Figma Design Systems Specialist - (017-1357)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Figma Design Systems Specialist

Company: Hunt St (Client of an Australian Digital Experience Agency)

Location: Philippines

Job Type: FULL_TIME (Independent Contractor Agreement)

Category: Design Operations / UI/UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-29

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive consistency, scalability, and efficiency in digital experiences through expert Figma design system management.

• Architect, build, and optimize Figma component libraries and design systems from inception to advanced governance.

• Collaborate closely with UI/UX designers and Front-End Developers to ensure seamless design-to-code alignment and adoption.

• Provide hands-on support and mentorship to project teams, enhancing their proficiency in design system utilization and advanced Figma features.

• Contribute to pre-sales and project estimation by leveraging deep expertise in design system strategy and implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is structured as an independent contractor agreement, meaning the candidate will be directly engaged by the client, not through an agency. The compensation is presented monthly in AUD, with a stated range under $2,500 AUD. The role requires alignment with Australian business hours for collaboration, offering flexibility in overall time management. The target candidate is based in the Philippines.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive audits of existing Figma files, libraries, and components to assess quality, scalability, and adoption.

• Identify and consolidate duplicate or inconsistent components, and improve component architecture, naming conventions, and library organization.

• Extend existing design libraries with new components, patterns, and templates, and establish or improve design tokens and Figma variables.

• Support library migration and rationalization activities, and develop robust governance, contribution, and release processes.

• Improve the adoption and consistent usage of design systems across various project teams and client engagements.

• Align Figma assets with front-end component frameworks and Storybook, ensuring design-to-code consistency.

• Establish new Figma libraries and design systems from scratch, defining library structure and information architecture.

• Create foundational styles, tokens, and variable collections, and build scalable components using Auto Layout, variants, properties, and nested components.

• Develop responsive layout systems and standards, and create reusable templates, sections, and page patterns.

• Incorporate accessibility and WCAG requirements into component design and establish documentation, governance, and contribution guidelines.

• Improve design efficiency through reusable assets, workflows, and standards, and mentor designers in advanced Figma and design system practices.

• Provide hands-on support to project teams using existing and new libraries, and collaborate with developers on design-to-code alignment.

• Contribute to project estimation, planning, and pre-sales activities where design system expertise is required.

• Work across multiple client projects and brands, adapting systems to varying levels of digital maturity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are divided into three core areas: Design System Optimization, Design System Creation, and Design Operations & Team Enablement. This structure highlights the dual focus on maintaining and enhancing existing systems, as well as building new ones, while emphasizing the critical aspect of enabling design and development teams through best practices and enablement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in UI/UX principles, information architecture, and digital product design is expected, often acquired through formal education or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in UI, UX, or Product Design, with a significant focus on enterprise-level design systems.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma, including deep understanding of:

  • Components and nested components
  • Variants and component properties
  • Auto Layout
  • Variables and design tokens
  • Responsive component behavior
  • Library publishing and version management

• Demonstrated experience creating and managing enterprise design systems.

• Proven experience in improving and scaling existing design systems.

• Proven experience in building design systems and component libraries from scratch.

• Strong understanding of UI architecture, accessibility standards (WCAG), and responsive design principles.

• Experience producing comprehensive documentation, standards, and governance frameworks for design systems.

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple client engagements concurrently.

• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate complex design system concepts clearly. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Storybook and design-to-code workflows.

• Knowledge of front-end component frameworks and their alignment with design systems.

• Experience with multi-brand or multi-product design systems.

• Agency or consulting experience, particularly within digital experience agencies.

• Experience in enterprise website and digital product delivery.

• Familiarity with Digital Experience Platform (DXP) vendors such as Sitecore, Contentful, Contentstack, and Squiz platforms.

• Proven ability to align Figma design libraries with development component libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize deep, hands-on Figma expertise and practical experience with the full lifecycle of design systems – from creation and scaling to governance and adoption. The preferred skills point towards a candidate who can integrate design systems within broader digital product development ecosystems, including specific DXP platforms and development workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least one comprehensive case study demonstrating the creation or significant enhancement of an enterprise-level Figma design system.

