Senior Product Designer - Maternity Cover (all genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Maternity Cover (all genders)

Company: Zalando

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: Product Design / UI/UX

Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a critical, temporary position covering maternity leave, focusing on the visual and interactive design of Zalando's Lounge platform, a key e-commerce channel.

• The Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in translating a new brand identity into scalable design patterns across web and mobile interfaces, leveraging design systems and token-based methodologies.

• A strong emphasis will be placed on ensuring inclusive design practices, adhering to accessibility (a11y) standards, and collaborating closely with engineering and product teams to deliver high-quality user experiences.

• The position requires a proactive individual who can manage priorities, contribute to design system documentation, and execute design quality assurance to maintain brand consistency and user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description focuses on design, the context of "Lounge by Zalando" as an "exclusive online shopping club" and "daily, time-limited sales campaigns" implies a high-volume, conversion-driven e-commerce environment. This means the Senior Product Designer will likely need to balance aesthetic appeal with performance optimization, user flow efficiency for high-frequency purchasing, and robust system design for scalability. The mention of "engineers to help shape the future of our platform" suggests a collaborative, technically informed design approach.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver high-fidelity design assets, detailed design specifications, and interactive prototypes for web and mobile platforms to guide engineering implementation.

• Collaborate with the Design Prime and cross-functional teams to translate the new brand identity into a cohesive and scalable visual language across all product touchpoints.

• Contribute to and refine the company's design system by defining scalable patterns, integrating token-based design principles, and documenting them in a centralized portal.

• Conduct thorough design Quality Assurance (QA) on developed features to ensure adherence to design specifications, brand guidelines, accessibility standards, and overall quality benchmarks.

• Uphold and champion accessibility (a11y) standards throughout the design process, ensuring that all user experiences are inclusive and human-centered for a diverse European customer base.

• Participate in user research initiatives and UX/UI design activities to craft seamless and holistic customer journeys that meet real-world user needs.

• Refine the overall design direction of the Lounge by Zalando platform, staying abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in e-commerce UX/UI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strong execution skills (asset creation, QA) alongside strategic contributions (design system refinement, brand identity translation). The emphasis on "scalability" and "token-based design" indicates a mature design operation requiring systematic thinking and a deep understanding of how design components translate into code.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in product design, UI/UX design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of delivering robust and scalable customer experiences.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design: Deep expertise in crafting intuitive, user-centered interfaces and seamless customer journeys.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in using Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design creation.

• Design Systems & Tokenization: Proven experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems, with a strong understanding of token-based design principles for consistency and efficiency.

• Accessibility (a11y): Thorough knowledge of WCAG guidelines and best practices for creating inclusive and human-centered designs.

• Visual Design & Detailing: A sharp eye for visual aesthetics, typography, color theory, and micro-interactions; passion for pixel-perfect execution.

• Prototyping: Ability to create interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• English Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English for effective collaboration and presentation.

• Google Suite: Proficiency in Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets for documentation, presentations, and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with "vibe coding tools" and AI tools like Google Gemini for design exploration or workflow enhancement.

• Experience in user research methodologies and synthesizing findings into actionable design insights.

• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms and understanding of conversion-driven design principles.

• Experience in conducting Design QA and working closely with QA teams.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "vibe coding tools" and "Google AI tools like Gemini" are specific mentions that suggest Zalando is exploring or actively using emerging technologies to enhance the design process. Candidates with exposure to these tools, even if introductory, will have a competitive edge. The explicit mention of "token-based design" indicates a need for a systematic, component-driven design approach.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that demonstrate your end-to-end product design process, from discovery and ideation to final execution and impact.

• Projects should highlight your ability to design for complex platforms, preferably within an e-commerce or high-traffic digital product environment.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design process followed, key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

Process Documentation:

• Your portfolio should include examples of how you document design processes, user flows, and system components.

• Showcase your ability to create detailed design specifications and assets that facilitate seamless handoff to development teams.

• Include examples of how you have integrated accessibility (a11y) considerations and token-based design principles into your workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially one involving design systems, the portfolio needs to go beyond just visual mockups. It should clearly illustrate the candidate's strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, understanding of system architecture, and ability to collaborate effectively across functions. Demonstrating an understanding of design operations and how designs are implemented at scale will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Employee Shares Program: Opportunity to participate in company ownership and benefit from Zalando's growth.

• Generous Discounts: Significant discounts on fashion and beauty products sold by Zalando (40%), Zalando Lounge (30%), and from external partners.

• Paid Volunteering: 2 paid days per year to contribute to community initiatives.

• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to work remotely up to 60% of the week, balancing work-from-home with in-office collaboration.

• Work From Abroad: Option to work remotely from other countries for up to 30 working days per year, offering international flexibility.

• Vacation: A competitive 27 days of vacation per year to start, promoting work-life balance.

