Product Designer Sénior (H/F) - Lyon

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Sénior (H/F)

Company: Smile Group (UX-Republic)

Location: Lyon, France

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (1-3 days/week)

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Product Designer role is central to the Discovery – Delivery – Run product lifecycle, focusing on understanding business needs, designing user journeys, and producing high-quality UI/UX.

• You will be a key contributor to a major project involving the redesign of BtoE applications for a client in the nuclear energy sector, operating within an agile, service center model.

• This position requires a full-stack design capability, encompassing user research through to high-fidelity visual design, with a strong emphasis on product thinking and aligning with business KPIs.

• You will collaborate daily with a multidisciplinary team, including developers, Product Managers, UX, UI, and Design System specialists, within a dedicated squad structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role explicitly mentions a "centre de services" model and an agile squad, indicating a structured, project-driven environment where collaboration and efficient workflow are paramount. The "Must have: secteur industrie / énergie / BtoE" requirement strongly suggests a need for domain-specific understanding beyond general design principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end product design process, from initial user research and concept validation to detailed UI design and handover for development.

• Conduct user research, analyze insights, business requirements, and analytics data to inform and validate design decisions, ensuring a data-informed approach.

• Design intuitive and effective user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using industry-standard tools.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to challenge the product backlog, prioritize features, and ensure alignment with business objectives and KPIs.

• Work in daily tandem with developers to ensure accurate implementation of designs, provide clarification, and iterate based on technical constraints and feedback.

• Contribute to and leverage the existing design system to maintain consistency and efficiency across the redesigned BtoE applications.

• Advocate for user-centered design principles and best practices within the agile squad and broader project team.

• Ensure digital accessibility standards (RGAA) are met in all design outputs, promoting inclusivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "Fullstack Design" capability, emphasizing ownership from initial discovery through to final UI, which is typical for senior roles in product-centric organizations. The mention of "Product Thinking" and challenging the backlog indicates an expectation for strategic input beyond pure design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mentioned, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Arts, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Product Designer.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in Product Design, with a significant portion focused on UX and UI design, and demonstrated experience in managing product lifecycles.

Required Skills:

• Full-stack Design: Comprehensive expertise spanning user research, UX strategy, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design.

• Product Thinking: Proven ability to understand business goals, translate them into product strategies, and contribute to backlog prioritization and feature definition.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Skill in analyzing user data, analytics, and qualitative feedback to guide design iterations and product improvements.

• Proficiency in Figma: Expert-level command of Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Agile Mindset & Collaboration: Experience working in agile environments (Scrum/Kanban) and effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams (PMs, Devs, other Designers).

• User Research Methodologies: Ability to plan and conduct various user research activities (interviews, usability testing, surveys).

• Understanding of Business KPIs: Ability to connect design efforts to measurable business outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Generative AI in Design: Familiarity or experience with applying generative AI tools to enhance the design process.

• RGAA/Accessibility Standards: Knowledge and practical application of digital accessibility guidelines.

• Industry Experience: Prior experience in the industrial, energy, or BtoE (Business-to-Employee) sector.

• Design System Contribution: Experience in creating, maintaining, or contributing to design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must have" for industry experience, coupled with the "Les +" for RGAA and Generative AI, indicates a clear preference for candidates who can hit the ground running with domain knowledge and modern design practices. The 5-10 year experience range is typical for senior-level roles requiring significant autonomy and strategic contribution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects, clearly illustrating your role and contributions across the Discovery, Delivery, and Run phases.

• Detail your process for user research, problem definition, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and user testing.

• Demonstrate your ability to translate complex business requirements into user-centered solutions.

• Highlight projects where you influenced product strategy or feature prioritization based on user insights or business goals.

• Include case studies that showcase your proficiency in Figma and any other relevant design and prototyping tools. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented user flows, wireframes, and UI specifications for development teams.

• Showcase instances where you have used data analytics or user feedback to iterate on designs and improve product performance.

• Illustrate your approach to collaborating with developers and ensuring the fidelity and quality of design implementation.

• Demonstrate your understanding and application of accessibility standards (RGAA) in your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just show polished final designs but also the process behind them, demonstrating critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, especially given the emphasis on "Product Thinking" and "Data-Informed" approaches. The specific mention of RGAA and Figma means these should be prominent.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €45,000 - €50,000 per year. This range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer in Lyon, France, considering the specified experience level and the industry focus, which can sometimes command a premium.

Benefits:

• Mutuelle d’entreprise: Comprehensive company health insurance.

• Transports en commun pris en charge à 50%: 50% subsidy for public transport costs.

• Minimum de 9 JRC par an: At least 9 days of "Jours de RTT et Congés" (Rest and Leave Days) per year, likely in addition to standard annual leave.

• Prime de vacances: Annual holiday bonus.

