UI/UX Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI/UX Product Designer

Company: Bolder Apps

Location: Georgia, United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle for client mobile and web applications, from initial discovery through to engineering handoff, ensuring seamless integration with AI-augmented workflows.

• Lead client-facing design reviews and workshops, fostering strong relationships with US-based founders and product owners, and making critical product trade-offs.

• Develop production-ready Figma files, including well-structured components, variants, auto-layout, and export-ready assets, facilitating efficient build processes for engineering teams.

• Contribute to and maintain robust design systems and component libraries, promoting consistency and accelerating the development of new features across multiple client engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a contractor on a monthly retainer, implying a need for consistent, high-quality output and reliable client management. The emphasis on "AI-augmented workflows" and "Figma files engineers actually build from" suggests a practical, results-oriented design approach rather than purely conceptual work. The requirement for US hours overlap indicates a need for strong asynchronous work habits combined with synchronous availability for client coordination.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of product UI/UX design for client mobile and web applications, managing multiple engagements as pipeline demands.

• Conduct client-facing design reviews, workshops, and asynchronous critiques during US business hours, including building rapport and trust through effective communication.

• Translate complex project briefs into user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity screens, and interactive prototypes that address core product objectives.

• Create and maintain comprehensive design systems and component libraries to ensure design consistency and facilitate rapid feature development.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and engineers to define scope, address edge cases, and ensure adherence to platform conventions (HIG and Material Design) and accessibility standards.

• Deliver meticulously organized Figma files with named layers, variants, auto-layout, redlines or tokens, and export-ready assets for engineering teams.

• Leverage AI design and research tools to enhance design exploration and content generation, critically reviewing outputs before client or engineering delivery.

• Proactively identify and flag design risks related to unclear briefs, unrealistic timelines, or conflicting product requirements with platform/technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution and operational project management. The emphasis on "AI-augmented workflow" and "Figma files engineers can build from" points to a need for designers who understand the technical implications of their designs and can optimize for efficient implementation. The requirement to manage multiple engagements indicates a need for strong organizational and time management skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in UI/UX product design, with a proven track record of designing and shipping production-level mobile and/or web products. Agency or product studio experience is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in end-to-end product UI/UX design, from discovery through to engineering handoff.

• Expert proficiency in Figma, including advanced features like components, variants, auto-layout, variables/tokens, prototyping, shared libraries, and clean file structuring.

• Strong client-facing communication and presentation skills, with the ability to conduct design reviews, workshops, and manage client relationships effectively.

• Experience in building and maintaining design systems and component libraries for reusability and consistency.

• Understanding of mobile (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Android Material Design) and responsive web design principles.

• Proficiency in using AI design and research tools (e.g., Figma AI, Claude, ChatGPT, Midjourney) to accelerate design processes.

• Excellent English communication skills (C1 level or above) for clear client interaction and feedback.

• Availability to overlap with US business hours, specifically through approximately 5 PM EST, for client coordination.

• Demonstrated ownership habits, including honest estimation, early surfacing of blockers, and commitment completion. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within an agency or product studio environment.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices in design.

• Experience with user research methodologies and incorporating findings into design decisions.

• Understanding of software development lifecycles and agile methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level and specific tool proficiencies (Figma) are critical. The emphasis on client-facing skills and the ability to make "hard product trade-offs" suggests a need for a designer who is not only skilled artistically but also strategically minded and comfortable with business objectives. The requirement for US hours overlap and strong English proficiency points to a need for effective cross-cultural and remote collaboration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate full case studies for 4+ years of shipped product design, detailing the problem, constraints, your design decisions, and the final shipped product.

• Showcase your ability to handle end-to-end design ownership, from initial concept and user flows to detailed wireframes, high-fidelity screens, and interactive prototypes.

• Present examples of building and maintaining design systems or component libraries, illustrating how you promote consistency and reusability.

• Include visual examples of meticulously organized Figma files, highlighting clean file structure, named layers, variants, and auto-layout usage, suitable for engineering handoff. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from discovery and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final engineering handoff.

