UX/UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Engineer Company: Ruby Labs Location: Remote (Ukraine and other specified countries within ± 4 hours of CET) Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Engineering / Design Date Posted: 2025-09-15 Experience Level: 2-5 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is for a hybrid designer-developer, focusing on creating exceptional user interfaces from concept to code, leveraging both design expertise and frontend development skills.
• Candidates will independently translate high-level references and strategic direction into complete, production-ready interface solutions with meticulous attention to detail.
• The position requires proficiency in modern design tools like Figma and AI-assisted design platforms, alongside robust frontend development skills in Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.
• A key aspect of the role involves building and maintaining scalable, component-based UIs within structured design systems, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and cross-browser compatibility without extensive oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX/UI Engineer," the description strongly emphasizes a designer-first background transitioning into frontend development. This suggests a focus on visual design execution and UI implementation rather than deep user research or complex UX strategy, though a strong design sense is paramount. The role is explicitly remote and requires candidates to be within a specific time zone range for collaboration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design and implementation of exceptional user interfaces, utilizing advanced Figma skills and modern AI design tools (e.g., hero.ui.chat, v0.dev, same.new) based on high-level strategic references.
• Independently develop production-ready, pixel-perfect code for user interfaces using Next.js 14.0+, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS, with an expectation of minimal to zero QA oversight due to high standards of quality.
• Architect and build scalable, component-based user interfaces, adhering to and contributing to structured design systems (e.g., NextUI, HeroUI) to ensure visual consistency, accessibility, and robust cross-browser compatibility.
• Translate strategic business requirements and product visions into intuitive, user-friendly, and aesthetically compelling interface solutions, fostering effective collaboration with product teams while maintaining significant design autonomy.
• Proactively identify and implement UI/UX improvements and optimizations, ensuring interfaces are not only visually appealing but also highly performant and accessible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a high degree of autonomy and a requirement for near-flawless execution from the outset, particularly in code quality and design fidelity. The emphasis on AI design tools suggests an expectation for rapid prototyping and efficient interface generation, a key skill for this role. The need to work without QA oversight underscores the importance of meticulousness and self-sufficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating design principles and frontend development capabilities is essential. Formal education in Design, Computer Science, or a related field is beneficial but secondary to practical experience and demonstrable skill. Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of professional experience is required, with a clear trajectory from a UI/UX designer role into frontend development. This experience should showcase a proven ability to deliver high-quality interfaces and code.

Required Skills:

• Designer-to-Developer Transition: Proven track record and demonstrable experience that clearly shows an initial career in UI/UX Design followed by a transition into Frontend Development.
• Advanced Figma Proficiency: Mastery of Figma for interface design, prototyping, and component creation, including advanced features and best practices.
• Frontend Development Expertise: Minimum 2+ years of hands-on experience with Next.js (specifically v14.0+), React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.
• Autonomous Design Execution: Demonstrated ability to take high-level references and conceptual input to independently design and deliver complete, polished user interfaces with exceptional attention to detail.
• Component-Based Architecture: Experience building and maintaining scalable, reusable component libraries and adhering to design system principles.
• Independent Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to identify, diagnose, and resolve complex design and technical challenges autonomously.

Preferred Skills:

