Senior UX/UI Designer (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer (Contract)

Company: Hiflylabs

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Job Type: Contract

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the user experience and interface design for innovative AI, mobile, and web applications developed by Hiflylabs.

• The Senior UX/UI Designer will be instrumental in translating complex business objectives and user needs into intuitive and visually appealing digital products.

• This position requires a strong focus on user-centered design principles, iterative design processes, and close collaboration with development and product teams.

• The role emphasizes a proactive approach to user research, usability testing, and staying abreast of emerging design trends, particularly in AI-driven applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input states "Senior UX/UI Designer," the responsibilities and qualifications align with a mid-to-senior level designer. The "5+ years of experience" and emphasis on leading design initiatives suggest a role that requires seasoned expertise. The "Contract" nature implies a focus on project-specific deliverables and potentially a more independent work style. The "AI Adaptation capability" requirement is a key differentiator for this role, indicating a forward-thinking approach to design within an AI-focused company.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end UX/UI design process for web and mobile applications, from conceptualization to final implementation, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and persona development, to deeply understand user behaviors, motivations, and pain points.

• Execute competitive analysis to identify market trends, best practices, and opportunities for design differentiation in the AI, financial, and healthcare sectors.

• Develop detailed wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using Figma to effectively communicate design concepts and interaction patterns.

• Facilitate and lead usability testing sessions to gather user feedback, analyze results, and iterate on designs to optimize user experience and task completion rates.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders in an agile environment to ensure seamless integration of designs and timely delivery of project milestones.

• Champion design consistency across all product touchpoints, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic sense.

• Stay ahead of the curve on the latest UI/UX trends, emerging technologies (especially AI, 3D, AR, VR), and design tools to continuously enhance the product's visual appeal and functionality.

• Provide design guidance and mentorship to junior team members, fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous learning within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities have been expanded to detail the typical scope of a Senior UX/UI Designer in an agile, product-focused environment. Emphasis is placed on leadership, user advocacy, and the full design lifecycle. The specific mention of "AI, financial, and healthcare sectors" adds crucial context for candidates.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of successfully delivering user-centered designs for web and mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, visual design, and information architecture.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma, including its core features, prototyping capabilities, component libraries, and collaborative workflows.

• User Research & Testing: Demonstrated experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing user research (e.g., interviews, surveys) and usability testing methodologies.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Ability to create detailed wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design intent.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within agile development environments, adapting to iterative feedback and evolving project requirements.

• English Communication: Negotiation-level proficiency in English (written and verbal) for effective collaboration with international teams and stakeholders.

• AI Adaptation: A strong capability and willingness to adapt designs for AI-integrated features and understand AI's impact on user experience.

• Problem-Solving: Creative thinking and strong analytical skills to identify design challenges and develop effective, user-centric solutions.

• Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced contract environment.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail and a sophisticated aesthetic sense to ensure high-quality, polished design outputs.

Preferred Skills:

• Specialized Design Areas: Experience with AI, 3D, AR, VR design.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in collaboration tools like Figjam and Miro.

• Branding: Experience in brand development and maintaining brand consistency across digital products.

• Industry Experience: Prior experience in the financial or healthcare sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section has been structured to clearly differentiate between required and preferred qualifications. "AI Adaptation capability" has been explicitly listed as a required skill due to its prominence in the role's description. The "Negotiation level of English" is a specific requirement that has been highlighted.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated UX/UI Process: Showcase a clear, step-by-step design process for at least 2-3 significant web and mobile application projects, highlighting how user needs and business objectives were integrated.

• Figma Project Examples: Include case studies demonstrating advanced Figma usage, such as complex component systems, interactive prototypes, and collaborative design workflows.

• User Research & Iteration: Present evidence of user research findings and how they directly informed design iterations and led to measurable improvements in user experience or key performance indicators.

• AI Integration Design: If possible, include examples or conceptual work demonstrating an understanding of designing for AI-powered features or applications, showcasing how AI enhances user workflows.

• Visual Design Excellence: High-quality visual mockups and style guides that reflect a sophisticated aesthetic sense and brand consistency.

Process Documentation:

• User-Centered Design Workflow: Clearly articulate your approach to user-centered design, including methods for user research, persona creation, journey mapping, and usability testing.

• Agile Design Integration: Describe how you integrate design activities within an agile development framework, including sprint planning, feedback loops, and collaboration with engineering teams.

• Design System Development/Usage: Detail your experience in creating, maintaining, or contributing to design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple products.

