Senior Visual Designer - (Advanced English) - Chile

Referrals Only
Full-timeSantiago, Chile

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Visual Designer - (Advanced English) - Chile

Company: Referrals Only

Location: Santiago, Chile

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Operations / GTM Design

Date Posted: June 01, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the end-to-end visual strategy and architectural decisions for complex product design systems, ensuring a cohesive and scalable design foundation.

  • Drive the creation of high-fidelity UI elements, typographic scales, and spacing systems, meticulously crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces.

  • Champion WCAG accessibility guidelines throughout the design process, ensuring inclusive interfaces for all users and adhering to global standards.

  • Leverage advanced AI tools strategically to optimize design workflows, enhance delivery speed, and accelerate project timelines, demonstrating a commitment to modern operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a technology consulting firm that emphasizes the integration of design with agile software delivery. The 'Senior' title, coupled with responsibilities like "high-level architectural decisions for design systems" and "mentoring junior peers," indicates a role requiring significant autonomy, strategic input, and leadership within design projects. The emphasis on "end-to-end visual strategy" and "AI tools" suggests a focus on operational efficiency and modern design practices.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Drive the end-to-end visual strategy for complex technological products, including making high-level architectural decisions for scalable design systems.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (including developers and UX researchers) to create a comprehensive range of experience design deliverables such as design systems, design tokens, typographic scales, and high-fidelity UI elements.

  • Facilitate workshops and develop unique design strategies for products, ensuring visual consistency, brand harmony, and inclusive interfaces through adherence to WCAG accessibility guidelines.

  • Apply various research methods, including UX research, journey mapping, usability testing with prototypes, and validation of hypotheses with real users, to inform design decisions and product solutions.

  • Establish clear design hypotheses for delivery teams, setting up efficient handoff processes and detailed specifications aligned with engineering requirements for smooth development cycles.

  • Utilize productive AI tools strategically to optimize processes, accelerate project deliveries, and enhance technical execution, while regularly assessing and communicating project scope, risks, and updates.

  • Balance client and internal stakeholder expectations by clearly communicating project goals, design rationale, and technical solutions.

  • Support less-experienced designers through active mentoring and by guiding their professional growth within the design discipline.

  • Advocate for experience design expertise within the broader community by fostering cohesion, avoiding redundancies, and promoting best practices in visual craft and design autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership, hands-on execution, and team enablement. The mention of "architectural decisions for design systems" and "end-to-end visual strategy" points towards a senior individual contributor role with significant influence. The inclusion of "AI tools," "UX research," and "usability testing" emphasizes a data-driven and modern approach to design operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is implied by the role's responsibilities and the requirement for a strong portfolio.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in visual design, UI design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record in leading design initiatives, developing design systems, and mentoring junior designers.

Required Skills:

  • Advanced English proficiency for effective communication in global environments.

  • Expertise in driving autonomous visual strategy, advanced UI, and ensuring visual consistency across complex digital products.

  • Deep understanding and practical experience with scalable design systems and design tokens.

  • Proficiency in leading and advising on research activities, including planning UX research and conducting usability testing to translate insights into actionable product solutions.

  • Strong storytelling abilities to clearly present accessible interfaces designed under WCAG standards and technical specifications for efficient engineering handoffs.

  • Proven track record of leveraging strategic and productive AI tools to optimize workflows, improve delivery speed, and enhance technical execution.

Preferred Skills:

  • Advanced Spanish proficiency.

  • Experience in facilitating design thinking workshops and developing unique product design strategies.

  • Familiarity with agile software development methodologies.

  • Experience in mentoring junior designers and guiding their professional growth.

  • A portfolio showcasing expertise in complex digital products, user interface excellence, design maturity, and visual autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "advanced English" and "advanced Spanish" indicates a global, client-facing role. The explicit mention of AI tools, WCAG, design systems, and research methods points to the need for a technically proficient and process-oriented designer, aligning with operations and GTM functions. The portfolio requirement is crucial for demonstrating practical application of these skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Demonstrate expertise in leading the end-to-end visual strategy for complex digital products, showcasing a clear design maturity and strategic approach.

  • Present case studies of scalable design systems and tokens, highlighting architectural decisions, component creation, and implementation guidelines.

  • Showcase a strong understanding of UI excellence, visual craft, and design autonomy through high-fidelity UI elements and consistent interfaces.

  • Include examples of how WCAG accessibility guidelines were integrated into the design process and final deliverables, emphasizing inclusive design practices.

Process Documentation:

  • Documented workflows for user research, journey mapping, and usability testing, demonstrating how insights were translated into design solutions.

