Senior UX/UI Designers On-site Abu Dhabi - Octopus by RTG (3 months)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer (On-site, 3-Month Contract)

Company: Octopus by RTG (part of Robusta Technology Group)

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Job Type: Contract (3 Months)

Category: Design / User Experience

Date Posted: March 15, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of cutting-edge digital products, encompassing both UX and UI strategy.

• Develop and maintain scalable, accessible, and efficient design systems using Figma to ensure consistency across all user experiences.

• Facilitate seamless collaboration between design and development teams, ensuring high-quality implementation through meticulous developer handoff and QA.

• Drive product innovation by translating complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and visually compelling interfaces.

• Contribute to the rapid assembly of global tech teams, aligning with client brand culture and practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a fixed-term contract position (3 months) specifically for an on-site presence in Abu Dhabi. The focus on "Octopus by RTG" and "Robusta Technology Group" indicates a company specializing in building global tech teams and providing tailored hub solutions, suggesting a dynamic and client-focused environment. The emphasis on AI within the partner organization highlights a forward-thinking technological landscape.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and refine intuitive interaction patterns, navigation models, and responsive visual design systems across various digital platforms.

• Create comprehensive user experience deliverables, including detailed user flows, journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• Architect, document, and manage robust design systems within Figma, establishing foundational elements like grid systems, spacing, typography, color palettes, and reusable components.

• Ensure design system scalability, accessibility compliance (WCAG standards), and alignment with evolving product roadmaps and technical constraints.

• Prepare clean, well-annotated design files for development teams, leveraging Figma and specialized handoff tools to ensure clarity and precision.

• Collaborate closely with front-end developers to guarantee pixel-perfect implementation and adherence to design intent, actively participating in design reviews and QA processes.

• Proactively identify and resolve design-development gaps, contributing to streamlined workflows through the use of design tokens and detailed component specifications.

• Document design decisions, system guidelines, and best practices using platforms like Zeroheight to foster knowledge sharing and maintain design integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic UX/UI leadership and hands-on design system ownership. The requirement to "build, document, and maintain robust design systems" and "manage version control, naming conventions, and documentation" points to a need for strong organizational skills and a meticulous approach to design asset management. The focus on "Developer Handoff & Implementation Support" indicates a critical need for bridging the gap between design and engineering.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in designing digital products, with a demonstrated track record of success in UX, UI, and design systems.

Required Skills:

• Deep proficiency in Figma, including advanced skills in component creation, library management, and applying design tokens within a structured system.

• Expertise in creating end-to-end UX deliverables such as user flows, journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• Strong understanding of responsive design principles, mobile-first design strategies, and web accessibility standards (WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA).

• Ability to translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective design solutions.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to effectively partner with cross-functional teams, particularly front-end developers.

• Meticulous attention to detail for developer handoff, ensuring pixel-perfect implementation and design integrity.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the Financial Services Sector, understanding its unique design challenges and regulatory considerations.

• Familiarity with QA practices for validating visual and functional integrity of UI components in production environments.

• Exposure to agile product development methodologies and associated tools such as JIRA, Zeplin, Storybook, or Git-based version control systems.

• Experience with design documentation tools like Zeroheight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "5+ years of experience designing digital products with proven strengths in UX, UI, and design systems" and "Deep proficiency in Figma" are critical requirements. The preference for experience in "Financial Services Sector" and "creating and scaling enterprise-grade design systems from scratch" suggests the client is looking for a candidate with significant, high-impact design system experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX/UI design process for digital products.

• Specific projects highlighting the creation, implementation, and evolution of design systems, including foundational elements, component libraries, and documentation.

• Examples of how your design process addressed user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, leading to measurable improvements.

• Evidence of robust developer handoff processes, including annotated wireframes, prototypes, and clear communication strategies with engineering teams.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly outline the design methodology employed, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases.

• Detailed explanations of how design systems were built, documented (e.g., using Zeroheight), and maintained, including version control and governance strategies.

• Documentation of collaboration workflows with development teams, illustrating how design intent was translated into implemented features and how feedback loops were managed.

• Examples of how design tokens and component specifications were used to streamline development and ensure consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, especially for demonstrating expertise in design systems and developer handoff. Candidates should prepare to walk through their case studies, detailing their specific contributions, design decisions, and the impact of their work. The focus is on process, documentation, and demonstrable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive contract rate commensurate with experience and skills.

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge digital products for a key partner organization focused on AI.