• AI Design Tool Integration: Experience leveraging modern AI design tools (e.g., hero.ui.chat, v0.dev, same.new) for rapid prototyping and interface generation.
• Design System Experience: Hands-on experience working with or contributing to established design systems (e.g., NextUI, HeroUI) or building custom ones.
• D2C Product Development: Familiarity with the unique challenges and best practices of developing Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) products.
• Performance Marketing Acumen: Understanding of how UI/UX design impacts performance marketing metrics and conversion rates.
• Accessibility & Usability Optimization: Experience in optimizing interfaces for accessibility (WCAG standards) and overall usability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "designer-to-developer" background is a critical filter. Candidates must be able to articulate this transition and showcase projects that reflect both skill sets. Proficiency in the specified tech stack is non-negotiable, and experience with the listed AI design tools is a significant advantage, indicating adaptability to emerging workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design-to-Code Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive projects that clearly demonstrate the applicant's ability to take a concept from initial design (using Figma) through to a fully implemented, functional frontend component or application using Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.
• Figma Mastery Showcase: Include examples of complex Figma files, highlighting component libraries, auto-layout usage, prototyping capabilities, and design system implementation.
• Code Quality Demonstration: Provide links to live projects or well-documented code repositories (e.g., GitHub) that exemplify clean, efficient, and well-structured code, adhering to modern frontend best practices and the specified tech stack.
• Problem-Solving Examples: Detail specific design or technical challenges encountered in past projects and how they were independently overcome, emphasizing the thought process and the resulting solution.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Visualization: Be prepared to discuss and visually represent your typical design and development workflow, from receiving a brief to deploying a finished UI component, highlighting key decision points and tools used.
• Design System Contribution: If applicable, include examples of how you've contributed to or implemented design systems, demonstrating an understanding of component reusability, theming, and maintainability.
• Quality Assurance Approach: Describe your personal approach to ensuring quality, consistency, and accessibility in your work, especially given the expectation of minimal QA oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: A portfolio is paramount for this role. It must explicitly demonstrate the designer-to-developer journey and showcase proficiency in both design tools and the required frontend technologies. Case studies are expected to be detailed, covering the entire process from ideation to implementation, with a strong emphasis on the quality and autonomy demonstrated.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this role is remote and based in countries with varying economic conditions, a competitive salary reflecting the specialized skillset (designer-to-developer) and experience level (2-5 years) in the specified tech stack (Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS) is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Eastern European countries, a range of $35,000 - $60,000 USD annually is a reasonable estimate. This can fluctuate based on specific location within the acceptable time zone range and the candidate's demonstrable experience and portfolio quality.

Benefits:

• Remote Work Environment: Full flexibility to work from any location within the specified geographical and time zone constraints, promoting work-life balance.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO): Encourages employees to take time off as needed to rest and recharge, fostering employee well-being.
• Paid National Holidays: Observance of national holidays with paid time off, ensuring time for personal or cultural celebrations.
• Company-Provided MacBook: Access to high-quality hardware (MacBook) to ensure optimal productivity and a seamless development experience.
• Flexible Independent Contractor Agreement: Offers significant autonomy, potential tax advantages, reduced employment obligations, and the freedom to manage one's work schedule and location within the company's collaboration requirements. This structure allows for entrepreneurial flexibility.

Working Hours: While the role is remote, candidates are expected to align with the Central European Time (CET) zone, approximately ± 4 hours. This implies a need for availability during core business hours to facilitate collaboration, though the exact daily schedule may offer flexibility. The standard expectation for a full-time role is around 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on the combination of advanced design and development skills, the required tech stack, and the remote, contractor-based nature of the role. European market rates for skilled engineers and designers in these technologies, adjusted for cost of living and contractor status, inform this estimate. The benefits package leans towards flexibility and autonomy, characteristic of modern remote work environments and contractor agreements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Products (Health, Education, Entertainment). Ruby Labs focuses on innovation and creating cutting-edge consumer products, indicating a fast-paced, forward-thinking environment. Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "dynamic teams" and "fast-growing team" suggests a mid-sized to growing company, likely with agile development processes. This size often means more opportunities for individual impact and less bureaucratic overhead. Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company is described as being at the "forefront of innovation," implying a relatively modern or forward-looking approach to product development.

