UI/UX Designer (Figma)

UI/UX Designer (Figma)
Part-time | Remote | ~20 hours/week | Long-term engagement

About Us
We are a mobile app development and fractional CTO consultancy that works with startups and growing businesses to build products that are technically solid and genuinely well-designed. We partner closely with our clients across the full product lifecycle, from strategy and design through to development and launch.
We are growing our team and looking for a UI/UX designer who can work across multiple client projects with us on an ongoing basis.

The Role
We need a UI/UX designer to own Figma design work across our client projects, primarily focused on iOS mobile apps. You will work closely with our project managers, engineers, and clients to translate product ideas into clean, buildable designs that follow Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.
This is not a "make it pretty" role. This is a "make it work, make it make sense, and make sure we're building the right thing" role.

What You Will Actually Be Doing
- Owning and maintaining Figma design systems across client projects (component libraries, color tokens, typography, spacing, corner radii)
- Designing and iterating on iOS app screens across full user journeys
- Translating product ideas into wireframes and high-fidelity mockups
- Working within Apple's UI guidelines and using standard iOS components and libraries
- Attending regular check-ins with our internal team and client stakeholders
- Flagging when a design direction won't work technically or won't make sense to users
- Helping the team prioritize which ideas are worth designing now vs. later

What We Are Looking For
On the technical side:
- Strong Figma skills including component libraries, auto layout, and design tokens
- Solid understanding of iOS design patterns and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines
- Experience designing mobile apps, not just websites
- Ability to hand off clean, organized files that an engineer can actually build from
- Familiarity with design systems and how global changes (theming, sizing) work in Figma
- On the personality side, this is equally important:
- You are direct. If an idea won't work, you say so clearly and explain why.
- You are proactive. You don't wait to be told what to do next. You see a gap and you fill it.
- You are confident enough to push back. Our clients are passionate and move fast. We need someone who can channel that energy into good design decisions, not just execute everything thrown at them.
- You can tell the difference between a good idea that needs refining and an idea that needs to be set aside for now.
- You communicate clearly in writing. Most of our collaboration happens async.

What This Is Not
This is not a role for someone who just does what they are told
This is not a role for someone who needs everything figured out before they can start
This is not a role for someone who treats every client idea as equally worth designing

Nice to Have
Experience working directly with non-technical clients or founders in a startup environment
Familiarity with health, wellness, or lifestyle apps
Experience designing for accessibility (contrast, font sizing, Apple accessibility standards)

Logistics
Remote, Philippines-based preferred
Part-time, approximately 20 hours per week to start
Long-term engagement if it's a good fit
Payment in USD

How to Apply
Please send the following:
Your portfolio (Figma files preferred, not just screenshots)
A brief note (3-5 sentences) on how you handle it when a client asks you to design something you think is a bad idea
Your availability and rate
We read every application. We will not respond to applications without a portfolio.