UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Pavago

Location: Costa Rica

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: May 24, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in owning the end-to-end product design lifecycle, encompassing user research, wireframing, interface design, and developer handoffs, with a strong emphasis on user behavior and problem-solving.

• The position requires a strategic thinker who can translate user needs and business goals into intuitive, scalable, and conversion-focused digital experiences across web and mobile platforms.

• Collaboration is key, with significant interaction expected with Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders to ensure cohesive and user-friendly product development.

• Success in this role is measured by tangible improvements in user satisfaction, reduced friction, consistent design system adoption, and enhanced product engagement and conversion rates.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is UX/UI Designer, the description strongly emphasizes "Product Design" and "owning the full product design lifecycle," indicating a broader scope than just visual design. The role requires deep involvement in user research, problem-solving, and understanding business objectives, aligning it with a Product Designer profile rather than a purely visual UI role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to deeply understand user behavior and translate findings into actionable personas, user journeys, and product requirements.

• Develop low-fidelity wireframes, high-fidelity interactive prototypes, and detailed user flows using industry-standard tools like Figma, ensuring rapid iteration based on feedback and analysis.

• Design modern, responsive user interfaces with a keen eye for typography, layout hierarchy, color systems, and interaction consistency, ensuring adherence to WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.

• Build, maintain, and evolve design systems, component libraries, and style guides to ensure a consistent and scalable user experience across all digital products.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and QA teams to facilitate seamless developer handoffs, providing design specifications, assets, and necessary interaction documentation.

• Participate actively in design reviews, product feedback cycles, and A/B testing initiatives to continuously optimize user flows, onboarding experiences, feature usability, and overall product conversion performance.

• Analyze user behavior using analytics tools such as Hotjar, FullStory, and Google Analytics to inform design decisions and measure the impact of design changes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a Product Designer role, emphasizing research, problem-solving, and owning the entire design process, not just visual execution. The inclusion of A/B testing and analytics tools points towards a data-driven approach to design optimization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While formal education requirements are not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for Product Designer roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 2+ years of dedicated UX/UI or Product Design experience, with a demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality user experiences and solve complex product challenges.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Design Tools: Expert-level command of Figma is essential. Strong experience with Adobe XD or Sketch is also highly valued.

• User Research & Analysis: Proven ability to conduct user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and translate findings into actionable insights, personas, and user journeys.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skilled in creating detailed low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes to visualize user flows and product concepts.

• UI Design Principles: Strong understanding of modern UI design principles, including typography, color theory, layout hierarchy, and responsive design.

• Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems and component libraries for consistency across platforms.

• Accessibility Standards: In-depth knowledge and practical application of WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards to ensure inclusive design.

• User-Centered Design: A deep-seated understanding and commitment to user-centered design methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• SaaS/Mobile/E-commerce Design: Experience designing complex SaaS platforms, native mobile applications, or e-commerce products.

• Front-end Understanding: Basic knowledge of HTML/CSS to better collaborate with engineering teams and understand technical constraints.

• Analytics & Testing Tools: Familiarity with user analytics platforms (e.g., Hotjar, FullStory, Google Analytics) and experience with A/B testing initiatives.

• Large-Scale Design Systems: Experience contributing to or managing large-scale, established design systems.

• Interaction Design: Advanced skills in defining and documenting complex interactions and animations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma as a primary tool, coupled with the requirement for a strong portfolio demonstrating problem-solving and UX thinking, suggests that candidates should highlight projects where they actively influenced product strategy and user outcomes, not just visual aesthetics.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• UX Thinking & Problem-Solving: Showcase projects that clearly articulate a problem, the research conducted, the design process followed, and the rationale behind key decisions.

• High-Quality UI Execution: Demonstrate visually appealing, polished, and well-structured user interfaces that align with user needs and business goals.

• Process Documentation: Include case studies that detail your involvement in user research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration.

• Impact & Metrics: Whenever possible, quantify the impact of your designs with relevant metrics (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced drop-off, increased user satisfaction).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Clearly illustrate your process for moving from research and ideation to wireframes, prototypes, and final UI designs.

• System Implementation: Highlight examples of how you have contributed to or built design systems, component libraries, or style guides.

• Performance Analysis: Show how you use data from analytics tools and user testing to inform design iterations and measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on the "full product design lifecycle," the portfolio should not just be a collection of final designs but a narrative that walks through the entire process, highlighting analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. Projects demonstrating the ability to balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for experienced UX/UI/Product Designers in Costa Rica, with consideration for remote work for U.S. clients and the required U.S. client business hours, a competitive salary range would likely be between $35,000 - $60,000 USD annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, the depth of their portfolio, and final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Remote Work Flexibility: Fully remote position allowing work from anywhere within Costa Rica.

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

• Full-Time Employment: Stable, full-time role with consistent workload and responsibilities.

