Staff UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff UX/UI Designer

Company: Robots and Pencils

Location: Colombia - Remote, Argentina - Remote

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, Design Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-08-19

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Define and lead end-to-end design strategy for complex, multi-platform client engagements, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Own and architect robust design systems, focusing on scalability, governance, and cross-team adoption to maintain consistency across diverse products.

• Drive comprehensive UX research strategy, from methodology selection to insight integration, directly influencing product direction and innovation.

• Champion and integrate AI-powered design workflows and tools (e.g., Figma AI, Claude) to enhance efficiency, creativity, and the overall design delivery process.

• Contribute to and lead design operations initiatives, optimizing team processes, collaboration, and the overall quality of design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant strategic influence, focusing on leading complex design initiatives, design system architecture, and the adoption of advanced design technologies like AI. The remote nature within Colombia and Argentina suggests a need for strong self-management and asynchronous communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate comprehensive design strategies for major client projects, translating complex business requirements into intuitive user experiences across various platforms.

• Architect, govern, and evolve design systems to ensure scalability, maintainability, and consistent application across multiple product lines and client engagements.

• Lead the end-to-end UX research process, including defining research objectives, selecting appropriate methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), and synthesizing findings to inform strategic product decisions.

• Champion the adoption and effective utilization of AI-assisted design tools and workflows to improve design efficiency, explore creative possibilities, and accelerate delivery cycles.

• Drive improvements in design operations by refining team processes, enhancing collaboration mechanisms, and establishing best practices for design quality and delivery.

• Collaborate closely with engineering, product management, and client stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of design solutions with technical constraints and business goals.

• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level designers, fostering their professional growth, enhancing their craft, and contributing to a culture of continuous learning and high-quality design output.

• Lead internal initiatives related to design practice evolution, marketing efforts, and business development, contributing to the company's strategic growth and thought leadership.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops, design sprints, and collaborative sessions with internal teams and clients to drive innovation and achieve project milestones.

• Make critical design decisions by carefully balancing usability, business impact, and technical feasibility, often under tight timelines and resource constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design execution, and team mentorship. Emphasis on AI adoption and design operations indicates a forward-thinking company focused on efficiency and innovation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and mastery of design principles is expected. A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of professional UX/UI design experience with a proven track record in product development and a strong portfolio showcasing complex, multi-platform projects.

Required Skills:

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

• Design Strategy Development: Ability to define overarching design approaches for complex products and client engagements, aligning user needs with business goals.

• Design System Architecture & Governance: Proven experience in creating, managing, and scaling design systems, including establishing governance models and driving adoption.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for design, prototyping, and design system management.

• UX Research Leadership: Demonstrated experience in leading UX research initiatives, selecting appropriate methodologies, and translating insights into actionable product strategies.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Strong experience and demonstrated ability to champion and integrate AI tools (e.g., Figma AI, Claude) into design workflows.

• Client & Leadership Presentation: Proven ability to present design strategies, concepts, and outcomes effectively to senior leadership and external clients, influencing decision-making.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Experience in mentoring designers, providing constructive feedback, and contributing to the growth of team craft and capabilities.

• Workshop Facilitation: Skilled in leading design thinking sessions, workshops, and sprints with diverse stakeholder groups.

Preferred Skills:

• Service Design principles and application.

• Experience in Design Operations (DesignOps) leadership or significant contribution.

• Deep expertise in multi-platform design (web, mobile, desktop).

• Experience with rapid prototyping and iterative design processes in an agile environment.

• Familiarity with enterprise AI solutions and their UX implications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a senior-level designer capable of strategic thinking, technical execution (Figma, design systems), research leadership, and influencing stakeholders. The explicit mention of AI tools points to a specialization in modern design practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Project Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 complex projects detailing the design process from problem definition through to final implementation, highlighting strategic thinking and problem-solving.

• Design System Examples: Demonstrate experience with design system architecture, component libraries, and governance strategies, showing how consistency and scalability were achieved.

• UX Research Integration: Illustrate how user research informed design decisions, including examples of research methodologies used and how insights were translated into tangible product improvements.

