Product Designer - Digital Platforms (Real Estate, CRM & AI) (f/m/d) | 80–100% | Hybrid Working Model | Zürich, Switzerland

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Digital Platforms (Real Estate, CRM & AI) (f/m/d)

Company: SMG Swiss Marketplace Group

Location: Zürich, Switzerland

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Digital Platforms

Date Posted: October 6, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and evolve user-centered digital experiences for leading real estate marketplaces and CRM tools, focusing on B2C and B2B segments across web and mobile platforms.

• Pioneer AI-native design methodologies and integrate generative AI tools throughout the design lifecycle to enhance efficiency and product innovation.

• Develop and maintain scalable, multi-brand design systems, leveraging AI for component governance, synchronization, and accessibility.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts to conduct user research, A/B testing, and data-informed decision-making to optimize acquisition and retention metrics.

• Establish and promote AI Design Ops guidelines to elevate product quality and team efficiency within a global, multi-disciplinary team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within SMG Real Estate, a significant division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, indicating a focus on high-impact digital products within the property sector. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a forward-thinking approach to design and product development, requiring candidates to be proficient in leveraging cutting-edge technologies. The mention of CRM tools indicates a need to understand sales and lead management processes within the real estate context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design seamless, intuitive user journeys for enhancing listing quality, visibility, and performance across B2C and B2B experiences on Web and Mobile Apps, directly aligned with key product and business OKRs.

• Integrate active AI tools and workflows into daily design practices, including rapid AI-driven wireframing, generative UI/UX concepts, interactive prototyping, and automated synthesis of user research feedback.

• Build, evolve, and maintain scalable, multi-brand design systems for SMG Real Estate products, leveraging AI automation for component governance, design token synchronization, accessibility checks, and design-to-code pipelines.

• Partner closely with Product Managers, Data Analysts, and Engineers to conduct A/B tests, fake door tests, and user research sessions to continuously refine features, reduce user friction, and boost key acquisition metrics.

• Establish AI Design Ops guidelines with team members on leveraging generative AI tools to elevate product quality and team efficiency, ensuring best practices are adopted across the design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a strategic role focused on both user experience design and operational efficiency through AI. The emphasis on OKRs and acquisition metrics signifies a results-oriented approach, where design decisions must demonstrably contribute to business objectives. The need to manage multi-brand design systems suggests a complex product portfolio requiring strong organizational and governance skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience.

Experience: 5+ years of experience as a Product Designer or Senior Product Designer shaping complex B2C digital marketplace or subscription products across Web, iOS, and Android platforms.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of active AI usage within the design lifecycle (e.g., leveraging AI for UI generation, rapid prototyping, UX research synthesis, and workflow automation).

• Demonstrated expertise in building, documenting, and managing scalable multi-brand design systems, with experience using AI tools to streamline design tokens, component maintenance, and governance.

• Strong background in user-centered design principles, quantitative/qualitative user research methodologies, A/B testing, and data-informed decision-making to optimize conversion funnels and drive key subscription growth metrics.

• Outstanding cross-functional communication and collaboration skills in English, working effectively across international, multi-disciplinary engineering and product teams.

• Proficiency in designing for both web and mobile applications (iOS and Android). Preferred Skills:

• Fluency or working proficiency in (Swiss) German.

• Experience with CRM systems and their design implications.

• Familiarity with AI Design Ops and generative AI tools for design.

• Experience in the real estate or digital marketplace industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for active AI usage in the design lifecycle is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to showcase specific examples of how they've integrated AI tools into their design process. The emphasis on multi-brand design systems and data-informed decision-making highlights the need for a strategic and analytical approach to product design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least 5+ years of product design experience, with a strong emphasis on digital marketplaces or subscription-based products for B2C audiences.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the end-to-end design process for complex web and mobile applications (iOS/Android), highlighting problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, and UI/UX execution.

• Specific examples of how AI tools were integrated into the design process, from concept generation and wireframing to research synthesis and workflow automation. Quantify the impact of AI integration where possible.

• Clear documentation and examples of design systems built or significantly contributed to, showcasing scalability, multi-brand application, and AI-assisted governance (e.g., design tokens, component maintenance).

• Evidence of data-informed design decisions, including A/B testing results, user research insights, and how these informed design iterations to improve conversion funnels and key metrics. Process Documentation:

• Case studies that clearly articulate the user research methodology employed, the insights derived, and how these insights directly translated into design solutions.

