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 Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-23

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on translating a new brand identity into scalable UI/UX designs for web and mobile platforms within an e-commerce fashion context.

• It involves significant contribution to and utilization of design systems, with a strong emphasis on token-based design and accessibility (a11y) standards.

• The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including engineers and other designers, to ensure coherence and quality across all product features.

• The Senior Product Designer will be responsible for creating detailed design specifications, conducting design QA, and documenting design patterns to maintain and evolve the design system portal.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a maternity cover for 12 months, which is a critical detail for candidates considering long-term career plans. The focus on "design-led studio team" and "Design Prime" suggests a highly collaborative and creatively driven environment, common in established tech companies like Zalando. The emphasis on "Lounge by Zalando" points to a specific niche within the e-commerce fashion sector, requiring an understanding of exclusive, time-limited sales campaigns.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Design Prime and cross-functional teams to implement a new brand identity across web and mobile platforms.

• Define and document scalable design patterns and ensure their integration into the design system portal using tokens.

• Uphold and advance accessibility (a11y) standards to create inclusive and human-centered user experiences.

• Create high-fidelity assets and detailed design specifications for engineering teams.

• Conduct thorough design Quality Assurance (QA) to ensure adherence to design standards and project requirements.

• Refine the overall design direction, staying current with industry trends and best practices in UI/UX design.

• Contribute to user research initiatives to inform design decisions and enhance customer journeys.

• Develop prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking (refining design direction, contributing to systems) and tactical execution (creating assets, design QA). The emphasis on "scalable patterns using tokens" indicates a need for a designer experienced in modern design system methodologies, ensuring efficient and consistent product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UI/UX design, with a proven track record of delivering robust and scalable customer experiences.

• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with stakeholders, engineers, and other designers in a cross-functional environment.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of user-centered design principles, user research methodologies, and the entire design process from concept to execution.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems & Tokens: Deep expertise in creating, managing, and implementing design systems, with a strong understanding of design tokens for scalability and consistency.

• Accessibility (a11y): Solid knowledge of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and experience in designing inclusive interfaces.

• Visual Design & Prototyping: Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, and proficiency in creating interactive prototypes.

• Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment, incorporating feedback and driving consensus.

• Google Suite Proficiency: Fluency in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for documentation and presentation.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with "vibe coding" tools (specific tools to be clarified by hiring team).

• Familiarity with AI tools such as Google Gemini.

• Experience in the e-commerce or fashion retail industry.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "vibe coding tools" and "google AI tools like Gemini" suggests Zalando is exploring or integrating emerging technologies into their design and development workflows. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to learn these tools. The emphasis on "human-centered approach" and "real-world needs" reinforces the importance of user empathy in this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your end-to-end design process for complex UI/UX projects, preferably in e-commerce or a related field.

• Design System Contribution: Specific examples of your involvement in building, scaling, or contributing to design systems, highlighting the use of design tokens and pattern definition.

• Scalability & Impact: Projects that clearly illustrate how your design solutions addressed scalability challenges and delivered measurable business or user impact.

• Accessibility Integration: Examples where accessibility (a11y) principles were a core consideration in your design process and implementation.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Evidence of how you collaborated with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to bring designs to life.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate your ability to map out and optimize user flows and interaction design processes.

• System Implementation: Show examples of how your designs were translated into functional components within a design system or product.

• Performance Analysis: Include metrics or results that show the impact of your designs, such as improvements in user engagement, conversion rates, or task completion.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially one involving design systems, the portfolio is paramount. Candidates should be ready to walk through their process, explain their decision-making, and articulate the impact of their work. The mention of "integrating them into our design system portal" implies the need for practical experience with design system documentation and deployment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Employee Shares Program: Opportunity to own a part of Zalando's success.

• Generous Discounts: 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, and discounts from external partners.

• Paid Volunteering: 2 paid days per year to contribute to causes you care about.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility with up to 60% remote work per week.

• Work from Abroad: Ability to work remotely from other countries for up to 30 working days annually.

• Vacation: Starting with 27 days of vacation per year.

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

• Family Services: Counseling and support for family-related needs.

• Health & Wellbeing: Access to health and wellbeing programs, including Gympass.

• Mental Health Support: Availability of mental health support and coaching.