• Tickets Restaurant à hauteur de 10€ pris en charge à 50%: Meal vouchers valued at €10, with a 50% employer contribution.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with hybrid flexibility allowing 1-3 days per week of remote work after the initial period.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. The benefits package is detailed and includes standard French employment benefits along with specific contributions that enhance the overall compensation. The mention of "JRC" suggests a French work culture with specific leave entitlements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Transformation Consulting, UX/UI Design, Product Development. Smile Group, through UX-Republic, operates at the intersection of technology consulting, user experience, and digital innovation.

Company Size: Smile Group is a significant player in the digital services sector. UX-Republic, as part of Smile Group, benefits from the resources and reach of a larger entity while maintaining a specialized focus on UX/Product Design. The team within the service center is described as a multidisciplinary squad of 20 people.

Founded: UX-Republic was founded with a strong focus on UX. Its integration into Smile Group (founded in 2003) has expanded its capabilities and market presence.

Team Structure:

• The role is within a specific project "squad" of approximately 20 individuals, composed of UX designers, UI designers, design system specialists, and Product Managers.

• This squad operates within a "centre de services" model, implying a structured approach to client project delivery and ongoing service.

• The Senior Product Designer will work closely with a Product Manager and developers, forming a core functional unit within the squad. Methodology:

• Agile: The team operates using agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, rapid feedback loops, and continuous improvement.

• User-Centric: A core tenet is placing the end-user at the heart of all design and product decisions.

• Data-Informed: Design choices are guided by analysis of user insights, analytics, and business performance metrics.

• Full-Cycle Ownership: The team is responsible for the entire product lifecycle, from initial discovery to ongoing support ("Discovery – Delivery – Run").

Company Website: https://jobs.smile.eu/

📝 Enhancement Note: The integration of UX-Republic into Smile Group suggests a blend of specialized expertise with the stability and resources of a larger consulting firm. The "centre de services" and "squad" structure points to a project-based delivery model, common in consulting environments, requiring strong collaboration and adaptability.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level implies significant autonomy, the ability to lead design initiatives within a project, mentor junior designers, and contribute strategically to product direction. It requires a deep understanding of the full design lifecycle and a strong product mindset.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a Product Manager or a Lead Designer within the squad. They will also collaborate closely with other designers, developers, and potentially client stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the success of client products by enhancing user experience, driving user adoption, and contributing to key business KPIs. This specific project involves a critical redesign of BtoE applications for a major client in the energy sector, meaning the impact can be substantial.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like accessibility (RGAA), generative AI in design, or advanced user research techniques.

• Leadership Development: Transition into a Lead Product Designer role, managing larger teams or more complex projects, or taking on management responsibilities.

• Cross-Industry Experience: Gain exposure to diverse industries through various client projects within Smile Group's portfolio.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the UX-Republic community's knowledge base.

• Consulting Acumen: Develop stronger client-facing and business development skills within the consulting framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior role, the emphasis is on strategic contribution, leadership potential, and continuous learning. The integration into a larger group like Smile offers broader career pathways beyond a single client project.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Lyon, France, with a hybrid work arrangement. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, likely equipped with spaces for design workshops, team meetings, and focused individual work.

Office Location(s): Lyon, France. Specific office details are not provided but typically include accessibility via public transport.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: The team structure (squad, multidisciplinary team) emphasizes a collaborative workspace where designers, PMs, and developers work closely together.

• Tool-Rich: Expect access to industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, as well as potentially other collaboration and project management software.

• Agile Setting: The environment will be dynamic and iterative, supporting agile ceremonies like stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week with flexibility afforded by the hybrid model, allowing for remote work 1-3 days per week after the initial onboarding period.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect, balancing the benefits of in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, which is increasingly important for design professionals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• First Contact (Phone Call): An initial screening to discuss career aspirations, understand your motivations, and assess initial fit with UX-Republic and Smile Group.

• Second Meeting (In-Person/Video): A more in-depth conversation to get to know you, explore your professional background, and discuss your career goals in relation to the role.

• Technical/Skills Exchange (With Expert): A session with a design expert to evaluate your specific skills, particularly in UX/UI design, Product Thinking, and Figma proficiency. This may involve discussing past projects or a small design challenge.

• Final Evaluation: A concluding discussion to assess overall fit, cultural alignment, and confirm details before an offer is extended.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end product design projects that best showcase your skills in full-stack design, product thinking, and data-informed decision-making.

• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your key contributions, and the outcomes/impact. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Emphasize Figma & RGAA: Ensure your proficiency with Figma is evident, and if applicable, showcase projects where you applied RGAA/accessibility principles.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation as a compelling narrative, guiding the interviewer through your thought process and problem-solving approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for the energy/BtoE sector, considering its unique challenges and user needs.

• Practice articulating your design decisions and how they align with business objectives and user goals.

• Be ready to discuss your experience with agile methodologies and cross-functional collaboration.

