Senior UI- / UX- Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI- / UX- Designer (m/w/d)

Company: medavis GmbH (part of synava Group)

Location: Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Job Type: Vollzeit (Full-Time)

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the sustainable development of a consistent, intuitive, and future-proof user experience across a growing portfolio of medical products, initially focusing on the Radiology Information System (RIS).

• Establish and expand a cross-product Design System for the entire medavis portfolio and the radiance365 platform, encompassing component libraries, design tokens, pattern libraries, and guidelines.

• Leverage user research, system thinking, and pragmatic technical implementation to define and anchor design principles and interaction patterns.

• Collaborate iteratively with Product Management and Development within an agile framework, from problem framing and discovery through to design handoff and quality assurance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UI/UX Designer with a strong emphasis on establishing and scaling a Design System. The focus is less on pure pixel production and more on standardization, quality, and enablement, indicating a strategic, foundational role within the product development lifecycle. The "Operations" aspect comes from the systematic approach to design, process standardization, and cross-product consistency required for a growing software portfolio in a regulated industry.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Build and continuously evolve the cross-product Design System, establishing component libraries, design patterns, design tokens, and comprehensive guidelines.

• Define and anchor design principles and interaction patterns to ensure a consistent user experience across the RIS, image management/viewer, and portals.

• Plan and conduct user research, including interviews, usability tests, and direct observation of radiology and clinic workflows, to gather actionable insights.

• Synthesize research findings into concrete, well-founded design decisions and implementable insights for product improvement.

• Develop interactive prototypes, validate solution concepts early with users, and ensure the right problems are solved before development.

• Accompany products from problem framing and discovery, through conception and design, to design handoff and quality assurance during implementation.

• Collaborate closely and continuously with Product Management and Development in an agile environment, supporting the entire product lifecycle.

• Advise product teams on UX/UI matters and contribute to organizational development through enablement and knowledge transfer.

• Empower Product Managers and Developers to use the Design System independently and effectively, aiming for standardization over bespoke solutions.

• Integrate accessibility and regulatory requirements, particularly Usability Engineering according to IEC 62366, into the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level contribution to product strategy and execution. The emphasis on building and scaling a Design System, conducting user research, and enabling development teams suggests a role that requires not only design expertise but also strong process ownership and cross-functional leadership within the product development operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design, UX/HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), Interface Design, Media Design, Communication Design, or a comparable qualification. Experience:

• Several years of experience in UX/Product Design, ideally with a focus on Design Systems.

• Experience in building and operating Design Systems, including component libraries, design tokens, pattern libraries, and guidelines.

• Ideally, experience collaborating with development and component-based frontend environments (e.g., Storybook or comparable component frameworks).

• Proven expertise in user research and usability testing methodologies, with the ability to translate findings into robust design decisions.

• Experience working iteratively with Product Management and Development in an agile environment, spanning discovery and delivery phases. Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design: Comprehensive skills in user experience and user interface design principles and practices.

• Design Systems: Proven experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems, including component libraries, design tokens, and pattern libraries.

• User Research: Proficiency in various user research methodologies (interviews, surveys, observations) to gather insights.

• Usability Testing: Strong ability to plan, conduct, and analyze usability tests to identify areas for improvement.

• Prototyping: Skill in creating interactive prototypes for concept validation and user feedback.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in defining intuitive and effective user interactions.

• Agile Methodology: Experience working within agile development frameworks (Scrum, Kanban).

• Frontend Technologies Understanding: Basic understanding of frontend technologies and their implications for design implementation.

• Usability Engineering (IEC 62366): Familiarity with regulatory requirements for medical devices, specifically usability engineering standards.

• Accessibility: Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the healthcare sector or medical device environment.

• Good to very good English language skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of deep UX/UI expertise with a strategic focus on Design Systems and user-centric methodologies. The mention of IEC 62366 and medical device experience is crucial for understanding the regulatory context and adds a specialized layer to the required skill set, aligning with the company's industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase of previous work demonstrating experience in building or significantly contributing to Design Systems, including examples of component libraries, design tokens, and style guides.

• Case studies detailing the user research process, from problem identification through to solution design, highlighting how user insights informed design decisions.

• Examples of interactive prototypes and design concepts that illustrate complex workflow translation into intuitive user interfaces.

