UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Designer Company: HICX Location: Bucharest, Romania Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: UI/UX Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-13T13:41:16.602 Experience Level: 0-2 Years Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• Focuses on translating user needs and business requirements into intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces for SaaS products, emphasizing process efficiency in the design lifecycle.
• Requires a strong understanding of UI design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and iconography, to maintain consistency and clarity across the HICX platform.
• Involves active participation in design reviews, user testing, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and user-centric designs.
• Will contribute to the evolution and maintenance of a design system, ensuring scalability and reusability of design components to streamline future product development.
• Must be comfortable working in a fully remote environment, collaborating effectively with international teams across different time zones, and staying abreast of emerging design technologies, including AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input title is "UI Designer," the responsibilities and required skills strongly align with a "UI/UX Design Operations" or "Product Design Operations" role within a SaaS company. The emphasis on design systems, collaboration with development, adherence to standards, and the remote, cross-functional team aspect are key indicators of operational responsibilities within the design function. The "0-2 years" experience level suggests this is an entry-level to junior position within this operational framework.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate wireframes and low-fidelity mockups into polished, high-fidelity visual designs that adhere to HICX's brand guidelines and product strategy.
• Build interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools like Figma to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to stakeholders and development teams.
• Maintain and actively contribute to the HICX design system, ensuring consistency, reusability, and scalability of UI components across all product offerings.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, UX designers, and front-end developers to ensure seamless design handoffs and accurate implementation of visual designs and accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1).
• Participate in user testing sessions and internal design reviews, incorporating feedback to iterate on designs and enhance overall user experience and product usability.
• Prepare detailed design specifications, redlines, and assets for development teams, ensuring clarity and efficiency in the build process.
• Stay updated on the latest UI design trends, best practices, and emerging technologies, particularly those leveraging AI, to inform design decisions and drive innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are structured to reflect a typical product design workflow within a SaaS environment, emphasizing the operational aspects of design system management, developer collaboration, and iterative design processes. The inclusion of AI and accessibility standards suggests a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, or a closely related field.
• Equivalent practical experience in UI design or visual design for enterprise SaaS products will also be considered.

Experience:

