Senior UX Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

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

Company: Pixum

Location: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Job Type: Festanstellung (Permanent Employment)

Category: UX/Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-22

Experience Level: Senior (5-7 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic UX development of the website and other touchpoints, focusing on end-to-end customer journeys and conversion optimization.

• Translate user needs and data insights into innovative, user-centered design concepts and solutions.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Tech, and Marketing teams to integrate UX into strategic decision-making and product development.

• Develop and maintain UX Guidelines, Design Principles, and the Design System to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Mentor junior UX designers and lead UX projects with a focus on measurable impact and customer centricity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer, implying a need for strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a proven track record of delivering impactful UX solutions, particularly within an e-commerce context. The emphasis on "end-to-end" and "strategic UX development" suggests a holistic approach to user experience design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop user-centered UX strategies and concepts for the website and various customer touchpoints, ensuring visual appeal and strong conversion potential.

• Conduct and leverage user research, usability testing, and data analysis (A/B tests, analytics, heatmaps) to derive actionable UX improvements.

• Collaborate with UI Design to evolve UX Guidelines, Design Principles, and the Design System for consistent and scalable user interfaces.

• Facilitate workshops, Design Sprints, and stakeholder sessions, fostering strong partnerships with Product, Tech, and Marketing.

• Independently lead UX projects, provide expert consultation to business units and management, and mentor junior UX designers.

• Drive innovation in UX workflows, explore the practical application of AI tools, and champion customer-centric product development through insight sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic UX planning, hands-on design execution, data-driven decision-making, and leadership. The mention of "conversion-stark" and "e-commerce" indicates a strong business-oriented approach to UX.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Relevant university degree or comparable educational background in UX or a related field.

Experience: 5-7 years of demonstrated experience in UX/Interaction Design, with a proven ability to translate concepts into user-centered solutions that solve real customer problems and drive measurable results, particularly within an e-commerce environment.

Required Skills:

• Profound understanding of user-centered design principles and human-computer interaction, especially in e-commerce contexts (conversion flows, checkouts, complex product logic).

• Strong analytical skills with experience in interpreting data from Analytics, A/B tests, heatmaps, and clickstream analysis to inform design decisions.

• Proficiency in modern UX tools such as Figma or Framer for conceptualization and design.

• Experience in facilitating workshops, Design Thinking formats, and working within agile teams.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to navigate discussions between business, product, and technology.

• Solid technical understanding of HTML/CSS.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with developing and evolving Design Systems and UX Guidelines.

• Familiarity with integrating AI tools into UX workflows.

• Experience in mentoring junior designers.

• A proactive approach to innovation and exploring new UX methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 5-7 years clearly defines this as a senior-level role. The emphasis on data-driven decision-making and e-commerce expertise is critical. Proficiency in Figma/Framer and a foundational understanding of HTML/CSS are non-negotiable technical skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant UX projects that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, from initial research and concept development to final implementation and iteration.

• For each project, clearly articulate the user problem, your role, the design methodologies employed (e.g., user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing), and the tools used.

• Highlight your experience with data analysis and how it informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.

• Include examples of complex e-commerce user flows, conversion optimization strategies, and how you ensured a seamless checkout process.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, including methods for gathering insights and translating them into actionable design requirements.

• Detail your experience with A/B testing and other data-driven validation methods for UX solutions.

• Explain your process for collaborating with cross-functional teams (Product, Tech, Marketing) and facilitating workshops or Design Sprints.

• Illustrate how you approach the development and maintenance of design systems and UX best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role, showcasing not just visual design skills but also strategic thinking, research capabilities, data-informed decision-making, and the ability to drive tangible business outcomes. The focus on e-commerce and AI integration suggests projects demonstrating these specific experiences will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX Designer with 5-7 years of experience in Cologne, Germany, the estimated annual salary range is approximately €60,000 - €80,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Cologne, the company's industry (e-commerce/digital services), and the senior nature of the role.