• AI Tool Integration: Provide examples of how AI-assisted design tools were leveraged to enhance the design process, improve efficiency, or drive creative outcomes.

• Cross-Platform Design: Include examples that demonstrate proficiency in designing for multiple platforms (e.g., web, mobile, desktop) and ensuring a cohesive user experience.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Clearly articulate the design process followed for key projects, emphasizing how it was optimized for efficiency and quality.

• System Implementation Standards: Detail the approach to implementing and maintaining design systems, including documentation and adoption strategies.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Show how design impact was measured, using metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of design solutions and process improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, demonstrating not just design execution but also strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to integrate emerging technologies like AI. The emphasis on case studies that detail process and outcomes is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Staff UX/UI Designer with 6+ years of experience in remote roles within Latin America, the estimated salary range is between $60,000 - $90,000 USD annually. This estimation considers the seniority of the role, the specialized skills required (AI, design systems), and the remote work arrangement.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, personal days, and public holidays.

• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications.

• Flexible working hours to accommodate work-life balance and different time zones.

• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within a growing AI engineering firm.

• Access to modern design tools and technologies, including AI-powered software.

• Remote work stipend or allowance for home office setup.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility to adapt to project needs and team collaboration across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on typical compensation for senior UX/UI roles in the specified remote regions, considering the company's focus on AI and advanced technology. Benefits are inferred based on standard offerings for remote tech roles of this caliber.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Applied AI Engineering, Technology Consulting, Software Development. Robots & Pencils operates at the intersection of AI, enterprise operations, and user experience, building custom AI solutions for clients across various sectors including Consumer Products, Retail, Education, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.

Company Size: Robots & Pencils is described as smaller, faster, and more senior by design, with teams averaging 15+ years of experience. While exact numbers aren't provided, their delivery centers across multiple regions suggest a mid-sized to large firm within the consulting space, likely numbering in the hundreds of employees.

Founded: Founded in 2009, the company has a decade-plus history of delivering innovative technology solutions, evolving to focus on applied AI and integrating deep UX capabilities with senior engineering talent.

Team Structure:

• The Experience team, which this role joins, is comprised of senior designers who work within cross-functional, agile delivery teams.

• This role will act as a design leader within these teams, collaborating with engineers, strategists, and delivery leads.

• There's a clear emphasis on senior talent, with average experience levels exceeding 15 years, fostering a culture of peer leadership and mentorship. Methodology:

• Data-Driven AI Integration: Focus on building AI co-workers that integrate into enterprise operations and deliver measurable results, heavily relying on data analysis and performance metrics.

• Agile & Fast-Paced Delivery: Commitment to shipping production-ready AI solutions rapidly, often within 30-45 days, requiring efficient workflows and agile methodologies.

• Human-Centric AI Design: The "Robots and Pencils" philosophy underscores the importance of pairing engineering expertise with creativity and deep UX understanding to ensure AI works for real people in real workflows.

Company Website: https://robotsandpencils.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a strong emphasis on senior talent, speed, ownership, and a blend of technical rigor (AI engineering) and creative problem-solving (UX/UI design). The "smaller, faster, more senior" motto is a key differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Staff-level UX/UI Designer role, indicating a senior individual contributor position. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and responsibility for leading complex design initiatives, design systems, and research strategies. This level typically involves mentoring junior team members and acting as a design authority on client engagements.

Reporting Structure: The Staff UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Director of Experience, or Head of Design within the organization. They will work closely within cross-functional delivery teams, collaborating with engineering, strategy, and project management leads.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the success of client engagements by ensuring that AI solutions are not only technically robust but also highly usable, intuitive, and aligned with client business objectives. The designer's strategic input shapes product direction, user adoption, and ultimately, the measurable business results delivered by the AI systems.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership Tracks: Potential to advance into Principal Designer, Design Lead, or Managerial roles, overseeing larger design functions or multiple client projects.

• Specialization in AI/Applied AI: Deepen expertise in designing for AI applications, becoming a recognized expert in this rapidly evolving field.

• Design Operations Leadership: Opportunity to take on formal DesignOps responsibilities, shaping team processes, tools, and best practices.

