Design Systems Lead

YOUR MISSION

Parloa is looking for an experienced Design Systems Lead (f/m/d) to shape the foundation of how we design, scale, and deliver consistent and high-quality experiences across all product and digital touchpoints.

In this role, you'll be responsible for building and evolving a robust, flexible, and scalable design system that not only enables the product team to move efficiently, but also ensures our brand identity is seamlessly reflected across Parloa’s product and web platforms, including in white-labeled environments for partner brands.

This is a strategic, hands-on role at the intersection of platform thinking, design operations, and visual excellence. You’ll work across teams to set the standard for how design is practiced and implemented at Parloa: today and as we grow.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:

• Design System Development & Ownership
  • Lead the evolution of Parloa’s design system to support scalability, white-label customization, and brand fidelity across all products and platforms.
  • Define and maintain a robust, extensible component and token architecture that ensures consistency across interfaces, devices, and markets.
  • Collaborate closely with engineering to develop and document reusable interaction patterns that meet high implementation and accessibility standards.
  • Champion and enforce visual and UI quality standards across all digital touchpoints.
    
    
• DesignOps, Tooling & Governance
  • Establish and lead a design system governance model that supports distributed contribution while maintaining system integrity and cohesion.
  • Define and evolve workflows, naming conventions, and documentation that enable scalable adoption across teams.
  • Own and optimize Figma operations—including component libraries, design tokens, and file structures—to support clarity, efficiency, and team autonomy.
  • Onboard and train designers to use the system effectively, driving adoption through enablement, rituals, and hands-on support.
  • Work cross-functionally with product and engineering teams to deeply integrate the design system into our server-driven UI architecture and development pipelines.
    
    
• Mentorship & Design Culture Leadership
  • Provide ongoing mentorship and feedback to designers, helping them level up their systems thinking and visual execution.
  • Promote systems thinking and design consistency as a cultural pillar within the organization.
  • Contribute to team culture and rituals that reinforce scalable, high-quality design practices.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE:

• 10+ years of experience in product and/or visual design, with 3+ years dedicated to design systems in a scaling tech environment.
• Skilled in crafting highly polished, industry-leading visual executions, with a strong portfolio demonstrating systematized design at scale.
• Proven ability to build or evolve design systems that serve both product development needs and brand expression goals.
• A systems-oriented thinker—you naturally work in components, patterns, tokens, and workflows.
• Deep fluency in Figma and modern design tooling, including libraries, token/variable management, and cross-functional documentation.
• Familiarity with how design systems integrate with front-end development, including technical architectures like server-driven UI (SDUI).
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to align stakeholders and influence product and engineering decisions.
• Experience mentoring designers and guiding teams in using and contributing to design systems.
• Adept at problem-solving, identifying risks, and resolving gaps in complex design or product environments.
• Experience supporting white-label products or platforms with partner branding needs.
• Working knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and awareness of internationalization/localization requirements in product design.
• Comfortable in fast-paced startup or scale-up settings, with an ability to adapt quickly and drive forward momentum.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a strong ability to manage time, resources, and competing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree in a design-related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Fluent in English (native or bilingual proficiency).

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

• Be part of a dynamic, driven team of +40 nationalities with flat hierarchies and a collaborative company culture  
• Hybrid work environment - we believe in hiring the best talent, no matter where they are based. However, we love to build real connections and want to welcome everyone in the office on certain days
• Attractive compensation package
• Training and development budget, which can be used for conferences and attending development courses to ensure continuous professional growth
• Flexible working hours, 28 vacation days, and workation opportunities
• Regular team events, game nights, and other social activities
• And last but not least: a beautiful office with flair in the heart of Berlin with all the conveniences, such as a social area, fresh fruits, cereals, and drinks
• Is something missing here? Reach out, and let's talk about what else you need for your ideal next growth opportunity