• Evidence of iterative design processes, including how feedback was incorporated from users, Product Management, and Development teams.

• Demonstrations of applying accessibility standards and considering regulatory requirements (e.g., IEC 62366) in design solutions. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of the process for establishing and scaling a Design System, including methodology for component creation, maintenance, and governance.

• Examples of user research plans, methodologies used, and how findings were synthesized and communicated to cross-functional teams.

• Workflow diagrams or process maps illustrating how UX/UI design is integrated into agile development cycles, from discovery to delivery.

• Guidelines or frameworks for design handoff to development teams, ensuring clarity and efficient implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role focused on Design Systems, the portfolio should not just be a collection of visually appealing screens. It needs to demonstrate a systematic approach to design, a deep understanding of process, and the ability to create scalable, reusable design solutions. Emphasis on process documentation and how the candidate has operationalized design within agile teams is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UI/UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Germany, particularly in Baden-Württemberg, and considering the specialized nature of medical device software, a competitive salary range can be estimated. For Karlsruhe and this experience level, the typical gross annual salary would likely fall between €65,000 and €85,000. This estimate is derived from analyzing salary data from platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and industry-specific compensation reports for Germany, adjusted for the specific location and the niche industry.

Benefits:

• Permanent Employment: Secure, full-time employment contract.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, and participation in industry conferences related to UX/UI and Design Systems.

• Contribution to Impactful Products: Work on software that has significant societal relevance in the healthcare sector.

• Modern Work Environment: Access to contemporary design and prototyping tools and a collaborative workspace.

• Agile Work Culture: Experience in an agile development environment that values iterative progress and cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Culture: An inclusive work environment that values individual abilities, experiences, and perspectives.

• Potential for Growth: Opportunity to shape and grow the Design System and influence the UX of a expanding product portfolio.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often offered within an agile framework. The role is on-site, implying a structured work schedule within the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for Germany requires considering regional differences, industry specialization (medical IT), and the senior level of the role. The benefits should reflect standard offerings for such positions in Germany, with an emphasis on professional growth and the unique impact of working in health tech.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health IT / Medical Software. medavis GmbH develops Radiology Information Systems (RIS) and related solutions for practices, MVZs, and clinics. They are part of the synava Group, which aims to advance digital healthcare. This industry demands high standards for quality, stability, service, and data security, as well as compliance with strict regulatory frameworks like those for medical devices.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated for medavis GmbH, the synava Group is a composite of health IT companies. Given the need for a Senior UX Designer to build and scale a Design System, medavis likely operates as a medium-sized entity within the group, with dedicated product and development teams. This suggests a structure that allows for focused product development while benefiting from the resources and broader vision of a larger group.

Founded: medavis GmbH was founded to develop solutions for radiology. Being part of the synava Group indicates a forward-looking organization committed to digital transformation in healthcare. The founding of medavis underscores a long-standing commitment to serving the radiology sector.

Team Structure:

• The role implies working within a product development team that includes Product Management, UX/UI Design, and Software Development.

• The UX Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, a Design Lead, or a similar role overseeing product strategy and user experience.

• There will be significant cross-functional collaboration with Product Managers for strategy and requirements, and with Developers for implementation and feasibility. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: User research and usability testing are central to informing design decisions.

• Agile Development: Iterative collaboration with Product Management and Development, likely following Scrum or Kanban.

• Design System Approach: Focus on standardization, reusability, and enablement to ensure consistent quality and efficiency across multiple products.

• System Thinking: Emphasis on understanding complex workflows and translating them into integrated, intuitive digital solutions.

Company Website: synava.com (for the group), medavis.de (for the specific company)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the context of a medical device software company is critical. The culture will likely be rigorous, quality-focused, and compliance-driven, balanced with the innovation needed for digital health. The "Operations" aspect is deeply embedded in the need for standardized, reliable, and compliant processes for product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a high degree of autonomy, responsibility, and influence. The role is not just about executing design tasks but about strategic contribution, process establishment (Design System), and enablement of other teams. It’s a key player in defining the user experience across multiple products.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI/UX Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Product, or a Product Director within medavis or the synava Group. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Development Leads.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant. By establishing a robust Design System and ensuring consistent, intuitive UX, this position directly influences:

• Product Adoption & User Satisfaction: Easier-to-use software leads to better adoption and satisfaction among healthcare professionals.

