneficial. This could include tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or custom internal dashboards. CRM & Automation:

• Less directly relevant for a Product Designer, but understanding how customer data is managed and how automation impacts user workflows can provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with industry-standard design tools like Figma is crucial. The ability to integrate with engineering workflows, often managed through tools like Jira, is also a key requirement for seamless product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Problem Solving: A core drive to tackle complex industrial challenges with cutting-edge AI and robotics.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together effectively within cross-functional teams ("product trio") to achieve common goals.

• User-Centricity & Empathy: Deep understanding and consideration for the operators and users interacting with their technology.

• Efficiency & Precision: A commitment to designing and building solutions that are highly efficient, reliable, and safe in operational contexts.

• Sustainability Mission: A shared purpose in contributing to a circular economy through advanced recycling solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Product Teams: Designers are embedded within cross-functional product teams, fostering close working relationships with product and engineering.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open feedback, constructive critique, and transparent discussion of ideas and challenges.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A preference for decisions backed by user research, testing, and performance metrics, rather than pure intuition.

• Iterative Improvement: A willingness to continuously refine designs and processes based on feedback and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are strongly tied to its mission and the nature of its technology. Candidates should demonstrate a passion for innovation, a collaborative spirit, and an understanding of the critical importance of user experience in industrial settings.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Safety-Critical Environments: Balancing intuitive user experience with stringent safety requirements and operational robustness.

• Bridging the Physical and Digital: Creating seamless interfaces for complex robotic systems where the digital controls directly influence physical actions.

• Building a Design Practice: As a scaling startup, there may be a need to establish or formalize design processes, standards, and tools.

• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting quickly to evolving product requirements and market feedback.

• Communicating Complex Concepts: Translating sophisticated AI and robotics technology into understandable and usable interfaces for operators.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Industrial Robotics & AI: Gain unparalleled expertise in the design challenges specific to advanced automation and AI applications.

• Lead Design Initiatives: Take ownership of significant product areas and contribute to the strategic direction of the design function.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant conferences (e.g., UX, Industrial Design, Robotics) and pursue specialized training.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by experienced leaders in product and engineering, or to mentor junior team members as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents unique challenges and offers substantial growth by allowing a designer to operate at the cutting edge of industrial technology. The opportunity to build and shape design practices within a growing company is a significant draw for ambitious professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing an HMI for a robotic arm that needs to perform delicate dismantling tasks safely?" (Focus on clear state indication, error handling, precision controls, and feedback mechanisms.)

• "Describe your process for mapping user workflows. Give an example of how this process led to a significant design improvement." (Highlight your research methodology, user observation skills, and ability to translate findings into actionable design changes.)

• "How do you balance the need for a consistent design system with the requirements for unique features or specialized operational modes?" (Discuss your approach to design system governance, flexibility, and extension.)

• "Imagine an operator is experiencing frequent, minor errors with the system. How would you diagnose the problem and design a solution to improve efficiency and reduce frustration?" (Focus on user research, data analysis, iterative design, and clear communication of solutions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about R3 Robotics' mission and the industrial robotics space?" (Show genuine interest in the company's impact and technological domain.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineering and product management teams, especially when there are differing opinions?" (Emphasize your communication skills, willingness to compromise, and focus on shared goals.)

• "Describe a time you had to build a process or standard where none existed." (Highlight your initiative, structured thinking, and ability to create order in ambiguity.)

• "How do you measure the success of your designs in a B2B or industrial context?" (Discuss relevant metrics like task completion time, error rates, training duration, and user satisfaction.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of R3 Robotics' mission and the role's context. Then, dive into 2-3 of your most relevant case studies.

• Problem/Solution/Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your design process and solutions, and the measurable impact or learning.

• Demonstrate Process: Show wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and research artifacts to illustrate your journey. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Focus on Relevance: Emphasize projects that align with industrial, complex, or safety-critical software design.

• Be ready for questions: Anticipate detailed questions about your decision-making, challenges, and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill, but also an understanding of industrial operations, safety, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a technically rigorous environment. Tailoring your portfolio and responses to R3 Robotics' specific industry and challenges will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Circu-li-ion jobs portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in B2B, industrial, or complex software design, emphasizing UX, UI, interaction design, and user research skills. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your ability to design for operational efficiency, safety, and complex user flows. Ensure your process and impact are clearly articulated.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting your case studies, focusing on storytelling, your design process, and the quantifiable results or learnings. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research and collaboration.

• Research R3 Robotics: Understand their mission, technology (AI, robotics, computer vision), and target users. Think about how your design skills can contribute to their success in automated dismantling.

⚠️ 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.