Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: StarRez

Location: Hyderabad, Telengana, IN

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-01-09T18:57:05

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the user experience and interface design for StarRez's leading student housing software.

• The Senior UX/UI Designer will be instrumental in translating user needs and business requirements into intuitive and visually appealing digital solutions.

• Key responsibilities include end-to-end product design, from conceptualization and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and prototyping, ensuring a seamless user journey.

• A strong emphasis is placed on collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product management and development, to deliver impactful design workstreams within an agile framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is Senior UX/UI Designer, the context provided by the company (StarRez, a SaaS leader in student housing) and the location (Hyderabad, India) positions this role within a growing global tech hub. The emphasis on "building world-class centers of excellence teams" and "fostering a seamless blend of StarRez’s core values with India’s dynamic talent ecosystem" suggests a strategic growth initiative for the company's India operations and a significant opportunity for the candidate to influence product direction and team development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional product teams to conceptualize, design, and deliver innovative UX and UI solutions that enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

• Develop comprehensive wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design ideas and user flows for the student housing platform.

• Iteratively refine and test design solutions based on user feedback and data insights, ensuring that the end products effectively address user pain points and business objectives.

• Own and lead well-defined design projects, as agreed with the Director of Design, contributing incremental value to the Product, Design, and Technology department's strategic goals.

• Develop and manage a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all StarRez digital products and platforms, fostering a cohesive user experience.

• Champion accessibility best practices, ensuring all designs comply with accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG) and are user-friendly for all individuals.

• Act as a bridge between the wider Design Team and local product development teams, fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring design integrity.

• Clearly define design problems, articulate design decisions with strong rationale, supported by data and research insights, to maximize the potential for product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and leadership. The emphasis on "owning and leading well defined projects" and "developing and managing a comprehensive design system" indicates a senior-level expectation for strategic thinking and independent project execution, beyond just design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional design experience, with a strong focus on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product design.

• Proven experience working within cross-functional product teams using agile development methodologies.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Principles: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, including usability, visual hierarchy, responsive design, and information architecture.

• UI Design Execution: Proficiency in creating intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces, translating concepts into polished designs.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Expertise in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and gather feedback.

• Design Systems: Experience in developing, implementing, and managing design systems to ensure brand consistency and efficiency.

• Accessibility Standards: Solid understanding of accessibility principles and guidelines (e.g., WCAG) and experience integrating them into design workflows.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to clearly define problems, frame design decisions with data and research, and develop effective solutions.

• Design Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard design and collaboration tools such as Figma and Miro, as well as various prototyping tools.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in startup or scale-up environments, demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach.

• Knowledge of HTML/CSS, providing a foundational understanding for design implementation feasibility.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and the ability to translate research findings into actionable design improvements.

• Experience in the student housing or property technology (PropTech) sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "degree in design or comparable on-the-job experience" and "5+ years of design experience" clearly indicates a mid-to-senior level role. The explicit mention of "SaaS product design" and "design systems" are critical keywords for candidates to highlight. The preference for startup/scale-up experience suggests a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional UX/UI design experience, with a strong emphasis on SaaS product design.

• Case studies that clearly demonstrate your design process, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, and final UI implementation.

• Examples of how you have applied design principles such as usability, visual hierarchy, responsive design, and accessibility in your projects.

• Evidence of experience in developing or contributing to design systems, including examples of components, style guides, and documentation.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to clearly define problems and articulate design decisions with rationale, data, and research insights.

• Include examples of how you have managed and contributed to design documentation, especially in relation to design systems.

• Demonstrate your approach to collaborating with cross-functional teams (product management, development) within an agile framework.

• Highlight your process for ensuring accessibility standards are met throughout the design lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX/UI Designer role, a robust portfolio is paramount. The emphasis on SaaS product design, design systems, and case studies demonstrating problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration is crucial for candidates to prepare. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions using data and research is a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance plans, potential for wellness programs, and employee assistance programs.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, skill enhancement through training, workshops, and potentially conference attendance.

• Growth Opportunities: Clear career progression paths within the design team and opportunities for leadership roles.

• Work Environment: A collaborative and innovative work environment with a focus on employee well-being and long-term career development.

• Global Exposure: Opportunity to work with international teams and contribute to a globally recognized SaaS product.

