Design Systems Designer - 3 Month FTC (UK/US)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Systems Designer - 3 Month FTC (UK/US)

Company: Zepz

Location: United Kingdom

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract

Category: Design Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: April 08, 2026

Experience Level: Mid to Senior Level

Remote Status: Remote (UK/US based)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the rebuild of the Sendwave design system with a primary focus on machine readability for AI agents and design-to-code tools.

• Architect and implement a robust design foundation that seamlessly bridges human designers and AI tooling used by the engineering team.

• Develop and optimize a Figma to Code workflow to ensure continuous synchronization between design assets and production code.

• Collaborate closely with engineering to align components, ensuring predictable traversal between design and code counterparts for AI tools.

• Establish and maintain a lightweight component lifecycle process, including versioning and deprecation, without introducing unnecessary complexity.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Design Systems Designer," the core responsibilities and required skills, particularly the emphasis on machine readability, AI tooling integration, and front-end fundamentals, position it within the broader Design Operations (DesignOps) or Product Operations spectrum. The focus on structured data, component architecture for AI consumption, and bridging design and engineering workflows aligns with enabling efficient scaling and automation within a product development lifecycle. This is not purely a UI/UX design role but one that leverages design expertise to optimize the operational efficiency of the design and development process through advanced systems thinking.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of the existing Sendwave design library, with a specific mandate to enhance machine readability through semantic naming, structured metadata, and a clear token taxonomy (color, typography, spacing) that directly maps to variables and components.

• Design and implement a Figma to Code workflow, prototyping at least one end-to-end AI-assisted workflow that the engineering team can adopt post-contract.

• Partner with engineering stakeholders to ensure component alignment, enabling AI tools to accurately traverse design and code equivalents.

• Develop "smart" components within Figma utilizing advanced features like Properties, Nested Instances, and Auto Layout 5.0, ensuring all components are structured for both intuitive designer use and AI interpretability.

• Define and implement a streamlined component lifecycle process, including versioning, deprecation strategies, and release note generation, ensuring efficiency and clarity.

• Create living documentation that clearly articulates the rationale behind design decisions, with specific notes on AI-readability considerations, to maintain system coherence as it evolves.

• Provide coaching and guidance to the broader design team on best practices for maintaining AI-legibility within the design system as it scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "machine readability," "AI agents," "design-to-code tools," and "AI-assisted workflow" indicates a strategic focus on leveraging AI and automation to enhance the efficiency and consistency of the product development lifecycle. This involves not just creating visual components but structuring them with semantic depth and metadata that AI systems can reliably interpret and utilize, thereby accelerating development cycles and reducing handoff friction.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific educational requirements are listed, indicating a strong emphasis on practical experience and demonstrated skill.

Experience: Proven experience in building and managing complex design systems, with a focus on advanced Figma features and AI integration.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma, specifically with Variables, Modes, Multi-edit, and advanced component architecture.

• Demonstrated understanding of how AI coding tools (e.g., Copilot, Cursor, V0, Figma AI) consume design system data and how to structure libraries for optimal accuracy and utility.

• Strong grasp of front-end development fundamentals, including design tokens, CSS variables, component states, and API design principles. Fluency in engineering terminology is essential, even if direct coding is not required.

• Experience designing for machine readability, encompassing semantic naming conventions, structured metadata, and hierarchical token structures.

• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments, with the ability to identify high-leverage structural decisions quickly and avoid over-engineering.

• Proven ability to manage a lightweight component lifecycle process (versioning, deprecation, release notes).

• Exceptional skills in creating living documentation that explains the "why" behind design decisions, including AI-readability considerations.

Preferred Skills:

• Exposure to design-to-code workflows or AI-assisted development environments.

• Familiarity with front-end frameworks and their component structures.

• Experience in rapid prototyping and end-to-end workflow development.

• A proactive approach to identifying and solving complex system design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert-level Figma skills" and a "strong grasp of front-end fundamentals" suggests this role is aimed at a seasoned design practitioner who can operate at the intersection of design strategy, system architecture, and engineering enablement. The emphasis on AI tooling and machine readability indicates a forward-thinking approach to design systems, positioning it as a critical enabler for future development efficiencies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate measurable impact through case studies, such as reduced handoff friction, accelerated design cycles, or concrete examples of AI tooling functioning more effectively due to system structure.

• Showcase experience in building complex design systems within Figma, highlighting the use of advanced features like Variables, Modes, and advanced component architecture.

