Head of Design, AI Builder (all genders)

Babbel; Berlin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Babbel Labs, an AI-first, independent unit within the Babbel group based in Berlin, is seeking an experienced product designer to lead the design craft, shape the product’s direction, run discovery, and deliver high‑quality work.

You’ll guide the design team, work across AI‑powered language learning experiences, prototype in code with SwiftUI and HTML, and collaborate with engineers, linguists and product managers in a fast, hybrid setup.

Qualifications

• Proven design leadership with shipping experience.
• Polished UI craft and motion design essential for learning experiences.
• Hands-on prototyping in code using SwiftUI and HTML/CSS/JS.
• AI fluency; using tools like Claude Code as part of design process.
• Knowledge of design systems and coaching designers to raise standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead design across discovery and delivery, owning AI-first design decisions.
• Design AI-powered language learning experiences and interactions.
• Prototype in code to test ideas and produce vision prototypes.
• Collaborate with engineers, PMs, linguists and language learning specialists.
• Coach and mentor the design team toward consistent AI-first practices.

Skills

Design leadership

UI craft

Motion design

Prototyping in code

AI fluency

Design systems

Coaching mindset

Clear communication

Ambiguity tolerance

Tools

Claude Code

Figma

SwiftUI

HTML/CSS/JS

Job description

ABOUT BABBEL LABS

Babbel Labs is building the future of language learning. We are an AI-first, independent company within the Babbel group, based in Berlin. Our teams bring AI, research and product together to ship experiences that set a new standard for how people learn.

THE ROLE

We're a small, fast-moving team rethinking how people learn languages with AI. We're looking for an experienced product designer to take over hands‑on design leadership: shaping the product’s direction, running discovery, and getting work delivered.

This is a design leadership and mentoring role, not a people management role. You'll guide the craft and direction of the design team. Speed, precision and quality are how we work. You'll set the pace. You'll work AI-first, using various ways to test ideas quickly and turning the best ones into experiences that are ready to hand off.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Lead design across discovery and delivery, owning key design decisions for AI-first language learning experiences.
• Design AI-powered learning experiences. Shape how learners interact with AI, from conversation and voice to feedback that stays clear and trustworthy even when the AI gets things wrong.
• Work as an AI builder. Use AI tools first to speed up research, exploring ideas, prototyping and delivery.
• Prototype in code. Build prototypes in SwiftUI and HTML to test ideas and produce vision prototypes that are ready to hand off.
• Design with Claude Code and Figma together. Figma is one tool among several here, not where every project starts.
• Coach and mentor the small, experienced design team, who also work as AI builders, and help them share one set of AI-first design principles.
• Work across disciplines with engineers, product managers, linguists and language learning specialists.

YOUR SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven design leadership. Solid experience leading product design, with a record of shipping work that users actually adopted.
• Excellent UI craft and motion design. Learning happens moment by moment, so polished interfaces and purposeful motion are essential to a great learning experience.
• Hands‑on prototyping in code. You're comfortable in SwiftUI and HTML/CSS/JS and can build things people can use and test.
• AI fluency. You use AI tools like Claude Code as a real part of how you design, not an add-on.
• Design systems know-how. A working knowledge of design systems and how they make teams faster and more consistent.
• A coaching mindset. Experience coaching designers and raising a team’s standards through example, feedback and shared practices.
• Clear communication. You work well with technical and non-technical partners, including specialists like linguists and learning designers.
• Comfort with ambiguity. You thrive on fast iteration and figuring things out as you go.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

• Room to learn new tools as they arrive. Try them on real work as soon as they come out, and help decide what the team adopts.
• A consumer product used around the world. Design for a live product that real learners use every day, globally.
• A competitive salary.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Delivery-ready prototypes. Prototypes that give engineering and stakeholders a clear vision to build from.
• Faster, better design work. Quality and speed improve through AI tools and design systems.
• An aligned design team. A team that is coached, confident and aligned on AI-first design principles.

WAYS OF WORKING

This is a hands‑on design leadership role on a small, experienced design team that works AI‑first. AI tools are built into how the whole team works every day, from discovery to delivery. It is hybrid: a mix of time together in the office and working remotely.

DIVERSITY AT BABBEL

As part of our ongoing journey towards building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company, we welcome everyone to apply, especially individuals who are underrepresented in tech. We are a learning company, inside and out, and we encourage you to apply even if you do not fit all the technical requirements — all candidates are assessed based on skills, qualifications, and our business needs. Please state your pronouns in your application, and let us know if you'd like to be addressed by a name other than the one appearing on your official documents. If you have a disability or special need, feel welcome to inform us so we can provide proper assistance in the application process.