UX Designer (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer (Contract)

Company: Red Cell Partners

Location: Remote

Job Type: Contract

Category: Design & User Experience / Go-To-Market Operations Support

Date Posted: May 01, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a versatile contract role focused on UX design, visual design, and presentation design, supporting product, marketing, and executive teams within a fast-paced AI incubation firm.

• The position requires a designer capable of creating intuitive user-centered experiences for agent-facing workflows, product demos, company websites, marketing materials, and executive presentations.

• Success in this role hinges on strong collaboration with product managers, engineers, and marketing leads, as well as the ability to maintain and evolve design systems and brand guidelines.

• The ideal candidate will possess a robust portfolio showcasing a range of design work across different surfaces and a proven ability to adapt quickly to evolving priorities in a dynamic environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core focus is UX/Product Design, the breadth of responsibilities (website, marketing, executive presentations) indicates a strong need for someone who can function as a hybrid designer, bridging product development with Go-To-Market (GTM) and corporate communications. This role is crucial for translating complex AI concepts into accessible and compelling user experiences and brand messaging, directly impacting user acquisition, engagement, and investor relations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive, user-centered experiences for agent-facing workflows and internal tools, focusing on clarity, efficiency, and ease of use.

• Develop comprehensive UX flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and interaction patterns for product features and compelling demonstrations.

• Lead the UX and visual design for the company website, ensuring a seamless user journey, clear communication of value proposition, and strong brand alignment.

• Create visually engaging marketing materials, including landing pages, digital assets for campaigns, and promotional content for events.

• Design and refine executive presentation decks for both internal stakeholders and external audiences, including investors and partners, to effectively communicate vision and strategy.

• Develop visually compelling slide decks, signage, and demo visuals for technical and UX conferences, ensuring alignment with product messaging and brand identity.

• Own the end-to-end UX and visual design for all product demonstrations, creating cohesive flows that clearly articulate product value and functionality.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and marketing teams to understand requirements and translate them into thoughtful, effective design solutions.

• Maintain and evolve design systems and brand guidelines, ensuring consistency across all product, marketing, and presentation surfaces.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only execute on product UX but also significantly contribute to the company's external facing collateral and internal communication strategy. This blend is critical for a company at the incubation stage, where clear communication of value proposition and product capabilities is paramount for attracting talent, customers, and investors.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, UX/UI Design, or a related field is often preferred. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 3–5+ years of professional experience in UX design, product design, or a closely related field, including experience with contract roles.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in UX design, with a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Demonstrated ability in visual design, including layout, typography, color theory, and branding.

• Proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to communicate design concepts.

• Expertise with modern design and prototyping tools, with a strong preference for Figma.

• Experience designing for diverse platforms, including web interfaces, product applications, and presentation decks.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage time effectively in a remote, fast-paced environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for both product teams and marketing initiatives.

• Familiarity with AI technologies and their user interface implications.

• Experience developing or maintaining design systems and brand guidelines.

• Background in designing for complex industries such as Healthcare, Oil & Gas, or National Security.

• Experience with animation or motion design for enhanced user experiences or presentations.

• Previous experience working within an Agile development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3-5+ years" experience level suggests a need for someone who can hit the ground running with minimal supervision, capable of taking ownership of design projects from conception to completion. The emphasis on a "strong portfolio showcasing UX thinking, visual design, and multi-surface work" indicates that practical demonstration of skills across various design disciplines is more critical than specific educational credentials.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a breadth of design work across multiple surfaces including product interfaces, websites, marketing collateral, and presentation decks.

• The portfolio should clearly demonstrate your UX thinking process, including user research insights, problem definition, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final visual design.

• Include case studies that highlight your approach to solving complex design challenges, detailing the problem, your process, the solutions implemented, and the impact of your design decisions.

• For presentation design examples, showcase how you translate complex information and strategic messages into clear, visually compelling narratives suitable for executive and conference audiences.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of your ability to establish and maintain design systems and brand guidelines, ensuring consistency across diverse touchpoints.