• Paid Time Off: Standard paid leave policies, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, likely aligned with Indian business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 6 PM IST, Monday to Friday), with potential for some flexibility depending on project needs and global team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges in India can vary significantly by experience, location, and company. The provided range is an estimate based on typical market rates for a senior-level design role in a tech company of StarRez's caliber. Benefits are inferred based on standard offerings for professional roles in the Indian tech industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software as a Service (SaaS), specifically Student Housing Management Software. StarRez operates within the PropTech (Property Technology) sector, serving higher education institutions and student accommodation providers globally.

Company Size: StarRez is a well-established global organization with offices in the USA, Australia, UK, and India. While the exact size of the India center isn't specified, the company serves over 1,400 clients and supports millions of beds annually. This suggests a medium to large enterprise structure.

Founded: The founding date of StarRez is not explicitly stated, but the mention of team members having been with the company for "20+ years" indicates a long-standing history and stability. The company is backed by Vista Equity Partners, signifying financial strength and a strategic focus on growth.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates under a Director of Design, with this Senior UX/UI Designer reporting to them.

• The role involves close collaboration with product managers, software developers, and potentially other designers within the global design team.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes an agile development methodology, requiring designers to be comfortable working in iterative cycles.

• User feedback and data-driven insights are core to their design process, as indicated by the responsibility to "iterate, test, and refine solutions."

• A strong emphasis is placed on collaboration and communication to ensure alignment across cross-functional teams and the global design organization.

Company Website: starrez.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company is a global leader in a niche but critical SaaS market. Being backed by Vista Equity Partners suggests a focus on scalability, efficiency, and strategic growth. The India center is presented as integral to this growth, offering a dynamic environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX/UI Designer. This implies a significant level of autonomy, responsibility for leading projects, and the expectation to mentor or guide junior designers. It's a step beyond individual contributor roles, requiring strategic thinking and ownership.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX/UI Designer will report to the Director of Design. They will work closely with Product Management and Development teams, likely on a project-by-project basis, and will also act as a conduit to the broader global Design Team.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the usability, adoption, and satisfaction rates of StarRez's core SaaS platform. By creating intuitive and effective user experiences, this role contributes to customer retention, acquisition, and overall product value, which in turn drives revenue and market leadership. The focus on user experience and design systems directly influences the efficiency of the development process and the quality of the final product delivered to end-users.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UX/UI Designer role, managing a team or specific product areas.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like design systems, accessibility, or specific product modules within student housing management.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Potential to move into Product Management or other related roles within the Product, Design, and Technology departments.

• Global Mobility: As a global company, there might be opportunities to collaborate more deeply with or even transition to other international offices in the future.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design function within the India center.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the emphasis on leading projects and managing design systems suggest clear pathways for career advancement within StarRez, either through increased scope, leadership, or specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly listed as "On-site" in Hyderabad, Telengana, India. This suggests a physical office space designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): Hyderabad, Telengana, India. This location is a major technology hub, implying access to a skilled talent pool and modern infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as a "global organization" with a "dynamic talent ecosystem," suggesting a blend of established processes and a fast-paced, growth-oriented culture.

• Collaboration is a key aspect, with an emphasis on working with cross-functional teams and a desire for designers to be "proactive, approachable, adaptable, and collaborative."

Work Schedule:

• This is a full-time position. Standard Indian business hours (likely 9 AM to 6 PM IST) are expected, but a dynamic environment might require some flexibility to coordinate with global teams or meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is crucial. Candidates applying should be prepared for a traditional office-based work setting in Hyderabad, emphasizing in-person collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess core qualifications and experience against the job requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage will involve presenting your portfolio, walking through case studies, and discussing your design process, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your designs using data and research.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This could involve a design challenge or a practical exercise to evaluate your skills in Figma, prototyping, or problem-solving within a given scenario.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Developers to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work within an agile team.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussions with team members or leadership to evaluate your alignment with StarRez's values (passion, care, high performance, the "Z-Factor").

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-5 of your strongest SaaS product design projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role. Prioritize projects demonstrating impact and problem-solving.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your user-centered design process, research methodologies, iteration cycles, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Showcase Design Systems: If you have experience with design systems, dedicate a section or specific project to illustrate your understanding and contribution.

