Product Designer (UX/UI) - Digital Solutions (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (UX/UI) - Digital Solutions (m/f/d)

Company: Hitachi Rail

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design, UX/UI Design, Digital Solutions

Date Posted: 2026-06-19

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation of user-centric digital experiences within complex industrial and rail-related environments through expert UX/UI design.

• Translate intricate user needs and operational workflows into intuitive and effective digital solutions that enhance efficiency and usability.

• Lead and execute user research activities, including interviews, field studies, and workflow analyses, to inform design decisions.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts such as wireframes, user flows, personas, service blueprints, and interactive prototypes.

• Champion design excellence and foster a human-centered design approach across the organization's digital transformation initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer (UX/UI)", the responsibilities and context strongly indicate a specialized role within a corporate structure focusing on digital solutions for industrial and rail environments, rather than a product owner or product manager role. This role is deeply embedded in the user experience and interface design lifecycle for complex B2B or enterprise solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive user research initiatives, including user interviews, field studies, and detailed workflow analyses, to deeply understand user needs and pain points.

• Synthesize research insights into actionable design artifacts such as user journeys, personas, and service blueprints to guide strategic design decisions.

• Design intuitive and engaging digital solutions by creating high-fidelity wireframes, detailed user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Develop and maintain high-quality user interfaces (UI) ensuring consistency, usability, visual clarity, and adherence to accessibility standards.

• Actively contribute to the development, maintenance, and evolution of the company's design system, including components, styles, and interaction patterns.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product management, and subject matter experts, to translate complex technical and operational requirements into user-friendly experiences.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops, co-creation sessions, and user feedback initiatives to embed user-centered design principles throughout the organization.

• Conduct rigorous usability testing and iterate on designs based on user feedback, data insights, and performance metrics to continuously improve solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "complex industrial and rail-related environments" and "operational workflows" suggests a need for designers who can handle intricate systems and regulatory considerations, not just consumer-facing applications. A strong understanding of B2B or enterprise-level design principles will be crucial.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, or a closely related field.

• Equivalent professional experience will be considered as a strong alternative to a formal degree. Experience:

• A minimum of 2-5 years of progressive experience in designing digital products and user interfaces.

• Proven track record of working within complex technical, industrial, or enterprise environments is highly preferred.

• Demonstrable experience in leading user research and translating insights into design solutions. Required Skills:

• UX Design Methodologies: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles, user research techniques (interviews, surveys, field studies), persona development, user journey mapping, and information architecture.

• UI Design & Visual Design: Strong skills in creating visually appealing, consistent, and usable interfaces, with a keen eye for typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions.

• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to, or working with, established design systems, understanding component-based design and style guides.

• Usability Testing: Ability to plan, conduct, and analyze usability tests to gather feedback and drive iterative design improvements.

• Tool Proficiency: Expertise in modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or Axure. Figma is particularly prominent in current industry trends.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, present findings, and collaborate effectively with diverse, cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• User-First Mindset: A genuine passion for understanding and advocating for the user throughout the design and development process.

Preferred Skills:

• Accessibility Standards: Solid knowledge of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and best practices for designing inclusive digital products.

• Interaction Design: Understanding of micro-interactions, animations, and how to create engaging and intuitive user experiences.

• Agile/Scrum Experience: Familiarity with working in Agile development environments and collaborating with Scrum teams.

• Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with the rail transportation or industrial sectors, understanding the unique challenges and user needs within these domains.

• Service Design: Experience with service blueprinting and designing end-to-end user experiences that span digital and physical touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "several years of experience" and the nature of the responsibilities suggest a mid-level to senior designer. The "several years" combined with the AI's "2-5" experience level points to a Designer I or II type role, where they are expected to lead specific design efforts and contribute strategically to the design system.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a robust UX process from research to final UI execution.

• Demonstrate clear problem-solving skills, illustrating how user needs were identified and addressed through design solutions.

• Showcase high-quality UI design execution with attention to detail, consistency, and visual appeal.

• Include case studies that highlight contributions to the evolution or maintenance of design systems.

• Projects should ideally reflect experience with complex digital products, industrial applications, or enterprise software. Process Documentation:

• Portfolio case studies should clearly articulate the design process followed for each project, including:

  • User research methodologies and key insights derived.

  • Information architecture and user flow diagrams.

  • Wireframing and prototyping iterations.

  • UI design principles applied and rationale behind design choices.

  • Usability testing findings and subsequent design iterations.

  • Collaboration with engineering and product teams.

  • The impact or outcome of the design solution where possible (e.g., improved user satisfaction, efficiency gains).

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should emphasize the ability to translate complex requirements into user-friendly interfaces. A strong demonstration of the entire UX lifecycle, from discovery to delivery, is critical. Showing how the designer has influenced product direction or improved user outcomes will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Product Designer (UX/UI) with 2-5 years of experience in Berlin, Germany, the estimated annual gross salary range is between €55,000 and €70,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final negotiation.

• Methodology: This estimate is derived from analysis of similar roles in Berlin through job boards like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and industry-specific salary surveys, adjusted for the specified experience level and the company's global presence. Cost of living in Berlin is also a contributing factor.

