Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (UX/UI)

Company: Pavago

Location: Kenya

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote (U.S. Hours - Flexible)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design intuitive, modern, and user-friendly digital experiences across web and mobile products, focusing on UX/UI best practices.

• Own the end-to-end design process, from user research and wireframing through high-fidelity UI, prototyping, and developer handoff.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to translate complex ideas into simple, engaging product experiences.

• Build and maintain scalable design systems, ensuring consistency in typography, spacing, colors, and UI elements.

• Utilize analytics and user behavior tools to understand user patterns and identify opportunities for product improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is categorized under Product Design, with a strong emphasis on UX/UI responsibilities. The "U.S. Hours (Flexible)" indicates a need for overlap with U.S. time zones for collaboration, but allows for flexibility in the daily schedule. The company is hiring on behalf of a client, implying this is a contract or staffing arrangement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather insights into user needs and pain points.

• Develop user flows, personas, and customer journey maps to visualize user interactions and identify areas for enhancement.

• Create detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive, clickable prototypes for both web and mobile platforms.

• Design polished, responsive user interfaces (UI) adhering to modern design principles and brand guidelines.

• Build, maintain, and scale design systems, ensuring consistency and reusability of components and patterns across products.

• Collaborate effectively with Product Managers and Engineering teams to translate product requirements into actionable design solutions.

• Prepare organized and clear developer handoffs using tools like Figma Dev Mode, Zeplin, or similar, ensuring accurate implementation.

• Review implemented designs to ensure accuracy, usability, and adherence to original design specifications.

• Leverage product analytics tools (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Hotjar) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Ensure designs comply with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) to create inclusive user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle design ownership, requiring a blend of research, ideation, detailed design execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on design systems and accessibility points to a mature product development environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for mid-level roles. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in Product Design, UX Design, or UI Design roles.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in Figma for wireframing, UI design, and prototyping.

• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of UX thinking and UI craftsmanship across web and mobile products.

• Proven experience in user research methodologies, including usability testing and user interviews.

• Expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Solid understanding of design system principles, component creation, and maintenance.

• Knowledge of usability best practices and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience designing responsive interfaces for both web and mobile applications.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Experience with developer handoff processes and tools (e.g., Figma Dev Mode, Zeplin). Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for SaaS products, consumer applications, or enterprise software.

• Familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards beyond basic understanding.

• Basic knowledge of HTML/CSS to understand implementation constraints.

• Experience using product analytics tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Hotjar.

• Experience with A/B testing methodologies and tools.

• Proven experience in building or significantly scaling design systems.

• Proficiency with other design tools such as Adobe XD or Sketch.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a strong portfolio is paramount, serving as the primary evaluation tool for design thinking and execution. Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable, with other tools being beneficial. The preference for SaaS or enterprise experience suggests the client operates in a B2B or complex B2C environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating the end-to-end product design process.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process undertaken (research, ideation, iteration), and the final solution.

• Quantify impact where possible, using metrics related to user satisfaction, engagement, conversion, or efficiency improvements.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of responsive design principles and how you applied them.

• Highlight experience with design systems, including how you contributed to or utilized them. Process Documentation:

• For each case study, detail the specific user research methods employed and the insights gained.

• Document the iterative design process, including how feedback (user testing, stakeholder reviews) was incorporated.

• Explain the rationale behind key design decisions, linking them back to user needs or business objectives.

• Illustrate the developer handoff process and how you ensured design accuracy during implementation.

• Showcase how you maintained consistency and applied design system principles throughout a project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the cornerstone of this application. Candidates must be prepared to walk through their design process, explain their reasoning, and demonstrate tangible results. The emphasis on "UX thinking and UI craftsmanship" means both strategic problem-solving and aesthetic execution are equally important.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (2-5 years) and the remote, Kenya-based location, a competitive salary range would typically fall between KES 1,800,000 - KES 3,600,000 annually (approximately USD 15,000 - USD 30,000). This is an estimate and can vary significantly based on the client's budget, the candidate's specific experience, and the exact nature of the engagement (e.g., contract vs. direct hire by the client).

Benefits: As this role is through Pavago for a client, benefits are typically managed by Pavago or the end client. Common benefits for remote, international roles may include:

• Flexible working hours aligned with U.S. business needs.

• Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.

