Product Designer CPO

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer CPO

Company: Electra

Location: 104 Rue de Richelieu, Paris, France

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / Charge Point Operator (CPO) Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Shape the end-to-end charging experience for electric vehicle (EV) drivers on Electra's expansive network, bridging digital interfaces with physical charging infrastructure.

• Drive product design strategy and execution across the Charge Point Operator (CPO) domain, encompassing both the physical charging stations and the complex operational aspects of roaming and revenue management.

• Leverage strong product sense, design craft, and a forward-thinking approach to AI tooling to enhance user journeys and operational efficiency.

• Collaborate within a mission-driven, international environment focused on accelerating Europe's energy transition and EV adoption.

• Contribute to the scaling of Electra's operations across multiple European countries, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits at the intersection of Product Design and critical CPO operations. The emphasis on "CPO domain" and "Stations" and "Roaming" product teams indicates a need for a designer who understands not just the user interface, but also the underlying operational complexities of managing a charging network, including power delivery, revenue collection, and interoperability with third-party eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs). The "5-10 years" experience level suggests a need for demonstrated ownership of complex product challenges.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of intuitive and seamless charging journeys for EV drivers, catering to both Electra app users and those utilizing third-party eMSP platforms.

• Own the comprehensive product design scope for the CPO domain, specifically for the "Stations" product team, focusing on on-site charging experience, supervision, and power delivery.

• Own the product design scope for the "Roaming" product team, addressing traffic management on Electra stations, CPO revenue streams, and interoperability with external eMSPs.

• Conduct in-depth user research, data analysis, and ecosystem learning to identify pain points and opportunities within the EV charging experience.

• Apply strong product craft and systems thinking to design solutions for both digital interfaces (apps, web) and physical touchpoints of the charging infrastructure.

• Thoughtfully integrate modern AI tooling to accelerate research, design exploration, and delivery processes while maintaining high standards for quality and design governance.

• Translate complex technical, operational, and physical-world system details into simple, elegant user experiences.

• Contribute to the international rollout of Electra's charging network by ensuring design scalability and adaptability across diverse markets.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and operations stakeholders to ensure design solutions are feasible, impactful, and aligned with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate ownership across two key CPO product teams: "Stations" (physical infrastructure and on-site experience) and "Roaming" (network management, revenue, and external partnerships). This requires a designer capable of handling both hardware-integrated design and complex service-level design, with a keen understanding of operational metrics like uptime, revenue, and interoperability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., UX Design, Interaction Design, Product Design), Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Significant experience (5-10 years) as a Product Designer, with a proven track record of owning complex product problems from inception to delivery.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Deep expertise in user-centered design principles, interaction design, visual design, and prototyping.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand, analyze, and design within complex technical, operational, and physical systems.

• User Experience (UX) Design: Proven ability to create intuitive, efficient, and delightful user journeys across digital and physical touchpoints.

• Product Strategy: Capacity to contribute to product vision, roadmap, and strategic decision-making.

• Research & Analysis: Skill in conducting user research (qualitative and quantitative), analyzing data, and deriving actionable insights.

• AI Tooling Proficiency: Comfort and curiosity in leveraging AI tools for research, ideation, and design acceleration.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, operations teams, and other stakeholders.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both French and English.

• Problem Solving: Aptitude for tackling complex, ambiguous problems and translating them into elegant design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the e-mobility, energy, or infrastructure sectors.

• Familiarity with designing for hardware-integrated products or physical spaces.

• Experience with designing for interoperability and complex service ecosystems (e.g., third-party integrations).

• Understanding of CPO or eMSP operational processes.

• Experience in international product rollouts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "technical, operational or physical-world systems" and "systems thinking" suggests a need for a designer who can go beyond surface-level UI design and understand the underlying infrastructure and operational constraints of a charging network. The fluency requirement in both French and English is crucial given Electra's European operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects demonstrating ownership of complex problems, from initial research and strategy to final execution and iteration.

• Highlight projects that involve intricate systems, technical constraints, or physical/digital integrations.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrate your ability to translate complex operational or technical requirements into simple, user-friendly solutions.

• Present examples of how you've used data and user research to inform design decisions and drive impact. Process Documentation:

• Provide clear explanations of your design process, including methodologies used for research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation.

• Detail how you approach understanding and mapping complex systems, workflows, and user journeys.

• Showcase examples of how you've documented design specifications, user flows, and interaction patterns for engineering teams.