Benefits:

• Team & Culture: Membership in a six-person UX/Product Design, UI, User Research & Design Engineering team; dynamic and open company culture with opportunities for individual contribution and idea pitching; short decision-making processes and cross-functional collaboration.

• Work-Life Balance: 30 days of annual leave; Mobile Work policy allowing two days per week remote work.

• Onboarding & Development: Well-structured onboarding program including an "Onboarding-Week," a buddy system, and guidance documents; access to internal and external training opportunities, a digital learning platform, and broader corporate group training.

• Mobility: Subsidy for the Deutschland-Ticket (nationwide public transport pass); shared parking system; individual company bicycle leasing.

• Health & Wellness: Physiological massages during the Christmas season; Employee Assistance Program; participation in company sports events (e.g., B2Run, Cologne Marathon); subsidy for Urban Sports membership.

• Food & Drink: High-quality espresso machines; free daily breakfast; subsidized canteen lunch; access to pizza oven and Hofmann's dishes.

• Family Support: Parent-child room for childcare gaps; 5 paid child sick days; "Babytime" flexibility for new parents.

• Additional Perks: Corporate Benefits program; stock program; discounts with Cologne-based partners (e.g., Museum Ludwig); discounts on Pixum & artboxONE brands; in-office photo printing stations.

• AI Focus: Dedicated AI Day events and company-wide AI training programs.

• Office Entertainment: Kicker, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch available in the office.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility offered through the hybrid work model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are extensive and highlight a strong focus on employee well-being, professional development, and work-life balance. The salary range is an estimation based on typical German market rates for this role and location, and candidates should expect this to be a guideline.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce (specifically photo products and services). Pixum operates in a competitive digital retail landscape where user experience is a key differentiator for customer acquisition and retention. The company's focus on innovation, particularly with AI, suggests a forward-thinking approach.

Company Size: Pixum is part of a larger corporate group, indicating a stable yet dynamic environment with resources for growth and development. The specific UX team size of six suggests a focused and collaborative unit.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, Pixum has established itself in the digital photo service market, implying a history that balances established processes with the need for continuous digital innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX team consists of six specialists: UX/Product Design, UI Design, User Research, and Design Engineering. This interdisciplinary structure allows for comprehensive coverage of the design process.

• Collaboration is described as "cross-functional" and "at eye level," indicating a flat hierarchy within project teams and strong partnerships with Product, Tech, and Marketing.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on hypothesis-driven work using user research, usability tests, and analytics (A/B tests, heatmaps).

• Agile Workflows: Experience within agile teams is required, suggesting iterative development and close collaboration.

• Design Thinking & Sprints: The role involves facilitating these methodologies to drive innovation and problem-solving.

• Customer Centricity: A core value, driving all UX efforts from initial insights to final customer interaction.

• AI Integration: Actively exploring and implementing AI tools to add value for customers and teams.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of agile, data-driven innovation with a strong emphasis on customer experience and employee empowerment. The industry context of e-commerce means that conversion rates and user journeys are critical performance indicators for this UX role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior UX Designer. This role signifies a level of expertise and autonomy where individuals are expected to lead significant UX initiatives, mentor others, and contribute to strategic design direction. It's a step beyond individual contribution, moving towards team leadership and strategic influence.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will report into a UX/Product Design lead or potentially a Head of Product/Design, within a team of six UX and design specialists. They will also work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing stakeholders, indicating a matrixed reporting and collaboration structure.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts revenue by optimizing the user experience on Pixum's website and other touchpoints. By improving conversion rates, reducing friction in customer journeys, and enhancing overall user satisfaction, the Senior UX Designer contributes directly to sales performance and customer loyalty in the competitive e-commerce space. The strategic integration of UX into business decisions further amplifies this impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Mentoring junior UX designers provides a pathway to team lead or management positions within the UX/Design department.