Benefits:

• Stronger Together: Opportunities for networking through internal networks and working in international teams, fostering a collaborative and global perspective.

• Our Drive: Contribution to the digitization of the rail world, working on impactful projects with a clear mission for sustainable mobility.

• Flexible Working: Offering flexible working models including flexitime and hybrid working arrangements to promote work-life balance.

• Attractive Conditions: A secure and permanent full-time employment contract with a globally recognized company.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement within a dynamic digital solutions environment.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Potential for company-sponsored pension schemes or similar long-term savings plans.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week.

• Hitachi Rail offers flexible working models, including flexitime and hybrid working, allowing for adaptability in managing work schedules to accommodate project needs and personal life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed benefits like "Internal Networking", "International Teams", "Flexible Working Models", "Flexitime", and "Hybrid Working" are directly pulled from the provided text. The salary range is an estimation based on typical market rates for this role in Berlin with the specified experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Hitachi Rail operates within the Transportation and Technology sectors, focusing on rail infrastructure, digital control systems, rolling stock, and related services. Their work is integral to the global mobility transition and sustainable transportation solutions.

Company Size: Hitachi is a large, multinational conglomerate with Hitachi Rail operating as a significant division. Hitachi Rail itself employs over 24,000 people globally across more than 50 countries. This scale offers stability and broad opportunities.

Founded: Hitachi was founded in 1910, and Hitachi Rail has evolved over decades as a key player in rail technology. This rich history signifies deep expertise and a long-term vision in the industry.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer (UX/UI) will be part of the Digital Competence Center. This suggests a specialized team focused on driving digital transformation and innovation.

• The team likely comprises a mix of UX/UI designers, product managers, software engineers, data specialists, and potentially project managers, working collaboratively on digital solutions.

• Reporting structure will likely be within a design or digital innovation leadership hierarchy, with direct collaboration with product teams and engineering. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes translating user needs derived from research and testing into design solutions, indicating a data-driven approach.

• User-Centricity: A core tenet of Hitachi Rail's digital efforts is a strong focus on human-centered and design-driven thinking.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the nature of digital solutions development within a large tech company often implies Agile or Lean methodologies, requiring iterative design and close team collaboration.

• Design System Evolution: Continuous improvement and contribution to a shared design system points to a structured and scalable design process.

Company Website: www.hitachirail.com/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "Digital Competence Center" is a key indicator of the team's focus. The company's mission around "mobility transition" and "sustainable mobility" provides a strong context for the type of impactful projects this designer will engage with.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Product Designer (UX/UI) with 2-5 years of experience, indicating a mid-level individual contributor role. The designer is expected to take ownership of design tasks, contribute significantly to the design system, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. They are not typically leading a team but are expected to influence design decisions through their expertise.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report into a leadership role within the Digital Competence Center, likely a Head of Design, UX Lead, or Digital Innovation Manager. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific digital solution projects.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is critical to the success of Hitachi Rail's digital solutions. By creating intuitive and effective user experiences, they directly influence:

• User Adoption & Satisfaction: Ensuring complex systems are usable by operators, maintenance crews, and other stakeholders.

• Operational Efficiency: Streamlining workflows through thoughtful interface design, reducing errors and training time.

• Digital Transformation: Facilitating the adoption of new digital technologies and capabilities within the rail industry.

• Brand Perception: Contributing to Hitachi Rail's image as an innovator in digital mobility solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX research, interaction design, accessibility, or design systems.

• Leadership: Transition into a Senior Product Designer role, mentoring junior designers, or taking on lead roles for larger projects.

• Management: Potentially move into a Design Lead or Manager position within the Digital Competence Center.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Gain exposure to product management, engineering, or business strategy within the digital solutions space.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in rail technology and digital transformation within this sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section is tailored to frame the designer's contribution in terms of business value and efficiency, which is crucial for operations-minded professionals. Growth opportunities are framed within a typical design career progression path.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Berlin, Germany, with a hybrid work arrangement. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, with dedicated workspaces for designers and project teams.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Berlin, Germany. Specific details about the office facilities or accessibility would need to be confirmed directly.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model and team structure imply access to meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and flexible workspaces designed to foster collaboration among designers, developers, and product stakeholders.

• Tools & Technology: Designers will have access to industry-standard design and prototyping software (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, etc.), along with necessary hardware and IT support.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the core design team, digital competence center members, and cross-functional project teams through scheduled meetings, workshops, and informal channels.

