Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Sama

Location: Germany

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Owns the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial concept and user research through to final delivery and iteration, with a primary focus on SaaS product development.

• Develops intuitive and engaging user experiences by translating user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints into elegant design solutions.

• Collaborates closely with Product Managers and Engineers to foster a shared understanding and drive the successful implementation of design initiatives.

• Contributes to and actively evolves the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product touchpoints.

• Supports marketing and sales efforts by designing compelling visual assets, including landing pages, sales collateral, and campaign visuals, to maintain brand cohesion across the entire customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a part-time/contract position, emphasizing a need for autonomous individuals who can operate effectively in a startup environment with evolving processes. The dual focus on product design and marketing/sales collateral suggests a versatile designer capable of handling both strategic product development and tactical creative execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the discovery, ideation, and execution phases for key product features, ensuring alignment with user needs and business goals.

• Create comprehensive design documentation, including user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design intent.

• Conduct and leverage user research and usability testing to gather insights, validate design decisions, and drive iterative improvements.

• Champion the use and expansion of the design system, ensuring its adoption and contributing to its library of components and guidelines.

• Design visually appealing and on-brand marketing materials, such as landing pages and advertisements, to support lead generation and brand awareness initiatives.

• Develop collateral for the sales team, including presentations and one-pagers, to enhance client engagement and communicate product value propositions effectively.

• Ensure a cohesive and consistent brand experience across all digital touchpoints, from the core product to website and marketing collateral.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales, to ensure successful product launches and integrated campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Primary Focus" on Product Design and "Secondary Focus" on Marketing & Sales Design indicate that while core product development is paramount, a significant portion of the role will involve supporting go-to-market activities. Candidates should highlight experience in both areas, emphasizing how they've bridged the gap between product functionality and persuasive marketing communication.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for mid-level product design roles.

Experience: 3–5 years of professional experience in product design, with a strong preference for experience within SaaS companies and startup environments.

Required Skills:

• 3–5 years of professional experience in product design.

• Proven experience in SaaS product design.

• Experience with marketing design, branding, or motion graphics.

• Experience working in start-up environments.

• Strong portfolio demonstrating user-centered product design and a solid visual design aesthetic.

• Experience designing responsive web and/or mobile applications.

• Proficiency in Figma (or equivalent design/prototyping tools like Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Understanding of design systems and component-driven design principles.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, Marketing, Sales). Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and usability testing.

• Familiarity with animation or motion design principles.

• Knowledge of HTML/CSS for understanding implementation constraints.

• Experience with A/B testing design variations.

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "start-ups" and "limited structure and processes" suggests that candidates with experience in fast-paced, evolving environments will be highly valued. The requirement for a strong portfolio is critical, as it will be the primary tool for evaluating design thinking, problem-solving, and aesthetic capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, detailing the problem, your process, and the solution.

• Demonstrations of user-centered design methodologies, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, highlighting component design, style guides, and scalability.

• Visual design work that exhibits a strong aesthetic sensibility, brand consistency, and an understanding of visual hierarchy and typography.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the impact of your design decisions on user experience and business objectives. Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes clearly, from initial concept through to final implementation, for cross-functional review.

• Examples of how you've collaborated with engineering teams to ensure design feasibility and efficient implementation.

• Evidence of iterative design processes, including how feedback from user testing and stakeholders was incorporated.

• Demonstrations of how you've contributed to or maintained design system documentation for consistent application.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the startup context and the dual focus on product and marketing design, portfolios should ideally showcase versatility. Candidates should prepare to walk through projects that demonstrate strategic thinking in product design and creative execution in marketing collateral, highlighting how both contribute to Sama's overall business objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As a contractor, the compensation structure is a $1,500/month retainer plus additional project-based compensation. Project fees will vary based on scope, complexity, and the designer's involvement. For a mid-level Product Designer with 3-5 years of experience working remotely in Germany, a typical project-based compensation would likely range from €50-€80 per hour, depending on specialization and specific project demands. This would translate to a potential total monthly compensation significantly higher than the retainer, depending on project allocation.

Benefits:

• Remote work: Full flexibility to work from anywhere within Europe.

• Professional coaching: Access to Sama's core offering via their app.

• Training and development: Opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Growth potential: Ample opportunities for professional advancement as the company expands.

Working Hours: The role is part-time/contract, with an estimated 40 hours per month for the retainer, plus additional hours for specific projects. The exact working hours are flexible, allowing for work-life balance, but require responsiveness during core European business hours for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation model is a hybrid retainer and project-based fee. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their hourly rate expectations for project work and clarify the typical monthly workload based on project allocation. The retainer likely covers ongoing design system maintenance and strategic contributions, while project fees are for specific feature development or marketing campaigns. The remote work flexibility within Europe is a significant benefit for candidates seeking location independence.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: EdTech / HR Tech / B2B SaaS. Sama operates in the rapidly growing corporate development and employee enablement space, focusing on professional coaching delivered through a user-friendly digital platform. This sector is driven by the increasing need for continuous learning and employee engagement in modern workplaces.

