Rakuten Group

Rakuten, founded in 1997, is a Global Innovation Company based in Japan. With over 70 diverse businesses spanning e-commerce, digital content, fintech, and communications, and 32,000 employees, we serve 1.6 billion members worldwide. Our mission is to empower people and society through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Rakuten Tech in Europe

Rakuten Tech in Europe, a part of the Rakuten Group's Global Innovation Hub, serves as the regional hub for the European-based members of the Technology Division. We provide and optimize global platforms to support businesses within the Rakuten Ecosystem, tailoring them to specific use cases in Europe and beyond.

With over 130 members across 7 countries and 12 offices, our presence spans France (Paris), Spain (Barcelona), UK (Belfast and London), Estonia (Tallinn), and Germany (Berlin). Our diverse team is formed of more than 20 nationalities and collaborates with all members of the Technology Divisions on a regular basis.

As Digital Product Designer in the Membership Platform Department (MPD), the role is to design and deliver user-centered digital products that enhance the experience of Rakuten’s membership platforms. This person will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams across the USA, Europe, India and Japan to ensure that our digital products meet user needs, align with business goals, and maintain Rakuten’s high standards for design and usability.

Key Responsibilities:

Design and Development of Digital Products

Create user-centered designs for digital products within the Membership Platform Department, ensuring usability and functionality. Develop wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs using Figma to communicate design concepts effectively. Build and maintain reusable components and design libraries within Rakuten’s design system (ReX) to ensure consistency across products. Apply responsive design principles to create interfaces optimized for various devices and screen sizes.

Collaboration Across Teams

Work horizontally with global teams (US, EU, and Japan) to align on design goals, requirements, and deliverables. Collaborate with product managers to translate business requirements into actionable design solutions. Partner with engineers to ensure the technical feasibility of designs and provide detailed design specifications for implementation. Use tools like Jira and Confluence to manage tasks, document workflows, and track progress.

User Research and Data-Driven Design

Conduct user research, including surveys, interviews, and usability testing, to gather insights and validate design decisions. Analyze user behavior using tools like Maze to inform design improvements. Apply A/B testing and iterative design processes to optimize user experiences based on data and feedback.

Documentation and Communication

Document design processes, workflows, and decisions to ensure alignment across teams and stakeholders. Create detailed design specifications and interaction guidelines for developers to ensure accurate implementation. Present design concepts and prototypes to stakeholders, clearly articulating design rationale and user impact.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Ensure all designs comply with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to create inclusive experiences for all users. Use tools like Stark to test and validate accessibility in designs.

Design Advocacy and Innovation

Stay updated on industry trends, tools, and emerging technologies to incorporate innovative solutions into design work. Advocate for design thinking and user-centered design principles within the organization. Experiment with advanced prototyping tools like Framer or ProtoPie to explore complex interactions and animations.

Multi-Project Management

Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Organize tasks, track progress, and ensure timely delivery of design assets.

Professional Experience

• 3-5 years of experience in Digital Product Design, preferably for web, mobile and responsive platforms.
• Proven track record of working on end-to-end product design (from research and ideation to prototyping and final delivery).
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with experience on international businesses and teams.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, effectively interacting with business representatives, product managers, developers and QA engineers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Comfortable communicating with non-native English speakers. 

UX/UI Expertise

• Strong knowledge of user-centered design principles and best practices.
• Experience conducting user research and usability testing.
• Ability to create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Understanding of information architecture and interaction design.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and designing for inclusivity.
• Strong understanding of design systems and the ability to create and maintain them. 

Technical Knowledge

• Proficiency in product design tools (e.g., Figma), and design handoff tools (e.g., Figma Inspect).
• Experience in responsive design tools (e.g., Webflow), usability testing and prototype validation tools (e.g., Maze).

• Strong knowledge on tools for brainstorming, for user journey mapping and for collaborative workshops (e.g., Miro, FigJam).
• Proficiency in documentation tools (e.g., Confluence, Microsoft Word, Google Docs), presentation tools (e.g., PowerPoint, Canva, Google Slides) and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams).
• Knowledge of Agile development processes and working in sprints, and task management tools (e.g., JIRA), and tools for UX project collaboration and documentation (e.g., Notion).

• Basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (not necessarily coding, but enough to collaborate effectively with developers). 

Soft Skills

• Self organized, good time management and prioritization, with the ability to progress and deliver in time while working on more than one project at a time.
• Ability to present and articulate design decisions to stakeholders and justify them with research and data.
• A problem-solving mindset and the ability to think critically about user needs and business goals.
• Adaptability to work in a fast-paced, iterative environment with changing priorities.
• Experience working with global teams and designing for multilingual/multicultural audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in design or equivalent field (e.g. Graphic Design, Interaction Design, UX Design, Visual Arts) or in other fields (e.g. Business, Communications) with relevant experience.
• Certification in UX/UI Design (e.g. Ironhack).

Key Attributes for Success

• A passion for creating intuitive and delightful user experiences, with focus on quality and usability, which can be measured in client experience and collected data.
• A growth mindset and eagerness to learn new tools, techniques, and trends in design, and contribute to Rakuten design systems and processes.
• An ability to collaborate effectively with global teams to meet project goals and deadlines. 

Benefits

• Benefits

• Annual bonus
• Stock-option
• Flexible working hours
• Access to learning and career development resources
• Access to certifications and tech conferences
• Being part of multicultural teams with more than 20 nationalities
• Extra time off during your Birthday and Company anniversary
• Possibility to organize your time to have your Fridays afternoons off
• A brand new office with all modern conveniences and sea view
• Rakuten TV Flex : 57 per month to spend on healthcare, food, commute, kindergarten
• 16 hours of volunteering actions per year

As an employer, Rakuten Tech in Europe is committed to developing an inclusive working environment. Access to employment is open to all, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or social status.

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