Senior UX Designer (m/w/d) - Banking (Ref.Nr.: 47891)

📍 Job Overview

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

Company: Wavestone Germany AG

Location: Zürich, Switzerland

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: October 2, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote-only within Switzerland possible)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end User Experience (UX) process, from initial user research and ideation through to concept development, prototyping, validation, and final specification for implementation.

• Translate stakeholder and business needs, along with user research and testing data, into actionable UX strategies and design solutions for digital banking platforms.

• Design intuitive and effective user flows and screens for both web and mobile banking applications, ensuring a seamless user journey.

• Apply and uphold digital UX/UI principles, brand guidelines, and established design and interaction patterns, while also contributing to the evolution of existing design systems.

• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to conceptualize, design, and evaluate user journeys and features for a diverse range of digital banking offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on a specific domain (Banking) within UX Design, requiring a blend of strategic thinking, hands-on design skills, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments. The emphasis on the full UX lifecycle, from research to quality assurance, indicates a senior-level position with significant ownership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End UX Process Management: Own and execute the entire UX design lifecycle, encompassing user research, ideation workshops, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and detailed specification for development teams.

• Stakeholder and User Data Integration: Systematically gather, analyze, and synthesize requirements from business stakeholders, alongside insights from user research and testing, to inform design decisions and create user-centric solutions.

• User Flow and Screen Design: Develop comprehensive user flows and detailed screen designs for digital banking features, ensuring clarity, efficiency, and optimal user experience across web and mobile platforms.

• Journey and Feature Conception: Conceptualize and design innovative journeys and features for digital banking products, focusing on enhancing user engagement and satisfaction in a competitive financial services landscape.

• Design System Application and Evolution: Leverage existing design systems for consistency and efficiency, and actively contribute to their development and expansion based on project needs and emerging UX best practices.

• Quality Assurance and Implementation Oversight: Ensure the accurate and high-quality implementation of UX designs by working closely with development teams, verifying adherence to specifications, brand guidelines, and interaction patterns.

• Platform-Specific Design Adaptation: Apply deep knowledge of Apple and Android mobile application guidelines and best practices to create experiences that feel native and intuitive on each platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strong analytical skills in interpreting research and stakeholder input, coupled with robust design execution capabilities. The direct mention of "quality assurance of implementation" suggests a hands-on approach that extends beyond pure design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5-8 years of progressive professional experience in UX design, with a substantial focus on digital product development.

Required Skills:

• UX Process Mastery: Proven expertise across the full UX spectrum: user research (qualitative and quantitative), ideation techniques, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping (interactive), usability testing, and specification documentation.

• Digital Banking Domain Expertise: Demonstrated experience in designing user journeys and features for web and mobile banking applications, understanding the unique needs and regulatory considerations of the financial services industry.

• Prototyping and Wireframing Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision) for creating detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final design assets.

• User-Centric Design Principles: Strong understanding and practical application of UX/UI principles, heuristics, and best practices for creating intuitive, accessible, and engaging digital experiences.

• Design System Proficiency: Experience in applying and contributing to design systems, ensuring brand consistency and efficient design workflows.

• Platform Guidelines: Comprehensive knowledge of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and Android's Material Design guidelines.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively engage with, influence, and gather requirements from diverse stakeholders, including business leaders, product managers, and technical teams.

• German Language Proficiency: Verhandlungssichere Deutschkenntnisse (fluent in spoken and written German) are essential for effective communication and collaboration within the Swiss market.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design iteration and optimization based on A/B testing results.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

• Understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience in a consulting environment, working with multiple clients or projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Muss-Anforderungen" (must-have requirements) is very specific. The 5-8 years of experience is a key differentiator. The requirement for fluent German is critical given the location and industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive UX Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX process for digital banking or complex financial applications. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the methodologies used, design solutions, user testing results, and the impact of your work.

• Prototyping and Interaction Examples: Include interactive prototypes or detailed walkthroughs of user flows that highlight your ability to design intuitive navigation and engaging interactions.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, provide examples of how you have utilized or contributed to design systems, illustrating your understanding of design consistency and scalability.

• Visual Design and UI Skills: Demonstrate strong visual design skills through polished UI mockups, showcasing attention to detail, typography, color theory, and brand alignment.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Visualization: Clearly map out the UX process followed in your case studies, illustrating the stages from research and ideation to validation and implementation support.

• Methodology Justification: Explain why specific UX research and design methodologies were chosen for each project and how they contributed to the final outcome.

• Data-Driven Design: Present how user research data, testing feedback, and business requirements were integrated into the design process, with clear examples of iterative improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX role, especially in a regulated industry like banking, a portfolio that clearly demonstrates a structured, data-informed, and iterative design process is paramount. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and showcase quantifiable impact is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Designers in Zürich, Switzerland, with 5-8 years of experience, and considering the contract nature of the role, an estimated gross annual salary range would be CHF 100,000 - CHF 130,000. This range is subject to negotiation based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the client's budget.