Company Size: As a growing startup, Sama likely has a lean and agile team structure, fostering a culture of ownership and direct impact. The team is described as "highly motivated individuals who think like owners."

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, Sama is positioned as a forward-thinking company "building the future of work," suggesting a relatively recent establishment and a focus on innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design function appears to be a crucial part of the product development team, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers.

• The role requires collaboration with Marketing and Sales teams, indicating cross-functional integration is a key aspect of how Sama operates.

• As a contractor, the designer may be integrated into existing project teams or lead specific design initiatives. Methodology:

• Data-driven design: The emphasis on user research and usability testing points to a data-informed approach to design decisions.

• Agile development: Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers suggests an agile or iterative development process.

• Brand consistency: A strong focus on maintaining brand cohesion across product, web, and sales materials indicates a structured approach to brand management.

Company Website: sama.io

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is explicitly described as entrepreneurial, autonomous, and action-oriented. Candidates should highlight their ability to thrive in environments with less formal structure and demonstrate a proactive, "doer" mentality. The emphasis on "thinking like owners" implies a desire for team members who take initiative and are invested in the company's success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience). It requires a designer who can independently own significant product design areas and contribute strategically to marketing and sales collateral, demonstrating a capability beyond junior-level execution.

Reporting Structure: As a contractor, the designer will likely report to a Product Lead, Design Lead, or potentially a Product Manager, depending on the project structure. They will collaborate closely with Engineering and Product Management teams.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to enhancing user experience within the Sama platform, which in turn drives user engagement and retention. By supporting marketing and sales with compelling visuals, the designer also plays a role in lead generation and customer acquisition, directly influencing Sama's revenue growth and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to broaden expertise across product design, marketing design, and potentially motion graphics.

• Design System Leadership: Potential to significantly influence and lead the evolution of Sama's design system.

• Startup Experience: Gaining valuable experience in a fast-growing startup environment, which can accelerate career development and provide exposure to diverse business challenges.

• Project Variety: Working on diverse projects across product features and GTM initiatives offers continuous learning and portfolio building.

📝 Enhancement Note: For contractors, "growth" often translates to more project opportunities, increased responsibility on complex projects, and the potential for long-term engagement. Candidates should view this role as a chance to gain significant experience in a dynamic startup and build a robust portfolio with diverse project types.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The role is specified as remote, with candidates open across Europe. This implies a distributed team environment.

Office Location(s): Germany is listed as the primary location, but the role is remote across Europe. This suggests flexibility for candidates within the European Union/EEA, potentially requiring adherence to local labor laws and tax implications for contractors.

Workspace Context:

• Autonomous Workspace: Candidates are expected to manage their own workspace and working hours effectively, demonstrating self-discipline and time management skills.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Reliance on digital tools for communication, design collaboration (Figma), project management, and access to Sama's coaching platform.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Regular interaction with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales teams, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills in a virtual setting.

Work Schedule: While the role is remote and flexible, the mention of collaboration with cross-functional teams implies a need for availability during core European business hours for meetings and synchronous work. The contract specifies a retainer for approximately 40 hours per month, with additional project-based work to be defined.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of this role necessitates strong self-management and communication skills. Candidates should be comfortable working independently, proactively communicating their progress, and utilizing virtual collaboration tools effectively. The "Europe-wide" remote option is a significant draw for talent seeking geographical flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents selected projects from their portfolio, detailing their design process, problem-solving approach, and impact. This is crucial for evaluating their design thinking and communication skills.

• Skills-Based Interview: Discussion focusing on specific design tools (Figma), methodologies (user research, design systems), and experience with SaaS/startup environments.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Interview: Questions assessing ability to work with Product Managers, Engineers, Marketing, and Sales, including handling feedback and managing stakeholder expectations.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Assessment of entrepreneurial mindset, autonomy, curiosity, and ability to work with limited structure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your product design expertise, user-centered approach, and ability to deliver results. Include at least one project that demonstrates your marketing/sales design capabilities if possible.

• Tell a story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed, key decisions made, challenges encountered, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Figma proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your workflow in Figma, including your approach to component libraries, design systems, and prototyping.

• Showcase user-centricity: Emphasize how user research and feedback informed your design decisions and led to improved user experiences.

