Senior UX Designer (f/m/d) AI Agent Conversational Experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer (f/m/d) AI Agent Conversational Experience

Company: IONOS DE

Location: Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, AI Experience Design

Date Posted: June 22, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and enhance user journeys for a next-generation AI Agent platform, focusing on intuitive interactions and streamlined automated workflows.

• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and visually compelling UI/UX interfaces for complex web applications beyond marketing sites.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to deliver actionable design documentation and contribute to agile sprint planning.

• Conduct user testing and feedback sessions to iterate on designs, ensuring optimal user experiences aligned with modern trends in AI and automation.

• Contribute to and maintain a robust design system to ensure speed, consistency, and a cohesive design language across the product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical in shaping the user experience of a new AI Agent platform for small-to-medium businesses. The emphasis on "conversational experience" and "agentic workflows" suggests a need for designers who understand how users interact with intelligent assistants and automated processes. The hybrid model and trust-based working hours indicate a focus on work-life balance and autonomy for experienced professionals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and refine comprehensive user journeys for an AI Agent platform, prioritizing enhanced usability and automation for maximum user satisfaction.

• Translate complex business logic and technical requirements into intuitive, elegant, and efficient user interfaces through rapid prototyping and high-fidelity mockups.

• Create visually engaging, interactive, and accessible UI/UX elements for a next-generation, web-based platform, ensuring brand consistency and a seamless user experience.

• Actively partner with cross-functional teams, including engineers and product managers, providing clear design documentation, participating in sprint planning, and contributing to product strategy.

• Plan and execute usability testing sessions, meticulously gather user feedback, and iterate on designs based on insights into user behavior and agentic workflow patterns.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a design system, ensuring consistency in design language, components, and interaction patterns across the entire product ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking (user journeys, workflow optimization) and tactical execution (prototyping, UI design, design system contribution). The focus on "agentic workflows" and "automation" implies a need for a designer who can think beyond static interfaces and consider dynamic, AI-driven interactions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior roles. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: Over 5 years of demonstrated experience in User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and Product Design, with a significant focus on complex and modern digital products.

Required Skills:

• Over 5 years of experience in UX/UI design and product development.

• Proven track record in designing feature-rich, functional, and visually engaging complex web-based applications.

• Mastery of industry-standard UX/UI design and prototyping tools, including but not limited to Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Canva.

• Demonstrated ability to adapt and excel in dynamic, fast-paced work environments with tight deadlines for design deliverables.

• Comprehensive portfolio showcasing expertise in user flow design, wireframing, and the end-to-end transformation of concepts into production-ready mockups.

• Strong understanding of cross-functional collaboration, including partnerships with engineers and product managers, and providing clear design documentation. Preferred Skills:

• Strong understanding of modern trends in automation, AI, and multi-agent system workflows.

• Experience designing conversational interfaces or AI-powered assistants.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and participation in sprint planning.

• Experience contributing to or maintaining design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "over 5 years of experience" positions this as a senior-level role. The emphasis on complex web applications and a strong portfolio suggests that practical experience and a demonstrable ability to deliver high-quality design solutions are paramount. The "highly valued" skill in agentic workflows is a key differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of user flow design, showcasing how users navigate through complex applications and achieve their goals.

• Present detailed wireframes and user journey maps that illustrate the planning and conceptualization phases of design projects.

• Showcase the transformation of initial ideas into polished, high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes, highlighting design iterations and decision-making processes.

• Include case studies of complex web applications designed for functionality and user engagement, emphasizing problem-solving and impact. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of design documentation, such as user stories, style guides, and detailed specifications, used for effective collaboration with engineering teams.

• Illustrate experience with rapid prototyping methodologies and how they have been used to accelerate iterative design and development cycles.

• Showcase contributions to or development of design systems, detailing how consistency and efficiency were maintained across multiple product features or applications.