  • Clear specifications and documentation for efficient handoff to engineering teams, ensuring alignment and smooth development cycles.

  • Examples of design system documentation, including guidelines for typography, color theory, iconography, spacing, and component usage.

  • Processes for facilitating workshops, developing design strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is central to this role, especially for demonstrating practical application of "visual strategy," "design systems," and "AI tools." The emphasis on "process documentation" for research, handoffs, and design systems indicates a need for structured, repeatable, and efficient design operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Visual Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Chile, particularly in a consulting environment that requires advanced English, the estimated salary range would typically fall between CLP 2,500,000 to CLP 4,500,000 per month. This range can vary based on specific project demands, client engagements, and the candidate's precise skill set.

Benefits:

  • Learning & Development Programs: Access to numerous development programs, interactive tools, and ongoing training to support career growth.

  • Career Support Tools: Resources and guidance to help employees navigate and advance their career paths within the organization.

  • Mentoring Opportunities: Support from experienced teammates and opportunities to mentor junior designers.

  • Flexible Work Environment: Remote work options allowing for greater work-life balance and autonomy.

  • Collaborative Culture: Being part of a dynamic and supportive community of colleagues focused on innovation and impact.

  • Global Project Exposure: Opportunity to work on diverse and challenging technology projects for international clients.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours is expected, with potential for flexibility due to remote work arrangements and the nature of project-based consulting.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on typical compensation for senior design roles in major Chilean cities like Santiago, considering the consulting industry's compensation structures and the demand for advanced English proficiency. Benefits are drawn from the provided "Other things to know" section, specifically "Learning & Development" and "Career Support."

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, Software Development, Experience Design. Thoughtworks operates at the intersection of technology and business strategy, helping clients solve complex problems through software and design.

Company Size: Thoughtworks is a global company with a significant presence, likely falling into the "Large Enterprise" category (over 1,000 employees globally). This means access to extensive resources, diverse projects, and a structured career framework, but also requires navigating larger organizational processes.

Founded: 1993. With over 30 years of experience, Thoughtworks has established itself as a pioneer in agile software delivery and integrated experience design, bringing a deep heritage of innovation and client partnership.

Team Structure:

  • Designs are integrated into multi-disciplinary "delivery teams" alongside developers, QA, and project managers, fostering a collaborative and holistic approach to product development.

  • The Senior Visual Designer will likely report into a Design Lead or Head of Design within their regional or practice group, while collaborating daily with project teams.

Methodology:

  • Thoughtworks champions agile software delivery and a "design thinking" approach, emphasizing user-centricity, iterative development, and rapid prototyping.

  • Emphasis is placed on understanding complex problems deeply through research and analysis before devising strategic design solutions.

  • The company promotes a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and the responsible application of new technologies, including AI, to enhance design and development processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "integrating experience design with agile software delivery" positions this role as crucial for bridging user needs with technical execution, a core function in GTM and operations. The global scale suggests exposure to diverse projects and client types.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Individual Contributor or potential lead within the design practice. It requires demonstrated expertise in visual design, design systems, and strategic application of research and AI tools. The role involves mentoring junior designers and influencing high-level architectural decisions for design systems, indicating a level of seniority and strategic impact beyond standard execution.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Visual Designer will report to a design leadership figure (e.g., Design Lead, Practice Lead) within Thoughtworks' regional structure. However, their day-to-day work will be embedded within client-facing, multi-disciplinary project teams, requiring strong collaboration and communication across various roles.

Operations Impact: The Senior Visual Designer's impact is significant in driving the aesthetic quality, user experience, and brand consistency of client products. By leading visual strategy and design systems, they ensure scalable, maintainable, and accessible interfaces, directly contributing to client satisfaction, user adoption, and ultimately, the success of the technology solutions delivered. Their work on efficient dev-handoff and AI tool utilization also improves the operational efficiency of the delivery teams.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design Leadership: Progression into roles like Design Lead, Principal Designer, or Head of Design, managing teams and shaping the design practice.

  • Specialization: Deepening expertise in areas like Design Systems architecture, Accessibility (WCAG compliance), or UX Research strategy.

  • Technical Consulting: Evolving into a broader technology consultant role, leveraging design expertise within larger business transformation initiatives.

  • Mentorship & Training: Developing leadership skills through formal mentoring programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

  • Industry Influence: Contributing to Thoughtworks' thought leadership through articles, conference presentations, and community engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and responsibilities like "architectural decisions" and "mentoring" suggest a clear path for growth into leadership or specialized expert roles within the design and consulting domain. The emphasis on AI and efficiency aligns with modern operations career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is listed as "Remote OK" and "Remote in Chile," Thoughtworks also maintains physical office locations. The work environment for remote employees is typically highly collaborative through digital tools, with opportunities for occasional in-person meetings or team gatherings at local offices if desired or required for specific client engagements.

