Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: VML

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, Digital Experience

Date Posted: May 29, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design process for digital products and services within the automotive sector, from initial discovery to final UI execution.

• Craft exceptional user experiences and interfaces for a leading automotive client, focusing on in-car infotainment, companion apps, and digital customer portals.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional "flex teams" to deliver user-centric solutions that enhance customer journeys and foster loyalty.

• Leverage advanced Figma proficiency and deep understanding of complex design systems to ensure design consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically embedded with an automotive client, requiring domain acumen and adaptability to industry-specific design maturity and stakeholder expectations. The hybrid model with 4 days in the office emphasizes collaboration and team synergy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and execution of user-centric digital experiences across various platforms, including web, mobile applications, and in-car systems.

• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and engaging user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Develop high-fidelity visual designs, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines, design system standards, and accessibility best practices.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.

• Effectively communicate design rationale, trade-offs, and recommendations to senior stakeholders, product managers, engineers, and marketing teams.

• Champion best practices in UX/UI design, interaction design, and visual design within the client-embedded team.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of complex, tokenized design systems, ensuring component architecture and scalability.

• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation and pixel-perfect execution of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end design expertise" and "problem framing & direction" suggests a role that goes beyond execution, requiring strategic input and proactive problem-solving in shaping product direction for the automotive client.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in UX/UI design and product design, with a significant portion focused on digital product development.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for creating scalable, well-structured design files and collaborative workflows.

• Proven experience working with complex, tokenized design systems, understanding component architecture, variants, properties, and scalable patterns.

• Strong understanding of responsive and adaptive design principles, ensuring consistent experiences across diverse devices and platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to operate as an end-to-end product designer, encompassing UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Experience in translating user research and data into actionable insights to drive informed design decisions.

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Proven ability to work autonomously and lead design within complex, fast-paced environments with evolving requirements.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the automotive sector, including an understanding of its unique design challenges and maturity levels.

• Experience working across multiple brands and visual identities, adapting design approaches while maintaining consistency.

• Familiarity with various delivery models (project-based, retained) and experience managing multiple workstreams.

• Experience in crafting compelling supporting design artifacts, including interactive prototypes, presentations, and visual assets for communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Automotive Sector Acumen (ideally)" highlights a preference for candidates with direct industry experience, suggesting that familiarity with automotive digital ecosystems (e.g., infotainment, connected services) will be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design process, from initial problem framing and user research to high-fidelity UI and interactive prototyping.

• Include case studies demonstrating experience with complex design systems, highlighting your contribution to their architecture, usage, and scalability.

• Feature projects that illustrate responsive and adaptive design capabilities across different devices and platforms relevant to the automotive sector (web, mobile, in-car interfaces).

• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in Figma, with well-organized file structures and clear handover processes showcased.

• Present examples of how user research and data were translated into actionable design decisions and positive outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user journey mapping and experience definition for complex digital products.

• Explain your methodology for working with and contributing to design systems, including component design and governance.

• Illustrate your process for conducting and synthesizing user research and usability testing.

• Showcase your workflow for creating interactive prototypes and conducting design reviews.

• Document how you ensure design consistency and quality across multiple platforms and brands.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the client-embedded nature of the role and the focus on enterprise projects, the portfolio should clearly exhibit the candidate's ability to manage complexity, work with established systems, and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, demonstrating a mature design process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX/UI Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Lisbon, Portugal, a competitive annual salary range is estimated to be between €45,000 and €65,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major European tech hubs, considering the cost of living in Lisbon and the specialized nature of the automotive industry.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive training opportunities to support skill development and career growth.

• Medical insurance coverage for employees.

• Dental insurance coverage for employees.

• Meal cards for daily expenses.

• Regular social events to foster team cohesion and networking.

• Family-friendly policies to support work-life balance.

• Discounts with hundreds of retailers, offering cost savings on various goods and services.

• Potential for participation in impactful projects with leading global brands.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement requiring 4 days per week in the office. Flexibility within the standard workday may be available, subject to team and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in Lisbon. Actual compensation will be determined by the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the outcome of the interview process. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting VML's commitment to employee well-being and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing and Advertising, Digital Transformation, Experience Design, Commerce Solutions. VML operates within the broader WPP ecosystem, serving blue-chip client partners across various industries, with a significant focus on enterprise solutions and digital experience creation.

Company Size: VML is a large global agency, part of WPP, with over 26,000 employees across 55+ markets. The Enterprise Solutions division specifically houses thousands of experts. This scale offers vast opportunities for collaboration and learning.

