Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Rentman

Location: Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-08-24T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process for Rentman's core equipment management platform, focusing on complex B2B SaaS solutions.

• Develop and mature a young design system, establishing design quality standards and best practices within a fast-paced release environment.

• Conduct in-depth user research, including discovery interviews and user testing, to inform problem definition, scoping, and design validation.

• Collaborate in a product trio model with Product Managers and Tech Owners to shape product strategy and ensure design intent is realized during development.

• Design user-centric solutions catering to both novice and expert users, making opinionated design decisions to enhance operational efficiency for event and media production teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior or lead Product Designer given the emphasis on end-to-end ownership, building foundational design practices (design system, evidence culture), and making "opinionated calls" on complex product areas with limited prior UX support. The mention of "assertive PM" and "fast-moving release train" suggests a need for strong design leadership and stakeholder management skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Author comprehensive design briefs to clearly articulate project goals, user needs, and design objectives for the equipment management product area.

• Utilize Figma to design intuitive user interfaces and workflows, leveraging and contributing to the existing design system, and identifying areas for expansion.

• Partner with Product Managers and Tech Owners to meticulously define problems, scope features, and conduct initial discovery interviews to understand user pain points and business requirements.

• Execute rigorous user testing and interviews to validate design directions and gather feedback before proceeding to development handoff, ensuring user-centricity.

• Design for a diverse user base, accommodating both new users who require guidance and expert users who demand efficiency and advanced functionality within the operations management platform.

• Actively support the development team during the build phase, ensuring the design intent is accurately translated into the final product and guarding design quality.

• Participate actively in UX critiques, providing constructive feedback and contributing to the collective growth and improvement of the design team's shared practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on user research and validation, which is critical for building effective B2B SaaS products. The role requires not just execution but also strategic input in problem definition and scoping, indicating a senior-level contribution to product strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of UX principles, interaction design, and visual design is paramount. Candidates with degrees in Design, HCI, or related fields may have a foundational advantage.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in product design, with a significant focus on complex B2B or SaaS products, is required. This experience should reflect a history of owning design problems from conception through to successful implementation.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in end-to-end product design, demonstrating ownership of problems rather than just executing scoped tasks.

• Mastery of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design, with an ability to build upon and contribute to design systems.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and executing user discovery interviews and validation activities, with at least one instance of a direction-changing outcome.

• Proficiency in designing for both novice and expert user personas, understanding their distinct needs and workflows.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, capable of effectively communicating design rationale and influencing decisions across Product, Engineering, and other business units.

• Ability to write clear and concise design briefs that guide project direction and align teams. Preferred Skills:

• Domain knowledge in logistics, planning, inventory management, or ERP-like systems, providing immediate context for Rentman's product.

• Experience with product analytics tools and instrumentation to measure design impact and identify further optimization opportunities.

• Prior experience working within a product trio model (Designer, PM, Tech Lead) or actively contributing to the development and maintenance of a design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "at least one direction-changing result" from discovery and validation emphasizes the need for a proactive, research-driven designer who can challenge assumptions and drive impactful product improvements, not just incremental ones.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex B2B or SaaS product design projects, detailing your end-to-end involvement.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed (discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), and the rationale behind key design decisions.

• Include examples of how you have leveraged or contributed to a design system, demonstrating an understanding of its importance for consistency and efficiency.

• Present at least one case study that highlights a significant discovery or validation effort that directly influenced product direction or a key feature.

• Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion rates, operational efficiency, or business outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate proficiency in creating detailed design briefs that outline project scope, user needs, and success criteria.

• Provide examples of user research methodologies employed, including discovery interviews and user testing protocols, and present the insights derived.

• Showcase your approach to iterative design, including how feedback was incorporated to refine solutions and improve user experience.

• Illustrate your collaboration process with Product Managers and Engineers, highlighting how you ensured design intent was maintained throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on building a design system and an "evidence culture," the portfolio should strongly feature projects that demonstrate a systematic approach to design, user validation, and the ability to establish and adhere to design standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for experienced Product Designers in Utrecht, Netherlands, with a strong B2B SaaS background and expertise in Figma and design systems, the estimated annual salary range is €65,000 - €90,000. This range accounts for the role's senior nature, complexity of the product area, and the company's scale-up status.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

• 8% holiday allowance.

