UX UI designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX UI Designer Company: Tek Spikes Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States Job Type: CONTRACTOR Category: Design Operations / Product Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-09-24T15:36:17.025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years (Senior) Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on contributing to an enterprise-scale design system as a senior individual contributor, emphasizing detailed visual and interface design.
• Key responsibilities include the maintenance, evolution, and creation of assets and pattern libraries within Figma, directly impacting product consistency and developer efficiency.
• The position requires a strong partnership with development teams to ensure the accurate implementation of design system components and adherence to UX best practices.
• A significant aspect of the role involves designing accessible and inclusive components and creating supporting documentation, crucial for scalable product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX UI Designer," the emphasis on design systems, component creation, asset libraries, and collaboration with development teams positions this role within the broader scope of Design Operations or Product Design Operations, focusing on the operationalization and scalability of design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design System Maintenance & Evolution: Actively maintain, evolve, and create new assets, components, and pattern libraries within Figma, ensuring the design system remains current and comprehensive.
• Component Design & Documentation: Design accessible, inclusive, and reusable UI components, meticulously crafting supporting documentation that clearly outlines usage, states, and best practices for developers.
• Interface Design Execution: Implement detailed visual and interface designs for various platforms (desktop, responsive web, mobile applications) based on the established design system and UX best practices.
• Developer Collaboration & Handoff: Collaborate closely with front-end developers to ensure high-fidelity implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and addressing any technical constraints or questions.
• Process & Delivery Standardization: Assist in establishing consistent delivery processes and handoff patterns for the design system, aiming to improve efficiency and predictability in design-to-development workflows.
• Asset Library Management: Build and maintain robust asset libraries within Figma, ensuring organization, consistency, and ease of use for all designers and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a focus on operationalizing design through a design system, which is a core function of Design Operations. The emphasis on documentation, developer collaboration, and process standardization points to a need for strong process-oriented thinking beyond pure visual design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in UX, Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional UX/UI design experience is mandatory, preferably gained in an enterprise or agency setting.

Required Skills:

• Expert Proficiency in Figma: Demonstrated expertise in using Figma for detailed UI design, prototyping, and, crucially, building and maintaining comprehensive asset libraries and design systems.
• Design Systems Expertise: Proven experience working within and contributing to established design systems, understanding component-based design principles and their application in enterprise environments.
• User Interface Design: Strong portfolio showcasing a deep understanding of user interface design principles across desktop, responsive web, and mobile application contexts.
• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Ability to design accessible and inclusive components that adhere to WCAG guidelines and promote equitable user experiences.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and other designers.
• Problem-Solving: A self-driven, collaborative approach to problem-solving, identifying design challenges and proposing effective, user-centered solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Tokens: Experience with design tokens in Figma, understanding their role in managing design system properties and enabling design automation.
• AG Grid & ZeroHeight: Familiarity with AG Grid for data-heavy interfaces and ZeroHeight for design system documentation platforms.
• Backlog Management: Experience managing a design backlog and accurately sizing design work, contributing to project planning and resource allocation.
• Financial Services Industry: Previous experience within the financial services industry, providing context for design challenges and user needs in this sector.
• Specialized Design Skills: Proficiency in storyboarding, data visualization, animation, or conducting usability studies to enhance design outcomes and user understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Mandatory Qualifications" clearly establish a senior-level individual contributor role. The preferred skills, especially those related to design tokens and backlog management, suggest an opportunity to influence the operational efficiency of the design system.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Focus: The portfolio must prominently feature work related to design systems, including examples of component creation, pattern libraries, and contributions to an existing system.
• Figma Asset Libraries: Showcase practical examples of building and maintaining asset libraries within Figma, demonstrating organization, scalability, and version control.
• UI Design Examples: Include detailed examples of user interface design across different platforms (web, mobile), highlighting visual design execution, interaction patterns, and user flow considerations.
• Design Token Implementation: If applicable, demonstrate experience with design tokens, illustrating how they were used to manage design properties and ensure consistency across the system.
• Impact & Rationale: For each project, clearly articulate the design process, the problem being solved, the user-centered rationale, and the impact of the design solutions, particularly in relation to design system adoption and efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Component Documentation: Provide examples of clear, concise documentation for UI components, detailing their usage, states, accessibility considerations, and interaction guidelines.
• Design Handoff Workflows: Illustrate experience with design handoff processes, showcasing how design specifications are communicated to development teams to ensure accurate implementation.
• System Evolution Rationale: Explain the process for evolving design systems, including how feedback is gathered, changes are proposed, and updates are integrated into the system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio demonstrating design systems work, component creation, and Figma asset libraries is critical. Candidates should prepare to showcase their process for creating and documenting reusable design elements and how they contribute to a scalable design ecosystem.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the senior-level experience (7+ years), the specialized skills in Figma and design systems, and the Chicago location, a competitive salary range for a CONTRACTOR role is estimated to be between $70 - $100 per hour. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX/UI designers with design system expertise in a major US metropolitan area.