• Examples of how you have collaborated with product managers and engineers to translate requirements into functional and intuitive user experiences.

• Showcase instances where you have managed multiple design projects concurrently, demonstrating effective prioritization and deadline management.

• Provide insights into your approach to iterating on designs based on feedback from stakeholders and user testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the contract nature and the requirement for a strong portfolio, applicants should curate their submissions to prominently feature projects that align with the diverse responsibilities outlined. This includes demonstrating both deep UX/UI skills for product interfaces and strong visual/communication design skills for marketing and presentations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $75 - $100 per hour. This range is based on the provided information and typical market rates for experienced contract UX Designers in a remote capacity.

Benefits:

• For Contract Position: While specific benefits for contract roles are not detailed, contract positions often offer flexibility and the opportunity to work on high-impact projects.

• For Full-Time Roles (for context): Comprehensive health care (medical, dental, vision), paid maternity/paternity leave (14 weeks), unlimited PTO (with management approval), opportunities for professional development and continued learning, optional 401K, FSA, equity incentives, and mental health benefits via Tara Mind are listed for full-time employees.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time commitment, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility inherent in a remote contract position. The ability to manage multiple projects suggests a need for efficient time management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided directly in the job description. The benefits listed are explicitly for full-time roles. Contract employees in the US typically do not receive the same benefits package as full-time employees, though hourly pay can be higher to compensate. It's advisable for candidates to clarify specific benefits or lack thereof for contract roles during the interview process. The provided range is competitive for a contract UX Designer role, particularly one requiring a broad skill set.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (AI, Software Incubation), Healthcare, Cyber, National Security. Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm that builds and invests in technology-led companies. Trase Systems, the specific company within Red Cell, focuses on AI agent technology.

Company Size: Red Cell Partners is described as an incubation firm, suggesting a dynamic, growth-oriented environment. Trase Systems, being a co-founded entity in 2023, is likely a startup within this incubation model, indicating a fast-paced, agile, and potentially lean operational structure.

Founded: Red Cell Partners was founded prior to 2023. Trase Systems was co-founded in 2023. This indicates a relatively young company with a focus on cutting-edge technology and rapid innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will work closely with product managers, engineers, and marketing leads, indicating a cross-functional team structure.

• The role supports "product, marketing, and executive teams," suggesting interaction across several departments within Trase Systems and potentially within the broader Red Cell Partners ecosystem.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes "AI, Uncomplicated," suggesting a focus on simplifying complex AI technologies for enterprise adoption.

• Trase Systems is developing "mission-critical agentic applications," implying a rigorous approach to AI development and deployment.

• The presence of a design system and brand guidelines points to a structured approach to design consistency and quality.

• The focus on user-centered experiences for "agent-facing workflows" indicates a commitment to practical, user-centric AI development.

Company Website: https://www.redcellpartners.com/ (Red Cell Partners)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and its incubation model suggests an environment that values innovation, rapid iteration, and a strong emphasis on translating complex technology into practical, user-friendly solutions. The designer will play a key role in shaping both the internal perception and external communication of Trase's AI capabilities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Contract UX Designer. While it's a contract position, the responsibilities suggest a significant level of autonomy and ownership, akin to a Senior Designer in some aspects, especially in managing multiple project types.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a hiring manager or team lead within Trase Systems, likely within the product or design function. They will collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and marketing leads.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's impact is critical for Trase Systems' success. By creating intuitive product experiences, compelling marketing materials, and clear executive presentations, the designer directly influences:

• User Adoption & Engagement: Ensuring agent-facing tools are easy to use and effective.

• Brand Perception: Shaping how customers, partners, and investors perceive Trase's AI capabilities and vision.

• Sales & Marketing Effectiveness: Providing visual assets and website UX that support lead generation and conversion.

• Executive Communication: Enabling leadership to clearly articulate the company's value proposition and strategic direction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Diversification: This role offers a unique opportunity to expand skills beyond traditional product UX into marketing design, presentation design, and website UX within a cutting-edge AI company.