• Documentation of collaborative processes with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts, illustrating how cross-functional input was incorporated and how disagreements were resolved.

• Examples of how design systems were maintained and evolved, including processes for component updates, accessibility checks, and ensuring consistency across multiple brands.

• Demonstrations of how AI tools were utilized for workflow automation, rapid prototyping, or synthesizing user feedback, with a focus on efficiency gains and improved design quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, particularly the sections demonstrating AI integration and design system management. Candidates should prepare to walk through their case studies, explaining the strategic rationale behind their design decisions and the tangible impact on business objectives and user experience. The ability to articulate the process of building and maintaining a design system, especially with AI assistance, will be heavily scrutinized.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry standards for a Senior Product Designer in Zürich, Switzerland, with 5+ years of experience and specialized AI skills, the estimated annual gross salary range is CHF 110,000 - CHF 140,000. This estimate considers the high cost of living in Zürich, the demand for specialized design skills, and the hybrid work model.

Benefits:

• 6 weeks of holidays per year (with an option to buy 10 extra days).

• 40-hour work week with flexitime, allowing for a capped maximum of 45 hours.

• Hybrid work setup with flexibility for remote work.

• Generous parental leave: 18 weeks for maternity and 6 weeks for paternity/adoption.

• SBB Half-Fare Card and first-class travel between SMG offices in Switzerland.

• Gender-neutral pay and transparent career paths.

• Choice of high-end work equipment: Mac or Windows laptop, and iPhone, Samsung, or Pixel mobile device.

• An inclusive and innovative environment that values employee contributions.

Working Hours: 40-hour work week with flexitime (capped at 45 hours), offering flexibility in daily scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research from Swiss job market data for senior design roles, factoring in location (Zürich), industry (digital platforms, real estate), and specialized skills (AI, design systems). The extensive benefits package reflects a strong emphasis on employee well-being and work-life balance, which is a significant draw for professionals in Switzerland.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Marketplaces & Technology. SMG Swiss Marketplace Group operates across various sectors including Real Estate, Automotive, General Classifieds, and Finance & Insurance, positioning itself as a key player in the European digital economy. This diverse portfolio suggests a dynamic and evolving business landscape.

Company Size: SMG operates across six countries (Switzerland, Serbia, Vietnam, France, Germany, and India) with a significant employee base, indicating a large, international organization with diverse teams and resources. This size offers opportunities for broad impact and cross-continental collaboration.

Founded: While the founding date of SMG itself isn't explicitly stated, its operation of established marketplaces like Homegate and ImmoScout24 suggests a history of innovation and market leadership. The company's focus on "forward-looking products" and "simplifying people's lives" points to a culture of innovation and user-centricity.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is part of SMG Real Estate, which includes multiple brands (Homegate, ImmoScout24, Flatfox, CRM tools). This implies a structure that supports multi-brand design systems and cross-brand collaboration.

• The team is distributed across six countries, fostering a global and diverse working environment. Collaboration will likely involve remote-first methodologies.

• The role requires close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and Sales stakeholders, indicating a highly cross-functional operational model. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on A/B testing, user research, and data analysis to inform design decisions and optimize key metrics like customer acquisition and retention.

• AI Integration: A core methodology involves leveraging AI tools for various design tasks, from rapid ideation and prototyping to research synthesis and workflow automation. This indicates a commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies.

• Design Systems: A strong focus on building and maintaining scalable, multi-brand design systems, likely utilizing modern design tooling and processes, including AI for governance.

Company Website: https://www.swissmarketplace.group/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of innovation, collaboration, and a strong focus on data-driven decision-making, amplified by the strategic integration of AI. The international presence and multi-brand structure suggest a complex yet opportunity-rich environment for product designers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Product Designer with significant responsibilities, likely equivalent to a Senior Product Designer or a lead within a specific product area. The expectation to "shape and scale products" and "pioneer AI-native design methodologies" indicates a mid-to-senior level position with substantial autonomy and influence.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the SMG Real Estate division, likely within a Product Design or Product Management hierarchy. Direct collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts is expected, suggesting a flat, agile team structure where design is deeply integrated into the product development cycle.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly influences customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction for key real estate platforms and CRM tools. By designing seamless user journeys and optimizing conversion funnels, the role has a direct impact on lead generation for property listers and helps property seekers find homes faster, contributing significantly to SMG's core business objectives and revenue streams.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI Design: Deepen expertise in AI-native design methodologies, generative AI tools, and AI Design Ops, becoming a thought leader in this emerging field.