• Impact and ROI Articulation: For each project, be prepared to discuss the design's impact on user engagement, conversion rates, or other relevant business metrics, demonstrating a focus on delivering business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section has been tailored to emphasize the practical demonstration of skills through a portfolio, specifically focusing on the UX/UI design process, Figma proficiency, user research integration, and the unique AI adaptation requirement. The emphasis on demonstrating impact and ROI is crucial for a senior-level role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX/UI Designer (Contract) in Budapest, Hungary, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated gross hourly rate typically ranges from €25 to €45, translating to approximately €4,000 to €7,200 per month, depending on experience, project complexity, and specific contract terms.

Benefits:

• Contractual Engagement: Opportunity to work on a contract basis, offering flexibility and diverse project exposure.

• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities and resources to enhance skills in AI-driven design and other emerging technologies.

• Mentoring System: Benefit from Hiflylabs' unique mentoring system, providing guidance for personal and professional growth.

• Diverse Project Exposure: Work on a variety of impactful AI, mobile, and web applications across different industries like Finance and Healthcare.

• AI-First Culture: Be part of an organization that actively integrates AI into its delivery and encourages innovation in this space.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with a requirement to align with U.S. time zones for collaboration purposes, which may involve some flexibility in scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated for a contract role in Budapest, Hungary, based on industry averages for senior UX/UI designers with the specified experience level. The benefits have been extracted and contextualized from the provided text, highlighting specific advantages relevant to a contract designer and the company's unique offerings. The working hours detail includes the crucial U.S. time zone alignment requirement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Consulting. The company operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and data-driven solutions, with a strong emphasis on AI and application development.

Company Size: Hiflylabs is a vibrant team of 250+ data and tech enthusiasts, indicating a medium-sized organization with the capacity for significant projects while maintaining a cohesive culture.

Founded: Founded over twelve years ago, Hiflylabs has established a significant track record in Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, and Data Analytics, demonstrating a history of expertise and stability in the tech landscape.

Team Structure:

• The design team, though not explicitly detailed in size, is expected to be integrated within cross-functional project teams alongside developers, product managers, and business analysts.

• The Senior UX/UI Designer will likely have a direct reporting line to a Design Lead or Head of Product/Design, with significant autonomy in their project work.

Methodology:

• AI-Driven Delivery: Hiflylabs emphasizes an "AI-First Culture," integrating AI into their development processes and client solutions.

• Data-Centric Approach: As a company with deep roots in data engineering and analytics, decisions are expected to be data-informed and focused on delivering measurable business outcomes.

• Agile Development: The company operates within agile methodologies, promoting iterative design, continuous feedback, and adaptability.

• User-Centric Design: A commitment to delivering user-friendly software solutions that combine technology with user needs.

Company Website: https://hiflylabs.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: This section synthesizes information from the "About the company" and "Why Appic?" sections, framing it within an operations and team context. The company's focus on AI and data science is highlighted as a key aspect of its culture and operational methodology. The "250+" employee count places it in a mid-size category, suggesting a balance between structure and agility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the UX/UI design discipline. It requires a significant degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead design initiatives. The emphasis on "hiring seniors to lead, not to follow" and having "a seat at the table in shaping how our design department evolves" indicates a leadership potential beyond individual contribution, focused on shaping design strategy and processes.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Product, or a similar senior leadership role. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Software Developers, Data Scientists, and other cross-functional team members on a project-by-project basis.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to the success of the applications developed by Hiflylabs. By creating user-centered, intuitive, and visually appealing interfaces, the Senior UX/UI Designer will:

• Enhance user adoption and engagement with AI, mobile, and web applications.

• Contribute to the overall usability and effectiveness of software solutions, particularly in complex domains like finance and healthcare.

• Drive product innovation by translating cutting-edge technologies into accessible user experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership & Strategy: Opportunity to influence the evolution of the design department's strategy, processes, and standards, particularly in the context of AI integration.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven UX, 3D, AR, VR design through project work and company culture.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Gain extensive experience across diverse sectors such as Finance and Healthcare, broadening design applicability and market understanding.

• Mentorship & Development: Benefit from Hiflylabs' structured mentoring system and commitment to professional development, fostering career advancement.

• Contract-to-Hire Potential: While a contract role, strong performance and business needs could potentially lead to longer-term engagements or full-time opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on the "Senior" aspect of the title and the company's stated culture of empowering senior hires. The "impact" is framed in terms of how design contributes to business outcomes and product success, aligning with operational considerations. Growth opportunities are derived from the "Why Appic?" section and the nature of a senior role in a growing tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" in Budapest, Hungary. This suggests a traditional office-based work environment where collaboration and in-person interaction are valued.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Budapest, Hungary, specifically mentioning Bartók Béla út. This implies a central and accessible work location within the city.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, with spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional work.