Founded: VML was founded in 2001 (through the merger of three agencies) and is a key agency within WPP, which was founded in 1982. This history signifies a well-established presence and deep industry expertise.

Team Structure:

• The role involves being part of a "dynamic, flexible team, embedded directly with a leading automotive client." This suggests a client-facing team structure.

• Within VML, the Enterprise Solutions division comprises strategic consultants, creative and technical architects, developers, and operators.

Methodology:

• VML emphasizes creating "connected brands to drive growth" by combining brand experience, customer experience, and commerce.

• Design thinking, user-centricity, and data-driven decision-making are core to their approach.

• The company values a "human-first" approach, innovation, and award-winning work.

• In their Enterprise Solutions division, they focus on delivering digital experiences across various market routes, driving multi-channel growth.

Company Website: https://www.vml.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of creative innovation, strategic problem-solving, and client-centric delivery. The emphasis on "Heart, Brains, and Courage" suggests a dynamic environment that values empathy, intelligence, and bold action. Being embedded with a large automotive client means adapting to their corporate culture and processes while maintaining VML's standards.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX/UI Designer position, indicating a mid-to-senior level role with significant responsibility. It requires autonomy, leadership in design thinking, and the ability to influence stakeholders. The role is positioned to offer end-to-end ownership of design projects within a specific client context.

Reporting Structure: The role is embedded within a client team, implying a dual reporting structure. The designer will likely report to a VML Design Lead or Manager for project oversight, career development, and agency-specific guidance, while also working closely with product owners, project managers, and other stakeholders within the automotive client organization.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX/UI Designer will directly impact the client's digital presence and customer engagement through exceptional design. This includes driving user adoption, enhancing brand perception, improving conversion rates, and fostering customer loyalty within the automotive sector. The work contributes to the client's digital transformation efforts and overall business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise within the automotive industry's digital landscape, becoming a go-to specialist for connected car experiences, digital retail, or customer loyalty programs.

• Leadership: Progress to a Design Lead or Art Director role, managing design teams, mentoring junior designers, and taking on more strategic client leadership responsibilities.

• Skill Development: Continuously enhance skills in emerging design technologies, UX research methodologies, and advanced prototyping tools through VML's training programs and project exposure.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Potentially transition to projects with other VML/WPP clients in different sectors, broadening design experience and strategic perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, combined with requirements for autonomy, stakeholder leadership, and end-to-end ownership, suggests significant career progression potential within VML, either through deepening specialization or moving into leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, requiring 4 days per week in a VML office located in Lisbon. This indicates a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and client interaction.

Office Location(s): Lisbon, Portugal. Specific office address details would typically be provided upon inquiry or during the interview process. The location offers access to a vibrant tech and creative scene.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model emphasizes in-office collaboration, suggesting open-plan spaces, meeting rooms, and informal areas designed for team interaction and brainstorming.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), prototyping tools, and potentially client-specific platforms and systems. VML likely provides the necessary hardware and software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to interact with fellow VML designers, strategists, developers, and account managers, as well as direct engagement with client teams.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature allows for some flexibility in managing workdays, balancing office-based collaboration with remote focus time. The requirement for 4 days in the office underscores the importance of in-person synergy for design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with 4 days in the office is a key aspect of the work environment, indicating a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, team building, and client engagement, which are crucial for complex, embedded projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and VML.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key case studies that demonstrate their end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Expect questions about their role, challenges, and outcomes.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Potentially a practical exercise or case study analysis, either pre-interview or during a later stage, to assess problem-framing, design thinking, and solution generation relevant to the automotive context.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with VML design leads, project managers, and potentially client stakeholders to evaluate experience, collaboration style, and ability to influence.

• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with a senior leader at VML or the client to confirm fit and discuss strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best showcase end-to-end design, complex problem-solving, design system expertise, and automotive relevance (if applicable).

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges encountered, your specific contributions, the solutions, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, showcasing organization, component usage, prototyping capabilities, and collaborative features.

• Highlight Process: Explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, data, and strategic objectives.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement increases, task completion times) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Tailor to VML/Client: Research VML's values and the automotive client's brand and digital presence to frame your presentation and highlight relevant skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Automotive Context: Research current trends in automotive digital experiences (infotainment, connected services, digital retail, user apps).

• Practice Problem Framing: Be ready to dissect ambiguous problems and define clear design objectives.

• Articulate Design Rationale: Prepare to defend your design choices with logical reasoning based on user needs and business goals.

• Consider Design Systems: Think about how you would apply or adapt a design system in a complex, multi-brand environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process likely emphasizes practical application of design skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to integrate into a client's team. A strong portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end capabilities and an understanding of complex systems will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of UX/UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely includes Figma's built-in prototyping features, potentially supplemented by tools like InVision, Principle, or Adobe XD for more advanced interactions.