Office Location(s): Thoughtworks has offices in Santiago, Chile. For remote employees, the expectation is to be connected and available during core working hours relevant to their project teams and client locations.

Workspace Context:

  • Remote employees are expected to maintain a professional and productive home office setup conducive to focused work and virtual collaboration.

  • Access to a robust suite of digital collaboration and design tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) is standard.

  • Opportunities for virtual co-working sessions, design critiques, and team-building activities are encouraged to foster connection and combat remote isolation.

Work Schedule: The role likely adheres to a standard 40-hour work week, but with flexibility inherent in remote consulting. Core hours will be determined by project team needs and client availability, often requiring coordination across different time zones. Emphasis is placed on delivering results and meeting project milestones rather than strict adherence to traditional office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status is a key aspect, suggesting a modern, flexible work environment. The emphasis on digital collaboration tools is crucial for remote operations roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit. This is where your portfolio's strength is paramount.

  • Technical Interview(s): Discussions with design leaders and/or senior designers focusing on your visual design expertise, design system knowledge, UX research methodologies, and experience with AI tools. Expect deep dives into your portfolio projects.

  • Scenario-Based Interview: A session involving a hypothetical design challenge or a discussion of past complex projects, assessing problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate design decisions and processes. This may involve a design exercise or case study presentation.

  • Cross-Functional/Client Interview: Interactions with potential project team members (developers, project managers) and possibly a client representative to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and business acumen.

  • Final Interview: A conversation with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations, cultural fit with Thoughtworks, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your capabilities in visual design, design systems, AI tool utilization, and WCAG compliance. Tailor the selection to highlight experience with complex digital products.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing, handoff), your specific contributions, the tools used (including AI), and the measurable outcomes or impact.

  • Showcase Process: Detail your design methodology, including how you conducted UX research, usability testing, and integrated WCAG guidelines. Demonstrate your understanding of design systems architecture and token creation.

  • Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly describe how you used AI tools to enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, or achieve specific design outcomes. Quantify the benefits where possible.

  • Visual Craft & Accessibility: Ensure your portfolio design itself is impeccable, demonstrating excellent visual craft, typography, and color theory. Clearly show how accessibility was a core consideration.

  • Concise and Clear: Make it easy for reviewers to navigate. Use clear headings, concise descriptions, and high-quality visuals.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Design System Challenge: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or scaling a design system, including governance, component libraries, and token strategy.

  • Problem-Solving Scenario: Practice articulating your thought process for tackling ambiguous design problems, prioritizing tasks, and making strategic decisions under pressure.

  • AI Application Discussion: Be ready to discuss the ethical implications and practical applications of AI in design, providing examples of how you've used these tools responsibly.

  • WCAG Compliance: Be prepared to explain WCAG principles and demonstrate how you ensure compliance in your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and specific interview stages, including scenario-based challenges and cross-functional interactions, is typical for senior design roles in consulting firms. The detailed tips for portfolio presentation and challenge preparation are designed to help candidates demonstrate their strategic, operational, and technical design capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, industry standard for collaborative design), Sketch, Adobe XD.

  • Design Systems: Expertise in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems. Familiarity with design token methodologies.

  • AI Tools: Proficiency in utilizing AI tools for design assistance, workflow optimization, image generation, content creation, and code generation (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, ChatGPT for design prompts, Github Copilot for front-end snippets).

  • Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily communication and team syncs.

  • Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello for task tracking and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • User Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel (understanding how to interpret data to inform design decisions).

  • Usability Testing Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze for conducting remote usability studies.

CRM & Automation:

  • While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design integrates with CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) from a user experience perspective can be beneficial for GTM alignment.

  • Dev-Handoff Tools: Zeplin, Avocode, or Figma's built-in developer handoff features for seamless integration with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of "AI tools" in the job description is a critical differentiator. Proficiency in Figma and design system management is expected for a senior role. Understanding dev-handoff tools is key to the operational efficiency aspect of this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Purposeful Impact: A commitment to solving meaningful problems for clients and users through technology and design.

  • Collaboration & Community: Fostering a supportive environment where colleagues work together, share knowledge, and help each other grow.

  • Continuous Learning & Innovation: Embracing new technologies, methodologies, and ideas to stay at the forefront of the industry.

  • Quality & Craftsmanship: Delivering high-quality work with attention to detail, aiming for excellence in both design and technical execution.

  • Client Partnership: Building strong, trust-based relationships with clients, working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.