• Technology-Enabled: As a tech company, the workspace will be equipped with modern technology, including the necessary hardware and software (like Figma) for design and development tasks.

• AI-Centric Atmosphere: The "AI-First Culture" suggests an environment where innovation, experimentation with new technologies, and discussions around AI's impact are commonplace.

• Professional Setting: The company's long history and focus on professional services indicate a structured and professional office atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The primary work schedule is expected to be full-time (approximately 40 hours per week). However, a key requirement is the willingness to work within U.S. time zones as needed. This implies that while the physical presence is in Budapest, the design team must be adaptable to overlapping with U.S. business hours for critical meetings, feedback sessions, and project alignment, potentially requiring some flexibility in daily working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" and "Budapest" location details are used to describe the physical workspace. The "AI-First Culture" and the need to align with U.S. time zones are integrated to provide a nuanced understanding of the daily work environment and schedule expectations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of submitted applications, focusing on resume and portfolio quality, with particular attention to Figma proficiency and demonstrated UX/UI process.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their design process, and how they approach challenges. This will be followed by technical questions related to UX/UI principles, Figma usage, and AI adaptation.

• Cross-Functional/Stakeholder Interview: An interview with product managers, developers, or other stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness (especially English proficiency), and cultural fit within an agile team.

• U.S. Time Zone Alignment Discussion: Specific questions may address the candidate's comfort and strategies for working effectively with teams in U.S. time zones.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit with Hiflylabs' mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Your Process: Clearly articulate your design journey for each project – from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.

• Highlight Figma Mastery: Demonstrate advanced Figma skills, including component libraries, auto-layout, prototyping, and collaboration features. Provide examples of complex design systems if applicable.

• Quantify Your Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on user experience, engagement, or business goals.

• Address AI Adaptation: Even if you don't have direct AI design experience, articulate your understanding of AI's potential impact on UX and how you would approach designing for AI-enhanced features.

• Tailor to Hiflylabs: Research Hiflylabs' work, particularly their AI, mobile, and web applications, and tailor your presentation to align with their industry focus (Finance, Healthcare) and AI-first culture.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a practical design challenge, potentially involving a specific feature or application scenario. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and proficiency in Figma under time constraints.

• Case Study Presentation: Practice presenting a case study from your portfolio concisely and effectively, focusing on problem, solution, process, and outcome.

• Technical Q&A: Brush up on fundamental UX/UI principles, interaction design patterns, and best practices for web and mobile interfaces.

• Time Zone Strategy: Be ready to discuss how you manage collaboration across different time zones, including communication strategies and availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is structured to guide candidates on how to approach the application and interview process, emphasizing the unique requirements of the role, such as Figma proficiency, AI adaptation, and U.S. time zone collaboration. The portfolio review tips are specifically designed to address the expectations for a senior designer in this context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool. Mastery is essential for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced usage.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): While Figma is primary, familiarity with other Adobe tools may be beneficial for asset creation or specific graphic design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's built-in capabilities, experience with dedicated prototyping tools might be a plus, though not explicitly stated as primary.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude): While not a primary responsibility for a UX/UI designer, understanding how to interpret user data and analytics to inform design decisions is crucial.

• Usability Testing Platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback): Experience with tools that facilitate remote user research and usability testing.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Essential for working within agile teams, tracking tasks, and collaborating on project progress.

• Collaboration Tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams): For daily communication and team coordination.

• Whiteboarding Tools (e.g., Figjam, Miro): Preferred for brainstorming, user journey mapping, and collaborative design sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the expected technology stack, prioritizing Figma as the primary tool. It also includes related tools and platforms that a Senior UX/UI Designer would likely interact with or benefit from knowing, contextualized for the role's responsibilities and the company's operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• AI Integration: A strong emphasis on embracing and integrating Artificial Intelligence into design processes and product solutions, driving innovation and efficiency.

• User-Centricity: A core commitment to understanding and prioritizing user needs, ensuring the delivery of intuitive, user-friendly, and impactful applications.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing the use of data and insights from user research and analytics to inform design choices and measure success.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a collaborative environment where cross-functional teams work seamlessly to achieve common goals, with open communication and mutual respect.

• Continuous Learning & Improvement: Encouraging ongoing professional development, staying updated with industry trends, and a proactive approach to skill enhancement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with developers, product managers, and business analysts, actively participating in all stages of the product development lifecycle.