• Professional Development: Access to a training platform and biannual peer-to-peer reviews for continuous growth.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for senior design roles in major German tech hubs like Berlin. The extensive benefits package, particularly the discounts and flexibility (hybrid, work from abroad), are significant perks for employees. The "maternity cover" aspect implies a fixed-term contract, which may influence salary negotiations and benefit eligibility compared to permanent roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce (Fashion & Lifestyle)

Company Size: Zalando is a large, publicly traded company, employing over 15,000 people globally. This scale offers significant opportunities for impact and exposure to complex operational challenges.

Founded: Zalando was founded in 2008, positioning it as an established player in the European e-commerce landscape with a mature operational structure and a strong brand presence.

Team Structure:

• Design-Led Studio: The role is within a "design-led studio team," suggesting a strong emphasis on design thinking, creativity, and user experience as core drivers of product development.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The designer will work closely with "Design Prime," engineers, and other stakeholders, indicating a highly collaborative and integrated product development process.

• Reporting: Likely reports into a Design Lead or Head of Design, with close alignment to product management and engineering teams.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: A core philosophy, emphasizing the creation of products that serve real-world needs and provide seamless customer journeys.

• Data-Driven Decisions: While not explicitly stated for design, Zalando's operational scale implies a strong reliance on data for product iteration and improvement.

• Agile Development: Common in tech companies of this size, suggesting iterative development cycles and close teamwork.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Zalando's commitment to "Inclusive by Design" and their active promotion of employee resource groups and diversity initiatives are key cultural differentiators. This signals a company that values a broad range of perspectives and is committed to fostering an equitable work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level typically involves leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and having significant influence on product strategy and execution. The maternity cover aspect means this is a critical, high-impact role for the duration of the contract.

Reporting Structure: The role will report to a Design Prime or Design Lead, working within a cross-functional product team. This structure allows for direct contribution to product strategy and close collaboration with engineering and product management.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will directly influence the customer experience for Lounge by Zalando, a key part of the Zalando ecosystem. Their work on brand identity, design systems, and user journeys will have a tangible impact on member engagement, conversion rates, and overall customer satisfaction within this exclusive shopping club.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Deepen expertise in design systems, token implementation, and scalability, potentially leading to future roles in design system governance or architecture.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop stronger skills in influencing product roadmaps and collaborating with diverse teams, paving the way for lead or management positions.

• E-commerce Innovation: Gain extensive experience in a rapidly evolving e-commerce fashion market, understanding consumer behavior and digital trends.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to learn and apply new tools (like Gemini) and methodologies, broadening professional capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a temporary role, the "Senior" title and the focus on design systems and brand identity implementation offer substantial learning and portfolio-building opportunities. The experience gained at a company of Zalando's size and caliber is highly valuable for long-term career progression in product design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Zalando operates with a hybrid working model, allowing employees to work remotely for up to 60% of their week. This indicates a modern, flexible approach to work, balancing in-office collaboration with remote autonomy.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Berlin, Germany, a vibrant European capital known for its tech and creative industries.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Zalando offices are typically designed to foster collaboration, with various meeting rooms, breakout areas, and open-plan spaces.

• Technology & Tools: Employees will have access to the necessary hardware and software, including Figma and other design/productivity tools.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model necessitates intentional efforts for team interaction, likely involving regular team syncs, design critiques, and project-specific workshops, both in-person and virtually.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with flexibility afforded by the hybrid model. This allows for effective management of design processes, research, and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and the "work from abroad" option are strong indicators of Zalando's commitment to employee well-being and flexibility. This environment is conducive to designers who can self-manage and are adept at remote collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and portfolio via the provided link.

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications for basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Interview 1: A hiring manager or senior designer will assess the portfolio, focusing on design process, system thinking, and impact. This may be followed by a discussion about the candidate's experience.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or participate in a live design workshop to assess their skills in a practical scenario, potentially focusing on applying the new brand identity or refining a design system component.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product managers, or other stakeholders to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of product development lifecycles.

• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Zalando's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design Systems & Tokens: Clearly showcase your experience with design systems, using tokens, and ensuring scalability. This is a key requirement.

• Demonstrate Brand Identity Integration: If possible, include examples of how you've applied or evolved brand identities in previous projects.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, task completion times).

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design thinking, research methods, and decision-making process for each case study.

• Accessibility Focus: Explicitly mention and show how you incorporated accessibility (a11y) standards.

• Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate, with clear summaries for each project.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize with Zalando & Lounge: Research Zalando's current brand, its target audience, and the specific proposition of Lounge by Zalando.

