UX/UI Designer (Design Systems & AI)

Musky by GCO Ventures
Full-timeBarcelona, Spain

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer (Design Systems & AI)

Company: Musky by GCO Ventures

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the evolution and maintenance of Musky's global Design System, ensuring brand consistency across web, app, and back office platforms.

  • Drive the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into the design process to enhance efficiency and accelerate product creation.

  • Design end-to-end user experiences (UX and UI) for digital products, focusing on intuitive and engaging interfaces.

  • Collaborate closely with the Engineering team to ensure seamless design-to-development handoff and maintain high standards of implementation quality.

  • Contribute to the strategic definition of new product initiatives, working alongside the Product team to translate business goals into user-centered designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level to senior individual contributor, emphasizing leadership in Design Systems and innovation through AI. The hybrid work model suggests a need for strong self-management and effective remote collaboration skills in addition to in-office presence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Develop, maintain, and document the comprehensive global Design System for Musky, encompassing all digital touchpoints (web, mobile applications, back office interfaces).

  • Create and manage advanced components within Figma, leveraging features such as variables, design tokens, auto-layout, and robust library structures to ensure scalability and maintainability.

  • Foster a strong collaborative relationship with the Engineering team, facilitating effective design handoffs, participating in QA, and conducting regular design-development syncs to guarantee pixel-perfect implementation.

  • Integrate and experiment with AI-powered design tools (e.g., Copilot, Uizard, Galileo) to streamline UI generation, explore design variations, accelerate prototyping, and enhance user testing methodologies.

  • Design holistic user journeys and interfaces from initial concept through to final implementation, ensuring a cohesive and delightful user experience across all product features.

  • Continuously analyze and optimize existing design processes to improve speed, elevate quality, and reinforce brand coherence across all product offerings.

  • Actively participate in product strategy sessions, contributing design expertise and user insights to the definition and prioritization of new product features and initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on foundational design system work and forward-thinking AI integration. The emphasis on collaboration with engineering and product teams indicates a need for strong communication and cross-functional influence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred for Product Design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be heavily considered.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in UX/UI Design or Product Design, with a proven track record of working on both web and mobile applications. Demonstrated experience in building and scaling Design Systems is a critical requirement.

Required Skills:

  • UX/UI Design: Comprehensive understanding of user-centered design principles, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design.

  • Design Systems: Proven experience in creating, implementing, and scaling design systems, including component libraries, style guides, and design tokens.

  • Figma Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Figma, specifically with its component system, variables, design tokens, auto-layout, and library management capabilities.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with engineering teams, product managers, and other stakeholders, including design handoff, specification, and QA processes.

  • AI Design Tools: Familiarity with and practical experience using AI tools applied to the design process (e.g., AI-powered UI generation, prototyping assistance, user research analysis).

  • Problem-Solving & Creativity: A results-oriented mindset with a strong capacity for creative problem-solving, meticulous attention to detail, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.

  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Spanish.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience working in fast-paced startup environments or high-growth companies.

  • Domain knowledge in insurance, health, or pet care industries.

  • Experience designing complex Back Office tools or internal applications.

  • Foundational knowledge of frontend programming languages (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better understand development constraints and possibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" section emphasizes practical, hands-on experience with specific tools and processes crucial for design system management and AI integration. The "Preferred Skills" indicate areas where candidates can further differentiate themselves, particularly in fast-paced, specialized industries.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Design System Case Study: A detailed presentation of a Design System you have built or significantly contributed to. This should showcase your process for component creation, documentation, adoption strategies, and how you ensured scalability and consistency.

  • AI Integration Examples: Demonstrations of how you have leveraged AI tools in your design workflow. This could include examples of AI-assisted UI generation, rapid prototyping, or data analysis for design insights.

  • End-to-End Product Design: Case studies illustrating your approach to designing a complete user journey for a web or mobile application, highlighting UX research, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and user testing.

  • Figma Proficiency Showcase: Specific examples within your case studies that highlight advanced Figma skills, such as complex component structures, variable implementation, design token management, and efficient auto-layout usage.

  • Collaboration Artifacts: If possible, include examples of design handoff documentation, design QA checklists, or communication artifacts that demonstrate effective collaboration with engineering teams.

Process Documentation:

  • Evidence of your ability to document design processes, including workflow diagrams, style guides, component specifications, and best practice guidelines for design system usage.