• Illustrate your approach to iterative design and incorporating feedback from stakeholders and users.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on CPO operations and physical infrastructure, a portfolio demonstrating experience with complex systems, operational considerations, and potentially hardware-adjacent design will be highly valued. The ability to articulate how design decisions impact operational efficiency and revenue generation will be a significant plus.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (5-10 years), location (Paris), and the nature of the role within a well-funded, scaling tech company, a competitive salary range is estimated.

• Estimated Annual Salary Range: €60,000 - €85,000 (gross)

• Explanation: This range is benchmarked against similar Product Designer roles in Paris for mid-to-senior levels within the tech and mobility sectors. It accounts for the required experience, the complexity of the CPO domain, and the company's commitment to an "attractive compensation package with fixed and variable components (evaluated and paid quarterly)."

Benefits:

• Fixed and Variable Compensation: Attractive package with fixed salary and quarterly performance-based variable components.

• Health Insurance: Alan health insurance, with Electra covering 50% of the cost.

• Meal Vouchers: Via Swile card (€10/day, 50% covered by Electra).

• Paid Time Off: 25 paid vacation days plus 12 RTT (Reduction of Working Time) days.

• Collective Agreement Benefits: SYNTEC collective agreement, including vacation bonuses and additional leave for special occasions.

• Sustainable Mobility Package: Support for eco-friendly commuting.

• Company Benefits Platform (CSE): Access to numerous perks for culture, sports, and other activities.

• Mental Health Support: Access to a platform for mental well-being, including up to 4 annual sessions with certified practitioners, covered by Electra.

• Hybrid Work Model: 2 days of remote work per week.

• Office Perks: Brand-new offices in Paris's 2nd arrondissement.

• Company Events: Quarterly company-wide events.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work arrangement and RTT days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed listing of benefits, including health insurance, meal vouchers, and specific PTO allowances, alongside the hybrid work model and the mention of variable compensation, indicates a comprehensive benefits package designed to attract and retain talent in a competitive market. The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Paris and the specified experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Electric Mobility / Energy / Infrastructure / Technology. Electra operates in a rapidly growing and critical sector, contributing to the global energy transition and decarbonization efforts through its fast-charging network for electric vehicles.

Company Size: 300+ talents across 10 countries. This indicates a dynamic, scaling organization that has moved beyond startup phase but retains a growth-oriented, international mindset. For operations professionals, this means opportunities for impact in a growing structure, but also potential for evolving processes and a need for adaptability.

Founded: 2021. Electra is a relatively young company, implying a culture that is likely agile, innovative, and focused on rapid expansion and problem-solving.

Team Structure:

• The role reports into the CPO domain, which is further divided into two product teams: "Stations" and "Roaming." This suggests a structured product organization with clear areas of focus.

• Collaboration is expected across product, engineering, design, and operations teams, both within these domains and potentially with broader GTM (Go-To-Market) or infrastructure deployment teams.

• The international nature of the company (21 nationalities) suggests a diverse and potentially multicultural working environment. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: The emphasis on "learning from users, data" and "AI tooling" points to a data-informed approach to product development and operations.

• Agile & Iterative: As a scaling tech company, Agile methodologies for product development and design are highly probable, focusing on rapid iteration and continuous improvement.

• User-Centricity: The core mission of simplifying charging experiences highlights a strong focus on the end-user (EV drivers).

• Systems-Oriented: The need to understand and design for complex physical and digital systems indicates a methodical and analytical approach to problem-solving.

Company Website: https://careers.go-electra.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Electra's rapid growth and mission-driven focus suggest a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The emphasis on international expansion means that operational roles must be adaptable and capable of navigating diverse regulatory and market landscapes. The company's young age suggests a culture that values innovation and proactive problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Product Designer role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, focusing on the critical Charge Point Operator (CPO) domain. It requires significant autonomy and the ability to own complex, end-to-end product design challenges. The scope involves both digital interfaces and the operational realities of physical infrastructure and service management.

Reporting Structure: The role is within the CPO domain, likely reporting to a Head of Product or Lead Product Designer for CPO. There's a clear reporting line into two distinct product teams ("Stations" and "Roaming"), indicating a structured product management and design hierarchy.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the core operational efficiency and user experience of Electra's charging network. By designing seamless charging journeys, optimizing station supervision, managing roaming interoperability, and driving revenue through user interactions, this role has a direct influence on customer satisfaction, network utilization, and ultimately, Electra's success in accelerating electric mobility adoption. The ability to translate complex operational needs into user-friendly designs is key to this impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise within the CPO domain, becoming a go-to expert for charging infrastructure UX, roaming systems, or energy management interfaces.