• Demonstrate impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge or case study, either as a take-home assignment or a live exercise during the interview. This will likely involve a prompt related to Sama's product or a similar B2B SaaS scenario.

• Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving process, ability to ask clarifying questions, and how you would approach designing a solution within defined constraints.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and justifying them with user insights and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount. Candidates should treat the portfolio presentation as a core part of the interview. They should be ready to discuss not just the final designs but the 'why' behind them, demonstrating strategic thinking and a deep understanding of user needs and business objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary design and prototyping tool required for this role. Proficiency in creating complex designs, interactive prototypes, and managing design systems within Figma is essential.

• Design System Tools: Familiarity with tools or methodologies for building and maintaining design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, a Product Designer should be comfortable working with analytics data to inform design decisions. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar product analytics platforms would be beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms may be helpful for understanding the broader customer journey and how marketing/sales collateral integrates with these systems, though not a core requirement for the design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the critical tool. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their advanced Figma skills, including component libraries, variants, auto layout, and collaborative features. While not explicitly required, familiarity with product analytics tools demonstrates a data-driven approach that is highly valued in product design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Taking ownership, initiative, and thinking like a business owner.

• Autonomy & Independence: Ability to work effectively with limited structure and processes, managing one's own workload and priorities.

• Action-Oriented: A "doer" mentality, with a bias for action and a focus on execution.

• Curiosity & Learning: A strong desire to learn, explore new challenges, and stay updated with design trends and technologies.

• Openness & Trust: Fostering a transparent and trustworthy working environment.

• Commitment: Dedication to delivering high-quality work and contributing to team success.

• Team Player: Collaborating effectively and supporting colleagues to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales teams to ensure alignment and cohesive execution.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement.

• Agile & Iterative: Participating in agile workflows, embracing iterative design and development cycles.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication in a remote setting to keep stakeholders informed and aligned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a proactive, independent, and results-driven individual who can thrive in a dynamic startup. Candidates should articulate how their personal work style and values align with these principles, providing examples of how they've demonstrated these traits in previous roles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Startup Environment Ambiguity: Navigating a role with potentially evolving processes and structures requires adaptability and a proactive approach to defining workflows.

• Balancing Product & Marketing Design: Effectively managing time and priorities between core product design responsibilities and supporting marketing/sales collateral creation.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and team cohesion in a fully remote, distributed environment.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and scaling a design system in a growing product can be complex, requiring careful planning and execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunity to deepen expertise in SaaS product design, responsive design, and potentially motion graphics.

• Design System Contribution: Significant opportunity to shape and grow a critical design asset for the company.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining valuable experience working closely with product, engineering, marketing, and sales teams.

• Startup Operations: Learning how design integrates into the broader operations of a fast-paced startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to startup environments and remote work. Candidates should frame these challenges as opportunities for growth, demonstrating their resilience, problem-solving skills, and ability to adapt to dynamic situations. Highlighting how they've successfully navigated similar situations in the past will be key.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a product feature from initial concept to final launch. How do you incorporate user feedback and collaborate with engineering?" (Focus on user-centered design, iterative process, and collaboration).

• "How would you approach designing a new landing page for Sama's coaching service? What information would be critical, and how would you ensure brand consistency?" (Focus on marketing design, understanding target audience, and brand alignment).

• "Imagine we need to add a new feature to our platform that requires a complex user flow. Walk me through how you would tackle this, including your wireframing and prototyping approach." (Focus on problem-solving, design process, and tool proficiency). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Sama, and what excites you about our mission to build the future of work?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest).

• "How do you feel about working in a startup environment with limited structure and processes? Can you provide an example of how you've thrived in such an environment?" (Highlight autonomy, proactivity, and adaptability).

• "How do you stay curious and continuously learn new design skills or technologies?" (Showcase a growth mindset and commitment to professional development). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your background and then dive into 2-3 key projects. For each project, cover: Problem/Goal, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution, and Outcome/Impact.

• Highlight Figma: Be ready to share your screen and walk through specific Figma files, demonstrating your proficiency with components, auto layout, prototyping, and design system elements.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If exact metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Address Dual Focus: Ensure your presentation reflects both your product design capabilities and your marketing/sales design skills, showing versatility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design philosophy and process in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. They should be ready to defend their design decisions with rationale based on user needs, business goals, and best practices.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your experience in SaaS product design, user-centered methodologies, and your ability to create impactful marketing/sales collateral. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., via a link).

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3-5 years of experience, emphasizing skills in Figma, design systems, user research, and working in startup environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on your process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Prepare answers for common product design and startup culture questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Sama (sama.io), its product, mission, and target audience. Understand their current design aesthetic and how your contributions can enhance their platform and brand.

⚠️ 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.