UX/UI Designer_Dallas/Chicago/NewYork

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Photon

Location: Dallas, Chicago, New York, United States

Job Type: Full time, Contractor

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on crafting intuitive and engaging user experiences through meticulous UX/UI design, emphasizing user-centered principles and data-informed decision-making.

• The UX/UI Designer will be instrumental in translating complex business requirements and user feedback into visually appealing and highly functional product interfaces.

• A key aspect of this position involves the creation and maintenance of comprehensive design systems and style guides to ensure brand consistency and scalability across all product touchpoints.

• This role requires active participation in an Agile/Scrum development environment, contributing to continuous process improvement and collaborative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the title "UX/UI Designer" and the listed responsibilities, this role is firmly rooted in product design and user experience strategy. The emphasis on collaboration with engineers and product managers, along with creating user-centered designs, points to a mid-level position where the candidate is expected to contribute significantly to the design process from conception to implementation. The mention of an Agile/Scrum environment indicates a need for adaptability and cross-functional teamwork.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• User-Centric Design Development: Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to gather comprehensive user requirements, translating them into intuitive and effective user-centered designs. This includes understanding user needs, mapping user journeys, and incorporating customer feedback and usability findings.

• Visual Design & Style Guide Creation: Develop and maintain a cohesive style guide that defines the product's visual language, ensuring consistency in design elements, typography, color palettes, and interactive components across the entire user interface.

• Prototyping and Wireframing: Create detailed prototypes, wireframes, and mock-ups to effectively communicate design concepts, demonstrating the intended functionality, user flow, and layout of the product to stakeholders and development teams.

• Usability Testing and Iteration: Conduct rigorous usability testing sessions with target users to identify design gaps, validate design decisions, and gather insights for iterative improvements, ensuring the final product meets user expectations and business objectives.

• Agile Development Integration: Actively participate in all Agile/Scrum ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, code reviews, and retrospectives, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and efficient development cycles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work effectively within a development team composed of other technical professionals, subject matter experts, project stakeholders, and executive leadership, fostering clear communication and alignment on design goals and product vision.

• Stay Current with Trends: Continuously research and stay updated on the latest UI/UX developments, design techniques, and emerging technologies to bring innovative solutions and best practices to the product design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are comprehensive for a UX/UI Designer. The inclusion of "Agile/Scrum environment" and "development team" collaboration suggests that this role is integrated within a product development lifecycle, requiring close partnership with engineering and product management. The emphasis on creating style guides and conducting usability testing highlights a need for both strong visual design skills and a deep understanding of user research methodologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a UX/UI Designer role.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of designing and shipping successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design Principles: Deep understanding of user research methodologies, persona development, user journey mapping, and information architecture.

• Prototyping & Wireframing Tools: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes, wireframes, and mock-ups using tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure, Framer, or Principle.

• Visual Design Skills: Strong aesthetic sensibility, with a keen eye for layout, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Usability Testing: Experience planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests to identify and address user pain points.

• Style Guide Development: Ability to create and maintain comprehensive style guides and design systems for consistent brand application.

• Agile/Scrum Participation: Familiarity with Agile ceremonies and a collaborative approach to working within iterative development cycles.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Abstract for version control of design assets.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams for team communication and collaboration.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better collaborate with engineers.

• Experience in user journey mapping and service design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Design Tools" and "Prototyping Tools" explicitly listed in the job description directly translate into required skills. The "Agile/Scrum environment" and "Works on a development team" sections imply a need for experience in collaborative, iterative development processes. The "Usability Testing" responsibility also points to a required skill. The AI-derived experience level of 2-5 years aligns with the responsibilities and expected skill set for a mid-level designer.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• User-Centered Design Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies that illustrate your end-to-end design process, from problem identification and user research to concept development, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and final UI design.

• Problem-Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the design problem you were solving, the user needs you addressed, and the business objectives you aimed to achieve within each case study.

• Process Documentation: Demonstrate your ability to document design processes, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI screens, highlighting key decisions and iterations.

• Impact and Results: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible, using metrics such as improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction scores, or decreased support tickets.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of user flows and site maps that illustrate your approach to information architecture and user navigation.

• Iterative Design: Showcase how you incorporated feedback from usability testing and stakeholders to refine designs throughout the development lifecycle.

• Tool Proficiency: Include examples of how you've utilized the specified design and prototyping tools (Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure, etc.) to create deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on creating prototypes, wireframes, mock-ups, and conducting usability testing, a strong portfolio is critical. The role requires demonstrating a complete design process, not just final visual output. Therefore, candidates should prepare case studies that clearly outline their methodology, problem-solving approach, and the impact of their design decisions. The specific tools listed in the job description should be prominently featured in portfolio examples.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: USD 44,000 - USD 156,000 annually.

• Explanation: This range is directly provided in the job description. The wide span reflects the company's stated policy of basing compensation on the actual experience and qualifications of the candidate. For a mid-level UX/UI Designer (2-5 years of experience) in major metropolitan areas like Dallas, Chicago, or New York, salaries can vary significantly based on specific skills, portfolio strength, and the competitive market. The lower end might represent entry-level or junior roles within this bracket, while the higher end reflects seasoned professionals with specialized expertise or a strong track record.

