Working Student - AI Product Designer (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Working Student - AI Product Designer (m/f/d)

Company: 1KOMMA5°

Location: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Germany

Job Type: Working Student

Category: Product Design / Operations (Design Operations Focus)

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: Entry-Level (Working Student)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote within Germany, with offices in Hamburg, Berlin, or Munich)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a unique opportunity for a student to deeply integrate into a B2C mobile app team, focusing on AI-native product design for the flagship Heartbeat app.

• The position emphasizes end-to-end design ownership, from problem shaping and user research to delivering production-ready app experiences, utilizing AI as a core design multiplier.

• Successful candidates will demonstrate fluency in mobile app design patterns, a strong UX process, and the ability to synthesize complex technical energy concepts into elegant, user-centric solutions.

• This role offers significant exposure to cutting-edge AI applications in the renewable energy sector and direct collaboration with core decision-makers, providing a strong foundation for future full-time opportunities in a thriving scaleup.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "AI Product Designer," the responsibilities and required skills strongly indicate a focus on Design Operations principles, specifically how AI can streamline and enhance the design workflow. The role requires not just design execution but also process improvement and system thinking within the design lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for core features within the B2C Heartbeat mobile app, encompassing discovery, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and final delivery.

• Proactively leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and methodologies to accelerate and enhance every stage of the design process, from concept generation to final asset creation.

• Elevate the overall product experience by applying advanced UX and visual design principles, transforming "good" features into exceptional, user-loved experiences.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather actionable insights and advocate for user needs within a fast-paced, technical environment.

• Foster strong, collaborative partnerships with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Scientists, ensuring seamless integration of design into the development pipeline and effective cross-functional communication.

• Translate complex energy market data and technical concepts into intuitive, simple, and elegant product decisions and user interfaces.

• Champion the user's perspective throughout the product development process, ensuring that user needs and pain points are central to all design decisions.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes and workflows, identifying opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness, particularly through AI integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on the "design loop" and "end-to-end ownership," which are core tenets of effective Product Management and Design Operations. The requirement to "synthesize complex data into simple, elegant product decisions" also points to the analytical and strategic aspects of operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master’s program in User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Human Computer Interaction, Product Design, or a closely related technical or design field.

Experience: While this is a Working Student role, candidates are expected to demonstrate practical application of design principles, ideally through academic projects, personal projects, or previous internships. A portfolio showcasing completed work is essential.

Required Skills:

• AI-Native Design Fluency: Demonstrated daily use of AI tools in the design process, with the ability to showcase concrete examples of how AI has been leveraged to enhance design outcomes.

• End-to-End Design Ownership: Proven experience taking features from initial problem definition through to successful product launch, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of the product development lifecycle.

• Mobile App Design Proficiency: Strong understanding and application of mobile-first design patterns, best practices, and platform-specific guidelines (iOS/Android).

• UX Process Mastery: Solid grasp of user-centered design methodologies, including user research techniques, information architecture, wireframing, and usability testing.

• Visual Design & UI Craft: A keen eye for aesthetics, attention to detail, and the ability to create polished, visually appealing user interfaces that align with brand guidelines.

• Prototyping Skills: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and test user flows.

• Data Synthesis: Ability to analyze and interpret user data, research findings, and technical specifications to inform design decisions.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

Preferred Skills:

• German Language Proficiency: Fluency in German is a significant advantage for daily communication and stakeholder engagement.

• Familiarity with Energy Sector Concepts: Basic understanding or keen interest in renewable energy, smart grids, or energy management systems.

• Experience with Specific Tools: Hands-on experience with Figma, Cursor (for AI-assisted coding/design), Notion, and Linear is highly desirable.

• Data Visualization: Ability to design effective data visualizations that communicate complex information clearly to end-users.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working closely with product managers, engineers, and data scientists in an agile development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-native," "end-to-end ownership," and "synthesizing complex data" suggests that this role requires more than just execution; it demands a strategic mindset akin to operations roles that focus on process efficiency and data-driven decision-making within a design context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• AI Integration Case Studies: Showcase at least one project where AI tools were demonstrably used to improve the design process (e.g., faster ideation, enhanced prototyping, automated asset generation) and the resulting impact.

• End-to-End Feature Ownership: Present a comprehensive case study of a feature or product you took from initial concept or problem statement through to a shipped product, detailing your role and contributions at each stage.

• Mobile App Design Examples: Include polished examples of mobile app interfaces and user flows, clearly illustrating your understanding of mobile design patterns and best practices.

• User Research & Synthesis: Provide evidence of your user research capabilities, including methodologies used, key findings, and how those insights directly influenced design decisions and product outcomes.