• Results-based bonus (up to a full 13th month's salary).

• 25 vacation days annually.

• Additional PTO accrual: 1 extra day per year of service from the second anniversary, up to five years.

• 4-week paid sabbatical after 5 years of employment.

• Flexible Work From Home policy, with the option to work remotely from anywhere for 4 weeks per year.

• Pension plan managed through BrightPensioen.

• Annual training budget for professional development and skill enhancement.

• Access to OpenUp for mental well-being and personal growth support.

• Choice of hardware: Windows, Linux, or Mac.

• Opportunities for physical activity: participation in Rentman football, squash, padel, and a discounted Urban Sports membership.

• OV Business card provided for commutes over 10km from the office.

• Free lunches and office perks (e.g., PS5, ping pong, D&D).

Working Hours: The standard work week is approximately 40 hours. Rentman offers a flexible WFH policy, allowing for adaptability in work arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on available market data for senior product design roles in the Netherlands, considering the specified experience level and industry (B2B SaaS). Actual compensation will be determined by the hiring team based on the candidate's specific qualifications and interview performance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: B2B SaaS, specifically within the Event and Media Production operations management sector. Rentman provides a crucial platform for businesses to streamline their planning, inventory, and resource management.

Company Size: 100+ employees, indicating a growing scale-up environment with established processes but still retaining agility and a close-knit feel. This size often means more opportunities for individual impact and cross-functional visibility.

Founded: Rentman was founded with the mission to simplify complex operations for event professionals, growing into a recognized international player. This history suggests a strong foundation in understanding user needs within a niche, demanding industry.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely part of a larger Product department, working within a "product trio" model alongside Product Managers and Tech Owners for specific product areas.

• This structure promotes close collaboration and shared ownership of product development, with designers playing an integral role from ideation to launch.

• Designers are expected to contribute to the overall UX practice, participating in crits and helping to foster an "evidence culture." Methodology:

• Rentman emphasizes an "evidence culture," meaning decisions are driven by data and user insights rather than assumptions. This translates to a strong focus on user research, A/B testing, and product analytics.

• The company operates with a "fast-moving release train," suggesting an Agile or iterative development methodology where efficiency and timely delivery are key.

• Design processes are expected to be built from scratch, including the design system and established UX practices, requiring a proactive and foundational approach.

Company Website: https://rentman.io/nl

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on an "evidence culture" and building UX practices from the ground up implies that candidates will have significant autonomy and influence but also face the challenge of establishing these processes. The "product trio" model is a common and effective structure for B2B SaaS product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicated by the 5+ years of experience requirement, the expectation of end-to-end ownership, and the mandate to build foundational design practices like a design system and an evidence culture. This level implies a significant degree of autonomy and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or Product Lead. They will work closely with Product Managers and Tech Owners within their respective product squads. The emphasis on collaboration within a "product trio" suggests a strong, direct working relationship with these individuals.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and substantial impact on the operational efficiency and user satisfaction of Rentman's core equipment management platform. By improving the usability and functionality of this complex area, the designer will contribute directly to customer retention, acquisition, and the company's overall success in the event and media production market. The improvements made will translate into tangible benefits for users, such as reduced planning time, fewer errors, and better resource utilization.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As Rentman continues to grow its design function, there will be opportunities to take on more leadership responsibilities, potentially mentoring junior designers or leading specific design initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in complex B2B SaaS domains like logistics, inventory, or planning systems, becoming a go-to expert within the company.

• Process Improvement: Play a key role in further developing and refining Rentman's design processes, contributing to the maturity of the design team and its impact on the business.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Develop strong product strategy skills through close collaboration with PMs and Tech Leads, potentially opening doors to product management or strategic roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity for a designer who wants to build and shape design practices within a growing SaaS company. The emphasis on "building both from scratch" for the design system and evidence culture suggests significant influence and potential for career growth beyond individual contribution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Rentman has a physical office in Utrecht, Netherlands, described as an "amazing office in the heart of Utrecht, in the historic Drift 17." The company also offers a flexible WFH policy. This suggests a hybrid work model where employees can balance office-based collaboration with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Utrecht, Netherlands. The company also has a second office in Toronto, Canada. Employees living more than 10km from the Utrecht office will receive an OV Business card.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is described as "flexible, energizing," with perks like free lunches, PS5, ping pong, and D&D, fostering a social and engaging atmosphere.

