Senior Product Designer - ZEOS (all genders)

Zalando
Full-timeβ€’Berlin, Germany

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - ZEOS (all genders)

Company: Zalando

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-15

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Lead the end-to-end design of customer-facing digital experiences for ZEOS Logistics' B2B multichannel service offerings, focusing on empowering fashion and lifestyle brands.

  • Drive the vision and strategy for user experiences within ZEOS, translating complex business goals and user needs into coherent, scalable, and accessible design outcomes.

  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers and engineers, to deliver innovative solutions through design thinking workshops and design sprints.

  • Champion user-centered design practices and mentor fellow designers, contributing to the overall health and efficiency of the design operations within the team.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Zalando's ZEOS Logistics department, focusing on B2B digital touchpoints for partner-facing services. The emphasis on "0 to 1 experiences" and "design strategies and visions" indicates a significant opportunity for strategic influence and product shaping from its inception. The "all genders" designation highlights Zalando's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Champion the customer experience (CX) vision for ZEOS's B2B multichannel offering, partnering with stakeholders to translate this vision into actionable design strategies scoped across sprints and quarters.

  • Lead design thinking workshops and design sprints to guide cross-functional teams towards innovative solutions for complex B2B logistics challenges.

  • Generate, evaluate, and refine multiple design solutions, leveraging technology to enhance user experiences while ensuring technical feasibility, scalability, accessibility, and compliance.

  • Develop comprehensive problem definitions through storyboards, press releases, and holistic customer journeys to guide product managers and fellow designers.

  • Plan and participate in user research (quantitative and qualitative) with researchers and product managers to assess new problem spaces and validate design solutions through iterative processes.

  • Validate and refine design concepts with internal and external stakeholders, including actual merchants and end-users, to ensure market fit and user satisfaction.

  • Mentor junior designers, role-modeling user-centered design practices and high-quality work, and contribute to design operations initiatives to improve team efficiency and ways of working.

  • Ensure developers have all necessary assets and specifications for accurate implementation of designed solutions, maintaining a high standard for deliverables.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic visioning, hands-on design execution, and leadership. The focus on "0 to 1 experiences" suggests a pioneering role in defining new product features or services. The requirement to "lead stakeholders and team members" and "mentor fellow designers" points to a senior-level individual contributor with leadership potential.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating mastery of design principles and processes is paramount. Candidates are expected to have a deep understanding of the end-to-end iterative design process.

Experience: Seasoned design professional with a minimum of 5-10 years of experience, specifically within a B2B environment, leading complex projects from discovery through delivery. Proven track record of designing valuable end-to-end experiences for real users.

Required Skills:

  • B2B Product Design: Proven experience designing complex B2B digital products and services, understanding the unique needs of business users and partners.

  • UX/UI Design: Mastery of the end-to-end iterative design process, including user research, design thinking, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.

  • Figma Proficiency: Must be proficient in Figma for design and collaboration.

  • Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively collaborate with and influence product managers, engineers, senior business stakeholders, partners, and customers.

  • Workshop Facilitation: Experience leading design thinking workshops and design sprints to drive innovation and problem-solving.

  • Design Strategy & Vision: Ability to craft and evangelize design strategies and visions for complex product offerings.

  • Storytelling & Communication: Compellingly visualize and communicate ideas, user needs, and design decisions to diverse audiences.

  • User Research & Validation: Experience in planning and conducting quantitative and qualitative research, and validating concepts with users and stakeholders.

  • Human-Centered Design: Deep commitment to user-centered design principles and methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

  • Prompting Tools: Experience working with AI prompting tools (e.g., Loveable, Claude) as part of the design process.

  • Logistics Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the fashion or e-commerce logistics industry.

  • Design Operations (Design Ops): Experience contributing to initiatives that improve team health, efficiency, and ways of working within a design team.

  • Scalability & Accessibility: Understanding of designing for scalable systems and ensuring accessibility compliance.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on B2B experience is critical. The requirement for Figma is explicit and a must-have. The mention of "prompting tools" suggests an openness to AI-assisted design workflows, making experience in this area a valuable differentiator. The "5-10 years" experience level for a "Senior" role aligns with industry standards for strategic contribution and mentorship.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your involvement in complex B2B product design projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process employed, key decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

  • Process Demonstration: Illustrate your mastery of the iterative design process, including how you integrated user research, design thinking, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing into your workflow.