• Think about how you would incorporate data insights and accessibility (RGAA) into your design process for this specific project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The process emphasizes understanding candidate aspirations and assessing technical skills through expert exchange. A strong portfolio demonstrating process, not just final output, is key. The explicit mention of "data-informed" and "RGAA" suggests these will be key discussion points.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly stated as a "must-have" and "expert" level requirement. This will be the core tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma includes prototyping, familiarity with other tools (e.g., InVision, Principle) might be beneficial, though likely secondary to Figma.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., Lookback, Maze, Google Forms, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with web/app analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to interpret user behavior data.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can help visualize data insights to inform design decisions (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or in-app analytics dashboards).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how design impacts CRM data or user journeys within automated workflows can be beneficial. Familiarity with the client's CRM (likely Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics) might be useful for context.

• Design System Management: Tools or processes for managing design systems, often integrated within Figma or using dedicated platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit emphasis on Figma makes it the most critical tool. The mention of "Data-Informed" implies a need for familiarity with analytics tools, even if direct usage isn't a core daily task for the designer.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: Placing the end-user's needs and experience at the forefront of all design and product decisions.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality, polished, and effective design solutions.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative mindset, constantly seeking to learn, refine processes, and enhance product performance.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing open communication, mutual support, and collective problem-solving within the squad and wider team.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative thinking and the exploration of new technologies and approaches, such as Generative AI.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing data and insights to validate hypotheses and guide strategic product development.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile Squad Integration: Seamless integration within a multidisciplinary squad, working in close daily proximity with PMs and developers.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong emphasis on partnering with technical teams to ensure design feasibility and successful implementation.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback exchange among team members to foster growth and improve design outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in sharing design knowledge, best practices, and learnings within the UX-Republic community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values reflect a modern, user-focused, and data-driven design consultancy culture. The emphasis on collaboration within an agile squad is a key aspect of the day-to-day work environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Domain: Navigating the specifics of the industrial/energy/BtoE sector and translating complex technical requirements into intuitive user experiences.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Managing expectations and aligning design vision with multiple stakeholders, including the client's internal teams.

• Balancing Priorities: Effectively balancing user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints within an agile development cycle.

• Remote Collaboration: Maximizing effectiveness in a hybrid work model, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration with team members across different locations.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Integrating emerging technologies like Generative AI effectively and ethically into the design workflow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities for training in areas like advanced accessibility (RGAA), Generative AI for Design, and specific industry knowledge.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to mentorship from senior design leaders within UX-Republic and Smile Group.

• Conferences & Workshops: Participation in industry events and internal workshops to stay updated on design trends and best practices.

• Career Pathing: Clear pathways for career advancement from Senior Designer to Lead Designer, Manager, or specialized roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior consultants working on large client projects, requiring adaptability and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are well-defined, leveraging the resources of both UX-Republic and Smile Group.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting priorities between user needs, business goals, and technical constraints. How did you resolve it?" (Focus on your Product Thinking and problem-solving process).

• "Walk us through a product redesign project you led. What was your process, how did you incorporate user research and data, and what was the impact?" (Highlight your full-stack design and data-informed approach, and use Figma as an example tool).

• "How would you approach designing for users in the energy/BtoE sector? What specific considerations would you prioritize?" (Demonstrate your ability to quickly understand a new domain).

• "Explain your experience working in an agile squad. How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Developers?" (Showcase your Agile Methodology and Collaboration Tech skills). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about UX-Republic and Smile Group, and why this specific Senior Product Designer role?" (Research their values, mission, and recent projects).

• "How do you ensure digital accessibility (RGAA) in your designs?" (Be ready to discuss specific techniques and standards).

• "What are your thoughts on the role of Generative AI in product design today?" (Showcase your forward-thinking perspective). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career, then dive into 2-3 selected projects. For each project: Context -> Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solutions -> Impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and user flow diagrams. Show your work in Figma.

• Narrative: Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions. Explain your thought process, not just the final output.

• Metrics: Quantify results where possible. If specific KPIs were targeted, present how your design contributed.

• Engagement: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process and decisions, and engage in a collaborative discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on demonstrating core competencies like Product Thinking, Data-Informed design, Figma proficiency, and Agile collaboration, while also assessing domain adaptability and forward-thinking.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application via the Smile Group careers portal using the provided link.

• Tailor your CV: Ensure your resume highlights your experience in full-stack design, product thinking, data-informed decision-making, and proficiency with Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong projects that showcase your end-to-end design process, your role, and the impact of your work. Ensure it demonstrates your Figma expertise and any relevant experience with RGAA/accessibility.

• Practice your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your career aspirations and why you are a strong fit for UX-Republic and this specific role during the initial phone call.

• Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Smile Group and UX-Republic's mission, values, and recent projects to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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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