Team Structure:

• The role implies close collaboration with product teams and potentially other designers and frontend developers.
• As a hybrid role, the individual will likely be a key bridge between the design and engineering functions for UI implementation.
• The emphasis on autonomy suggests a team structure that values self-starters and individuals who can manage their tasks and deliverables with minimal direct supervision.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The focus on "exceptional design taste" and "strategic direction" suggests that design decisions are informed by business goals and potentially user insights, even if the role itself doesn't conduct deep UX research.
• Agile Development: The use of modern frameworks like Next.js and component-based architecture points towards agile methodologies, with an emphasis on iterative development and rapid deployment.
• Continuous Improvement: The requirement to implement and maintain scalable, accessible UIs implies a commitment to ongoing quality improvement and adherence to best practices.

Company Website: https://rubylabs.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Ruby Labs appears to be a product-focused company prioritizing innovation and quality. The culture likely values proactivity, self-management, and a strong sense of ownership, especially given the autonomous nature of this role. The company likely operates with a modern tech stack and agile development practices to support its goal of creating cutting-edge consumer products.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role can be categorized as a Mid-Level to Senior Frontend Engineer with a strong UI/UX design specialization. The "Engineer" in the title, combined with the requirement for 2+ years of experience and autonomous work, places it beyond an entry-level position. The expectation is for an individual who can independently deliver professional-grade design and code. Reporting Structure: The applicant will likely report to a Head of Engineering, a Lead Frontend Developer, or a Product Manager, depending on the specific team structure. Given the autonomy, direct reporting might be less hands-on, focusing more on deliverables and strategic alignment. Operations Impact: The UX/UI Engineer's work directly impacts the user experience of Ruby Labs' consumer products, influencing user adoption, engagement, and satisfaction. High-quality, intuitive interfaces are critical for success in the consumer product market, directly contributing to brand perception and revenue potential.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in modern frontend frameworks, design systems, and AI-assisted design tools, becoming a go-to expert in these areas.
• Technical Leadership: With proven performance and autonomy, opportunities may arise to mentor junior team members, lead UI development for specific product features, or contribute to architectural decisions for frontend systems.
• Product Ownership: As the company grows and evolves, there may be opportunities to take on more ownership of specific product UIs or even lead design/frontend initiatives for new product lines.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to product strategy, performance marketing, and other business functions, broadening career horizons within the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth for individuals passionate about both design and code. The emphasis on autonomy and modern technologies provides a strong foundation for developing specialized skills. Career progression would likely involve taking on more complex projects, leading initiatives, or potentially moving into more senior technical or product-focused roles within Ruby Labs.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company does not operate physical offices for its employees, offering complete flexibility in work location. Office Location(s): Not applicable, as the role is entirely remote. However, candidates must reside within countries that fall within approximately ± 4 hours of the Central European Time (CET) zone to facilitate synchronous collaboration. This includes countries like Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Montenegro.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: While remote, collaboration is expected through digital tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software). The ability to communicate effectively and engage in virtual teamwork is crucial.
• Tooling Support: The provision of a company MacBook ensures access to the necessary hardware for development and design work. Candidates are expected to have a reliable internet connection.
• Focus on Autonomy: The work environment supports individuals who are self-motivated, disciplined, and capable of managing their tasks and time effectively without constant supervision. This fosters an atmosphere of trust and responsibility.