• Agile & Iterative: The collaboration style is agile, characterized by frequent feedback loops, iterative design adjustments, and adaptability to changing requirements.

• Proactive Communication: A culture of proactive communication, especially across different time zones, to ensure alignment, share progress, and address challenges effectively.

• Design Advocacy: Senior designers are encouraged to advocate for design best practices and influence product strategy, contributing to the overall evolution of the design department.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section extracts and interprets the company's stated values and cultural elements, framing them in terms of how they apply to operations and team interactions for a designer. The "AI-First Culture" and the emphasis on collaboration are key themes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging AI and User Experience: Designing intuitive interfaces for AI-powered features requires a deep understanding of how users interact with intelligent systems and managing user expectations.

• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Effectively collaborating with teams in U.S. time zones from Budapest requires strategic communication, asynchronous workflows, and potential adjustments to personal schedules.

• Balancing Innovation with Implementation: Ensuring that cutting-edge AI and design trends are practical and implementable within project constraints and timelines.

• Diverse Industry Demands: Adapting design strategies and aesthetics to meet the specific requirements and regulatory environments of sectors like Finance and Healthcare.

• Contractual Nature: Navigating the dynamics of a contract role, including project scope management, client-provider relationships, and potential for project variability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Gain hands-on experience and develop expertise in designing for AI-driven applications, a rapidly growing field.

• Advanced Tool Proficiency: Deepen mastery of Figma and explore specialized design tools and methodologies (e.g., 3D, AR, VR).

• Industry Domain Expertise: Build knowledge and design experience in the financial and healthcare sectors.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Benefit from Hiflylabs' mentoring system and the opportunity to shape design practices in a senior role.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Work on a wide array of projects, enhancing versatility and problem-solving skills across different applications and user bases.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges inherent in the role and the company's context, such as AI integration and time zone differences, and maps them to specific learning and growth opportunities, aligning with the company's stated commitment to development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a complex UX/UI challenge you faced on a web or mobile application project, detailing your approach, the tools you used (especially Figma), and the outcome. How did you incorporate user research and iterate on your designs?"

• AI & User Experience: "How do you envision AI impacting the future of UX/UI design? How would you approach designing an interface for an AI-powered feature in a financial or healthcare application?"

• Collaboration & Time Zones: "This role requires collaboration with U.S. time zones. How do you manage communication and workflow when working with teams across significant time differences?"

• Portfolio Presentation: "Walk us through your favorite project in your portfolio from a UX/UI perspective. What was the problem, your solution, the key design decisions, and the impact?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Hiflylabs' Vision: "What interests you most about Hiflylabs' AI-First Culture and our work in AI, mobile, and web applications?"

• Senior Role Expectations: "As a Senior UX/UI Designer, how would you contribute to shaping our design department's evolution and best practices?"

• Agile Environment: "Describe your experience working in agile development environments. How do you ensure design quality and timely delivery within sprints?"

• Design Ethics & Trends: "How do you stay current with UX/UI trends, and how do you approach designing responsibly, especially in sensitive sectors like finance and healthcare?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: Clearly articulate the 'why' behind your design decisions, showcasing your problem-solving approach and user-centered methodology.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Highlight specific Figma features used, complex component systems, or efficient workflows that showcase your mastery.

• Quantify Impact: Use data, metrics, or testimonials to demonstrate the tangible results of your designs.

• Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process/solution), and end (outcome/impact).

• Address AI & Time Zones: Be prepared to discuss your thoughts on AI in design and your strategies for cross-time zone collaboration, linking them to the specific requirements of this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for interview preparation, including example questions tailored to the role's specific requirements (UX/UI, Figma, AI, U.S. time zones) and the company's culture. The portfolio presentation strategy is designed to help candidates highlight their suitability for a senior contract role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer (Contract) position:

• Submit your application through the provided SmartRecruiters link, ensuring your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and readily accessible.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects showcasing your expertise in web and mobile UX/UI design, advanced Figma skills, and any relevant experience with AI, financial, or healthcare applications. Prioritize case studies that clearly demonstrate your design process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of experience, significant achievements in UX/UI design, proficiency in Figma, and experience with agile methodologies. Ensure keywords like "UX/UI Design," "Figma," "User Research," "Prototyping," and "Agile" are naturally integrated.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your approach to AI in design and your strategies for effective collaboration across U.S. time zones.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Hiflylabs' work, their AI-First culture, and their focus areas (Finance, Healthcare). Understand their mission and brand to articulate your interest and cultural fit 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.

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