Senior UX/UI Designer – limited for 2 years maternity cover

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer – 2-Year Maternity Cover

Company: METRO/MAKRO

Location: Șoseaua Pipera 43, București, Romania

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end UX/UI design process for employee-facing digital products, driving innovation and user-centric solutions.

• Translate complex operational workflows into intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly digital experiences.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including squad leads, engineers, and business stakeholders, to shape product direction and prioritization.

• Leverage customer feedback, product data, and user research to inform design decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Design and deliver high-quality wireframes, prototypes, and UI designs for both mobile and responsive web applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 2-year maternity cover, indicating a need for an experienced designer who can quickly onboard and deliver impact without extensive long-term commitment. The focus on "employee-facing digital products" and "complex operational workflows" suggests a B2B or internal tools context, requiring a strong understanding of workforce needs and enterprise-level design challenges.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete product design lifecycle, from initial user and business needs assessment through to final delivery and iterative improvements.

• Develop intuitive and efficient user experiences by simplifying complex operational workflows into user-friendly digital interfaces.

• Actively influence product strategy and roadmap by collaborating with squad leads and providing design expertise.

• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data, including customer feedback and product analytics, to identify user pain points and validate design solutions.

• Conduct user research and usability testing sessions to gather insights and ensure design effectiveness.

• Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished UI designs for diverse digital platforms, including native mobile applications and responsive web experiences.

• Work hand-in-hand with engineers throughout the development phase to ensure accurate implementation of designs and maintain design integrity.

• Facilitate collaborative workshops and alignment sessions with various stakeholders to gather input and build consensus.

• Clearly articulate design rationale, trade-offs, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "ownership" and "end-to-end design process" signifies a senior-level role where the designer is expected to be self-sufficient and drive projects independently. The responsibility to "influence product direction" suggests a strategic input beyond just visual design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mentioned, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level roles.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in B2B/Workforce UX Design, encompassing research, interaction design, and UI design. Proven track record in end-to-end product design for complex digital products is essential.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in B2B/Workforce UX Design (Research, Interaction Design, UI Design).

• Strong expertise in end-to-end product design for complex digital products.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to effectively balance user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints.

• Data-informed mindset; demonstrated experience using customer feedback and product data to support design decisions.

• Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, and experience working with design systems and reusable components.

• Experience designing for native mobile applications and/or responsive web products.

• Proven ability to work effectively in Agile, cross-functional product teams.

• Demonstrated capacity to independently own a product area and drive design initiatives from problem definition to successful implementation. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience with B2B, enterprise software, or internal tools.

• Experience within the retail, logistics, supply chain, or inventory management sectors.

• Hands-on experience with UX research methodologies and usability testing.

• Familiarity with utilizing analytics and customer satisfaction data to inform design.

• Experience contributing to or managing design systems.

• Interest in or experience with AI-powered products and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must-have" qualifications clearly define the core requirements. The "Nice-to-have" skills, particularly those related to retail and logistics, suggest that understanding the METRO/MAKRO business context will be highly advantageous. The mention of "AI-powered products" indicates a forward-looking aspect to the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design process examples for complex B2B or workforce-facing digital products.

• Include case studies demonstrating how user research and data informed design decisions and led to measurable improvements.

• Highlight examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs for both web and mobile applications.

• Demonstrate experience with design systems, reusable components, and collaboration with engineering teams.

• Present clear articulation of design rationale, trade-offs, and problem-solving approaches. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research and usability testing, including methodologies and insights gained.

• Illustrate your workflow for translating complex operational requirements into intuitive user experiences.

• Provide examples of how you've collaborated with engineers and stakeholders throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Showcase how you've used data and customer feedback to iterate on designs and achieve business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX/UI role, the portfolio is critical. It should not just display visual output but also the strategic thinking, research methodologies, and collaborative processes behind the designs. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating impact and problem-solving within a business context, aligning with the "measurable impact" and "solving the right problems" aspects of the job description.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/UI Designers in Bucharest, Romania, with 5-10 years of experience, and considering the hybrid work model and the scope of responsibilities for METRO.digital, the estimated annual gross salary range is likely between €35,000 - €55,000 (RON 175,000 - RON 275,000). This estimate is derived from consulting salary aggregators like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and local recruitment agency reports for similar roles in Bucharest, adjusted for the seniority and specialized B2B/internal tools experience required.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Model: Offers flexibility and work-life balance, allowing for a mix of remote and in-office work.

• Agile Work Environment: Opportunity to work in dynamic, self-organizing, multicultural teams.

• Professional Development: Access to individual and company-wide programs and training for skill enhancement and career growth.

• People Development Focus: Investment in employee growth, including development, leadership, and appreciation programs.

• Individual Support: Assistance and resources provided throughout the professional journey.

• International Exposure: Opportunity to contribute to a leading international wholesaler's digital transformation.

