UX/UI Designer

Pavago
Full-time

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Pavago

Location: Costa Rica

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-05

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

  • Owns the end-to-end product design lifecycle, encompassing user research, wireframing, high-fidelity UI design, and developer handoff.

  • Focuses on creating intuitive, frictionless, and conversion-friendly user experiences that align with business objectives.

  • Drives adoption and conversion by solving real product problems through user-centric design.

  • Collaborates closely with product managers and engineers in an Agile/sprint environment.

  • Leverages data analytics and user feedback for continuous design iteration and optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is UX/UI Designer, the responsibilities heavily emphasize "Product Thinking" and owning the "full product design lifecycle," indicating a role that requires strategic product sense beyond just visual execution. The focus on business impact, adoption, and conversion suggests a deep integration with GTM (Go-To-Market) and revenue-generating activities from a product experience perspective.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Conduct comprehensive user research, including user interviews, surveys, and usability tests, to deeply understand user needs and behaviors.

  • Translate research insights into actionable artifacts such as personas, user journeys, and detailed product requirements.

  • Analyze user behavior data using tools like Hotjar, FullStory, and Google Analytics to inform design decisions.

  • Develop low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.

  • Design clean, modern, and responsive interfaces with a strong emphasis on layout, typography, and color systems.

  • Build, maintain, and evolve component libraries, design systems, and style guides to ensure consistency and scalability.

  • Ensure designs adhere to WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, considering contrast, navigation, and overall usability.

  • Collaborate effectively with Product Managers and Engineers to deliver clear specifications, assets, and documentation for seamless developer handoff using tools like Figma Dev Mode, Zeplin, or InVision.

  • Design and implement A/B tests for design variations to optimize usability, performance, and conversion rates.

  • Gather and synthesize feedback from users, stakeholders, and QA to drive iterative improvements in product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a product-centric approach to UX/UI design, demanding more than just aesthetic execution. The emphasis on research, data analysis, and conversion-focused design directly links this role to revenue operations and GTM strategy by influencing user adoption and customer journey optimization within the product itself.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for product design roles. Equivalent practical experience is also highly valued.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of dedicated UX/UI design experience, with a proven track record of contributing to product development.

Required Skills:

  • A strong portfolio showcasing both UX thinking (problem-solving, research, user flows) and UI execution (visual design, interaction design).

  • Demonstrated proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, specifically:

    • Figma (required for core design and collaboration)
    • Adobe XD or Sketch (one of these is required)
  • Experience in creating wireframes and interactive prototypes to articulate design concepts.

  • Solid understanding of responsive design principles for web and mobile platforms.

  • Experience with developer handoff processes and tools (e.g., Figma Dev Mode, Zeplin, InVision).

  • Familiarity with Agile and sprint-based development methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience designing for SaaS products, mobile applications, or e-commerce platforms.

  • Basic understanding of front-end development technologies, particularly HTML/CSS, to better collaborate with engineers.

  • Experience in building and scaling design systems.

  • Familiarity with user analytics and user testing tools (e.g., Hotjar, FullStory, Google Analytics).

  • Experience with A/B testing methodologies for design optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Experience & Skills" section is well-defined. The "Nice to Have" section provides clear indicators of what elevates a candidate, particularly experience with SaaS products and design systems, which are common in B2B operations contexts. The mention of HTML/CSS suggests a need for a designer who can bridge the gap between design and development effectively, a crucial aspect in GTM product launches.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies that demonstrate the full product design lifecycle.

  • Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research and design process, key decisions, and the final outcome.

  • Highlight your UX thinking: present user research findings, personas, user journey maps, and wireframes.

  • Demonstrate your UI execution: present high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and details of your visual design system/style guide.

  • Quantify impact where possible: include metrics related to usability improvements, task completion rates, conversion increases, or user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

  • Candidates are expected to have experience documenting design processes, including:
    • Workflow design for research, ideation, and iteration phases.

    • Implementation of design systems and component libraries.

    • Measurement and analysis of design performance through user feedback and A/B testing.