• Tool Proficiency Showcase: Demonstrate your skill with core design tools like Figma, and ideally Cursor, Notion, or Linear, through the quality and complexity of your project examples.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach designing and optimizing design workflows, particularly in the context of integrating AI tools for efficiency gains.

• Prototyping & Iteration: Examples should highlight a clear process of prototyping, user testing, and iterative refinement based on feedback and data.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Portfolio pieces should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate how designs were developed and iterated upon in collaboration with engineering and product teams, showcasing communication and integration strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The expectation for a portfolio that details "end-to-end ownership" and "AI integration" aligns with operations roles that require demonstrable process improvement and system utilization. The role implicitly asks for a candidate who can document and articulate their design process, a key skill in Design Operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As a Working Student position in Germany, the salary will typically be based on industry standards, experience level, and the number of hours worked per week. Based on market research for similar roles in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, a range of €15-€20 per hour is a reasonable estimate. This can vary based on the specific company's compensation structure and the candidate's demonstrated skills and portfolio.

Benefits:

• International, Dynamic Team: Opportunity to work with a motivated, international team driving significant change in the energy sector.

• Climate Impact: Direct contribution to the "energy transition" and a tangible impact on climate change mitigation efforts.

• Mentorship & Learning: Direct contact with core decision-makers and opportunities to learn from highly skilled colleagues.

• Career Advancement: Excellent chances for full-time employment within one of Europe's fastest-growing scaleups post-graduation.

• Remote Work Flexibility: Ability to work remotely within Germany, with access to offices in Hamburg, Berlin, or Munich for collaboration and in-person needs.

• Wellbeing Support: Access to the EGYM Wellpass for health and fitness alongside work.

• Employee Discounts: Benefits and discounts through Futurebens.

Working Hours: This is a "Working Student" position, typically implying part-time hours that can be balanced with academic studies. The job description mentions 40 hours as a potential full-time equivalent, but working student roles usually range from 15-20 hours per week, with flexibility around academic schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical "Werkstudent" compensation in Germany for roles requiring specialized skills in tech/design, considering the cost of living in major cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. The benefits are directly extracted from the provided text, highlighting aspects valuable to students and early-career professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the Energy, Technology, and Sustainability sectors, focusing on the renewable energy transition through integrated hardware and AI-powered software solutions. They are building the "energy system of the future" by connecting solar, batteries, heat pumps, and e-mobility into a virtual power plant controlled by AI.

Company Size: 1KOMMA5° is a rapidly growing scaleup, with over 2,000 employees and more than 80 locations worldwide. This signifies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact and career progression.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's rapid growth and ambitious goals suggest it is a relatively young but highly successful venture in the cleantech space.

Team Structure:

• The role is embedded within the B2C mobile app team, which is part of the broader Product & Tech organization.

• The team structure likely involves close collaboration between Product Designers, Product Managers, Engineers (Frontend/Backend/Mobile), and Data Scientists, operating in an agile framework.

• The culture emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, with designers expected to partner closely with technical and product stakeholders. Methodology:

• AI-First Approach: The company's core strategy revolves around "Heartbeat AI," indicating a strong reliance on AI for controlling integrated energy systems and optimizing energy usage.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Synthesizing complex data into simple, elegant product decisions is a key operational methodology for the design team.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the fast-paced scaleup environment and cross-functional team structure strongly suggest an agile development methodology.

• Integrated Systems Thinking: The company's approach to energy solutions (solar, batteries, heat pumps, e-mobility as one system) reflects a holistic, systems-level thinking that permeates their product development.

Company Website: https://1komma5.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission and technological focus (AI in energy) are central to its culture. For operations roles, understanding this mission is key to aligning personal values and demonstrating genuine interest. The scaleup nature means processes might still be evolving, requiring adaptability.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level "Working Student" position, providing foundational experience in Product Design with a strong AI and mobile app focus. It's an excellent stepping stone for individuals aspiring to roles in Product Design, UX/UI Design, or even Design Operations.

Reporting Structure: The Working Student will report to a lead within the B2C mobile app team, likely a Senior Product Designer, Design Lead, or potentially a Product Manager, who will provide guidance and mentorship.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability and adoption of the Heartbeat app, which is central to 1KOMMA5°'s vision of integrating energy systems and transitioning households to renewables. By improving the app's user experience, the designer contributes to customer satisfaction, engagement, and the overall success of the company's mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-first design methodologies, mobile app design patterns, and user research techniques through hands-on project work.

• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience in the rapidly growing renewable energy and cleantech sectors, a field with increasing demand for skilled professionals.

• Full-Time Conversion: The role explicitly mentions "best chances of entering full-time" post-graduation, offering a clear pathway into a permanent role within a leading European scaleup.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Work alongside experienced engineers, product managers, and data scientists, learning about other aspects of product development and operations.

• Impactful Projects: Contribute to projects that have a significant environmental impact, aligning personal career goals with a meaningful mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "growth opportunities" section is crucial for students. Highlighting the potential for full-time conversion and skill development in a high-impact industry is a key selling point. The emphasis on "AI-first" and "data synthesis" points towards a future where design operations is increasingly intertwined with AI and data analytics.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role offers a hybrid work model. While remote work within Germany is supported, the company maintains physical office spaces in Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich. This allows for in-person collaboration, team events, and access to office resources when beneficial.

Office Location(s):

• Berlin: Rollbergstraße C/O Impact Hub 28A, 12053 Berlin

• Hamburg: Neuer Wall 35, 20354 Hamburg

• Munich: 80331 München Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional teams suggest a collaborative workspace, whether in-person or virtual. The presence of physical hubs facilitates spontaneous interactions and team cohesion.

• Tools & Technology: The team utilizes modern design and collaboration tools, including Figma, Cursor, Notion, and Linear, providing a robust technological environment for design work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with core decision-makers and colleagues are present, fostering a culture of open communication and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: As a Working Student, the schedule is expected to be flexible and part-time, typically 15-20 hours per week, designed to accommodate academic commitments. The company's dynamic scaleup environment means that while flexibility is provided, efficiency and productivity within working hours are valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and specific office locations are important for candidates to consider. The mention of "Impact Hub" in Berlin suggests a co-working space environment, which can foster a dynamic and interconnected atmosphere.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review focusing on academic background, portfolio quality, and demonstrated AI design skills. Expect a request for a portfolio link.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: An interview focused on your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss specific projects, your role, design decisions, the challenges faced, and the impact of your work, with a particular emphasis on AI integration and mobile design.

• Skills & Fit Interview: This stage will likely assess your understanding of UX processes, mobile app design principles, and your collaborative abilities. Questions about how you use AI in design and your approach to problem-solving will be prominent.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager or team lead to evaluate cultural fit, motivation, and your understanding of 1KOMMA5°'s mission. You may be asked about your career aspirations and how this role fits into them.

• Potential Practical Exercise: While not explicitly stated, some companies may include a small design challenge or take-home exercise to assess practical skills, especially for student roles.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly articulate how you used AI tools in your projects and the tangible benefits achieved (e.g., time saved, improved quality, novel solutions). Use specific examples.

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: For at least one project, walk through the entire process from problem definition to shipped product, detailing your contributions, challenges, and learnings.

• Focus on Mobile App Design: Ensure your portfolio includes strong examples of mobile UI/UX, demonstrating an understanding of platform conventions and user flows.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs or the efficiency gained through AI. If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the expected impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations to tell a compelling narrative about each project, focusing on the problem, your process, the solution, and the outcome.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Cursor, Notion, and Linear, and how you leverage them effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to answer questions about how you would approach specific design challenges related to the Heartbeat app or energy concepts.

• AI Application: Be ready to discuss creative ways AI could be applied to improve user experience or design workflows within the company's context.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would collaborate with engineers and product managers on complex features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI integration," "end-to-end ownership," and "synthesizing complex data" in the interview preparation directly mirrors the operational aspects of managing design projects and processes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is expected for creating polished interfaces and interactive prototypes.

• Cursor: An AI-first code editor that also has design capabilities. Its inclusion suggests a potential for closer integration between design and development workflows, or AI-assisted design tasks.

• Notion: A versatile workspace for documentation, project management, and knowledge sharing. Expected to be used for design documentation, research synthesis, and team collaboration.

• Linear: A modern issue tracking and project management tool, often used by fast-growing tech companies for agile development. Familiarity suggests an understanding of efficient development workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, a Product Designer on a mobile app team would likely interact with analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Firebase Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

• Data from user research and testing will also be a key input for design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how user data flows from the app into CRM or other backend systems might be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of specific tools like Figma, Cursor, Notion, and Linear is critical. For an operations-focused enhancer, this highlights the company's investment in modern, integrated workflows and the expectation that candidates are proficient with these systems to ensure smooth process execution. The inclusion of "Cursor" is particularly noteworthy, signaling an embrace of AI in the development and design toolchain.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• AI-First & Innovation: A core value is leveraging AI to drive innovation and efficiency, not just in product features but also in internal processes like design.

