UI / UX Designer

RedTech Recruitment Ltd.
Full-time£50k-65k/year (GBP)City of London, United Kingdom

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI / UX Designer

Company: RedTech Recruitment Ltd.

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-24T00:00:00

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Spearhead the UI/UX function as the inaugural dedicated designer within an early-stage technology company, establishing critical design foundations for an innovative software platform.

  • Translate complex technical information, data, and intricate workflows into clear, intuitive, and engaging software solutions, directly impacting user adoption and product success.

  • Collaborate closely with software engineers, senior stakeholders, and end-users to drive product direction and ensure practical, user-centric design implementation.

  • Define and implement core UI/UX processes, design principles, and standards, laying the groundwork for future design operations and scalability.

  • Leverage a modern technology stack, including proficiency in Figma, JavaScript, React, and TypeScript, to craft high-fidelity prototypes and user interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is for a UI/UX Designer, the emphasis on establishing processes, working with complex data/workflows, and collaborating closely with engineering and stakeholders positions this as a critical function within the broader Product Operations or GTM enablement strategy, particularly for a technology start-up. The requirement for UK Security Clearance also indicates potential work on sensitive projects, requiring a high degree of trust and operational integrity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Assume full ownership of the UI/UX discipline, defining its scope, processes, and deliverables as the first dedicated designer within the organization.

  • Architect and refine the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) of the company's core software platform, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user journey.

  • Develop comprehensive user journeys, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity interface designs using Figma, ready for seamless integration by the development team.

  • Actively engage with end-users to gather requirements, conduct user research, and translate feedback into actionable design improvements and intuitive product features.

  • Partner closely with software engineers to ensure design feasibility, optimize implementation, and maintain a high standard of user experience throughout the development lifecycle.

  • Collaborate with product management and senior leadership to define product requirements, contribute to strategic roadmapping, and inform future feature development.

  • Establish and meticulously maintain a design system, including consistent UI elements, style guides, and design principles to ensure brand consistency and scalability.

  • Champion best practices in UI/UX design, driving a user-centric culture and influencing product development decisions.

  • Transform complex technical concepts, data visualizations, and operational workflows into clear, accessible, and user-friendly software interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution, typical of a foundational role in a growing tech company. The emphasis on "establishing UI/UX processes and design foundations" suggests a significant operational component to this role, requiring the candidate to build out the design function from scratch.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

  • 5-10 years of progressive experience in commercial UI/UX design, with a proven track record of delivering user-centric software solutions.

  • Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, take ownership of design decisions, and drive projects from concept to completion.

  • Experience in a start-up environment or a role requiring the establishment of new processes is highly advantageous. Required Skills:

  • UI/UX Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, usability heuristics, and interaction design.

  • Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in using Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity interface design.

  • User Journey Mapping: Ability to create detailed user journey maps to visualize and optimize the end-to-end user experience.

  • Wireframing & Prototyping: Proven ability to produce clear wireframes and interactive prototypes for user testing and stakeholder buy-in.

  • JavaScript, React, TypeScript: Working knowledge of these core front-end development technologies to understand technical constraints and opportunities.

  • Jira & Confluence: Experience utilizing these tools for project management, issue tracking, and documentation within an agile development workflow.

  • RESTful APIs & SQL: Understanding of how to design interfaces that interact with RESTful APIs and manage data from relational databases.

  • Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and collaborate effectively with diverse teams and senior stakeholders.

  • UK Security Clearance Eligibility: Must be willing and eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC Clearance).

Preferred Skills:

  • Data-Rich Software Design: Experience designing user interfaces for technically complex or data-intensive applications.

  • Python: Familiarity with Python for potential scripting or backend understanding.

  • AWS (Amazon Web Services): Basic understanding of cloud infrastructure services.

  • Docker: Knowledge of containerization technologies for application deployment.

  • PostgreSQL: Experience with PostgreSQL databases.

  • Existing SC Clearance: Previous experience holding UK Security Clearance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of JavaScript, React, TypeScript, RESTful APIs, SQL, and other development-related technologies indicates that this UI/UX role requires a strong technical aptitude and the ability to work very closely with engineers, potentially even contributing to front-end implementation or providing highly detailed design specifications. The preference for data-rich software experience is crucial given the company's focus on a software platform handling complex information.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UI/UX design process for complex software products. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your design approach, the tools used (especially Figma), user research conducted, design iterations, and the final outcome with measurable results.

