UX Architect (Freelance or Payroll)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Architect (Freelance or Payroll)

Company: Craftzing

Location: Belgium (Flexible, with up to 2 days/week on-site client work)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/Experience Design, GTM Strategy Augmentation

Date Posted: April 17, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the definition and validation of experience architectures for complex, multi-touchpoint digital products and services, focusing on systems thinking over pure execution.

• Translate strategic objectives into structured UX direction, including flows, systems, principles, and information architecture, to create coherent experience systems.

• Facilitate workshops and discovery sessions with stakeholders to challenge assumptions, identify structural UX problems, and align diverse perspectives into a shared vision.

• Leverage prototyping as a thinking tool to make direction tangible, validate early assumptions, and support decision-making processes across teams.

• Collaborate closely with UI designers, engineers, and solution architects to integrate experience principles into tangible digital products and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is centered on UX Architecture, its emphasis on structuring complex digital ecosystems, defining end-to-end user journeys, and translating strategic goals into buildable frameworks strongly aligns with the strategic planning and process definition elements crucial for GTM (Go-to-Market) operations. The ability to create clarity from ambiguity and ensure cohesive user experiences directly supports the successful deployment and adoption of products and services.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and validate robust experience architectures for complex, multi-touchpoint digital products and services.

• Translate strategic business objectives and user needs into structured UX direction, including critical flows, system maps, design principles, and detailed information architecture.

• Conduct and facilitate discovery sessions, audits, and stakeholder workshops to challenge existing assumptions, identify systemic UX issues, and uncover opportunities for improvement.

• Identify and articulate structural UX problems across the entire product ecosystem, transforming complex challenges into clear, actionable design direction.

• Ensure that all digital product development is guided by a coherent, end-to-end experience system, fostering alignment among design, development, and product teams.

• Utilize prototyping as a core thinking tool, moving beyond static deliverables to create interactive models that make strategic direction tangible and facilitate early validation.

• Validate key assumptions and concepts with users and stakeholders early in the process to mitigate uncertainty and inform critical decisions before commitments are made.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with UI designers, engineers, and solution architects, ensuring that experience principles are effectively integrated into the final product.

• Facilitate workshops and strategic conversations that empower teams to navigate complex or ambiguous contexts and drive progress.

• Actively challenge requirements and existing directions when necessary, with a clear focus on improving the overall user experience and achieving strategic goals.

• Align diverse stakeholder perspectives into a unified vision, preventing fragmented solutions and promoting cohesive digital product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities outlined highlight a strategic engagement with digital product development, moving beyond typical UX execution to focus on foundational architecture and strategic alignment. This requires a deep understanding of how user experience impacts broader business goals and product success, making it relevant for operations professionals who ensure GTM readiness and effectiveness.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is highly beneficial. Candidates with equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX design, experience architecture, or a closely related role, with a demonstrable track record of systems thinking and conceptual design.

Required Skills:

• UX Architecture & Systems Thinking: Proven ability to design and validate complex, multi-touchpoint experience architectures and think in terms of interconnected systems rather than isolated screens.

• Experience Strategy: Expertise in translating strategic questions into structured UX direction, including flows, systems, principles, and information architecture.

• Information Architecture: Strong skills in organizing, structuring, and labeling content and features effectively to optimize usability and findability.

• Conceptual Design: Ability to develop and articulate abstract concepts into tangible experience frameworks and structures.

• Prototyping & Validation: Proficiency in using prototyping as a thinking tool for exploration, validation, and alignment, with a focus on early user and stakeholder testing.

• Workshop Facilitation: Skilled in designing and leading workshops and discovery sessions to drive clarity, challenge assumptions, and foster collaboration.

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Excellent ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse stakeholders, including senior decision-makers, and build trusted partnerships.

• Problem Solving in Ambiguity: Comfort and effectiveness in navigating complex, ambiguous environments where upfront definitions are scarce.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working closely with UI designers, engineers, and solution architects to integrate UX strategy into product development.