• Provide evidence of structuring design libraries for machine readability, including examples of semantic naming, token taxonomies, and metadata.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of living documentation for design systems, emphasizing the rationale behind architectural decisions and AI-readability considerations.

• Documentation outlining lightweight component lifecycle processes, including versioning and deprecation strategies.

• Case studies detailing the development of Figma to Code workflows and their impact on synchronization and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that showcases "measurable impact" and specific examples of AI tooling working better due to system structure is critical. This goes beyond visual design and requires demonstrating the operational and efficiency gains achieved through robust design system architecture. Applicants should prepare to articulate how their system design directly contributes to faster development cycles and improved collaboration between design and engineering teams, particularly in the context of AI integration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a 3-month FTC (Fixed Term Contract) role for the UK/US and no specific salary is provided, the compensation is expected to be competitive and reflect the senior-level expertise required.

• UK: For a contractor role of this nature, rates could range from £400 - £700+ per day, depending on experience, specific skill set, and negotiation.

• US: For a contractor role of this nature, rates could range from $500 - $900+ per day for equivalent senior expertise.

Benefits:

• Unlimited annual leave (subject to contract terms and local regulations)

• Healthcare benefits (details will vary by location and employment status)

• Employee discounts

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week. The remote-first culture offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, provided deliverables are met and collaboration with teams across different time zones is managed effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the 3-month FTC nature and the specialized skill set required (especially the AI integration aspect), compensation will likely be structured as a daily or weekly rate rather than a fixed annual salary. The "unlimited annual leave" is a perk often offered in high-trust, remote-first environments, but for a fixed-term contract, it may be prorated or subject to specific contractual agreements. It's advisable for candidates to clarify these details during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (Fintech), focusing on cross-border payments and remittances. Zepz operates WorldRemit and Sendwave.

Company Size: 800+ employees globally. This indicates a mature but still agile organization with established processes, yet with room for innovation and impact.

Founded: Zepz is the parent company of WorldRemit (founded 2010) and Sendwave (founded 2011), suggesting a strong foundation in the fintech space with a history of growth and acquisition.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the design team, likely reporting to a Design Lead or Head of Design, with close collaboration with Engineering leads and product managers.

• Expect a matrixed reporting structure where project-specific leads may guide daily tasks, but overall functional management comes from design leadership.

Methodology:

• Zepz emphasizes "mission-driven builders" who thrive in fast-paced environments. They value being "Relentless Learners," "Responsible Owners," and "Transparent Communicators."

• Core commitments include Integrity, Outcomes (customer success), and Velocity (speed and agility).

• The company operates with a "high trust" culture, expecting high ownership and commitment in return for autonomy and flexibility.

Company Website: https://www.zepz.io/ (Parent company), https://www.worldremit.com/, https://www.sendwave.com/ (Brands)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a strong mission, a commitment to speed and outcomes, and a high-trust, remote-first environment. For a Design Systems Designer, this means being comfortable with ambiguity, taking ownership of complex projects, and collaborating effectively across dispersed teams. The fintech industry context implies a need for robust, secure, and user-friendly interfaces, with a focus on delivering tangible results for customers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a specialized Design Systems Designer, likely at a mid to senior level, focusing on a specific, high-impact project. The "3 Month FTC" designation means it's a contract position, offering focused experience rather than a long-term career path within Zepz itself. However, the skills honed are highly transferable.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Lead, with significant direct collaboration with Engineering leads and Product Managers. The role requires influencing cross-functional teams to adopt new standards and workflows.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on the efficiency, consistency, and scalability of the product development process. By rebuilding the design system with machine readability in mind, the designer directly enables:

• Faster design-to-code handoffs.

• Increased accuracy and speed for AI-assisted development tools (Copilot, etc.).

• Greater consistency across the Sendwave product suite.

• Reduced technical debt and rework.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in advanced Figma features, AI integration in design workflows, design token architecture, and building machine-readable design systems.

• Project Impact: Gain experience in a high-visibility, strategic project critical to Zepz's future development capabilities within a fast-paced fintech environment.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Build a strong case study demonstrating tangible impact on development efficiency and AI tooling adoption, valuable for future roles.

• Networking: Establish connections with design and engineering leaders at a global fintech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a fixed-term contract, the experience gained in architecting a design system for AI integration is cutting-edge. Success in this role will significantly enhance a designer's portfolio, demonstrating their ability to tackle complex operational challenges within product development and their understanding of emerging technologies like AI in design workflows.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Zepz operates with a "remote-first" culture. This means the primary work environment will be remote, allowing employees to work from their preferred location within their employing country (UK or US).