  • Demonstrations of how you have improved design processes to increase efficiency, quality, and brand consistency within a team or project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to validate the candidate's expertise in Design Systems, AI integration, and core UX/UI product design skills. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating practical application and measurable impact through case studies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on market research for experienced UX/UI Designers specializing in Design Systems and AI in Barcelona, Spain, a competitive annual salary range is estimated to be between €40,000 and €55,000. This range accounts for the specialized skills, the hybrid work model, and the mid-level to senior nature of the role.

Benefits:

  • Flexible Working Hours: Allows for better work-life integration and personal scheduling.

  • 28 Days of Vacation: Generous paid time off to ensure employee well-being and work-life balance.

  • Central Barcelona Office: Modern office space located in the city center, facilitating collaboration and providing a convenient work environment.

  • Hybrid Work Model: Combines the benefits of in-office collaboration (3 days/week) with remote flexibility (2 days/week).

  • Ambitious & Collaborative Project: Opportunity to be part of a dynamic team working on an exciting and growing digital pet care ecosystem.

  • Professional Development: Potential for growth within a startup environment, with opportunities to learn and implement cutting-edge design technologies like AI.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with the added benefit of flexible scheduling to accommodate personal needs and optimize productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from aggregated data for UX/UI Design roles in Barcelona, considering the specific requirements of Design Systems and AI, and factoring in the company's backing by GCO Ventures. The benefits are directly extracted from the job description to highlight employee value.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates within the Digital Health & Pet Care sector, specifically focusing on pet insurance and a broader digital ecosystem for pet well-being. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong emphasis on user trust, and a growing demand for intuitive digital solutions.

Company Size: Musky is part of GCO Ventures, suggesting it's a venture-backed startup or a portfolio company. This implies a dynamic, potentially fast-paced environment with a focus on growth and scalability. The "startup or fast-growth environments" mention in preferred qualifications reinforces this.

Founded: While the founding date of Musky isn't explicitly stated, GCO Ventures was founded in 2020. This indicates Musky is a relatively new entity, likely in a growth phase, aiming to disrupt the pet care market.

Team Structure:

  • The role reports into a Product Design or Head of Design function.

  • The UX/UI Designer will work closely with a dedicated Engineering team and Product Managers.

  • Collaboration extends to marketing and potentially other operational teams as the company scales.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Design: The company's focus on digital solutions and user experience implies a data-driven approach to design decisions, likely involving analytics, user feedback, and A/B testing.

  • Agile Development: Startup environments typically operate using agile methodologies, facilitating rapid iteration and continuous improvement in product development.

  • Design System-Centricity: A core responsibility is maintaining and evolving the Design System, indicating a commitment to efficiency, consistency, and scalability in design and development processes.

  • AI Integration: Proactively incorporating AI into the design workflow signifies a forward-thinking approach to innovation and process optimization.

Company Website: https://careers.musky.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context paints a picture of a modern, tech-focused startup leveraging venture capital to innovate in the pet care space. The culture is likely dynamic, collaborative, and growth-oriented, with a strong emphasis on digital product excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level to senior UX/UI Designer with a specialized focus on Design Systems and AI. It offers significant autonomy and leadership within the design domain, particularly in shaping the visual language and user experience of Musky's products. The expectation to "lead the evolution" of the Design System points towards a senior individual contributor path rather than a management track, unless the team grows substantially.

Reporting Structure: The UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or potentially a VP of Product. They will work in close partnership with Product Managers and Engineering teams, forming a core product development triad.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction by creating intuitive and engaging digital products. A well-maintained Design System and innovative AI-driven features can significantly accelerate product development cycles, reduce technical debt, and ensure a consistent, high-quality brand experience, all of which contribute to business growth and operational efficiency.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design System Leadership: Opportunity to become the primary owner and architect of a growing Design System, influencing its direction and adoption across the company.

  • AI Design Specialization: Gain hands-on experience and expertise in cutting-edge AI tools for design, positioning oneself as a specialist in a rapidly evolving field.

  • Product Strategy Contribution: Play a key role in defining new product features and strategic initiatives, moving beyond execution to strategic input.

  • Cross-functional Influence: Develop strong collaboration and communication skills by working closely with engineering and product teams, potentially leading to broader product management or leadership roles within a growing startup.

  • Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge within the pet care and insurance sectors, becoming an expert in user needs and market trends within this niche.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within specialized design disciplines (Design Systems, AI) and provides opportunities for strategic impact within a venture-backed startup. Candidates can expect to develop both technical design skills and broader product strategy acumen.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job specifies "Oficinas en el centro de Barcelona," indicating a physical office space located in the heart of the city. This likely means a modern, well-equipped office environment designed to foster collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): The office is situated at "Utopicus Torre Marenostrum - Oficinas & Coworking" in Barcelona (postal code 08003), a known coworking space that typically offers a professional and amenity-rich environment. This location is central and likely accessible via public transport.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hub: The hybrid model (3 days in office) emphasizes the office as a hub for in-person collaboration, team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and design critiques.

  • Tech-Enabled: As a tech company, the workspace is expected to be equipped with modern technology, including high-performance computers, large monitors, and reliable internet access, essential for design work in Figma and AI tools.

  • Dynamic Atmosphere: Being part of a coworking space like Utopicus often implies a vibrant atmosphere with opportunities for informal networking and exposure to other innovative companies.

Work Schedule: The role offers flexible working hours, allowing employees to adjust their schedules to optimize productivity and personal well-being, while adhering to a standard 40-hour work week. This flexibility is a significant benefit for operations professionals who value autonomy and efficient time management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment blends the benefits of a central, modern office with the flexibility of a hybrid model. This setup is designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team efforts, common in fast-paced tech environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: A session where you present your portfolio, focusing on your Design System experience, AI tool integration, and end-to-end product design case studies. This will likely include in-depth discussions about your Figma proficiency and collaboration with engineering.

  • Hiring Manager/Team Interview: An interview with the hiring manager (likely Head of Design or Product Lead) and potentially other key team members (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Engineer) to assess cultural fit, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking.

  • Take-Home Challenge (Potential): While not explicitly stated, some companies may issue a small design challenge to evaluate practical skills and approach to a specific problem.

  • Final Interview/Offer: A concluding discussion, potentially with a senior leader or founder, followed by an offer if successful.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight Design System Impact: Clearly articulate the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented within the Design System, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved consistency, faster development, reduced design debt). Use specific examples of components, tokens, and processes.

  • Showcase AI Integration: If you have examples of using AI in design, present them clearly. Explain the tool used, the problem it solved, and the benefits it brought to the workflow or outcome. Even experimental use cases are valuable.

  • Structure Your Case Studies: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: problem statement, your role, process, challenges, solutions, and results. Use visuals effectively to demonstrate your design thinking and execution.

  • Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, showcasing advanced techniques like variables, design tokens, auto-layout, and complex component organization.

  • Emphasize Collaboration: Provide examples of how you successfully collaborated with engineering and product teams, including handoff processes, feedback loops, and conflict resolution.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand Musky's Product: Research Musky's existing web and app presence, understand their mission, target audience, and the pet care/insurance market.

  • Design System Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you would approach building or evolving a Design System for a company like Musky, considering their specific needs and growth stage.

  • AI in Design Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would strategically integrate AI tools into a design workflow to solve specific problems or improve efficiency for Musky.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates to prepare their portfolios and interview strategy, focusing on the specific requirements of Design Systems, AI, and cross-functional collaboration within a startup context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and Design System management. Expertise in advanced features like variables, design tokens, auto-layout, and component libraries is essential.

  • AI Design Tools: Familiarity with AI tools for UI generation, exploration, prototyping, and testing is required. Examples mentioned include Copilot, Uizard, and Galileo. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and how they'd leverage these.

  • Prototyping Tools (within Figma or standalone): For creating interactive prototypes to test user flows and gather feedback.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly listed, understanding how to use analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions and measure the impact of UX improvements is highly beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

  • Not directly applicable to the UX/UI Designer role, but understanding how design integrates with customer-facing platforms (like a CRM) can be advantageous.

  • Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) for collaborating with engineering and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack heavily emphasizes Figma and emerging AI design tools, reflecting the role's focus on modern design practices and innovation. Proficiency in these specific tools is critical for success.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of pet owners and their pets, ensuring all design decisions prioritize the user experience.

  • Innovation & Experimentation: A culture that encourages exploring and adopting new technologies, like AI, to push the boundaries of design and product development.

  • Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork across design, engineering, and product teams are paramount for achieving shared goals and maintaining project momentum.

  • Quality & Consistency: A dedication to maintaining high standards in design execution and brand representation through the rigorous application of the Design System.

  • Continuous Improvement: An ethos of constantly seeking ways to enhance processes, tools, and product outcomes, driven by feedback and data.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Partnership: The role is designed to be highly collaborative, working as an integral part of product development teams alongside engineers and product managers.

  • Feedback-Driven: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and used to refine designs and processes.

  • Agile & Iterative: Working in short cycles, with frequent communication and adaptation based on learnings and changing priorities.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, tool insights (especially AI), and design learnings across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values emphasize a modern, agile, and user-focused approach to product development, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, particularly in the integration of new technologies like AI.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Design System Scalability with Rapid Iteration: Ensuring the Design System remains robust and maintainable while supporting the fast-paced iteration cycles common in startups.

  • Effective AI Tool Integration: Identifying the most impactful AI tools and workflows that genuinely enhance, rather than complicate, the design process, and managing the learning curve associated with them.

  • Cross-functional Alignment: Maintaining consistent communication and alignment with engineering and product teams, especially in a hybrid work setting, to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently.

  • Defining and Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the value of Design Systems and AI integrations in terms of business outcomes (e.g., faster time-to-market, improved user satisfaction, reduced development costs).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Become a Design System Authority: Deepen expertise in building, scaling, and governing complex Design Systems, potentially becoming a go-to expert within the company.

  • Pioneer AI in Design: Gain hands-on experience and develop a strategic understanding of how AI can be leveraged in UX/UI design, becoming an early adopter and innovator in this space.

  • Contribute to Product Strategy: Grow from a design executor to a strategic partner, influencing product direction and roadmap based on user insights and design thinking.

  • Industry Specialization: Develop a niche expertise in the pet care and digital insurance sectors, understanding user needs and market dynamics specific to this domain.

  • Mentorship and Leadership: As the team grows, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers or take on more leadership responsibilities within design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed to highlight areas where a candidate can demonstrate problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, while the growth opportunities point towards career advancement and skill specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you built or significantly evolved a Design System. What were the key challenges, your process, and the measurable impact?" (Focus on structure, componentization, documentation, and adoption.)

  • "How would you integrate AI tools into Musky's current design workflow? Which tools would you prioritize and why?" (Be ready to discuss specific AI applications for UI generation, prototyping, or research.)

  • "Walk us through an end-to-end product design project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" (Highlight UX research, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration with engineering.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why are you interested in Musky and the pet care industry?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

  • "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers, especially in a hybrid environment?" (Emphasize communication, empathy, and shared goals.)

  • "What are your thoughts on Musky's current digital presence/app? What are areas for potential UX/UI improvement?" (Be constructive and insightful, showing you've done your homework.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process/solutions), and end (results/impact).

  • Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "reduced design implementation time by X%", "improved user task completion rate by Y%").

  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – mockups, prototypes, flow diagrams, screenshots of your Figma components.

  • Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, technical choices (especially in Figma), and collaboration processes.

  • Tailor to Musky: Connect your experience and examples back to Musky's mission, products, and the specific requirements of this role (Design Systems, AI).

📝 Enhancement Note: This preparation guide focuses on anticipating common interview questions for a specialized UX/UI role, emphasizing the need to showcase practical experience with Design Systems, AI, and collaboration, tailored to the company's context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the Musky careers portal link: https://careers.musky.co/jobs/7574496-ux-ui-designer-design-systems-ai

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your expertise in Design Systems and AI integration. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, and impact. Optimize for visual clarity and concise storytelling.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly relevant to UX/UI Design, Design Systems, Figma, AI tools, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on Design System case studies and AI integration examples. Be ready to articulate your design decisions and collaborative approach.

  • Research Musky: Thoroughly understand Musky's mission, products, target audience, and the pet care industry. Familiarize yourself with their current digital offerings to inform your interview responses and potential questions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview. All details, especially those related to compensation, benefits, and specific interview processes, should be verified directly with Musky by GCO Ventures during the application or interview stages.

Application Requirements

The role requires over 3 years of experience in UX/UI or Product Design with a strong focus on building and scaling Design Systems. Candidates must possess expert-level proficiency in Figma and experience working closely with development teams.