• Provide examples of how you've used AI tools to augment your design workflow, detailing the tools used and the impact on efficiency or output quality.

• Showcase your approach to collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers, including how you manage scope, address technical constraints, and ensure smooth design handoffs.

• Illustrate your methods for conducting client-facing reviews and workshops, demonstrating how you gather feedback and drive consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role, specifically requiring full case studies that go beyond isolated "pretty screens." It needs to evidence practical application of design principles, system thinking, and client management within a product development context. The emphasis on Figma file structure and AI tool usage indicates these should be prominent features of the portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: This is a contractor role on a monthly retainer. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and the scope of client engagements. Based on industry benchmarks for mid-senior remote UI/UX Product Designers in the US market with 4+ years of experience, a monthly retainer could range from $6,000 to $10,000 USD, depending on the number and complexity of client projects assigned.

Benefits:

• Monthly Retainer Structure: Provides consistent income for ongoing client product work.

• Real Autonomy: Freedom to manage discovery, critique, and Figma processes without rigid playbooks.

• Direct Collaboration: Access to Product Managers, engineers, and decision-makers without unnecessary layers.

• Tooling Budget: Allocated budget for essential tools like Figma seats, prototyping software, and AI tools.

• Peer Network: Opportunity to connect with a network of product-minded designers and builders working on overlapping client projects.

• Fully Remote: Work from anywhere, with required overlap for client sessions.

Working Hours: While the role is fully remote and async-friendly, candidates must be available for required overlap through approximately 5 PM EST for live client coordination and sessions. The specific number of hours will vary based on client project demands and retainer agreement, but a typical full-time contractor would average 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contractor role on a retainer, the salary is an estimate based on typical market rates for similar positions in the US. The benefits are focused on the contractor experience, emphasizing flexibility, direct impact, and professional development resources. The required overlap with US Eastern Time is a key consideration for work schedule management.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Product Development Studio, AI-Powered Development. Bolder Apps operates within the dynamic tech landscape, specializing in building and scaling innovative digital products, with a strong focus on leveraging AI. This context means designers will be exposed to cutting-edge technologies and fast-paced client demands.

Company Size: Bolder Apps is a product development studio, suggesting a lean, agile, and potentially growing organization. This implies designers will have direct impact and visibility, with fewer layers of management.

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the company's focus on AI and modern product development suggests a relatively recent establishment or a significant pivot towards these areas.

Team Structure:

• The operations team, specifically for design, likely consists of a focused group of designers working on various client projects concurrently.

• The reporting structure is likely flat, with designers reporting to a design lead or directly to project managers overseeing client engagements.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, involving close partnerships with US-based founders, product owners, Product Managers, and engineering teams across different client projects. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Designs are expected to be informed by product goals and user needs, with AI tools potentially assisting in research and analysis.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Emphasis on efficient design processes, utilizing AI and robust Figma practices to accelerate delivery.

• Automation & Efficiency: Proactive use of AI and design systems to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance overall productivity.

Company Website: bolderapps.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is explicitly described as fast-paced, ownership-driven, and AI-centric. The absence of "daily checklists" and "micromanagement" points to a high-trust, autonomous environment. Designers are expected to be proactive and bring ideas, aligning with a culture that values impact over seniority.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level. It requires a designer who can independently manage complex design projects from start to finish, make strategic product decisions, and effectively communicate with clients and engineering teams. This level implies a need for significant autonomy and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers if projects scale.

Reporting Structure: Designers will report directly to project leads or a design manager responsible for client engagements. They will work collaboratively with Product Managers and engineers, ensuring a direct line of communication to stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The UI/UX Product Designer has a direct and significant impact on the success of client products. By delivering intuitive, user-friendly, and technically feasible designs, they influence user adoption, engagement, conversion rates, and ultimately, the client's business outcomes and ROI. Their ability to translate business needs into effective digital experiences is critical.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-augmented design, complex system design, or specific industry verticals as client projects vary.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a lead design role on larger client engagements or to contribute to shaping Bolder Apps' internal design processes and best practices.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through exposure to diverse client problems, advanced AI tools, and collaboration with experienced product and engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory in a contractor role is often tied to performance and the ability to secure longer-term retainer agreements or take on more complex/leading roles on projects. The emphasis on "leveling up fast" suggests a company that supports rapid professional development through challenging work.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote role, offering flexibility and the ability to work from any location. However, there is a requirement for overlap with US Eastern Time business hours.