• Design System Management: Experience with tools or methodologies for managing and scaling design systems, potentially involving documentation platforms or specialized software.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Analytics Tools: Familiarity with web and app analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior data.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards or reports to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not primary design tools, an understanding of how designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms may be beneficial for context, especially for customer portal design.

• Experience with project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello is highly probable for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly named as a required tool. Proficiency in design systems is also heavily emphasized, suggesting that candidates should be comfortable working with and contributing to complex, tokenized design systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: Empathy and trust are key, fostering genuine connections and human-centric work. This translates to understanding user needs deeply and collaborating with colleagues respectfully.

• Brains: Relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence are valued for solving complex challenges. This means a proactive approach to learning and a willingness to engage in rigorous problem-solving.

• Courage: Candidates are encouraged to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions. This implies an environment where constructive feedback is welcome and innovation is encouraged.

• Impact-Driven: The company seeks individuals motivated to make a difference and drive growth for clients.

• Human-First: A focus on people, both employees and end-users, is central to their approach.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with product, marketing, and engineering teams, both within VML and the client organization.

• Client-Embedded: Working directly with a client team necessitates strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and the ability to integrate seamlessly into their existing workflows and culture.

• Flexible Delivery: Comfort in various delivery models, balancing pace and quality, suggests a dynamic and adaptable collaboration style.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are expected to be informed by user research and data, fostering a collaborative approach to design validation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage are central to VML's culture. Candidates should demonstrate how they embody these values through their work ethic, problem-solving approach, and collaborative interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Automotive Domain Complexity: Navigating the specific technical, regulatory, and user experience nuances of the automotive sector, which may differ significantly from other industries.

• Client-Embedded Dynamics: Adapting to the client's corporate culture, processes, and stakeholder expectations while representing VML's standards and fostering innovation.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Delivering high-quality design solutions within potentially fast-paced client timelines and project-based delivery models.

• Evolving Requirements: Comfort working with incomplete or evolving requirements, requiring strong problem-framing and strategic design skills to define direction.

• Design System Mastery: Ensuring consistency and scalability across diverse automotive brands and digital touchpoints using complex design systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Automotive Design: Gaining in-depth knowledge of automotive UX/UI trends, including in-car infotainment, connected services, EV charging interfaces, and digital dealerships.

• Advanced Design System Work: Contributing to and leveraging sophisticated, tokenized design systems, enhancing expertise in scalable design architecture.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Developing skills in stakeholder management, influencing senior decision-makers, and leading design strategy within large enterprise contexts.

• Global Agency Exposure: Learning from a vast network of designers and strategists within VML and WPP, potentially leading to opportunities on diverse global projects.

• Continuous Skill Enhancement: Access to VML's training programs and resources to stay abreast of the latest design tools, methodologies, and industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles embedded in large client organizations, emphasizing the need for strong problem-solving, adaptability, and stakeholder management skills. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path to deep specialization or broader leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder who disagreed with your design recommendation. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, data-driven arguments, and compromise.)

• "Walk us through your process for tackling a complex, ambiguous design problem in a new industry, like automotive. How do you frame the problem and define initial steps?" (Highlight your problem-framing, research, and strategic thinking.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about VML and our work with automotive clients specifically?" (Research VML's portfolio, values, and recent automotive projects.)

• "How do you embody VML's values of Heart, Brains, and Courage in your design work and collaborations?" (Provide specific examples from your experience.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically with a clear introduction, detailed case studies, and a concluding summary. For each case study, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) implicitly or explicitly.

• Focus on Process & Impact: Don't just show final screens; explain your thought process, the challenges you overcame, and the tangible business or user outcomes achieved. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be prepared to navigate your Figma files to demonstrate organization, component usage, and the efficiency of your workflow.

• Articulate Rationale: Clearly explain why you made specific design decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Engage the Audience: Make it a conversation. Ask clarifying questions, read the room, and be ready to adapt your presentation based on interviewer feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design execution skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, effective communication, and adaptability within a client-focused, hybrid agency environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the VML careers portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to product design, UX/UI, design systems, Figma proficiency, and any automotive sector exposure. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 compelling case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact, ideally including examples of working with design systems or complex digital products.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, clearly articulating your role, process, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. Be ready to demonstrate your Figma skills.

• Research VML and the Automotive Client: Understand VML's values, culture, and recent work, and research the automotive client's digital presence and market position to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

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