Work Schedule: The role requires alignment with the CET time zone for collaborative purposes, meaning availability during core European business hours is necessary. While specific daily start/end times may be flexible, meeting attendance for stand-ups, design reviews, and technical discussions is expected. The standard workweek is approximately 40 hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote work environment is a key feature, appealing to those seeking flexibility. However, the time zone requirement is a critical constraint, ensuring that candidates can participate effectively in team communications and collaborations. The workspace is digital and relies heavily on effective use of communication and project management tools.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Recruiter Screening (40 minutes): An initial conversation to assess background, cultural fit, understanding of the role, and alignment with the company's values and operational needs. Expect questions about your designer-to-developer transition and motivation for this specific role.
2. Technical Interview (60 minutes): A deep dive into your technical skills. This will likely include discussions on your experience with Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS, potentially involving live coding exercises or architectural discussions related to UI implementation and component design. Be prepared to discuss your approach to building scalable, accessible UIs.
3. Final Interview (60 minutes): This interview often involves a more senior team member or hiring manager. It will focus on strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, your ability to work autonomously, and how your design philosophy aligns with Ruby Labs' product vision. This is also an opportunity to assess your fit within the team's collaborative style.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight the Designer-to-Developer Journey: Dedicate a section or clearly delineate projects that showcase your transition. Explain why you made the transition and how your design background enhances your development work.
• Showcase Figma Mastery: Include interactive prototypes or detailed walkthroughs of your Figma files. Demonstrate your use of components, auto-layout, and any design system elements you've created or worked with.
• Code Examples are Crucial: Provide direct links to live websites or well-organized GitHub repositories. Ensure the code is clean, readable, and demonstrates proficiency in Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS. If code is private, consider preparing a short, anonymized snippet or a detailed explanation of key architectural patterns.
• Focus on Autonomy and Problem-Solving: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your independent solution, and the outcome. Quantify results where possible (e.g., "improved loading time by X%", "streamlined UI for Y task").
• AI Tool Integration: If you have experience with AI design tools, showcase how you've integrated them into your workflow to accelerate design or development.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Design Challenges: Be ready for discussions on how you would approach designing a specific UI element or feature based on a brief, emphasizing your thought process, tool choices, and consideration for user experience and technical constraints.
• Prepare for Coding Challenges: Expect questions or tasks related to implementing specific UI components using React, Next.js, and Tailwind CSS. Focus on component structure, state management, and responsiveness.
• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to clearly explain your design and development workflow, decision-making processes, and how you ensure quality and consistency without direct supervision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to thoroughly evaluate both design sensibility and technical execution. A strong, well-prepared portfolio is the most critical component of the application. Candidates should practice articulating their unique designer-to-developer journey and demonstrating their autonomous problem-solving capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for creating interfaces, prototypes, and design systems. Mastery is essential.
• Next.js (v14.0+): The primary framework for frontend development, requiring knowledge of its features, routing, and server-side rendering capabilities.
• React: The underlying JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Strong understanding of components, state management, and lifecycle methods is necessary.
• TypeScript: Essential for static typing, improving code quality and maintainability. Proficiency in defining types and interfaces is key.
• Tailwind CSS: A utility-first CSS framework for rapid UI development and styling. Familiarity with its class-based approach is required.
• AI Design Tools (e.g., hero.ui.chat, v0.dev, same.new): Experience with these tools is highly valued for accelerating the design and development process.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary responsibility, understanding how UI changes impact user behavior and conversion rates is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) could be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this role's core responsibilities, but understanding how frontend integrates with backend systems and data flows is generally useful in product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is modern and focused on efficient, high-quality frontend development. Candidates must be proficient in all the listed core technologies. Familiarity with AI design tools is a significant differentiator, indicating a candidate's willingness to adopt and leverage new technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Excellence: A drive to be at the forefront of creating cutting-edge products, with a commitment to delivering high-quality design and code.
• Autonomy & Ownership: Valuing individuals who can take initiative, manage their work independently, and take full ownership of their deliverables.
• Collaboration: While autonomous, effective communication and collaboration with product teams and other stakeholders are essential for aligning on strategic goals.
• Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to both design and code, ensuring pixel-perfect execution and robust implementation.
• Adaptability: Willingness to work with new tools and methodologies, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of AI-assisted design and frontend development.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous Communication: Given the remote and potentially distributed nature of teams, effective asynchronous communication skills are important.