• The culture is "open, flat, and inclusive," encouraging curiosity and collaboration. This implies an environment where designers can freely share ideas and work effectively with cross-functional teams.

• The presence of "legendary karaoke nights, and regular team activities" points to a company that values team bonding and a positive work experience.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "Flexible WFH policy" and "work from anywhere for 4 weeks a year" offer significant autonomy and flexibility in how and where work is completed, catering to modern work preferences and supporting work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model combined with a vibrant office culture and flexible remote options caters to a broad range of employee preferences, making it attractive for candidates seeking both collaboration and autonomy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Online Introduction Call (30 mins): An initial screening with a recruiter to discuss the role, Rentman, and your general fit. Be prepared to articulate your interest in Rentman and this specific Product Designer role.

• Online Past Experience & Culture Interview (60 mins): This interview will likely focus on your previous experience, particularly your work on complex B2B/SaaS products, and assess your cultural alignment with Rentman's values (curiosity, ownership, openness). Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that demonstrate end-to-end ownership and your approach to building design systems or evidence cultures.

• Onsite Assignment and Final Discussion (90 mins): This stage typically involves a practical design challenge or a deep dive into your portfolio with the team. Be ready to present your portfolio case studies, discuss your design process in detail, and answer questions about how you would approach the specific challenges of Rentman's equipment management product. This is also an opportunity to ask in-depth questions about the team, product strategy, and company direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies for 3-5 of your most relevant B2B/SaaS projects. Each case study should follow a narrative: Problem -> Your Role & Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Highlight End-to-End Ownership: Explicitly detail your involvement from discovery and research through to design and support during development.

• Showcase Design System Contribution: If you've worked on or contributed to a design system, dedicate a section or highlight within case studies how you used it, identified gaps, or helped evolve it.

• Demonstrate Research Impact: Select a case study where your discovery or validation efforts significantly influenced the product direction. Clearly articulate the insights gained and the resulting design changes.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your designs. Even if exact numbers are unavailable, discuss the intended outcomes and how you'd measure success.

• Figma Expertise: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, showcasing your proficiency, organization, and understanding of design system principles.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Rentman's product and the event/media production industry. Familiarize yourself with common operational challenges (inventory, scheduling, logistics).

• Design System Thinking: Anticipate questions or tasks related to how you would build or contribute to a design system in a nascent stage.

• Problem Solving: Be ready to tackle a design problem related to inventory management or complex scheduling, focusing on your process, user-centricity, and ability to make "opinionated calls."

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely, as if explaining them to Product Managers and developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "onsite assignment and final discussion" suggests a practical component, likely a portfolio presentation or a design exercise. Candidates should prepare to articulate their thought process and design methodology in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly stated as a required tool and a core part of the design workflow. Proficiency in Figma for UI design, prototyping, and component-based design is essential.

• Design Systems: Experience with creating, contributing to, or utilizing design systems is a key requirement. This implies familiarity with component libraries, style guides, and design tokens.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics): While not explicitly listed as required, "Product analytics / instrumentation experience" is a "nice to have." This suggests that familiarity with tools used to track user behavior, measure feature adoption, and analyze product performance would be beneficial.

• Data Visualization Tools: The ability to interpret and potentially create basic visualizations from data to support design decisions or present findings.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): While not directly used by designers, understanding how user data flows from CRM to product analytics can be helpful for B2B SaaS roles.

• Project Management / Collaboration Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Essential for working within a development team and tracking design tasks, bug reports, and feature requests.

• Communication Tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams): Crucial for daily team communication and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and design systems indicates that Rentman is investing in scalable and efficient design processes. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and their philosophy on design system development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: An inherent drive to understand user needs, explore new solutions, and continuously learn. This is key for tackling complex product areas and building an "evidence culture."

