Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: VML

Location: Faro, Portugal

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Digital Experience

Date Posted: 2026-05-29T09:06:14

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Average 4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives for a prominent automotive client, encompassing discovery, UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Craft exceptional digital experiences across various platforms, including in-car infotainment systems, companion mobile applications, and customer-facing digital portals.

• Collaborate within a dynamic, cross-functional "flex team" embedded with the client, ensuring user-centricity and driving engagement, loyalty, and customer journey enhancement.

• Leverage advanced Figma proficiency and a deep understanding of design systems to create scalable, well-structured design files that facilitate collaborative workflows and seamless developer handovers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically tailored for a Senior UX/UI Designer with a strong focus on automotive sector digital experiences. The emphasis on an "embedded flex team" suggests a need for adaptability, strong client-facing skills, and the ability to operate with significant autonomy within a large enterprise context. The hybrid nature with an expectation of 4 days in office highlights a preference for collaborative work but allows for some flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the complete design lifecycle for digital products and services within the automotive sector, from initial user research and concept development to final UI implementation.

• Define user journeys, interaction models, and wireframes for complex features such as vehicle configuration tools, connected services, and digital retail experiences.

• Develop high-fidelity visual designs and interactive prototypes that clearly communicate design rationale, micro-interactions, and overall user experience.

• Champion user-centric design principles by translating user research, data insights, and stakeholder feedback into actionable design strategies.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, brand strategists, and other stakeholders to ensure design solutions align with business objectives, technical constraints, and brand guidelines.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of complex, tokenized design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices across multiple digital touchpoints.

• Adapt design approaches to accommodate diverse brand identities within the automotive group, ensuring quality and consistency across sub-brands and product lines.

• Create compelling supporting design artefacts, including presentations, visual assets, and release notes, to facilitate stakeholder alignment and enhance communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a full-stack design capability, requiring the candidate to be proficient across the entire design process. The specific mention of "automotive sector," "in-car infotainment," and "connected services" indicates a need for domain-specific understanding and the ability to design for complex, hardware-integrated digital products.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

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

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including creating scalable design files, component libraries, and collaborative workflows.

• Deep understanding and practical experience with complex, tokenized design systems and component architecture (variants, properties).

• Proven ability to conduct user research, analyze data, and translate insights into informed design decisions.

• Expertise in interaction design, user journey mapping, and developing intuitive user flows.

• Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Experience with responsive and adaptive design principles across various devices and platforms (web, mobile, in-car interfaces).

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence senior-level audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to frame complex problems, define opportunities, and shape product direction.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience within the automotive sector, understanding its unique design challenges and stakeholder dynamics.

• Familiarity with design system tooling and processes for seamless developer handover and maintenance.

• Experience working with multiple brands or sub-brands within a larger organization.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices (WCAG).

• Experience with prototyping tools beyond Figma (e.g., Principle, Adobe After Effects) for advanced animations and interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level of "5-10 years" and the emphasis on "strategic autonomy" and "stakeholder leadership" suggest this role is not for junior designers. The preference for automotive sector experience is highlighted as a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Specific case studies that highlight experience with complex design systems, including how they were utilized, maintained, or contributed to.

• Examples of responsive and adaptive design solutions across different devices and platforms.

• Prototypes that effectively communicate user flows, interaction models, and micro-interactions.

• Demonstrations of how user research and data were integrated into the design process to drive decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies detailing the process of problem framing and defining product direction.

• Examples of collaboration with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, marketing) and how design integrated with their workflows.

• Demonstrations of how design decisions were communicated and justified to senior stakeholders.

• Documentation of experience with design system implementation or contribution, including component architecture and scalability considerations.

• Evidence of adapting design approaches to specific brand guidelines or multiple brand identities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. It must clearly articulate not just the final designs but the strategic thinking, process, and problem-solving approach, especially concerning design systems and stakeholder engagement within a large client environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/UI Designers in Portugal with 5-10 years of experience and specialized skills in automotive and design systems, a competitive salary range is estimated between €45,000 - €65,000 annually. This range accounts for the senior level, hybrid work model, and the specialized client-embedded nature of the role.

Benefits:

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

• Medical insurance for personal health coverage.

• Dental insurance for oral health needs.

• Meal cards to assist with daily food 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 purchases.