• Accessibility Focus: Clearly articulate how you considered and implemented accessibility in your designs.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to verbally walk through your portfolio, explaining your rationale, tools used, and the impact of your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research StarRez's existing product to understand its domain (student housing) and user base.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to tackle a hypothetical design problem related to student housing management, focusing on problem framing, ideation, and solution sketching.

• Tool Proficiency: Ensure you are comfortable using Figma for design and Miro for collaborative brainstorming or ideation.

• Communication: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially under time pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their design process and rationale. A strong understanding of SaaS product design principles and practical experience with design systems will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Miro: Likely used for brainstorming, user journey mapping, affinity diagramming, and collaborative whiteboarding.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, candidates might also be familiar with other tools like InVision, Axure, or Adobe XD for more advanced prototyping needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the UX/UI role, but an understanding of how design integrates with the overall product ecosystem, including potential CRM or automation features within the StarRez platform, could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma and Miro are explicitly called out, making them must-have skills for this role. Any candidate's ability to demonstrate proficiency and creative use of these tools will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People-First Philosophy: Indicated by the long tenure of employees and the emphasis on creating an environment where people "belong, build, and grow."

• Passion, Care, and High Performance (Z-Factor): This is StarRez's core cultural driver, suggesting a team that is dedicated, empathetic, and driven to achieve excellent results.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together across teams and geographies to achieve common goals.

• Long-Term Vision & Stability: A commitment to sustainable growth and employee development, rather than short-term gains.

• Innovation: A drive to create "game-changing products" and "innovative solutions."

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with Product Management and Development teams, likely within an agile framework.

• Global Teamwork: The designer will act as a bridge between the local India team and the wider global Design Team, requiring strong remote collaboration skills.

• Design System Ownership: Collaboration will extend to ensuring consistent application of the design system across all products.

• Feedback-Oriented: The culture encourages iteration and refinement based on feedback from users, peers, and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Z-Factor" is a unique cultural element that candidates should research and be prepared to discuss how they embody these values (passion, care, high performance).

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Standards with Local Execution: Ensuring design consistency across global products while adapting to local market nuances or team capabilities.

• Scaling Design Systems: Developing and maintaining a design system that can support a growing product suite and diverse user needs.

• Cross-Team Alignment: Effectively communicating and aligning design vision with product managers and developers who may have different priorities or perspectives.

• User Needs in a Niche Market: Deeply understanding the specific needs and workflows of student housing administrators and students to create truly effective solutions.

• Remote Collaboration: Navigating effective design collaboration with globally distributed teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Development: Opportunity to lead or significantly contribute to the evolution of StarRez's design system.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the student housing and PropTech industry.

• Leadership Skills: Developing leadership capabilities through project ownership and potential mentorship.

• Global Best Practices: Learning from and contributing to the design practices of a global organization.

• Accessibility Specialization: Deepening expertise in WCAG compliance and inclusive design practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a growing global SaaS company, offering ample opportunities for growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex SaaS product you designed. What was the problem, your role, your process, and the outcome?" Focus on your problem-definition and data-driven approach.

• "How would you approach building or expanding a design system for a company like StarRez?" Be ready to discuss methodology, component libraries, and governance.

• "Walk me through your process for ensuring accessibility in your designs. What specific guidelines do you follow?" Highlight your understanding of WCAG and practical application.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about StarRez and the student housing industry?" Show you've researched the company and its mission.

• "How do you embody StarRez's 'Z-Factor' values (passion, care, high performance) in your work?" Provide specific examples.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Start with a high-level overview of your career and then dive into 2-3 detailed case studies. For each case study: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact/Results.

• Visuals Matter: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Annotate key design decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced support tickets).

• Be Concise and Clear: Articulate your thoughts logically and avoid jargon. Be prepared for questions about your choices.

• Showcase Figma/Miro: If possible, briefly demonstrate your proficiency in Figma or Miro during the presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will be heavily focused on assessing your practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and how well you can articulate your process and impact, especially through case studies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the StarRez careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights your strongest SaaS product design projects, particularly those involving design systems, accessibility, and a clear problem-solution-impact narrative. Tailor the projects you present to align with the requirements mentioned.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "UI Design," "SaaS," "Design Systems," "Figma," "Agile," and "Accessibility." Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with Figma, Miro, and design system development. Research StarRez's product and company culture.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research StarRez, its mission, its product (student housing software), and its market position. Understand the "Z-Factor" and how you can contribute to their culture.

⚠️ 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.