• Leadership: Progress into a Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or even a Product Design Manager role as the team and company scale.

• Cross-functional Development: Gain exposure to engineering, operations, and business strategy, potentially transitioning into product management or operations strategy roles.

• AI Integration Mastery: Become a leader in integrating AI tools into design workflows, a highly sought-after skill in modern product development.

• International Experience: Contribute to and potentially lead design efforts for new market expansions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential within a critical, high-impact sector. The dual focus on user experience and operational complexity provides a unique learning curve. The opportunity to shape the design of a physical-digital product ecosystem at scale is significant for career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Electra offers brand-new offices in prime locations (2nd arrondissement, Paris). These are likely modern, collaborative workspaces designed to support innovation and team interaction.

Office Location(s):

• Paris: 104 Rue de Richelieu, 75002 Paris, France. This central location offers excellent accessibility via public transport and proximity to amenities.

• Bordeaux: Brand-new offices near Place de la Bourse (mentioned as an option for other roles, but Paris is primary for this listing). Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The new offices are designed to foster collaboration, essential for product teams working on complex domains like CPO. Expect open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated project spaces.

• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific tools aren't listed here, the role implies access to standard design software (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Suite), prototyping tools, and potentially specialized AI design assistants. Collaboration tools like Slack and project management software (Jira, Asana) are also expected.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model (3 days in office) ensures regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues, fostering team cohesion and facilitating spontaneous problem-solving sessions crucial for complex operational design challenges.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for 2 days of remote work. This offers a balance between focused remote work and in-person collaboration, supporting efficient design processes and operational alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "brand-new offices" and a hybrid model suggests a company investing in its employee experience and work environment. For a designer working on complex operational systems, the ability to collaborate effectively in person while also having focused remote time is a key component of the work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: A typical process for a role of this level in a tech company would involve several stages:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and understanding of the role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Head of Product or Lead Designer) to delve deeper into experience, design philosophy, and understanding of the CPO domain.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discussing specific case studies. This is often followed by a take-home design challenge or an in-person/live design exercise focused on a relevant CPO problem.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (other designers, product managers, engineers) to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and team fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., CPO, Head of Product) for final evaluation and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business and user impact of your projects. Use metrics where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased station utilization).

• Showcase Systems Thinking: For this role, highlight projects where you tackled complex systems, operational constraints, or physical/digital integrations. Explain your approach to understanding and simplifying these complexities.

• Detail Your Process: Walk through your design process for 1-2 key projects. Explain why you made certain decisions, the trade-offs considered, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.

• Demonstrate CPO Relevance: If possible, include or frame projects that demonstrate an understanding of operational workflows, infrastructure management, or service design, even if not directly in e-mobility.

• AI Tooling Integration: Briefly mention how you've leveraged AI tools in your workflow and the benefits achieved.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the CPO Domain: Research Electra's business, the CPO role, eMSP interactions, and common challenges in EV charging infrastructure.

• Problem Decomposition: For any design challenge, focus on clearly defining the problem, identifying key user segments and their needs, and outlining your assumptions.

• Solution Generation: Brainstorm multiple solutions, considering trade-offs related to user experience, technical feasibility, and operational impact.

• Visual Communication: Be prepared to articulate your design decisions clearly, using sketches, wireframes, or prototypes to convey your ideas effectively.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process and rationale, rather than just the final deliverable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hiring process will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to translate complex operational realities into user-friendly designs. A portfolio that showcases systems thinking and problem-solving for intricate environments will be paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable as industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision or similar prototyping tools.

• User Research & Analytics: Tools for user interviews, surveys, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze), and data analysis platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics).

• AI Tooling: Expect exposure to or direct use of AI-powered design assistants for tasks like research synthesis, content generation, image creation, or code generation. Specific tools will vary but could include tools integrated into design platforms or standalone AI assistants.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Heap to track user behavior, feature adoption, and conversion funnels within the Electra app and potentially other digital touchpoints.

• Dashboarding Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for visualizing key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement, charging session success rates, and network performance.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not a direct user role, understanding CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) might be beneficial for context on customer data.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Trello for task management and workflow tracking; Slack for real-time communication.