Benefits (for Full-Time Employees):

• Medical insurance

• Vision insurance

• Dental insurance

• 401k retirement plan with potential company matching

• Variable pay and incentives, likely performance-based

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

Additional Employment Type:

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule is assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, consistent with industry norms and the provided compensation structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range and benefits are explicitly stated. It's important to note the distinction between full-time employees and independent contractors, as benefits typically do not extend to contractors. The wide salary range necessitates a strong presentation of qualifications and experience during the application process to aim for the higher end.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software Development

Company Size: The provided input does not specify company size. However, the Oracle Cloud platform used for recruitment suggests a potentially large enterprise or a company utilizing enterprise-level HR systems.

Founded: The provided input does not specify the founding date.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The UX/UI Designer will operate within a product development team, likely comprising other designers, product managers, engineers (front-end, back-end), and QA specialists.

• Reporting: Typically, a UX/UI Designer would report to a Design Lead, Product Manager, or Engineering Manager, depending on the specific organizational structure.

• Collaboration: The role heavily emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, requiring close interaction with engineering for implementation feasibility and with product management for strategic alignment and user requirement gathering.

Methodology:

• Agile/Scrum: The team operates under an Agile/Scrum framework, necessitating participation in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives. This fosters iterative development and continuous improvement.

• User-Centric Approach: The core of the design process is understanding and advocating for the user, integrating user feedback and research findings into design decisions.

• Data-Informed Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on usability testing and gathering user requirements suggests a data-informed approach to design decisions.

Company Website: https://photon.com (inferred from domain)

📝 Enhancement Note: Without specific company details for "Photon," assumptions are made based on the role's nature and the recruitment platform. The "Technology/Software Development" industry is a strong inference. The emphasis on Agile/Scrum and cross-functional collaboration is standard for modern product development teams. The lack of explicit company size and founding date means these aspects cannot be detailed, requiring candidates to research Photon independently.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level UX/UI Designer

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as interaction design, user research, information architecture, or visual design.

• Leadership: Potential to advance into Senior UX/UI Designer roles, lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or transition into Product Management roles.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through exposure to new design challenges, technologies, and methodologies within the Agile framework. The company also provides access to design tools and potentially training resources.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working closely with product managers and engineers can broaden understanding of the product development lifecycle and business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis is based on typical career progression for UX/UI Designers in technology companies. The "Operations Impact" section reframes the designer's contribution in terms of business outcomes, which is crucial for operations-minded candidates. The "Operations Career Level" designation is an interpretation of the "2-5 years" experience and the responsibilities outlined.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The job description explicitly states "On-site" and lists multiple potential office locations (Dallas, Chicago, New York), indicating a preference for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Dallas, Chicago, New York, United States. Candidates should clarify which specific office they are applying for or if relocation is an option.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role is situated within a development team, suggesting an environment that fosters teamwork, open communication, and shared problem-solving. This likely includes shared workspaces or meeting areas designed for collaboration.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping software (Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, etc.) and collaboration platforms (Microsoft Teams, Abstract) will be provided.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers will be a key aspect of the daily work. This facilitates knowledge sharing and ensures design alignment with development efforts.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time work schedule (approximately 40 hours per week) is expected for on-site roles. While Agile environments can sometimes offer flexibility, the on-site requirement suggests a structured workday.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" work arrangement is a critical detail. The listed cities suggest multiple office locations, implying that candidates should be prepared to work from one of these hubs. The work environment is inferred to be collaborative and technologically equipped, typical for design teams in software companies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely review applications and resumes to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

2. Technical/Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, showcasing key design case studies. This stage assesses design thinking, problem-solving skills, process, and proficiency with design tools. Be prepared to discuss your role in each project and the outcomes.

3. Hiring Manager/Team Interview: This interview will delve deeper into your experience, approach to UX/UI challenges, and ability to collaborate within an Agile team. Expect behavioral questions and scenario-based questions related to design problems.

4. Skills Assessment/Challenge: A design challenge (e.g., a take-home assignment or an on-the-spot problem-solving exercise) may be given to evaluate your practical design skills and thought process.

5. Final Interview: This may involve meeting with senior leadership or key stakeholders to discuss the role's strategic impact and ensure alignment with company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study to clearly outline the problem, your process, your specific contributions, design decisions, and the impact/results. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your methodology, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. Show how you iterate based on feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Tool Proficiency: Clearly indicate the tools you used for each project.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and how you collaborated with others.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the design challenge prompt. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively between understanding the problem, ideation, design, and presentation.

• Focus on Process: Even in a timed challenge, demonstrating your thought process is crucial. Sketch out ideas, explain your reasoning, and justify your design decisions.

• Presentation: Be clear, concise, and confident in presenting your solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides a structured approach to the interview process, focusing on what's important for a UX/UI role. The portfolio tips are tailored to showcasing design process and impact, which are key evaluation criteria. The "operations" context here refers to the operational aspects of the design process and interview preparation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Sketch: A widely used vector-based design tool for macOS, favored for its clean interface and extensibility.