  • Figma Work Samples: Include examples of high-fidelity UI designs, interactive prototypes, and any design systems or style guides created in Figma.

  • User Research & Testing Artifacts: Provide examples of user journey maps, personas, usability testing reports, and feedback synthesis.

  • Process Documentation Examples: If available, showcase examples of how you've documented UI/UX processes, design principles, or established design guidelines in previous roles.

  • Technical Integration Awareness: Demonstrate through your portfolio how your designs consider technical constraints and integrate effectively with APIs and databases.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Design & Optimization: Evidence of designing and optimizing user workflows to simplify complex tasks and improve efficiency.

  • System Implementation Standards: Examples of how you've contributed to or established standards for implementing design within development workflows, ensuring consistency and quality.

  • Measurement & Performance Analysis: Showcase how you have used data and user feedback to measure the success of design implementations and drive further improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a foundational role like this, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just design skills but also the ability to build and formalize processes, a critical requirement for the "first dedicated designer." The emphasis should be on showing how the candidate can translate complex requirements into tangible, user-friendly designs and establish operational design standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £50,000 - £65,000 per annum

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive benefits package (details to be provided upon further inquiry, but typically includes health insurance, pension contributions, paid time off, etc.)

  • Opportunity for significant professional growth and impact within a growing technology start-up.

  • Potential for stock options or equity participation as the company scales.

  • Professional development budget for training, conferences, and learning resources.

  • Hybrid working arrangement with flexibility.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected given the start-up environment and the nature of building out a new function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-senior UI/UX Designer in London, especially for a role that involves establishing processes and has significant autonomy. The "comprehensive benefits package" is standard, but candidates should inquire about specific offerings, especially potential equity, which is common in early-stage tech companies. The salary estimate is based on the provided range and typical market rates for similar roles in London, UK.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software Platform Development. The company is an early-stage, well-funded technology start-up focused on building an innovative software platform.

Company Size: Early-stage start-up (specific number of employees not provided, but implied to be small and growing, with this being a key hire). This means a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: Early-stage (specific founding date not provided). The company is in an exciting growth phase, building its core product and team.

Team Structure:

  • The UI/UX Designer will be the first dedicated designer, working closely with a core team of software engineers, product managers, and senior stakeholders.

  • This role will likely report into a Head of Product, CTO, or a senior engineering lead, given the technical nature of the product.

  • Cross-functional collaboration is expected to be high, with regular interaction across all levels of the organization. Methodology:

  • Data Analysis & Insights: The company likely relies on data to inform product decisions, and the UI/UX designer will be expected to use user data and analytics to guide design choices.

  • Agile Development: The engineering team likely operates within an agile framework (e.g., Scrum or Kanban), requiring close collaboration and iterative design cycles.

  • User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis will be placed on understanding and meeting end-user needs through direct engagement and feedback loops.

Company Website: www.redtech-recruit.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's early-stage status means that culture is still being formed. The UI/UX Designer has a unique opportunity to influence this culture by establishing design best practices and advocating for user needs. The emphasis on "well-funded" suggests stability and resources for growth.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior Level Designer, acting as a foundational specialist. It offers the chance to move from an individual contributor role into a potential Design Lead or Manager position as the team and product mature.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a senior technical leader (e.g., CTO, Head of Engineering, or Head of Product). This structure offers direct access to decision-makers and the ability to influence product strategy from an early stage.

Operations Impact: The UI/UX Designer's work will have a direct and profound impact on the success of the software platform. By creating intuitive and engaging user experiences, they will drive user adoption, customer satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, revenue growth. They will be instrumental in shaping the product's market perception and competitive advantage.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design Leadership: As the company grows, there will be opportunities to build and lead a design team, establishing a formal design department and mentoring junior designers.

  • Product Strategy Influence: Deep involvement in product planning and strategy, moving beyond design execution to shape the product's future direction.

  • Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like user research, interaction design, design systems, or even product analytics.

  • Cross-Functional Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of engineering processes, product management, and business strategy through close collaboration.