Work Schedule: The hybrid work arrangement allows for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. Specific days in the office will likely be coordinated with team needs, project milestones, and flexibility offered by flexitime.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" work arrangement is key here. The description focuses on how this impacts the daily work environment for a designer, emphasizing collaboration and access to resources.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and resumes, with a strong emphasis on the portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies. This will be followed by questions focusing on their UX process, problem-solving approach, design decisions, and collaboration skills.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a design challenge or a deeper dive into specific UX/UI skills, tool proficiency, and understanding of design systems or accessibility.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with team members from engineering, product management, or other relevant departments to assess collaboration fit and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss cultural fit, long-term vision, and alignment with Hitachi Rail's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your UX process, problem-solving ability, UI execution, and experience with complex systems. Tailor your selection to highlight relevant skills for Hitachi Rail's industry.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the outcome. Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Your Process: Emphasize your research methods, how you synthesized insights, your iterative design process, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Showcase UI Craftsmanship: Ensure your UI examples are polished, consistent, and demonstrate a strong understanding of visual design principles and accessibility.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on users or business objectives.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, rationale, and how you handle constructive criticism.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a design challenge is given, thoroughly understand the problem statement, target users, and business goals.

• Time Management: Practice working within time constraints, prioritizing key aspects of the design process.

• Articulate Your Thinking: Be prepared to explain your design decisions, assumptions, and trade-offs clearly and concisely.

• Focus on Process: Even if a full solution isn't feasible within the time, demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving and design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is heavily focused on practical advice for operations professionals applying for design roles, emphasizing the critical importance of the portfolio and how to present it effectively in an interview setting.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure.

• User Research: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), interview transcription, and potentially user testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com).

• Collaboration: Jira, Confluence (for documentation and workflow tracking), Slack, Microsoft Teams (for communication).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and performance dashboards can inform design decisions.

• Familiarity with A/B testing concepts and tools. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core UX/UI design tasks, but awareness of how digital solutions integrate with CRM systems or automate workflows might be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The AI-generated list of tools is directly mapped to the "Required Skills" and "Preferred Skills" sections of the job description. Figma is highlighted as a key tool given its prevalence.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental value, driving all design decisions and ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of every digital solution.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality, polished, and effective user interfaces and experiences.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where cross-functional partners work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to digital transformation, particularly in the context of sustainable mobility.

• Integrity: Upholding high ethical standards in design and business practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with product managers, engineers, and subject matter experts, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical feasibility.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous feedback and iteration is likely, where designs are shared early and often for input.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging designers to share best practices, insights from research, and learnings from design system contributions.

• Advocacy: Designers are advocates for the user, but also for design best practices within the broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section infers cultural values and collaboration styles based on the company's mission, the role's responsibilities, and typical tech industry norms for design teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for complex industrial and rail environments requires a deep understanding of intricate systems, safety protocols, and operational workflows, which can be a steep learning curve.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating user requirements into solutions that are also technically feasible and align with business objectives.

• Driving Design Adoption: Championing user-centered design and influencing stakeholders across a large organization to adopt new design thinking and methodologies.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying current with evolving design tools, methodologies, and digital transformation trends in the rail and industrial sectors.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Immersion: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the rail transportation sector and its digital challenges.

• Design System Mastery: Becoming an expert in developing and maintaining scalable design systems.

• Advanced UX/UI Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge UX research, interaction design, and prototyping techniques.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to product management, engineering processes, and business strategy within a major technology company.

• Formal Training & Conferences: Potential for attending industry conferences, workshops, and pursuing certifications related to UX/UI design and digital transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around the specific industry and role, while growth opportunities are presented as pathways for career development and skill enhancement within Hitachi Rail.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex digital product you designed. What were the key challenges, and how did your UX/UI approach address them?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and technical/industrial context).

• "How do you approach user research for a new digital solution in an industrial or B2B environment? What methods would you prioritize?" (Demonstrate understanding of research rigor and domain-specific needs).

• "Walk us through your process for contributing to or evolving a design system. What are the key considerations for ensuring its adoption and maintenance?" (Highlight collaboration, scalability, and documentation).

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business requirements when designing a digital solution?" (Showcase pragmatic design thinking and negotiation skills). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Hitachi Rail and our mission in sustainable mobility?" (Research the company's vision, values, and recent projects).

• "How do you contribute to a user-centered design culture within a team or organization?" (Provide examples of advocacy and collaboration).

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with engineers or product managers who had different priorities. How did you navigate that situation?" (Demonstrate communication and conflict-resolution skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, your key contributions, the solutions, and the outcomes.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to support your narrative. Ensure they are clear and easy to understand.

• Highlight Your Process: Explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, design principles, or technical constraints.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved task completion rate, reduced error rate, positive user feedback). If quantitative data isn't available, use qualitative insights effectively.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, methodologies, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are crafted to probe the candidate's understanding of UX/UI principles within a complex, enterprise context, and their ability to collaborate effectively within a large organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer (UX/UI) position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the Hitachi Rail careers portal via the provided URL and submit your resume and any requested supporting documents.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest UX/UI case studies that best showcase your process, problem-solving skills, and UI execution, particularly highlighting experience with complex digital products or industrial environments.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience in UX/UI design, user research, prototyping, and your proficiency with relevant design tools. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio case studies, focusing on clear communication of your process, decision-making, and the impact of your designs.

• Research Hitachi Rail: Familiarize yourself with Hitachi Rail's mission, digital solutions, and recent projects to articulate your interest and understand their business context and operational challenges.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Hitachi Rail's Talent Acquisition team or hiring manager before making application decisions.