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for problems from start to finish, demonstrating initiative, and seeing projects through to successful outcomes. This is directly reflected in the requirement for end-to-end problem ownership.

• Openness: A commitment to transparency, constructive feedback, and a flat organizational structure where ideas can be challenged and shared freely. This fosters collaboration and a healthy team dynamic.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: A workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Product Trio Model: Close, integrated collaboration with Product Managers and Tech Owners, forming a cohesive unit responsible for product development.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Regular engagement with engineering teams during development, and potentially with marketing, sales, and customer support for broader product understanding.

• Shared Practice: Active participation in UX critiques and team discussions to collectively elevate design quality and share knowledge.

• Evidence-Based Decision Making: A collaborative approach where design decisions are supported by user research, data, and logical reasoning, fostering a culture of constructive debate and shared understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values of curiosity, ownership, and openness are critical for a role that involves building foundational design practices. Candidates should be prepared to share examples of how they embody these values in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing a robust design system and a strong "evidence culture" in a company where these may be nascent. This requires patience, strong communication, and a strategic approach to implementation.

• Complex Product Domain: Navigating the intricacies of equipment management, inventory logistics, and multi-warehouse systems requires deep understanding and careful design to avoid overwhelming users.

• Balancing User Needs: Designing for both novice and expert users simultaneously, making "opinionated calls" that satisfy diverse requirements within a fast-paced release cycle.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Effectively managing expectations and driving consensus among assertive PMs and technical owners to ensure design quality and user-centricity are prioritized.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to significantly shape and lead the development of a core design system, gaining expertise in scalable design.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in logistics, inventory management, and B2B SaaS operations, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Product Strategy Acumen: Enhance strategic thinking and product development skills through close collaboration in the product trio model.

• Mentorship & Growth: Potential to mentor future designers as the team grows and to advance into more senior or leadership roles within Rentman's Product team.

• Training Budget: Utilize the annual training budget for courses, conferences, or certifications relevant to UX, product design, or the logistics domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge of "building from scratch" is also a significant growth opportunity for a designer eager to leave their mark and establish best practices within an organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to build a design system or establish new design processes from scratch. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your process, stakeholder management, and ability to create scalable solutions.)

• "How would you approach defining and scoping a complex feature area like multi-warehouse inventory management, given limited existing UX support?" (Emphasize your discovery, research, and problem-framing methodologies.)

• "Tell us about a situation where your user research led to a significant change in product direction. What was your process, and how did you communicate that to stakeholders?" (Highlight your ability to drive impactful insights and influence decisions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Rentman and our mission to support event and media production teams?" (Research Rentman's impact and articulate your connection to their purpose.)

• "How do you embody Rentman's values of curiosity, ownership, and openness in your design work?" (Prepare specific examples from your career.)

• "How do you ensure design quality and intent are maintained when working with a fast-moving development team?" (Discuss your collaboration, communication, and quality assurance strategies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation around the "story" of each project: the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the results/impact.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate how you arrived at your solutions. Detail your research methods, design iterations, and decision-making rationale.

• Highlight Collaboration: Show instances where you worked effectively with PMs and engineers.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Design System Integration: Point out how you used or contributed to a design system, and discuss the benefits for scalability and consistency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes experience, cultural fit, and practical application. Candidates should prepare to showcase their portfolio with a strong emphasis on end-to-end ownership and their ability to build foundational design practices.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 3-5 of your most relevant B2B SaaS projects, focusing on end-to-end ownership, design system contributions, and user research impact. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, solution, and quantifiable results.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of experience in complex B2B/SaaS product design, your expertise in Figma and design systems, and your experience with user discovery and validation. Use keywords such as "Product Designer," "UX/UI," "B2B SaaS," "Figma," "Design Systems," and "User Research."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and experience with building design foundations. Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your curiosity, ownership, and collaborative approach. Review your portfolio thoroughly and be ready to present key case studies.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Rentman's product, target market (event and media production), and company culture. Understand their mission and how your role contributes to their "evidence culture" and operational efficiency goals.

⚠️ 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.

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