• Professional Development: Potential for growth into senior design roles and opportunities to shape scalable design systems.

• Health & Wellness: While not explicitly detailed, typical full-time benefits may include health insurance or wellness stipends, depending on Pavago's specific offerings for remote contractors.

Working Hours: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Requires flexibility to align with U.S. Client Business Hours, including potential needs for sprint reviews, launches, and developer handoffs outside standard local hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for experienced UX/UI/Product Designers working remotely for U.S. clients from regions like Costa Rica. Market research indicates that while local Costa Rican salaries differ, roles requiring alignment with U.S. business hours and client expectations often command higher, USD-denominated compensation. The specific benefits are inferred based on standard offerings for full-time remote positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pavago operates in the technology and staffing sector, providing talent solutions. The client they are hiring for is likely in a technology-driven industry where product design is critical for user engagement and business success (e.g., SaaS, E-commerce, FinTech).

Company Size: Pavago's company size is not explicitly stated but appears to be a global staffing or talent solutions provider, suggesting a moderate to large operational footprint. The client they are hiring for could range from a startup to a mid-sized tech company.

Founded: Information on when Pavago was founded is not provided, but its presence on a job platform indicates established operations.

Team Structure:

• The designer will be part of a cross-functional product team, working closely with Product Managers who define strategy and requirements, and Engineers who implement the designs.

• Reporting will likely be to a design lead or a product manager within the client's organization, with administrative oversight or placement support from Pavago.

Methodology:

• The team likely operates within an Agile development framework, requiring iterative design processes, regular feedback loops, and quick adaptation to changing priorities.

• Data-driven decision-making is a core methodology, with an emphasis on using user research, analytics, and A/B testing to validate design choices and measure impact.

• Focus on creating scalable design systems and reusable components to ensure efficiency and consistency across product development efforts.

Company Website: https://www.pavago.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture described is inferred from the role's requirements and the nature of being a remote designer for U.S. clients. The emphasis on Agile, data-driven design, and cross-functional collaboration is standard in modern tech product development environments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level to senior-level Product Designer, requiring 2+ years of experience. It offers significant ownership and responsibility across the entire design lifecycle, moving beyond junior tasks to strategic contributions.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a Product Manager or Design Lead within the client company, working collaboratively within a product squad that includes engineers and potentially other designers or QA specialists. Pavago acts as the employer of record or placement agency.

Operations Impact: The designer's work will have a direct and measurable impact on key business metrics, including user engagement, conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and overall product adoption. They will be instrumental in translating business goals into user-centric solutions that drive revenue and market competitiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Product Designer: Progression to a senior role involves taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing more significantly to design strategy.

• UX Lead / Design Lead: Potential to lead design initiatives for specific product areas or feature sets, guiding the vision and execution of design within a team.

• Product Design Manager: With leadership experience, there's a path to managing a team of designers, overseeing design operations, and setting the overall design direction for the company.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like user research, interaction design, or design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path outlined is typical for talented product designers who demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, leadership potential, and a consistent ability to deliver impactful results. The remote nature might influence specific mentorship programs, but the core progression remains consistent with industry standards.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning there is no physical office requirement. The work environment is entirely digital and home-based.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Costa Rica, but the work is performed remotely, aligning with U.S. Client Business Hours. This allows for flexibility in choosing a comfortable and productive home workspace within Costa Rica.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: The designer will utilize digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro, Figma comments) to interact with team members, share ideas, and participate in discussions.

• Tech-Enabled Design: Access to necessary design software (Figma, etc.) and potentially other productivity tools provided or supported by the client or Pavago.

• Independent Work Focus: While collaboration is key, the role also requires significant periods of focused, independent work for research, design, and prototyping.

Work Schedule: The position is full-time, requiring approximately 40 hours per week. A key aspect is the flexibility needed to accommodate U.S. Client Business Hours. This implies that while the core work can be done independently, specific meetings (sprint reviews, developer handoffs, launch discussions) may fall outside typical Costa Rican business hours, requiring adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role means the "work environment" is largely self-managed. The emphasis on U.S. Client Business Hours is crucial; candidates should be prepared for potential non-standard working times, though the core tasks can likely be performed during more flexible local hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Phone Screen: A brief call with a recruiter (potentially from Pavago) to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Video Interview with Recruiter: A more in-depth discussion to explore experience, motivations, and alignment with the role's core responsibilities.

• Portfolio Review + Practical Task: This is a critical stage. Candidates will present their portfolio, showcasing their UX thinking, UI execution, and problem-solving skills. They will likely be given a practical design task (e.g., designing a 3-screen onboarding flow) to complete within a set timeframe.

• Client Interview: A final interview with the hiring team at the client company (Product Manager, engineers, etc.) to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

• Offer & Background Verification: Standard process upon successful completion of interviews.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Narrative is Key: Structure your portfolio around case studies. For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, your key contributions, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes (ideally with metrics).

• Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens. Include wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations to demonstrate your thinking and problem-solving approach.

• Figma Focus: Since Figma is a core requirement, highlight projects where you've extensively used its features for wireframing, prototyping, and design system management.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs. Mention improvements in conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, or task completion times.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with the job description's focus on user research, product thinking, and creating scalable, user-friendly experiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Scope: For any practical task, ensure you fully grasp the problem statement and constraints. Ask clarifying questions.

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely across research, ideation, design, and presentation. It's better to have a well-reasoned, partially completed solution than an incomplete one.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design decisions, referencing user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Focus on User Flows & Problem-Solving: Given the emphasis on product thinking, demonstrate how you approach solving a user problem, not just how to make something look good.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review and practical task are the most crucial parts of the application. Candidates should prepare thoroughly, focusing on demonstrating their end-to-end design process and problem-solving capabilities, rather than just showcasing visual design skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The cornerstone of the design process. Essential for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Candidates must demonstrate advanced proficiency.

• Adobe XD / Sketch: While Figma is primary, experience with these tools is a strong plus and indicates adaptability.

• Prototyping Tools: Integrated within Figma, or standalone tools for creating interactive user flows and simulations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Hotjar / FullStory: Tools for understanding user behavior through heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback. Experience analyzing this data to inform design is valuable.

• Google Analytics: For tracking website/app performance, user acquisition, and conversion funnels. Understanding how to interpret GA data for design insights is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Zeplin / InVision: Tools for design handoff, providing developers with specifications, assets, and interactive prototypes. Figma's Dev Mode often serves this purpose now.

• Miro / Mural: Digital whiteboarding tools for collaborative brainstorming, user journey mapping, and ideation sessions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific Figma workflows, design system management within Figma, and advanced prototyping features. Understanding how design integrates with analytics and developer handoff processes is also critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that every design decision prioritizes the user experience.

• Data-Driven: Valuing data and analytics to inform design choices, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of design solutions.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where open communication, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving are encouraged across product, engineering, and other departments.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Designing with an eye towards creating reusable components and scalable systems that streamline development and ensure consistency across products.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative process, seeking feedback, and constantly looking for ways to enhance usability, engagement, and product performance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively participating in Agile ceremonies, design reviews, and feedback sessions with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure designs are aligned with product strategy and technically feasible.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Comfortable with receiving and providing constructive criticism, using feedback to refine designs and improve outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design insights, best practices, and learnings with the team to foster a culture of collective growth and continuous learning in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values a blend of empathy for the user and a pragmatic, data-informed approach to design. Collaboration is not just about communication but about actively working together to solve problems and achieve business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating and balancing the potentially competing priorities of users, business goals, and engineering constraints.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Ensuring effective communication, alignment, and team cohesion when working remotely across different time zones.

• Rapid Iteration in Agile: Adapting designs quickly to evolving requirements and feedback within fast-paced Agile sprints.

• Maintaining Design System Integrity: Ensuring consistent application and evolution of the design system across various product features and updates.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Development: Opportunities to contribute to or lead the expansion and refinement of scalable design systems.

• User Research Deep Dives: Potential to hone skills in advanced user research methodologies and data analysis.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gaining a deeper understanding of product management strategies and front-end development principles through close collaboration.

• Leadership Potential: Developing skills necessary for leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and potentially moving into management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in product design roles, especially in remote and fast-paced environments. The growth opportunities highlight pathways for specialization and leadership within the product design field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements (e.g., user needs vs. business goals vs. technical feasibility). How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, communication, and compromise skills.)

• "Walk us through a complex user flow you designed. What problem were you solving, what research did you conduct, and what were the key design decisions?" (Be prepared to use your portfolio and articulate your thought process.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about this specific role and working remotely with U.S. clients?" (Show you've researched Pavago and understand the role's context.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers in an Agile environment?" (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio projects as narratives that highlight your problem-solving journey.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows) extensively to illustrate your process and solutions.

• Focus on "Why": For every design decision, be ready to explain the reasoning behind it, linking it back to user needs or business objectives.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Demonstrate specific Figma features you used for prototyping, design systems, or collaborative workflows.

• Be Ready for a Practical Task: Prepare to tackle a design challenge on the spot or within a given timeframe, focusing on your process and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and strong communication. Being able to articulate the "why" behind design decisions is critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects showcasing your UX thinking, product problem-solving, and high-quality UI execution. Tailor the case studies to highlight your experience with Figma, user research, and design systems.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 2+ years of relevant experience, highlighting key skills such as Figma proficiency, user research, prototyping, and accessibility standards. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on explaining your design process and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration, problem-solving, and working within an Agile framework.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Pavago and the general landscape of product design for U.S. clients. Understand the implications of working with U.S. business hours and the importance of the client's product success.

⚠️ 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.