  • Strategic Vision: Provide examples of how you have developed and evangelized design strategies or visions for products or features.

  • Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Highlight instances where you successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams and managed senior stakeholders to achieve design goals.

  • Tool Proficiency: Clearly state your proficiency with design and collaboration tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma.

Process Documentation:

  • Design Workflow Documentation: Clearly outline your typical design workflow from problem definition and research through to delivery and iteration.

  • Problem Definition Artifacts: Include examples of artifacts used to define problems, such as storyboards, press releases, or detailed customer journey maps.

  • Research & Validation Artifacts: Showcase examples of how you leveraged quantitative and qualitative data to inform design decisions and validate concepts.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond superficial visuals and demonstrate a deep understanding of the design process, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive impact in a B2B context. Highlighting experience with "0 to 1" product development and complex problem-solving will be key.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and Berlin location (a major tech hub in Europe), a competitive salary range is expected. For a Senior Product Designer in Berlin, Germany, a typical annual salary range would be between €70,000 and €95,000, depending on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the exact scope of responsibilities within Zalando.

Benefits:

  • Generous Holiday Allowance: 27 days of holiday per year, increasing with tenure up to 30 days.

  • Paid Volunteering: 2 paid days per year dedicated to volunteering activities.

  • Flexible Work Model: Hybrid working model allowing up to 60% remote work per week, with team-level autonomy in defining specific collaboration days.

  • International Work: Opportunity to work from abroad for up to 30 working days annually.

  • Equity: Employee shares program, offering a stake in the company's success.

  • Employee Discounts: Significant discounts on Zalando fashion and beauty products (40%), Lounge by Zalando (30%), and external partner offerings.

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

  • Comprehensive Support Services: Access to family services (including counseling), health and wellbeing options (Wellhub/Gympass), and mental health support/coaching.

  • Professional Development: Opportunities for growth via a dedicated training platform and biannual peer-to-peer reviews.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, consistent with full-time employment. The hybrid model offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing remote and in-office work.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for Senior Product Designers in Berlin, Germany, considering the specific industry (e-commerce/logistics tech) and the reputation of Zalando as a major employer. The benefits package is extensive and reflects Zalando's commitment to employee well-being and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Fashion & Lifestyle, Logistics Technology. Zalando operates within a dynamic and rapidly evolving digital retail landscape, with a strong focus on innovation in logistics and partner services.

Company Size: Large Enterprise. Zalando is a significant player in the European e-commerce market, employing thousands of individuals across various departments and locations. This size implies structured processes, opportunities for specialization, and a broad impact.

Founded: 2008. Zalando has a history of growth and adaptation, evolving from an online shoe retailer to a comprehensive fashion and lifestyle ecosystem. This maturity suggests established operational frameworks while still fostering innovation.

Team Structure:

  • The ZEOS Logistics department is a key division focused on partner-facing multichannel solutions.

  • The Senior Product Designer will be part of a cross-functional team that includes Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Researchers.

  • The team likely operates with an agile methodology, emphasizing collaboration and iterative development.

  • Reporting lines will likely lead up through Product Design leadership within ZEOS or a broader UX organization. Methodology:

  • User-Centered Design: A core methodology, emphasizing understanding user needs and translating them into effective solutions.

  • Design Thinking & Sprints: Utilized for rapid ideation, problem-solving, and solution development.

  • Agile Development: Collaboration with engineering teams in sprints to deliver features iteratively.

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Research and data analysis are integral to validating problem spaces and design solutions.

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

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Zalando's scale as a large enterprise means the Senior Product Designer will operate within a structured environment but with the opportunity to influence a significant B2B product. The company's focus on diversity and inclusion, as highlighted in the job description, is a key cultural aspect. The industry context of e-commerce logistics implies a need for efficiency, scalability, and seamless integration for partners.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC). This role is for an experienced designer who is expected to lead significant design initiatives, mentor others, and contribute to strategic design decisions. It's a role focused on deep expertise and influence rather than direct people management, though mentorship is a component.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report into a Design Lead or Head of Design within the ZEOS Logistics department or a broader Product Design organization at Zalando. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their cross-functional team.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the profitability and business growth of Zalando's partners by shaping the digital tools they use to manage their logistics. By designing intuitive and efficient interfaces, the designer contributes to seamless partner operations, which in turn drives revenue and scalability for Zalando's B2B service offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunity to shape the future vision and roadmap for ZEOS's user experiences, moving from execution to higher-level strategic influence.

