(Senior) Product Designer - Systems & AI (m/w/d) - B2B SaaS | Berlin (hybrid)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Systems & AI (m/f/d)

Company: Packmatic GmbH

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design (with a strong systems and AI focus)

Date Posted: September 14, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the user-centric design of complex B2B SaaS packaging management and compliance workflows, focusing on intuitive user experiences.

• Lead user research initiatives, including interviews, usability tests, and workshops, to deeply understand customer needs and pain points.

• Develop and evolve reusable UX patterns, interaction models, and design system components to ensure consistency and scalability across the product.

• Leverage AI tools for research synthesis, exploration, and prototyping, contributing to an AI-first product development process.

• Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering teams throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from problem framing to implementation review.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicated by the "5+ years of professional experience" and the expectation to "Champion users and outcomes" and "Lead interviews, usability tests, and workshops." The "Systems & AI" in the title and the emphasis on "reusable patterns," "design system," and "AI-first working style" highlight a specialized focus within product design, requiring a strong understanding of how interconnected components and emerging AI technologies can be integrated into user workflows for complex B2B SaaS applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Champion a user-first perspective, translating complex packaging and compliance requirements into intuitive, clear, and measurable user workflows.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, usability testing, and workshops, to uncover customer workflows, pain points, and recurring UX friction.

• Partner with Product Management and Engineering from initial problem framing to final solution design, creating coherent end-to-end user experiences.

• Identify common interaction needs across different product modules and define scalable UX patterns for elements like tables, filters, bulk actions, status indicators, review flows, and system states.

• Maintain and enhance the UX side of the company's design system, including interaction principles, components, states, and usage guidelines, to foster consistency and efficiency.

• Actively utilize and integrate AI tools for research synthesis, design exploration, rapid prototyping, and potentially lightweight coding to accelerate the design process.

• Collaborate closely with Engineering teams to understand technical constraints, review implementation quality, and adapt designs while preserving user intent.

• Analyze product data, customer feedback, and support signals to continuously improve individual workflows and the foundational UX system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive and strategic approach to design, going beyond individual feature design to encompass system-level thinking and process improvement. The inclusion of "Analyze and improve" using "product data, customer feedback, and recurring support signals" points to a data-driven design methodology, crucial for optimizing complex B2B SaaS platforms.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Degree, vocational training, or bootcamp in a relevant field (e.g., Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science), though practical experience is prioritized.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Product Design, with a strong preference for B2B SaaS environments and experience handling complex or data-heavy workflows.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of designing and shipping digital products end-to-end, from discovery and prototyping to successful launch.

• Deep understanding of interaction design, information architecture, systems thinking, and user experience principles.

• Ability to bring clarity and intuitive design solutions to complex or ambiguous problems.

• A natural inclination towards systems thinking, identifying and leveraging reusable patterns over one-off solutions.

• Technical fluency in understanding modern component-based frontend applications, comfortable collaborating with Engineers.

• Proficiency in using Figma for design and prototyping.

• Active and practical experience using AI tools for research synthesis, design exploration, and prototyping.

• Strong command of HTML/CSS and familiarity with React/TypeScript concepts.

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively with Product, Engineering, Customer Success, and domain experts.

• Native-level German and fluent English language skills. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with packaging management, sustainability, or regulatory compliance software (e.g., PPWR, EPR).

• Familiarity with modern collaboration, research, and analytics tools beyond Figma.

• Experience contributing to or evolving a design system.

• Ability to navigate and make minor UI adjustments in frontend code.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Technical fluency" and familiarity with "HTML/CSS and React/TypeScript concepts" is crucial for this role. It indicates that the designer will need to understand technical constraints and collaborate effectively with engineers, ensuring designs are feasible and well-implemented. The emphasis on "AI-first working style" suggests a candidate who is not just aware of AI but actively integrates it into their design process.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end product design projects, showcasing the full product development lifecycle from initial problem discovery to shipped product.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate complex problems, your design process, key decisions, and the impact of your solutions, particularly for data-heavy or workflow-intensive applications.

• Showcase your ability to identify and implement reusable patterns and design system components, illustrating how you ensure consistency and scalability.

• Provide examples of how you have utilized user research (interviews, usability tests) to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.

• Highlight projects where you've collaborated effectively with engineering and product teams, demonstrating an understanding of technical constraints and implementation. Process Documentation:

• Clearly document your design process for each case study, outlining phases such as discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation collaboration.

• Detail how you approach problem framing for complex B2B workflows and how you translate requirements into coherent user experiences.

• Explain your methodology for identifying, defining, and applying reusable UX patterns and design system elements.

• Illustrate how you leverage product data, customer feedback, and AI tools to analyze and improve user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Systems & AI" focus and the B2B SaaS context, portfolios should strongly emphasize the candidate's ability to design for complex, interconnected systems and workflows. Demonstrating how they've used design to simplify intricate processes, manage data effectively, and integrate new technologies like AI will be critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and the hybrid nature in Berlin, Germany, a competitive salary range is estimated between €70,000 - €95,000 annually. This estimate considers industry benchmarks for senior design roles in German tech hubs and the specific requirements of a B2B SaaS environment.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working: Flexibility to balance in-office collaboration and remote work.

• Creative Freedom: Opportunity to influence product direction and design from an early stage.

• Ownership: High degree of responsibility and autonomy within a motivated team.

• Growth and Development Opportunities: Clear paths for career advancement and skill enhancement.

• Fair Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits package.