• Highlight experience with user testing methodologies, including planning, execution, and the incorporation of feedback into design refinements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX role, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond visual aesthetics and demonstrate a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user experiences. The inclusion of AI/agentic workflow experience within case studies would be a significant advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the seniority of the role (Senior UX Designer), the location (Karlsruhe, Germany), and the industry (Tech/SaaS), a competitive salary range can be estimated. For a Senior UX Designer in Germany with 5+ years of experience, the annual gross salary typically falls between €60,000 and €85,000, depending on specific skills, experience, and the company's compensation structure. For Karlsruhe, which is a significant tech hub, salaries might lean towards the higher end of this spectrum.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model, offering flexibility between home and office.

• Trust-based flexible working hours, allowing for autonomy and work-life balance.

• Subsidized canteen and free drinks at select locations, contributing to daily convenience and cost savings.

• Modern office space with excellent transport connections, facilitating easy commutes.

• Various employee discounts for activities and products, enhancing overall value.

• Regular employee events (e.g., summer/winter parties, workshops) fostering team cohesion and company culture.

• Numerous training and development opportunities, supporting continuous professional growth.

• Various health offers, including sports and health courses, promoting employee well-being.

Working Hours: The role likely adheres to standard full-time working hours in Germany, typically around 38-40 hours per week. The mention of "trust-based working hours" suggests flexibility in daily start and end times, provided core responsibilities and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior UX roles in Germany. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications, negotiation, and IONOS's internal pay scales. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with typical offerings for tech companies in Europe, emphasizing flexibility and employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Cloud Infrastructure, Hosting Services, Digitalization Partner for SMEs. IONOS operates in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, providing essential services that enable businesses to thrive online. This context means the company values innovation, reliability, and customer-centricity.

Company Size: IONOS is a significant player in the European market, serving over six million customers across 18 markets. This indicates a large, established organization with structured processes, yet it aims to maintain agility and a startup-like spirit in its product development teams.

Founded: IONOS has a history dating back to 1988 (as United Internet), evolving into a leading European provider. This longevity suggests stability and deep market understanding, while its continuous growth indicates an ongoing commitment to innovation and expansion.

Team Structure:

• The AI Agent platform team is likely part of a larger product development division, comprising UX/UI designers, product managers, software engineers (frontend and backend), QA testers, and potentially AI/ML specialists.

• Reporting structures are expected to be relatively flat, characteristic of agile development environments, with designers working closely with product owners and engineering leads.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with designers expected to work seamlessly with various departments to bring the AI Agent platform to life. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are crucial for informing design decisions, especially in understanding user behavior with AI agents.

• Workflow planning and optimization are central to the role, focusing on making complex AI interactions user-friendly and efficient.

• Automation and efficiency practices are core to the AI Agent platform itself and likely influence how the design team operates and collaborates.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: IONOS positions itself as a partner for SMEs, suggesting a focus on practical, user-friendly solutions. The company's culture emphasizes collaboration, openness, and a "duz-culture" (informal address), indicating a less hierarchical and more approachable work environment, particularly within product teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer role. It signifies a professional with a substantial track record, capable of independently leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product strategy. The focus on a new AI Agent platform suggests an opportunity to shape a product from its early stages and establish best practices.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Head of Product Design, a Design Lead, or a Senior Product Manager overseeing the AI Agent initiative. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within the immediate product team.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is direct and significant. By crafting an intuitive and engaging AI Agent experience, the designer will directly influence customer adoption, satisfaction, and retention for IONOS's new platform. A successful UX can be a key differentiator in the competitive SaaS market, driving revenue and market share.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing a team of designers and setting design direction for larger product areas.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI experience design, conversational UI, and agentic workflows, becoming a subject matter expert in this cutting-edge field.