• Access to WPP's extensive network and resources.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility, with an average of four days per week in the office, suggesting potential for remote work on one day, subject to team and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior design roles in Portugal, considering the cost of living and typical compensation for agency roles with client-embedded structures. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligned with typical offerings for permanent positions in international agencies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising, Digital Transformation, E-commerce Solutions, with a specialization in Enterprise Solutions for global brands. VML is part of WPP, a leading global advertising and marketing services group.

Company Size: VML, as part of WPP, is a very large global organization with over 26,000 employees across 55+ markets. The Enterprise Solutions division likely comprises several thousand experts worldwide.

Founded: VML was founded in 1992 and merged with Wunderman in 2020 to form Wunderman Thompson, which then merged with BC Integrated Marketing to form VML in 2024. This history indicates a company with deep roots in digital transformation and client service.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of VML's Enterprise Solutions division, focusing on delivering digital experiences for major clients.

• The specific team is a "flex team" embedded directly with a leading automotive client, suggesting a highly collaborative and integrated structure with the client's internal teams.

Methodology:

• VML emphasizes a human-first, creative, and data-driven approach to digital transformation and customer experience.

• The Enterprise Solutions division focuses on building scalable platforms, driving multi-channel growth, and delivering outstanding digital experiences across various routes to market.

• Collaboration, innovation, and client-centricity are key methodological drivers.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: VML's scale and history within WPP suggest a stable yet innovative environment. The "flex team" and "embedded" nature of this role imply a close working relationship with the client, requiring strong partnership and communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX/UI Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position within the design discipline. It requires independent work, leadership in design thinking, and the ability to mentor junior designers implicitly or explicitly.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Creative Director within the VML Enterprise Solutions team, while working closely with client-side product owners and managers. The "flex team" structure means daily interactions will be with a diverse group of client and VML colleagues.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the client's digital presence and customer engagement, particularly within the competitive automotive sector. Successful design outcomes will influence customer acquisition, loyalty, and potentially sales through enhanced digital experiences like configurators, apps, and portals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in automotive UX/UI, design systems, or specific product areas like in-car technology.

• Leadership Development: Progress to Design Lead, Art Director, or Creative Director roles, managing larger teams and client accounts.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop strong client-facing skills, becoming a trusted advisor and strategic partner.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience across various client industries and digital transformation initiatives within VML's broader portfolio.

• Learning & Development: Access to VML/WPP's extensive training programs, workshops, and potentially industry conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a large agency structure, with opportunities to specialize or move into leadership. The client-embedded nature provides valuable experience in managing large-scale enterprise projects and client relationships.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is described as "hybrid," with an average of four days per week in the office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, with dedicated spaces for design work, team meetings, and client interactions.

Office Location(s): Faro, Portugal. This location offers a specific regional context for the work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and "flex team" structure emphasize collaboration, requiring designers to be comfortable working closely with colleagues both in person and remotely.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration tools, and potentially client-specific platforms will be available.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with a diverse group of VML and client professionals, fostering a dynamic and stimulating work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule is expected, with the hybrid model providing flexibility on the remote work day. The client-embedded nature may require some adjustments to align with client working hours or project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup in Faro, Portugal, indicates a balance between in-office collaboration and personal flexibility. The emphasis on collaboration within the "flex team" suggests a requirement for strong interpersonal and communication skills suitable for a modern, integrated work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, detailing specific projects, their role, design process, challenges, and outcomes. This is a critical step to evaluate design thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion focused on experience, skills, approach to design challenges, and cultural fit within VML and the client team. Questions may cover stakeholder management, design system expertise, and automotive sector understanding.

• Skills-Based Challenge: Potentially a design exercise or case study related to automotive digital experiences or design system challenges to assess practical application of skills.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or client representatives to discuss strategic alignment and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Process: Clearly articulate your role, the problem, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), and the impact of your work.

• Highlight Design System Expertise: Dedicate specific examples or a section to your experience with design systems, detailing your understanding of their architecture and application.

• Emphasize Automotive Relevance: If possible, include projects related to automotive or complex digital products that demonstrate transferable skills.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success and impact of your design solutions.

• Tell a Story: Present your projects in a narrative format that engages the reviewer and highlights your problem-solving abilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research the Automotive Industry: Familiarize yourself with current trends, challenges, and user expectations in automotive digital experiences (infotainment, apps, online sales).

• Understand Design System Principles: Be ready to discuss best practices for creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems.