  • Inclusivity & Accessibility: Championing diverse perspectives and ensuring that all products are designed to be accessible to everyone.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams, breaking down silos between design, development, and business stakeholders.

  • Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and honest feedback, active listening, and constructive dialogue.

  • Agile & Iterative: Working in an agile manner, embracing iterative design and development cycles, and adapting to feedback and changing requirements.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings through internal forums, workshops, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of technical excellence, collaborative spirit, and client-centricity, which are hallmarks of successful operations and GTM teams in consulting environments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Client Needs with Design Best Practices: Navigating client-specific requirements, budget constraints, and timelines while upholding high standards of design quality, accessibility, and scalability.

  • Integrating AI Tools Effectively: Identifying the most impactful AI tools and workflows for design, ensuring responsible and ethical use, and demonstrating tangible ROI to clients and internal teams.

  • Driving Design System Adoption: Overcoming resistance to change and ensuring consistent adoption and evolution of design systems across diverse projects and teams.

  • Mentoring and Upskilling: Effectively guiding junior designers while managing personal project responsibilities and continuous learning in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

  • Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion, effective communication, and high-quality output in a predominantly remote work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design System Training: Deep dives into advanced architecture, governance, and implementation strategies for complex design systems.

  • AI in Design Workshops: Focused training on leveraging AI for generative design, workflow automation, and predictive analytics in design.

  • Accessibility Certification: Pursuing formal certifications in WCAG compliance and inclusive design.

  • Leadership Development Programs: Training in mentoring, coaching, stakeholder management, and project leadership.

  • Industry Conferences & Thought Leadership: Opportunities to attend and present at leading design and technology conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the practical, day-to-day hurdles of a senior design role in a consulting firm, particularly around integrating new technologies like AI and managing complex client relationships. The growth opportunities are aligned with career progression in design leadership and specialized consulting.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a complex product you've designed the end-to-end visual strategy for. What were the key architectural decisions for its design system, and how did you ensure WCAG compliance?" - Preparation: Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on strategic choices, system architecture, and accessibility implementation.

  • "How have you used AI tools to optimize your design workflow or accelerate project delivery? Provide specific examples and quantify the impact." - Preparation: Identify 1-2 projects where you actively used AI tools. Be ready to explain the tools, your process, and the measurable benefits (e.g., time saved, efficiency gained).

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why Thoughtworks? What interests you about our approach to integrating design with agile software delivery?" - Preparation: Research Thoughtworks' mission, values, and recent work. Connect their approach to your own career aspirations and expertise.

  • "How do you approach mentoring junior designers? Describe your philosophy and a time you successfully guided a peer." - Preparation: Reflect on your mentoring experiences and articulate your approach to knowledge transfer and professional development.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, start with the problem, define your role and the project goals, detail your process (research, ideation, design, testing, AI integration, handoff), showcase your visual solutions and design system components, and conclude with the outcomes and lessons learned.

  • Emphasize Strategic Thinking: Don't just show pretty pictures. Explain the why behind your design decisions, linking them to user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility. Highlight your strategic contribution to the design system.

  • Demonstrate Process & Collaboration: Clearly articulate your design process, including how you incorporated research, testing, and AI tools. Show how you collaborated with developers and other stakeholders.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., "Increased design consistency by X%," "Reduced development time for UI elements by Y% through AI-assisted component generation").

  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical challenges, and your thought process. Be ready to elaborate on any aspect of your portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational efficiency (especially with AI), and strong communication skills, all critical for a senior role in a consulting environment. The portfolio presentation strategy is designed to ensure candidates effectively showcase their expertise in the required areas.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Visual Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse platform.

  • Portfolio Customization: Carefully select and curate 3-5 of your most relevant projects for your portfolio. Ensure these projects highlight your expertise in visual design, design systems, AI tool integration, and WCAG accessibility. Tailor the project descriptions to emphasize the strategic and operational aspects relevant to Thoughtworks' approach.

  • Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords from the job description, such as "Visual Design," "Design Systems," "WCAG," "UX Research," "AI Tools," "Product Strategy," and "Mentoring." Quantify your achievements and responsibilities with specific examples and metrics where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you leverage tools (especially AI) to drive efficiency. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio case studies compellingly.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research Thoughtworks' values, methodologies (agile, design thinking), current projects, and their stance on AI in recruitment and design. Understand how your skills and experience align with their unique approach to technology consulting.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions based on the provided data. All details, particularly regarding compensation, benefits, and specific role expectations, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application and interview process.

Application Requirements

Requires advanced proficiency in English and Spanish along with expertise in scalable design systems and visual strategy. Candidates must demonstrate a track record of using AI tools to optimize workflows and provide a portfolio showcasing complex digital products.