Projekt-/Bachelorarbeit: Analyse und Konzeption eines Design Systems für unsere Softwareprodukte

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Projekt-/Bachelorarbeit: Analyse und Konzeption eines Design Systems für unsere Softwareprodukte

Company: JAM Software GmbH

Location: Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Job Type: Befristet (Temporary), Internship

Category: Product Design & Development, UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role involves a deep dive into the existing UI and interaction elements across JAM Software's product suite to establish a foundational Design System.

• The primary focus is on systematic analysis, component identification, and the definition of reusable elements to ensure consistency and efficiency in future software development.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Product Owners, UX/UI designers, and experienced developers, is crucial for gathering requirements and ensuring alignment.

• The outcome of this project/thesis will directly influence the future design and development strategy of JAM Software's products, laying the groundwork for enhanced user experiences and development efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is framed as a project or Bachelor's thesis, its operational impact lies in standardizing design assets and processes, a core function within GTM operations and product development. The output directly contributes to scalability and efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct a thorough analysis of existing UI and interaction elements across all JAM Software products to identify common patterns and functionalities.

• Develop a structured UI inventory that systematically catalogs recurring components, their variations, and interaction patterns.

• Identify opportunities for standardization by pinpointing similarities, differences, and areas ripe for unification across the software portfolio.

• Define functional and technical requirements for reusable components that will form the basis of the new Design System.

• Derive initial components, rules, and guidelines for a cross-project Design System to ensure design consistency and brand adherence.

• Engage in regular exchange and collaboration with Product Owners, UX/UI stakeholders, and senior developers to gather insights and validate findings.

• Document all findings and definitions clearly, creating a comprehensive basis for future implementation and ongoing development of the Design System.

• Optional (depending on thesis scope): Conceptualize and prototypically develop selected components, including their various states and interaction behaviors.

• Optional (depending on thesis scope): Investigate the potential application of tools or AI methods to assist in the capture and evaluation of UI components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a process of discovery, analysis, definition, and documentation, which are foundational to establishing operational standards in product development and design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Media Informatics, UX/UI Design, Software Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Academic focus on UI/UX, Interaction Design, and Design Systems is highly preferred. Experience:

• This role is ideal for students seeking practical experience in a real-world software development environment.

• Prior project work or academic research involving UI/UX analysis, component-based design, or system standardization is beneficial. Required Skills:

• Strong interest in UI/UX principles, interaction design, and the concept of Design Systems.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze existing systems, identify common structures, and recognize patterns.

• High degree of structured, meticulous, and independent working methodology.

• Proficiency in clearly articulating and documenting complex requirements.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for effective interaction with diverse teams. Preferred Skills:

• Foundational knowledge of frontend technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and component-based UI frameworks.

• Familiarity with design tools such as Figma.

• Experience with version control systems like Git.

• Understanding of Design Tokens and their role in Design Systems.

• Interest or prior knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Large Language Models (LLMs).

• Experience with component-based UI frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required and preferred skills highlight a blend of analytical, design, and technical competencies, typical for roles that bridge design and engineering, impacting operational efficiency through standardization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• While a formal portfolio is not explicitly required, candidates are asked to provide an example of a structured problem-solving approach. This serves as a proxy for assessing analytical and documentation skills.

• The example should demonstrate the ability to dissect a problem, analyze its components, and propose a structured solution, reflecting a systematic approach to design and development challenges.

• For optional components of the thesis involving prototyping, a portfolio showcasing UI/UX design skills and interactive prototypes would be highly advantageous.

• Evidence of understanding how to define and document design rules, component specifications, and interaction patterns will be considered. Process Documentation:

• The core deliverable of this project/thesis will be comprehensive documentation. This includes:

  • A detailed UI inventory with clear definitions of components, states, and variations.

  • Defined requirements and guidelines for reusable components.

  • A foundational framework for the Design System, outlining rules, principles, and initial component sets.

  • Documentation should be clear, concise, and easily understood by both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on structured problem-solving and documentation aligns with the operational need for clear, repeatable processes in design and development, making the candidate's ability to document crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on German academic standards for project work and Bachelor's theses, a typical monthly remuneration would range from €857 to €1714 (gross). This estimate is derived from industry benchmarks for student internships and thesis projects in Germany, considering the 40-hour work week and the complexity of the project.

• JAM Software GmbH is known for offering competitive compensation for student positions, reflecting the value of the work and the contribution to product strategy. Benefits:

• Flexible working hours: Adapt your work schedule to align with your academic commitments and optimize productivity.

• Mentorship and training: Receive dedicated guidance and support from experienced professionals throughout your project/thesis.

• Agile work environment: Experience a dynamic and collaborative work culture that values innovation and efficiency.

• Direct impact: Contribute to a project that lays the groundwork for future product development and design standardization.

• Potential for follow-up projects: Successful completion may lead to further opportunities in implementing the Design System.

Working Hours:

• The position is typically based on a 40-hour work week, aligning with full-time student project work or thesis requirements.

