Lead UX/UI Designer - Mobile Applications

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Remote-friendly within SA

Annual leave

Online learning platforms

Career growth opportunities

Bonus opportunity

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead UX/UI Designer to guide the design strategy for fintech mobile apps. You will drive user research, wireframes, prototypes and high-fidelity visuals, shaping intuitive journeys for iOS and Android.

You will lead a design team, collaborate with product and engineering, maintain design systems, and stay ahead of mobile UX trends. This fully remote role allows work from anywhere in South Africa while aligning with our Pretoria-based strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in HCI, Interaction Design, Graphic Design, or related field.
• 7+ years in UX/UI with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior role focusing on mobile apps.
• Proven experience designing successful and scalable mobile applications (iOS and Android).
• Expertise in Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, etc.
• Strong understanding of mobile design patterns and usability heuristics.
• Experience conducting user research and usability testing.
• Excellent visual design skills including typography, color theory, and layout.
• Strong leadership and communication skills in an agile environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the UX/UI design efforts for native iOS and Android mobile applications.
• Develop and champion the overall design vision and strategy for mobile products.
• Conduct user research to gather insights and inform design decisions.
• Create user personas, flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to define requirements and design solutions.
• Establish and maintain design systems and style guides for consistency across platforms.
• Mentor and guide junior designers, fostering a high-performing team.
• Stay current with UX/UI trends and fintech best practices for mobile.
• Present design concepts and rationale to stakeholders at all levels.
• Advocate for the user throughout the product lifecycle.

Skills

UX leadership

Mobile UX

User research

Design systems

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in HCI/Design

Tools

Figma

Sketch

Adobe XD

InVision

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent fintech innovator headquartered in the administrative capital of Pretoria, is seeking an accomplished Lead UX/UI Designer to spearhead the design strategy for their suite of cutting-edge mobile applications. This role requires a visionary leader passionate about crafting intuitive, engaging, and user-centric digital experiences. You will be responsible for guiding the entire design process, from user research and conceptualization to detailed wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in leading design teams, a deep understanding of mobile UX/UI best practices, and a commitment to creating seamless and impactful user journeys. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of mobile financial services from our strategic base in Pretoria.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the UX/UI design efforts for native iOS and Android mobile applications.
• Develop and champion the overall design vision and strategy for mobile products.
• Conduct user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights and inform design decisions.
• Create user personas, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to define product requirements and design solutions.
• Establish and maintain design systems and style guides to ensure consistency across all mobile platforms.
• Mentor and guide junior designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design team.
• Stay current with emerging UX/UI trends, technologies, and best practices in the mobile and fintech space.
• Present design concepts and rationale effectively to stakeholders at all levels.
• Advocate for the user throughout the product development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in UX/UI design, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior role focusing on mobile applications.
• Proven experience designing successful and scalable mobile applications (iOS and Android).
• Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, etc.
• Strong understanding of mobile design patterns, platform guidelines (HIG, Material Design), and usability heuristics.
• Experience conducting user research and usability testing.
• Excellent visual design skills, including typography, color theory, and layout.
• Strong leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in an agile development environment.
• A robust portfolio showcasing impactful mobile UX/UI design work is essential.

Benefits

• Our client offers an attractive salary package, comprehensive private healthcare benefits, and a performance-based annual bonus.
• This is a fully remote role, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa, with flexible working hours.
• We provide a generous annual leave allowance, access to online learning platforms, and regular virtual team-building activities.
• Opportunities for career advancement within a rapidly growing company are abundant. Join a forward-thinking organization that values innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being, all while contributing to the fintech landscape from the convenience of your chosen location, rather than needing to be in Pretoria.