• Critical Thinking & Challenge: Willingness and ability to challenge requirements and existing directions when they do not align with optimal user experience or strategic goals.

Preferred Skills:

• Service Design: Experience in mapping and designing the end-to-end service experience, considering all touchpoints and interactions.

• Interaction Design: Solid understanding of interaction design principles and patterns to create intuitive and effective user interfaces.

• User Research: Experience in conducting or leveraging user research to validate assumptions and inform design decisions.

• AI Assisted Design Workflows: Curiosity and openness to exploring and integrating AI tools to enhance design processes and outcomes.

• Enterprise/Government Project Experience: Familiarity with the complexities and stakeholder dynamics of large-scale enterprise or government digital projects.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development frameworks and adapting UX processes accordingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems thinking rather than pure execution" and "thinking in flows, structures and end to end experiences" is paramount. This indicates a need for candidates who can operate at a strategic level, influencing product direction by establishing robust foundational architectures. This is a key differentiator from standard UX roles and aligns with the strategic thinking required in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Experience Architecture Case Studies: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your ability to define, structure, and validate complex experience architectures for digital products or services.

• Systems Mapping & Flow Diagrams: Include examples of systems maps, user journey maps, or complex workflow diagrams that illustrate your understanding of interconnectedness and end-to-end experiences.

• Prototyping & Validation Examples: Present interactive prototypes (links or playable demos) alongside explanations of how they were used for concept validation, stakeholder alignment, or decision support.

• Workshop & Facilitation Evidence: Briefly describe or provide artifacts from workshops or discovery sessions you've led, highlighting your facilitation approach and the outcomes achieved.

• Problem/Solution Framing: Demonstrate instances where you identified structural UX problems in ambiguous contexts and translated them into clear, actionable design direction.

• Stakeholder Communication Artifacts: If possible, include anonymized examples of presentations, frameworks, or documentation created to communicate complex UX strategies to senior stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Methodology Explanation: Be prepared to articulate your personal design methodology, emphasizing how you approach complex problems, structure ambiguity, and drive clarity through architecture.

• Integration with Development: Detail how your architectural frameworks and directional outputs are translated and integrated into development sprints and engineering roadmaps.

• Impact Measurement: Describe how you measure or assess the success and effectiveness of the experience architectures and systems you design, linking them to business or user outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Architect role, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond visual design and demonstrate a capacity for strategic thinking, structural design, and process facilitation. The emphasis on "systems" and "architecture" means candidates should highlight how they build frameworks that guide development and ensure consistency across touchpoints, a concept that resonates with process-oriented operations roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Freelance or Payroll" option and the specialized nature of UX Architecture with 5+ years of experience in Belgium, a competitive range is estimated.

• Freelance Rate: €70-€100+ per hour, depending on experience, project complexity, and contract duration.

• Payroll (Full-Time): €55,000 - €80,000+ per year, depending on experience, specific responsibilities, and benefits package.

Research Methodology: This estimate is based on market data for experienced UX Architects and Experience Designers in Belgium, considering the cost of living, demand for specialized skills, and the hybrid work arrangement. Data sources include industry salary surveys, recruitment agency reports for the Belgian tech and design sector, and general cost-of-living indices for major Belgian cities. The higher end of the range reflects senior-level expertise and strategic contribution.

Benefits:

• Autonomy & Impact: Significant freedom to shape your work, influence digital experience strategy, and directly impact client outcomes.

• Long-term Collaboration: Opportunity to build deep, lasting relationships with clients, moving beyond one-off projects to continuous product improvement.

• Professional Development: Access to challenging projects, exposure to diverse industries (government, tech, enterprise), and opportunities to refine your skills in a team of experts.

• Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid model allowing for both focused remote work and essential on-site client collaboration (up to 2 days/week).

• Team of Experts: Work alongside passionate professionals dedicated to high-quality digital experiences and continuous learning.