• Understand Design Systems: Be prepared to discuss design system principles, tokenization, and best practices for maintaining consistency.

• Practice Figma Skills: Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency in Figma, including advanced features for collaboration and prototyping.

• Think Scalability & Inclusivity: Approach any challenge with an eye towards scalability and accessibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on design systems and brand identity, candidates should prepare to discuss how they would approach implementing these elements within Zalando's existing framework. The interview process is likely to be rigorous, focusing on both technical design skills and collaborative ability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary design and prototyping tool. Expect advanced usage related to design systems, component libraries, and collaborative workflows.

• Design System Portal: Zalando likely uses a dedicated platform (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or an in-house solution) to document and manage its design system.

• Prototyping Tools: Integrated within Figma or potentially other specialized tools for more complex interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Emerging Technologies:

• Google AI Tools (Gemini): Potential use in design ideation, content generation, or workflow automation.

• "Vibe Coding" Tools: Specific tools or methodologies that bridge design and code, possibly related to design token implementation or component preview.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and a deep understanding of design systems are non-negotiable. Familiarity with emerging AI tools and technologies that bridge design and development is a significant plus, indicating Zalando's forward-thinking approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Inclusive by Design: A fundamental principle, ensuring that design decisions consider all users and foster an equitable experience.

• Customer Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and meeting customer needs, driving the creation of seamless and valuable shopping journeys.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together across functions to achieve shared goals and deliver high-quality products.

• Innovation & Agility: Encouragement of new ideas and adaptability to market changes, particularly in the fast-paced e-commerce sector.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While design is creative, decisions are increasingly informed by data and user feedback to ensure effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with product management, engineering, and other design disciplines.

• Feedback Loops: Openness to constructive criticism and regular design critiques to refine work and foster learning.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of collective responsibility for product success, encouraging proactive contributions and problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: Zalando's explicit commitment to "Inclusive by Design" and their values around collaboration and customer centricity create a work environment where designers are expected to be both creative problem-solvers and team players.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Brand Identity Implementation: Translating a new brand identity across diverse platforms (web, mobile) while maintaining consistency and scalability.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and potentially leading the evolution of a complex design system, ensuring its adoption and effectiveness.

• Balancing Innovation with Constraints: Developing innovative solutions within the technical and business constraints of an e-commerce platform.

• Maternity Cover Timeline: Delivering significant impact within a 12-month contract, requiring efficient workflow and prioritization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge in tokenization, system architecture, and best practices for large-scale design systems.

• E-commerce Design Best Practices: Gain in-depth experience in designing for online retail, understanding conversion optimization, user psychology in shopping, and fashion trends.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to engineering challenges, product strategy, and marketing initiatives within a large organization.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from senior designers and potentially mentor junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The temporary nature of the role presents a unique challenge to quickly integrate and deliver value, but also offers a focused opportunity to hone specific skills like design system implementation and brand translation in a high-impact environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach translating a new brand identity into a scalable design system for an e-commerce platform like Lounge by Zalando?" (Focus on process, tokenization, and collaboration.)

• "Describe a time you significantly contributed to or evolved a design system. What were the challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a case study highlighting system thinking and impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Zalando and the Lounge by Zalando proposition specifically?" (Research the company and its niche.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers when there are design disagreements?" (Highlight your communication and negotiation skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Begin case studies by clearly stating the problem, your role, and the key outcome or impact.

• Detail Your Process: Walk through your research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing phases, explaining your rationale at each step.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – mockups, user flows, interactive prototypes, and system component examples.

• Emphasize System Thinking: When discussing design systems, clearly explain the structure, token strategy, and benefits of the system you contributed to.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about specific design decisions, technical constraints, and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their experience directly addresses Zalando's stated needs, particularly around design systems, brand identity, and accessibility. A strong understanding of the e-commerce fashion context will be advantageous.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the Zalando careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies showcasing your experience with design systems, tokenization, and creating scalable UI/UX for web and mobile applications, ideally within e-commerce.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UI/UX Design," "Figma," "Design Systems," "Accessibility (a11y)," "Scalable Patterns," and "Prototyping." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making, and the impact of your work, especially regarding design systems and brand implementation. Prepare to discuss your understanding of Zalando and the Lounge by Zalando.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Zalando's brand, mission, "Inclusive by Design" philosophy, and the specific context of Lounge by Zalando.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions tailored for operations and design roles. All details, especially regarding contract duration, specific tool requirements, and salary, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application process.