Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of intuitive, AI-native user experiences for a groundbreaking marketplace.
- Company: Join Downstream, a fast-scaling startup transforming the construction industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, and the chance to shape innovative product experiences.
- Other info: Collaborate with a dynamic team and mentor future designers as we grow.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in an underserved industry with cutting-edge design and technology.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in UI/UX design and a passion for AI-driven solutions.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
Head of Product Design (UI/UX, AI-Forward) – Contractor
Downstream · Open to employees in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
About Downstream
Downstream is transforming the construction industry by building a marketplace for equipment rentals, portable toilets, and roll-off dumpsters. We are scaling fast. Our vision: bring price transparency, automation, and intelligence into one of the most manual, underserved verticals in the economy.
We’re inspired by clean design and modern architecture—and we’re pushing forward with AI-native product thinking, not bolting it on later.
The Role
We’re hiring a Head of Product Design (UI/UX) who is obsessed with creating intuitive, elegant, and impactful user experiences. You’ve shipped something before—whether at a startup that scaled, a product that users loved, or a platform that redefined a workflow. You know the pain of turning complex problems into simple, usable solutions, and you want another shot at shaping an industry from 0 → 1.
At Downstream, you’ll work directly with our CEO, CTO, and Product team to:
- Define and own the design vision for our marketplace, supplier tools, and customer experience.
- Lead end-to-end design for web and mobile, including UX flows, UI systems, and visual identity.
- Architect AI-native product experiences that feel intuitive, not artificial—helping users trust automation and agents in critical workflows.
- Collaborate with engineers and product managers to ship fast: prototype, test, iterate, and refine.
- Build and scale our design system so we can move quickly without sacrificing quality.
Responsibilities
- Drive the product design strategy across customer, supplier, and internal platforms.
- Build and maintain UI/UX standards that reflect simplicity, trust, and efficiency.
- Design AI-native experiences—where agentic systems interact seamlessly with users, data, and decisions.
- Conduct user research and usability testing with construction industry stakeholders.
- Mentor and grow a design team as we scale.
What We’re Looking For
- Battle-tested designer: You’ve shipped real products (startup, marketplace, SaaS, or similar).
- AI-forward mindset: You don’t just add AI—you design around it, making it feel natural and empowering.
- Builder’s DNA: Comfortable with ambiguity, speed, and iteration. You’ve felt the pain of building in the real world and still want more.
- Technical & design skills:
- UI/UX design (Figma, Sketch, or equivalent)
- Strong UX research and prototyping chops
- Design systems and component libraries
- Understanding of modern frontend frameworks (bonus: Flutter, React)
- Experience designing for AI interactions (chat, agents, workflows)
- Startup mentality: Hands-on, resourceful, willing to go beyond your job title.
- Industry experience: Construction tech or marketplaces a huge plus—someone who can empathize with our users.
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience in marketplaces, logistics, SaaS, or fintech.
- Familiarity with B2B workflows and procurement tools.
- Contributions to open-source design systems or AI products.
Why Downstream
- Early-stage, high-growth startup with real traction.
- Work with a small, sharp, and ambitious product + engineering team.
- Opportunity to shape AI-native product experiences in an industry that hasn’t seen this level of innovation before.
- Competitive salary + equity
Head of Product Design (UI/UX, AI-Forward) - Contractor Role employer: Downstream
Contact Detail:
Downstream Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product Design (UI/UX, AI-Forward) - Contractor Role
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your work! Create a portfolio that highlights your best UI/UX projects, especially those that showcase your AI-forward thinking. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing—just like the designs you create!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common design questions and scenarios. Think about how you’d tackle real-world problems in the construction tech space. We want to see your thought process and how you approach design challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission at Downstream.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product Design (UI/UX, AI-Forward) - Contractor Role
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Design: When you’re writing your application, let your love for design shine through! Share examples of your past work that highlight your ability to create intuitive and elegant user experiences. We want to see how you’ve tackled complex problems and turned them into simple solutions.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Head of Product Design role. Highlight your experience with AI-native product thinking and how you've successfully shipped products in the past. This shows us you understand what we’re looking for and that you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
Be Authentic: Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your writing! We appreciate authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are beyond your skills. Share your journey, your design philosophy, and what excites you about the opportunity at Downstream.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and ready to take the next step in your career!
How to prepare for a job interview at Downstream
✨Know Your Design Vision
Before the interview, take some time to really understand Downstream's mission and how they envision transforming the construction industry. Be ready to discuss your own design philosophy and how it aligns with their goals, especially around creating intuitive and impactful user experiences.
✨Showcase Your AI-Forward Thinking
Since this role focuses on AI-native product design, prepare examples of how you've integrated AI into your previous projects. Discuss specific challenges you faced and how you designed solutions that felt natural and empowering for users.
✨Demonstrate Your Prototyping Skills
Bring along a portfolio that highlights your end-to-end design process, including UX flows and prototypes. Be ready to walk through your design decisions and how you iterated based on user feedback, showcasing your ability to ship fast while maintaining quality.
✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions
Expect questions about how you work with cross-functional teams, especially engineers and product managers. Think of examples where you successfully collaborated to overcome obstacles and deliver a product that met user needs, as this will be crucial in the fast-paced environment at Downstream.