Office Location(s): Remote, with a focus on candidates located in or able to work within the Georgia, United States region for timezone alignment, or any location that can consistently meet the required US hours overlap.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While remote, the expectation is active participation in client calls, design reviews, and cross-functional team syncs, fostering a connected, albeit virtual, workspace.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to a tooling budget will ensure designers have the necessary software, including Figma, prototyping tools, and AI assistants, to perform their roles effectively.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with a peer network of designers and builders, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving on client projects.

Work Schedule: The role requires availability through approximately 5 PM EST. While async work is encouraged for flexibility, core hours for client interaction are critical. The retainer structure implies a project-based workload that can fluctuate, requiring adaptable scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature is balanced with specific availability requirements, crucial for managing client expectations and ensuring seamless collaboration with US-based teams. The "async-friendly" aspect suggests that while core hours are important, there's flexibility in how the rest of the workday is structured.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's core requirements, particularly Figma proficiency and shipped product examples.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A dedicated session to walk through selected case studies, focusing on design process, decision-making rationale, problem-solving approaches, and the impact of your designs. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and challenges.

• Client Simulation/Case Study: A practical exercise, potentially involving a design challenge or a simulated client call, to assess your ability to handle real-world design problems, communicate effectively, and make product trade-offs.

• Culture & Fit Interview: Discussion to evaluate alignment with Bolder Apps' values of speed, ownership, AI integration, and proactive idea generation. This may involve behavioral questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent end-to-end ownership, client interaction, and shipped products. Highlight Figma file structure and AI tool usage within these.

• Storytelling for Operations: Frame your case studies around the "problem, process, solution, result" narrative. Emphasize the operations aspect: how you optimized workflows, managed constraints, collaborated with engineers, and delivered tangible outcomes.

• Metrics & ROI: Quantify your impact wherever possible. Even if exact metrics aren't available, discuss how your designs aimed to improve KPIs like conversion rates, user retention, or task completion times.

• Client-Centricity: Be ready to discuss how you managed client expectations, handled feedback, and navigated disagreements. Showcase your ability to build trust and deliver calm, confident client calls.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking: Be ready to apply design thinking principles to a given problem, articulating your approach to user research, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

• Figma Mastery: Prepare to discuss specific Figma features and workflows you use to ensure efficient handoff and collaboration, such as variants, auto-layout, and design tokens.

• AI Integration: Think about how you would strategically integrate AI tools into a given design task to accelerate workflows, and be prepared to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating design decisions clearly and concisely, anticipating potential questions from Product Managers or engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes practical skills, client interaction, and alignment with the company's unique culture and operational focus. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities, so preparation should center on showcasing concrete examples and a well-defined, efficient design process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool. Expect deep dives into proficiency with components, variants, auto-layout, variables/tokens, prototyping, and file organization for seamless engineering handoff.

• AI Design Tools: Proficiency and practical application of tools like Figma AI, Claude, ChatGPT, Midjourney, or similar for accelerating exploration, copywriting, and asset generation.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping, familiarity with other tools or advanced Figma prototyping features will be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for the designer, understanding how to interpret analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is an advantage.

• Familiarity with how designs translate into trackable metrics is important for demonstrating ROI. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly used by the designer, but understanding how designs integrate into broader product development workflows, which might involve CRM or automation platforms, can be helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the absolute cornerstone of this role's technical requirements. The emphasis on AI tools indicates a forward-thinking approach to design operations, where efficiency and speed are paramount. Candidates should be ready to discuss specific use cases and benefits derived from these tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Move Fast: Embrace a rapid iteration cycle and quick decision-making to deliver value swiftly.

• Take Ownership: Be accountable for your work, proactively identify issues, and drive solutions from conception to completion.

