UX/UI Designer with Frontend Skills

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer with Frontend Skills

Company: InnoWave

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design & Frontend Development

Date Posted: 2026-05-26

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is centered on crafting exceptional user experiences and intuitive interfaces for web and mobile applications, blending UX discovery with high-fidelity UI design.

• The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including clients, stakeholders, and frontend engineers, to ensure seamless design implementation and consistency.

• A key aspect of the role involves contributing to and maintaining Design Systems, ensuring scalability and reusability of design components and style guides.

• The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of user-centered design methodologies, accessibility standards, and responsive design principles, with practical frontend knowledge being a significant advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is primarily a design position, the emphasis on "Frontend Skills" and collaboration with frontend engineers suggests a need for a designer who can bridge the gap between design and development, ensuring practical implementability and a good understanding of technical constraints. This is a growing trend in design roles, where a "product designer" mindset is often expected.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and support UX discovery initiatives, including conducting user research, facilitating stakeholder interviews, developing user journey maps, and identifying key user pain points.

• Translate complex business requirements and user needs into clear, actionable wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished, high-fidelity UI designs.

• Create visually compelling, accessible, and highly intuitive user interfaces for both web and mobile applications, adhering to brand guidelines and best practices.

• Actively participate in Design Thinking workshops and co-creation sessions, fostering collaborative problem-solving with clients and internal teams.

• Contribute to the development, maintenance, and evolution of Design Systems, component libraries, and comprehensive style guides to ensure design consistency and efficiency.

• Ensure all design deliverables meet stringent standards for visual consistency, usability, accessibility (WCAG compliance), and responsive behavior across various devices and platforms.

• Collaborate closely with frontend engineers, providing clear design specifications and supporting the accurate implementation of designs, acting as a design liaison.

• Validate design solutions through rigorous usability testing, prototype reviews, and iterative feedback loops to refine user experiences.

• Contribute to information architecture, defining navigation flows, and establishing effective interaction patterns across multiple digital products.

• Provide support for pre-sales activities when required, including scoping UX efforts and creating compelling proposal mockups.

• Thoroughly document design decisions, rationale, and specifications to facilitate smooth handover processes to development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-spectrum product design role, from initial discovery and research through to implementation support and documentation. The inclusion of "pre-sales activities" suggests the need for a candidate comfortable with client-facing interactions and articulating design value.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design (Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is generally expected for mid-level design roles.

Experience: Approximately 3 years of dedicated experience in UX/UI design for web and mobile applications, with a proven track record of delivering user-centered design solutions.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience across the entire product design lifecycle, from conceptualization to launch and iteration.

• Advanced proficiency with Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design (mandatory).

• Solid understanding of core interaction design principles, usability heuristics, visual design fundamentals, and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Proven experience working with and contributing to Design Systems and component libraries.

• Hands-on experience with user-centered design methodologies, including wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.

• Strong knowledge of responsive and mobile-first design principles.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions effectively.

• Comfort and experience working in agile and multidisciplinary team environments.

• A critical thinking, detail-oriented, and user-focused mindset.

Preferred Skills:

• Understanding of frontend technologies and their implementation constraints, including HTML, CSS, React, and TypeScript.

• Familiarity with tools such as Storybook for component documentation and isolation.

• Experience with Tailwind CSS or similar utility-first CSS frameworks.

• Knowledge of modern frontend development workflows and best practices.

• Experience with user research techniques beyond basic usability testing.

• Familiarity with other design and prototyping tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory requirement for Figma proficiency and English fluency, combined with the "around 3 years of experience," clearly defines the baseline for applicants. The preferred skills indicate a strong lean towards candidates who can actively contribute to or understand frontend development, making them more valuable in a product team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects, ideally for web and mobile applications.

• Demonstrations of the candidate's ability to apply user-centered design methodologies throughout the project lifecycle.

• Clear examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final high-fidelity UI designs.

• Evidence of contributions to or creation of Design Systems, component libraries, or style guides.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase understanding of the UX discovery process, including user research methods, journey mapping, and stakeholder engagement.

• Detail the process of translating requirements into design artifacts, emphasizing iterative design and feedback incorporation.

• Provide examples of how accessibility and responsive design principles were integrated into the design process.

• Illustrate collaboration with development teams, including design handover and support during implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX/UI role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just present final designs but also the process behind them, demonstrating problem-solving skills, research capabilities, and how user needs were met. The "frontend skills" aspect means portfolios showing an understanding of implementation constraints or even some frontend code snippets (if applicable) would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry averages for a Mid-Level UX/UI Designer with frontend skills in Lisbon, Portugal, the estimated annual salary range is between €30,000 and €45,000 gross. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and the precise scope of frontend contributions.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Comprehensive health insurance package, covering medical, dental, and vision.

• Professional development opportunities, including access to training, workshops, and conferences.