• Exposure to an international tech group (Robusta Technology Group) with a proven track record.

• Potential for future engagements based on performance and project needs.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project demands and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contract role, benefits are typically limited. The salary estimate is based on research for similar contract UX/UI design positions in Abu Dhabi, considering the experience level and specialized skills requested. The 3-month duration is a key factor in the compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software Development, Staff Augmentation, AI Solutions.

Company Size: Octopus by RTG is part of Robusta Technology Group (RTG), which has a significant presence, especially in the Egyptian market, and operates globally. RTG has a decade of experience and has delivered over 300 projects. Octopus specializes in assembling global tech teams.

Founded: Robusta Technology Group (RTG) has been operating for over a decade.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a dedicated project team for a key partner organization, likely comprising UX/UI designers, product managers, developers, and QA engineers.

• As a Senior UX/UI Designer, you will likely lead design efforts within this project team and collaborate closely with engineering leads and product stakeholders.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes rapid team assembly and aligning with client culture and practices, suggesting an agile and client-centric approach.

• The focus on AI within the partner organization implies an environment that values innovation, data-driven decisions, and cutting-edge technology adoption.

• Design processes are expected to be efficient, scalable, and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on design systems to ensure consistency and speed.

Company Website: robusta (Company page on Workable), robusta group (Company URL)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company acts as an enabler for clients to grow their tech teams, focusing on both remote and on-site models. The culture likely blends the agility of a startup with the professionalism and structure of an established tech group. Collaboration and client alignment are key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior individual contributor, requiring significant autonomy and leadership within the design domain. It's a hands-on role focused on execution and system ownership rather than people management.

Reporting Structure:

• You will likely report to a Design Lead, Project Manager, or a direct client stakeholder within the partner organization.

Operations Impact:

• As a Senior UX/UI Designer, your primary impact will be on the quality, usability, and consistency of digital products.

• By building and maintaining scalable design systems, you will directly influence development efficiency, reduce design debt, and accelerate product delivery cycles for the client.

Growth Opportunities:

• While this is a 3-month contract, successful performance could lead to extensions or opportunities on other projects within the Octopus/RTG network, potentially in different global hubs.

• Opportunity to gain diverse experience working with different client organizations and their unique product challenges, particularly in AI-focused environments.

• Deepen expertise in design systems, accessibility, and front-end development collaboration.

• Potential to transition into full-time roles or lead design system initiatives for other RTG clients if opportunities arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: This contract role offers a focused opportunity to showcase advanced design system and UX/UI skills. Growth potential is tied to performance and the possibility of future engagements within the RTG ecosystem, rather than a traditional linear career path within one organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, implying a structured office environment with dedicated workspaces.

Office Location(s): Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Specific office details would be provided upon engagement.

Workspace Context:

• You will be working within a dedicated project team, fostering a collaborative and communicative environment.

• Access to relevant design and collaboration tools will be provided to facilitate efficient workflow and team interaction.

Work Schedule:

• Primarily aligned with standard business hours in Abu Dhabi (e.g., Sunday to Thursday, with potential for some flexibility).

• The 3-month duration suggests an intensive, project-focused schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Abu Dhabi suggests a need for candidates willing and able to relocate or already based in the region. The workspace context emphasizes collaboration and efficiency, critical for a project-based contract role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience, particularly in UX/UI design, design systems, and Figma proficiency.

• Technical Interview(s): Likely to involve in-depth discussions about your design process, case studies, and specific experience with design systems and developer handoff. You may be asked to present your portfolio.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: Potentially a practical exercise or a take-home challenge to evaluate your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to apply design system principles.

• Cultural Fit/Final Interview: Discussion with hiring managers or client representatives to assess your fit within the project team and the client's organizational culture, and to confirm project specifics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies that best represent your expertise in UX/UI design, with a strong emphasis on design systems and developer collaboration.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you encountered, your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Design Systems: Dedicate specific sections or entire case studies to your experience building, documenting, and maintaining design systems. Showcase component libraries, documentation examples (e.g., Zeroheight), and how you ensured scalability and consistency.

• Show Developer Handoff: Include examples of how you prepared files for developers, annotated designs, and collaborated to ensure accurate implementation. Mention tools used and strategies for minimizing friction.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs, such as improvements in user engagement, task completion rates, or development efficiency gains attributed to design systems.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, your approach to accessibility, your collaboration style, and how you handle feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is provided, thoroughly understand the brief, identify key constraints and objectives, and plan your approach.