• Documentation: Confluence or similar for knowledge base and process documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools like Figma is essential. Given the role's focus on CPO operations and the mention of AI, familiarity with product analytics platforms and an openness to integrating AI tools into the design workflow are key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the energy transition and making EV charging accessible. This translates to a desire to solve meaningful problems.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working together across diverse teams and nationalities to achieve ambitious goals. Expect a culture that values teamwork and shared success.

• Innovation & Agility: As a young, scaling company, Electra likely fosters a culture that embraces new ideas, experimentation, and rapid adaptation to market changes.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of EV drivers, translating into a commitment to creating excellent user experiences.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are guided by data and insights, encouraging a pragmatic and analytical approach to problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Operations teams to ensure designs are technically feasible, operationally sound, and meet user needs.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open feedback and discussion, essential for navigating complex design challenges in a fast-paced environment.

• Proactive Problem Solving: Team members are encouraged to identify issues and propose solutions, rather than waiting for direction.

• International & Diverse: Working with colleagues from various cultural backgrounds, requiring empathy, clear communication, and an appreciation for different perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on mission, collaboration, and innovation suggests a dynamic and purpose-driven work environment. For a designer, being comfortable with ambiguity and proactive in seeking solutions will be highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Physical-Digital Integration: Designing for a system that involves both user-facing digital products (app) and physical infrastructure (charging stations) presents unique challenges in ensuring seamless user journeys and operational consistency.

• Scaling International Operations: Adapting designs and user experiences for diverse markets, regulations, and user behaviors across Europe requires careful consideration and flexibility.

• Balancing User Needs with Operational Constraints: Finding elegant design solutions that meet user expectations while adhering to technical, power, and revenue management constraints of a CPO.

• Rapidly Evolving EV Market: Staying ahead of technological advancements, competitor offerings, and changing consumer behaviors in the fast-paced electric mobility sector.

• Integration of AI: Effectively and ethically integrating AI tools into the design workflow to enhance efficiency without compromising quality or user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into EV Infrastructure: Gain unparalleled expertise in the operational and user experience aspects of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

• Mastery of Complex Systems Design: Develop advanced skills in designing for intricate, multi-faceted systems involving hardware, software, and operational processes.

• International Product Strategy: Contribute to and learn from global product rollouts, understanding market localization and scaling strategies.

• AI in Design: Become proficient in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools for design research, ideation, and production, positioning yourself as a leader in this emerging field.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to be mentored by experienced leaders and to grow into leadership roles as Electra expands.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges that translate directly into high-value learning opportunities, particularly in the nascent but critical field of EV infrastructure and operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a product or feature that involved complex physical and digital components. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure a cohesive user experience?" (Focus on systems thinking, trade-offs, and cross-functional collaboration).

• "How would you approach designing a user journey for someone charging their EV at an Electra station who is unfamiliar with the process, potentially using a third-party eMSP app?" (Focus on user empathy, process simplification, and understanding CPO/eMSP dynamics).

• "Imagine our station supervision system is showing frequent intermittent errors. How would you, as a Product Designer, approach understanding and designing a better experience for our operations team managing these issues?" (Focus on operational workflows, problem diagnosis, and designing for internal users). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Electra's mission and the energy transition? How does that align with your career goals?" (Demonstrate passion for the mission and understanding of the company's impact).

• "How do you approach integrating new technologies, like AI, into your design process? Can you give an example?" (Show curiosity, pragmatism, and awareness of current trends).

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or international team environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Highlight adaptability, communication skills, and cultural awareness). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, frame it as a narrative: the problem, the context, your role, the process, the solutions, and the outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the projected impact or qualitative improvements.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Specifically point out how you navigated complex technical or operational requirements in your projects.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific design decisions, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.

• Showcase AI Integration (if applicable): Briefly explain how AI tools were used and the benefits they provided in your projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who can balance user empathy with a strong understanding of operational realities and technical constraints. Demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach to integrating new technologies will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer CPO position:

• Submit your application through the careers portal at https://careers.go-electra.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating experience with complex systems, end-to-end product ownership, and ideally, any work involving physical-digital integration or operational processes.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5-10 years of experience, emphasizing skills in product design, systems thinking, user research, and your ability to translate complex problems into simple solutions. Use keywords like "CPO," "EV charging," "infrastructure," "user experience," and "AI tooling" where relevant.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project outcomes, focusing on demonstrating your impact and how you approach challenges specific to Electra's domain. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the CPO role and the EV charging ecosystem.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Electra's mission, values, recent news, and their approach to the energy transition. Understand their product offerings and target users.

⚠️ 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.