Benefits:

• As a contractor, benefits are typically managed by the contracting agency or handled directly by the individual. However, Tek Spikes may offer specific contractor benefits such as:
• Access to company-provided training resources or platforms.
• Potential for contract extension or conversion to a full-time role based on performance and business needs.
• Opportunities to work on high-impact, enterprise-level design system projects.
• Exposure to a collaborative environment with a focus on design excellence.

Working Hours:

• The role is expected to require approximately 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be available, but consistent availability during core business hours in the US Central Time Zone (America/Chicago) is likely expected for effective collaboration with the design and development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly rate estimate is based on market data for contract UX/UI designers with specialized skills in design systems and Figma in the Chicago area. Candidates should verify specific benefits and payment structures with the contracting entity or Tek Spikes directly.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Tek Spikes operates within the technology and consulting sector, likely providing specialized IT services, which often includes UX/UI design and implementation for client projects. Company Size: With an estimated size of 51-200 employees (based on typical Workable listings and company structures), Tek Spikes is a mid-sized organization, offering a balance between established processes and potential for direct impact. Founded: Information on the founding date is not provided, but a mid-sized company often implies a period of growth and established operational practices.

Team Structure:

• Design System Team: The designer will be the third member of a dedicated Design System design team, suggesting a focused effort on building and scaling this critical design asset.
• Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a similar management role overseeing design operations and product design efforts.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: High degree of collaboration expected with front-end developers, product managers, and potentially other UX/UI designers within client-facing or internal product teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Expect a focus on data to inform design decisions, particularly in understanding user behavior and the effectiveness of design system components.
• Agile Development: The design system team likely operates within an agile framework, working in sprints and collaborating closely with development teams on iterative improvements.
• Process Optimization: A core aspect of the role involves refining and standardizing processes for design system creation, maintenance, and implementation to enhance team efficiency and product quality.