• 1–3 years of professional experience in UI design, visual design, or a similar role, with a strong preference for experience within web-based SaaS or enterprise software environments.
• Demonstrated experience in translating complex requirements into clear, user-friendly interfaces.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design Proficiency: Strong skills in layout, typography, color theory, and iconography, with a keen eye for visual detail, consistency, and clarity.
• Prototyping Expertise: Proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools, with a strong preference for Figma. Experience with Sketch or Adobe XD is also acceptable.
• Design System Contribution: Ability to understand and contribute to a design system, ensuring adherence to established patterns and guidelines.
• Responsive Design Principles: Solid understanding of responsive design principles and best practices for creating adaptable user interfaces across various devices and screen sizes.
• Accessibility Awareness: Familiarity with accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1 and inclusive design practices to ensure products are usable by everyone.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within a remote, cross-functional team environment across different time zones.
• User Experience Focus: A genuine passion for great design and a commitment to continuously improving the user experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Front-end Technology Familiarity: Basic understanding of front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which aids in understanding development constraints and possibilities.
• Design System Experience: Prior experience contributing to or building a design system or reusable component library.
• Motion Design/Micro-interactions: Exposure to motion design principles or experience with tools like After Effects or Lottie for creating micro-interactions.
• Handoff Tools: Familiarity with design handoff tools such as Zeplin or Storybook for efficient collaboration with developers.
• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development teams and familiarity with project management tools like Jira or Linear.
• AI-Driven Design: Ability to evaluate and adopt new AI-driven design technologies to enhance efficiency and creativity.
• Content Creation: Comfort in creating brief UI walkthroughs, product GIFs, or videos for marketing or release documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills listed are categorized to highlight core UI competencies, tool proficiency, and collaborative abilities essential for a design operations role. Preferred skills point towards candidates who can add immediate value through existing familiarity with advanced design tools, systems, and development workflows. The emphasis on AI and accessibility reflects modern design operational standards.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Visual Design Excellence: A portfolio showcasing a strong command of visual design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and iconography, demonstrating a consistent and clear aesthetic.
• Process Demonstration: Examples that illustrate your design process, from initial concept and wireframing through to high-fidelity mockups and prototyping, highlighting problem-solving approaches.
• Figma Proficiency: Specific examples of work created using Figma, demonstrating your ability to leverage its features for UI design and prototyping.
• Design System Contribution (if applicable): If you have experience with design systems, include examples of components, patterns, or style guides you have contributed to or maintained.
• Impact & Clarity: Projects that clearly articulate the problem addressed, your role, the solutions implemented, and the outcomes or impact achieved, preferably related to SaaS products.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase examples of how you approach design workflows, from understanding requirements to final asset delivery, emphasizing efficiency and clarity in each step.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Include examples of interactive prototypes and demonstrate how you used them for user testing and design iteration, highlighting your ability to refine designs based on feedback.
• Design Handoff: Present examples of how you prepare design assets and specifications for development teams, ensuring smooth and accurate implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to assess a candidate's practical design skills, process orientation, and ability to contribute to a structured design environment. The emphasis on Figma and design systems is critical, given their prevalence in modern UI design operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a UI Designer with 0-2 years of experience in Romania, a competitive salary range of 10,000 - 17,000 RON per month (gross) is estimated. This range considers the cost of living in Bucharest and an entry-level to junior position within a growing SaaS company.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: This salary estimate is derived from analysis of similar roles in Romania on platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and local job boards, adjusted for the specific industry (SaaS) and experience level. The exact compensation will be determined by the candidate's specific skills, interview performance, and alignment with HICX's compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO): 25 days of paid holiday per year, plus 3 public holidays, with additional birthday PTO.
• Competitive Pay: Highly competitive rate determined by skills, experience, and location.
• Career Opportunities: Abundant career growth prospects within a fast-growing, in-demand industry.
• Company Socials & Events: Opportunities to connect and socialize with the team through company social events and off-site gatherings.
• Remote Work Flexibility: The ability to work from anywhere within Romania, supporting a healthy work-life balance.
• International Team Exposure: Work with a diverse and international team, fostering a global perspective.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate remote work and cross-time-zone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Benefits are highlighted to emphasize HICX's commitment to employee well-being, professional development, and a positive work environment, particularly within a remote setting. The mention of flexible PTO and birthday PTO are attractive perks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Enterprise SaaS solutions for digital supplier management. HICX operates in the business software and technology sector, focusing on procurement and supply chain optimization through high-quality data management. Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, HICX is described as serving Global 5000 companies, suggesting a substantial client base and likely a mid-to-large-sized organization with a global presence. Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company's focus on enterprise SaaS and digital transformation implies a modern, forward-thinking operational approach.

Team Structure:

• The UI design team is integrated within a broader product and UX function, working collaboratively with product managers, UX researchers, and front-end developers.
• Reporting likely falls under a Head of Product, Design Lead, or UX Manager, with direct collaboration across engineering and product management departments.
• Cross-functional collaboration is key, with designers expected to work closely with remote teams in the US and Europe, requiring strong communication and asynchronous work practices.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are informed by business and technical requirements, user feedback, and potentially analytics, aiming for data-backed design improvements.
• Agile Development: Likely follows Agile methodologies, involving iterative design cycles, regular feedback loops, and close collaboration with development teams using tools like Jira or Linear.
• Design System Focus: Emphasizes the use and maintenance of a design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability in product development.

Company Website: https://www.hicx.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is presented as collaborative, remote-first, and focused on delivering high-quality SaaS solutions. The emphasis on serving large enterprise clients suggests a professional and results-oriented environment. The inclusion of AI and a global team structure points to a dynamic and evolving workplace.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at an entry-level to junior level (0-2 years of experience) within the UI/UX design function, specifically focusing on the operational aspects of design delivery and system maintenance. Reporting Structure: The UI Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Head of Product. They will work closely with a cross-functional product team that includes product managers, UX designers, and front-end developers. Operations Impact: The UI Designer's work directly impacts the usability and visual appeal of HICX's enterprise SaaS platform. High-quality UI design is crucial for customer adoption, user satisfaction, and the overall perception of the product's sophistication and reliability, thereby contributing to customer retention and new business acquisition.