• Project Breadth: Working on diverse projects (product, web, marketing, executive) provides exposure to various design challenges and business functions.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Successful completion of projects will significantly bolster a designer's portfolio with high-impact work for a rapidly growing AI firm.

• Potential for Full-Time Conversion: While a contract role, strong performance and business needs could potentially lead to full-time opportunities within Red Cell Partners or its portfolio companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" typically means skill expansion and portfolio building rather than traditional career path progression. This role is excellent for a designer looking to gain experience across multiple design disciplines within a high-growth, innovative tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This indicates a distributed team environment, requiring strong self-discipline and communication skills.

Office Location(s): Remote, with a potential focus on candidates within the United States (based on ai_remote_location_derived).

Workspace Context:

• The remote nature necessitates a self-sufficient and organized workspace for focused design work.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital tools (e.g., video conferencing, Slack, Figma, project management software), requiring effective virtual communication.

• Access to modern design tools like Figma is expected to be provided or readily available to the contractor.

• The dynamic environment suggests a collaborative spirit where team members are accessible for quick feedback and problem-solving sessions.

Work Schedule: Expected to align with standard business hours for collaboration, likely within the United States time zones. The contract nature may offer some flexibility, but responsiveness and availability for team meetings and project deadlines are crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote setup requires a candidate who is proactive in communication and comfortable working autonomously. The focus on "fast-paced" and "dynamic" suggests an environment where quick turnarounds and adaptability are valued.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: (Inferred based on typical tech hiring practices)

• Initial Screen: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A more in-depth session with the hiring manager or design lead. This will likely involve a walkthrough of the candidate's portfolio, focusing on UX thinking, design process, and relevant project examples. A specific design challenge or hypothetical scenario may be presented to assess problem-solving skills and design approach.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., product manager, engineer, marketing lead) to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and understanding of diverse project needs.

• Final Interview/Offer: Typically with a senior leader, focusing on overall fit, strategic thinking, and confirmation of terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Breadth: Select projects that clearly demonstrate your capabilities in product UX, website design, marketing collateral, and presentation design.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges faced, the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Showcase interactive prototypes and well-organized design files within Figma.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Use examples to illustrate how you've worked effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Tailor to Trase: If possible, subtly tailor your selection or presentation to highlight experience relevant to AI, technology, or enterprise solutions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared to discuss Trase Systems' mission, their focus on "AI, Uncomplicated," and the challenges of deploying AI agents in enterprise settings.

• Think Broadly: Anticipate challenges that span product, marketing, and presentation design. For example, how would you design a demo flow for a new AI agent feature, or how would you create a visual narrative for a conference presentation on AI adoption?

• Focus on Process: Be ready to explain your design process, how you approach ambiguity, and how you would gather requirements from different stakeholder groups.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: Highlight your ability to switch between different design tasks and adapt to evolving project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strong portfolio showcasing UX thinking, visual design, and multi-surface work" means the portfolio is paramount. Candidates should prepare to present specific examples that directly address the diverse responsibilities listed, rather than generic design work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly preferred for UX and visual design. Candidates must demonstrate strong proficiency.

• Product Design Tools: General proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, and interaction design tools is expected.

• Presentation Software: Expertise in tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote for creating executive and conference decks.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant for this UX design role, but understanding how design integrates with marketing automation platforms or CRM systems for landing pages could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma proficiency is a key requirement. The role implies the need for a designer who can operate across multiple digital platforms and presentation formats, so adaptability to other design or collaboration tools should be assumed.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Working in an AI incubation firm, a strong drive for innovation and exploring new design solutions is crucial.

• Simplicity: The company's motto "AI, Uncomplicated" suggests a value placed on clarity, ease of use, and demystifying complex technology through design.

• Duty & Impact: Red Cell Partners emphasizes a "shared sense of duty" and building "revolutionary advancements," implying a desire for work that has significant real-world impact.