• Work with AI: Integrate AI tools thoughtfully into workflows to enhance efficiency, creativity, and output quality, rather than viewing them as a replacement.

• Bring Ideas: Actively contribute innovative ideas and solutions, rather than waiting for direction, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Impact Matters: Focus on delivering tangible results and making a difference in client product success over titles or seniority.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Work closely and seamlessly with Product Managers, engineers, and clients, ensuring open communication and shared understanding of project goals.

• Process Review & Feedback: Be open to constructive critique and actively participate in design reviews, providing and receiving feedback to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to a collaborative environment by sharing insights, best practices, and learnings with fellow designers and team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is strongly oriented towards action, accountability, and innovation. Designers are expected to be self-starters who can thrive in an autonomous, fast-paced environment, leveraging AI as a strategic advantage.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Multiple Client Engagements: Balancing competing priorities, timelines, and stakeholder expectations across various client projects requires exceptional organizational skills and strategic prioritization.

• AI Output Quality Control: Critically evaluating and refining AI-generated design elements or copy to ensure they meet high standards and align with client brand and product goals.

• Navigating Ambiguous Briefs: Translating potentially unclear or evolving client requirements into concrete, actionable design solutions.

• Client Relationship Management: Maintaining positive and productive client relationships, especially when needing to push back on ideas or manage scope changes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Deepen expertise in leveraging advanced AI features for design and research, becoming a go-to resource for AI-augmented workflows.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Gain exposure to higher-level product strategy discussions through direct client interaction and involvement in trade-off decisions.

• Design System Expansion: Contribute to and potentially lead the development of more sophisticated design systems and component libraries for diverse client needs.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Work on a variety of client projects across different industries, broadening your design portfolio and problem-solving toolkit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the operational demands of a multi-client, remote environment, coupled with the integration of emerging AI technologies. Growth opportunities are intrinsically linked to successfully navigating these challenges and demonstrating mastery.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to make a difficult product trade-off in a design. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a specific example showcasing your decision-making process, client communication, and understanding of business impact.)

• "How do you ensure your Figma files are easily buildable by engineers, and what steps do you take to minimize handoff friction?" (Be ready to discuss specific Figma features like variants, auto-layout, naming conventions, and your general handoff process.)

• "Walk us through how you would use AI tools to accelerate the design process for a new mobile app feature, from initial concept to high-fidelity mockups." (Prepare a hypothetical scenario or a real example, detailing the AI tools used and the specific benefits.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Bolder Apps' focus on AI-augmented workflows and our company values?" (Research the company's mission and values, and articulate how your approach aligns.)

• "How do you handle ambiguity or evolving requirements in a client project?" (Demonstrate your adaptability, problem-solving skills, and proactive communication strategies.)

• "Describe your experience working remotely with teams across different time zones. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Highlight your asynchronous work habits, time management, and proactive engagement strategies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 detailed case studies. For each, clearly define the problem, your role, the constraints, your process (emphasizing Figma and AI usage), your design decisions, and the final shipped outcome.

• Metrics & Impact: Quantify results wherever possible. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you measured success qualitatively.

• Interactive Walkthrough: Be prepared to screen-share your Figma files and walk through specific components, design systems, or interactive prototypes, explaining your choices and technical implementation.

• Client Scenario: Practice articulating your approach to client calls, including how you present work, handle feedback, and manage expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill, but also operational efficiency, strategic thinking, and strong client-facing capabilities. Be ready to back up claims with concrete examples from your portfolio and experience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature case studies that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, mastery of Figma, and strategic use of AI tools. Highlight your ability to deliver production-ready files and manage client interactions.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 4+ years of experience in UI/UX product design, specifically mentioning shipped products, agency/studio experience, and proficiency in Figma and AI-augmented workflows. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and client management skills. Prepare to walk through your portfolio and discuss specific examples of how you've driven efficiency and delivered results.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Bolder Apps' mission, values, and the types of products they develop. Understand their emphasis on speed, AI, and ownership, and prepare to articulate how you embody these principles.

⚠️ 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.