Office Location(s): While Zepz has offices globally, this role is specifically for individuals based in the United Kingdom or the United States, likely to align with employment and tax regulations. The "remote-first" approach means there's no requirement to be in a specific Zepz office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a highly collaborative virtual environment. This involves frequent use of video conferencing, instant messaging tools, and collaborative design platforms like Figma.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma), communication platforms (Slack, Teams), project management software (Jira, Asana), and potentially AI coding assistants.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual stand-ups, design critiques, cross-functional syncs, and dedicated working sessions will be key to staying connected and aligned.

Work Schedule:

• While typically a 40-hour work week, the remote-first culture offers flexibility. The challenge will be coordinating with team members and stakeholders across different time zones (UK and US). A structured approach to managing asynchronous communication and scheduled synchronous meetings will be crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" and "high trust" culture means that while flexibility is provided, there's a strong expectation of accountability and proactive communication. For a designer working on systems, this implies needing to be highly organized, self-motivated, and adept at using digital tools to maintain connection and drive progress without direct physical oversight.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, role understanding, and cultural fit.

• Technical/Portfolio Review: A deep dive with hiring managers and/or senior designers/engineers. This is where your portfolio and case studies will be thoroughly reviewed. Expect discussions on your design system philosophy, Figma expertise, and understanding of AI integration.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a short, take-home exercise or a live design challenge focusing on structuring components for machine readability or auditing a small component library.

• Cross-Functional Interview: A conversation with engineering or product stakeholders to assess collaboration skills and understanding of front-end fundamentals.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to confirm fit and align on expectations for the contract period.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you solved, the approach you took, and the measurable outcomes achieved. For this role, quantify improvements in design-to-code handoff, development speed, or AI tool effectiveness.

• Showcase AI Integration: Dedicate a section or specific case study to how you've considered or implemented machine readability, semantic structures, and AI tooling compatibility in a design system. Use visuals of structured Figma components, token taxonomies, and examples of AI-generated code or insights.

• Figma Mastery: Demonstrate advanced Figma usage (Variables, Modes, Auto Layout 5.0, Properties) through clear examples.

• "Why" over "What": Explain the strategic reasoning behind your design decisions, especially concerning system architecture and AI considerations.

• Conciseness: Given the 3-month contract, the hiring team will likely value clear, concise communication. Get straight to the point with your most impactful work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would audit and structure a component for AI interpretability.

• Prepare to articulate the relationship between design tokens, CSS variables, and machine-readable code.

• Practice explaining complex design system concepts and AI integration strategies clearly and succinctly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI and machine readability means that candidates should prepare to demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to design systems. The portfolio review will be less about just aesthetics and more about the strategic and operational impact of the design system's architecture. Demonstrating an understanding of engineering constraints and language will be crucial for cross-functional alignment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency required, including advanced features like Variables, Modes, Multi-edit, Nested Instances, and Auto Layout 5.0. This will be the core design tool for building and maintaining the system.

• Design Systems Management Platforms: While not explicitly stated, experience with tools that facilitate design system management, documentation, and versioning will be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Documentation Tools: Tools for creating living documentation (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or custom solutions) will be essential for maintaining clarity and knowledge transfer.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Asana, or similar tools for communication, task management, and workflow tracking.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design systems integrate with front-end development workflows and potentially low-code/no-code platforms is relevant.

• Familiarity with AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or OpenAI's Codex, and visual AI tools like V0 or Figma AI, is a significant plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core of this role revolves around Figma and the principles of design systems. However, the critical differentiator is the understanding and application of AI tools and their interaction with design data. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or understanding of how design systems can be structured to be consumable by AI, bridging the gap between design tools and development environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in all design and system decisions, ensuring fairness and transparency, especially with AI considerations.

• Outcomes: Focusing on delivering tangible results that improve the developer experience, accelerate product delivery, and enhance product consistency through the design system.

• Velocity: Embracing a fast-paced approach to design system development, making swift, informed decisions, and iterating quickly to meet the contract's timeline.

• Mission-Driven: Contributing to Zepz's overarching mission of breaking down barriers in financial access by ensuring the product development process itself is efficient and scalable.

• Relentless Learners: Continuously seeking to understand new AI technologies, design system best practices, and emerging tools that can enhance the design and development workflow.

• Responsible Owners: Treating the design system as a critical company asset, managing it with care, and ensuring its long-term maintainability and impact.

