Product Designer - Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Design Systems

Company: Mercadona Tech

Location: Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Design Systems

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and evolution of robust design system components, patterns, and design tokens to ensure a cohesive and high-quality user experience across Mercadona Tech's digital products.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for design system usage, empowering Product Makers and cross-functional teams to implement designs efficiently and consistently.

• Collaborate closely with Frontend Engineers to bridge the gap between design and code, ensuring accurate implementation of design system elements and fostering a shared understanding of design principles.

• Drive the adoption and continuous improvement of the design system by actively gathering feedback from product teams, measuring adoption rates, and prioritizing future development based on user needs and business objectives.

• Champion best practices in visual design, interaction design, and information architecture, providing expert guidance and recommendations to product teams to uphold brand consistency and product excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on the foundational elements of design systems within a large, established retail technology organization. The emphasis is on scalability, consistency, and empowering other teams, rather than individual product feature design. The "Product Maker" terminology suggests a lean, agile development environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, articulate, and iterate on a comprehensive suite of reusable UI components, interaction patterns, and design tokens that form the core of Mercadona Tech's design system.

• Create and maintain detailed usage guidelines, documentation, and best practices for all design system elements, ensuring clarity and accessibility for Product Makers, developers, and other stakeholders.

• Provide expert design consultation and quality assurance, offering recommendations on visual design, interaction design, and information architecture to ensure adherence to the design system and overarching product strategy.

• Foster a strong partnership with Frontend Engineers, actively participating in the development and refinement of code-based components, ensuring a seamless translation from design specifications to functional implementation.

• Proactively champion the design system across the organization, measuring its adoption, identifying areas for improvement, and prioritizing the roadmap for system evolution based on feedback and strategic business needs.

• Apply user research methodologies to inform design decisions for the system, ensuring that components and patterns meet the needs of both end-users and internal product development teams.

• Facilitate workshops and training sessions to educate teams on leveraging the design system effectively, promoting a culture of design consistency and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking, meticulous documentation, cross-functional collaboration, and a proactive approach to driving adoption and improvement of the design system. The emphasis on "Product Makers" indicates a focus on enabling product teams rather than direct product ownership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, with a significant focus on designing, documenting, and evolving design systems.

Required Skills:

• Strong visual design sensibility with a deep understanding of typography, color theory, hierarchy, spacing, and information architecture principles.

• Proven experience in designing, documenting, and maintaining components, patterns, and design tokens within a mature design system.

• Expertise in interaction design, including the ability to define user flows, microinteractions, and state changes.

• Proficiency in user research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys) to gather insights and inform design decisions.

• Experience with AI tools integrated into design workflows, enhancing efficiency and ideation.

• Familiarity with prototyping in code or a strong understanding of how design translates to frontend development frameworks.

• Excellent command of the Spanish language, with strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to provide and receive constructive feedback with humility and professionalism. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design system implementation in large-scale retail or e-commerce environments.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and data analysis to measure the impact of design system changes.

• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and their implementation within design systems.

• Basic understanding of frontend development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and how design systems interact with code.

• Experience with internationalization and localization considerations within design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level suggests a role that requires hands-on contribution and a solid understanding of design system principles, but also offers opportunities for growth and learning advanced concepts. The emphasis on AI tools and prototyping in code indicates a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A dedicated section showcasing your experience with design systems, detailing your role in their creation, evolution, and maintenance.

• Case studies demonstrating the design and documentation of specific components, patterns, and design tokens, including rationale behind decisions.

• Examples of how you have collaborated with developers to ensure accurate implementation of design system elements.

• Evidence of your ability to document design system usage and provide clear guidelines for other teams.

• Projects that illustrate your understanding of interaction design and visual hierarchy within a system context. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of well-structured design system documentation, including component usage guidelines, design principles, and token definitions.

• Provide evidence of your process for gathering feedback from product teams and incorporating it into design system iterations.

• Demonstrate how you measure the adoption and impact of design system elements.

• Include examples of how you have translated user research findings into actionable design system improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio demonstrating practical experience with design systems is crucial. The emphasis should be on the process of creating, documenting, and scaling design systems, as well as the collaborative aspect with development teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €37,000 - €43,000 per year (paid monthly).

Benefits:

• Hybrid work environment: 4 days in the office, 1 day remote per week.

• Relocation bonus: Support for candidates moving from other cities.

• Language classes: Opportunities to improve English and Spanish skills.

• Attractive referral program: Bonus for recommending successful candidates.

• Networking events: Participation in "Awakatech" meetups for technology and product professionals.

• Latest generation equipment: Access to modern tools and resources for optimal performance.

• Competitive salary package: Recognition for top talent.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered by the hybrid work model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a monthly figure, which translates to €444,000 - €516,000 annually if the stated €3700-€4300 was a typo for monthly. Given the context of a Product Designer role in Spain, the more likely interpretation is €37,000-€43,000 annually, paid in monthly installments. This is a common practice in Spain. The provided benefits are substantial and indicate a company that invests in its employees' well-being and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Retail Technology. Mercadona Tech is the technology arm of Mercadona, a leading supermarket chain in Spain, focused on transforming the online grocery shopping experience. This industry context means a strong emphasis on user experience, operational efficiency, and scalability to serve a large customer base.