Benefits: As this is a contractor position, benefits are typically managed through the contracting agency (Wavestone Germany AG) or by the individual contractor. Potential benefits often include:

• Competitive hourly or daily rates.

• Potential for contract extension based on performance and project needs.

• Opportunity to work on high-profile digital transformation projects within the banking sector.

• Access to Wavestone's network and potential future project opportunities.

• Possibility of remote work within Switzerland, offering flexibility.

Working Hours: The role requires 100% utilization, which typically translates to approximately 40 hours per week. The specific daily schedule can be discussed to accommodate hybrid work arrangements, balancing on-site presence in Zürich with remote work within Switzerland.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on Swiss market rates for experienced UX professionals in a major financial hub like Zurich, adjusted for a contractor role. The emphasis on "100% Auslastung" (100% utilization) confirms the full-time nature of the contract.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wavestone Germany AG operates within the Consulting industry, with a strong focus on strategic transformation for its clients. This specific role is placed within the Banking sector, a highly regulated and dynamic industry requiring meticulous attention to detail, security, and user trust.

Company Size: Wavestone is a global consulting firm with a significant employee base. While the exact size for the German entity isn't specified, the global presence suggests a large, well-established organization. This often means structured processes, access to a wide range of expertise, and established career paths.

Founded: Wavestone was formed through the merger of Kurt Salmon and Wavestone. The legacy of these firms suggests a deep understanding of business strategy and digital innovation. This background implies a culture that values both strategic foresight and practical execution.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will likely be part of a project team embedded within the client's (a banking institution) digital transformation or product development department.

• This team will include product managers, business analysts, developers, QA testers, and potentially other UX/UI designers or researchers.

• The reporting structure will likely be to a Project Manager at Wavestone and a client-side Product Owner or Digital Lead.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, requiring close interaction with business stakeholders to understand requirements and with technical teams to ensure feasibility and successful implementation. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The role emphasizes gathering and utilizing research and test data to inform design decisions, reflecting a commitment to evidence-based UX practices.

• Agile and Iterative Development: The project's long-term nature and the need for ongoing refinement suggest an agile or iterative approach to design and development, allowing for flexibility and continuous improvement.

• Human-Centered Design: The core of the role is to focus on user needs and create intuitive digital experiences, aligning with human-centered design principles.

Company Website: https://www.wavestone.com/de/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Wavestone's role as a consulting partner is key. This means the UX designer is likely working on client-site projects, adapting to different client cultures and processes while maintaining Wavestone's standards for quality and delivery. The banking context adds a layer of complexity and responsibility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer position. It signifies a high level of individual contribution, requiring not only strong design skills but also the ability to lead UX initiatives, mentor junior designers (if applicable), and influence product strategy. The role demands independence in problem-solving and the capacity to manage complex projects from inception to completion.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will report to a project lead or manager within Wavestone Germany AG, and will also work closely with client-side product owners, business stakeholders, and development teams. This dual reporting and collaborative structure is common in consulting engagements.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work will directly impact the usability, adoption, and satisfaction of digital banking products. Successful UX design can lead to increased customer engagement, reduced support costs, improved conversion rates, and enhanced brand reputation for the banking client. The ability to demonstrate this impact through metrics will be key.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX for the financial services sector, becoming a go-to expert for banking clients.

• Leadership Development: Transition into a Lead UX Designer role, managing design teams, or a UX Strategy role, shaping the overall user experience vision for clients.

• Consulting Acumen: Develop broader consulting skills, including client management, project leadership, and business development, potentially leading to more senior roles within Wavestone.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: While this role is in banking, Wavestone's broad portfolio may offer opportunities to apply UX skills in other industries in future projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a level of autonomy and strategic input. The contractor nature means growth might be project-based or focused on leveraging this experience for future contract opportunities, potentially leading to full-time roles or more specialized consulting engagements.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as Hybrid, with the possibility of remote work within Switzerland. The primary work location is Zürich. This implies a mix of on-site collaboration at the client's office in Zürich and remote work from a home office or other suitable location within Switzerland.

Office Location(s): The primary client site is in Zürich, Switzerland. Candidates must be able to work remotely within Switzerland. Zürich is a major financial and business hub with excellent public transportation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic, project-driven environment, collaborating daily with a multidisciplinary team of designers, product managers, developers, and business stakeholders. On-site days in Zürich will facilitate direct interaction and workshops.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping software (e.g., Figma, Sketch), collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Slack), and potentially client-specific internal systems.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, stand-ups, design reviews, and workshops will be part of the routine, fostering a connected and communicative atmosphere despite the hybrid arrangement.

Work Schedule: The role requires 100% utilization, typically around 40 hours per week. While the exact daily schedule can be flexible to accommodate hybrid work, consistent availability during core business hours for meetings and collaboration is expected. The contract duration is 11 months with a potential for extension.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature, with a specific constraint on remote work (only within Switzerland), is a key detail. Candidates need to be comfortable with travel to Zürich for on-site work and reside within Switzerland for remote days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The hiring process typically involves several stages:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio by Wavestone's recruitment team to assess fit for the role and client requirements.