• Collaboration: The need to support multiple teams indicates a collaborative culture where designers work closely with various functions.

• Agility & Adaptability: As a startup within an incubation firm, the environment likely values quick iteration, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect to work closely with product managers, engineers, and marketing professionals, requiring clear communication and understanding of different perspectives.

• Feedback-Driven: The role involves presenting designs to stakeholders and incorporating feedback, suggesting a culture that values constructive critique and iteration.

• Proactive Communication: In a remote, fast-paced setting, proactive communication about progress, blockers, and design decisions is essential for effective collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission-driven nature (National Security, Healthcare) combined with its AI focus suggests a culture that balances innovation with a strong sense of purpose and responsibility. Designers should be comfortable working on challenging problems with a potentially high impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Design Needs: Juggling product UX, website design, marketing collateral, and executive presentations simultaneously requires excellent organizational and prioritization skills.

• Designing for AI Complexity: Translating cutting-edge AI concepts and agentic behaviors into intuitive and understandable user experiences for enterprise clients can be a significant challenge.

• Working in a Fast-Paced, Remote Environment: Adapting to rapid iteration cycles, managing ambiguity, and maintaining strong communication within a distributed team requires self-discipline and proactive engagement.

• Translating Vision into Design: Effectively capturing and visually representing the company's vision and technical advancements in presentations and marketing materials.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Broadening Design Skillset: Gaining hands-on experience in website UX, marketing design, and presentation design, in addition to core product UX.

• Industry Exposure: Deepening understanding of AI technologies, AI agents, and their applications in critical sectors like healthcare and national security.

• Portfolio Development: Building a robust portfolio with high-impact projects for a rapidly growing AI company.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhancing skills in collaborating with diverse teams (engineering, product, marketing, executive leadership).

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary "growth" in this contract role comes from the breadth of experience gained and the opportunity to build a versatile portfolio, rather than structured career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product/UX: "Describe a complex product feature you designed. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" "How would you approach designing an intuitive interface for an AI agent that needs to manage multiple complex tasks?" "Walk me through your process for creating a user flow for a product demo."

• Website/Marketing: "How would you approach redesigning a company website to better communicate a complex technology product?" "Show me an example of marketing collateral you've designed and explain its purpose." "How do you ensure brand consistency across digital assets?"

• Presentation Design: "Describe a challenging executive presentation you designed. What was the key message, and how did your design support it?" "How would you visually represent the concept of 'AI, Uncomplicated' for a general audience?"

• Collaboration/Process: "How do you manage competing design priorities from different stakeholders?" "Describe a time you received critical feedback on your design. How did you handle it?" "How do you maintain a design system across different product surfaces?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Red Cell Partners and Trase Systems' mission?"

• "How do you approach working in a fast-paced, remote, and potentially ambiguous environment?"

• "How do you stay updated on design trends, especially in the AI space?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type (Product UX, Web/Marketing, Presentations) or by case study depth.

• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and contributions, your design process, key decisions, and the results or impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Figma Showcase: Be prepared to share interactive prototypes or walk through your Figma files to demonstrate your technical skills and organizational approach.

• Highlight Versatility: Emphasize projects that show your ability to work across different design disciplines (UX, UI, visual, presentation).

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time, presenting the most impactful aspects of your work clearly and efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare specific examples that demonstrate their ability to handle the diverse responsibilities outlined, especially those involving complex technology and cross-functional collaboration. The portfolio is the primary tool here.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating UX/UI design for applications, website design, marketing collateral creation, and executive presentation design. Ensure your work with Figma is clearly showcased.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience (3-5+ years), specific design skills (UX, visual, presentation), tool proficiency (Figma), and experience in fast-paced or remote environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, your approach to user-centered design, and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams. Prepare to discuss specific projects in detail during a portfolio review.

• Research Red Cell Partners & Trase Systems: Understand their mission, their focus on "AI, Uncomplicated," and the industries they serve. This will help you tailor your application and prepare for interview questions.

⚠️ 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.