Growth Opportunities:

• UI/UX Specialization: Develop deep expertise in UI design principles, prototyping, and interaction design within the SaaS domain.
• Design System Mastery: Grow into a specialist role for design systems, potentially leading contributions or owning specific aspects of the system's evolution.
• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gain exposure to UX research, product management, and front-end development processes, broadening understanding of the product lifecycle.
• AI in Design: Opportunities to explore and integrate AI tools and workflows into the design process, staying at the forefront of industry trends.
• Leadership Potential: With experience, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers, lead smaller design initiatives, or contribute to strategic design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on how an entry-level UI Designer can progress within a structured design operations environment, emphasizing skill specialization and broadening exposure to related disciplines. The emphasis on design systems and AI reflects current industry trends and potential career trajectories.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. HICX operates as a remote-first company, meaning there is no central physical office for this role. Employees work from their own locations. Office Location(s): The role is specified for candidates based in Bucharest, Romania, indicating a focus on building a strong team within this region, even though the company is globally distributed.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: The work environment is digitally collaborative, relying heavily on online communication tools (e.g., Slack, Teams), project management platforms (e.g., Jira, Linear), and design collaboration tools (e.g., Figma).
• Technology Stack: Employees will have access to and utilize a range of modern design and communication technologies essential for remote work and product development.
• Team Interaction: Interaction with team members will be primarily through video calls, chat, and collaborative online documents, requiring proactive engagement and clear communication.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time schedule (approximately 40 hours per week).
• Flexibility is inherent in a remote role, allowing individuals to manage their time effectively, while also requiring coordination with team members across different time zones (US, Europe).