• Proactive Feedback: A culture that encourages proactive feedback on designs and code to ensure continuous improvement and alignment.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with product managers and potentially other engineers to translate business needs into tangible UI solutions.
• Design-Driven Development: A collaborative approach where design principles heavily influence development decisions, and technical feasibility informs design execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value self-driven, high-achieving individuals who can operate autonomously but also collaborate effectively within a product-focused team. The emphasis on innovation and quality suggests a team that is passionate about building excellent digital products.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design Autonomy with Strategic Goals: Navigating the process of translating high-level strategic references into detailed interfaces while maintaining a strong design vision and ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Maintaining Code Quality Without QA: The expectation of delivering production-ready code without extensive QA oversight requires a highly disciplined and meticulous approach to testing and self-review.
• Keeping Pace with AI Design Tools: Continuously learning and integrating new AI design tools and workflows to maintain efficiency and leverage the latest advancements in interface creation.
• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring clear communication and productive collaboration with team members across different locations and time zones, despite the lack of in-person interaction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastery of Modern Frontend Stacks: Deepening expertise in Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS, potentially exploring advanced patterns and performance optimization techniques.
• AI-Powered Design Workflows: Becoming proficient in leveraging AI tools to enhance the design and development lifecycle, potentially becoming a subject matter expert within the company.
• Design System Development: Gaining experience in building or contributing to robust design systems, which is a highly valuable skill in product development.
• D2C Product Lifecycle Exposure: Understanding the nuances of developing products for direct consumer engagement, which can open doors to product management or strategy roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an opportunity to excel in a niche but growing area of hybrid design-engineering. The primary challenges revolve around managing high expectations for autonomous, high-quality output. Growth will come from mastering the specified technologies and adapting to the evolving landscape of AI in design and development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Designer-to-Developer Transition: "Describe your journey from UI/UX design to frontend development. What motivated this shift, and how does your design background inform your development approach?"
• Autonomous Design Process: "Walk me through how you would take a vague product requirement or a mood board and develop a complete, production-ready UI. What are your key considerations?"
• Technical Stack Application: "How have you used Next.js features like Server Components or App Router in your projects? Can you explain a complex state management scenario you handled in React?"
• AI Tool Integration: "Which AI design tools have you used, and how have they impacted your productivity or the quality of your output? Can you provide an example?"
• Quality Assurance Approach: "Given that this role requires minimal QA oversight, what are your personal strategies for ensuring the quality, consistency, and accessibility of your code and designs?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Ruby Labs and our mission to create innovative consumer products?"
• "How do you approach collaboration with product teams when working remotely?"
• "Describe a time you had to make a difficult design or technical decision autonomously. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?"
• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in UI/UX design and frontend development, particularly concerning AI tools?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio to clearly show the "designer-to-developer" path. Use distinct sections for design-focused work and development-focused projects.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, provide live links where possible. If not, use high-quality screenshots, mockups, and screen recordings to demonstrate functionality and visual fidelity.
• Explain Your Process: For key projects, be ready to walk through your design process in Figma and your development process in code. Highlight your decision-making, problem-solving, and autonomy.
• Focus on Impact: Where possible, quantify the impact of your work (e.g., improved user flow, faster loading times, positive feedback).
• Code Repository Best Practices: Ensure your GitHub profile is clean, your repositories are well-organized, and READMEs are informative, showcasing your coding standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on clearly articulating the unique value proposition of a designer-turned-developer. Candidates must be ready to demonstrate their proficiencies with the specified technologies and tools, and critically, their ability to work autonomously and maintain exceptionally high standards of quality.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that clearly demonstrate your transition from UI/UX design to frontend development, highlighting your Figma skills and your implementation using Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 2+ years of experience in the required tech stack and your ability to work autonomously. Use keywords such as "Figma," "Next.js," "React," "TypeScript," "Tailwind CSS," "UI/UX Design," "Component-Based Architecture," and "AI Design Tools."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your development workflow, and specific examples of how you've tackled challenges autonomously. Prepare to discuss your experience with AI design tools and your approach to quality assurance.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ruby Labs' products and any publicly available information about their company culture and mission to articulate your interest and alignment during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.