• Strategic Design Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term UX vision and strategy for Pixum's digital products and platforms.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like e-commerce UX, AI in design, or advanced user research methodologies.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Potential to move into Product Management or broader digital strategy roles by leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and business objectives.

• Continuous Learning: Access to internal and external training, a digital learning platform, and participation in AI-focused initiatives offers ongoing skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This senior role offers significant opportunities for career advancement, both in terms of leadership and strategic impact. The emphasis on mentoring and influencing business strategy suggests a path towards more senior design or product leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job requires a hybrid work arrangement, with three days per week expected in the Cologne office. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and innovation, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The office is located at Industriestraße 161, 50999 Köln, Germany. This location offers accessibility benefits, including a subsidy for the Deutschland-Ticket, contributing to easier commutes.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely features spaces conducive to workshops, Design Sprints, and cross-functional team collaboration, essential for this role's responsibilities.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern UX tools (Figma, Framer) and AI technologies is implied, supporting efficient and innovative design processes.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for regular in-person interaction with the UX team, Product, Tech, and Marketing colleagues, facilitating seamless communication and idea exchange.

• Amenities: The office environment is enhanced with amenities like high-quality coffee machines, free breakfast, and gaming facilities, contributing to a positive and engaging work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected, with the hybrid model providing flexibility in terms of where work is performed. This structure supports the need for focused individual work and collaborative team sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key feature, balancing the need for in-person collaboration with employee flexibility. The office environment is designed to support both focused work and dynamic team interaction, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being and engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the senior-level requirements, with a specific focus on e-commerce UX and data-driven design examples.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion with Isabelle Richter (People Experience Manager) and potentially the UX/Product Design Lead to delve into your experience, motivation, and cultural fit. Expect questions about your approach to UX strategy, team collaboration, and leadership.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where you will present 1-2 key projects from your portfolio. This is your opportunity to showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, data utilization, and the impact of your designs. Be prepared to discuss challenges, trade-offs, and learnings.

• Technical/Workshop Challenge: Potentially a short design exercise or a simulated workshop session to assess your practical design skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to articulate your thought process in real-time.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with higher-level management or key stakeholders from Product/Tech to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best highlight your experience in e-commerce, complex user flows, conversion optimization, and data-informed design. Showcase projects where you had significant ownership and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Data & Impact: Explicitly detail how you used data (analytics, A/B tests, user research) to inform your decisions and quantify the impact of your designs (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores).

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with cross-functional teams, managed stakeholders, and facilitated workshops.

• Showcase Tools & Mentorship: Mention your proficiency with Figma/Framer and other relevant tools. If applicable, include examples of how you've mentored junior designers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a pre-interview challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement and the business objectives.

• Think Aloud: For live exercises, articulate your thought process clearly. Explain your assumptions, rationale, and the trade-offs you're considering.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your methodology and how you would approach the problem, rather than solely focusing on a perfect visual output.

• Business Acumen: Demonstrate an understanding of how UX decisions impact business goals, especially conversion rates and customer loyalty in an e-commerce context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both your technical UX skills and your strategic, collaborative, and leadership capabilities. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is critical for demonstrating your value.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma, Framer (essential proficiency).

• User Research & Testing: Tools for usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and potentially heatmap/clickstream analysis tools (e.g., Hotjar, Crazy Egg, or similar analytics platforms).

• Data Analysis & Reporting: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar web analytics platforms for understanding user behavior, A/B test results, and conversion funnels.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, or similar tools for working within agile teams and documenting processes.

• AI Tools: Experience or a strong willingness to learn and integrate AI tools into the UX workflow for research, ideation, or design assistance.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficient use of web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) to extract insights on user behavior, conversion rates, and A/B test performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly a CRM role, understanding how UX impacts CRM data and customer journeys is beneficial. Familiarity with how user interactions feed into customer databases is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Figma and/or Framer is a hard requirement. A strong understanding of web analytics and A/B testing is also critical, as this role is data-driven. The company's stated AI focus suggests that candidates familiar with or eager to explore AI applications in design will be highly regarded.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that all design decisions prioritize the customer experience and solve real problems.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Valuing empirical evidence and insights from research and analytics to guide design strategy and validate solutions, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Empowerment: Encouraging open communication, cross-functional teamwork, and empowering individuals to contribute ideas and take ownership of projects.