• Practice Articulating Design Rationale: Prepare clear and concise explanations for your design decisions, trade-offs, and strategic choices.

• Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios: Think about how you would approach challenging stakeholders or gain alignment on design direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on portfolio review and the ability to articulate design thinking and process. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just visual design skills but also strategic thinking and client-management capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a core requirement for UX/UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Design Systems: Experience with creating, contributing to, or leveraging complex, tokenized design systems is essential. This includes understanding component architecture, variants, and properties.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's built-in capabilities, familiarity with tools like Principle or After Effects for advanced animations and interactions may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the UX/UI Designer role's core responsibilities, but understanding how digital experiences integrate with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms can provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a requirement. The emphasis on design systems implies a need for familiarity with tools and processes that support design system management and developer handoff, such as Zeplin or similar integration methods, though these are not explicitly mentioned.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: VML emphasizes empathy and trust, fostering genuine connections and human-centric work. This means approaching design challenges with a deep understanding of user needs and collaborative spirit.

• Brains: The company values relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence for solving complex challenges. This translates to a proactive approach to learning, problem-solving, and innovative thinking in design.

• Courage: VML inspires employees to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions. Designers are expected to challenge norms, present innovative ideas, and defend their design choices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The "flex team" and client-embedded model necessitate seamless collaboration with product managers, engineers, strategists, and client stakeholders.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages open feedback and iterative design processes is likely, with designers expected to contribute to and benefit from continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, design patterns, and insights across teams and with the client.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is deeply ingrained in its core values (Heart, Brains, Courage), which should inform how candidates approach their work and interactions within the team and with the client.

<h3>⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities</h3>

Challenges:

• Automotive Sector Complexity: Navigating the unique challenges of designing for the automotive industry, including stringent safety regulations, diverse user needs (driver vs. passenger), and integration with physical hardware.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Managing expectations and aligning diverse senior stakeholders across VML and the client organization, who may have varying priorities and perspectives.

• Evolving Requirements: Working within large enterprise projects where requirements can be ambiguous or change frequently, demanding adaptability and resilience.

• Design System Maintenance: Contributing to and adhering to complex, large-scale design systems that require meticulous attention to detail and scalability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Automotive Design: Gaining deep expertise in designing for in-car experiences, connected car technologies, and automotive customer journeys.

• Advanced Design System Mastery: Becoming a go-to expert in design system architecture, governance, and implementation.

• Client Relationship Acumen: Developing strong client management and strategic advisory skills within a large agency-client partnership.

• Leadership Pathways: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially move into management roles within VML or the client organization.

• Industry Certifications & Training: Access to VML/WPP's extensive learning resources, workshops, and potentially support for relevant industry certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but offer substantial growth opportunities for a designer looking to deepen their expertise in a complex, high-impact industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex product you've designed from concept to launch. What was your role, the biggest challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your end-to-end process, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for an in-car infotainment system, considering safety and user distraction?" (Demonstrate your user-centric approach, understanding of automotive constraints, and ideation process.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do VML's core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage resonate with your own work philosophy and approach to design?" (Connect your experiences to their stated values.)

• "How do you handle disagreements or conflicting feedback from senior stakeholders?" (Showcase your stakeholder management, communication, and negotiation skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project, starting with the problem, your role, your process, key decisions, and the final outcome/impact.

• Tell a Compelling Story: For each project, focus on the narrative – the challenge, the journey, and the resolution.

• Highlight Your Process: Don't just show final screens; explain why you made certain decisions, referencing research, data, or user feedback.

• Showcase Design System Work: If applicable, dedicate specific slides to how you've worked with or contributed to design systems.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical constraints, or alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can not only design beautifully but also think strategically, solve complex problems, and collaborate effectively within a client-embedded agency environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided VML careers portal link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly related to UX/UI design, automotive sector exposure, design systems, Figma proficiency, and stakeholder management. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Ensure each case study clearly articulates the problem, your role, your process, your design solutions, and the measurable impact. Prioritize projects that showcase end-to-end design, design system work, and ideally, automotive or complex digital product experience.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and your problem-solving approach. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your process and decisions.

• Research VML and the Automotive Client: Understand VML's culture, values, and work within the Enterprise Solutions division. Familiarize yourself with the automotive client's brand and digital presence to demonstrate genuine interest and insight.

⚠️ 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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