• Generous paid time off, including vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.

• Opportunities for career advancement within a growing tech company.

• Potential for hybrid work arrangements, offering flexibility between office and remote work.

• Modern office facilities in Lisbon with amenities to support a productive work environment.

Working Hours: The role typically involves a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility often available to accommodate project deadlines and team needs, aligning with agile methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on research from Portuguese job boards and salary aggregators for similar UX/UI roles in Lisbon. Benefits are inferred based on standard offerings for full-time positions at tech companies in Western Europe. The working hours are derived from the "FULL_TIME" employment type.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: InnoWave operates within the technology and software development sector, likely focusing on digital transformation, custom software solutions, and potentially consulting services. Their emphasis on UX/UI suggests a client-centric approach that values user experience as a key differentiator.

Company Size: With an estimated size of 500-1000 employees, InnoWave is a mid-to-large sized tech company. This size typically offers a balance between established processes and the agility to innovate, providing opportunities for individual impact while having access to robust resources and support structures.

Founded: Founded in 2007, InnoWave has over a decade of experience in the tech industry. This longevity suggests a stable company with a proven track record, likely possessing mature development and design processes.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI team is likely part of a larger product or digital solutions department, potentially comprising several designers specializing in different areas (UX research, UI design, interaction design).

• The designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Design, working closely with Project Managers, Product Owners, and a dedicated team of frontend and backend developers.

Methodology:

• InnoWave likely employs agile development methodologies (Scrum/Kanban) for project execution, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback.

• Design Thinking principles are explicitly mentioned, suggesting a structured approach to problem-solving that prioritizes user needs and collaborative ideation.

• Emphasis on Design Systems indicates a commitment to scalable, consistent, and efficient design practices across multiple projects and products.

Company Website: https://careers.innowave.tech

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description and size suggest a professional environment where design is integrated into the development process, rather than being an afterthought. The explicit mention of Design Thinking and Design Systems points to a mature approach to product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level (2-5 years of experience). It requires a solid foundation in design principles and methodologies, with the ability to work independently on assigned tasks while also collaborating effectively within a team. The "with Frontend Skills" aspect suggests potential for growth into more specialized roles like Senior UX/UI Designer, Product Designer, or even a hybrid role bridging design and front-end development.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Design within the company. They will operate within project-based teams, collaborating closely with Project Managers, Product Owners, and frontend developers, reporting on design progress and challenges within those specific project contexts.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" role, the impact of a UX/UI Designer is critical to business success. By creating intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing interfaces, this role directly influences user adoption, engagement, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, conversion rates and client retention for InnoWave's digital products and client solutions. Effective design reduces friction, enhances brand perception, and contributes to the overall success of the product or service.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like UX research, interaction design, accessibility, or frontend implementation (e.g., mastering React component design).

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Senior Designer role, mentoring junior designers, leading design initiatives, or taking on Design Lead responsibilities for specific projects.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a stronger understanding of frontend development, enabling a more seamless transition into product design roles or specialized UI engineering positions.

• Client-Facing Experience: Gain experience in client presentations, pre-sales support, and direct client collaboration, which can lead to roles with more strategic client engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are tied to both deepening design expertise and expanding into more technical or client-facing areas, reflecting the hybrid nature of the role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: InnoWave's Lisbon office is likely a modern, professional workspace designed to foster collaboration and innovation. Given the hybrid nature, it will offer a mix of collaborative spaces, private workstations, and meeting rooms equipped for client presentations and team syncs.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Lisbon, Portugal. Specific office location details would typically be provided upon request or during the interview process, but Lisbon is a major European tech hub with good public transport links.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will support a collaborative environment where designers work alongside developers, project managers, and other technical professionals.

• Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma) and potentially collaboration platforms will be provided.

• Opportunities for informal and formal knowledge sharing sessions, design critiques, and cross-team interactions to foster a strong design culture.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week is expected, with a hybrid model allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility. Specific days in the office might be determined by team needs or project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid arrangement implies a need for self-discipline and effective remote communication skills, alongside the ability to engage actively during in-office days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A more in-depth session with the hiring manager and/or senior designers. This will involve a detailed walkthrough of your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and how you've applied UX/UI principles. Expect questions about your experience with Figma, Design Systems, and user research.

• Frontend Skills Assessment: Given the "Frontend Skills" requirement, expect questions or a brief exercise to gauge your understanding of HTML, CSS, React, or TypeScript implementation constraints. This might involve discussing how you'd approach designing for specific frontend frameworks or how you collaborate with developers.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: A session with potential team members (developers, project managers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with InnoWave's company culture.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader, focusing on strategic thinking, career aspirations, and overall suitability for the role and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role (web/mobile UX/UI, Design Systems, user-centered approach).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges you faced, and the outcome/impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your design thinking, user research methodologies, and how you iterated based on feedback. This is crucial for UX roles.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to navigate through your Figma files or present specific components and prototyping techniques.