• Product Strategy: Contribute more broadly to product strategy, influencing the roadmap and feature prioritization based on user insights and design opportunities.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers, contributing to their growth and the overall skill development within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a high degree of autonomy and responsibility. The opportunity to work on a "brand-new AI Agent platform" offers a chance to make a significant mark and build expertise in a rapidly growing area of technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: IONOS offers a hybrid working model. This means the workspace will be a mix of remote work and in-office collaboration at their modern office space in Karlsruhe. The office is designed to facilitate collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is Karlsruhe, Germany (Hinterm Hauptbahnhof 3-5, 76137 Karlsruhe). This location is described as having "very good transport connections," making it accessible for hybrid employees.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster collaboration among cross-functional teams, including designers, engineers, and product managers, supporting the agile development of the AI Agent platform.

• Access to modern office infrastructure, potentially including dedicated design labs or collaborative zones, is expected. The company also provides various digital tools and technologies necessary for design work.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with colleagues within the product team and the broader IONOS design community are available, promoting knowledge sharing and team building.

Work Schedule: The role operates under "trust-based working hours" with a hybrid model. This allows for flexibility in daily schedules, enabling employees to balance personal commitments with professional responsibilities, while ensuring core collaboration hours are met. Standard full-time hours (likely 38-40 per week) are expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible hours are key features of the work environment, appealing to experienced professionals seeking a balance between focused remote work and collaborative office time. The modern office in Karlsruhe suggests a professional and well-equipped setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application & Initial Screening: Submit resume and portfolio. A recruiter will review for basic qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A deeper dive into your portfolio, focusing on specific projects relevant to complex web apps and AI/conversational design. You may be asked to present a case study or complete a short design exercise (e.g., critique an existing interface, propose a solution for a given problem).

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discuss your experience, design philosophy, and approach to collaboration. This stage often involves behavioral questions and scenario-based problem-solving related to UX design and AI.

• Cross-Functional Team Interview: Meet with engineers, product managers, or other stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader for final assessment of fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience with complex web applications, user journey mapping, and ideally, any work related to AI, conversational interfaces, or automation.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your design decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight AI/Agentic Work: If you have experience with AI, agentic workflows, or conversational design, make this prominent. Explain how you approached the unique challenges of designing for intelligent systems.

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and testing results to demonstrate your end-to-end design process. Don't just show final screens.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used (Figma, Sketch, etc.) and your level of expertise.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared for design challenges that might involve improving an existing interface, designing a new feature for an AI agent, or solving a user problem within a limited time.

• Think Aloud: If given a timed exercise, verbalize your thought process, assumptions, and design decisions. This demonstrates your problem-solving approach.

• Focus on Process: Even if you can't fully complete a design, clearly outline your strategy, the steps you would take, and the key considerations.

• Company Research: Understand IONOS's business, its target audience (SMEs), and its existing product offerings. Frame your solutions within this context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating "deep expertise in user flow design, wireframing, and the transformation from concept to polished, production-ready mockups" is key. For this role, highlighting experience with complex web applications and any exposure to AI/agentic workflows will be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Likely the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration due to its industry prevalence and advanced features for complex projects.

• Sketch: Another leading design tool that may be used, especially if the team has existing assets or workflows built around it.

• Adobe XD: Potentially used for prototyping and design, offering integration with other Adobe Creative Suite products.

• Canva: While often seen as a simpler tool, it might be used for quick visual assets or internal presentations, though less likely for core UX/UI design of complex applications.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for user behavior analysis (e.g., Hotjar, FullStory, Google Analytics) to inform design decisions based on real user data and feedback.

• Product analytics platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude) to track feature adoption and user engagement with the AI Agent platform. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct design tool, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce, HubSpot) and automation platforms integrate with user interfaces is beneficial for designing seamless workflows.

• Familiarity with project management tools such as Jira or Asana for collaborating with engineering teams and tracking design tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost certainly a must-have given its industry dominance for complex product design. The "leading design tools" mention implies flexibility, but strong Figma skills are highly recommended. Understanding analytics and how design impacts business metrics will be crucial for a senior role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of small-to-medium businesses, ensuring the AI Agent platform provides tangible value.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new technologies like AI and working in fast-paced environments to deliver cutting-edge solutions.