Company Size: Mercadona Tech is a significant entity, indicated by its role as a "spin-off" of a large corporation and its dedicated "Tech Hub." This suggests a company with established processes and resources, likely employing hundreds or thousands of individuals across its technology functions.

Founded: While the exact founding date of Mercadona Tech isn't specified, Mercadona itself was founded in 1977. Mercadona Tech likely emerged to address the growing need for robust digital capabilities in the retail sector, indicating a company that is evolving and innovating within a traditional industry.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Staff Design" department, which is responsible for building and maintaining the design systems. This indicates a centralized design systems team that serves multiple product teams ("Product Makers").

• The team likely comprises Product Designers specializing in design systems, UX Researchers, and potentially Design Operations professionals.

• Collaboration is expected with Frontend Engineers, Product Managers, and various product development teams across Mercadona Tech. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, utilizing user research and adoption metrics to guide design system evolution.

• Agile development methodologies are implied by the "Product Maker" terminology and the focus on rapid iteration and team enablement.

• Emphasis on collaboration and knowledge sharing, as evidenced by the "Awakatech" meetups and the hybrid work model.

Company Website: https://www.mercadonatech.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Mercadona Tech operates at the intersection of retail and technology, aiming to innovate within a well-established market. The "Staff Design" team structure suggests a commitment to building scalable and consistent design foundations, which is critical for a large e-commerce operation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer with a specialization in Design Systems. It requires a solid understanding of design principles and practical experience in building and maintaining design systems. The responsibilities suggest an individual contributor role with significant influence over design consistency and development efficiency.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report into the Staff Design department, likely to a Design Lead or Manager overseeing the design systems function. They will work closely with Frontend Engineers and Product Makers across various product teams.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is enabling faster, higher-quality product development by providing a robust and well-documented design system. This directly contributes to:

• Increased Development Velocity: Teams can build features more quickly by leveraging pre-built, tested components.

• Enhanced Product Consistency: A unified design language across all products improves user experience and brand recognition.

• Reduced Design & Development Debt: Standardized components minimize redundant design and coding efforts.

• Improved User Experience: Consistent and high-quality design leads to better user satisfaction and engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Deepening: Opportunity to become an expert in design systems, component architecture, and design system governance.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Potential to lead initiatives that influence design and development practices across multiple product teams.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and guide teams on design system best practices.

• Broader Product Involvement: As the design system matures, there may be opportunities to contribute to product strategy or lead design for new platform initiatives.

• Advanced Learning: The company offers language classes and networking events, fostering continuous learning and professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for specialization within design systems, a critical and growing field. The impact is significant, touching many product teams and contributing directly to operational efficiency and product quality.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates a hybrid work model, with 4 days per week in the office and 1 day remote. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork, ideation, and in-person communication, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The Tech Hub is located in Valencia, Spain, specifically at Pl. d'Amèrica, 2. This central location likely offers good accessibility for employees within the city.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting is designed to encourage interaction between designers, engineers, and product teams, facilitating rapid feedback loops and shared problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Employees are provided with "latest generation equipment," ensuring they have the necessary hardware and software to perform their roles effectively, including design tools and potentially development environments.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for structured in-person collaboration on key design system tasks, workshops, and team-building activities, while remote days offer focused work time.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week, with the flexibility of one remote day contributing to a better work-life balance. This schedule is conducive to deep work on design system components and documentation, as well as collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature of the work environment, aiming to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration for design system development with the autonomy and focus of remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios, assessing alignment with the core requirements of a Design Systems Product Designer.

• Technical Interview / Portfolio Review: Expect a deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on your design system experience. Be prepared to discuss specific projects, your design process, how you documented components, and your collaboration with developers.

• Design Challenge: A practical exercise may be given, potentially involving evaluating existing components, suggesting improvements, or designing a new component within a given context. This will assess your problem-solving skills and design thinking.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: You'll likely meet with other members of the Staff Design team and potentially some Frontend Engineers or Product Makers to assess your communication style, collaboration approach, and cultural alignment with Mercadona Tech's values.

• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader to confirm your fit and discuss the role's strategic importance.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design Systems: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to design system work. Clearly articulate your role, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the impact.

• Showcase Documentation: Include examples of your documentation for components, patterns, and tokens. Emphasize clarity, usability, and comprehensiveness.

• Detail Collaboration: Provide evidence of how you've worked with developers. This could include wireframes showing developer handoff, discussions about component implementation, or examples of code-based prototyping.

• Explain Your Process: Walk through your design process for creating or evolving design system elements, from research and ideation to iteration and implementation.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your design system contributions (e.g., adoption rates, reduction in design debt, increase in development speed).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Design System Principles: Refresh your knowledge on atomic design, component libraries, design tokens, and accessibility standards.