• Include examples of advanced Figma techniques such as Auto Layout, Variants, Properties, Variables, and nested components in action.

• Present evidence of establishing design tokens, design system governance, and contribution models.

• Highlight projects that involved aligning design systems with front-end development frameworks or Storybook.

• Demonstrate experience with responsive design principles and accessibility (WCAG) integration within components. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of documentation created for design systems, including standards, governance frameworks, and contribution guidelines.

• Illustrate how you have approached library rationalization, component consolidation, and version management.

• Showcase your methodology for auditing existing Figma files and assessing design system quality and scalability.

• Include examples of how you've facilitated design-to-code handover and supported team adoption through training or documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: A portfolio is crucial for this role, as it will serve as tangible proof of the candidate's expertise in Figma and design systems. The emphasis is on practical application, process maturity, and the ability to articulate the impact of their work through documented case studies and examples of governance and documentation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Estimated between $2,000 - $2,500 AUD per month. This range is based on the provided information of "Under $2,500 AUD / Monthly" and common rates for specialist remote roles in the Philippines with this level of experience.

Benefits:

• Flexibility: Independent Contractor status offers flexibility in work hours and location.

• Remote Work: Fully remote position, allowing for work from home.

• Professional Development: Opportunity to work with a leading Australian digital experience agency and contribute to diverse client projects.

• Skill Enhancement: Direct engagement with advanced Figma features, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration with design and development teams.

Working Hours: Expected to align with Australian business hours (approx. 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday to Friday AEST/AEST) for collaboration purposes. However, as an independent contractor, there is flexibility in managing personal work schedule outside of core collaborative periods. The role is full-time, implying approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is presented as an estimate based on the provided upper limit and typical contractor rates. The benefits are primarily focused on flexibility and professional growth inherent in this type of engagement, rather than traditional employee benefits. The working hours highlight the need for availability during specific collaboration windows.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience, Technology, Consulting, and Creative Services. The client is an Australian digital experience agency focused on enterprise websites, digital products, and content platforms.

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but the nature of working with multiple clients and projects suggests a medium to large agency or a well-established firm with a significant operational capacity.

Founded: The client is an established agency, indicated by their work across "multiple projects running across different clients and brands" and their focus on "building and improving modern digital experiences."

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Teams: The role involves close collaboration with Experience Design and Front-End Development teams, indicating a project-based, cross-functional team structure.

• Specialist Focus: The hiring of a "specialist" suggests a structure that values deep expertise in specific areas like design systems.

• Reporting: While not explicitly defined, the specialist will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Project Lead, depending on the specific client engagement.

Methodology:

• Agile/Iterative: Working across multiple projects for clients suggests an agile or iterative approach to digital product development and website enhancement.

• Data-Driven Design: The focus on "improving modern digital experiences" implies a data-informed approach to design and development.

• Collaboration-Centric: The emphasis on aligning design and development, and the need to work across teams, points to a collaborative methodology.

Company Website: huntst.com (referring to the recruitment platform; the client's website is not directly provided but implied to be an Australian digital experience agency).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely fast-paced and client-focused, common in digital agencies. The emphasis on design systems indicates a commitment to quality, efficiency, and scalability in their digital product delivery. The contractor model suggests a focus on delivering specific outcomes and expertise.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Specialist or Lead level within the design operations and UI/UX discipline. It requires extensive hands-on experience and the ability to operate autonomously.

Reporting Structure: As an independent contractor, the reporting structure will be defined by the client's project team. The specialist will likely report to a Design Manager, Lead Designer, or Project Manager, with direct collaboration with Front-End Development leads.

Operations Impact: The specialist will have a direct impact on:

• Efficiency: Streamlining design processes and reducing rework through robust design systems.

• Consistency: Ensuring brand and user experience consistency across multiple client platforms and products.

• Scalability: Enabling teams to build and iterate on digital products more rapidly and effectively.

• Quality: Improving the overall quality and accessibility of digital interfaces.

