Senior User Experience Designer - Freelance

We are seeking an experienced Freelance Senior UX Designer to support one of the most recognized and relied-upon brands in the world, a global leader in digital payments whose products and services touch the lives of billions of people every day. This is a meaningful, high-visibility engagement where strong UX thinking, systems fluency, and thoughtful interaction design have a direct and tangible impact at enormous scale.

This is a remote freelance role starting as soon as possible and running through July 31, 2026.

• A solid understanding and demonstration of user-centered design principles across complex digital product ecosystems
• Lead the design of large and complex systems of interactions, bringing clarity and coherence to multi-step, multi-lane experiences
• Extensive experience in the creation, maintenance, and application of design systems, contributing meaningfully to both the UX and UI dimensions of a system
• Develop and deliver high-fidelity wireframes, flows, and interactive prototypes primarily utilizing Figma, with expert-level command of components, variants, auto layout, libraries, and prototyping capabilities
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in leveraging AI tools to drive innovation and efficiency across all stages of the UX lifecycle
• Work with team members to develop and refine streamlined UX processes, setting new standards for quality and delivery
• Proactively pursue opportunities to improve strategy and approach in order to better address client and user objectives
• Define consumers, processes, and ideas from an objective point of view grounded in research and insight, and effectively communicate that point of view to senior stakeholders on both the agency and client sides
• Lead and support designers across multiple projects, taking responsibility for the quality and consistency of all team documentation and deliverables
• Contribute to thought leadership activities within the UX and product design discipline

• A compelling portfolio of distinctive work showing both product and service design, with clear evidence of strong UX craft and systems thinking across complex digital platforms
• Able to develop simple and elegant design solutions to complex design problems
• Expert-level Figma skills and strong proficiency with leading industry-standard UX design and prototyping tools
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present and advocate for design decisions to technical and non-technical audiences
• Expertise in cross-functional collaboration across design, product, strategy, and engineering
• Assists and guides other designers in their professional development, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
• Fosters progressive and limitless thinking

• Hybrid, one day in the office per week, so must be in or commutable to NYC
• ASAP through July 31, 2026
• 40 hours/week
• Expected compensation: $2,800 to $3,400/week

If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.