Staff Product Designer, Mobile focus

About the role

KAYAK is seeking a Staff Product Designer with a mobile focus to define and elevate the direction of our consumer applications. In this role, you will own the design vision for key mobile products, ensuring consistency and excellence across a fragmented landscape. You will mentor and elevate the work of other designers, establishing design standards that resonate throughout multiple engineering teams. This position requires active participation in hands-on design work while also shaping the broader design discourse within the organization. You will act as a critical thought partner for product managers and engineers, translating complex requirements into intuitive mobile experiences. Your work will directly influence how millions of users interact with travel technology on a daily basis. You will be responsible for maintaining a cohesive design language that bridges platform-specific guidelines with our unique brand identity. Ultimately, you will drive the craft of mobile design to a new level, setting a benchmark for quality and innovation.

Key facts

What you'll do

Conduct deep user research to uncover mobile-specific pain points and translate findings into actionable design strategies.

Architect mobile interaction flows and interface details that prioritize clarity, performance, and delightful user engagement.

Develop and maintain a scalable mobile design system that ensures consistency and efficiency across all product lines.

Collaborate closely with engineering partners to translate design concepts into high-fidelity, production-ready specifications.

Leverage quantitative data and qualitative insights to iterate on designs and validate success through measurable outcomes.

Mentor junior and mid-level designers by providing constructive feedback and fostering a culture of design excellence.

Establish design best practices and influence standards that elevate the entire organization's mobile design language.

Utilize advanced prototyping tools to create interactive mockups that communicate vision and facilitate stakeholder alignment.

Employ Figma and AI-assisted design tools like Claude Code or Cursor to accelerate workflows and explore innovative solutions.

Champion accessibility principles to ensure mobile experiences are usable and inclusive for a diverse range of users.

Translate complex business objectives into clear design narratives that guide product decisions and stakeholder consensus.

Proactively identify design opportunities and drive initiatives that enhance the user journey across the mobile touchpoints.

Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution to deliver polished, pixel-perfect mobile interfaces on schedule.

Act as the primary design authority for mobile products, representing the discipline in cross-functional planning and prioritization sessions.

Requirements

You must possess over 10 years of professional product design experience with a portfolio that prominently features impactful mobile projects at a consumer level.

You must demonstrate extensive knowledge of iOS and Android design principles, including a deep familiarity with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and Material Design specifications.

You must have a proven ability to elevate design quality across a discipline, influencing standards and practices that extend beyond your own direct projects.

You must have experience guiding design direction across various teams, showing a strong knack for influencing without direct authority or hierarchical power.

You must have a background in developing, refining, or evangelizing mobile design systems and creating scalable design patterns that stand the test of time.

You must be proficient in Figma and possess familiarity with AI-assisted design tools such as Claude Code or Cursor to enhance modern workflows.

You must be able to utilize quantitative data and qualitative research to inform design decisions and rigorously evaluate the results of those decisions.

You must hold a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, or Master of Fine Arts in Design, or equivalent hands-on experience that demonstrates the same level of competence.

Nice to have

You have experience in managing or leading design teams, which is a significant advantage for this individual contributor position.

You have a demonstrated history of driving design vision that aligns with measurable business outcomes and key performance indicators.

You have formal education in design, such as a BA, BFA, or MFA, or equivalent hands-on experience that fills the same role.

Practical notes

This position requires working from the Berlin office at least three days per week to ensure seamless collaboration and alignment.

KAYAK offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes mental health support, generous vacation time, and ample opportunities for professional development.

The role is based in Berlin and does not require travel or visa sponsorship at this time.

This position is open to full-time professional candidates who can commit to the long-term success of the team.