• Design System Leadership: Advance to a role focused on leading the strategy and evolution of large-scale, multi-brand design systems, potentially overseeing design governance and tooling.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop skills in leading design initiatives across multiple product teams and international locations, influencing product strategy and roadmap.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team within SMG.

• Broader Product Ownership: With proven success, potentially transition into Product Management roles or take on greater ownership of specific product areas within the SMG portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential beyond traditional product design, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI-assisted design and large-scale design system management. The international scope and multi-brand responsibilities provide a unique platform for developing leadership and strategic product thinking.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid work setup, combining the benefits of in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, innovation, and focused work, complemented by remote work flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Thurgauerstrasse 36, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland. The company also has offices in Serbia, Vietnam, France, Germany, and India, facilitating international collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The Zürich office likely features modern co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and areas designed to foster teamwork and idea exchange, essential for cross-functional product development.

• Technology Integration: Access to the latest design tools, AI software, and robust IT infrastructure will be standard, supporting advanced design workflows and remote collaboration.

• International Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues across different countries and time zones, fostering a global perspective and diverse working relationships.

Work Schedule: A 40-hour work week with flexitime (capped at 45 hours) allows for adaptable daily schedules, supporting work-life balance and efficient task management, crucial for managing complex design projects and international communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexitime indicate a company that values employee autonomy and work-life balance. The international presence means that while the primary office is in Zürich, the daily work environment will likely involve significant remote collaboration with global teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening Call (Video 30 min): A brief introductory call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and understanding of the role's core requirements, particularly concerning AI and design systems.

• Meeting the Hiring Manager / Portfolio Review (Video 60 min): A deeper dive into your experience, focusing on your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies, your design process, your contributions to design systems, and your experience with AI tools.

• Case Study / Design Challenge (Video 60 min): A practical exercise designed to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply AI and design system principles to a given challenge.

• Team Fit Meeting (Onsite 60 min): An in-person meeting at the Zürich office to assess cultural alignment with the broader team and company values, and to allow you to ask in-depth questions about the team's dynamics and day-to-day operations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Dedicate specific sections or case studies to demonstrate your practical application of AI in design, clearly articulating the tools used, the problems solved, and the impact achieved (e.g., time saved, quality improved).

• Showcase Design System Expertise: Present your contributions to design systems with clarity. Detail the system's architecture, your role in its development or maintenance, and how AI was used for governance or efficiency. For multi-brand systems, explain how you ensured consistency and brand identity.

• Quantify Impact: For all case studies, focus on measurable outcomes. Use data from A/B tests, user research, and conversion metrics to demonstrate the business value of your design solutions.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to narrate a clear problem, your strategic approach, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the resulting impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the SMG Context: Research SMG's brands (Homegate, ImmoScout24, Flatfox) and their target audiences. Consider the specific challenges in the real estate marketplace and CRM space.

• AI Application: Anticipate how AI could be applied to solve the design challenge presented. Think about generative design, AI-assisted research analysis, or AI-powered optimization.

• Design System Thinking: Consider how your proposed solution would integrate with or extend an existing design system, or how you might approach building one for the problem.

• Data-Informed Approach: Be ready to discuss how you would validate your design decisions using data and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to thoroughly assess both technical design skills and strategic thinking, with a strong emphasis on AI proficiency and design system management. The onsite meeting in Zürich for the final stage suggests the company values in-person interaction for team integration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely, as it's industry standard for collaborative design and design systems), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.

• AI Design Tools: Candidates are expected to have experience with various AI tools for design, such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, ChatGPT for content/research synthesis, AI-powered wireframing tools, and potentially specialized AI design platforms.

• Design System Management: Tools like Zeroheight, Storybook, or similar platforms for documenting and managing design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics.

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Pendo.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Experience with CRM tools relevant to real estate or sales, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or custom CRM solutions used by SMG.

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello for workflow tracking and collaboration.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams for communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and a strong understanding of AI-powered design tools are paramount. Experience with analytics platforms for data-informed decision-making and A/B testing is also critical. Familiarity with CRM systems, especially those used in sales or real estate, would be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Better Together: Fosters a collaborative spirit, encouraging cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing across international teams. Operations professionals are expected to actively contribute to a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Aim High: Promotes a culture of ambition, innovation, and continuous improvement. Operations professionals are encouraged to challenge the status quo, pursue ambitious goals, and drive significant business impact through process optimization and strategic initiatives.