• Development Efficiency: A well-maintained Design System reduces redundant design and development effort, accelerating time-to-market.

• Brand Consistency: A unified design language strengthens the brand identity across all products.

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring adherence to usability standards (IEC 62366) is critical for market access and patient safety.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Designer or Head of Design role, managing a team and setting the overall design vision.

• Specialization: Deeper expertise in medical device usability and regulatory compliance.

• Product Strategy: Increased involvement in product strategy and roadmap planning based on UX insights.

• Cross-functional Influence: Becoming a key influencer across product, engineering, and business functions.

• Scale Design Systems: Opportunity to lead the expansion of the Design System across an entire group of companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a strategic contribution beyond task execution. The growth opportunities should reflect progression within design leadership, specialized technical domains, and broader product influence within a health tech organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based at Bannwaldallee 60, 76185 Karlsruhe. This suggests a traditional office setting where collaboration and in-person interaction are prioritized.

Office Location(s): Bannwaldallee 60, 76185 Karlsruhe, Germany. Karlsruhe is a well-connected city in Baden-Württemberg, known as a hub for technology and research.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on working with Product Management and Development suggests a highly collaborative office space designed to foster teamwork.

• Tools and Technology: Access to modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and potentially a component library/framework like Storybook.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for frequent interaction with colleagues from various departments, including product, engineering, and potentially sales/support (for user insights). The company culture emphasizes an inclusive environment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 40 per week) in an office setting. While agile methodologies often incorporate flexibility, the on-site requirement means adherence to typical business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role is a key differentiator. The description should reflect the expected collaborative atmosphere and the practicalities of working within a physical office in a technology-focused company.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• First Interview: Likely with a Hiring Manager (Elsa Brunner) or a senior member of the product/design team. This will focus on your background, motivation, and high-level UX/Design System experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where you present selected case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your approach to problem-solving, user research, Design System contribution, and collaboration. Expect to discuss your process and rationale in detail.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a design exercise or a deeper dive into your technical skills related to design tools, prototyping, and understanding of frontend concepts.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with potential colleagues from Product Management and Development to assess collaboration style and cultural alignment.

• Final Interview: Potentially with higher management to discuss strategic fit and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your experience in building/scaling Design Systems, complex workflow design, and user research. Prioritize projects with measurable outcomes.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (including research and iteration), the solutions you designed, and the impact/results achieved.

• Highlight Design System Contributions: Explicitly detail your involvement in creating, maintaining, or scaling Design Systems. Show examples of components, tokens, guidelines, and how they were implemented and adopted.

• Demonstrate Process: Explain your methodology for user research and usability testing. Show how you translated raw data into actionable design decisions.

• Showcase Technical Understanding: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of frontend technologies and how you collaborate with developers to ensure technical feasibility and efficient implementation of designs.

• Address Regulatory Context: If possible, include examples or discuss how you've considered accessibility and regulatory requirements (like IEC 62366) in your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be ready for a practical design challenge. This might involve analyzing a given problem scenario, proposing solutions, and presenting your approach. Focus on your thought process, not just the final deliverable.

• Design System Scenario: You might be asked how you would approach building or evolving a Design System for a specific product or portfolio.

• Collaboration Simulation: Be prepared to discuss how you would handle disagreements or collaborate with cross-functional teams on design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process for a senior role, especially in a regulated industry, will be thorough. Emphasizing the Design System aspect, user research rigor, and cross-functional collaboration is key. The portfolio should serve as a tangible demonstration of these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Modern design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD are expected. The candidate should be proficient in creating high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.

• Design System Management: Experience with tools or platforms used for managing component libraries, design tokens, and style guides. This could include Storybook (mentioned as an example), Zeroheight, or similar platforms.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability tests (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, or internal tools).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, understanding how to use product analytics data to inform design decisions is beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude could be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this UX role, but understanding that the RIS integrates with other systems means an awareness of data flow and system integration is helpful. Development Environment Integration:

• Storybook: Explicitly mentioned as an ideal tool for collaboration with frontend development, indicating its importance in the tech stack.