• Impact & Mission-Driven: A strong emphasis on contributing to the energy transition and making a tangible positive impact on climate change. This fosters a sense of purpose and dedication.

• Ownership & Agency: Encouraging individuals to take initiative, spot opportunities, and drive projects forward without constant oversight.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where cross-functional teams work closely together, share knowledge openly, and communicate effectively.

• Builder Mindset: A culture that values creation, iteration, and bringing ideas to life, rather than just theoretical discussions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work hand-in-hand with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Scientists, integrating design into the broader development process from the outset.

• Feedback-Oriented: The culture likely encourages constructive feedback exchange to refine designs and processes.

• Agile & Iterative: Working in a fast-paced scaleup implies an iterative approach to problem-solving and product development, with regular touchpoints and adjustments.

• Proactive Communication: Given the remote and hybrid setup, proactive and clear communication is essential for effective collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the company's values is key to assessing cultural fit. For operations roles, values like "AI-First," "Ownership," and "Collaboration" are particularly relevant as they shape how work is done and how teams interact to achieve goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Domain: Navigating the technical complexities of the energy sector and translating them into user-friendly app experiences can be challenging.

• AI Integration Nuances: Effectively integrating AI into the design workflow requires experimentation and adaptation, as AI tools and capabilities are rapidly evolving.

• Balancing Academic & Professional Commitments: As a working student, managing workload and deadlines effectively to meet both academic and professional expectations is a primary challenge.

• Fast-Paced Environment: The scaleup nature means priorities can shift, requiring adaptability and the ability to work efficiently under pressure.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a hybrid/remote setup requires deliberate effort and strong communication skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Gain hands-on experience and develop expertise in cutting-edge AI tools and their application in product design.

• Mobile App Design Mastery: Refine skills in designing for mobile platforms, understanding best practices and user expectations.

• Industry Insight: Develop a deep understanding of the renewable energy market, its technologies, and its operational intricacies.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Learn from experienced professionals in Product Management, Engineering, and Data Science, broadening your understanding of the product development ecosystem.

• Career Pathway: Direct opportunity to transition into a full-time role within a rapidly growing company, offering significant long-term career growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Highlighting challenges and how they translate into growth opportunities is crucial. For operations-minded candidates, understanding how to navigate complexity and leverage new technologies like AI is a key development area.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used AI tools to significantly improve a design project. What was the challenge, what tools did you use, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on AI integration and impact.)

• "Walk us through a mobile app feature you designed end-to-end. What was the problem, your process, the key decisions, and how did you collaborate with engineers?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership and collaboration.)

• "Imagine you need to design a feature that visualizes a household's real-time energy consumption and generation. How would you approach this, considering complex data and user understanding?" (Focus on data synthesis and UX process.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest AI design tools and trends, and how do you evaluate their potential application in your work?" (Focus on continuous learning and AI adoption.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about 1KOMMA5°'s mission to accelerate the energy transition?" (Demonstrate alignment with company values.)

• "How do you see AI impacting the future of product design, and what role do you want to play in that evolution?" (Assess forward-thinking and AI passion.)

• "Describe your ideal working relationship with product managers and engineers." (Evaluate collaboration style.)

• "How do you approach receiving and giving constructive feedback within a team?" (Assess communication and team dynamics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the AI/design solutions, and the results/learnings.

• Quantify AI Benefits: Be specific about how AI tools improved efficiency, quality, or creativity. Use metrics where possible.

• Showcase Mobile Fluency: Highlight specific mobile design patterns and considerations within your case studies.

• Narrative Flow: Tell a compelling story for each project, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and thought process.

• Tool Demonstration: Be prepared to briefly show how you use Figma and discuss your experience with Cursor, Notion, and Linear.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to probe for operational skills: process, problem-solving, collaboration, and strategic thinking, particularly through the lens of AI adoption and its impact on design workflows.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this working student position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the 1KOMMA5° careers page.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your AI-native design skills, end-to-end ownership, and mobile app design proficiency. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your process (especially AI integration), your solutions, and any measurable impact.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant coursework, any previous design experience (even academic projects), your proficiency with design tools (Figma, Cursor, etc.), and your enthusiasm for AI and sustainability. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio projects concisely, focusing on storytelling, your specific contributions, and the outcomes. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your design decisions and the AI tools you employed.

• Research 1KOMMA5°: Thoroughly understand the company's mission, products (especially the Heartbeat app), and their vision for the energy transition. Be prepared to articulate why you are passionate about their work and how your skills align with their goals.

⚠️ 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.