• Client Strategy & Business Development: Contribute to client strategy discussions and business development efforts, leveraging design expertise to win and shape new projects.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Formalize mentorship roles, developing leadership skills through guiding and developing other designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title signifies a significant level of expertise and influence, offering a clear path for continued growth within design leadership, specialized AI design, or operational aspects of the design practice.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, allowing employees to work from their home offices in Colombia or Argentina. The company emphasizes a distributed team structure.

Office Location(s): While remote, Robots & Pencils has delivery centers in Canada, the United States, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, indicating a global presence. The specific remote work is restricted to candidates residing in Colombia and Argentina.

Workspace Context:

• Distributed Collaboration: The work environment is inherently collaborative but relies heavily on digital tools and asynchronous communication. Strong emphasis on team members taking ownership and being self-directed.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to modern design and collaboration tools, including Figma, AI-assisted design platforms, and project management software, is expected.

• Team Interaction: While remote, opportunities for interaction will occur through virtual meetings, design reviews, workshops, and dedicated collaboration sessions with cross-functional teams and clients.

Work Schedule: The standard work week is approximately 40 hours. While flexible, successful candidates will need to manage their schedules to ensure effective collaboration with team members and clients across potentially different time zones within Colombia and Argentina.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature requires individuals who are highly self-motivated, organized, and proficient in digital collaboration tools. The specific geographic restriction to Colombia and Argentina suggests a focus on building a strong regional talent hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, leadership capabilities, and understanding of AI-driven design. Expect questions about your approach to design strategy, systems, and research.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A session where you present a curated selection of your work, focusing on case studies that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, strategic thinking, and impact. A design challenge may be incorporated, assessing your problem-solving skills and approach to complex design problems.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: Meet with potential peers and collaborators (engineers, strategists) to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.

• Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to evaluate your strategic thinking, influence, and alignment with the company's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies that best showcase your ability to lead complex projects, manage design systems, and integrate research.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process you followed, the key decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly detail how you've leveraged AI tools in your design process and the benefits they provided.

• Showcase Design Systems: Present your experience with design system architecture, governance, and adoption strategies.

• Be Prepared to Discuss Trade-offs: Demonstrate your ability to make reasoned design decisions by discussing the trade-offs you considered and why certain paths were chosen.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Company: Research Robots & Pencils' work, their focus on applied AI, and their client engagements to understand their context.

• Review Design Principles: Refresh your understanding of core UX/UI principles, design thinking, and agile methodologies.

• Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining your design decisions, processes, and project outcomes clearly and concisely, focusing on demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving.

• Prepare Questions: Develop thoughtful questions about the team, the challenges, the company culture, and the specific projects you might work on.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design craft but also strategic leadership, collaboration, and the ability to drive innovation with AI. A well-prepared portfolio and clear communication of process and impact are essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Expert proficiency is required.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Proficiency or experience with tools like Figma AI, Claude, or similar AI platforms for content generation, idea exploration, or workflow automation.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial for specific project needs.

• Design System Management Platforms: Tools or methodologies for managing and distributing design system components and guidelines.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools for creating dashboards and reports to communicate design performance and insights to stakeholders (e.g., Tableau, Looker).

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks within agile workflows.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Confluence for communication and knowledge sharing.

• Cloud Services: Understanding of cloud environments (e.g., AWS) is beneficial given the company's focus on AI engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes modern design tools, particularly Figma, and a strong focus on AI-assisted design. Proficiency in collaboration and project management tools is also key for remote work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Accountability: Treat clients' businesses as their own, honoring commitments, admitting mistakes quickly, and taking responsibility for outcomes without blame.

• Craftsmanship & Detail: A deep obsession with the quality of work, striving for exceptional results and not putting their name on anything less than their best effort.

• Direct Communication: Providing honest, constructive feedback to make the work better, valuing direct conversations over politeness that hinders progress.

• Resourcefulness & Adaptability: Thriving under constraints (budget, timeline, team size), using limitations to sharpen problem-solving skills.

• Continuous Learning: Embracing the rapid evolution of AI by being fast learners who acknowledge what they don't know and are driven to keep learning.

