UX/UI Designer

Pavago
Full-time

šŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Pavago

Location: South Africa

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design & Product Design

Date Posted: May 07, 2026

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

Remote Status: Fully Remote

šŸš€ Role Summary

  • Design and develop intuitive, visually engaging, and user-friendly digital experiences for web and mobile platforms.

  • Conduct comprehensive user research, usability testing, and behavior analysis to drive product improvements and enhance user satisfaction.

  • Create and maintain robust design systems, component libraries, and style guides to ensure visual consistency and streamline development workflows.

  • Collaborate intensively with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to translate user needs and business objectives into seamless, user-centered designs.

  • Optimize critical user journeys, including onboarding flows, landing pages, and core product interactions, with a focus on usability and conversion.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: This role is designed for a dedicated UX/UI Designer with a strong emphasis on user-centricity and a hands-on approach to product development. The focus on "U.S. Business Hours" suggests a need for significant overlap with North American teams, requiring proactive time management and communication strategies.

šŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Execute comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and participatory design sessions, to gather deep insights into user needs, pain points, and behaviors.

  • Conduct rigorous usability testing on prototypes and live products to identify areas for improvement and validate design decisions.

  • Develop detailed user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.

  • Design clean, modern, and responsive user interfaces (UI) for both web and mobile applications, ensuring aesthetic appeal and functional clarity.

  • Build, document, and maintain scalable design systems and component libraries to ensure brand consistency, improve efficiency, and facilitate collaboration with development teams.

  • Actively participate in cross-functional team meetings, design reviews, and sprint planning sessions, providing design expertise and advocating for user needs.

  • Deliver organized and detailed design handoffs to engineering teams using tools like Figma Dev Mode, Zeplin, or InVision, ensuring smooth implementation.

  • Analyze user feedback, A/B testing results, product analytics (e.g., Hotjar, Google Analytics), and other performance data to iteratively refine and optimize designs.

  • Ensure all designs adhere to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices for responsive design across various devices and screen sizes.

  • Collaborate with product managers to define product strategy and roadmap from a user experience perspective, ensuring alignment with business goals.

  • Maintain visual consistency across all products, platforms, and customer touchpoints, reinforcing brand identity and user trust.

  • Support product teams in iterative improvements by translating data-driven insights into actionable design enhancements.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can operate end-to-end, from initial research and ideation through to detailed UI design, prototyping, and collaboration with engineering. The emphasis on design systems and iterative improvement indicates a focus on scalable and efficient design processes.

šŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, or a related field is often preferred for foundational knowledge. Equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of professional experience in UX/UI Design, Product Design, or Digital Design, with a proven track record of delivering user-centered digital products.

Required Skills:

  • Demonstrated proficiency in user research methodologies, including user interviews, surveys, and persona development.

  • Expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, low-fidelity and high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

  • High proficiency with industry-leading design and prototyping tools: Figma (preferred), Adobe XD, or Sketch.

  • Strong understanding of core UX principles, usability heuristics, accessibility standards (WCAG), and responsive design best practices.

  • Proven ability to design and maintain design systems, style guides, and component libraries.

  • Excellent visual design skills, including typography, color theory, layout, spacing, and hierarchy.

  • Strong problem-solving abilities, with a capacity to translate complex user needs and business objectives into intuitive and elegant design solutions.

  • Effective communication and collaboration skills, with experience working effectively in cross-functional teams.

  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and iterate quickly based on feedback and data.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience designing for SaaS platforms, mobile applications (iOS/Android), or e-commerce products.

  • Foundational understanding of front-end development technologies (HTML/CSS) to facilitate effective communication with developers.

  • Familiarity with using analytics and user behavior tracking tools such as Hotjar, FullStory, or Google Analytics to inform design decisions.

  • Experience working within Agile or sprint-based development methodologies.

  • Exposure to conversion-rate optimization (CRO) principles and growth-focused design strategies.

  • Experience with design handoff tools like Zeplin or InVision.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "2+ years experience" suggests an opportunity for a mid-level designer looking to take on more responsibility. The emphasis on Figma and design systems points towards a modern, efficient design workflow. The "Nice to Have" skills indicate a preference for candidates who can contribute to a growth-oriented product team.

šŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects.

  • Must include examples of wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

  • Demonstrate experience in building and maintaining design systems, component libraries, and style guides.

  • Present case studies that clearly outline the problem, your design process, your role, the solutions you implemented, and the impact/results achieved (e.g., improvements in usability, engagement, conversion).

Process Documentation:

  • Showcase your process for conducting user research and translating findings into design solutions.

  • Detail your methodology for creating and iterating on user flows and wireframes.

  • Explain your approach to building and managing design systems, including version control and documentation standards.

  • Illustrate how you collaborate with developers and stakeholders throughout the design and development lifecycle.

  • Demonstrate how you use data (analytics, A/B testing) to inform design iterations and measure success.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should focus on demonstrating not just visual design skills, but also a robust understanding of the UX process, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to articulate the business impact of their design work.

šŸ’µ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While not explicitly stated, for a remote UX/UI Designer with 2-5 years of experience in South Africa, a competitive salary range would typically fall between ZAR 400,000 to ZAR 700,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in South Africa, considering the remote nature of the position and the specified experience level. The requirement to work U.S. business hours may also influence compensation, potentially aligning it closer to international standards for roles with significant stakeholder overlap.

Benefits:

  • Fully Remote Work Flexibility: Enjoy the freedom and autonomy of working from anywhere within South Africa.

  • Creative Ownership: Opportunity to take significant ownership and shape the user experience of digital products.

  • Long-term Growth Opportunity: Potential for advancement within UX, product design, and digital experience strategy roles.

  • Exposure to Diverse Design Disciplines: Gain experience in UX research, product strategy, UI systems, and growth-focused design.

  • Collaborative Work Environment: Work closely with product management, engineering, and leadership teams.

  • Modern Design Workflows: Utilize contemporary design tools and methodologies.

Working Hours: Full-Time, requiring alignment with U.S. Business Hours. This typically means approximately 40 hours per week, with a significant portion of the workday overlapping with Eastern Time (ET) or Pacific Time (PT) zones.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on publicly available data for UX/UI Designer roles in South Africa. Actual compensation may vary based on specific experience, the candidate's portfolio, and the company's compensation philosophy. The U.S. business hours requirement implies a need for clear communication strategies and potential flexibility around core working times to accommodate team needs across different time zones.

šŸŽÆ Team & Company Context

šŸ¢ Company Culture

Industry: Pavago operates within the technology sector, likely focusing on software development, digital solutions, or related services, given the UX/UI Designer role. The company appears to be in a growth phase, seeking to enhance its digital product offerings.

Company Size: The description implies a growing business, likely a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a startup. This size often translates to a more agile environment with opportunities for direct impact and less bureaucracy.

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, the company's focus on growth suggests it's an established entity or a rapidly expanding startup.

Team Structure:

  • The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a Product team, working closely with Product Managers and Software Developers.

  • There may be other designers within the organization, or this could be the first dedicated UX/UI role, requiring the individual to help shape design processes.

Methodology:

  • The emphasis on user research, A/B testing, and data analysis suggests a data-driven approach to product development and design.

  • Agile or sprint-based methodologies are likely employed, requiring iterative design processes and close collaboration with engineering.

  • The development of design systems points to a focus on scalable, efficient, and consistent product development.

Company Website: https://pavago.co

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be dynamic and growth-oriented, with a strong emphasis on user experience and data-informed decision-making. This environment is ideal for designers who thrive in collaborative settings and want to make a tangible impact on product strategy.

šŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX/UI Designer. It requires 2+ years of experience and the ability to work independently on design tasks while also collaborating effectively with teams. The position offers significant ownership and the opportunity to shape product experiences.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Product Manager, Head of Product, or potentially a Design Lead if one exists. The role involves close collaboration with development teams and other stakeholders across the organization.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer plays a crucial role in driving product success by directly influencing user adoption, engagement, satisfaction, and conversion rates. High-quality design contributes significantly to brand perception, customer loyalty, and ultimately, business revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like user research, interaction design, design systems, or accessibility.