Working Hours:

The standard full-time working hours are estimated at 40 hours per week, typical for a contract of this nature. The agile and hybrid work model likely offers some flexibility in structuring these hours, with core hours for team collaboration and meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for Bucharest. The specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, negotiation, and the company's internal grading system. The benefits highlight a strong focus on employee well-being and professional growth, which are attractive aspects for senior talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: METRO/MAKRO operates in the wholesale and retail sector, with a strong focus on food distribution. METRO.digital specifically drives the technology and digital transformation for this global wholesale business. This industry context implies a need for understanding complex supply chains, operational efficiency, and diverse customer (business) needs.

Company Size: METRO AG is a large, multinational corporation. METRO.digital, as its technology arm, is also likely a significant entity within the company, employing a substantial number of tech professionals. This scale suggests opportunities for impact, but also the need for navigating larger organizational structures.

Founded: METRO AG was founded in 1964. METRO.digital, as the innovation and technology hub, represents the company's commitment to modernizing its operations through digital solutions.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will be part of a "squad," which is a common structure in agile organizations. Squads are typically small, cross-functional teams (e.g., designer, product owner, engineers) focused on a specific product area or objective.

• This role will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within METRO.digital, with close collaboration with Squad Leads and Engineers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone of the role, involving frequent interaction with business stakeholders, product managers, and development teams to ensure alignment and successful product delivery. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Designs are expected to be informed by customer feedback, product data, and user research, indicating a data-driven approach to product development.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: A key responsibility is translating complex operational workflows into simplified, intuitive user experiences, highlighting a focus on process optimization.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not explicitly stated as a primary focus for the designer, the context of improving operational workflows implies an underlying goal of increasing efficiency, potentially through automation or more streamlined digital processes.

Company Website: https://www.metroag.de/ (METRO AG) and https://metro.digital/ (METRO.digital)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding METRO's core business (wholesale, food distribution) is crucial for this role. The "Passion for food. Hunger for tech." slogan underscores the company's blend of traditional business with a strong digital ambition. The agile squad structure is typical for tech departments aiming for speed and flexibility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX/UI Designer position. The seniority is reflected in the expectation of end-to-end ownership, influencing product direction, conducting research independently, and working in complex environments. It sits at a mid-to-senior level within the design discipline, requiring autonomy and strategic input. The "UX Designer Md7" grade suggests a specific internal leveling system, likely indicating a solid level of experience and responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a design leadership role within METRO.digital and work closely with product and engineering leads within their assigned squad. This structure allows for both specialized design guidance and direct contribution to product development teams.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts operational efficiency and employee productivity by improving the usability and effectiveness of internal digital tools. By translating complex workflows into intuitive experiences, the designer contributes to cost savings, reduced errors, and enhanced user satisfaction for METRO employees, ultimately supporting the broader business objectives of the wholesale operations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in B2B/workforce UX, potentially focusing on areas like complex workflow design, enterprise software usability, or AI-driven product experiences.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives within squads, or contribute to the evolution of METRO.digital's design system and processes.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Gain deeper understanding of retail, logistics, and supply chain operations, which can be valuable for future roles in enterprise UX or product management.

• Project Variety: Exposure to a range of employee-facing digital products, offering diverse design challenges and learning experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a fixed-term contract, the experience gained in a large, complex organization like METRO/MAKRO, particularly in the B2B/enterprise space, is highly valuable for future career progression. The "Md7" grading suggests a structured career path within the company, hinting at potential internal opportunities if the candidate performs well, though the primary focus is the 2-year contract.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is advertised as hybrid, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office presence at the Bucharest location. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Șoseaua Pipera 43, București, Romania. This location is within Bucharest, likely in a business district.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and agile setup emphasize collaboration, with opportunities for face-to-face interaction during office days for workshops, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma is specifically mentioned) and potentially other collaboration and project management software essential for a digital product team.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with engineers, product owners, and other designers within the squad and potentially across different product teams.

Work Schedule:

A standard 40-hour work week is expected, typical for full-time employment. The hybrid nature of the role and the agile methodology likely allow for some flexibility in daily scheduling, with core collaboration hours established for team synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility. Candidates should be comfortable working both independently remotely and collaboratively in the office. The emphasis on agile teams suggests a dynamic and potentially fast-paced work setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the required skills and experience.

• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: Discussion about your background, experience, design philosophy, and approach to UX/UI challenges. This stage will likely delve into specific case studies from your portfolio.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You may be asked to present a detailed case study from your portfolio or complete a take-home design exercise. This assesses your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your decisions.

• Cross-functional Team Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product owners, or other stakeholders to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the agile team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and confirm suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on B2B/Workforce Context: Prioritize projects that demonstrate experience with complex internal tools or B2B products. Highlight how you translated intricate operational requirements into user-friendly designs.

• Showcase the Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, from problem definition and research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Use visuals to illustrate each stage.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on user behavior, efficiency, or business goals.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Explain how you worked with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders, highlighting your communication and problem-solving skills in a team setting.

• Tool Proficiency: Explicitly mention your proficiency with Figma and any experience with design systems.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research METRO/MAKRO and the wholesale industry to grasp the operational context. Think about common challenges faced by employees in such environments.

• Prepare Case Studies: Select 2-3 strong portfolio pieces that best represent your skills for this role. Be ready to walk through them in detail, explaining your rationale and outcomes.

• Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining your design decisions, trade-offs, and the "why" behind your solutions clearly and concisely. Be prepared for questions about balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also the ability to operate effectively within an agile, cross-functional, and data-informed environment. A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates the end-to-end process and impact is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required skill, this will be the core tool for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools like InVision or Adobe XD may also be beneficial.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, or user interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms) is likely expected.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude for understanding user behavior and product performance.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that help interpret data, such as Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced features within analytics platforms, may be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or workflow automation tools used by METRO's employees could be beneficial, especially if designing for sales or operational processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The role implies a need to work with data to inform design decisions, so familiarity with analytics tools is a strong plus. The ability to understand and design for systems that integrate with broader business operations is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion for Food. Hunger for Tech.: This slogan encapsulates the company's dual focus – maintaining its core business strength in food wholesale while aggressively pursuing technological innovation. This suggests a culture that respects tradition but embraces change.

• Ownership and Impact: The job description emphasizes "end-to-end ownership" and "measurable impact," indicating a value placed on accountability and results. Designers are expected to take initiative and demonstrate the value of their contributions.

• Collaboration and Agility: Working in "self-organizing, multicultural teams" within an "agile setup" highlights a value for teamwork, flexibility, and effective communication across diverse groups.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: The requirement to use "customer feedback, product data and research" points to a culture that prioritizes evidence-based decisions over pure intuition.

• Pragmatism and Adaptability: The ideal candidate is described as "proactive, pragmatic and collaborative," with the "flexibility to adapt to a complex and evolving product environment." This suggests a culture that values practical solutions and resilience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative style where designers work seamlessly with Product Owners, Engineers, and business stakeholders. Regular sync-ups, workshops, and feedback sessions are likely standard.

• Process Review and Feedback: Agile methodologies encourage continuous feedback loops. Designers should be comfortable giving and receiving constructive criticism on designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: The multicultural and agile environment likely fosters an open exchange of ideas and best practices, both within design teams and across squads.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of a traditional large corporation undergoing digital transformation. This means balancing established processes with agile innovation. The values emphasize individual responsibility within a collaborative, data-driven framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The role involves translating "complex operational problems" and working in an "evolving product environment," requiring comfort with uncertainty and the ability to define clarity.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing diverse stakeholder expectations (users, business, engineering) and making trade-offs requires strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Designing for B2B/Internal Users: Creating intuitive experiences for employees who may not be as tech-savvy or as motivated by design as external consumers, while still driving efficiency, presents unique challenges.

• Fixed-Term Contract: As a 2-year maternity cover, the challenge is to deliver significant impact and integrate effectively within a shorter timeframe without the long-term prospect of the role.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Wholesale Operations: Gain in-depth understanding of the complexities of the retail and logistics/supply chain sectors, which can be a significant career differentiator.

• Advanced B2B UX Design: Hone skills in designing for complex enterprise systems, internal tools, and workforce productivity applications.

• Exposure to AI in Operations: If METRO.digital is exploring AI, there's an opportunity to learn about its application in operational workflows and user experiences.

• Design System Contribution: Potentially contribute to or expand an existing design system, a valuable skill for senior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to senior roles in large, complex organizations. The growth opportunities are significant, especially for a designer looking to specialize in B2B/enterprise UX and gain domain expertise in the wholesale/retail sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a highly complex operational workflow into a simple and intuitive user experience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, user research, design iterations, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you balance competing demands from different stakeholders (e.g., product managers, engineers, business leads) when designing a feature? Provide an example." (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and decision-making process.)

• "Walk us through a project where you used data or user research to significantly change your design direction. What data did you use, and how did it influence your decisions?" (Emphasize your data-informed approach and ability to pivot based on insights.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of METRO/MAKRO and the wholesale industry, what do you think are the biggest UX challenges for employees using digital tools?" (Show you've done your research and can apply your UX thinking to their specific context.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within an agile, cross-functional team, especially when working remotely?" (Discuss your preferred communication methods, feedback mechanisms, and experience with agile ceremonies.)

• "How do you measure the success of your UX/UI designs, beyond just aesthetics?" (Focus on metrics related to usability, efficiency, task completion, user satisfaction, and business impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact. Use a consistent structure.

• Highlight Key Decisions: Don't just show the final screens. Explain the critical decisions you made and the reasoning behind them, especially any trade-offs you had to consider.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – sketches, wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and final UI screens. If possible, include short video clips of prototypes in action.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, tools, and the challenges you faced. Be honest about what you learned, even from projects that didn't go perfectly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative, data-driven mindset aligned with the company's values and the role's requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided job portal link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest B2B or workforce UX/UI design projects. Tailor your presentation to highlight end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and data-informed decision-making, showcasing Figma proficiency.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly lists your 5+ years of relevant experience, emphasizing skills like UX research, interaction design, UI design, Figma, Agile methodologies, and B2B/enterprise product design. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio case studies. Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, trade-offs, and the measurable impact of your work. Rehearse answers to common UX strategy and collaboration questions.

• Research METRO/MAKRO: Understand their business model, the wholesale industry, and METRO.digital's mission. Consider the operational challenges employees might face and how design can address them.

⚠️ 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.