• Choice of Engagement: Option to engage as a freelancer or a full-time employee, providing flexibility to suit individual career preferences.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. While specific daily schedules may vary based on client needs and project deadlines, the role emphasizes autonomy, allowing for flexibility in structuring the workday to achieve objectives efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual "Freelance or Payroll" option is a significant benefit, offering flexibility. The estimated salary range is a crucial piece of information for operations professionals who often track market rates closely. The provided range accounts for the specified experience level and regional market.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Digital Product Design, Consulting, Software Development. Craftzing operates at the intersection of these fields, focusing on creating impactful digital experiences for a range of clients.

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME). With a team of experts focused on specialized design and strategy, Craftzing likely maintains a close-knit, collaborative environment.

Founded: The company's founding date is not explicitly provided, but its current operations and client list suggest a mature and established presence in the market, capable of handling complex, long-term engagements.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team: While not a traditional "operations" department, the company's core team functions as a highly collaborative unit of specialized consultants and designers. The UX Architects are integral to this team, often working in project-based pods.

• Reporting Structure: UX Architects likely report to a Design Lead, Principal Architect, or directly to a Partner/Director, depending on project assignments and company hierarchy.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role is inherently cross-functional, requiring close collaboration with UI Designers, Engineers, Solution Architects, Project Managers, and client-side stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Strategy: Emphasis on using research, audits, and user feedback to inform strategic direction and experience architecture.

• Iterative Design & Prototyping: A strong focus on iterative development, using prototypes for thinking, validation, and alignment before full-scale implementation.

• Workshop-Centric Collaboration: Extensive use of facilitated workshops to drive consensus, challenge assumptions, and co-create solutions.

• Long-Term Partnership: A commitment to sustained client relationships, focusing on continuous improvement and evolution of digital products.

Company Website: https://craftzing.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on long-term partnerships and deep collaboration implies a culture that values strategic thinking, trust, and continuous improvement. This is highly relevant for operations professionals who thrive in environments that prioritize process maturity and sustainable growth.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior/Lead UX Architect. It requires significant experience (5+ years) and a focus on strategic systems thinking, rather than just execution. The individual is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, guide client strategies, and influence product direction at a foundational level. This level often involves mentorship and acting as a subject matter expert.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a UX Architect would report to a Design Director, Head of UX, or a Senior Partner. Within project teams, they would collaborate closely with Project Managers, Engineering Leads, and Product Owners. The emphasis is on peer collaboration and influencing through expertise rather than direct hierarchical command outside of their project scope.

Operations Impact: The impact of a UX Architect extends beyond just user satisfaction. By defining robust experience architectures and systems, they directly influence:

• Development Efficiency: Clear structures reduce ambiguity for engineers, leading to faster, more efficient development cycles and fewer costly reworkings.

• Product Scalability & Maintainability: Well-defined systems ensure products can grow and adapt over time without becoming overly complex or brittle.

• Strategic Alignment: Ensuring digital products align with overarching business strategy and user needs, contributing to market success and customer adoption.

• Risk Mitigation: Early validation and clear direction reduce the risk of building the wrong product or implementing it ineffectively.

• Brand Consistency: Maintaining a coherent brand experience across all touchpoints reinforces brand identity and user trust.

Growth Opportunities:

• Principal Architect/Director of UX: Progression to a more senior leadership role, overseeing multiple projects, mentoring junior staff, and contributing to the strategic direction of Craftzing's UX practice.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas such as AI-assisted design, service design for complex ecosystems, or advanced information architecture.

• Client Leadership: Becoming a primary strategic partner for key clients, acting as a trusted advisor on their digital transformation journeys.