• Flexible working hours are offered, allowing for adjustments to accommodate academic schedules and personal needs, while ensuring sufficient overlap for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on German labor laws for student work and industry standards for thesis projects, considering the 12 ECTS credit point or full Bachelor's thesis scope and the provided monthly duration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development, specializing in IT management and system administration tools. JAM Software has a strong niche in providing solutions for system administrators, with its flagship product "TreeSize" originating from a student project.

Company Size: Over 30 employees at the Trier headquarters. This indicates a medium-sized company where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful.

Founded: Over 25 years ago, with its origins tracing back to a student project by Joachim Marder. This long history suggests stability, established processes, and a culture that values innovation and growth from within.

Team Structure:

• The operations and development teams are likely structured to facilitate direct collaboration, given the company size and agile methodology.

• Reporting lines are expected to be clear, with direct access to Product Owners, UX/UI specialists, and experienced developers for guidance and feedback.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, with this role requiring interaction across product management, design, and engineering disciplines. Methodology:

• JAM Software utilizes agile methods, suggesting a dynamic, iterative approach to development and project management.

• The company emphasizes close and uncomplicated collaboration, minimizing bureaucratic hurdles and fostering efficient workflows.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied by the focus on analysis and the potential use of AI/ML for component evaluation, aligning with modern operations best practices.

Company Website: www.jam-software.de

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's origin story as a student project fosters a culture that likely embraces student contributions and provides excellent mentorship. Its specialization in system administration tools implies a focus on robust, efficient, and user-friendly software.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at the entry-level, specifically designed for students undertaking project work or a Bachelor's thesis. It offers a foundational understanding of product design, system analysis, and the operational impact of standardization.

Reporting Structure: The student will work closely with Product Owners, UX/UI designers, and experienced developers. This direct reporting and collaboration structure ensures continuous learning and immediate feedback.

Operations Impact: The project's outcome will have a significant operational impact by providing the blueprint for a unified Design System. This standardization is critical for improving development efficiency, ensuring brand consistency, reducing technical debt, and enhancing the overall user experience across all software products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in UI/UX analysis, interaction design, Design Systems, component-based development, and documentation. Opportunity to gain practical experience with tools like Figma, Git, and potentially AI/LLMs.

• Industry Exposure: Gain firsthand experience in a professional software development environment, understanding product lifecycle management and GTM operational aspects related to product design.

• Potential for Future Employment: A successful thesis project can serve as a strong stepping stone for future career opportunities within JAM Software, potentially leading to roles in frontend development, UX/UI design, or even dedicated Design System management.

• Academic Achievement: Successfully complete a Bachelor's thesis or project work, contributing valuable research and practical output to the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is an excellent entry point for students looking to transition from academic learning to practical application, offering a clear path for skill development and potential career advancement within the software industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at the JAM Software headquarters in Trier. This provides a traditional office environment conducive to focused work and direct team interaction.

Office Location(s): Am Wissenschaftspark 26, 54296 Trier, Germany. The office is located in a science park, suggesting a modern and potentially collaborative research and development setting.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will be conducive to focused individual analysis and documentation, while also facilitating seamless collaboration with team members.

• Access to necessary tools, software licenses (e.g., Figma, potentially AI tools), and development resources will be provided.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with peers, mentors, and other departments will be available, fostering a supportive and engaging work environment. Work Schedule:

• The standard work week is 40 hours, aligning with typical full-time thesis or project work.

• Flexible working hours are a key benefit, allowing students to manage their time effectively between academic responsibilities and project work. This flexibility supports a productive and balanced work experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement combined with flexible hours suggests a balanced approach, offering the benefits of direct collaboration and structured work while accommodating student schedules.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Submission of CV and a structured problem-solving example.

• Screening Interview: A conversation (likely via phone or video call) to assess basic qualifications, interest, and alignment with the role and company culture.

This may involve discussing the submitted problem-solving example.

• On-site Interview: An in-person meeting at the JAM Software office in Trier. This will likely involve:

  • Deeper discussion of your academic background, specific interests in UI/UX and Design Systems.
  • Presentation and discussion of your problem-solving example or any relevant academic projects.
  • Hypothetical scenarios related to analyzing UI elements or conceptualizing design components.
  • Introduction to the team and a tour of the facilities.

• Final Decision: Based on the overall assessment of your skills, motivation, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Problem-Solving Example: Ensure your submitted example clearly outlines the problem, your analytical approach, the steps taken, and the outcome or proposed solution. Focus on demonstrating a structured and logical thought process.

• Relevance: If you have any academic or personal projects related to UI/UX, design analysis, or component design, be prepared to discuss them. While not a formal portfolio requirement, these can significantly strengthen your application.

• Documentation Focus: Highlight your ability to document findings clearly and concisely, as this is a critical output of the thesis.

Challenge Preparation:

• Analysis Skills: Be ready to discuss how you would approach analyzing a complex set of software interfaces. Think about categories, patterns, and potential issues.

• Design System Concepts: Familiarize yourself with the core principles of Design Systems, including component libraries, style guides, design tokens, and their benefits for development and design teams.