• Potential for contract extension or transition to direct employment with the client.

• Access to a global network of remote professionals.

• Paid time off (specifics to be confirmed by Pavago/client).

Working Hours: The role specifies "U.S. Hours (Flexible)". This generally means a requirement to be available for collaboration during core U.S. business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM EST/PST), with flexibility to structure the remaining working hours around this. A standard full-time workload is approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on remote work compensation benchmarks for Kenya and the specified experience level. It's crucial for candidates to confirm compensation details directly with Pavago during the hiring process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pavago operates within the staffing and recruitment industry, connecting talent with companies. The client's industry is not specified but likely involves digital product development (SaaS, consumer apps, enterprise products).

Company Size: Pavago's size is not explicitly stated, but the fact they are hiring for clients suggests a medium to large-sized operation. The client's size is also unknown but likely has established product development teams.

Founded: Pavago's founding date is not provided, but their presence on Workable indicates a professional operational setup.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will likely join a product team within the client company, comprising Product Managers, Engineers (Frontend and Backend), and potentially other designers or researchers.

• Reporting will likely be to a Product Lead, Design Lead, or Head of Product, depending on the client's organizational structure.

• Collaboration is expected to be cross-functional, with frequent interaction between design, product, and engineering. Methodology:

• The design process emphasizes user-centricity, data-driven decision-making, and agile development workflows.

• Collaboration tools and practices are key, ensuring seamless communication and handoff between remote team members.

• Design systems are a core methodology for maintaining consistency and scalability.

Company Website: [Pavago Company Website: pavago.co]

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding that Pavago is a staffing agency is key. Candidates are applying for a role at one of Pavago's clients. The culture and specific team structure will be dictated by the end client.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer. It requires a solid foundation in design principles and methodologies, with the ability to work independently on defined projects. It offers significant ownership and influence within product development cycles.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a manager within the client's product organization, likely a Product Lead, Design Lead, or Head of Product. Collaboration will be with Product Managers and Engineers.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the user experience and usability of the client's digital products. Success in this role will lead to improved user satisfaction, increased engagement, higher conversion rates, and a more streamlined development process due to clear design specifications and robust design systems.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Product Designer: With proven success and expanded scope, growth into a Senior Designer role is a natural progression, involving more complex projects, mentorship of junior designers, and greater strategic input.

• Lead Designer / Design Systems Lead: Specializing in design systems or leading design efforts for specific product areas can open doors to leadership positions.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like UX research, accessibility, or interaction design.

• Client Transition: Depending on the agreement between Pavago and the client, there may be opportunities for direct employment with the client company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Why This Role Stands Out" section in the original description provides strong clues about growth potential, explicitly mentioning Senior Product Designer, Lead Designer, or Design Systems Lead as possible advancement paths.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role is entirely remote, with no requirement to attend a physical office.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote in Kenya, collaboration will be with teams operating on U.S. hours. The specific locations of the client's core teams are not specified but are likely within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will be a home office setup, requiring self-discipline and effective time management.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital communication tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, email) and project management software.

• Access to necessary design software (Figma) and collaboration platforms will be provided or expected.

• The environment fosters independent work with scheduled collaboration sessions.

Work Schedule: Flexible, but with a requirement to align with U.S. business hours for meetings and collaborative tasks. A standard 40-hour work week is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature necessitates strong self-management skills. The "U.S. Hours (Flexible)" implies that while the core working day might be flexible, there will be specific times when real-time interaction is expected.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Application Review: Review of resume and application details.

2. Spark Hire Intro Video: Candidates will receive an email invitation to record a short video answering questions about their experience, portfolio, UX approach, and communication style. This is an initial screening step.

3. Portfolio Review + Design Task: A more in-depth review of the candidate's portfolio, likely accompanied by a design challenge or exercise to assess practical skills and problem-solving abilities.

4. Client Interview: An interview with the client's hiring team (Product Managers, Engineers, Design Leads) to assess cultural fit, collaboration skills, and alignment with project needs.

5. Offer & Onboarding: Final offer extended, followed by onboarding procedures through Pavago.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent the required skills (UX research, UI design, Figma proficiency, responsive design, design systems).

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Highlight UX Thinking: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions, referencing user research and data.

• Showcase UI Craftsmanship: Ensure mockups are polished, consistent, and visually appealing.

