Principal Product Designer Lisboa

Overview

Principal Product Designer – Zendesk, Lisbon, Portugal. Drive product innovation and excellence for Zendesk Copilot, one of our AI focused experiences. Shape the direction of complex,
- impact design initiatives and influence product development at the organizational level. Partner closely with
- functional leadership to align design strategy with business goals, championing
- centered, inclusive design practices.

This role is for a systems thinker and craftsperson who thrives on solving complex problems, mentoring other designers, and driving strategic outcomes. You’ll be part of a collaborative design organization that values curiosity, clarity, and courage—and where your work will have a measurable impact on customers and the business.

What You'll Do

• Drive the design vision and strategy across a product area, aligning with company goals and
  - term roadmaps.
• Shape
  -
  - end product experiences that solve real user problems, deliver business value, and differentiate us in the market.
• Partner with senior leaders across Product, Engineering, and Research to drive
  - centric
  - making at scale.
• Conduct competitive analysis and identify emerging trends to keep the organization ahead of market shifts.

Strategic Design Leadership

• Lead design initiatives that impact multiple teams, navigating ambiguity to drive clarity and alignment.
• Actively contribute to key product planning and prioritization conversations, connecting design insights to product outcomes.
• Translate complex design concepts into language that resonates with senior stakeholders and influences company direction.

Impact & Influence

• Translate design concepts into strategic recommendations that inform product direction.
• Collaborate with executives to shape roadmaps and prioritize initiatives based on user value and business impact.

Design Excellence

• Set the bar for quality, craft, and inclusive design practices across the product design organization.
• Apply deep expertise in interaction and systems design to deliver thoughtful, scalable solutions.
• Leverage research and data to inform, validate, and evolve design decisions throughout the product development cycle.

Mentorship & Community

• Mentor and coach designers across teams, helping them grow in craft, confidence, and impact.
• Serve as a thought leader within the design organization and broader company, sharing knowledge and elevating our design practice.
• Model inclusive leadership and actively integrate
  - centered design principles into everyday work.

Who You Are

• Seasoned product designer with deep experience in enterprise,
  - facing, or related software and a proven track record of shipping complex products at scale.
• Strategic thinker who can zoom in and out—from
  - level vision to precise interaction details—based on what’s needed.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to influence, align, and build trust with
  - functional stakeholders at all levels.
• Systems-level designer who thrives in complexity, designs for scale, and connects product systems to human needs.
• Advocate for inclusive, accessible design who actively embeds equity into process, product, and team culture.
• Proficient in
  - centered design methods such as journey mapping, JTBD, prototyping, and design critiques.
• Passionate about growing others through mentorship, coaching, or
  - building within the design org.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive product design experience with a portfolio that demonstrates making emerging technologies usable, trusted, and
  - centered.
• Experience designing for complex workflows,
  - scale products, or systems thinking at scale.
• Familiarity with design systems, component architecture, and accessibility standards.
• Bonus: Experience designing customer service platforms or productivity tools for customer support agents.

Hybrid

Hybrid: The role requires part
- office presence with flexibility for remote work portion of the week. Specific
- office schedule set by the hiring manager.

Company & Inclusion

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. We are an equal opportunity employer and are proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, and inclusion. We hire without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights, please click here. We strive to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you require accommodation to submit your application or participate in the selection process, please email peopleandplaces@zendesk.com with your request.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology; Industries: Software Development

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Zendesk. Get notified about new Principal Product Designer jobs in Lisbon, Portugal.