UX/UI Designer, Design Systems Consultant (AI-Fluent)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer, Design Systems Consultant (AI-Fluent)

Company: Right Side Up

Location: Austin, TX

Job Type: Contract

Category: Design Systems / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: August 25, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on modernizing design systems for clients, integrating AI fluency into design and development workflows.

• You will audit, resolve, and document foundational design system issues, ensuring seamless translation between design and code.

• A core aspect involves configuring and maintaining AI-tooling connections between design platforms and AI coding/design assistants.

• You will act as a bridge between design and engineering, translating complex technical and tribal knowledge into clear, actionable documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a freelance/contract opportunity within a talent collective, not a direct hire for Right Side Up or a specific client. The emphasis on "AI-Fluent" and "Design Systems Consultant" highlights a specialized niche requiring both design system expertise and practical experience with AI tools in a design-to-code context. The role is specifically framed as a design role, not software engineering, despite the technical integrations involved.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive audits of existing design systems to identify structural gaps in tokens, variables, and component architecture, and to assess documentation quality.

• Resolve foundational design system issues, including naming conventions, token structure, and variable setup, to ensure clean translation into documentation and code without negatively impacting engineering efforts.

• Develop and maintain robust design system documentation, covering components, patterns, usage guidelines, and variant rules, optimized for AI-fluent workflows and legibility by both humans and AI tools.

• Configure and manage AI-tooling connections between design platforms (e.g., Figma) and AI coding/design assistants (e.g., Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot), often utilizing MCP-style integrations.

• Elicit and document undocumented institutional knowledge from design and engineering teams, transforming it into clear, concise, and actionable design system guidance.

• Establish or refine design system governance models, contribution workflows, and success metrics to ensure the long-term health and maintainability of the system post-engagement.

• Collaborate closely with design and engineering stakeholders, effectively translating technical requirements and design intent between teams without the need for direct code production.

• Continuously monitor and adapt to the evolving landscape of AI-assisted design and design-to-code workflows, staying current with new tooling and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for deep technical understanding of design systems at a foundational level, not just visual execution. The emphasis on "AI-tooling connections" and "MCP-style integrations" suggests a need for practical experience with specific automation and AI workflows beyond standard design tools. The role requires strong analytical skills for auditing and problem-solving, alongside excellent communication for knowledge extraction and documentation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience is paramount.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in design systems, UX/UI design, or design engineering with a focus on foundational elements.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in design systems, including foundational aspects like tokens, variables, and component architecture; visual component work alone is insufficient.

• Hands-on fluency with AI-assisted design or coding tools, with the technical comfort to configure AI-tooling connections.

• Exceptional written communication skills for transforming tribal knowledge into reliable documentation for both humans and AI tools.

• Proven ability to work independently on defined, timeboxed engagements with minimal day-to-day oversight.

• Adaptability to diverse company environments, including regulated or compliance-sensitive industries where manual handoffs are intentional. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design system documentation platforms such as Zeroheight (preferred), Supernova, Backlight, or Frontify.

• Familiarity with the mapping of design tokens into code (e.g., CSS variables, JSON tokens, Style Dictionary-style pipelines).

• Experience with specific AI tools like Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, Figma Make, or GitHub Copilot.

• Understanding of governance models and contribution workflows for design systems.

• Experience in a consulting or freelance capacity, managing multiple client engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is inferred from the "5-10 years" AI-generated attribute. The "AI-Fluent" requirement is critical and implies practical, hands-on experience with AI tools, not just theoretical knowledge. The emphasis on "foundational level" for design systems distinguishes this role from a purely visual UI design position.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of foundational design system work, such as token and variable architecture, and well-structured component libraries.

• Case studies detailing the audit, refinement, and documentation of design systems, highlighting process improvements.

• Examples of creating or contributing to design system documentation, preferably for platforms like Zeroheight or similar.

• Projects showcasing the integration or configuration of AI tools within design workflows, especially those impacting design-to-code handoffs.

• Evidence of turning complex or undocumented knowledge into clear, usable guidelines. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of structured documentation practices for design systems, emphasizing clarity, consistency, and AI readability.

• Examples of establishing governance models, contribution guidelines, or workflow refinements for design systems.

• Documentation related to AI-tooling connections and their configuration within design processes.

• Case studies that illustrate the impact of refined design systems on efficiency and consistency across projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this consulting role, especially given it's a freelance position. The portfolio should not just display visual design but also the strategic and technical underpinnings of design systems and AI integration. Emphasis on documentation and process is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As a freelance/contract role through Right Side Up, compensation is project-dependent. Based on industry standards for experienced UX/UI Designers specializing in Design Systems and AI fluency in Austin, TX, contract rates could range from $70 - $120+ per hour, depending on project complexity, client budget, and specific skill requirements.

Benefits:

• Access to a collective of premium marketing and design talent.