• Pre-Sales: Contributing expertise to help win new projects by demonstrating strong design system capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Advancement: Deepen expertise in advanced Figma features, design system architecture, and design operations.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Potentially lead design system initiatives across larger programs or multiple clients.

• Client Engagement: Gain exposure to a wide range of enterprise clients and digital maturity levels.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring other designers in design system best practices.

• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of design system evolution, tooling, and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for a specialist to deepen their expertise and influence within the design operations space. The impact is tangible, focusing on efficiency and quality improvements that directly benefit client projects and the agency's service delivery. Growth is tied to increased responsibility, client exposure, and mastery of design system principles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This is a 100% remote position, requiring the candidate to have a suitable home office setup.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the requirement is for candidates based in the Philippines. Collaboration will be with an Australian client, necessitating an awareness of time zone differences.

Workspace Context:

• Independent Work: A significant portion of the work will involve focused, individual contribution within Figma and documentation.

• Collaborative Tools: Expect extensive use of communication tools (e.g., Slack, Teams) and project management software to interact with design and development teams.

• Digital Focus: The environment is entirely digital, centered around design software, documentation platforms, and communication channels.

Work Schedule: The core expectation is to align with Australian business hours for collaboration. This typically means being available for meetings, syncs, and urgent discussions during roughly 9 AM to 5 PM AEST/AEST. However, the "independent contractor" status and flexibility allows for managing personal workflow around these core hours. A full-time commitment (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is characterized by autonomy and digital collaboration. Success will depend on effective self-management, proactive communication, and the ability to integrate into a remote team structure that spans different time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio to assess core qualifications and experience.

• Technical Interview: Deep dive into Figma expertise, design system architecture, and practical problem-solving. May involve live Figma exercises or portfolio walkthroughs.

• Case Study Presentation: Candidate presents a detailed case study from their portfolio, showcasing their design system work, process, and impact.

• Client/Team Interview: Discussion with the client's design and/or development leads to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and ability to integrate into project teams.

• Final Evaluation: Assessment of overall suitability, communication skills, and alignment with client needs.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your solution (design system), and the measurable outcomes or benefits achieved (e.g., efficiency gains, consistency improvements).

• Figma Mastery: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates advanced Figma usage, especially Auto Layout, Variants, Properties, and Variables.

• Process & Governance: Detail your approach to establishing standards, documentation, and governance frameworks.

• Design-to-Code: If applicable, show how you've aligned design systems with development workflows.

• Clarity & Conciseness: Present your work logically and concisely, highlighting key contributions. Be prepared to discuss your role and decisions in detail.

Challenge Preparation:

• Figma Deep Dive: Be ready to demonstrate advanced Figma techniques and explain your rationale for component architecture and organization.

• Design System Strategy: Prepare to discuss how you would approach building or scaling a design system for a new client or project, considering different levels of digital maturity.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would work with designers and developers to ensure adoption and alignment.

• Problem-Solving: Be prepared for hypothetical challenges related to design system maintenance, contribution, or adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio as proof of their specialized skills. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design system philosophy, demonstrate technical proficiency in Figma, and explain the business impact of their work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design system creation, management, and asset development. Expert-level proficiency is mandatory.

• Figma Libraries: Essential for creating and publishing reusable components and styles.

• Figma Variables & Design Tokens: Critical for managing design attributes and enabling theming and customization.

• Auto Layout, Variants, Properties: Advanced Figma features for building flexible and scalable components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus of this role, an understanding of how design systems impact user analytics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement) may be beneficial.

• Tools like Google Analytics or similar platforms might be used by client teams that the specialist indirectly supports. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design system responsibilities, but understanding how design systems support broader CRM or marketing automation platforms (e.g., consistent UI for customer portals) could be an advantage.

• Storybook: Highly desirable for aligning design systems with front-end development documentation and component previews.

• Version Control Systems (e.g., Git): Understanding the principles of version management, as applied to Figma libraries, is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the absolute central tool for this role. Proficiency in its advanced features is non-negotiable. The mention of Storybook and front-end component frameworks highlights the importance of bridging the gap between design and development tooling.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to high-quality, scalable, and efficient design systems.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (design, development, project management).

