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Design Engineer

Smooth Sailing is an ambitious digital design studio that focuses on durable design. Durable means qualitative design that lasts for a long time and has a long term positive effect on people. We think research is key to a good design process.

We work together as a team of specialists with people with different talents and backgrounds.

We've created some interesting stories about what we think is important in the world of design. Enjoy the reading! https://www.smoothsailing.be/opinions/

What will you be doing?

  • Collecting context information about the product(plan)
  • Detecting holes and issues in the briefing
  • Communicating with the client: show your work and gather feedback frequently
  • Collaborating with UX designers & researchers (and being critical about their work)
  • Collaborating with different roles within the product and development team
  • Building a testable (HTML/CSS) prototype based on documentation, mock-ups or wireframes
  • Collecting feedback from the team and client and reworking the relevant parts only
  • Briefing the developer(s)
  • Watching over the consistency and quality of the UI throughout the entire development process
  • Initiating and maintaining a design system or pattern library

Requirements

👉 Don't hesitate to apply if you don't fulfil 100% of the requirements. Superheroes don't exist. People with passion and talent do!

People skills

  • You are open-minded: you listen, understand, discuss and find solutions.
  • Your best work is in a team.
  • You communicate well (via Zoom, Slack, mail or in real life).
  • You can give and receive feedback.
  • You are curious and eager to learn.
  • You understand the long-term effect of your actions.
  • You ♥️ design.

Product skills

  • You can create a visually strong design for a UI.
  • You can write code:
    • Knowledge of HTML/CSS
    • You can use Git
    • You can use Static site generators or HTML prototyping tools, e.g. 11ty, Gatsby, Hugo, ...
  • You have basic knowledge and a sense of usability.
  • You can handle prototyping tools, e.g. Figma/Sketch/Framer.
  • You know how to make products accessible.
  • You have basic knowledge of how software (and apps) are getting built these days (PWA, Android, iOS).
  • You know how to use design system tools, e.g. fractals/storybook.

Bonus points

  • You can draw the icon for 'dog-wants-a-cookie'.
  • You can animate a sailboat.
  • You are a great cook.

Also important

You live ànd work in the range of time zones CET-02:00 and CET+02:00. If you are not a Belgian citizen, you will always be hired as an independent subcontractor.

What will you be offered?

  • At Smooth Sailing, you will work in a small team with great people (that's what everyone says). We make time for weekly feedback moments and pick the projects you work on based on your skill level and learning path.
  • We offer money in the bank every month and all the sleep you need. You choose when and where you work.
  • We provide you with the necessities for doing a good job: a laptop, a phone, a personal learning path, meal vouchers and proper assurance. This does not apply for freelancers, as you can underdstand.
  • Five weeks of paid holidays
  • Occasional (onsite) team events

Next Steps

Interested? Apply through Recruitee and tell us about your favourite app and why it is so well designed. Please don't forget to attach your cv.