Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Timeleft

Location: Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-08

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (approx. 3 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for a globally recognized social app, impacting user experiences across mobile, web, and back-office platforms.

• Drive design quality and set the bar for UX/UI excellence as the most senior design voice, without direct design management oversight.

• Partner directly with Product Managers and engineers to translate product goals and user insights into innovative, high-quality user experiences.

• Evolve and maintain the company's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all product surfaces.

• Leverage AI-powered design tools to accelerate ideation, prototyping, and insight synthesis, while maintaining a human-centered approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) with significant autonomy and influence, rather than a management track. The emphasis is on deep design craft, strategic thinking, and direct impact on a consumer product used internationally.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for Timeleft's mobile application, web interfaces, back-office tools, and the evolving design system.

• Translate strategic product objectives and user research findings into compelling and user-centric UX/UI solutions.

• Lead design discovery processes, including concept exploration, wireframing, prototyping, and detailed interaction and visual design for new features and improvements.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to define problem spaces, identify opportunities, and deliver solutions that effectively balance user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.

• Apply systems thinking principles to ensure design consistency, scalability, and maintainability, actively contributing to the growth and refinement of the design system.

• Clearly articulate and champion design rationale through compelling storytelling, data-driven insights, and confident communication to build stakeholder alignment and drive team progress.

• Foster cross-functional collaboration, take full ownership of design initiatives, and adapt design plans and strategies with an agile mindset as project priorities shift.

• Integrate and experiment with AI-powered design tools to enhance creative exploration, streamline prototyping workflows, and synthesize user feedback, ensuring responsible application of AI in design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a holistic ownership of the design process, from strategic discovery to detailed execution. The emphasis on "systems thinking" and "design system evolution" suggests a need for a designer who can think architecturally about the product's interface and user experience.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and human-computer interaction is expected, often gained through formal education or extensive practical experience.

Experience: 5+ years of dedicated experience in designing for mobile consumer products, with a proven track record of end-to-end product ownership and sophisticated problem-solving.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End Product Design: Demonstrated ability to manage the entire design process from conception to final implementation for mobile-first experiences.

• Interaction Design (IxD): Deep understanding and application of interaction design principles to create intuitive and engaging user flows.

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sensibility and proficiency in creating polished, high-fidelity visual designs that align with brand identity and user expectations.

• Prototyping Proficiency: Expertise in using modern prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Principle, ProtoPie) to create interactive mockups and test user flows.

• Figma Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Figma for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, or contributing to design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and design for complex interconnected systems and user journeys.

• AI Design Tool Integration: Experience utilizing AI tools to support design workflows, ideation, and rapid prototyping.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Communication Skills: Clear, empathetic, and constructive communication for giving and receiving feedback, and presenting design rationale.

• Consumer Product Background: Experience designing for social, dating, community, or marketplace consumer applications.

Preferred Skills:

• User Research methodologies and synthesis of user insights.

• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design iterations.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of strong craft skills (interaction, visual, prototyping) and strategic thinking (systems thinking, end-to-end ownership), with a clear need for proficiency in Figma and emerging AI design tools. The preference for specific product categories like social or marketplace indicates a need for understanding user motivations in those domains.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects, clearly demonstrating your role, process, and impact from problem definition to shipped product.

• Include case studies that highlight complex problem-solving, user-centered design decisions, and the rationale behind your design choices.

• Feature examples of mobile-first design experiences with a focus on intuitive user flows and engaging interactions.

• Demonstrate proficiency in visual design execution, including UI elements, typography, and color theory, applied effectively within a cohesive design language.

• Provide evidence of systems thinking through contributions to or utilization of design systems, ensuring scalable and consistent design solutions. Process Documentation:

• Detailed explanations of your design process for each project, including discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases.

• Documentation of how user insights and business requirements were translated into design solutions.

• Examples of how you collaborated with product managers and engineers throughout the design lifecycle.

• Showcase the use and impact of AI tools in your design workflow, highlighting how they enhanced efficiency or creativity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for demonstrating end-to-end ownership and strategic thinking. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design process, the rationale behind their decisions, and the tangible impact of their work, especially highlighting the application of systems thinking and AI tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer in Paris with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is between €60,000 and €85,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major European tech hubs, considering the company's rapid growth and international reach.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for equity in a fast-growing startup.

• Opportunity to shape the design direction of a product with significant global impact.

• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a focus on innovation and user experience.

• Exposure to cutting-edge AI design tools and methodologies.

• Professional development opportunities, including potential for conferences and training.