    • Clear specifications and assets for developer handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strong portfolio (UX thinking + UI execution)" is critical. For a role that bridges product thinking with design, the portfolio must not only look good but also tell a story of problem-solving and impact. This aligns with the need for operations professionals to demonstrate tangible results and process improvements. The portfolio serves as a tangible representation of their ability to execute on the "Core Responsibilities" and meet "Key Metrics."

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (2-5 years), location (Costa Rica), and the fully remote nature of the role requiring U.S. Client Business Hours, an estimated salary range for a UX/UI Designer in Costa Rica could be between $25,000 - $45,000 USD annually. This estimate is derived from general market data for remote design roles in Latin America and adjusted for the specific requirements of working U.S. hours.

Benefits:

  • Full-Time Employment: Stable, full-time position with a consistent workload.

  • Remote Work: Fully remote position allowing for flexibility and work-life balance.

  • U.S. Client Business Hours: Opportunity to work with a U.S.-based team, potentially offering exposure to international markets and best practices.

  • Professional Development: Potential for growth into Senior Product Designer or UX Lead roles, indicating investment in career advancement.

  • Collaborative Environment: Work closely with product managers and engineers, fostering a team-oriented atmosphere.

  • Comprehensive Health Coverage: (Assumed typical for full-time roles, but not explicitly stated)

  • Paid Time Off: (Assumed typical for full-time roles, but not explicitly stated)

Working Hours: The role requires adherence to U.S. Client Business Hours, with flexibility needed for sprint reviews and handoffs. This typically translates to approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with standard full-time employment.

📝 Enhancement Note: A specific salary range was estimated due to the absence of data. The estimation methodology considers the role's mid-level experience, the geographic location (Costa Rica, which generally has a lower cost of living than the US but remote roles often benchmark against US rates), and the requirement to work U.S. hours. Benefits are inferred from standard full-time remote roles, with a note that specific details would need verification. The "Working Hours" are clarified to reflect the U.S. client hours requirement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology (implied by UX/UI Designer role and product focus). Pavago likely operates within a sector requiring digital product development.

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but the presence of a structured interview process and a dedicated job posting suggests a company beyond a very small startup, likely in the range of 50-250 employees or more, capable of supporting remote talent globally.

Founded: Not specified.

Team Structure:

  • The role reports into a product or design function, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers.

  • This indicates a cross-functional team structure common in tech companies, where design is integrated early in the development process.

Methodology:

  • Agile/Sprint Environment: The team operates using Agile methodologies, requiring designers to be adaptable and deliver within iterative cycles.

  • Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using analytics (Hotjar, FullStory, GA) and user feedback to inform design decisions.

  • User-Centricity: A core philosophy of understanding and solving user problems is central to the design approach.

  • Collaboration: High degree of collaboration between design, product, and engineering is expected for successful product development and handoff.

Company Website: Pavago Company Website

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferences about company culture and operations are based on the job description's emphasis on product thinking, Agile methodologies, and cross-functional collaboration. The domain "pavago.co" was used to identify the company website. The company size and founding date are unknown but are contextualized for operations roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is at a Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience). It's positioned as a role where the designer will "own the full product design lifecycle" and is responsible for "understanding users" and "solving real product problems." This implies a significant degree of autonomy and responsibility beyond junior tasks.

Reporting Structure: The designer will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, and likely report to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Head of Product. The mention of potential growth into "Senior Product Designer / UX Lead" indicates a clear progression path within the design team.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer has a direct impact on the company's operations and revenue by:

  • Improving User Adoption and Retention: Intuitive and effective designs lead to higher user engagement and reduced churn.

  • Driving Conversion Rates: Optimizing user flows for sign-ups, purchases, or key actions directly contributes to revenue generation.

  • Enhancing Product Usability and Efficiency: Reducing user friction and errors streamlines user interaction, contributing to overall operational efficiency from a customer perspective.

  • Informing Product Strategy: User research and feedback provide critical insights that shape the product roadmap and business strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as user research, design systems, or accessibility.

  • Leadership Potential: Clear path to become a Senior Product Designer or UX Lead, involving mentorship, strategic input, and potentially team management.

