Senior Product Designer (all genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: JustPlay GmbH

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-06-12

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (with options for remote or office-based)

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Product Designer role focuses on enhancing user experience in mobile applications, with a strong emphasis on content discovery, player motivation, and engagement design.

• The position requires proven expertise in gamification to create compelling experiences that drive player retention and business impact.

• A key aspect of this role involves integrating AI tools and workflows to unlock operational efficiency within the digital product development lifecycle.

• The designer will collaborate cross-functionally to deliver both visionary long-term concepts and immediate, high-impact product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the experience requirement of 2-3 years suggests this role might be more mid-level to senior-junior. The emphasis on "scaling or refining established design teams and processes" and "fostering a high-performing, growth-minded design team" indicates a need for someone who can contribute to process improvement and mentorship, not just execution. The role is explicitly framed around driving business impact through design, linking design decisions directly to company growth and mission, a hallmark of operations-aligned thinking within product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design end-to-end mobile product experiences, advocating for the design vision of a high-traffic entertainment app.

• Develop user-centric designs, wireframes, prototypes, and mockups for the JustPlay app, focusing on enhancing the player journey.

• Create impactful features that drive player engagement, loyalty, and retention through strategic gamification elements.

• Translate research insights and analytical data into actionable design concepts that improve both user satisfaction and business outcomes.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders to translate innovative design ideas into technically feasible solutions.

• Champion and evolve JustPlay's design guidelines and design system to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.

• Identify and implement opportunities for AI integration and automation to streamline design operations and accelerate development cycles.

• Establish and refine effective design processes that support team growth and operational efficiency.

• Mentor and provide feedback to junior designers, fostering a culture of craft, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Drive measurable business outcomes by making design decisions that align player delight with company growth objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities heavily lean into operations-adjacent tasks such as "scaling or refining established design teams and processes," "integrating AI tools and workflows," "unlocking operational efficiency," "establishing and maintaining effective design processes," and "championing product design throughout the organization." This indicates a strategic operational component to the design role, requiring an understanding of how design impacts efficiency and scalability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 2-3 years of experience designing end-to-end mobile product experiences, with a preference for candidates experienced in gaming or entertainment sectors. Experience in scaling or refining established design teams and processes is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Proven expertise in gamification principles and user engagement strategies.

• Demonstrated ability to create impactful mobile product experiences.

• Strong understanding of user-centric design methodologies and user experience (UX) best practices.

• Proficiency in creating wireframes, prototypes, and detailed mockups.

• Experience in applying platform best practices for iOS and Android.

• Ability to translate research insights and analytics into actionable design solutions.

• Meticulous attention to detail and a strong commitment to design craft and quality.

• Experience with collaboration tools and cross-functional team dynamics. Preferred Skills:

• Background in loyalty or rewards platforms.

• Direct experience in mobile gaming.

• Deep understanding of current mobile gaming trends and the advertising landscape.

• Familiarity with design system development and maintenance.

• Experience with AI tools and workflow automation in a design context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to Have" section strongly implies a need for a candidate who understands the broader ecosystem of mobile gaming, including monetization strategies (advertising) and player loyalty programs. The mention of "scaling or refining established design teams and processes" suggests that candidates with experience in process optimization and team development within a design context will be highly regarded.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing impactful end-to-end mobile product design work, with a focus on gamification and user engagement.

• Case studies must demonstrate how design decisions drove measurable business outcomes (e.g., increased retention, engagement, player motivation).

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that illustrate the design process.

• Evidence of utilizing user research and data analytics to inform design solutions.

• Demonstrations of contributions to design systems or style guides for consistency. Process Documentation:

• Showcase experience in establishing and refining design processes that scale with team growth.

• Include examples of how AI tools and automation were integrated to improve design operational efficiency.

• Provide insights into how research findings and analytics were systematically transformed into design concepts.

• Illustrate the collaborative process with product managers and engineers, highlighting how technical constraints were navigated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not just display final designs but also the process behind them, emphasizing how design decisions contribute to business objectives and operational efficiency. Highlighting experience with gamification and AI integration in a design context will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer in Berlin, Germany, with 2-5 years of experience and specialized skills in gamification and mobile design, a competitive salary range would typically fall between €60,000 - €85,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major German tech hubs, considering the company's focus on a global product and the need for specialized design talent.

Benefits:

• Work-Life Balance and Flexibility: Flexible working hours, options for digital nomads, occasional office visits, or regular office attendance.

• Mental Health Support: Free personal coaching through partner nilo.health.

• Training & Development: Annual personal development budget of up to €2,000 for training, conferences, and workshops.

• Germany-Based Benefits: 25 vacation days, free Wellhub gold subscription, monthly Deutschland-Ticket, and a €50 monthly tax-free internet contribution.

• State-of-the-Art Equipment: Choice of MacBook or Windows hardware.

• Relocation Package: Visa support provided for eligible candidates.

• Berlin Office Perks: Ergonomic setup, free daily lunch, dog-friendly environment.