• Opportunity to work with a diverse portfolio of clients, including Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing tech ventures.

• Flexibility in project selection and work hours, fitting contract project needs.

• Potential for ongoing engagements and network expansion within the Right Side Up collective.

• Exposure to cutting-edge AI tooling and design-to-code workflows.

Working Hours: Contract projects typically range from ten to forty hours per week, depending on client needs and project scope. This suggests flexibility but also a need for dedicated time commitment during active projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on industry benchmarks for specialized contract roles in a high-cost-of-living area like Austin, TX, and the niche skillset required (Design Systems + AI Fluency). The "40 hours" is an AI interpretation of "often run as focused, timeboxed engagements," implying a potential for full-time equivalent work. Benefits are derived from the company description of being a "talent collective."

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing and Talent Services. Right Side Up operates as a platform connecting businesses with freelance marketing and design experts.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Right Side Up manages a network of over 1,400+ clients and a collective of premium marketing talent, indicating a significant operational scale.

Founded: Not specified, but the company has established itself as a trusted partner for growth.

Team Structure:

• You will be joining Right Side Up's "talent collective," meaning you are a freelance expert engaged on a project basis.

• Your direct team will be the client's design and engineering departments, collaborating closely with their stakeholders.

• Right Side Up provides a network and operational support, but project teams are client-centric. Methodology:

• Focus on delivering "growth" through expert talent.

• Emphasis on efficiency and "no agency fluff," suggesting a results-oriented, streamlined approach.

• Utilizes AI-assisted workflows and modern design-to-code methodologies as a core offering for design projects.

Company Website: https://rightsideup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is that of a curated talent network, emphasizing professionalism, expertise, and client-focused delivery. The role itself is about bringing that expertise to client organizations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level, specialized freelance consultant role. It requires deep expertise and the ability to operate with autonomy on client projects. The "5-10 years" AI-generated experience level supports this assessment.

Reporting Structure: As a contractor, you will report to the client's project manager or relevant design/engineering lead for day-to-day project direction. Right Side Up facilitates the engagement and payment.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts client operational efficiency by modernizing their design systems, improving design-to-code handoffs, and enabling AI-assisted workflows. This leads to faster development cycles, more consistent user experiences, and reduced technical debt.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, AI tooling, and design engineering by working with diverse clients and evolving technologies.

• Client Portfolio Expansion: Build a robust portfolio of high-profile clients and successful project outcomes through Right Side Up.

• Network Development: Become a recognized expert within the Right Side Up collective and the broader design/tech community.

• Consulting Acumen: Develop strong client management, communication, and project delivery skills essential for freelance success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth in this context is primarily through project experience, skill enhancement, and building a professional network, rather than a traditional corporate career ladder. The role offers significant opportunities for specialization in a rapidly evolving field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a remote-first contract role. While client engagements might sometimes involve on-site work, the default is remote.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Austin, TX, but the "Remote OK" status with AI-derived remote location of "Austin, Texas, United States" suggests that while candidates in Austin might be preferred or have easier access to potential hybrid client needs, remote work is feasible for candidates within the US.

Workspace Context:

• You will be working within client environments, collaborating remotely via digital tools.

• Expect to use a variety of collaboration and design platforms, including Figma, documentation tools, and AI assistants.

• The work requires a dedicated home office setup conducive to focused design work and virtual meetings.

Work Schedule: Flexible, project-dependent, typically ranging from 10-40 hours per week. This allows for managing multiple smaller projects or dedicating significant time to larger ones, fitting around personal schedules to some extent, but client needs and deadlines are paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status and specific location derived from the job posting suggest a preference for candidates within the US, possibly with a slight lean towards Austin, TX, for potential in-person client interactions or local networking opportunities, though not strictly required.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio to assess fit with the "AI-Fluent Design Systems Consultant" profile.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session focused on reviewing your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your process, and your experience with design systems and AI tools.

• Skills Assessment: Potential technical or scenario-based questions related to design system architecture, tokenization, AI tool integration, and documentation strategies.

• Client Matching: If a strong match is found, Right Side Up will present your profile to a client for their review and potential further interviews.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Foundational Work: Showcase your expertise in tokens, variables, and component structure. Avoid portfolios that only show visual UI.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: Clearly present projects where you've used or configured AI tools for design systems, design-to-code, or documentation. Explain the "how" and the impact.

• Document Your Process: For each project, detail your audit process, problem-solving approach, documentation strategy, and how you translated complex information.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to show the efficiency gains, consistency improvements, or time savings achieved through your design system work.

• AI Readability: Ensure your documentation examples are structured logically and clearly, demonstrating an understanding of how AI tools might parse them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would audit an existing design system for AI-readiness.

• Prepare to explain the technical nuances of design tokens and variables to both designers and engineers.

• Practice articulating the benefits and challenges of integrating AI tools into design workflows.

