Senior UX/UI Designer - Flex Team

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer - Flex Team

Company: VML

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-05-12

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Office-based 4 days/week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for a key automotive client, encompassing user experience (UX) strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity user interface (UI) execution.

• Drive user-centric design thinking across complex problem spaces within the automotive sector, from in-car infotainment systems to companion apps and digital customer portals.

• Collaborate closely within a cross-functional "flex team" environment, bridging the gap between UX and UI to deliver exceptional digital experiences across multiple devices and channels.

• Masterfully utilize Figma and complex, tokenized design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and seamless developer handover for a diverse range of digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is deeply embedded with a specific automotive client, requiring a strong understanding of the sector's unique design maturity and stakeholder expectations. The "Flex Team" model emphasizes adaptability and autonomous work within a hybrid structure.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and refine user journeys, interaction models, and wireframes for automotive digital products, including vehicle configuration tools and connected services.

• Design and articulate visual interfaces for in-car displays, mobile applications, and web portals, ensuring a cohesive and on-brand user experience.

• Create high-fidelity prototypes and interactive mockups to effectively communicate design concepts and gather stakeholder feedback.

• Translate user research findings and data analytics into actionable design insights, informing product strategy and design decisions.

• Champion best practices in responsive and adaptive design, ensuring optimal user experiences across web, mobile, and in-car interfaces.

• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and marketing teams to define product requirements and ensure design feasibility and successful implementation.

• Contribute to and leverage complex design systems, ensuring adherence to established component architecture, variants, and properties.

• Produce compelling design artifacts, including presentations, visual assets, and release notes, to support stakeholder alignment and internal communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end design expertise" and "problem framing & direction" signifies a proactive role where the designer is expected to influence product strategy, not just execute on briefs. The automotive sector focus necessitates an understanding of specific user needs and technical constraints within that industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior-level Product Designer. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a significant portion focused on product design within digital environments. Experience working within an agency setting or on client-embedded teams is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

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

• Deep understanding and practical experience with complex, tokenized design systems, including component architecture, variants, properties, and scalable patterns.

• Proven ability to operate as an end-to-end product designer, seamlessly transitioning between UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Strong experience in stakeholder management, with the ability to challenge, influence, and align senior stakeholders across diverse disciplines.

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

• Expertise 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.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience within the automotive sector, demonstrating an understanding of its unique design maturity and stakeholder expectations.

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

• Familiarity with various delivery models (project-based, retained) and managing multiple workstreams in fast-paced environments.

• Experience in creating interactive prototypes and supporting design artifacts beyond core UI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Automotive Sector Acumen" is listed as ideal but not strictly required, suggesting that a strong general product design background with exceptional adaptability and learning agility could compensate. The emphasis on Figma and design systems points to a need for highly structured and scalable design processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies demonstrating expertise across UX strategy, interaction design, and UI execution.

• Highlight projects involving complex design systems, illustrating your understanding of component architecture, scalability, and governance.

• Include examples of work with automotive clients or similar complex, regulated industries, if available.

• Demonstrate experience with Figma, showcasing well-structured files and collaborative workflows.

• Present projects where user research and data analytics informed design decisions and led to measurable outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline your design process for each case study, detailing phases from discovery and research to ideation, prototyping, UI design, and handover.

• Explain how you approach problem framing and opportunity definition in ambiguous or complex project scenarios.

• Detail your methods for stakeholder engagement, alignment, and influence throughout the design lifecycle.

• Illustrate how you integrate user feedback and data into iterative design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical, especially one that can demonstrate the ability to manage complexity within design systems and articulate a clear, data-informed design process. The automotive context suggests a need for case studies that show not just aesthetic appeal but also functional robustness and user-centricity within a potentially complex ecosystem.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/UI Designers in London with 5-10 years of experience, and considering the specialized automotive client engagement, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £65,000 - £90,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the role's seniority, the hybrid work model, and the agency environment.

Benefits:

• Discretionary Bonus Scheme: Performance-based bonus opportunities.

• Training Opportunities: Access to professional development and skill enhancement programs.

• Competitive Pension: Contribution towards retirement savings.

• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage.

• Life Assurance: Financial protection for dependents.

• Social Events: Opportunities for team building and networking.

• Buy And Sell Holidays: Flexibility in managing annual leave.

• Family Friendly Policies: Support for work-life balance for employees with families.