• Innovation: Driving improvements and adopting best practices in design system methodology and tooling.

• User-Centricity: Ensuring design systems ultimately serve the end-user experience and business goals.

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for the design system lifecycle and its impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Communication: Regularly sharing updates, insights, and potential challenges with project teams and stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Mentoring and enabling other team members to leverage the design system effectively.

• Feedback Integration: Open to receiving and incorporating feedback from designers, developers, and clients to refine the design system.

• Partnership: Working closely with front-end developers to ensure seamless translation of designs into functional components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are geared towards creating a productive and efficient design and development workflow. The emphasis on cross-functional partnership and proactive communication is key to the success of any design system initiative.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adoption Hurdles: Overcoming resistance to change and ensuring consistent adoption of the design system across diverse teams and projects.

• Maintaining Consistency: Managing updates and evolution of the design system across multiple client brands and varying levels of digital maturity.

• Design-to-Code Alignment: Bridging the gap between design specifications and front-end development implementation, especially with complex components or legacy systems.

• Scalability of Governance: Developing and maintaining effective governance models that scale with the growth of the design system and the organization.

• Time Zone Differences: Coordinating effectively with teams in different time zones (Philippines and Australia).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Figma Techniques: Continuous learning and application of new Figma features and best practices.

• Design System Strategy: Developing expertise in strategic planning, architecture, and long-term roadmapping for design systems.

• Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Gaining deeper insights into front-end development frameworks and DXP platforms.

• Client-Facing Expertise: Enhancing skills in client communication, project estimation, and pre-sales support.

• Mentorship & Training: Opportunity to shape and deliver training programs for design and development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to the complex nature of design systems, requiring strategic thinking, strong communication, and technical acumen. The growth opportunities are substantial, allowing a specialist to become a recognized expert in a highly in-demand field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for auditing an existing Figma design system and identifying areas for improvement." (Focus on methodology, tools, and metrics for assessment.)

• "How would you approach building a new design system from scratch for a client with a low level of digital maturity?" (Emphasize foundational steps, core components, and phased adoption.)

• "Explain your strategy for ensuring design-to-code alignment and fostering collaboration between design and development teams." (Detail communication channels, handoff processes, and shared tools.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you see as the biggest challenges in implementing and maintaining a design system within an agency environment that serves multiple clients?" (Demonstrate understanding of agency dynamics and client needs.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in design systems and Figma?" (Showcase continuous learning and industry engagement.)

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders to adopt a new design system or process. What was your approach and the outcome?" (Highlight communication, persuasion, and impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design system solutions implemented, and the tangible results or impact.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to verbally walk through your Figma files, showcasing your use of Auto Layout, Variants, Properties, Variables, and nested components.

• Highlight Governance & Documentation: Show examples of your documentation, standards, and governance frameworks. Explain your approach to library management and contribution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your design system work (e.g., reduction in design time, increase in component reusability, improved consistency scores).

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate detailed questions about your architectural decisions, component logic, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both deep technical expertise in Figma and design systems, as well as strong strategic thinking and collaboration skills. The portfolio is the primary tool, so candidates must be prepared to present it effectively and discuss it in depth.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link, ensuring all sections are completed accurately.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of UI/UX/Product Design experience, with specific emphasis on your expertise in Figma and enterprise design systems. Use keywords from the job description such as "Figma," "Design Systems," "Auto Layout," "Variants," "Design Tokens," and "Governance."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 strong case studies that best showcase your experience in creating, managing, or scaling Figma design systems. Ensure these projects clearly demonstrate advanced Figma techniques, your process for documentation and governance, and any measurable impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on explaining your problem-solving approach, technical execution in Figma, and the outcomes achieved. Be ready to articulate your design system philosophy and collaboration strategies.

• Research the Client: Understand the nature of a digital experience agency and the types of clients they serve. This will help you frame your experience and contributions in a way that aligns with their business objectives.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.