UX/UI Designer - HMI experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer - HMI experience

Company: Appsfactory GmbH

Location: Skopje, Centar Municipality, North Macedonia

Job Type: Permanent employee

Category: UX/UI Design & Digital Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-06-25

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces for digital products, with a specific focus on Human-Machine Interface (HMI) applications.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate user needs and business requirements into effective UX/UI concepts, wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity screen designs.

• Contribute to the creation and evolution of Design Systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across multiple digital products and projects.

• Engage in the full product development lifecycle, from initial ideation and sketching through to final implementation and iteration, ensuring a seamless user experience.

• Leverage a strong understanding of design trends, AI, and technology to drive innovation and create future-proof digital solutions for a diverse client base.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes HMI experience, indicating a need for designers who can manage complex interfaces where human interaction with machinery or sophisticated systems is critical. This suggests a focus on usability, efficiency, and clarity in design, moving beyond typical consumer-facing applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design innovative UX/UI solutions for a variety of digital products, from initial sketches to detailed screen designs and user flows.

• Actively participate in the creation of compelling UX/UI concepts, ensuring they align with user needs and business objectives.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of robust Design Systems, ensuring design consistency and scalability across projects.

• Collaborate closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders throughout the agile development process to ensure seamless implementation of designs.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights and validate design decisions, continuously iterating to optimize the user experience.

• Translate complex client requirements and material into user-friendly interfaces, proactively identifying areas for improvement and innovation.

• Present and articulate design concepts, wireframes, and final designs to internal teams and clients, effectively communicating design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "actively initiate creative processes" and "actively initiate creative processes" suggests a proactive and self-driven individual who doesn't just execute but also contributes to strategic design thinking and problem-solving from the outset.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is beneficial. A strong portfolio demonstrating practical skills and project experience will be prioritized.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in UX/UI Design, with demonstrable experience in creating user-centered digital products. Initial experience with HMI projects is a key requirement.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Figma: More than solid knowledge in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• HMI Project Experience: Demonstrated understanding and experience with Human-Machine Interface design principles and projects.

• UX/UI Design Fundamentals: Solid knowledge of fundamental UX methodologies, user-centered design principles, and UI best practices.

• Design Tool Proficiency: Experience with common prototyping and design tools beyond Figma.

• Conceptual and Analytical Skills: Strong conceptual thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a diligent, solution-oriented approach.

• Visual Design Acumen: A good sense of form, color, and typography, with a commitment to high design standards.

• Communication & Presentation: Ability to independently present concepts and designs, with strong English language skills (minimum B2 level).

• Teamwork & Proactivity: Proactive, creative, and enjoy working in a team environment, with the ability to initiate creative processes.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Contribution: Experience collaborating on and contributing to existing Design Systems.

• Agile Collaboration: Initial experience collaborating with developers in agile processes.

• User Research & Testing: Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing.

• Client Material Handling: Ability to understand, apply, and constructively question/improve client materials.

• AI & Technology Trends: A flair for good User Experience, design trends, AI, and technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "more than solid knowledge in Figma" and "initial experience in HMI projects" are critical requirements. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their Figma skills and HMI project work prominently in their portfolio.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• HMI Project Case Studies: Detailed examples of HMI projects, illustrating the design process, challenges, and implemented solutions.

• Figma Proficiency Showcase: Demonstrations of complex prototyping, component libraries, and design system contributions within Figma.

• User Flow & Wireframing Examples: Clear documentation of user journey mapping and early-stage design concepts.

• Visual Design Excellence: Showcase of high-fidelity screen designs, demonstrating strong aesthetic principles, typography, and color theory application.

• Process Documentation: Explanation of the user research, design thinking, and iterative design processes employed for key projects.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Evidence of creating and optimizing user flows and information architecture.

• System Implementation Standards: Examples of how designs were implemented and integrated into development workflows, ideally with contributions to Design Systems.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: While not explicitly stated for UX, demonstrating how designs contribute to user engagement or task completion metrics would be valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on HMI and Design Systems, the portfolio should clearly articulate the designer's role in managing complexity, ensuring usability across different interaction types, and contributing to scalable design frameworks.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the mid-level experience requirement (2-5 years), location (Skopje, North Macedonia), and the company's positioning as a leading digital agency, a competitive salary range for a UX/UI Designer with HMI experience would typically fall between €18,000 - €30,000 gross annually. This is an estimate and can vary based on the candidate's specific skills, portfolio, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Hours: Standard 40-hour workweek with core hours (9:30 AM - 3:00 PM) allowing for flexibility outside of these times.

• Hybrid Working Model: Combination of remote work and in-office collaboration, with 2 dedicated team days per week.