• Retailer Discounts: Access to discounts with various retailers.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for 4 days in the central London office, with flexibility on the remaining day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical market rates for a Senior UX/UI Designer in London with the specified experience level and the specialized nature of the role. Actual compensation may vary based on VML's internal compensation structure and the candidate's specific qualifications and experience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing and Advertising, Technology Solutions, Digital Experience. VML is part of WPP, a global leader in marketing and communications services. The Enterprise Solutions division specifically focuses on delivering digital experiences across various routes to market, including D2C, B2B, and online retail, for major global brands.

Company Size: VML is a large global agency network with over 26,000 employees across 55+ markets. The Enterprise Solutions division itself is substantial, housing over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centers across 34 countries. This scale offers significant resources and opportunities.

Founded: VML was founded in 1992, and WPP was founded in 1982. This long history indicates stability and extensive experience in the industry.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a "dynamic, flexible team" embedded directly with a leading automotive client. This suggests a dedicated, agile unit focused on specific client needs.

• The Enterprise Solutions division is composed of strategic consultants, creative and technical architects, developers, and operators, indicating a multidisciplinary environment.

Methodology:

• VML emphasizes a human-first, innovative approach, combining brand experience, customer experience, and commerce.

• The Enterprise Solutions division focuses on delivering outstanding digital experiences across multiple market routes, utilizing strategic counsel, creativity, and technology.

• The company promotes a culture of impact-driven individuals, valuing "Heart, Brains, and Courage."

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as human-first and impact-driven, with core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage. The client-embedded "flex team" model implies a fast-paced, adaptive environment where autonomy and strong collaboration are key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior level, indicating a significant degree of autonomy, responsibility, and strategic input. Senior designers are expected to lead projects, mentor junior team members, and influence client strategy. The "Flex Team" aspect further emphasizes the need for self-sufficiency and leadership in ambiguous situations.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, the role operates within a client-embedded "flex team." The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or similar senior role within VML, while collaborating closely with client-side product managers and potentially marketing or engineering leads.

Operations Impact: The designer will have a direct impact on the digital customer experience of a major automotive brand. This includes shaping user journeys, enhancing engagement, driving loyalty, and potentially influencing conversion and sales through well-designed digital products and services. The role contributes to the overall growth and digital transformation objectives of the client.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in automotive UX/UI design or specific areas like in-car infotainment systems and connected car applications.

• Leadership: Progress to a Lead UX/UI Designer, Design Director, or similar leadership role, managing teams and client relationships.

• Skill Development: Enhance skills in areas like strategic design thinking, stakeholder management, design system architecture, and data-driven design through VML's training opportunities.

• Client Portfolio Expansion: Gain experience working with a diverse range of major brands within VML's Enterprise Solutions portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: This Senior role offers a clear path for career advancement within a large, reputable agency. The client-embedded nature provides unique opportunities to gain deep industry expertise and demonstrate significant impact on a global brand's digital presence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a central London office, supporting a hybrid work arrangement. VML emphasizes that "the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection."

Office Location(s): Central London, England, United Kingdom. Specific office address details are not provided but can be assumed to be easily accessible within the city.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is designed to foster creativity and collaboration, with teams expected in the office an average of four days a week.

• Access to relevant design tools and technology, including advanced Figma capabilities, is a given.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with a dedicated "flex team" and client stakeholders are integral to the role.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model offers some flexibility, with the expectation of 4 days in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration (4 days/week) suggests a culture that values face-to-face interaction for brainstorming, team cohesion, and client engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A key stage where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on relevant case studies. Expect to discuss your design process, problem-solving approach, stakeholder management, and impact on user experience and business goals.

• Skills-Based Assessment: This may involve a design challenge or a deep dive into specific skills like Figma proficiency, design system application, or user research interpretation.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with potential team members and hiring managers to assess collaboration style, strategic thinking, and fit within the client-embedded team structure.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations and confirm overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end product design capabilities, focusing on complexity, problem-solving, and impact. Prioritize automotive or similar industry work if available.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate: the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Highlight Design System Mastery: Explicitly show how you've worked with and contributed to design systems, detailing component usage, scalability, and adherence to guidelines.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, demonstrating organization, component usage, and collaboration features.

• Emphasize Data & Research: Clearly explain how user research and data informed your design decisions and how you measured success.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confident delivery within the allotted time.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for a design challenge that might involve problem-framing, ideation, and quick prototyping within a limited timeframe.

• Practice articulating your design rationale under pressure and demonstrating how you would approach an automotive-specific design problem.

• Prepare to discuss how you would integrate your design work with engineering and product management teams to ensure successful implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio presentation and the ability to articulate a robust, data-informed design process. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate strategic thinking and leadership, not just execution skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a core requirement for creating scalable design files, prototypes, and collaborative workflows.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely includes advanced features within Figma, potentially supplemented by tools like InVision or Principle for complex animations and interactions.