Company Website: https://tekspikes.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Being part of a small, specialized design system team within a mid-sized company suggests an environment where individual contributions are highly visible and can directly influence the direction of the design system and its adoption across projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level individual contributor role. The focus on design systems, component libraries, and collaboration with development teams positions it within a specialized track of Design Operations or Product Design Operations, requiring deep expertise in the operationalization of design at scale. Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Manager or a Director of Design, who oversees the design team and its strategic initiatives. The role is expected to be largely independent in its day-to-day execution, with guidance and oversight from management. Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the efficiency of development teams by providing well-documented, reusable components, leading to faster product delivery and improved consistency. It also influences the overall user experience across multiple products by ensuring a cohesive and accessible interface.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Potential to grow into a lead role for the design system team, taking ownership of its strategy, roadmap, and evolution.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like design tokens, accessibility, or advanced Figma capabilities, becoming a subject matter expert.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain experience in influencing product strategy and development processes through the application of robust design system principles.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers on best practices for design systems and component-based design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for specialization in a high-demand area of design operations. Success here could lead to leadership roles within design systems or broader product design management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is designated as "Remote OK," Tek Spikes may have a physical office presence in Chicago. The remote nature implies a distributed team environment, with a focus on asynchronous and virtual collaboration tools. Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, United States. Specific office details are not provided, but proximity to or access to a Chicago-based hub might be beneficial for occasional in-person meetings if desired.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: Expect a highly collaborative digital environment, leveraging tools like Figma, Figjam, Slack, and video conferencing platforms for communication and teamwork.
• Design System Tools: Access to and proficiency in using design system management tools (Figma, potentially ZeroHeight) will be central to the daily workflow.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the design system team and broader product/development groups through virtual meetings, design critiques, and collaborative sessions.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week. While remote, maintaining consistent availability during core business hours (US Central Time Zone) is important for seamless collaboration with team members and stakeholders. Some flexibility may be possible, but responsiveness is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of this role emphasizes the importance of strong self-management and proactive communication skills. Candidates should be comfortable working independently and leveraging digital tools for all aspects of collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Round 1: Initial Screening & Portfolio Review: This stage will likely involve a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess alignment with mandatory qualifications and experience. Be prepared to articulate your contributions to previous design systems and showcase your Figma skills.
• Round 2: Deep Dive & Technical Assessment: This round will likely involve more in-depth discussions with the design team or hiring manager. Expect questions about your design process, experience with design systems, component creation, accessibility, and collaboration with developers. You may be asked to walk through specific projects in your portfolio.
• Questionnaire: Candidates will need to answer questions from an attached questionnaire. These questions are likely designed to gauge specific technical skills, design philosophy, and problem-solving approaches relevant to design systems.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design System Work: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to your experience with design systems. Showcase specific components you've designed, how you've contributed to pattern libraries, and your process for ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Include examples that clearly illustrate your expertise in Figma, particularly in building and maintaining asset libraries, creating reusable components, and using features relevant to design systems (e.g., variants, auto layout).
• Showcase Process & Rationale: For each project, explain your thought process, the problem you were solving, your design decisions, and the impact of your work. Focus on how your contributions to a design system improved efficiency or user experience.
• Address Accessibility and Documentation: Include examples of accessible component design and well-structured documentation. This demonstrates a holistic understanding of design system best practices.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as enterprise-scale systems, component libraries, and developer collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Case Study: Be prepared to discuss a hypothetical or past project where you helped build or evolve a design system. Focus on the challenges, your approach, the tools used (especially Figma), and the outcomes.
• Component Design Exercise: You might be asked to quickly design a new component or suggest improvements to an existing one within a design system context, demonstrating your problem-solving and design thinking.
• Figma Token Discussion: If you have experience with design tokens, be ready to explain their importance and how you've implemented them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process includes a specific questionnaire, which candidates should treat as a critical part of the application. Thoroughly preparing answers that highlight design system experience and Figma skills will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency is mandatory for UI design, prototyping, and building/maintaining asset libraries and design systems.
