UI/UX Designer (Contract)

Location: Remote (Kenya-based)

Engagement Type: Contract (Freelance)

Experience: Mid-Level (4–6 years)

ABOUT VAMOSWATU

VamosWatu is a Talent Partner for Seed and Series A startups, headquartered in Nairobi. We help startups build lean, reliable in-house tech teams by managing talent acquisition, payroll, labour compliance, and office operations.

What sets us apart is precision. We don’t flood inboxes with CVs. We find the RIGHT tech talent: engineers, designers, and product managers who are vetted for skill, attitude, and team fit, then embedded directly into our customers’ workflows and rituals as their own in-house team.

We work with fast-moving startups that value clarity, accountability, and execution. Our team is ~25 people and growing.

THE ROLE

We are looking for a mid-level UI/UX Designer to join VamosWatu on a contract basis. You will be responsible for designing intuitive, user-centred digital experiences for VamosWatu’s internal products and, when required, for our startup customers.

This is not a pure visual design role. We need someone who thinks in systems: user flows, component libraries, interaction patterns, and accessibility. You should be comfortable owning the end-to-end design process, from discovery and wireframing through to polished, developer-ready handoff.

An added advantage is strong graphic design capability; brand assets, pitch decks, social media content, and marketing collateral. If you can do both at a high level, you will be compensated accordingly.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

1. Own the UI/UX design process end-to-end: user research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, usability testing, and developer handoff.
2. Design and maintain design systems and component libraries in Figma to ensure visual and interaction consistency across products.
3. Collaborate closely with engineers to ensure design intent is accurately translated into production.
4. Conduct user research and usability testing to inform design decisions with evidence, not assumptions.
5. Create responsive designs across web and mobile platforms.
6. Support VamosWatu’s startup clients with UI/UX design work as required, adapting to different product contexts and brand guidelines.
7. Produce graphic design assets as needed: pitch decks, brand collateral, social media templates, and marketing materials (if applicable to your skill set).
8. Provide regular design updates, meet agreed deadlines, and maintain clear communication with stakeholders.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Required

1. 4–6 years of professional UI/UX design experience, with at least 3 years in a startup or high-growth tech environment.
2. Expert-level proficiency in Figma (design, prototyping, components, auto-layout, and design tokens).
3. Strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design: from research and wireframes through to high-fidelity UI and shipped products.
4. Solid understanding of responsive design, accessibility standards (WCAG), and platform conventions (iOS, Android, Web).
5. Experience building and maintaining design systems and component libraries.
6. Ability to articulate design rationale and defend decisions with user research and data.
7. Comfortable working asynchronously with distributed teams across time zones.

Nice to Have

1. Graphic design skills: brand identity, pitch decks, social media assets, and marketing collateral (Adobe Creative Suite and/or Figma).
2. Experience with motion design or micro-interactions (Lottie, Rive, or Figma prototyping).
3. Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML/CSS) to support effective developer handoff.
4. Experience working with early-stage products where scope and requirements evolve quickly.
5. Understanding of design-to-code workflows and tools (Zeplin, Figma Dev Mode).

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

1. You deliver what you say you will, when you say you will. Reliability is non-negotiable.
2. You are accessible and responsive during agreed working hours. Stakeholders never have to chase you.
3. Design deliverables are consistent, developer-ready, and well-documented.
4. You proactively identify UX issues and propose solutions without being asked.
5. You adapt seamlessly between VamosWatu internal work and customer-facing design projects.

HOW TO APPLY

Our application process is intentionally rigorous to ensure a great fit for both sides:

Step 1: Submit Your Application

Complete the application form and upload your resume. Include a link to your portfolio — we will not review applications without one. Highlight shipped products, design systems you’ve built, and measurable UX outcomes (improved conversion, reduced drop-off, increased engagement).

Step 2: Design Exercise + AI Interview

Qualified applicants will complete a short design exercise. Given a product brief, you will produce wireframes or a low-fidelity prototype and walk through your design rationale in a combined AI interview assessing design thinking, problem-solving approach, and communication clarity.

Step 3: Portfolio Review & Evaluation

Submissions are reviewed for design quality, user-centred thinking, visual consistency, and clarity of process documentation.

Step 4: Live Interview with the CEO

Finalists will meet directly with the VamosWatu CEO to discuss design philosophy, collaboration style, reliability expectations, and culture fit. Come prepared to walk through your best case study.

Final Step: Selection

Top performers will proceed to the final selection and onboarding process.