  • Mentorship and Team Development: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and contributing to Design Ops initiatives, potentially leading to formal team lead or management roles in the future.

  • Industry Expertise Development: Deepen expertise in B2B product design within the complex and growing e-commerce logistics sector.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Gain exposure to various business functions and technical disciplines within a large, international e-commerce organization.

  • Potential for Specialization: Opportunity to specialize further in areas like B2B UX, logistics tech, or AI-augmented design.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a path towards more strategic design work and potentially informal or formal leadership. The emphasis on "0 to 1 experiences" suggests opportunities to build new products or features, which are high-impact growth opportunities. The mention of "Design Ops" also points to a structured approach to team improvement and efficiency, offering avenues for growth in process optimization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Model. Employees are expected to work from the Berlin office part-time, with up to 60% of their work week being remote. This model aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Berlin, Germany. Zalando has a significant presence in Berlin, offering a vibrant urban environment. Specific office details regarding amenities and accessibility would be available during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes meeting rooms, project spaces, and open areas designed to facilitate team collaboration and brainstorming sessions.

  • Technology & Tools: Access to standard office equipment, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized hardware or software for design work. The job explicitly mentions Figma and hints at AI prompting tools.

  • Team Interaction: Opportunities for informal and formal interactions with designers, product managers, engineers, and other colleagues within the ZEOS department and potentially across Zalando.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The hybrid model provides flexibility in structuring the work week, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration days and remote work days. The exact schedule can often be discussed and agreed upon with the team.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The hybrid model (up to 60% remote) is a key feature of the work environment. This suggests that while physical presence for collaboration is valued, significant flexibility is offered. The Berlin location places the designer within a major European tech hub.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter or talent acquisition partner will likely conduct an initial call to assess your general fit, experience, and interest.

  • Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A core part of the process will involve presenting your portfolio to design leads and/or team members. You may be asked to walk through specific case studies, explaining your process, decisions, and impact. A practical design challenge or exercise, potentially related to B2B logistics or partner onboarding, could be assigned.

  • Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and alignment with their working styles.

  • Stakeholder Interviews: Discussions with senior stakeholders to evaluate strategic thinking, communication skills, and ability to influence.

  • Final Interview/Debrief: A final conversation with the hiring manager or a senior leader to confirm fit and discuss the role further.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Focus on B2B Impact: Clearly articulate the business value and user impact of your B2B design projects. Quantify results where possible.

  • Showcase Process & Strategy: Detail your design process, emphasizing how you approached complex problems, conducted research, and made strategic decisions.

  • Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with cross-functional teams and managed stakeholders effectively.

  • Prepare for "0 to 1" Discussions: Be ready to discuss experiences in defining and designing new products or features from scratch.

  • Figma & AI Tools: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Figma and any experience with AI prompting tools.

  • Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills and design thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the B2B Context: Research Zalando's ZEOS Logistics services to grasp the challenges faced by their partners.

  • Emphasize User Needs: Focus on identifying and addressing the specific pain points of businesses and their end customers in a logistics context.

  • Consider Scalability & Efficiency: Think about how your design solutions can be scalable and contribute to operational efficiency for partners.

  • Structure Your Approach: Clearly articulate your design process, assumptions, and rationale during any challenge presentation.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge indicates that practical design skills and the ability to articulate thought processes are critical for this role. Understanding the B2B context of logistics is crucial for preparation.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Explicitly stated as a must-have for design and collaboration. Expect to use it extensively for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and creating design systems.

  • Design Thinking & Workshop Tools: Tools for facilitating workshops and brainstorming sessions, which could include digital whiteboarding tools (e.g., Miro, Mural) and physical materials.

  • User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

  • Prototyping Tools: While Figma offers robust prototyping, other tools might be used for advanced or specific types of prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, expect to work with data from analytics platforms to inform design decisions. This could include tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or internal Zalando analytics dashboards.

  • Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Familiarity with BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) might be beneficial for understanding performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Systems: Understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) might integrate with B2B partner portals or customer data.

  • Automation Tools: Awareness of workflow automation principles, especially in a logistics context, could be a plus.