• Adobe XD: An all-in-one UX/UI design and prototyping tool from Adobe, offering features for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Figma: A cloud-based design tool that excels in real-time collaboration, making it ideal for team environments.

• Illustrator: A powerful vector graphics editor, often used for creating custom icons, illustrations, and complex graphics.

• Photoshop: A raster graphics editor used for image manipulation, texture creation, and detailed visual design elements.

Prototyping Tools:

• InVision: A platform for prototyping, collaboration, and workflow management, often used to link static screens and add interactivity.

• Axure: A sophisticated tool for creating highly interactive prototypes, particularly useful for complex applications and detailed user flows.

• Framer: A tool that bridges design and code, allowing for highly realistic prototypes and animations.

• Principle: A macOS app for designing animated user interfaces and interactive mockups.

Collaboration & Version Control:

• Abstract: A version control system for Sketch files, enabling teams to collaborate on design projects with branching, merging, and history tracking.

• Microsoft Teams: A communication and collaboration platform used for team messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit listing of "Design Tools" and "Prototyping Tools" in the job description directly informs this section. Proficiency in these tools is paramount for success in this role. The inclusion of Abstract and Microsoft Teams highlights the importance of collaborative workflows and version control in a team setting.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values (Inferred for a UX/UI role):

• User Advocacy: A core value is championing the user's needs and experience, ensuring that business goals are met through user-centered solutions.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where designers, product managers, and engineers work together seamlessly, sharing ideas and feedback openly.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative design process, actively seeking feedback, and using it to refine designs and improve product quality.

• Innovation & Creativity: Encouraging the exploration of new ideas and approaches to solve design challenges effectively and push creative boundaries.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing insights derived from user research and analytics to inform design choices and measure their effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires active integration with engineering and product teams, participating in their ceremonies and contributing to shared project goals.

• Open Communication: An environment where constructive feedback is encouraged, and design rationale is openly discussed and debated.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular touchpoints for design reviews and usability testing to ensure alignment and continuous refinement.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, design trends, and lessons learned within the design team and across the broader product development group.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred based on the responsibilities outlined (collaboration with engineers/PMs, Agile/Scrum, usability testing) and common practices in modern tech companies with a focus on product development. The "operations" aspect refers to the operational dynamics of the team and how these values are put into practice.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the inherent tension between creating the ideal user experience and meeting strict business objectives, timelines, and technical constraints.

• Evolving Design Trends and Technologies: Keeping pace with the rapid advancements in design tools, methodologies, and user expectations in the ever-changing digital landscape.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design decisions across diverse stakeholders with potentially different priorities.

• Remote Collaboration (if applicable to specific team dynamics): While this role is on-site, if certain team members or stakeholders are remote, adapting communication and collaboration methods to maintain seamless workflows can be a challenge.

• Translating Complex Requirements: Effectively translating intricate technical or business requirements into simple, intuitive user interfaces.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to master new design techniques, tools, and workflows through project work and potential training.

• Specialization: Developing expertise in areas such as user research, interaction design, accessibility, or design systems.

• Leadership Track: Potential to move into Senior Designer roles, lead design projects, or mentor junior team members.

• Industry Exposure: Staying abreast of industry best practices through conferences, workshops, and online resources. The Agile environment itself provides continuous learning opportunities through retrospectives and process improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around typical UX/UI complexities, and growth opportunities are aligned with career progression in this field. The "operations" context here refers to the operational challenges inherent in the design process and the operational aspects of career development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs and business requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for stakeholder management, compromise, and data-driven decision-making.)

• "Walk us through your most challenging UX/UI project. What were the key challenges, how did you overcome them, and what did you learn?" (Prepare a detailed case study highlighting your problem-solving skills, design process, and impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Photon and this specific UX/UI Designer role?" (Research Photon's products, mission, and recent news. Connect your skills and interests to their work.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers in an Agile environment?" (Provide specific examples of your communication and teamwork strategies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, typically by case study. Start with an overview of the project, then detail your process, role, decisions, and outcomes.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points.

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative, highlighting the problem, your journey to the solution, and the impact.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Focus on the most critical aspects of each project and be prepared to dive deeper if asked.

• Demonstrate Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your solutions, not just the final designs. Show your research, iterations, and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a UX/UI role, emphasizing portfolio presentation, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. The "operations" context refers to the operational execution of the interview process and strategic preparation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Utilize the provided link to submit your resume and any requested introductory information through the Oracle Cloud recruitment portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and cover letter (if applicable) highlight your experience with the specific design and prototyping tools mentioned (Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure, etc.) and your familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize achievements related to user-centered design, usability testing, style guide creation, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify your impact with metrics whenever possible.

• Portfolio Preparation: Have your portfolio ready to present, featuring 2-3 strong case studies that clearly demonstrate your design process from problem definition to solution and impact. Be prepared to articulate your role and decisions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Photon's products and services to understand their target audience and business objectives. This will help you tailor your application and prepare for interview questions regarding your interest and potential contributions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions for UX/UI Designer roles. All details, particularly regarding company specifics and exact interview processes, should be verified directly with the hiring organization.