• Inspiring Vision: Work within a company driven by a strong mission and supported by experienced leadership and investors.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected in a hybrid environment to accommodate project needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for Senior Product Designers in Berlin, Germany, for a B2B SaaS company with a hybrid work model. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, the company's funding stage, and internal compensation bands. The provided benefits are directly extracted from the job description and highlight key attractions for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Environmental & Sustainability Tech, B2B SaaS, Packaging Management. Packmatic GmbH is revolutionizing the packaging industry by providing a digital platform to manage specifications, connect with suppliers, and drive sustainability initiatives like PPWR and EPR compliance. This focus places them at the intersection of technology and environmental impact.

Company Size: The job description mentions "early stage - founding team," suggesting a company that is likely in its growth phase, possibly between 20-100 employees. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: Founded in 2021, Packmatic GmbH is a relatively young company, indicating a startup culture focused on rapid innovation, agility, and building from the ground up.

Team Structure:

• The role reports directly to the "Packa Leadership - early stage - founding team," suggesting a flat hierarchy and close collaboration with senior decision-makers.

• The design team is likely small and integrated closely with Product and Engineering, fostering a collaborative and iterative development process.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, with designers expected to work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Customer Success. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using product data, customer feedback, and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• User-Centric Approach: A strong commitment to understanding and solving user problems through research and iterative design.

• Systems Thinking: Focus on building scalable, reusable patterns and components to create coherent and consistent user experiences across complex workflows.

• AI Integration: An "AI-first working style" suggests a proactive approach to leveraging AI technologies to enhance design processes and product capabilities.

Company Website: https://packmatic.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "reduce packaging costs and efficiently implement sustainability requirements" is a significant differentiator. For operations professionals, this means working in a mission-driven environment where efficiency and impact are paramount, potentially leading to roles where process optimization directly contributes to environmental goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy. It requires not only strong execution skills but also the ability to contribute strategically to product direction, define UX systems, and mentor others. The role is positioned to influence the core product experience and potentially shape the future of how companies manage packaging.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report directly to the founding team, offering high visibility and direct access to leadership. This structure allows for rapid decision-making and direct impact on company strategy.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability and effectiveness of Packmatic's B2B SaaS platform, which in turn influences customer adoption, retention, and the ability of businesses to meet sustainability and compliance goals. By making complex workflows intuitive, the designer contributes to operational efficiency and cost reduction for their clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Opportunity to grow into a Design Lead or Head of Design role as the company scales, potentially building and managing a design team.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing complex B2B systems, AI-driven product features, and sustainability tech.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to product strategy and roadmap discussions, shaping the future direction of the platform.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers and establish design best practices within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and direct reporting to the founding team suggest a significant opportunity for strategic influence and career advancement beyond just design execution. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they can contribute to the company's overall product vision and growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with a primary office located in Berlin - Prenzlauer Berg. This suggests a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Berlin, Germany (Prenzlauer Berg). This location is known for its vibrant tech scene and accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-office days for focused collaboration, brainstorming, and team building, while remote days offer focused work time.

• Tools and Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma, AI prototyping tools, and potentially other collaboration and analytics platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success teams, fostering a holistic understanding of the product and user needs.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with the expectation of flexibility inherent in a startup environment to meet project deadlines and company goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup in a desirable Berlin location offers a good work-life balance. For operations roles, understanding how the hybrid model impacts collaboration, process flow, and team communication is key. The emphasis on "great office in Berlin - Prenzlauer Berg" suggests a focus on creating a positive and productive physical workspace for collaborative activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR or recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, focusing on specific case studies, design process, systems thinking, and AI integration. Be prepared to discuss your role, decisions, and impact.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical exercise, potentially involving a design problem related to complex workflows, AI integration, or design system thinking. This might be a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual workshop.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical fluency, and understanding of the B2B SaaS context.

• Founding Team Interview: A final discussion with the leadership team to assess strategic thinking, cultural alignment, and overall fit for the senior role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio to clearly showcase end-to-end projects. For each case study, detail the problem, your process, your specific contributions, key decisions made (and why), and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly demonstrate how you identified and applied reusable patterns, contributed to design systems, and thought about the interconnectedness of features.

• Showcase AI Integration: Provide examples of how you've used AI tools in your workflow, not just for efficiency but to explore new possibilities or solve problems differently.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use metrics (user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, adoption rates) to demonstrate the impact of your designs.

• Tailor to Packmatic: Research Packmatic's mission and product. Highlight projects that align with B2B SaaS, complex workflows, sustainability, or systems design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with packaging management, sustainability regulations (PPWR, EPR), and typical B2B SaaS workflows.

• Practice Problem Solving: Be ready to tackle ambiguous problems and articulate your thought process clearly. Focus on how you break down complexity.

• Design System Thinking: Prepare to discuss how you would design or contribute to a design system for a complex application.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and how you see them evolving the product design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be thorough, assessing not only design craft but also strategic thinking, system design capabilities, and AI-driven innovation. Candidates should prepare to speak extensively about their portfolio projects and demonstrate a proactive, problem-solving mindset.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool, expected to be used extensively for UI design, interaction design, and prototyping.

• AI Tools: Actively used for research synthesis, ideation, exploration, and lightweight coding. Specific tools may vary, but a proactive approach to leveraging AI is key.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other modern prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to analyze user behavior and inform design decisions.

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

• While not a direct responsibility, an understanding of how CRM systems and automation tools impact B2B workflows can be beneficial for context. Frontend Technologies:

• HTML/CSS: Foundational knowledge required for understanding frontend implementation.

• React/TypeScript: Familiarity with these modern frontend technologies is expected for effective collaboration with engineers. Production frontend engineering is not the primary requirement, but understanding the concepts is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-first working style" and "lightweight coded prototypes" suggests that proficiency with AI-powered design tools and a solid understanding of modern frontend frameworks like React are highly valued. This goes beyond traditional UX skills to include a more integrated approach to design and development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

**Operations