• Component-Based Frontend Frameworks: Familiarity with how designs are translated into code using frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for a UX/UI role in this context revolves around design and prototyping tools, Design System management platforms, and tools for user research. The explicit mention of Storybook and component-based frontend frameworks highlights the critical bridge between design and development operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: The core value is to consistently place the user's needs and workflow efficiency at the forefront of all design decisions, particularly in the complex environment of radiology.

• Quality & Reliability: Given the medical device context, a commitment to high standards of quality, stability, and accuracy in design is paramount.

• Collaboration & Enablement: A strong emphasis on working effectively with Product Management and Development, and empowering them to utilize the Design System for consistent outcomes.

• Systemic Thinking & Standardization: Valuing the creation of scalable, reusable design solutions (Design System) over ad-hoc, individual screen designs.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of iterative design, learning from user feedback, and constantly refining products and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close, continuous collaboration with Product Managers and Developers in agile teams is essential. This involves active participation in discovery, planning, and delivery phases.

• Consultative Approach: Acting as a UX/UI consultant to product teams, providing expertise and guidance on design best practices.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing knowledge about the Design System, UX principles, and user insights to uplift the entire product organization.

• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to improve designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture, especially within a health tech firm, will likely emphasize precision, user focus, and compliance. The "operations" aspect is reflected in the need for standardized, efficient, and repeatable processes for design and product development, driven by a collaborative and knowledge-sharing culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Standardization with Specific Needs: Ensuring the Design System supports diverse product requirements while maintaining consistency and avoiding over-complexity.

• Adoption and Governance: Driving the adoption of the Design System across multiple product teams and establishing effective governance processes.

• Regulatory Compliance: Navigating and integrating complex medical device regulations (e.g., IEC 62366 Usability Engineering) into the design process.

• Translating Complex Workflows: Simplifying highly intricate medical processes into intuitive and efficient user interfaces.

• Bridging Design and Development Gaps: Ensuring seamless communication and understanding between design and development teams, especially with varying technical skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to lead the strategic growth and implementation of a comprehensive Design System across a portfolio of products.

• Medical Device UX Expertise: Deepening specialized knowledge in Usability Engineering for medical devices and regulatory compliance.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gaining a stronger voice in product strategy and roadmap decisions based on user insights and UX best practices.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Enhancing skills in agile methodologies, product management collaboration, and technical understanding of frontend development.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences and workshops related to UX, Design Systems, and Health IT.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities should reflect the senior nature of the role and the specific context of the medical device industry. The focus should be on strategic impact, process ownership, and specialized skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a new Design System from scratch for a portfolio of medical software products?"

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder needs or technical constraints with your UX recommendations. How did you resolve it?"

• "How do you ensure user research findings are effectively translated into concrete design decisions and implemented by development teams?"

• "What is your process for ensuring accessibility and regulatory compliance (e.g., IEC 62366) within your design work?"

• "How would you foster adoption and ongoing contribution to a Design System across multiple product teams?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the Health IT/medical device industry, specifically with a Radiology Information System?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to the overall mission of the synava Group in advancing digital healthcare?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product Managers and Software Developers."

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UX/UI design and Design Systems?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific contribution, the process, the solution, and the measurable impact (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction).

• Design System Deep Dive: Dedicate significant time to showcasing your Design System work. Explain the rationale behind your component choices, token structure, and guidelines. Show how it was used and the benefits it provided.

• Process Visualization: Use diagrams, flowcharts, or timelines to illustrate your UX process, from discovery to delivery.

• Interactive Elements: Be prepared to walk through interactive prototypes and discuss design decisions dynamically.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize aspects of your work that align with the job description's focus on standardization, enablement, and medical device context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should guide candidates on how to showcase their senior-level strategic thinking, Design System expertise, and understanding of the medical device industry's unique requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI/UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on smartrecruiters.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 projects demonstrating your experience with Design Systems, user research, and complex workflow design. Highlight your specific contributions and the impact of your work, especially in regulated environments if applicable.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Design Systems," "User Research," "Usability Testing," "Agile," "IEC 62366," and "Medical Devices." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your strategic approach, problem-solving skills, and collaborative abilities. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the team, the product roadmap, and the Design System's future.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with medavis GmbH, the synava Group, and the broader landscape of Radiology Information Systems. Understand their mission, values, and the challenges within the health IT sector.

⚠️ 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.