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description emphasizes the remote-first nature of HICX and the specific regional focus on Bucharest, Romania. It outlines the digital tools and collaborative practices necessary for success in this setup.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening of resumes and portfolios to assess foundational skills, experience, and alignment with the role requirements.
• Portfolio Deep Dive & Discussion: A virtual interview with a hiring manager or design lead to discuss your portfolio in detail, focusing on your process, problem-solving abilities, and design choices. Be prepared to articulate your contributions and the impact of your work.
• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or a take-home challenge to evaluate your practical skills, design thinking, and ability to work with specific tools or constraints.
• Team/Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with potential team members (e.g., other designers, developers, product managers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the remote team dynamic.
• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations, overall fit, and finalize any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UI design skills, problem-solving approach, and experience with Figma and design systems.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, the design process you followed, the tools you used, and the outcome or impact of your work. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your design process, including wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration. Show how you arrived at your final design solutions.
• Showcase Figma Skills: Include specific examples of your work in Figma, demonstrating your proficiency with its features for UI design, prototyping, and component management.
• Accessibility & Responsiveness: If possible, include projects that demonstrate your understanding and application of accessibility standards and responsive design principles.
• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to walk through your portfolio and answer in-depth questions about your design decisions, challenges faced, and how you collaborated with others.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand any design challenge instructions, paying attention to constraints, deliverables, and timelines.
• Focus on Process: Even in a short challenge, demonstrate your design thinking and process. Outline your approach before diving into execution.
• Prioritize Clarity: Ensure your final deliverable is clear, well-presented, and addresses the core requirements of the challenge.
• Time Management: Practice managing your time effectively to complete the challenge within the given timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates on how to navigate the interview process and present their portfolios effectively, emphasizing the specific requirements of a UI Designer role in a remote, SaaS environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is highly valued.
• Sketch / Adobe XD: Acceptable alternatives or supplementary tools for UI design and prototyping.
• Prototyping Tools (e.g., Figma's built-in, InVision): For creating interactive prototypes to demonstrate user flows and interactions.
• Design Handoff Tools (e.g., Zeplin, Storybook): Useful for preparing and sharing design assets and specifications with developers, ensuring seamless implementation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's tool, familiarity with how user data and analytics inform design decisions is beneficial. Understanding how to interpret user behavior data to improve UI is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the UI Designer role's core functions, but awareness of the broader SaaS ecosystem and how the UI fits into the customer journey is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights the essential software and tools a UI Designer at HICX will be expected to use, with a strong emphasis on Figma as the preferred platform. Familiarity with complementary tools for prototyping and handoff is also noted.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to creating high-quality, visually appealing, and user-friendly interfaces that reflect positively on the HICX brand.
• Collaboration & Communication: Fostering an open and transparent communication environment, especially crucial for a remote team, to ensure alignment and efficient workflow.
• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to learning new design techniques, staying updated with industry trends (including AI), and constantly refining the user experience.
• User-Centricity: Placing the end-user at the forefront of design decisions, ensuring products are intuitive, accessible, and meet user needs effectively.
• Efficiency & Scalability: Valuing the creation and maintenance of design systems and processes that promote efficiency, consistency, and scalability across the product suite.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First Collaboration: Proactive engagement through digital channels, utilizing video conferencing, chat, and collaborative design platforms.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with product management, UX research, and engineering teams to ensure design solutions are aligned with business goals and technically feasible.
• Feedback & Iteration: Embracing a culture of constructive feedback and iterative design, where ideas are shared openly and designs are refined based on input from various stakeholders.
• Knowledge Sharing: Participating in team critiques, workshops, and skill-sharing sessions to foster collective learning and growth within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values are framed around the operational needs of a remote SaaS company and the specific demands of a design function, emphasizing collaboration, continuous improvement, and user focus.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Navigating communication and collaboration effectively with a globally distributed team across different time zones, requiring strong asynchronous communication skills and proactive engagement.
• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and consistent user experience across a growing SaaS platform, especially when contributing to or maintaining a design system, requires meticulous attention to detail.
• Integrating New Technologies: Staying current with evolving design tools and technologies, particularly AI-driven design solutions, and effectively integrating them into existing workflows.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating complex business requirements and technical constraints into user-friendly designs that meet both functional and aesthetic standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UI/UX Training: Opportunities for professional development in advanced UI design techniques, prototyping, and interaction design.
• Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge and practical application of design system principles, potentially leading to ownership or specialized roles.
• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to industry events, webinars, and workshops to stay updated on the latest trends in UI/UX design and technology.
• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced designers and product professionals within the company, fostering career growth and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential hurdles for an entry-level UI designer in a remote setting and outlines the avenues for professional growth and skill enhancement available at HICX.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Process & Methodology: "Describe your typical UI design process from initial concept to final deliverable. How do you ensure your designs are user-centric and meet business requirements?" (Prepare to walk through a specific project's lifecycle).
• Collaboration & Communication: "How do you collaborate with developers and product managers to ensure successful design implementation? How do you handle design disagreements or feedback you don't initially agree with?" (Highlight examples of cross-functional teamwork and conflict resolution).
• Problem-Solving & Efficiency: "Walk me through a challenging UI design problem you've solved. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome? How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?" (Focus on demonstrating analytical thinking and efficient workflow).
• Company & Culture Fit: "What interests you about HICX and this specific UI Designer role? How do you see yourself contributing to our remote team culture?" (Research HICX's mission, values, and products; reflect on your remote work preferences and collaboration style).
• Design Systems & Tools: "What is your experience with design systems? How do you ensure consistency when contributing to one? What are your favorite features in Figma and why?" (Be ready to discuss your practical experience with Figma and design system best practices).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structured Narrative: Present your portfolio projects with a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.
• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals, mockups, prototypes, and concise explanations. Avoid text-heavy slides.
• Highlight Figma Usage: Specifically mention and showcase how you utilized Figma's features for your projects.
• Interactive Elements: If possible, provide live links to interactive prototypes within your presentation.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting your key projects within the allocated interview slots.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Deliverable: Clarify what is expected – a set of mockups, a prototype, a design system component, etc.
• Think Aloud: If it's a live exercise, articulate your thought process as you work.
• Focus on Key Principles: Demonstrate your understanding of usability, accessibility, and visual hierarchy, even in a simplified context.
• Showcase Figma Skills: Use Figma features efficiently to demonstrate your proficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview preparation advice, including common question types, strategies for presenting a portfolio, and tips for handling design challenges, all tailored to a UI Designer role in a remote SaaS company.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.
• Portfolio Optimization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight UI design skills, Figma proficiency, experience with design systems, and any relevant SaaS projects. Clearly state your role and contributions in each portfolio piece.
• Resume Enhancement: Focus on quantifiable achievements and relevant keywords like "UI Design," "Figma," "Prototyping," "Design Systems," "SaaS," "Remote Collaboration," and "Accessibility."
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your design process, problem-solving abilities, and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HICX's mission, products, and the supplier management industry. Understand their remote-first culture and values to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment.

⚠️ 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.