• Efficiency & Impact: Striving for efficient design processes and delivering solutions that have a measurable positive impact on business objectives and user satisfaction.

• Curiosity & Learning: A proactive approach to exploring new tools, technologies (especially AI), and methodologies to stay at the forefront of UX design.

Collaboration Style:

• Interdisciplinary Partnership: Working closely and "at eye level" with Product Managers, Engineers, UI Designers, and Marketing specialists.

• Facilitative Leadership: Leading workshops and design sessions to drive consensus, generate ideas, and solve problems collaboratively.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback exchange within the team to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights from user research and data analysis to inform broader product and business strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a strong blend of user advocacy, data integrity, and collaborative innovation. Candidates who thrive in environments where they can influence strategy, mentor others, and work closely with diverse teams will find this appealing.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating diverse requirements and priorities from Product, Tech, Marketing, and Management while maintaining a strong user-centric focus.

• Driving Change in a Hybrid Environment: Ensuring consistent UX quality and effective collaboration across remote and in-office team members.

• Integrating Emerging Technologies: Effectively incorporating AI tools and other new technologies into existing workflows without disrupting productivity or compromising user experience.

• Measuring ROI of UX Initiatives: Clearly demonstrating the tangible business impact and ROI of UX improvements in a data-driven e-commerce context.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Specialization: Deepen expertise in e-commerce UX, conversion rate optimization (CRO), or user research methodologies.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading project streams.

• AI in Design Exploration: Gain hands-on experience and training in leveraging AI tools for UX research, ideation, and design optimization, participating in the company's AI Day and training programs.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Enhance understanding of product management, business strategy, and technical constraints through close collaboration.

• Industry Trends: Access to external training and a digital learning platform to stay abreast of the latest UX trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges that are common in senior design positions, particularly around stakeholder management and driving innovation. However, these challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, especially with the company's focus on AI and continuous learning.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you significantly improved a user experience in an e-commerce setting. What was the problem, your process, the data you used, and the measurable outcome?" (Focus on impact and data validation)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints when designing complex features, such as a checkout flow?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking and trade-off management)

• "How would you approach introducing a new AI tool into our UX design process? What are the potential benefits and risks?" (Showcase forward-thinking and practical application of new tech)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Pixum and our market? How do you see UX contributing to our success?" (Demonstrate research and industry understanding)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers or sharing your expertise with a team?" (Assess leadership and collaboration style)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment with Product, Tech, and Marketing teams." (Evaluate fit with cross-functional dynamics)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the "Before" (problem/challenge), "During" (your process, tools, solutions), and "After" (results, impact, learnings).

• Quantify Your Impact: Use numbers and data wherever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., % increase in conversion, % decrease in errors, improvement in user satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Your Process: Detail your methodology, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and iteration.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with different teams and stakeholders to bring your designs to life.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs made, and alternative solutions considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your experience with e-commerce UX, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration extensively. The interview will likely assess your ability to think strategically, solve complex problems, and articulate your value proposition as a senior designer.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Pixum jobs portal.

• Tailor your CV: Highlight your 5-7 years of relevant UX/Interaction Design experience, emphasizing e-commerce projects, data-driven methodologies, and proficiency in Figma/Framer. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end UX process, e-commerce expertise, and measurable impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates the problem, your solution, and the data-backed results.

• Prepare for Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, quantifying impact, and explaining your strategic thinking. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration and mentorship.

• Research Pixum: Understand their product offerings, target audience, and market position. Consider how your UX skills can contribute to their business goals, particularly in conversion optimization and customer experience.

⚠️ 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.

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