• Relocation Assistance: Support available for candidates relocating to Berlin, subject to prior agreement.

• Family Services: Access to counseling and support services for family-related needs.

• Health & Wellbeing: Options such as Gympass membership and general health support.

• Mental Health Support: Access to professional mental health support and coaching.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth through an extensive training platform and biannual peer-to-peer reviews.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model. This allows for efficient task management and focus time, crucial for design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is comprehensive, highlighting Zalando's commitment to employee well-being, work-life balance, and professional development. The hybrid model and work-from-abroad options are particularly attractive for modern tech professionals. The salary estimate is based on typical market rates for a Senior Product Designer in a major German city like Berlin.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Fashion Technology, Online Retail

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees globally)

Founded: 2008

Company Description: Zalando is Europe's leading online fashion and lifestyle platform, connecting customers, brands, and partners across a vast ecosystem. The company aims to be the starting point for fashion, offering a wide selection, personalized recommendations, and seamless shopping experiences. Lounge by Zalando is a specific business unit focused on exclusive, time-limited sales.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of a "design-led studio team" within Lounge by Zalando, reporting to a "Design Prime."

• This team likely consists of other designers (UI/UX, Visual Designers), potentially UX researchers, and works in close proximity with product managers and engineering teams.

Methodology:

• Zalando emphasizes an "inclusive by design" philosophy, integrating diversity and inclusion into its hiring and product development processes.

• The design approach is likely agile and iterative, with a strong focus on user-centered design principles and data-informed decision-making.

• The use of design systems and token-based design suggests a systematic, scalable, and efficient approach to product development, ensuring consistency across the platform.

• Emphasis on "human-centered approach" and "serving real-world needs" indicates a commitment to solving genuine user problems.

Company Website: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/

📝 Enhancement Note: Zalando's scale and focus on fashion technology imply a dynamic, fast-paced environment that values innovation, user experience, and operational efficiency. The "design-led studio team" structure suggests a dedicated design function with significant influence. The commitment to "inclusive by design" is a key cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Design Prime role by taking on more strategic ownership and mentorship responsibilities.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like design systems, accessibility, or specific e-commerce UX challenges.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining broader experience by working across different product areas or business units within Zalando.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through Zalando's training platform and exposure to new tools like Gemini and advanced design system methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for a senior designer to deepen their expertise in design systems, accessibility, and e-commerce UX within a large, established tech company. The temporary nature (maternity cover) might appeal to those seeking a focused, high-impact project without long-term commitment, or it could serve as a stepping stone to a permanent role if opportunities arise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with a significant portion of work conducted remotely.

Office Location(s): Berlin, Germany. Zalando has a strong presence in Berlin, with modern office spaces designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model implies a balance between focused individual work (likely at home) and collaborative team sessions (in the office).

• The office environment is expected to be modern and well-equipped, supporting cross-functional team meetings, design critiques, and workshops.

• Access to necessary design software and collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Google Suite, communication platforms) will be standard.

Work Schedule:

• While the core role is full-time, the hybrid nature offers flexibility. This allows designers to structure their workdays to accommodate deep work sessions, team stand-ups, and collaborative design reviews effectively. The specific office days would be determined by team needs and Zalando's hybrid policy (up to 60% remote means at least 40% in-office).

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at Zalando aims to combine the benefits of remote flexibility with the advantages of in-person collaboration, which is crucial for design work involving brainstorming, critiques, and team alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio by a Talent Acquisition Partner to assess qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, and understanding of key concepts like design systems, accessibility, and brand identity. This may involve a portfolio walkthrough.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: Candidates may be asked to complete a design exercise or participate in a collaborative workshop (either take-home or live) to assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, and process. This is often where a deeper dive into portfolio projects occurs.

• Cross-functional Interview: An interview with team members from engineering and product management to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and fit within the broader product development team.

• Final Interview/Offer: A concluding discussion, potentially with a senior design leader, to finalize the decision and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best showcase your experience with UI/UX design, design systems, scalability, and e-commerce platforms.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, your specific contributions, challenges faced, and the impact achieved (quantifiable if possible).

• Highlight Design Systems: Dedicate specific sections or projects to demonstrating your expertise in building, using, or contributing to design systems, including tokenization.

• Showcase Accessibility: Integrate examples of how you've applied accessibility (a11y) principles in your designs.

• Be Ready to Defend Decisions: Prepare to discuss your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Format for Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, whether it's a website, PDF, or presentation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Zalando, Lounge by Zalando, and their target audience.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your thinking process, not just the final output. Explain your assumptions and how you arrived at your solutions.