• Design System Management Tools: Experience working with and contributing to complex, tokenized design systems is essential. This may involve familiarity with tools for documentation and version control.

Analytics & Reporting:

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

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with web and mobile analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to interpret user behavior data.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design integrates with customer journeys managed by CRMs is beneficial. Familiarity with how user data from CRMs might inform design decisions would be a plus.

• Collaboration & Project Management Tools: Likely includes tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello for workflow management and cross-functional team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary technical requirement is advanced Figma proficiency and deep experience with complex design systems. Exposure to user research and analytics tools is crucial for a data-driven approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: Empathy, trust, and fostering genuine connections. This translates to understanding user needs deeply and collaborating respectfully within the team and with clients.

• Brains: Innovation, relentless curiosity, and collaborative intelligence. This means actively seeking new solutions, approaching challenges with a problem-solving mindset, and working effectively with diverse perspectives.

• Courage: Speaking up, embracing experimentation, and advocating for bold solutions. This encourages designers to challenge the status quo, propose innovative ideas, and stand by their design decisions based on user needs and data.

• Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering tangible results and driving growth for clients.

• Human-Centricity: Designing with the end-user at the core of every decision.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with product managers, engineers, marketers, and brand strategists within the client-embedded team.

• Agile & Iterative: Comfortable working within flexible delivery models, adapting to changing priorities and project needs.

• Open Communication: Encouraging feedback exchange, transparent discussions about design trade-offs, and knowledge sharing.

• Client-Focused: A strong partnership approach with the automotive client, aiming to understand their business objectives and translate them into exceptional digital experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage are central to VML's culture. For this role, it means bringing empathy to user design, intellectual curiosity to problem-solving, and the boldness to propose innovative solutions within the automotive context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Automotive Complexity: Adapting to the unique design maturity, legacy systems, and specific user needs within the automotive industry.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Effectively managing and influencing senior stakeholders with diverse priorities and potentially competing interests across a large organization.

• Ambiguous Requirements: Operating effectively in fast-paced environments where project requirements may be incomplete or evolving, requiring strong problem-framing skills.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring brand consistency and high-quality user experiences across a wide array of digital touchpoints (in-car, web, mobile apps) within a complex ecosystem.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Delivering high-quality design solutions rapidly within flexible delivery models.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Industry Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in automotive UX/UI design through direct client engagement.

• Advanced Design System Practice: Refining skills in architecting, managing, and scaling complex design systems.

• Strategic Design Leadership: Developing capabilities in influencing product strategy and leading design initiatives for major global brands.

• Cross-functional Skill Enhancement: Broadening understanding of product management, engineering processes, and marketing strategies through close collaboration.

• Agency Best Practices: Learning from a global network of experts and VML's established methodologies for client engagement and digital transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges stem from the complexity of the automotive sector and the agency environment, requiring strong adaptability, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills. Growth opportunities are significant, focusing on specialization, leadership, and broad skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder who was resistant to your design recommendations. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, data, and negotiation skills).

• "How would you approach framing a complex problem space within the automotive sector, such as improving the in-car user experience for electric vehicle charging?" (Demonstrate problem-solving, user-centricity, and strategic thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about VML and our work with automotive clients?" (Show research into VML's portfolio and values).

• "How do you embody VML's core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage in your design work and team interactions?" (Connect your experience to their values).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling is Key: Frame each case study as a narrative – introduce the challenge, detail your process and contributions, showcase the solution, and present quantifiable results or user impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-fidelity visuals, prototypes, and clear diagrams to illustrate your design thinking and final outputs.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics, user feedback, or business outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Focus on Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to achieve project goals.

• Be Prepared for Figma Deep Dive: Have your Figma files organized and be ready to navigate them, explaining your file structure, component usage, and collaborative features.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews will likely assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, client-facing abilities, and cultural alignment with VML's values. A well-prepared, compelling portfolio presentation is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

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

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select and refine 3-5 of your strongest end-to-end product design case studies, emphasizing automotive experience if available, complex design systems, and data-informed decision-making. Ensure your Figma files are well-organized and ready for review.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your years of experience, key skills in UX/UI, product design, Figma, and design systems. Quantify achievements and responsibilities, especially those related to stakeholder management and client-embedded roles.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, your design process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your approach to problem framing and influencing stakeholders.

• Research VML and the Automotive Sector: Understand VML's client work, agency values (Heart, Brains, Courage), and the specific challenges and opportunities within the automotive digital landscape.

⚠️ 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.