  • Leadership: Progress to a Senior UX/UI Designer or lead designer role, mentoring junior designers and overseeing design strategy for larger projects or product lines.

  • Product Strategy: Transition into Product Management or a Product Design Lead role, taking on more strategic responsibilities in product vision and roadmap development.

  • Skill Expansion: Develop skills in related areas such as UX writing, front-end development basics, or product analytics to become a more well-rounded product professional.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The role provides a solid foundation for a career in product design. The emphasis on growth opportunities suggests that Pavago is invested in the professional development of its employees, offering clear paths for advancement within the design and product functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This means there is no central physical office required for this role.

Office Location(s): The role is based in South Africa, but the "TELECOMMUTE" and "Remote Solely" indicators confirm that the work is performed remotely within the country, not from a specific office location.

Workspace Context:

  • Autonomy and Flexibility: As a remote role, the designer will have the flexibility to structure their workday within the constraints of U.S. business hours, fostering a good work-life balance.

  • Digital Collaboration: The work environment relies heavily on digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, project management software) for communication, design reviews, and team synchronization.

  • Tools and Technology: Access to modern design software (Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch), prototyping tools, and potentially user behavior analytics platforms will be essential.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, aligning with U.S. Business Hours. This requires significant overlap with North American time zones, necessitating proactive communication and time management to ensure effective collaboration with remote and potentially distributed teams.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature with U.S. business hours requirement is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous communication and proactive engagement to bridge time zone differences effectively.

šŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, discussing your process, role, challenges, and outcomes. Expect in-depth questions about your design decisions and problem-solving approach.

  • Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: Potentially a take-home design exercise or a live design problem to assess your practical skills in wireframing, UI design, and problem-solving within a given timeframe.

  • Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Developers, and potentially other team members to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

  • Final Interview: Typically with a hiring manager or senior leadership to discuss the role in detail, answer final questions, and make a hiring decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your UX/UI process from research to final design.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), the solutions you developed, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

  • Focus on Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your design solutions, not just the final visuals. Explain your rationale behind key decisions.

  • Showcase Design Systems: If you have experience with design systems, highlight your contributions and how they benefit development and consistency.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your collaboration style, and how you measure design success.

  • Highlight Data-Driven Design: If applicable, show how you used data (user research, analytics, A/B tests) to inform and validate your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the requirements of any design challenge.

  • Time Management: Allocate your time wisely across research, ideation, design, and presentation preparation.

  • Focus on Core UX: Prioritize user needs and problem-solving over excessive visual polish for time-bound challenges.

  • Articulate Your Rationale: Be ready to explain your design decisions clearly and concisely.

  • Consider Constraints: Acknowledge any limitations or assumptions made during the exercise.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: Expect a rigorous interview process that heavily scrutinizes your portfolio and design thinking. Demonstrating a clear, user-centered process and the ability to articulate the impact of your work will be key to success.

šŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Expected to be the primary design and prototyping tool, including its Dev Mode features for seamless handoffs.

  • Adobe XD / Sketch: Proficiency in these alternative tools is also valuable and may be used interchangeably or for legacy projects.

  • Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities are likely sufficient, but familiarity with InVision or similar tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Google Analytics: For understanding user behavior and website performance.

  • Hotjar / FullStory: For heatmaps, session recordings, and user behavior analysis to identify usability issues.

  • A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with platforms for conducting experiments to optimize designs.

CRM & Automation:

Collaboration & Handoff:

  • Zeplin / InVision: Tools for design handoff and developer collaboration.

  • Slack / Microsoft Teams: For day-to-day team communication.

  • Jira / Trello / Asana: For project management and task tracking within Agile workflows.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is paramount. Candidates should be comfortable with a modern digital design toolkit and have experience leveraging data and analytics to inform their design process.

šŸ‘„ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and serving user needs in every design decision.

  • Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership to achieve shared goals.

  • Data-Driven: Utilizing insights from research, analytics, and testing to guide design strategy and measure impact.

  • Efficiency & Scalability: Designing with an eye towards creating maintainable, scalable solutions, often through design systems.