• Central Office Location: Modern office space situated in a central area of Skopje.

• Comprehensive Onboarding: Structured program providing insights into all company departments and workflows.

• High-Performing Environment: Flat hierarchies and short decision-making processes foster efficiency and autonomy.

• Multicultural Teams: Exposure to diverse teams that emphasize mutual respect and collaboration.

• Transparent Communication: Regular all-hands meetings, 1-on-1s, and annual feedback sessions ensure open communication.

• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage provided.

Working Hours: Standard workweek is 40 hours, with core hours from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The remaining hours can be scheduled flexibly to accommodate personal preferences and team needs, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for UX/UI designers in Eastern Europe, adjusted for the specific requirements (HMI, Figma proficiency) and the company's likely client base and project scope. Researching local Skopje salary benchmarks for similar roles is recommended for a more precise figure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Transformation, Software Development, and Design Consulting. Appsfactory GmbH operates as a full-service digital agency, positioning itself as an innovation partner for digitalization and individual digital products and services. As part of the Appsfactory Group, which includes the renowned design agency Edenspiekermann, they are a leading specialized agency for customer-centric digital transformation.

Company Size: Over 600 employees (Appsfactory Group). This indicates a large, established organization with significant resources and a broad range of projects.

Founded: The company's history is tied to Appsfactory Group and Edenspiekermann, suggesting a strong foundation in design and digital innovation. The specific founding date of Appsfactory GmbH is not provided, but its operational scope implies a mature presence in the market.

Team Structure:

• Design Teams: The role is part of a design team, with collaboration expected with design teams in Germany. This implies a distributed team structure with a strong emphasis on cross-border collaboration.

• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, designers typically report to a Design Lead or Head of Design. The role is described with "increasing responsibility," suggesting a clear career progression path within the design function.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close collaboration with developers, product managers, and potentially client stakeholders is integral to the role, emphasizing an agile and integrated approach to product development.

Methodology:

• Customer-Centricity: A core principle, driving the focus on user needs and digital transformation.

• Agile Development: Collaboration with developers in agile processes is mentioned, indicating an iterative and responsive development methodology.

• Design Thinking & Innovation: The company positions itself as an innovation partner, suggesting a culture that encourages creative problem-solving and exploration of new digital paths.

Company Website: https://www.appsfactory.de/en

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's positioning as a leader in digital transformation and its connection to Edenspiekermann suggest a high standard for design quality and strategic thinking. The Skopje team is a new setup, implying opportunities to shape processes and culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX/UI Designer, suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of experience. It involves a blend of hands-on design work and increasing responsibility, offering a solid platform for career advancement within the UX/UI design field. The emphasis on creating concepts and contributing to design systems indicates a step beyond junior execution roles.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager within the Skopje team, with strong collaboration expected with design counterparts in Germany. This structure offers exposure to both local team dynamics and international best practices.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is direct on the user experience and visual appeal of digital products, which in turn influences customer satisfaction, engagement, and ultimately, client success. By contributing to innovative digital transformations, the designer plays a crucial role in the company's value proposition and its clients' market competitiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in HMI design, advanced Figma techniques, or specific design system architectures.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into senior designer roles, team lead positions, or mentorship opportunities as the Skopje team expands.

• Continuous Learning: The company explicitly values continuous further education, offering numerous opportunities for skill development, training, and knowledge enhancement through regular feedback and potentially industry certifications.

• Project Variety: Exposure to diverse, exciting, and future-proof projects for well-known clients provides a broad learning experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's explicit statement about valuing continuous further education and offering numerous opportunities for skill development is a significant indicator of a supportive growth environment for designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid working model, meaning the workspace will involve a mix of remote work and office-based collaboration. The office itself is described as "central" in Skopje.

Office Location(s): Skopje, North Macedonia (specifically, Str. Naum Naumovski Borche No. 38, 1000 Skopje). The central location suggests accessibility and proximity to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model with 2 dedicated team days per week is designed to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and team cohesion within the Skopje office.

• Tools and Technology: Access to modern design tools, likely including Figma, and potentially other industry-standard software and hardware necessary for high-quality digital product design.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with local team members on team days, alongside virtual collaboration with international design and development teams. The "flat hierarchies" suggest an open environment for idea exchange.

Work Schedule: The standard workweek is 40 hours, with core hours from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This structure allows for flexibility in scheduling the remaining work hours, accommodating personal needs while ensuring team synchronicity during core collaboration times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific "team days" is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be prepared to work both independently remotely and collaboratively in the office on designated days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the CV, portfolio, and salary expectations. Candidates will be assessed for basic qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: Candidates will be expected to present their portfolio, focusing on HMI projects and Figma expertise. This stage will likely involve discussing design choices, problem-solving approaches, and understanding of UX/UI methodologies.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Conversations with team members (potentially including those in Germany) to assess collaboration style, proactivity, and alignment with Appsfactory's values.

• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with senior management or HR to finalize terms and confirm suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight HMI Expertise: Dedicate specific sections or case studies to your HMI projects. Clearly articulate the challenges, your design process, and the outcomes.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Include examples that demonstrate advanced Figma usage, such as complex prototypes, interactive components, and contributions to Design Systems.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, explain your thought process, user research methods, design decisions, and how you iterated based on feedback. Use user flows and wireframes to illustrate the journey.

• Quantify Impact (where possible): If your designs led to measurable improvements (e.g., increased user efficiency, reduced error rates), present these metrics clearly.

• Tailor to Appsfactory: Research Appsfactory's work and client base. If possible, subtly align your portfolio presentation with the types of digital transformations they specialize in.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Use clear language and focus on your most impactful work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential take-home design challenge or a live design exercise focusing on a problem relevant to HMI or digital product design.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about how you would approach common UX/UI challenges, especially those related to complex interfaces or integrating new technologies.

• Design System Thinking: Be ready to discuss your understanding of Design Systems and how you've contributed to or utilized them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should curate it specifically to highlight HMI experience and Figma skills, as these are explicitly mentioned as key requirements.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the primary design and prototyping tool mentioned, with an expectation of "more than solid knowledge." Candidates should be adept at creating high-fidelity designs, interactive prototypes, and component libraries within Figma.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with other common prototyping tools is also beneficial, suggesting a broader toolset familiarity.

• Design System Tools: Familiarity with tools and methodologies for creating, maintaining, and implementing Design Systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a direct requirement for the designer, an understanding of how designs impact user analytics (e.g., engagement metrics, conversion rates, task completion times) is valuable. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or similar platforms could be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core UX/UI design tasks, but understanding how digital products integrate with backend systems or CRM platforms might be advantageous for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the critical tool. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency and potentially discuss their experience in building or contributing to design systems within Figma.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Aesthetics: A strong emphasis on achieving aesthetic excellence and creating visually impressive digital products.

• User-Centricity: Designing with the user at the forefront, ensuring intuitive operation and outstanding design.

• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore new digital paths, advance the digital world creatively, and stay abreast of design trends, AI, and technology.

• Collaboration & Respect: Working together at eye-level, valuing diversity, and fostering multicultural teams that emphasize mutual respect.

• Proactivity & Ownership: Encouraging proactive thinking, taking initiative in creative processes, and working with increasing responsibility.

Collaboration Style:

• Eye-Level Collaboration: The company promotes a collaborative environment where team members work together as equals, fostering open communication and mutual respect.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with developers and other teams, implying a need for strong communication skills and the ability to integrate design feedback into development workflows.

• Agile Teamwork: Collaboration within agile processes suggests a dynamic, iterative approach where feedback is continuous and adjustments are made rapidly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly states they value diversity and welcome all applications. This, combined with "multicultural teams" and "mutual respect," points towards an inclusive and open work environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Design & Development: Effectively communicating complex design intentions to developers, especially in an agile environment, to ensure faithful implementation.

• Managing HMI Complexity: Designing intuitive interfaces for systems that require precise interaction and potentially involve safety-critical elements or complex data visualization.

• Global Collaboration: Working effectively with design and development teams located in different time zones (Germany) while being part of a newly established team in Skopje.

• Evolving Technologies: Staying current with rapid advancements in design tools, AI, and digital technologies to maintain a competitive edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like HMI design, interaction design, AI-driven design tools, and advanced Figma techniques.

• Design System Expertise: Growing knowledge in building, managing, and scaling design systems for complex product portfolios.

• Cross-Cultural Experience: Gaining experience working within international, multicultural teams and understanding global design standards.

• Professional Development: The company's commitment to continuous further education provides avenues for training, workshops, and skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The establishment of a new team in Skopje presents a unique opportunity for early team members to influence processes and contribute to the team's growth and culture, alongside personal development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• HMI Design Approach: "Describe a challenging HMI project you've worked on. What were the key usability considerations, and how did you address them?" Prepare to walk through your design process and rationale.

• Figma Proficiency: "How do you leverage Figma for complex prototyping and collaboration? Can you share an example of how you've used its advanced features (e.g., components, variants, auto layout)?" Be ready to demonstrate or explain specific Figma workflows.

• Design System Contribution: "What is your experience with Design Systems? How have you contributed to or utilized them in past projects?" Focus on consistency, scalability, and collaboration.

• Problem-Solving & Iteration: "Walk us through a time when user feedback or testing led you to significantly alter a design. What was your process for implementing those