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

  • Impactful Projects: Working on core product features that have a direct and measurable impact on business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section contextualizes the role within a broader career framework, highlighting how design directly influences business operations and revenue. The growth opportunities are specifically tailored to a design career path within a tech organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a Fully Remote position. The mention of "U.S. Client Business Hours" implies that while the employee is remote, they are expected to align their working schedule with the company's primary operational time zone.

Office Location(s): The role is open to candidates located in Costa Rica. This suggests that while remote, there might be specific geographic considerations for employment or tax purposes.

Workspace Context:

  • Flexibility: The remote nature provides significant flexibility in terms of work location and daily schedule management.

  • Collaboration Tools: Expectation to utilize digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Figma, project management software) for seamless interaction with distributed teams.

  • Independent Work: Requires self-discipline and strong time management skills to work effectively without direct, in-person supervision.

  • U.S. Hours Alignment: While flexible, there's a requirement to be available during core U.S. business hours for meetings, reviews, and handoffs, which might necessitate adjustments to a typical Costa Rican workday.

Work Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week, aligned with U.S. Client Business Hours, with flexibility for sprint reviews and handoffs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is defined by its remote nature and the specific requirement to adhere to U.S. business hours, which is a key operational consideration for candidates in different time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  1. Initial Phone Screen: A brief introductory call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

  2. Video Interview with Recruiter: A more in-depth discussion about experience, skills, and motivations.

  3. Portfolio Review + Practical Task: This is a critical stage. Candidates will present their portfolio, showcasing UX thinking and UI execution. A practical design task (e.g., "design a 3-screen onboarding flow") will be assigned to assess real-time problem-solving and design skills.

  4. Client Interview: An interview with the hiring manager or key stakeholders from the client team to evaluate strategic thinking, collaboration abilities, and overall fit.

  5. Offer & Background Verification: Final steps upon successful completion of all interviews.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Storytelling: Structure your portfolio case studies as narratives. Clearly define the problem, your process, your role, the challenges, and the impact.

  • Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, emphasize your thought process, research methodologies, and how you arrived at your design solutions. Show your iterations and why you made certain choices.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics (e.g., "improved conversion by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y seconds") to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

  • Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that align with SaaS, mobile apps, or e-commerce if you have them, and showcase your proficiency in Figma.

  • Be Prepared for the Practical Task: Think about how you would approach designing an onboarding flow. Consider user goals, key information to convey, and conversion points. Practice sketching out flows quickly.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Practical Task: Be ready to ideate and sketch a solution for a common product challenge like onboarding. Focus on clarity, user flow, and achieving specific objectives.

  • Portfolio Presentation: Practice presenting 1-2 of your strongest case studies concisely, highlighting your problem-solving approach and impact.

  • Behavioral Questions: Prepare answers for questions about collaboration, handling feedback, and why you're a good fit for a remote, U.S.-hours role.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides a tactical guide for candidates. The emphasis on portfolio presentation and the practical task is crucial for design roles. The advice is framed to help candidates showcase their "UX thinking + UI execution" and demonstrate their ability to contribute to product objectives, aligning with the core responsibilities of the role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: The core tool for design, wireframing, prototyping, and developer handoff (Dev Mode). Expect advanced usage and potential contributions to design systems.

  • Adobe XD or Sketch: Proficiency in at least one of these is required as an alternative or complementary tool for design and prototyping.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Hotjar / FullStory: For analyzing user behavior, heatmaps, session recordings, and understanding user interactions on the live product.

  • Google Analytics: For tracking website traffic, user acquisition, and conversion funnels.

CRM & Automation: While not directly used by the designer, an understanding of how design impacts CRM and automation workflows (e.g., conversion points in a marketing funnel) is beneficial.

Collaboration & Handoff:

  • Zeplin / InVision: Tools for organizing design assets and facilitating developer handoff.

  • Slack / Microsoft Teams: For daily communication and team collaboration.

  • Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana): Likely used for task management within the Agile/sprint framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools are central to the UX/UI design workflow. Highlighting these in the job description helps candidates self-select and prepare. The inclusion of analytics tools underscores the data-driven nature of the role, which is crucial for operationalizing design improvements.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs as the primary driver for design decisions.

