UI/UX Designer

Photon is hiring a contract UI/UX Designer in Chicago, IL (onsite) to own end-to-end product design for web and mobile experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end UI/UX design process, from user research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, visual design, testing, and implementation support
• Collect and evaluate user requirements in collaboration with product managers, business stakeholders, and development teams
• Produce user flows, information architecture, journey maps, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes for web and mobile
• Design interfaces that are intuitive, accessible, and visually aligned with business goals and user expectations
• Build and maintain design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and UI standards for consistency
• Run user research, usability testing, customer interviews, and heuristic evaluations to uncover usability improvements
• Translate complex business and technical inputs into clear, user-friendly product experiences
• Partner with UI developers, product owners, business analysts, and QA teams across the product lifecycle
• Create high-fidelity designs using Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms
• Ensure deliverables follow accessibility standards, responsive design practices, and platform-specific guidelines
• Review implemented designs with development teams to support pixel-perfect execution
• Use user feedback, analytics, and behavioral data to improve UX and engagement
• Communicate design concepts, rationale, and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership
• Stay current with emerging UX trends, design methodologies, technologies, and industry best practices
• Support branding initiatives and maintain visual consistency across digital touchpoints

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Computer Science, or related field
• 10+ years of UI/UX design experience for web and mobile applications
• Strong portfolio showing user-centered design and visual design principles
• Proficiency with Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Photoshop, Illustrator, or similar tools
• Strong command of UX methodologies: user research, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing
• Experience designing responsive and mobile-first applications
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and usability best practices
• Strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills
• Ability to work in Agile/Scrum environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing enterprise applications, eCommerce platforms, or customer-facing digital products
• Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, plus front-end development concepts
• Experience with design systems and component-based design approaches
• Knowledge of analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, Mixpanel, or similar platforms
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional and distributed teams

Technologies

• Figma
• Sketch
• Adobe XD
• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• Google Analytics
• Hotjar
• Mixpanel
• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript

Key Skills

• User Experience (UX) Design
• User Interface (UI) Design
• Wireframing & Prototyping
• Design Systems
• User Research & Usability Testing
• Information Architecture
• Interaction Design
• Responsive & Mobile Design
• Figma / Adobe XD / Sketch
• Visual Design & Branding
• Accessibility & Inclusive Design
• Agile Methodologies

Compensation, Benefits and Duration

• Job type: contract
• Minimum compensation: USD 42,000 per year
• Maximum compensation: USD 147,000 per year
• Compensation is based on actual experience and qualifications
• Medical, vision, and dental benefits
• 401k retirement plan
• Variable pay/incentives
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Available for independent contractors
• No applications will be considered if received more than 120 days after the date of this post

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Computer Science, or related field