Emerging Technologies:

  • AI Prompting Tools: Experience with tools like Loveable or Claude is a preferred skill, indicating Zalando's interest in leveraging AI in the design process for tasks such as content generation, idea exploration, or user persona development.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone tool for this role. The mention of AI prompting tools suggests an innovative approach to design workflows, making experience in this area a significant advantage. Understanding how design integrates with broader business systems like CRM and analytics is also important.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Customer Centricity: A deep understanding of and focus on the needs of merchants and their end customers is paramount.

  • Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Research) to achieve shared goals.

  • Innovation & Experimentation: A culture that encourages exploring new ideas, iterating on solutions, and leveraging data to drive improvements.

  • Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes from conception to delivery, ensuring high quality and impact.

  • Inclusivity & Diversity: Zalando actively promotes an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and contribute to innovation.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration across product, engineering, and research to ensure holistic product development.

  • Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, feedback exchange, and transparent decision-making processes.

  • Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking input from stakeholders and team members, and proactively sharing design rationale and progress.

  • Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture where experienced designers mentor junior colleagues and knowledge is shared openly to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Zalando's stated commitment to diversity and inclusion is a key cultural value that will permeate team interactions. The emphasis on collaboration and user-centricity aligns with best practices in product design.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Designing for B2B Complexity: Navigating the intricate needs and workflows of business partners in the logistics sector, which often differ significantly from B2C experiences.

  • "0 to 1" Product Development: Taking ambiguous strategic initiatives and defining clear, user-centered digital experiences from the ground up.

  • Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse expectations and priorities from various business stakeholders, partners, and end-users.

  • Driving Adoption of New Solutions: Ensuring that new digital tools are effectively adopted and utilized by partners to realize their full value.

  • Integrating AI in Design: Effectively incorporating AI prompting tools into the design workflow in a way that enhances creativity and efficiency without compromising user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunity to influence product strategy and roadmap, shaping the future of ZEOS Logistics' digital offerings.

  • Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor other designers and develop leadership skills.

  • Industry Trends: Staying abreast of advancements in e-commerce logistics, B2B SaaS design, and AI in design.

  • Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gaining deeper insights into product management, engineering, and business operations within a large e-commerce ecosystem.

  • Design Ops Contribution: Actively participating in initiatives to improve design processes, tools, and team collaboration.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common for senior roles involving new product development and complex stakeholder environments. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career advancement within Zalando's design organization.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you led the design of a complex B2B product or feature from conception to launch. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic approach, problem definition, and impact.)

  • "How would you approach designing a new digital experience for fashion brands to manage their cross-border logistics with ZEOS?" (Demonstrate your user-centered approach, research methods, and ability to consider B2B needs.)

  • "Walk me through your process for facilitating a design thinking workshop with a cross-functional team to solve a challenging design problem." (Highlight your facilitation skills, methodologies, and ability to drive consensus.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you about Zalando and the ZEOS Logistics department specifically?" (Show you've researched the company and understand the role's context.)

  • "How do you contribute to an inclusive and diverse team environment?" (Align your response with Zalando's stated values.)

  • "Describe a situation where you had to champion a user-centered design decision to senior stakeholders who had conflicting priorities." (Illustrate your persuasive communication and stakeholder management skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative, clearly outlining the problem, your role, the challenges, your solutions, and the measurable results.

  • Focus on "Why": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business objectives.

  • Showcase Process, Not Just Pixels: Detail your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing methodologies.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present data or metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs.

  • Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, tools used (especially Figma), and collaboration process.

  • AI Tool Discussion: Be prepared to discuss your experience or thoughts on using AI prompting tools in design.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on showcasing B2B experience, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring candidates to articulate their process and impact effectively.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Zalando's career portal.

  • Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant B2B product design experience, focusing on case studies that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex challenges and drive measurable outcomes. Ensure Figma proficiency is evident.

  • Resume Optimization: Craft a resume that clearly outlines your years of experience, specific B2B design achievements, proficiency with key tools (Figma), and experience with design leadership/mentorship. Use keywords from the job description.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills. Prepare to discuss your approach to B2B challenges and your understanding of Zalando's ZEOS Logistics mission.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research Zalando, its ZEOS Logistics division, and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Understand their market position and the challenges faced by their partners.

⚠️ 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.


Application Requirements

Requires a seasoned design professional with B2B experience and proficiency in Figma and iterative design processes. Candidates must demonstrate strong skills in translating complex user needs into coherent design outcomes and managing senior stakeholders.