• Detail the Process: Explain the specific tools and methods used at each stage. For this role, emphasize Figma usage and any experience with developer handoff tools.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, include metrics demonstrating the positive impact of your designs on users or business goals.

• Prepare for a Design Task: Be ready to complete a design challenge or critique a given design, demonstrating your problem-solving approach and design thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the requirements of any design task or challenge.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively, balancing research, ideation, design, and presentation.

• Communicate Your Process: Even if you can't complete everything, articulate your thought process and how you would approach the remaining tasks.

• Focus on Core Skills: Demonstrate your proficiency in Figma, user flow creation, and UI design principles.

• Consider the Client: If possible, try to infer the client's industry or product type to tailor your approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Spark Hire video is a crucial first step. Candidates should prepare thoughtful, concise answers that highlight their key strengths and passion for design. The portfolio review is the most critical stage, so thorough preparation is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and developer handoff (Dev Mode). Deep proficiency is required.

• Adobe XD / Sketch: Experience with these alternative tools is considered a plus but not mandatory.

• Zeplin: A common tool for developer handoff, complementary to Figma Dev Mode.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mixpanel / Amplitude: Experience using these product analytics platforms to understand user behavior and inform design decisions is preferred.

• Hotjar: Familiarity with tools for heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback is beneficial.

CRM & Automation: While not directly used for design, understanding how design impacts user journeys within a CRM or automated marketing platform can be advantageous, especially for SaaS products.

Integration Tools: Understanding how design translates to frontend implementation (HTML/CSS) is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma proficiency is the absolute core technical requirement. Familiarity with analytics tools and developer handoff platforms demonstrates a practical, end-to-end design approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs through thoughtful design.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and open communication with Product, Engineering, and stakeholders.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Using analytics and user feedback to inform design choices rather than relying solely on intuition.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Building designs and systems that are efficient to implement and scale as products grow.

• Craftsmanship: A dedication to creating polished, high-quality user interfaces and experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product Managers for requirements and Engineering for feasibility and implementation.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback on designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design best practices, insights from research, and updates on the design system.

• Agile Methodologies: Working within agile sprints, adapting to changing priorities, and delivering incrementally.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration and data-driven decisions suggests a mature, modern product development environment where designers are integrated team members, not isolated contributors.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with a remote team across different time zones requires strong digital communication skills and proactive engagement.

• Balancing U.S. Hours: Managing personal work hours to effectively overlap with U.S. business hours while maintaining work-life balance.

• Client-Specific Needs: Adapting to the unique product, user base, and development processes of the client Pavago is serving.

• Design System Maturity: Working with potentially nascent or evolving design systems, requiring contribution to their growth and maintenance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen UX Expertise: Gain extensive experience in user research, usability testing, and product discovery through hands-on project work.

• Master Design Systems: Develop advanced skills in building, scaling, and evangelizing design systems.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Enhance understanding of product management and software engineering processes through close collaboration.

• Industry Trends: Stay abreast of the latest trends in UX/UI design, accessibility, and product development tools.

• Potential for Direct Client Engagement: Transitioning to a full-time role with the client company presents significant growth opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of remote, client-facing roles. The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly in areas of design systems and cross-functional collaboration, which are highly valued in the industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• User Research & Problem Solving: "Describe a time you uncovered a critical user need through research. How did you translate that into a design solution?" (Prepare a specific case study example, focusing on your research methods and the resulting design impact.)

• Design Systems: "How do you approach building or maintaining a design system? What are the key challenges, and how do you ensure adoption?" (Be ready to discuss your philosophy on consistency, component reusability, and collaboration with developers.)

• Collaboration & Handoff: "Walk me through your process for collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers. How do you ensure smooth developer handoffs?" (Use an example to illustrate your communication strategy and the tools you employ.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation: "Why are you interested in this role and working with Pavago/our client?" (Research Pavago and try to infer the client's industry if possible. Emphasize your alignment with remote work and product design.)

• Remote Work: "How do you manage your productivity and stay connected while working remotely?" (Highlight your self-discipline, communication habits, and preferred remote collaboration tools.)

• Design Philosophy: "What is your design philosophy? What principles guide your work?" (Connect your philosophy to user-centricity, usability, accessibility, and visual appeal.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the