  • Business Impact: Valuing designs that not only solve user problems but also contribute directly to business goals, such as adoption, conversion, and retention.

  • Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where open communication, feedback exchange, and mutual support between design, product, and engineering are paramount.

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing user research, analytics, and A/B testing to validate design hypotheses and measure success.

  • Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative approach to design, constantly seeking opportunities to optimize user experience and product performance.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be active participants in product development teams, working seamlessly with Product Managers and Engineers from ideation through to launch and iteration.

  • Feedback Culture: A willingness to both give and receive constructive feedback on designs, viewing it as an essential part of the iterative design process.

  • Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication with stakeholders, especially regarding design progress, challenges, and decisions.

  • Agile Cadence: Working within the rhythm of sprints, attending stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives to ensure alignment and efficient workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred from the job description's emphasis on user-centricity, business impact, and cross-functional teamwork within an Agile framework. They provide insight into how operations professionals can best integrate and succeed within the team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: The primary challenge is to create designs that are both highly usable and effective in driving business objectives, which can sometimes present conflicting requirements.

  • Remote Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with distributed teams across different time zones (even with U.S. hours alignment) requires strong communication skills and proactive engagement.

  • Data Interpretation: Translating raw user data and analytics into actionable design improvements requires analytical rigor and creative problem-solving.

  • Design System Scalability: Building and maintaining design systems that can effectively support a growing product and evolving design needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced UX Research: Opportunities to deepen expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

  • Product Strategy Influence: Gaining experience in contributing to product roadmaps and strategic decision-making based on design insights.

  • Leadership Development: Potential to grow into senior roles, taking on mentorship, leading design initiatives, and influencing design direction.

  • Industry Best Practices: Exposure to modern design tools, methodologies, and standards through work on a U.S.-client facing product.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential hurdles and frames them as opportunities for skill development and growth, aligning with the "Career & Growth Analysis." It helps candidates understand the role's complexities and how they can leverage them for professional advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs with business objectives. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, trade-offs, and how you justified your decisions.)

  • "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards?" (Be ready to discuss specific design considerations like color contrast, keyboard navigation, and semantic structure.)

  • "Walk us through your process for translating user research into actionable design solutions." (Highlight your research methods, synthesis techniques, and how you move from insights to wireframes/prototypes.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why are you interested in Pavago and this specific UX/UI Designer role?" (Research Pavago's mission, products, and recent news. Connect your skills and aspirations to their work.)

  • "How do you stay updated on the latest UX/UI design trends and best practices?" (Mention blogs, conferences, online courses, and communities.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Select 2-3 Strongest Case Studies: Choose projects that best showcase your UX thinking and UI execution, ideally relevant to SaaS or similar products.

  • Focus on the "Why": For each project, clearly explain the problem, your specific role, the challenges you faced, your design process, and the measurable impact of your solutions.

  • Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to navigate through your Figma files or present interactive prototypes smoothly.

  • Prepare for the Practical Task: Have a mental framework for designing an onboarding flow. Think about the user's journey, key information, and conversion points. Be ready to sketch or wireframe it quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions are crafted to probe the core competencies and operational alignment required for the role, focusing on problem-solving, process, and impact. The portfolio presentation advice is highly specific to showcasing UX/UI capabilities effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features 2-3 detailed case studies that showcase your UX thinking, UI execution, and impact. Tailor your presentation to highlight Figma proficiency and experience with SaaS/product design.

  • Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your 2+ years of UX/UI design experience, specific tool proficiencies (Figma, Adobe XD/Sketch), and experience with wireframing, prototyping, and responsive design. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Prepare for the Practical Task: Familiarize yourself with common product design challenges, such as designing onboarding flows. Practice sketching out ideas quickly and articulating your rationale.

  • Research Pavago: Understand Pavago's products, mission, and target audience. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their business goals and user base.

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

Application Requirements

Requires 2+ years of UX/UI design experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating both UX thinking and UI execution. Proficiency in Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch and experience with responsive design are essential.