Director of Product Design

Europe's leading AI company since 2017, is dedicated to breaking down language barriers and bringing cultures closer together. Our expertise in AI and neural networks has enabled us to create cutting-edge communication technologies for businesses, including the acclaimed DeepL Translator which offers 30+ languages, and DeepL Write, our AI writing companion. Our core offering includes a suite of products and tools made for businesses to communicate more effectively, both internally and with their customers around the globe.

Our goal is to become the global leader in Language AI and build products that help drive better communication, drive connection, and make real-life impact. To do that, we need talented people, like you, who want to be a part of this exciting journey. If you're ready to work with a dynamic team and build your career in the fast-moving AI space, DeepL is your next destination.

**What sets us apart**

We are committed to innovation and to a nurturing work environment. Founded by developers and researchers, we spend a lot of time actively reviewing the latest trends in generative AI and software engineering. Known for pioneering AI technologies, we dive deep into cutting-edge research to create not only translations, but advanced language solutions. Combining our use of modern technology, comprehensive employee benefits with our open and welcoming work culture is what sets us apart.

When we tell people about DeepL as an employer, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. Maybe it's because of the products that have helped countless people worldwide, or maybe it's because of our shared goal of improving communication for individuals and businesses worldwide. What we're certain of is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team committed to innovation and the well-being of its employees.

**Meet the team behind this journey**

As the Director of Product Design team, you will lead new product development, talent recruitment and development, collaboration and design processes across the entire product portfolio. Together with product and engineering leadership, you will shape the business’ product strategy and leverage user research insights to shape business opportunities. Clear communication of company strategy and balancing business and user needs will be essential. You will lead your team to establish the highest levels of craftsmanship and ensure the maximum impact across our teams.

**Your responsibilities**
- Lead product design across a large established product organisation of 40+ teams
- Nurture, grow, and develop design talent in the team
- Foster collaborative culture and develop and improve design processes across the organization
- Champion brand, copy and design standards
- Support and promote the development of a company wide design system and ensure their use
- Partner with Product and Engineering to define product strategy
- Ensure impact of the craft across the business
- In collaboration with user research, develop and promote a deep understanding of users and their needs company wide
- Shape product and business opportunities.
- Communicate company strategy to their team and help navigate business and user needs tradeoffs
- Ensure the highest level of design craftsmanship and impact of the whole design team

**Qualities we look for**
- 10+ years of product/UX design
- At least 5 years of successful management of designers in multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience setting product design vision in a product area of multiple teams/platforms.
- Business leadership acumen - you set high expectations for the craft and commercial awareness within our teams.
- Experience with driving the whole product lifecycle - research, prototyping, iterative development and testing, launch, and continuous improvement.
- Extensive knowledge of design processes.
- You base your decisions on facts, not opinion, and always seek to validate your assumptions.
- Solution-oriented and result-driven.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Resilient and able to deal with uncertainty.
- Fluent in English.

**What we offer**
- ** Diverse and internationally distributed team**: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities. We're more than just colleagues; we're a group of professionals with a shared mission to connect diverse cultures. Our global presence is growing-we've doubled in size nearly every year, with our employees based in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the US, and Japan, and we continue to expand our network.
- ** Open communication, regular feedback**: as a language-focused company, we value the importance of clear, honest communication. We value smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback, and believe that leading with empathy makes us better together.
- ** Remote work, flexible hours**: whether you're near or in our hubs in cities like Cologne, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, or prefer the