• Engaging and Diverse Work Environment: Opportunity to join a team of over 30 nationalities.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time workweek, likely around 40 hours, with flexibility in scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in Berlin, Germany. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and negotiation. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting typical offerings for tech companies in Germany, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Gaming / Entertainment. JustPlay operates in the dynamic mobile gaming and entertainment sector, focusing on content discovery and player engagement through innovative design. This industry requires rapid iteration, data-driven decision-making, and a keen understanding of user behavior.

Company Size: Specific size not provided, but the mention of "scaling or refining established design teams and processes" and a "diverse team, with over 30 nationalities working from over 25 different locations" suggests a growing, international company with a significant operational footprint.

Founded: Founded with a mission to create engaging experiences for millions of users, JustPlay has established itself as a key player in the entertainment app space. Its longevity and continuous growth imply a stable yet agile operational environment.

Team Structure:

• The design team, while not explicitly detailed in size, is positioned to be foundational to the product's success. The Senior Product Designer will play a role in shaping its processes and potentially mentoring junior members.

• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with Product Managers, Engineers, and other key stakeholders to drive product development.

• The company values a diverse workforce, fostering an inclusive environment where multiple perspectives contribute to innovation. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Insights from user research and analytics are critical for informing design decisions and driving business impact.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the nature of mobile app development and the emphasis on rapid iteration suggest an agile or agile-like methodology.

• Process Optimization: A focus on "unlocking operational efficiency by integrating AI tools and workflows" and "establishing and maintaining effective design processes" points to a strong emphasis on improving workflows and team productivity.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of innovation, data-driven decision-making, and operational efficiency, all within a global, diverse team. The emphasis on gamification and engagement suggests a player-centric approach, while the integration of AI points to a forward-thinking, technology-focused operational strategy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer. While the experience requirement is 2-3 years, the responsibilities extend beyond pure execution to include process improvement, mentorship, and strategic input on design vision and operational efficiency. This indicates a role that bridges hands-on design with a broader impact on how the design function operates.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a Product Lead, depending on the specific organizational structure. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams.

Operations Impact: The role is explicitly tasked with driving "business impact through design" and ensuring "every player interaction contributes to JustPlay’s growth and mission." This means the designer's work directly influences key operational metrics such as user retention, engagement, and potentially revenue generation through optimized player experiences. The integration of AI and workflow streamlining also highlights a direct contribution to operational efficiency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Designer or Design Manager role, taking on more responsibility for team strategy, mentorship, and process ownership.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like gamification, player motivation, or AI-driven design solutions.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Develop a strong understanding of product management and engineering, potentially opening doors to product ownership or GTM strategy roles.

• Process Improvement Expertise: Become a go-to person for optimizing design workflows, implementing new tools, and driving efficiency within the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "growth-minded design team" and "mentorship" aspects suggest a deliberate focus on career development. The emphasis on operational efficiency and AI integration positions this role as forward-thinking, offering opportunities to develop in-demand skills relevant to the future of product development operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The company offers flexibility, allowing individuals to choose between remote work, occasional office visits, or regular attendance at their Berlin office. This caters to a modern, flexible work culture.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Berlin, Germany. This offers a vibrant tech hub environment with access to amenities and networking opportunities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The Berlin office is described as dog-friendly, with perks like free daily lunch and ergonomic setups, fostering a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

• Tools & Technology: Access to state-of-the-art equipment (MacBook or Windows) is provided, ensuring designers have the necessary tools for high-quality work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person interaction with colleagues in the Berlin office, facilitating spontaneous collaboration and team bonding. For remote team members, robust digital collaboration tools are implied.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are explicitly mentioned, allowing employees to manage their schedules to balance personal life and professional responsibilities, while still meeting the demands of a full-time role. This flexibility is crucial for roles involving deep work and creative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible hours indicate a trust-based work environment that prioritizes output and employee well-being. For a designer, this means the ability to create an optimal work setup, whether at home or in the office, and to structure their day for peak productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design quality.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present your portfolio, focusing on specific case studies that highlight your experience in gamification, user engagement, mobile design, and driving business impact. Expect discussions on your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you've leveraged data and research.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, understanding of technical constraints, and ability to articulate design solutions effectively.

• "Culture Fit" or Values-Based Interview: An assessment of how your working style, approach to mentorship, and commitment to continuous learning align with JustPlay's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Gamification & Engagement: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your expertise in gamification, user motivation, and retention design. Clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the measurable impact.

• Demonstrate Process & Rationale: For each project, walk through your design process, from research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, and final execution. Explain why you made specific design choices.

• Showcase Business Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Use metrics related to engagement, retention, conversion, or player satisfaction to demonstrate the business value of your design work.

• Include AI/Efficiency Examples: If possible, showcase any instances where you've used or proposed AI tools or process improvements to enhance design efficiency or outcomes.

• Tailor to JustPlay: Research JustPlay's current app and target audience. Frame your portfolio presentation to show how your skills and experience are directly relevant to their product and goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a "design challenge" or a take-home assignment that may involve designing a feature or solving a specific UX problem relevant to JustPlay's product.

• Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, creativity, and ability to deliver a well-reasoned solution within a given timeframe.

• Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a product team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review will heavily scrutinize not just design execution but also the strategic thinking behind it, particularly concerning gamification, business impact, and operational efficiency. Candidates should be ready to discuss how their design work contributes to the company's growth and operational goals.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert proficiency required for all aspects of design, prototyping, and collaboration. This is the central tool for the design team.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting, Maze, Lookback).

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for task management and cross-functional workflow tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with tools that can help visualize user data and design performance metrics would be beneficial.

• A/B Testing Tools: Understanding of how A/B testing is used to validate design hypotheses and drive optimization.

CRM & Automation:

• AI Tools: Openness to integrating and utilizing AI tools for design assistance, workflow automation, and efficiency gains within the design process.

• Collaboration Suites: Proficiency with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, or Microsoft Teams for daily communication and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma is critical. Beyond core design tools, the role requires a data-informed approach, necessitating familiarity with analytics platforms. The explicit mention of "integrating AI tools and workflows" suggests that candidates who are proactive in exploring and adopting new technologies for efficiency will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A strong commitment to high-fidelity design, attention to detail, and delivering polished, user-friendly experiences.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing research and analytics to guide design choices, ensuring that solutions are informed and impactful.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with cross-functional teams, sharing insights openly, and fostering a supportive team environment.

• Continuous Learning & Improvement: A proactive approach to skill development, staying current with industry trends, and seeking ways to optimize processes and outcomes.

• Player-Centricity: Designing with a deep understanding of player motivations, needs, and desires to create engaging and rewarding experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, requiring clear communication and the ability to translate design vision into actionable development tasks.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Agile Iteration: Working in an iterative manner, with regular touchpoints and feedback loops to refine designs and respond to evolving requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a balance between creative excellence and operational rigor. The values suggested by the job description point to a team that is both passionate about user experience and focused on delivering measurable business results through efficient, collaborative processes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Business Goals with Player Delight: Developing features that simultaneously drive company growth (e.g., retention, monetization) and provide an enjoyable, engaging experience for players.

• Scaling Design Processes: Refining and scaling established design teams and processes to accommodate company growth and evolving product complexity.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Identifying and implementing AI tools and workflows that genuinely enhance design operations without compromising creative integrity or user experience.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Keeping pace with the rapidly evolving mobile gaming landscape, including new monetization strategies, player engagement techniques, and technological advancements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Gamification & Engagement Design: Opportunities to deepen expertise in designing complex motivational systems and player reward loops.

• AI in Design: Hands-on experience integrating AI tools into the product development lifecycle, building skills in a highly sought-after area.

• Process Optimization & Mentorship: Developing leadership skills by contributing to the refinement of design processes and mentoring junior designers.

• Industry Exposure: Access to a competitive personal development budget for conferences and training, allowing for continuous professional growth in the gaming and tech sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of design operations by integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI and by contributing to the scaling of design processes in a growing company. The challenges are framed as opportunities for significant skill development and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature to increase player retention by 15% in a mobile gaming app, considering current trends in gamification?" (Focus on process, data, and outcome).

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder demands or technical constraints with your design vision. How did you navigate it?" (Focus on collaboration and problem-solving).

• "How do you see AI tools impacting the future of product design operations? Can you give an example of how you might integrate AI into a design workflow to improve efficiency?" (Focus on forward-thinking and operational efficiency). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about JustPlay's product and mission, particularly regarding content discovery and player motivation?" (Show research and alignment).

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers or contributing to the growth of a design team?" (Focus on leadership and team development).

• "How do you ensure your design decisions align with business objectives and drive measurable outcomes?" (Focus on impact and ROI). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, solutions), and end (results, impact).

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly state the business goals and the metrics you influenced (e.g., "Increased daily active users by X%", "Improved task completion rate by Y%").

• Process Walkthrough: Detail your steps, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration. Explain why you made key decisions.

• Highlight Gamification: Specifically call out elements of gamification and engagement design in your projects, explaining their purpose and effectiveness.

• AI Integration Examples: If you have any experience or strong ideas about using AI in design workflows, be prepared to discuss them.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; focus on the most impactful projects and key learnings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who not only possesses strong design skills but also understands the operational aspects of design, including process optimization, business impact, and the strategic integration of new technologies like AI. Your ability to articulate your thought process and quantify results will be crucial.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 projects that best exemplify your expertise in mobile product design, gamification, user engagement, and driving measurable business impact. Ensure these case studies clearly articulate your process and quantifiable results.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in end-to-end mobile design, gamification, user engagement, and any experience with scaling design processes or integrating new technologies like AI. Use keywords from the job description to ensure ATS compatibility.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design rationale, problem-solving approach, and the business outcomes of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with gamification, user motivation, and how you contribute to operational efficiency through design.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research JustPlay GmbH, their product (JustPlay app), their target audience, and their market position. Understand their focus on content discovery and player motivation to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.