• Practice Articulation: Be ready to clearly explain complex design concepts and justify your design decisions, especially regarding consistency and scalability.

• Embrace Feedback: Approach any challenge as an opportunity for learning. Show that you can take feedback constructively and incorporate it into your solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your practical experience with design systems. A well-curated portfolio that clearly demonstrates your ability to build, document, and scale design systems is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is essential for UI design and component creation. Figma is particularly prevalent in collaborative design system environments.

• Prototyping Tools: Tools for creating interactive prototypes, which may be integrated within design software or standalone (e.g., InVision, Principle).

• Design System Management Platforms: While not always explicit, understanding how to manage and distribute design systems (e.g., using version control, shared libraries within design tools).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Qualtrics).

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design system elements.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that can help visualize adoption metrics and user feedback (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or custom dashboards).

CRM & Automation:

• Collaboration & Documentation Tools: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Notion, or similar platforms for project management, issue tracking, and detailed documentation of design system guidelines and processes.

• Communication Platforms: Slack or Microsoft Teams for daily team communication and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, the role implies a need for proficiency in modern design software (likely Figma), tools for user research and analytics, and platforms for documentation and collaboration. Familiarity with AI tools in design is also a requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Consistency & Quality: A core value is maintaining a high standard of visual and interactive quality across all products through the design system.

• Efficiency & Scalability: The design system is built to enable teams to work faster and more effectively, supporting Mercadona Tech's growth.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork and open communication between designers, engineers, and product teams.

• User-Centricity: All design decisions, including those for the system, are ultimately driven by the needs of the end-user.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of learning, feedback, and iterative refinement of both products and the design system itself.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships with Frontend Engineers are critical for translating designs into code and ensuring technical feasibility.

• Empowerment & Support: The design systems team acts as a resource and enabler for "Product Makers," providing them with the tools and guidance they need.

• Constructive Feedback Loop: An environment where feedback is freely exchanged, respected, and used to drive improvements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, learnings, and insights through internal meetups and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Mercadona Tech, as reflected in this role, is likely professional, collaborative, and focused on delivering high-quality, scalable solutions within the e-commerce retail space.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adoption & Governance: Ensuring consistent adoption of the design system across numerous product teams and maintaining governance to prevent fragmentation.

• Balancing Standardization and Flexibility: Creating a system that is robust enough for consistency but flexible enough to accommodate unique product needs.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Technologies: Continuously updating the design system to incorporate new design trends, accessibility standards, and AI advancements.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the ROI and effectiveness of the design system in a way that resonates with business stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Design Systems: Become an expert in all facets of design system architecture, maintenance, and strategy.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain insights into frontend development practices, product management, and user research through close collaboration.

• Industry Events: Potential to attend tech and product meetups like "Awakatech" and external conferences to stay abreast of industry trends.

• Language Skill Development: Access to language classes to enhance communication capabilities, particularly in English, which is beneficial for global tech trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an excellent opportunity for a designer passionate about systems thinking and enabling other teams. The challenges are inherent to design system work but offer significant learning and growth potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new component for our design system, considering both usability and developer implementation?" (Focus on your process, research, and collaboration with engineers.)

• "Describe a time you had to convince a team to adopt a new design system pattern or component. What was your strategy?" (Highlight your communication, persuasion, and stakeholder management skills.)

• "How do you balance the need for design consistency with the need for product innovation and unique user experiences?" (Demonstrate your understanding of design system flexibility.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Mercadona Tech and our mission to transform online grocery shopping?" (Research Mercadona's business and tech initiatives.)

• "How do you see a design system contributing to the success of a large e-commerce platform like ours?" (Connect your role to business impact.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with frontend developers and product teams." (Showcase your teamwork and communication style.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each design system project, clearly state the problem, your role, the solution (components, patterns, tokens), the process, and the outcome/impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visual aids extensively. Show actual component designs, documentation examples, and any collaboration artifacts.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with developers and product teams. Discuss handoff processes, feedback loops, and joint problem-solving.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, technical constraints, and how you handled disagreements or challenges.

• Connect to Mercadona Tech: Where possible, tailor your examples to reflect the challenges or scale of an e-commerce retail company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to articulate your design system philosophy and demonstrate practical application through your portfolio. Focus on how your work enables efficiency and quality for product teams.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer - Design Systems position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Mercadona Tech careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your design system experience. Create a dedicated section showcasing your work on components, patterns, and design tokens, including detailed case studies with process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight relevant keywords such as "Design Systems," "UI Design," "Interaction Design," "Component Design," "Design Tokens," "Figma," "User Research," and "Developer Collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design system process and philosophy. Prepare to walk through your portfolio, explaining your contributions and decision-making for each relevant project.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Mercadona Tech's mission, products, and recent news. Understand their position in the e-commerce retail market and how a strong design system supports their 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.