• Time Management: For live exercises, manage your time effectively to cover all key aspects of the challenge.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your ideas and design rationale concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on design systems and scalability, expect interviewers to probe deeply into how you approach component-based design, maintain consistency, and collaborate with developers to ensure successful implementation. The "Design Prime" role suggests a strong internal design leadership, so understanding how to work within and contribute to that structure will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Design System Tools: While not explicitly named, this would include any associated tools for token management, component libraries, and documentation platforms (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or custom solutions).

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities are likely primary, but experience with other tools might be a plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Emerging Tools:

• Google Gemini: Mentioned as a preferred skill, suggesting Zalando is exploring or utilizing AI for design tasks, ideation, or content generation.

• "Vibe coding tools": This is an ambiguous term, potentially referring to tools that bridge design and code, such as those that allow for visual coding or direct CSS generation from designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and the emerging tools like Gemini and "vibe coding tools" indicates Zalando's forward-thinking approach to design technology. Candidates who can demonstrate adaptability and curiosity towards new tools will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Inclusivity by Design: A fundamental value that permeates hiring and product development, ensuring products are accessible and welcoming to all users.

• Customer Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving real-world user needs and crafting seamless customer journeys.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (design, engineering, product) and valuing feedback for continuous improvement.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A commitment to building robust, scalable design systems and patterns that support efficient development and consistent user experiences.

• Data-Informed Decision-Making: While not explicitly stated for design, the e-commerce context implies that design choices are influenced by data and performance metrics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with engineers and product managers throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Design System Centricity: A collaborative approach to building and maintaining the design system, involving input from various stakeholders.

• Feedback-Oriented: An open culture of giving and receiving feedback, essential for iterating on designs and refining the design system.

• Agile Methodologies: Working within agile frameworks likely promotes iterative collaboration and continuous communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Zalando's culture appears to prioritize both ethical considerations (inclusion) and operational excellence (scalability, efficiency) within a creative and collaborative framework. The "design-led studio" environment suggests a strong internal design community.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Brand Identity Implementation: Translating a new, potentially evolving, brand identity into a consistent and scalable design language across web and mobile platforms.

• Design System Maturity: Contributing to and refining a mature design system, ensuring it meets the needs of a large organization and remains up-to-date with best practices and new technologies.

• Accessibility Compliance: Ensuring all designs meet rigorous accessibility (a11y) standards across diverse user needs and devices.

• Balancing Aesthetics and Performance: Creating visually appealing designs that also drive conversion and perform optimally within an e-commerce context.

• Temporary Role Management: Effectively integrating into a team and driving impact within a fixed-term contract (maternity cover).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge in advanced design system methodologies, tokenization, and governance.

• E-commerce UX Mastery: Gain extensive experience in optimizing user journeys and conversion funnels within a large-scale fashion e-commerce platform.

• Emerging Technologies: Explore and apply new tools like Google Gemini and potentially "vibe coding tools" to enhance the design process.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Enhance skills in working with engineering and product teams, understanding their constraints and opportunities.

• Accessibility Specialization: Become a subject matter expert in inclusive design and accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The temporary nature of the role presents a unique challenge and opportunity. Candidates must be able to onboard quickly and deliver significant value in a shorter timeframe, which can be a great way to hone project management and impact-driving skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Systems: "Describe a time you contributed to a design system. What was your approach to defining scalable patterns and tokens? How did you ensure adoption and consistency?"

• Brand Implementation: "How would you approach translating a new brand identity into a cohesive visual language for a complex platform like Lounge by Zalando? What steps would you take to ensure consistency?"

• Accessibility: "What is your process for ensuring designs are accessible (a11y) compliant? Can you share an example of a design challenge you solved with accessibility in mind?"

• Problem-Solving: "Walk us through a challenging UX problem you solved. What was the problem, your process, the solution, and the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Zalando and the Lounge by Zalando platform specifically?"

• "How do you embody an 'inclusive by design' philosophy in your work?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with engineers and product managers."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Project Overview -> Problem -> Your Role -> Process & Solution -> Impact & Learnings.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your thinking, decisions, and trade-offs. Don't just show pretty pictures; explain why you designed something a certain way.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion, reduced error rates, improved engagement).

• Highlight Design Systems & Accessibility: Specifically point out how you've applied these principles in your projects.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your delivery to be clear, confident, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss not only your individual contributions but also how you collaborate within a team and contribute to a larger system. The interviewers will be looking for someone who can hit the ground running and integrate seamlessly into their existing design operations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Zalando Workday portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your expertise in UI/UX design, design systems, token-based design, accessibility (a11y), and e-commerce platforms. Ensure it clearly showcases your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of relevant design experience, key skills (Figma, design systems, etc.), and achievements, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, discussing your portfolio projects in detail, and preparing answers to common design and behavioral interview questions. Research Zalando's brand and mission.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Zalando's business model, especially Lounge by Zalando, their commitment to inclusivity, and their design philosophy. Understand the hybrid work model and its expectations.

⚠️ 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.