• Communication: Prepare to articulate your ideas and findings clearly and logically, as if presenting to a mixed audience of designers, developers, and product managers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes analytical thinking and structured problem-solving, reflecting the core requirements of the thesis project.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Highly preferred for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Familiarity with its features for creating design systems, components, and interactive prototypes is a significant advantage.

• Git: Essential for version control. Experience with Git workflows (e.g., branching, committing, merging) is beneficial for collaborative development and managing project versions.

• Design Tokens: Understanding the concept and application of Design Tokens for managing design decisions programmatically is a plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While direct analytics tool usage is not the primary focus, the role requires analytical skills to interpret UI patterns. Experience with any data analysis or visualization tools (even basic spreadsheet software like Excel) can be helpful for inventory creation. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this specific project role, but understanding how design systems impact the user experience of CRM and other software is relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Git, along with an understanding of Design Tokens, will be key assets for this role, directly supporting the project's objectives.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Growth: JAM Software's origin as a student project and its ongoing specialization highlight a culture that values innovation, continuous improvement, and growth from within.

• Efficiency & Pragmatism: The focus on system administration tools implies a value placed on efficiency, robustness, and practical solutions. Agile methods further support this.

• Collaboration & Openness: The emphasis on "close and uncomplicated collaboration" suggests an open environment where ideas are shared freely, and team members support each other.

• User-Centricity: While not explicitly stated, the focus on UI/UX and the goal of a Design System indicate a strong underlying value for user experience and product quality.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile and Iterative: Expect a dynamic work environment where feedback is continuous, and processes are refined iteratively.

• Cross-Functional: Collaboration will involve working closely with individuals from product management, design, and development, requiring clear communication and mutual understanding.

• Direct and Uncomplicated: The company culture promotes direct communication channels, minimizing hierarchical barriers and facilitating quick decision-making and problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture appears to be a blend of agile dynamism and pragmatic problem-solving, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and giving students the space to contribute meaningfully.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scope Management: Effectively managing the scope of a project or thesis to deliver meaningful results within the allotted timeframe can be challenging. Prioritizing components and features will be key.

• Complexity of Existing Systems: Analyzing a potentially diverse and evolving set of UI elements across multiple products requires strong analytical skills and systematic organization.

• Defining Reusability: Identifying true commonalities and defining components that are flexible enough to be reused across different contexts while maintaining consistency is a core design challenge.

• Bridging Design and Development: Translating design requirements into actionable guidelines for developers requires a good understanding of both disciplines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Design Systems: Gain comprehensive knowledge of best practices, methodologies, and the practical implementation of Design Systems.

• UI/UX and Interaction Design Mastery: Develop advanced skills in analyzing user interfaces and interaction patterns.

• Technical Skill Enhancement: Improve proficiency in frontend technologies, design tools like Figma, and version control with Git.

• AI/ML Application: Explore the potential of AI in design tasks, which could be a unique and forward-looking learning experience.

• Professional Communication: Hone skills in documenting technical findings and collaborating with diverse professional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential by tackling complex design and operational challenges within a supportive academic and professional framework.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach analyzing the UI elements of several distinct software products to identify common patterns?" (Focus on methodology, categorization, and systematic recording.)

• "Describe your understanding of a Design System and its key benefits for a software company like ours." (Highlight components, style guides, consistency, efficiency, and scalability.)

• "Imagine you need to define a 'button' component for our Design System. What are the critical aspects you would consider, and how would you document them?" (Discuss states, sizes, variations, accessibility, and usage guidelines.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about JAM Software and our product portfolio?" (Research their products like TreeSize, WinDirStat, etc., and their target audience.)

• "How do you envision collaborating with our Product Owners and Developers on this project?" (Emphasize proactive communication, seeking feedback, and understanding their perspectives.)

• "Our company culture values agile methods and direct communication. How do you see yourself fitting into this environment?" (Express enthusiasm for collaboration and adaptability.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structured Narrative: When discussing your problem-solving example, follow a clear structure: Problem -> Analysis -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.

• Visual Aids (if applicable): If your example involves design or technical work, be prepared to visually present it (e.g., screenshots, diagrams).

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process and methodology rather than just the final result. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If your past work led to measurable improvements (e.g., time saved, errors reduced), highlight these. For this thesis, focus on the potential impact of the Design System.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating analytical rigor, a clear understanding of Design Systems, and strong communication skills tailored to a software development context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this project/thesis position:

• Submit your CV and a structured example of how you have solved a problem systematically through the provided application link.

• Tailor your CV: Highlight relevant academic coursework, projects, and any specific skills related to UI/UX, design analysis, frontend technologies, or documentation.

• Craft your problem-solving example: Ensure it clearly articulates the problem, your analytical approach, the steps you took, and the resulting solution or insights. This is your primary opportunity to showcase your operational thinking.

• Research JAM Software: Familiarize yourself with their products, company history, and culture. Understand their target audience and the challenges faced by system administrators.

• Prepare for Discussion: Be ready to discuss your motivations for choosing this specific project, your understanding of Design Systems, and your interest in JAM Software's work during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.

---