• Have examples ready of how you've documented complex technical or design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on a strong portfolio that validates the specialized skills required. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their practical experience with AI tools and design systems at a deep, foundational level.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design system creation, component architecture, Dev Mode, variable implementation, and token management.

• Design System Documentation Platforms: Zeroheight (preferred), Supernova, Backlight, Frontify. Proficiency in at least one is key.

• AI-Assisted Design & Coding Tools: Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, Figma Make, GitHub Copilot, and other MCP-compatible platforms. Practical configuration experience is highly valued.

Analytics & Reporting: Not directly mentioned, but understanding how design system usage is tracked and reported on by clients may be beneficial.

CRM & Automation: While not directly used by the designer, understanding client CRM systems and how design impacts customer experience can be valuable context.

Other Potentially Relevant Tools:

• Style Dictionary: For understanding token compilation pipelines.

• CSS Variables / JSON Tokens: For understanding code implementation of design tokens.

• Version Control Systems (e.g., Git): Familiarity with how design assets and documentation might be managed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Tools & Platforms" section is very specific. Proficiency in Figma and a designated documentation platform is required. Hands-on experience with the listed AI tools is a significant differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Expertise: Valuing deep, specialized knowledge in design systems and AI fluency.

• Efficiency: Focus on delivering impactful results with minimal "agency fluff."

• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional client teams (design and engineering).

• Adaptability: Ability to navigate diverse client environments and evolving technologies.

• Autonomy: Trusting experts to manage their time and deliverables independently.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-first, digitally-driven collaboration.

• Cross-functional partnership with both design and engineering teams at client organizations.

• Clear communication and documentation are paramount for effective remote collaboration.

• Focus on translating between technical and design domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is client-centric and focused on delivering high-value, specialized services. As a contractor, you'll integrate into client teams while maintaining your professional independence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Design and Code: Effectively translating complex design system logic into formats understandable and usable by both AI tools and engineers.

• AI Tool Integration Complexity: Configuring and maintaining AI tooling connections can be technically demanding and requires staying updated with rapidly changing software.

• Extracting Tacit Knowledge: The challenge of eliciting and documenting undocumented "tribal knowledge" from various stakeholders.

• Adapting to Client Environments: Quickly understanding and integrating into diverse client workflows, cultures, and existing tech stacks.

• Keeping Pace with AI: The rapid evolution of AI tools requires continuous learning to remain "AI-fluent."

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Development: Gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI-assisted design tools and advanced design system methodologies.

• Client Project Diversity: Exposure to a wide range of industries and company sizes, broadening your understanding of design system applications.

• Freelance Business Acumen: Developing skills in client management, project scoping, and negotiation.

• Network Building: Connecting with other experts in the Right Side Up collective and at client organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is at the forefront of design technology, offering significant learning opportunities but also requiring proactive adaptation to new tools and methodologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you audited a design system. What were your key findings, and how did you prioritize improvements, especially concerning AI integration?"

• "How do you approach documenting complex component variations or token logic so that both human designers and AI coding assistants can easily understand and use it?"

• "Walk me through your process for configuring AI tooling connections, like MCP integrations, between Figma and a coding assistant. What are the common pitfalls?"

• "How do you translate 'tribal knowledge' from engineers and designers into actionable design system documentation or guidelines?"

• "Imagine a client has a legacy design system and wants to adopt AI-assisted workflows. What are your first steps?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working with AI tools in a design context?"

• "How do you stay current with the rapidly evolving AI and design technology landscape?"

• "Describe your experience working as a freelance consultant. How do you manage client expectations and deliver autonomously?"

• "How do you ensure your design system work is adaptable to different company environments, including regulated ones?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by project type: Design System Audits & Modernization, AI Tool Integration Case Studies, Design System Documentation Examples.

• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the client's problem, your approach, the specific tools and methodologies used (emphasizing AI fluency), the outcomes, and your role.

• Quantify: Use numbers to demonstrate impact where possible (e.g., "reduced design-to-code errors by X%", "streamlined documentation process saving Y hours").

• AI Focus: Explicitly call out how your work enables AI-assisted workflows or how you leveraged AI tools in the process.

• Foundational Depth: Be prepared to deep-dive into the technical aspects of your design system work (tokens, variables, architecture) rather than just high-level UI.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating practical, hands-on experience with both design systems and AI tools, and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Lever job portal link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your design system work, with a strong emphasis on foundational elements (tokens, variables, architecture) and practical experience with AI-assisted design tools and workflows. Prepare case studies that detail your process and impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to Design Systems, UX/UI Design, AI-Assisted Design, Figma, Design Tokens, Governance, Documentation, and any specific AI tools mentioned (Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your expertise in design systems and AI fluency, and how you translate complex technical information into actionable documentation. Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on your problem-solving approach and the outcomes.

• Research Right Side Up: Understand their model as a talent collective and their focus on "growth" and "no agency fluff." This will help you align your responses with their values.

⚠️ 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.