• Figjam: Required for collaborative ideation, brainstorming, and workflow mapping alongside Figma.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated as primary tools for this role, an understanding of how design system usage is tracked and how design impacts user behavior through analytics platforms would be beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or Amplitude in a user context is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of this UX/UI design role, but understanding how design systems integrate with development workflows and potentially product management tools is relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma and Figjam are the core tools for this role. Expertise in these is non-negotiable. Familiarity with design token management within Figma is a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to high-quality visual design, user experience, and the meticulous craft of component creation.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively with designers, developers, and product stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Efficiency & Scalability: A drive to create reusable, well-documented design assets that enable efficient product development and consistent user experiences across platforms.
• User-Centricity: A foundational belief in designing for the user, ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and intuitive interactions.
• Continuous Improvement: A willingness to adapt, learn, and refine processes and designs based on feedback and evolving best practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership with Development: A close, collaborative relationship with developers is essential to ensure designs are implemented accurately and to provide feedback on technical feasibility.
• Design System Community: Fostering a sense of community around the design system, encouraging adoption, and gathering feedback from other designers and product teams.
• Iterative Design: A willingness to engage in iterative design cycles, incorporating feedback and making adjustments to components and patterns as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration, efficiency, and user-centricity points to a team culture that values both creative output and operational effectiveness in design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Design System Consistency: Ensuring that the design system is adopted and used correctly across a large enterprise can be challenging, requiring strong communication and governance.
• Balancing Innovation and Stability: Evolving the design system while maintaining stability for existing product implementations requires careful planning and version management.
• Cross-Team Adoption: Encouraging widespread adoption and adherence to the design system across different product teams and development disciplines can be a hurdle.
• Integrating Feedback: Effectively gathering, prioritizing, and incorporating feedback from diverse stakeholders into the design system roadmap.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Figma Techniques: Deepen expertise in Figma's more advanced features, such as complex component structures, prototyping, and potentially scripting for automation.
• Design Token Implementation: Gain hands-on experience with design tokens, understanding their role in design automation and cross-platform consistency.
• Accessibility Standards: Enhance knowledge of accessibility guidelines (WCAG) and best practices for creating inclusive UIs.
• Industry Best Practices: Stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in design systems, component libraries, and design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an opportunity to tackle complex design system challenges, offering significant learning and development in a specialized and highly valued area of UX/UI design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design System Philosophy: "Describe your approach to building and maintaining an enterprise-scale design system. What are the key principles you follow?" (Prepare to discuss modularity, reusability, documentation, and governance.)
• Figma & Asset Libraries: "Walk us through your process for creating and managing asset libraries in Figma. How do you ensure consistency and scalability?" (Be ready to demonstrate your organizational structure, component variants, and naming conventions.)
• Collaboration with Developers: "How do you collaborate effectively with developers to ensure accurate implementation of your designs? Describe a time you had to resolve a design-developer discrepancy." (Focus on communication, clear documentation, and problem-solving.)
• Accessibility in Design Systems: "How do you ensure that components within a design system are accessible and inclusive?" (Discuss WCAG compliance, contrast ratios, keyboard navigation, and semantic structure.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Tek Spikes' Design Approach: "Based on what you know about Tek Spikes, how do you see your role contributing to the company's overall design strategy and product delivery?" (Research the company's services and client focus.)
• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal team environment. How do you contribute to a positive and productive team culture, especially in a remote setting?" (Highlight your collaborative and self-driven attributes.)
• Design System Impact: "How do you measure the success or impact of a design system? What metrics are important to you?" (Think about adoption rates, developer efficiency, consistency scores, and user satisfaction.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Start with an overview of your design system experience. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects that best showcase your skills in Figma, component design, and collaboration.
• Focus on Process and Rationale: For each project, explain the "why" behind your design decisions. Discuss the challenges, your approach, and the outcomes, emphasizing how your work contributed to the design system's effectiveness.
• Highlight Figma Libraries: Specifically point out your Figma asset libraries, demonstrating their organization and how they support the design system's goals.
• Address Documentation: Show examples of component documentation and explain its importance for developer adoption.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your process, tool choices, and how you handle feedback or disagreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The questionnaire is a critical component. Prepare concise, evidence-based answers that directly address the technical and process-oriented aspects of design systems and Figma proficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your experience with design systems, Figma asset libraries, and component design. Tailor your presentation to highlight your contributions to enterprise-scale systems and your collaborative approach with developers.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 7+ years of UX/UI experience, emphasizing your expertise in Figma, design systems, and any relevant preferred skills (like design tokens or financial services). Quantify achievements where possible.
• Questionnaire Preparation: Carefully review and thoroughly answer the attached questionnaire, providing specific examples and demonstrating your understanding of design system principles and Figma capabilities.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Tek Spikes' services and client base. Consider how your design system expertise can add value to their projects and clients. Understand their remote-first approach and how you can be an effective remote contributor.

⚠️ 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.