• Collaboration & Openness: Fostering a "duz-culture" and open work structures where ideas are shared freely across teams.

• Efficiency & Excellence: Striving for high-quality design deliverables and optimized workflows that contribute to the company's overall success.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing user data and analytics to inform design choices and measure the impact of UX improvements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work hand-in-hand with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, participating actively in all phases of the product lifecycle.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous feedback, both giving and receiving, to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging designers to share best practices, insights, and learnings within the team and across departments, potentially through design critiques or internal workshops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "partnerschaftlich" (collaborative partnership) and "offene Arbeitsstrukturen" (open work structures) suggests a culture that values teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, especially relevant for a senior role requiring significant cross-functional interaction.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI Complexity: Translating advanced AI capabilities and agentic workflows into simple, intuitive, and trustworthy user experiences for a non-technical SME audience.

• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Ensuring that cutting-edge AI features are not only technically sophisticated but also genuinely useful and easy for users to adopt and integrate into their businesses.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating the complexities of working with diverse teams (engineering, product, marketing) to ensure a cohesive product vision and execution.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: Adapting to a fast-paced development environment that requires quick design turnarounds without compromising quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI/Agentic Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in the rapidly evolving field of AI-driven interfaces and conversational AI, becoming a go-to expert.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gain experience in shaping product roadmaps and contributing to strategic business decisions based on UX insights.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and potentially leading design initiatives for new product areas.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend relevant conferences or workshops focused on UX, AI, and product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in bridging the gap between advanced AI technology and the practical needs of SMEs. A successful candidate will need to demonstrate not only design skills but also strategic thinking about user adoption and business impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a complex web application, from initial concept to final implementation. How do you ensure user needs are met at each stage?" (Focus on user-centered design, research methodologies, and iterative processes).

• "How would you approach designing the conversational experience for an AI Agent aimed at small business owners? What are the key considerations for trust and usability?" (Highlight understanding of AI interfaces, user personas, and ethical design).

• "Tell us about a time you had to collaborate with engineers who had different priorities or technical constraints. How did you navigate that to achieve a successful design outcome?" (Showcase negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about IONOS and our mission to support SMEs? How do you see your UX design skills contributing to that mission?" (Demonstrate research and alignment with company values).

• "This role involves a hybrid working model and trust-based hours. How do you manage your productivity and collaboration in such an environment?" (Highlight self-management, communication, and team-player attitude).

• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in UX design, AI, and conversational interfaces?" (Showcase continuous learning and passion for the field). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.

• Quantify: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, improved user satisfaction scores).

• Highlight AI/Agentic Work: Explicitly call out any projects involving AI, automation, or conversational design, explaining your unique approach to these challenges.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Show your interactive prototypes and explain how you leveraged specific features of tools like Figma to achieve your design goals.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, alternative solutions you considered, and how you handled project challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Focus on projects that showcase your ability to handle complexity, your understanding of user needs in a business context, and any experience with AI or similar forward-thinking technologies. Be ready to articulate your design rationale clearly and confidently.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the IONOS careers page.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience in UX/UI for complex web applications, explicitly mentioning your proficiency with Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, and any experience with AI or agentic workflows. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 3-5 impactful projects that demonstrate your user flow design, wireframing, high-fidelity mockups, and ideally, your work on AI-driven or complex web applications. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your decisions, and the outcome.

• Prepare your case study presentation: Be ready to walk through one or two key projects from your portfolio, focusing on your role, design rationale, and the impact of your work. Practice articulating your process and answering potential questions clearly and concisely.

• Research IONOS: Familiarize yourself with IONOS's mission, target audience (SMEs), and existing product offerings. Understand how your role contributes to their goal of digitalizing small and medium-sized businesses.

⚠️ 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.