Lead Designer

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Design Lead who can operate as a player-coach: contributing hands-on design work while coaching and developing a small design team. This role requires strong mobile product design experience, the ability to shape product direction with cross-functional partners, and demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools in the design workflow.

You will help elevate design quality, scale the team's processes, and guide the design of mobile experiences that may include conversational AI, coaching, or tutoring interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 3 designers, supporting their craft development and execution
• Contribute hands-on design work across mobile products (iOS/Android)
• Define and improve design processes, standards, and quality
• Partner closely with product and engineering on roadmap and product direction
• Design mobile-first user experiences, from concept through production
• Incorporate AI-assisted design workflows to increase speed and leverage
• Contribute to the design of conversational or coaching-style product interactions
• Help scale design practices as the company grows from startup to scale-up stage

Requirements

• 8-12+ years of product design / UX/UI experience
• Proven experience as a design lead, staff designer, or player-coach
• Strong mobile app design experience (required)
• Experience in EdTech or experience designing conversational AI, coaching, tutoring, or mental health support products preferred
• Experience building or scaling design systems
• Experience mentoring or managing designers
• Ability to operate in fast-moving startup/scaleup environments
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools in the design workflow
• Strong product thinking and collaboration with product and engineering teams

Please submit your rate proposal (contract); the final rate will be based on your location, your qualifications, and expertise:

• UK: $90-$120/hr (contract)
• Spain: $55-$80/hr (contract)
• Portugal: $50-$75/hr (contract)