• Collaboration & Mutual Support: Working effectively within teams, backing teammates, and contributing to a positive environment where people care deeply about the work and each other.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with engineers, strategists, and client teams, ensuring alignment across disciplines.

• Proactive Communication: Open and direct communication channels, utilizing tools and meetings to share progress, challenges, and insights.

• Feedback Culture: Encouraging and participating in constructive critique sessions to elevate design quality and team craft.

• Shared Ownership: A collective approach to project success, where team members support each other and contribute to overcoming challenges together.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture strongly emphasizes a proactive, ownership-driven mindset, combined with a high standard for craft and direct, constructive communication. This is crucial for a remote, senior-level team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of constant advancements in AI technology and design tools, and integrating them effectively into client solutions.

• Complex Client Engagements: Navigating diverse client needs, technical constraints, and business objectives to deliver impactful AI-driven solutions.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Meeting the company's aggressive delivery timelines (30-45 days for AI solutions) while maintaining high design quality and user experience standards.

• Leading Remote Teams: Effectively mentoring and guiding designers and influencing cross-functional teams in a distributed, remote environment.

• Defining Design Strategy for Novel AI Products: Creating user experiences for emerging AI applications where best practices may still be developing.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Applied AI: Gain extensive experience in designing and implementing AI solutions across various industries, becoming a specialist in applied AI UX.

• Advanced Design System Mastery: Develop expertise in complex, large-scale design system architecture, governance, and cross-platform implementation.

• Strategic Client Influence: Hone skills in influencing senior client stakeholders and shaping product roadmaps through expert design strategy.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor, lead design initiatives, and potentially transition into formal leadership roles within the design practice.

• Industry Exposure: Work with cutting-edge technologies and a diverse range of clients, providing broad exposure to different business challenges and AI applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities to grow expertise in the high-demand field of AI design and to develop leadership skills within a fast-paced, innovative consulting environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for defining the design strategy for a complex, multi-platform product, especially one involving AI." (Prepare to discuss frameworks, stakeholder alignment, and how you'd integrate user research.)

• "How would you architect and govern a design system for a company that builds diverse AI solutions for various clients, ensuring scalability and adoption?" (Focus on your experience with system architecture, component libraries, and governance models.)

• "Can you share an example of how you've led UX research to significantly influence product direction? What methodologies did you employ, and how did you translate insights into actionable design?" (Highlight your research strategy and impact.)

• "How do you champion and integrate new technologies like AI into existing design workflows? Provide specific examples of tools or processes you've implemented." (Emphasize your proactive adoption of AI tools.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Robots & Pencils' approach to applied AI and design?" (Research their website, case studies, and mission.)

• "How do you embody the company values of ownership, direct communication, and craftsmanship in your work?" (Prepare anecdotes that demonstrate these values.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your philosophy on fostering team craft and lifting collective quality?" (Showcase your leadership and mentorship style.)

• "How do you approach making design decisions when faced with tight timelines or budget constraints?" (Demonstrate resourcefulness and ability to balance trade-offs.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the methodologies used, key decisions and rationale, and the final outcome/impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly point out where and how AI tools were used and the value they added to the design process or outcome.

• Showcase Design System Expertise: Dedicate specific slides or sections to illustrate your design system work, focusing on architecture, governance, and scalability.

• Engage and Discuss: Be prepared for interactive discussion. The interviewers will likely ask follow-up questions to probe your thinking and decision-making process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, deep technical design skills (Figma, design systems), research expertise, and a proactive approach to adopting AI. Be ready to articulate your process and impact with specific examples.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link, ensuring your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and clearly highlight relevant experience.

• Tailor your resume: Emphasize keywords related to UX/UI Design, Design Strategy, Design Systems, Figma, UX Research, AI-assisted Design, and leadership/mentorship. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 robust case studies that best showcase your end-to-end process, strategic thinking, design system work, and AI integration. Ensure clear articulation of problem, process, and impact.

• Prepare for interview questions: Practice articulating your experience and design philosophy, focusing on strategy, leadership, and problem-solving, especially concerning AI and complex products.

• Research Robots & Pencils: Understand their mission, their focus on applied AI, and their company culture to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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