• Methodology Development: Contributing to the refinement and evolution of Craftzing's design methodologies and best practices.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Expanding knowledge into adjacent areas like product strategy, business analysis, or technical architecture to offer a more holistic consulting approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a UX Architect involves moving from complex execution to strategic leadership and mentorship. The "Operations Impact" section highlights how this role contributes to efficiency and product success, aligning with the core concerns of operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Craftzing operates with a hybrid model. While they have a team of experts, the emphasis is on client-site presence for collaboration when needed, alongside remote work flexibility. This suggests a dynamic work environment that blends focused individual work with collaborative client engagement. The company's emphasis on "long-term collaboration" implies a stable, professional relationship with their client base.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Belgium, with "Flexible" location for core work, but requiring clients to be visited up to 2 days per week. This suggests proximity to major business hubs in Belgium (e.g., Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent) would be advantageous for client accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: When on-site with clients or potentially in shared co-working spaces, the environment will be geared towards collaboration, workshops, and team sessions. Expect dynamic spaces designed for ideation and problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design and collaboration tools, with a potential for exploring newer AI-assisted design workflows. Craftzing likely provides or supports the necessary software and hardware for design and communication.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with a team of highly skilled UX professionals, engineers, and client stakeholders, fostering a culture of shared learning and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week) with an emphasis on autonomy. This means while core hours may exist, there's flexibility in how the workday is structured to meet project deadlines and client needs, allowing for efficient management of both remote and on-site commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and client-facing aspect are key. For operations professionals, understanding the blend of remote autonomy and on-site collaboration is crucial for managing time and expectations effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess overall fit and experience level.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session, often with a senior member of the design team, where you'll present selected case studies from your portfolio. Expect in-depth questions about your approach, decision-making, and the impact of your work.

• Skills & Systems Thinking Assessment: This may involve a practical exercise or a deep-dive discussion focusing on your ability to structure complex problems, think systemically, and articulate UX strategy. This could include a hypothetical scenario or a review of a past project's architecture.

• Workshop/Facilitation Simulation (Potential): You might be asked to demonstrate your facilitation skills through a brief simulated workshop or by discussing how you would approach a specific client challenge.

• Cultural Fit & Collaboration Assessment: Interviews with team members and potentially a hiring manager to gauge your collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and alignment with Craftzing's values and client-centric approach.

• Final Interview: Typically with a company leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and finalize terms (if applicable for payroll).

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Architecture & Systems: Prioritize case studies that clearly demonstrate your ability to design and validate experience architectures, information architecture, and complex user flows. Show how you structure things, not just what you designed.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: For each case study, clearly articulate the initial challenge or ambiguity, your process for gaining clarity, the architectural solutions you proposed, and the outcomes achieved.

• Explain Your "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind your design decisions, especially concerning structural choices and strategic direction.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with stakeholders, clients, and development teams.

• Use Visuals Effectively: Employ diagrams, maps, and wireframes that clearly illustrate systems, flows, and information architecture. Interactive prototypes are a plus.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, quantify the impact of your work (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, increased user adoption, stakeholder alignment).

Challenge Preparation:

• Systems Thinking Exercises: Practice breaking down complex, multi-faceted problems into manageable components and understanding their interdependencies.

• Information Architecture Design: Be prepared to discuss how you would structure information for a new product or a complex existing system.

• Workshop Scenario Planning: Think about how you would facilitate a workshop to address a common UX challenge (e.g., defining a new feature's scope, resolving conflicting user needs).

• Articulating UX Strategy: Practice clearly and concisely explaining the strategic value of UX architecture and how it supports business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and specific skills like "systems thinking" and "architecture" means candidates should prepare to demonstrate a strategic, structural approach to UX, not just UI design. This is where operations professionals can draw parallels to their own process-driven work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar for creating interactive prototypes and design mockups. Figma is often a strong contender due to its collaborative features.

• Design & Wireframing Software: Tools for creating wireframes, user flows, and system diagrams.

• Information Architecture Tools: Miro, Lucidchart, Whimsical, or specialized IA tools for mapping complex structures and relationships.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Collaboration Platforms: Miro, Mural, Confluence for ideation, workshops, and documentation.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking tasks and project progress, especially in client-facing Agile environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for UX professionals, but the emphasis on Miro/Mural and Figma for collaborative mapping and prototyping is key. This highlights the collaborative and process-oriented nature of the role, resonating with operations skillsets.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Clarity from Complexity: A core value is to distill intricate problems into clear, actionable structures and directions.