• Act Responsibly: Emphasizes ethical conduct, accountability, and a user-centric approach. Operations professionals are expected to make data-driven decisions with integrity and to consider the broader impact of their work on users and the business.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The design team works closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts, requiring a collaborative approach to define requirements, iterate on solutions, and ensure seamless product development.

• Remote-First with In-Person Touchpoints: While distributed, the company values in-person interaction for team building and key strategic discussions, as evidenced by the onsite interview stage.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to constructive feedback is essential for continuous improvement, both for individual designers and for the products they create.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are directly aligned with modern, high-performing operational teams. A candidate's ability to embody "Better Together" through cross-functional collaboration, "Aim High" through a drive for innovation and impact, and "Act Responsibly" through ethical, user-focused design will be key indicators of cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively weaving AI tools into established design workflows without compromising user experience or creating technical debt will be a primary challenge. This requires constant learning and adaptation.

• Managing Multi-Brand Design Systems: Balancing the needs of multiple distinct brands (Homegate, ImmoScout24, Flatfox) within a single, scalable design system, while leveraging AI for governance, presents a complex operational challenge.

• Global Team Coordination: Collaborating effectively with a geographically dispersed team across different time zones and cultural backgrounds requires strong communication and project management skills.

• Data Interpretation and Action: Translating complex user data and A/B test results into actionable design improvements that drive measurable business outcomes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Deep dive into advanced AI techniques for design, including generative AI, AI-driven user research analysis, and AI for accessibility.

• Design System Architecture: Opportunity to influence and lead the strategic direction of large-scale, multi-brand design systems.

• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Develop expertise in working with diverse international teams, enhancing communication and leadership skills.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Support for attending relevant design and technology conferences, workshops, and pursuing certifications to stay at the forefront of the field.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for a designer who thrives on complex challenges and seeks continuous learning. The emphasis on AI and large-scale design systems positions this role at the cutting edge of product design, offering significant opportunities for professional development and specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used AI tools to significantly accelerate your design process or improve product outcomes. What were the specific tools, your role, and the quantifiable results?"

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a real estate marketplace that leverages AI to personalize property recommendations for users? Walk me through your process, including research, ideation, and validation."

• "Imagine you need to update a core component in a multi-brand design system that impacts three different product lines. How would you manage this change, ensuring consistency and minimal disruption, especially if using AI for governance?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on our values ('Better Together', 'Aim High', 'Act Responsibly'), how would you approach a situation where your design ideas conflict with a Product Manager's vision?"

• "How do you stay updated on emerging AI technologies and design trends, and how do you advocate for their adoption within a team?"

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote-first environment. What strategies do you use to ensure effective collaboration and communication across different locations and time zones?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• AI Case Study Spotlight: Prepare 1-2 detailed case studies that prominently feature your use of AI in the design lifecycle. Clearly articulate the problem, your AI-driven solution, the tools used, and the impact.

• Design System Deep Dive: Be ready to present your involvement in a design system, detailing its structure, your contributions to its growth, and how it's managed (especially with AI).

• Data & Metrics Focus: For all case studies, emphasize the data and metrics that informed your decisions and demonstrated the success of your designs. Use charts and graphs where appropriate.

• Storytelling & Process: Clearly narrate the journey of each project, highlighting your thought process, problem-solving approach, and collaborative efforts with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their AI experience in concrete terms, focusing on practical application and measurable results. Demonstrating an understanding of design system architecture and multi-brand management, alongside data-driven decision-making, will be critical. The ability to articulate how one embodies SMG's values in a collaborative, international setting will also be assessed.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your detailed CV and any supporting documents through the application link provided.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best highlight your experience with AI in design, multi-brand design systems, and data-informed B2C product development. Ensure they demonstrate your process from research to execution and impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as "AI-native design," "design systems," "user research," "A/B testing," "B2C marketplaces," and "hybrid work." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, highlighting your strategic thinking, and being ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions and AI usage.

• Research SMG: Familiarize yourself with SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, its various brands (especially within Real Estate), and its stated values. Understand the company's market position and the challenges in the digital real estate sector.

⚠️ 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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