  • Establishment of Processes: The unique opportunity to define and implement core design operations, a valuable skill set for future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career acceleration. The ability to build out a design function from scratch is a rare and valuable experience that can fast-track career progression into leadership roles. The emphasis on "ownership" and "autonomy" is a strong indicator of growth potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company has a physical office in London, supporting a hybrid work model. This suggests a professional, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate team interaction and innovation.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom (EC1Y postcode area). This central London location offers excellent transport links and access to a vibrant business ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration on specific days, fostering brainstorming sessions, design critiques, and team-building activities.

  • Tools & Technology: Access to modern design software (Figma) and development tools (Jira, Confluence) is expected, supporting efficient workflow and communication.

  • Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact directly with engineers, product managers, and senior leaders, fostering a shared understanding of product goals and user needs.

Work Schedule: Standard working hours are expected (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and the dynamic nature of a start-up. The hybrid arrangement allows for a balance between focused individual work and collaborative team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a minimum of two days in the office is a common setup for start-ups aiming to balance flexibility with in-person collaboration essential for early-stage product development and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A recruiter (RedTech Recruitment) will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

  • Portfolio Review: A dedicated session with the hiring manager (likely CTO or Head of Product) to deeply dive into your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, decision-making, and the impact of your work.

  • Technical/Design Challenge: A practical exercise, potentially involving a design critique, a small design task, or a discussion around a hypothetical problem related to the company's platform.

  • Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key engineers, product managers, and potentially senior leadership to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and strategic thinking.

  • Final Interview: A concluding discussion, potentially with founders or senior executives, to finalize fit and discuss terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Storytelling: Structure your portfolio around compelling narratives. For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes.

  • Process Focus: Emphasize your design methodology, user research techniques, and how you adapted your approach to project constraints. Showcase your ability to establish processes if you've done so before.

  • Figma Mastery: Highlight your proficiency with Figma, showcasing its use for wireframing, prototyping, design systems, and collaboration.

  • Technical Acumen: Clearly articulate how your designs consider technical feasibility, API integrations, and data structures. Mention your understanding of JavaScript, React, and TypeScript.

  • Impact & Results: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

  • UK Security Clearance: Be prepared to discuss your eligibility and willingness to undergo the SC Security Clearance process.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Product: Research the company and its software platform thoroughly. Try to identify potential user pain points or areas for UX improvement.

  • Practice Design Critiques: Be ready to analyze existing interfaces and provide constructive feedback.

  • Problem-Solving: Anticipate design challenges related to complex data, workflows, or technical constraints. Prepare to articulate your problem-solving approach.

  • Define Processes: Think about how you would establish UI/UX processes, design principles, and a design system from scratch in a start-up environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on process establishment and technical understanding in the interview preparation is critical for this role. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate not only their design skills but also their operational capabilities and technical fluency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping. Advanced proficiency is essential.

  • Jira: For project management, task tracking, and agile workflow management.

  • Confluence: For documentation, knowledge sharing, and design guideline storage.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly mentioned, expect to work with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) and potentially data visualization tools to understand user behavior and measure design impact. CRM & Automation:

  • Not directly applicable to the designer's core role, but understanding how the product interacts with CRMs or other business systems might be beneficial. Development Stack Awareness:

  • JavaScript: Essential working knowledge for understanding front-end implementation.

  • React: Key framework knowledge for understanding the component-based UI.

  • TypeScript: Familiarity with typed JavaScript is a plus.

  • RESTful APIs: Understanding how data is fetched and manipulated.

  • SQL: Knowledge of relational database structures.

Potential Future Tools/Technologies:

  • Python: For scripting, automation, or backend understanding.

  • AWS: Cloud infrastructure familiarity.

  • Docker: Containerization for deployment.

  • PostgreSQL: A specific relational database.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of JavaScript, React, TypeScript, RESTful APIs, and SQL indicates a strong need for a technically-minded UI/UX designer who can bridge the gap between design and development. This is a key differentiator for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the end-user, translating complex requirements into intuitive experiences.

  • Innovation & Ownership: Encouraging creative problem-solving, taking initiative, and owning design outcomes from conception to delivery.

  • Collaboration & Communication: Fostering open dialogue, constructive feedback, and strong partnerships across engineering, product, and stakeholder teams.