• Transparent Communicators: Maintaining open and honest communication with design, engineering, and product teams regarding progress, challenges, and decisions related to the design system.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with engineering to ensure design system components are technically feasible and optimally structured for AI consumption. Collaborating with product managers to align system development with product roadmap priorities.

• Feedback Exchange: Proactively seeking and providing constructive feedback during design critiques, code reviews (from a design perspective), and team syncs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Documenting decisions and best practices thoroughly, and actively coaching other designers to ensure the design system's AI-legibility is maintained post-contract.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core commitments (Integrity, Outcomes, Velocity) and values (Relentless Learners, Responsible Owners, Transparent Communicators) heavily influence the expected working style. For this role, it means being proactive, results-oriented, and highly communicative, especially when dealing with the novel aspect of AI integration into design systems.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity: Operating within a project that defines new standards for AI-readability in a design system requires navigating uncertainty and defining best practices as you go.

• AI Tool Evolution: The rapid pace of AI development means that the tools and best practices for AI integration may evolve quickly, requiring adaptability.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and consistent adoption of AI-legible design system principles across both design and engineering teams can be challenging.

• Time Constraints: Completing a significant rebuild and prototyping an AI-assisted workflow within a 3-month contract demands efficient prioritization and execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge Expertise: Gain hands-on experience in a highly specialized and in-demand area: AI-assisted design and development workflows.

• System Architecture Mastery: Deepen skills in designing scalable, maintainable, and future-proof design systems with a focus on structured data and semantic meaning.

• Industry Exposure: Work within the dynamic fintech sector, contributing to a mission-driven company with a global impact.

• Mentorship & Collaboration: Learn from experienced designers and engineers at Zepz, and potentially contribute to shaping future development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in pioneering a less-trodden path – making design systems truly legible and functional for AI. This requires a blend of deep design system expertise and a forward-thinking understanding of AI capabilities and limitations. The growth opportunity is significant, offering the chance to become a subject matter expert in a rapidly evolving field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach auditing an existing design library to prepare it for AI consumption?" (Focus on semantic naming, token taxonomy, metadata structuring).

• "Describe your process for building a Figma component that is optimized for both designer usability and machine readability." (Discuss Figma Properties, Variables, Auto Layout, and AI interpretation).

• "Imagine you need to align a design system component with its code counterpart for an AI tool. What are the key considerations and steps you would take?" (Emphasize collaboration with engineering, understanding of front-end fundamentals, and data mapping).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Zepz's mission and our brands, WorldRemit and Sendwave?" (Connect your interest to their purpose and values).

• "How do you embody Zepz's values of Integrity, Outcomes, and Velocity in your work?" (Provide specific examples).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• AI-First Case Study: Lead with a case study specifically detailing your experience or approach to machine readability, AI integration, or design-to-code workflows. Use clear visuals of component structures, token hierarchies, and potential AI output.

• Quantify Impact: For all case studies, present metrics. For example: "Reduced design handoff time by X%," "Increased component consistency by Y%," or "Enabled Z% faster AI-assisted code generation for feature A."

• Figma Deep Dive: Be prepared to walk through complex Figma files, showcasing your mastery of Variables, Auto Layout, and component architecture.

• Engineering Fluency: Clearly articulate the connection between design decisions and engineering implementation, using terms like "CSS variables," "component states," and "API design" accurately.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Structure your presentation logically, focusing on the problem, your solution, and the measurable results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your practical application of design system principles, especially concerning AI. Be ready to demonstrate not just theoretical knowledge but practical experience or a well-thought-out strategy for implementing machine-readable design systems. Your ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and collaborate effectively with engineers will be paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Zepz careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating expertise in advanced Figma features (Variables, Auto Layout 5.0), design systems, and ideally, any experience or conceptual understanding of AI-assisted development, machine readability, or design-to-code workflows. Prepare specific case studies that showcase measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiency with Figma and other relevant design tools. Use keywords from the job description such as "Design Systems," "Figma," "AI-assisted development," "Design tokens," "Semantic naming," and "Component architecture." Highlight achievements with quantifiable results.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design system philosophy, your approach to building for machine readability, and your understanding of front-end fundamentals. Be ready to discuss how you would tackle the challenges outlined in the job description and prepare specific examples from your portfolio for the interview.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Zepz, WorldRemit, and Sendwave. Understand their mission, values, and the fintech industry. Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with their culture of "Integrity, Outcomes, and Velocity" and their "high trust" remote-first environment.

⚠️ 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.