• Potential for team events and social gatherings, aligning with the company's mission.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, with an expectation of approximately 40 hours per week. The role requires ~3 days per week in the Paris office, allowing for flexibility in remote work arrangement on other days.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on current market data for senior product designers in Paris and similar tech companies. Benefits are inferred from typical offerings for fast-growing startups in the tech sector, with a focus on impact, growth, and innovation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Social Networking, Mobile Applications. Timeleft operates in the rapidly evolving social tech space, connecting people in real life through curated events, differentiating itself by focusing on IRL interactions.

Company Size: 100 employees. This size indicates a growing startup environment where roles have significant scope and individuals can make a substantial impact. It suggests a culture that is likely agile, adaptive, and team-oriented.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly provided, but the company's current scale (100 employees, 150,000+ users, 200+ cities) suggests it is past the early startup phase and is in a period of significant growth and scaling.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely small and integrated within product squads. As the most senior designer, you will be the primary design leader, reporting directly to the VP of Product.

• Close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers is a cornerstone of the product development process.

• Cross-functional partnerships are essential, extending beyond product teams to potentially marketing and operations as the company scales. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Iteration: Emphasis on using user insights, data analytics, and A/B testing to inform design decisions and drive continuous improvement.

• Agile Development: A flexible and iterative approach to product development, allowing for rapid prototyping, testing, and adaptation.

• Systems Thinking Approach: Designing for scalability and consistency across the entire product ecosystem, with a strong focus on the design system.

• Human-Centered Design: Prioritizing user needs and experiences, even within a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Company Website: [Company URL - Not provided in input, but assumed to be accessible if the company is hiring]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by rapid growth, high ownership, and a focus on real-world impact. The absence of a design manager emphasizes autonomy and direct influence for the Senior Product Designer.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) level, signifying a high degree of expertise and autonomy. It's a critical role for shaping the product's user experience and design strategy, without the day-to-day responsibilities of managing a team.

Reporting Structure: You will report directly to the VP of Product, ensuring close alignment with product strategy and business objectives. This direct line of communication offers significant visibility and influence.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work will directly influence user acquisition, engagement, and retention by crafting intuitive and delightful experiences that encourage users to connect in real life. The design decisions made will have a tangible impact on the company's mission and growth trajectory across 52 countries.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to define and elevate the design practice at Timeleft, influencing future hiring decisions and establishing design standards.

• Product Strategy Influence: Direct involvement in product strategy discussions with senior leadership, shaping the future roadmap and user experience vision.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like social product design, AI integration in design, and scalable design systems.

• Global Product Exposure: Gain experience working on a product with a massive international user base, understanding diverse user needs and cultural nuances.

• Foundational Role: Opportunity to be a foundational member of the design function, setting the stage for future design team growth and specialization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer who thrives on autonomy and wants to influence product strategy at a foundational level. Growth is less about managing people and more about expanding influence, strategic impact, and design leadership within the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, requiring approximately 3 days per week in the Paris office. This suggests a collaborative office space designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional interaction.

Office Location(s): Paris, France. Being based in Paris offers a vibrant professional and cultural environment. Specific office address details would be provided upon application or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is likely designed to foster interaction, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and common areas for informal discussions.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to necessary design tools, software, and hardware to support creative and productive work.

• Team Integration: Opportunities to engage directly with product managers, engineers, and other key stakeholders, fostering a strong sense of team cohesion and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: The role operates on a standard full-time schedule, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work arrangement. This allows for focused deep work sessions either remotely or in the office, catering to different work styles and the demands of design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role in Paris balances the need for in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, appealing to designers who value both focused individual work and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Introduction Interview (30 min): Initial conversation with the Talent Acquisition Lead to assess alignment of experience, career aspirations, and cultural fit with Timeleft's mission. Prepare to articulate your career journey and motivations.

• Skills Assessment (45 min): Interview with Product Managers focusing on your design process, ability to balance user needs with business goals, and mutual fit. Be ready to discuss how you approach problem-solving and collaboration.

• Final Interview (45-60 min): Meeting with the VP Product to delve into past projects, discuss your business vision, and complete a short live case study. This is an opportunity to showcase strategic thinking and design rationale under pressure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-4 of your strongest end-to-end projects that best represent your skills in mobile consumer product design, interaction design, and visual polish.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, the key decisions you made, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Showcase how you applied or contributed to design systems, and demonstrate how you ensured consistency and scalability in your designs.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: If applicable, clearly articulate how you used AI tools in your workflow and the benefits or insights gained.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to defend your design choices with clear reasoning, backed by user insights, business goals, and design principles.

Challenge Preparation:

• Live Case Study: Expect a short, focused design challenge during the final interview. Practice rapid ideation and problem framing for scenarios related to social apps or user connection.