  • Efficiency & Scalability: Designing solutions that are not only user-friendly but also technically sound, maintainable, and scalable as the company grows.

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing user data and analytics to inform design choices and measure the impact of design solutions.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: The designer will be embedded within the product and engineering teams, working hand-in-hand to build the platform.

  • Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture of continuous feedback, design reviews, and agile iteration to refine designs and ensure alignment.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design best practices, user insights, and technical learnings across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of creative problem-solving and pragmatic execution, crucial for a start-up environment. The "ownership" and "innovation" aspects suggest a culture that empowers individuals to make a significant impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Establishing Design Foundations: As the first dedicated designer, building UI/UX processes, a design system, and establishing best practices from the ground up will be a significant undertaking.

  • Balancing Technical Complexity with Usability: Translating highly technical information, complex data, and intricate workflows into simple, intuitive user experiences requires significant skill and creativity.

  • Autonomous Workload: Working autonomously requires strong self-discipline, time management, and the ability to make independent decisions.

  • UK Security Clearance: The process for obtaining SC Clearance can be lengthy and requires specific eligibility criteria.

  • Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced, evolving demands of a growing technology start-up.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Building a Design Function: Gaining invaluable experience in setting up and scaling a design operation from its inception.

  • Deep Technical Immersion: Developing a strong understanding of software development lifecycles, modern tech stacks, and API integrations.

  • Strategic Product Influence: Direct involvement in product strategy and roadmap planning, offering a broader business perspective.

  • Mentorship from Leadership: Potential for mentorship from experienced technical leaders and founders.

  • Professional Development: Access to resources for learning new design techniques, tools, and industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and opportunity lie in the "build it from scratch" nature of the role. This is ideal for a proactive individual who thrives on establishing frameworks and driving impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "How would you approach establishing UI/UX processes and a design system for a new software platform as the first designer?"

  • "Describe a time you had to translate highly complex technical information or data into a simple, user-friendly interface. What was your process and the outcome?"

  • "How do you collaborate with software engineers and product managers to ensure designs are technically feasible and meet user needs?"

  • "What metrics would you use to measure the success of UI/UX designs for a platform like ours, and how would you track them?" Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you most about working for an early-stage technology start-up?"

  • "How do you stay updated on the latest UI/UX trends and technologies?"

  • "How do you handle constructive criticism or disagreements on design decisions?"

  • "What are your thoughts on the importance of UK Security Clearance for this role?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Focus on Process: For each case study, walk through your steps: problem definition, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and final design.

  • Highlight Figma Use: Demonstrate your Figma skills by showing interactive prototypes and explaining how you utilized its features for collaboration and design system creation.

  • Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to showcase the results of your design work. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

  • Address Technical Considerations: Be ready to discuss how your designs align with the technical stack (JavaScript, React, TypeScript, APIs, SQL).

  • Eligibility for SC Clearance: Be prepared to openly discuss your eligibility and willingness to undergo the clearance process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare specific examples that demonstrate their ability to build processes, solve complex design problems, and collaborate effectively within a technical team. The SC Clearance requirement is non-negotiable and should be addressed proactively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI / UX Designer position:

  • Submit your up-to-date CV via the application link provided on the RedTech Recruitment portal.

  • Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate experience with complex data, technical software, and establishing design processes. Emphasize your Figma proficiency and any experience with front-end technologies.

  • Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, specific UI/UX skills (Figma, wireframing, prototyping, user journeys), and technical knowledge (JavaScript, React, TypeScript, APIs, SQL). Highlight any experience in start-up environments or roles requiring process creation.

  • Prepare for SC Clearance Discussion: Be ready to discuss your eligibility and willingness to obtain UK Security Clearance during the initial stages of the application process.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research RedTech Recruitment Ltd. and their clients, understanding the type of technology platforms they are involved with. Familiarize yourself with the company's mission and how your design expertise can contribute to their innovative software platform.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions for a UI/UX Designer role in London. Specific details regarding benefits, exact team structure, and the full interview process should be verified directly with RedTech Recruitment Ltd. before making application decisions.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have solid commercial experience in UI/UX design, including proficiency with Figma and the ability to work autonomously. A strong understanding of technical software environments and eligibility for UK Security Clearance are required.