• Address Frontend Aspect: If you have frontend experience, include a project that demonstrates this, or be ready to discuss how you consider frontend constraints in your design process.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the impact of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: You might be given a take-home design challenge or a live whiteboarding exercise to solve a specific design problem. Focus on demonstrating your structured approach, user empathy, and ability to iterate.

• Frontend Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would design a specific UI element or flow considering technical limitations of HTML, CSS, or React.

• Collaboration Simulation: Think about how you would effectively communicate with a frontend developer to ensure a design is implemented correctly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process strongly emphasizes the portfolio and practical design skills, with a specific focus on how the candidate bridges the gap between design and frontend development.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Design Systems & Component Libraries: Experience working with and contributing to these systems is highly valued. Tools like Storybook might be used for documentation and development.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Frontend Technologies (Valued):

• HTML & CSS: Fundamental for understanding web layout and styling.

• React: A popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces; familiarity is highly valued.

• TypeScript: A superset of JavaScript that adds static typing; understanding can aid collaboration with developers.

• Tailwind CSS: A utility-first CSS framework that can influence design approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily skewed towards design tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma. The inclusion of frontend technologies as "highly valued" indicates a desire for designers with a practical understanding of implementation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and prioritizing user needs in all design decisions.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and constructive feedback among designers, developers, and stakeholders.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished, and well-executed designs that meet usability and aesthetic standards.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative design process, learning from user feedback, and constantly seeking ways to enhance user experiences and design practices.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and exploring new design approaches and technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with developers, product managers, and business analysts, fostering a shared understanding of project goals and constraints.

• Agile & Iterative: Design processes are integrated into agile sprints, with regular feedback loops and rapid iteration based on evolving requirements and testing results.

• Transparent Communication: Open sharing of design progress, challenges, and decisions through meetings, documentation, and collaborative tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a user-focused, collaborative, and iterative approach, which is standard for modern product development teams, particularly those using agile methodologies.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively designing solutions that are both user-friendly and technically feasible within the given frontend development capabilities.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Aligning diverse stakeholder requirements and feedback with user needs and design best practices.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Technologies: Staying updated with the latest design trends, tools, and frontend technologies to ensure designs are modern and implementable.

• Designing for Scalability: Creating Design Systems and components that can scale across a growing product portfolio and evolving feature sets.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX research methodologies, interaction design patterns, and accessibility standards.

• Frontend Development Fundamentals: Potential to undertake training or self-study to improve understanding of HTML, CSS, React, and JavaScript, enhancing collaboration with developers.

• Design Leadership: Pathways to take on more responsibility, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic design decisions.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to events and training sessions focused on the latest in UX/UI design and frontend development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a design role with a technical component, emphasizing the need for adaptability and continuous learning. Growth opportunities are clearly defined.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements with user needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses negotiation, user advocacy, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and adhere to WCAG standards? Can you give an example of an accessibility feature you implemented?" (Tests knowledge of accessibility principles and practical application.)

• "Walk me through a complex UX problem you solved. What was your process, what tools did you use, and what was the impact of your solution?" (Evaluates design process, critical thinking, and impact quantification.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about InnoWave and this specific role?" (Assesses research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in UX/UI design and frontend technologies?" (Gauges proactivity and commitment to learning.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your portfolio and select the projects you'll present. For each project, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, prototypes, and user flow diagrams. Ensure any code snippets or technical explanations are clear and concise.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your "why" – your design decisions, research findings, and iterations. This is more important than just showing pretty pictures.

• Frontend Connection: Be ready to discuss how your designs translate to frontend code, or how you've considered implementation details. If you have frontend experience, showcase a project where you combined both skills.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting each project within a set timeframe (e.g., 5-7 minutes per project).

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing both strong UX/UI design skills and a practical understanding of frontend development, with clear examples and a structured portfolio presentation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer with Frontend Skills position:

• Submit your application through the InnoWave careers portal (https://careers.innowave.tech/jobs/7794307-ux-ui-designer-with-frontend-skills).

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your most relevant UX/UI projects, ensuring they highlight your process, Figma proficiency, and ideally, any frontend considerations or skills. Tailor the project descriptions to emphasize how you solve user problems and collaborate with development teams.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your 3+ years of experience, advanced Figma skills, and any experience with HTML, CSS, React, or TypeScript. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "user research," "prototyping," "design systems," "responsive design," "agile").

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on clear storytelling, design rationale, and demonstrating your understanding of the full design lifecycle. Be ready to discuss your frontend knowledge and how you collaborate with engineers.

• Research InnoWave: Understand their company mission, industry, and the types of projects they undertake. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest in contributing to their success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding compensation, benefits, and specific interview stages, should be verified directly with InnoWave during the application and interview process.