Senior UI/UX Designer (Product Designer)

Our client is a Vienna-based PropTech startup (MVP launched in March 2025) with the goal of building the world’s greatest real estate portal: AI-powered search, interactive maps, virtual furnishing, one-click application & move-in, CRM integrations.

With over 40,000 verified properties already live and growing fast, our target for this year is to become one of the Top 3 real estate platforms in Austria. Within three years, we aim to stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe’s leading players — Idealista, ImmoScout24, and SeLoger.
 

We’re looking for a Senior UI/UX Designer (Product Designer) to own the entire product experience, design system, and visual identity.

This is a foundational design hire — you’ll set the standard for how our product looks, feels, and behaves before a larger design team exists.

You’ll work closely with the founders and engineering team to establish the design DNA of product: defining principles, refining UX flows, and ensuring consistency and excellence across every interaction.

This role will evolve over time into Design Lead / Head of Design, as the product and company scale.

What You’ll Do

• Own and develop the product`s design system in Figma — components, tokens, variants, documentation, and guidelines for developers.
• Audit and refine broken or unfinished flows, improving UX in high-impact areas first (search, listings, onboarding, filters).
• Create visual and interaction principles — color, typography, spacing, hierarchy, motion — ensuring a cohesive and intentional look & feel.
• Collaborate directly with frontend engineers to maintain velocity and avoid design bottlenecks.
• Balance UX and branding: build a consistent product experience first, evolve visuals and marketing touchpoints second.
• Establish a process for scalable design delivery: from ideation and research → to prototype → to production-ready Figma specs.
• Contribute to product direction: research global competitors, benchmark experiences, and propose smarter, simpler solutions.
• Gradually take ownership of product discovery, helping define features and priorities alongside the CEO and CTO.
   

Tools & Environment

• Figma (core tool) – for design, prototyping, systems, and collaboration.
• FigJam / Miro – for mapping user journeys and flows.
• Direct collaboration with frontend – (Next.js, Tailwind, Zustand, Mapbox) — you’ll help translate design logic into implementation-ready assets.
• Async & fast-moving workflow – minimal bureaucracy, high ownership.
   

Must-have

• 5+ years of experience as a Product / UI/UX Designer for modern digital products.
• PREVIOUS PRODUCT EXP - MUST HAVE (the company does not consider candidates from consulting, etc, only from product)
• Proven track record of designing systematic, component-based interfaces (Figma libraries, variables, auto layout).
• Strong UX expertise: user flows, IA, usability, accessibility (WCAG AA).
• Solid visual craft: typography, layout, hierarchy, and attention to detail.
• Experience collaborating closely with developers on production-level features.
• Ability to work autonomously and structure design processes from scratch.
• Excellent English communication skills and product mindset.
   

Nice-to-have

• Experience designing for marketplaces or real estate platforms.
• Understanding of frontend constraints (React, Tailwind, design tokens).
• Exposure to brand identity systems or light motion/illustration direction.
• Previous experience as first designer in a startup or small team.
   

Contract & Compensation

• Type: B2B via Deel (remote, full-time).
• Availability: Full-time with high initial intensity (first 3–6 months to production readiness).
• Phase 1: Freelance contract via Deel (includes health insurance).
• Phase 2: Transition to full-time employment after v1 product completion.
   

Benefits

• Health insurance via Deel (Phase 1).
• 15 paid vacation days per year + flexible time-off policy (“output > hours”).
• Equity: Phantom share program (1-year cliff, 3-year quarterly vesting; up to 2% for top talent).
• Performance reviews: after 1 month, then twice per year.
• Equipment: BYOD (standardized later).
• Remote / Hybrid within EU or nearby time zones.
• Payment: monthly via Deel — on time, no admin hassle.
• Growth: early hire → Design Lead → Head of Design as the team scales.
   

Interview Process

1. Initial interview with CEO (Constantin): motivation, ownership, and product-thinking.
2. Portfolio & UX deep-dive: review of Figma files, design systems, and problem-solving approach.
3. Practical design challenge: short audit of one product flow + proposal of UX improvements (≈4–6 hours).
4. Final discussion with CEO & CTO: alignment on collaboration, next steps, and first 90-day goals.
    

Why Join Us?

You’ll be the first designer, defining how millions of users experience real estate online — from first search to final move-in.
If you’re driven by craft, clarity, and impact, and want to shape both the product and the brand DNA of a fast-growing PropTech startup, this is your opportunity.