• Business Acumen: Be ready to discuss how your design decisions contribute to Timeleft's business objectives, such as user growth, engagement, and retention.

• Communication Practice: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and design rationale concisely and confidently, anticipating questions from the VP Product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration capabilities, and alignment with the company's mission and growth-oriented culture. The portfolio review and live case study are critical for demonstrating practical application of skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Expect advanced usage and contribution to the design system.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in modern prototyping tools is essential for creating interactive user flows and testing concepts. This may include Figma's built-in capabilities or other specialized tools.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: Experience with AI tools that assist in ideation, image generation, content creation, or rapid prototyping is a key requirement. Specific tools may vary, but a curious and experimental approach is valued.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior, track key metrics, and inform design iterations.

• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable design improvements. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data flows from the app to backend systems and potentially marketing automation tools is beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and AI-powered design tools highlights Timeleft's commitment to modern design workflows and leveraging technology to enhance creativity and efficiency. A candidate's ability to adapt to and integrate new tools will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on delivering tangible real-world impact through product design, connecting people and fostering social interactions.

• Ownership & Autonomy: A culture where individuals are empowered to take full ownership of their work and drive initiatives forward with minimal oversight.

• Learning & Iteration: A commitment to continuous learning, experimentation, and iterative improvement, embracing feedback and adapting to new insights.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork, where designers, product managers, and engineers work closely together towards shared goals.

• Human-Centered Design: A core value of prioritizing user needs and experiences, ensuring that design decisions are empathetic and user-focused.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Transparent: Open communication and feedback are encouraged across teams, fostering a transparent and collaborative environment.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply integrated with product and engineering teams, participating actively in all stages of the product development lifecycle.

• Shared Ownership: A collective responsibility for product success, where design is seen as a critical partner in achieving business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize autonomy, impact, and collaborative problem-solving. This role is for a designer who is proactive, enjoys taking initiative, and thrives in a culture where design is integral to the business strategy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for IRL Connection: The core challenge is translating digital interactions into successful real-world meetups, requiring a deep understanding of user psychology and social dynamics.

• Global Scalability: Designing for a diverse international user base across 52 countries necessitates cultural sensitivity, localization considerations, and scalable design solutions.

• Balancing Growth & Quality: As a fast-growing startup, balancing the need for rapid feature development with maintaining high design quality and a cohesive user experience.

• Defining Design's Future: As the most senior designer, shaping the future of the design function and establishing best practices for a growing team.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Social Product Design: Gain specialized expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for social connection and community building.

• AI in Design Exploration: Continuously explore and integrate emerging AI tools and methodologies into the design process.

• Strategic Product Influence: Develop skills in product strategy and business thinking through close collaboration with the VP Product.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunity to mentor future design hires and establish design leadership principles within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to building a successful social product with global reach. The growth opportunities are significant for a designer looking to make a strategic impact and evolve their expertise in a dynamic environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a feature to encourage first-time users to book their first Timeleft event?" - Focus on user journey mapping, identifying friction points, and proposing iterative solutions.

• "Describe a complex design system you've worked on. What were the challenges, and how did you ensure adoption and consistency?" - Highlight your systematic thinking, collaboration with engineers, and governance strategies.

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals when faced with conflicting priorities?" - Use a past project example to demonstrate your decision-making framework, data utilization, and negotiation skills. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Timeleft's mission and product?" - Research Timeleft's value proposition, target audience, and impact. Connect this to your personal design philosophy.

• "How do you handle receiving critical feedback on your designs?" - Emphasize your openness to feedback, ability to deconstruct critique, and iterative approach to design refinement.

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders who disagreed with your design direction." - Showcase your communication skills, data-backed arguments, and ability to build consensus. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem you were solving and the business/user objectives for each project.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design solutions and decision-making process.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success and impact of your designs.

• Highlight Your Process: Walk through your design thinking, from research and ideation to iteration and final execution, emphasizing your role and contributions.

• Concisely Address AI Use: If AI tools were used, explain how and why, focusing on the value they added to your workflow or the final outcome.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating your design philosophy, demonstrating strategic thinking, and showcasing your ability to deliver impactful, user-centered designs within a growth-oriented environment using modern tools.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 3-4 end-to-end mobile consumer product case studies that highlight your interaction design, visual design, and problem-solving skills. Clearly articulate your role, process, and impact for each.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in mobile consumer products, social/dating/marketplace apps, design systems, and proficiency with Figma and AI design tools. Use action verbs and quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your vision for Timeleft's design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Timeleft's app, mission, and recent news. Understand their target audience and the unique challenges of designing for real-life social connections.

⚠️ 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.