• Technical Interview (Portfolio Review): A deep dive into your portfolio with a UX lead or hiring manager. Be prepared to walk through your case studies, explain your design process, and discuss your decision-making rationale.

• Client Interview: An interview with the client's hiring manager or product team to assess your domain knowledge (banking), cultural fit, and ability to integrate into their team.

• Final Assessment: Potentially a final discussion or a small design exercise to gauge specific skills or problem-solving approaches.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select case studies that best highlight your experience in banking, complex digital products, and the full UX lifecycle. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the methodologies employed, the challenges faced, your design solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Demonstrate your process through wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI designs. Explain why you made certain design choices.

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

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle feedback, your experience with design systems, and your understanding of the banking industry's specific challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Banking Context: Research current trends in digital banking, common user pain points, and the competitive landscape.

• Design Thinking Practice: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a typical UX challenge, such as designing a new feature for a mobile banking app or improving the onboarding process.

• Stakeholder Empathy: Prepare to discuss how you would manage conflicting stakeholder requirements or present design decisions to a non-design audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and the specific mention of the banking domain suggest that candidates should tailor their portfolio and interview preparation to showcase relevant experience and understanding of the financial services industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (proficiency in at least one is expected).

• Wireframing: Balsamiq, Miro, or similar tools for rapid ideation and low-fidelity design.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or similar platforms for remote usability testing and feedback collection.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (understanding how to interpret user behavior data is beneficial).

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI (familiarity with how design impacts metrics tracked here).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how CRM data might inform user segmentation or how design impacts customer journeys within a CRM context can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard UX/UI design and prototyping tools is non-negotiable. Familiarity with collaboration and project management tools is essential for working within a team and client environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the end-user, ensuring that design decisions are always grounded in user research and feedback.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where ideas are shared freely, feedback is constructive, and cross-functional teams work cohesively towards common goals.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to delivering high-quality design solutions that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, usable, and aligned with business objectives.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies, methodologies, and design trends to continuously improve user experiences and adapt to evolving market demands.

• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design choices, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement in user experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with product managers, business analysts, developers, and QA testers to ensure that design vision is translated into a functional and successful product.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: An open culture of receiving and giving constructive feedback is expected, fostering a continuous improvement loop for designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, insights from research, and learnings from past projects to elevate the collective expertise of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: In a consulting context, the ability to adapt to the client's culture while upholding Wavestone's values is key. The emphasis on collaboration and data-driven decisions is typical for modern UX teams, especially in complex domains like banking.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Banking Regulations: The banking industry is heavily regulated. Designing within these constraints while still creating a user-friendly experience can be a significant challenge.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing potentially conflicting requirements from various business units (e.g., marketing, compliance, IT, operations) and ensuring they are harmonized into a cohesive user experience.

• Hybrid Work Logistics: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion in a hybrid work setup, ensuring remote and on-site team members are equally engaged and informed.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with the fast-changing landscape of digital banking, fintech innovations, and evolving user expectations for digital services.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the banking and financial services sector, which is highly valuable in the consulting space.

• Advanced UX Techniques: Opportunities to refine skills in areas like service design, behavioral economics in UX, and advanced user research methodologies.

• Consulting Skills: Developing project management, client communication, and strategic advisory skills, which are transferable across many roles and industries.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior consultants and UX leaders within Wavestone, or to mentor junior designers on client projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Addressing potential challenges proactively and highlighting how they can be opportunities for growth is a strong strategy for candidates. The banking domain offers unique learning curves and rewards.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a new feature for a mobile banking application, from initial concept to launch." Focus on how you gather requirements, conduct research, iterate on designs, and collaborate with stakeholders.

• "How would you approach designing a user experience that balances strict regulatory compliance with a need for intuitive usability in the banking sector?" Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and problem-solving strategies.

• "Imagine you have conflicting feedback from two key stakeholders. How would you navigate this situation to arrive at a design decision?" Emphasize your communication, negotiation, and data-driven decision-making skills. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the banking sector, and what do you see as the biggest UX challenges in this industry?" Show genuine interest and research.

• "How do you approach working in a hybrid environment, and how would you ensure effective collaboration with your team and client stakeholders?"

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user-centric design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: Use a clear, consistent structure for each case study: Problem, Solution, Process, Impact.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially if working in a team.

• Emphasize the "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind your design decisions, supported by research and data.

• Showcase Iterations: Present how user feedback and testing informed design changes.

• Quantify Results: If possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about specific design choices, tools used, and methodologies applied.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication, particularly within the context of the banking industry and a consulting environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

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

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in UX design, specifically mentioning any work within the financial services or banking sector. Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., via a link) and showcases your strongest, most relevant case studies, particularly those demonstrating the full UX lifecycle and experience with digital banking or complex applications.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your experience and approach to UX design, focusing on your process, problem-solving skills, and how you drive user-centric outcomes.

• Research Wavestone and the Banking Industry: Understand Wavestone's consulting model and the current landscape of digital banking in Switzerland to demonstrate your fit and interest.

⚠️ 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.