  • Continuous Improvement: A mindset of iterative refinement and a proactive approach to enhancing user experiences and product performance.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Managers, Developers, and other stakeholders, actively participating in product discussions.

  • Open Feedback Culture: A willingness to both give and receive constructive feedback on designs to foster continuous improvement.

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

  • Agile and Iterative: Embracing flexible processes and adapting designs based on evolving requirements and feedback.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: Pavago appears to foster a collaborative, user-focused, and data-informed culture. Designers who can adapt to agile environments and actively contribute to team discussions will likely thrive.

⚔ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Time Zone Management: Effectively collaborating with teams operating on U.S. business hours while based in South Africa requires strong organizational skills and proactive communication.

  • Balancing User Needs and Business Goals: Navigating the inherent tension between creating ideal user experiences and meeting business objectives, budget constraints, and development timelines.

  • Establishing Design Processes: If this is a new or early role, the challenge of defining and embedding robust UX/UI processes and best practices within the organization.

  • Rapid Iteration: Keeping pace with the demands of a growing business that requires frequent design updates and improvements based on user feedback and market changes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced UX/UI Techniques: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like complex user research, interaction design patterns, or advanced prototyping.

  • Design System Development: Contribute to or lead the expansion of a design system, gaining valuable experience in scalable design architecture.

  • Product Strategy Involvement: Gain exposure to product roadmap planning and strategic decision-making, potentially leading to Product Management roles.

  • Industry Trends & Tools: Stay current with emerging design trends, tools, and methodologies through company-supported learning resources or conferences.

  • Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior product or design professionals, or to mentor junior team members as the team grows.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for remote roles bridging significant time zones and for designers in growing companies. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to advance their career in product design and strategy.

šŸ’” Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a complex UX problem you solved. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, research, ideation, iteration, and quantifiable results.)

  • "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints?" (Highlight your negotiation skills and ability to find optimal solutions.)

  • "Walk me through your process for creating a design system. What are the key components, and how do you ensure adoption?" (Demonstrate understanding of scalability, consistency, and collaboration with developers.)

  • "How do you approach user research and usability testing? What methods do you find most effective?" (Showcase your user-centric approach and data-gathering skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What do you know about Pavago and our products/services?" (Research the company website and any available product information.)

  • "How do you envision yourself contributing to a remote team, particularly one operating across different time zones?" (Discuss proactive communication, asynchronous collaboration, and time management strategies.)

  • "What are your thoughts on design for [specific industry if known]?" (If you can infer the industry, prepare relevant design insights.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

  • Visual Storytelling: Use your mockups, wireframes, and prototypes to visually guide the interviewer through your process.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., "increased conversion by X%," "reduced task completion time by Y seconds," "improved user satisfaction scores by Z points") to demonstrate the value of your work.

  • Be Prepared to Dive Deep: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, your rationale, and alternative solutions you considered.

  • Showcase Your Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used and why they were appropriate for the project.

  • Highlight Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders.

šŸ“ Enhancement Note: Thorough preparation of your portfolio case studies is paramount. Be ready to articulate your thought process, defend your design decisions, and demonstrate how your work drives business value.


šŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant UX/UI projects. Ensure each project clearly demonstrates your process, from user research and wireframing to final UI design and prototyping, ideally with measurable results.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 2+ years of experience in UX/UI or Product Design, emphasizing proficiency in Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch, and experience with design systems, user research, and responsive design. Use keywords from the job description.

  • Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio projects. Be ready to explain your design decisions, the challenges you faced, and the impact of your work. Prepare concise answers to common UX/UI interview questions.

  • Research Pavago: Understand the company's mission, products (if publicly available), and target audience. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their goals.

āš ļø Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions based on the provided data. All details, particularly regarding compensation, specific team structures, and exact interview processes, should be verified directly with the hiring organization (Pavago) before making application decisions. The requirement for U.S. business hours should be carefully considered for its impact on your daily work schedule.

Application Requirements

Candidates need 2+ years of experience in UX/UI or Product Design with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centered work. Proficiency in Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch and a deep understanding of accessibility and responsive design are required.