• Focus on demonstrating your process, not just the final deliverable. Show your thinking, explore multiple solutions, and justify your choices.

• For any coding-related aspects (even conceptual), demonstrate an understanding of front-end technologies and how designs translate into code.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on portfolio review to validate skills. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design process, decision-making, and the impact of their work, especially concerning design systems and their role in driving efficiency and consistency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all UX/UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Deep proficiency is a must.

• Zeroheight: Preferred for documenting design systems, component libraries, and guidelines.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's native prototyping capabilities, potentially supplemented by tools like Adobe XD or InVision if used in previous projects.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• JIRA: Commonly used by agile teams for project management, task tracking, and bug reporting; familiarity is a plus.

• Zeplin / Abstract: Tools for design handoff and version control (though Figma offers robust built-in solutions).

• Git: Understanding of version control principles is beneficial for collaboration with developers.

• Storybook: Useful for UI component documentation and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone tool for this role. Proficiency in design system management within Figma, including component libraries and potentially design tokens, is critical. Familiarity with documentation tools like Zeroheight and project management tools like JIRA is highly advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Pioneering Spirit: Embracing new technologies and methodologies, particularly in AI, to drive innovation.

• Client-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and meeting client needs and aligning with their brand culture.

• Excellence & Quality: Commitment to delivering high-quality, well-crafted digital products and robust design systems.

• Collaboration & Communication: Openness to cross-functional teamwork, knowledge sharing, and clear communication with stakeholders.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Designing solutions that are not only effective but also efficient to build and maintain, leveraging design systems.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with product managers, developers, and potentially other designers to achieve project goals.

• Emphasis on clear communication, constructive feedback, and a shared understanding of project objectives.

• A proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to adapt to client-specific workflows and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture likely values individuals who are adaptable, client-focused, and possess a strong technical and design aptitude. The "pioneering" aspect, linked to AI, suggests an environment that encourages forward-thinking and continuous learning.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Short Contract Duration: Condensing significant design system development and product design into a 3-month period requires strong focus and efficiency.

• Client Integration: Quickly understanding and aligning with a new client's culture, brand, and existing tech stack.

• AI-Focused Environment: Adapting design approaches to the specific requirements and possibilities of AI-driven products.

• Balancing Design & Development: Ensuring seamless handoff and pixel-perfect implementation in a fast-paced development environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Gain hands-on experience with AI-focused product development, a rapidly growing field.

• Deepen expertise in enterprise-level design system creation and management.

• Work with a global tech group (RTG) and potentially diverse client projects.

• Enhance skills in cross-functional collaboration, especially with front-end developers working with modern frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for a designer who thrives in fast-paced, project-driven environments and can quickly make a significant impact. The challenges are directly related to the contract nature and the specialized focus on design systems and AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for building a design system from scratch. What are the key considerations for scalability and accessibility?"

• "Walk me through a complex UX/UI project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your role, your process, and the outcome?"

• "How do you ensure effective collaboration and seamless handoff between design and development teams?"

• "How do you approach designing for AI-driven products, considering potential user uncertainty or complex data interactions?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Octopus by RTG and specifically on this contract role in Abu Dhabi?"

• "How do you adapt to new client cultures and proprietary design processes?"

• "Given our focus on AI, what unique challenges do you foresee in designing user experiences for AI-powered applications?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation by case study, dedicating time to explain the context, problem, your process, specific design decisions, and measurable results.

• Emphasize Design Systems: Clearly showcase your design system work. Show examples of components, tokens, documentation, and explain how they benefit development and consistency.

• Detail Developer Handoff: Explain your handoff process, showing examples of annotated designs or prototypes and discussing your collaboration with engineers.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify achievements where possible. Discuss how your designs solved user problems, met business goals, or improved efficiency.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allocated time and keeps the audience engaged.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to demonstrate not just your design skills but also your strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and your capacity to integrate quickly into a project team and deliver high-quality work within a compressed timeframe.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights your most relevant experience in UX/UI design, with a strong emphasis on design systems and developer handoff. Tailor your case study selection to align with the job description's requirements.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords such as "UX Design," "UI Design," "Design Systems," "Figma," "Developer Handoff," "Accessibility," "Responsive Design," and "Prototypes." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design system methodology, and collaboration strategies. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss specific case studies in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Octopus by RTG and Robusta Technology Group, their mission, and their approach to building tech teams. Understand the significance of working with a partner focused on AI.

⚠️ 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.