• User-Centricity with Strategic Alignment: Balancing deep user understanding with overarching business and product strategy to ensure impactful solutions.

• Collaborative Partnership: Fostering trust and open communication with clients and internal teams to achieve shared goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to iterative refinement, learning from feedback, and evolving digital experiences over time.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design and robust architectural solutions that stand the test of time.

Collaboration Style:

• Facilitative & Participatory: Encouraging active involvement from all stakeholders through workshops and open dialogue.

• Consultative & Trusted Advisor: Acting as a strategic partner to clients, providing expert guidance and challenging thinking constructively.

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly working alongside engineers, UI designers, and product managers, ensuring a unified approach to product development.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that values sharing insights, learnings, and best practices among team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style emphasize strategic thinking, process maturity, and cross-functional integration, all of which are central to successful operations functions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Dealing with complex client problems where requirements are initially undefined or conflicting. This requires strong analytical and structuring skills.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Reconciling diverse perspectives from multiple stakeholders (business, technical, user) into a coherent experience architecture.

• Translating Strategy to Execution: Ensuring that high-level strategic direction is effectively translated into tangible designs and workflows that development teams can build upon.

• Demonstrating ROI of Architecture: Clearly articulating and measuring the business value and impact of robust UX architecture, which can sometimes be less tangible than direct feature improvements.

• Adopting New Technologies: Staying current with evolving design tools and methodologies, such as AI-assisted design, and integrating them effectively.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Architecture: Deepening expertise in complex systems, service design, and strategic UX planning.

• Client-Facing Consulting Skills: Developing stronger abilities in client management, negotiation, and strategic advisory.

• AI in Design: Exploring and mastering AI tools and workflows to enhance efficiency and innovation in the design process.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and take on leadership roles within project teams and the broader Craftzing practice.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining broad experience across various sectors (government, enterprise, tech), understanding diverse business challenges and user contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities highlight the continuous learning and problem-solving required in this role, mirroring the dynamic nature of operations environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to create structure and clarity from a highly complex or ambiguous digital product challenge. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your architectural process, stakeholder involvement, and impact.)

• "How do you approach translating high-level business strategy into detailed UX direction, such as information architecture and user flows, for a multi-touchpoint experience?" (Prepare to discuss your methodology for bridging strategic intent with tactical design.)

• "Walk us through a project where you used prototyping not just for final validation, but as a core tool for thinking and alignment. What did you learn?" (Highlight your iterative process and how prototypes facilitated decision-making.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Craftzing's approach to long-term client collaboration and experience architecture?" (Research their website and case studies to align your answer.)

• "How do you handle situations where client requirements conflict with your UX recommendations? Provide an example." (Showcase your ability to challenge constructively and negotiate solutions.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your strategic approach, the architectural solutions you designed, the validation process, and the measurable impact.

• Focus on Architecture & Systems: Emphasize diagrams, maps, and frameworks that illustrate your structural thinking. Show how things connect.

• Demonstrate Your Process: Explain your methodology for gaining clarity, making decisions, and collaborating with others.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your decisions, trade-offs, and the challenges you faced.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight instances where you effectively partnered with engineers, designers, and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to probe strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to operate at an architectural level. Candidates should prepare to discuss their process and impact using concrete examples, much like preparing for operations-focused case studies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned UX Architect position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Craftzing's careers page.

• Customize your Resume: Highlight your experience with systems thinking, experience architecture, information architecture, and strategic UX. Quantify achievements related to efficiency, clarity, or product alignment where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your architectural and systems design capabilities. Ensure they clearly articulate the problem, your process, your solution, and the impact. Prioritize examples of complex, multi-touchpoint systems.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on your strategic approach, architectural decisions, and collaborative process. Be ready to articulate your "why" for key choices.

• Research Craftzing: Understand their client list, project types, and stated values (long-term collaboration, clarity from complexity). Tailor your application and interview responses to align with their mission.

• Consider Your Engagement Model: Be prepared to discuss whether you are seeking a freelance or payroll (full-time) arrangement.

⚠️ 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.

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