At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape user experience and design workflows for a groundbreaking platform in the circular economy.
- Company: Join Buckstop, a pioneering company transforming electronic waste into valuable resources.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, direct collaboration with founders, and potential for leadership roles.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic startup environment with significant ownership and visibility.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while defining the design language of an emerging leader.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in Product Design, strong portfolio, and proficiency in Figma required.
The predicted salary is between 50 - 50 £ per hour.
About Buckstop Industries
Founded in 2025, Buckstop is building the intelligence layer for the circular economy. Our mission is to create a sustainable end-of-life for every electronic device on Earth, transforming yesterday's waste into tomorrow's resources. We're reimagining how enterprises manage electronic assets by creating a platform that identifies, tracks, and maximises the residual value of devices at scale. In a fragmented industry where value is lost through layers of intermediaries, Buckstop provides a single source of truth and execution.
Your assets. One platform. Maximum value. Full stop.
The Opportunity
Buckstop is looking for a highly talented Founding Product Designer to help shape the user experience, workflows, and visual direction of our platform. This is not a role for someone who simply executes mockups. We are looking for a designer who can evaluate what has already been built, understand the business and customer requirements, identify opportunities for improvement, and present thoughtful design solutions. You will work directly with the founders, engineers, and customers to create intuitive workflows and enterprise-grade user experiences that make complex data and operational processes easy to understand and act upon.
What You'll Do
- Product & UX Strategy
- Evaluate existing product experiences and identify usability improvements
- Translate business requirements into intuitive user workflows
- Create multiple design concepts and recommendations for key product initiatives
- Partner with founders to shape product direction and user experience strategy
- Help define design principles and standards across the platform
- User Experience Design
- Design end-to-end user journeys and workflows
- Create wireframes, user flows, mockups, and interactive prototypes
- Conduct usability reviews and recommend improvements
- Simplify complex operational and analytical workflows into intuitive experiences
- Design for enterprise users operating in logistics, asset management, manufacturing, and sustainability environments
- Product Design & Systems
- Create and maintain scalable design systems in Figma
- Establish reusable components and interaction patterns
- Ensure consistency across product experiences
- Collaborate closely with engineering to ensure designs can be efficiently implemented
- Participate in product roadmap and feature planning discussions
- Founding Team Contributions
- Bring product and customer insights into company discussions
- Challenge assumptions and advocate for users
- Help establish the product culture and design standards of the company
- Work cross-functionally across engineering, operations, and leadership
- Operate with a founder mentality and ownership mindset
What We're Looking For
- Required Qualifications
- 4+ years of experience in Product Design, UI/UX Design, or User Experience roles
- Strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design work
- Advanced proficiency in Figma
- Experience creating wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and design systems
- Strong understanding of UX principles, information architecture, and interaction design
- Experience collaborating directly with engineering teams
- Ability to clearly communicate design decisions and rationale
- Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing SaaS, enterprise software, analytics platforms, operational tools, or workflow applications
- Experience in startup or early-stage environments
- Familiarity with data-heavy applications, dashboards, and reporting tools
- Experience conducting customer interviews and usability testing
- Understanding of AI-enabled products and workflow automation
Who You Are
- You have exceptional design instincts and attention to detail
- You care deeply about both usability and visual quality
- You are comfortable presenting multiple solutions to a problem
- You think strategically rather than simply executing requests
- You enjoy working directly with founders and engineers
- You thrive in ambiguity and can create structure where none exists
- You take ownership and operate with a builder mentality
Why Buckstop
- Founding-team level influence on product direction
- Direct collaboration with founders and engineering leadership
- Opportunity to define the design language of an emerging category leader
- Significant ownership and visibility across the company
- Work on meaningful sustainability and circular economy challenges
- Potential pathway into a long-term Product Design leadership role as the company scales
If you're excited about creating elegant experiences for complex enterprise workflows and helping shape a category-defining platform from the ground up, we'd love to hear from you.
Founding Product Designer in Cambridge employer: C10labs
C10 Labs is an exceptional employer for those passionate about nurturing innovation and supporting early-stage startups. With a vibrant work culture that encourages creativity and collaboration, mentors have unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth, including access to exclusive programs and a global network of industry leaders. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the AI ecosystem while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Product Designer in Cambridge
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a freelance UX/UI designer, your portfolio is your best mate. Make sure to showcase a variety of projects that highlight your design process, not just the final product. Include case studies that tell a story about how you approached the problem and the impact of your design solutions.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Dive into online design communities like Dribbble, Behance, or even UX forums on Reddit. These platforms not only allow you to showcase your work but also help you connect with potential clients and fellow designers. Plus, attending local design meetups or online webinars can open up freelance opportunities that aren’t advertised elsewhere.
✨Nail Your Pitch
When reaching out to potential clients, tailor your pitches to their specific needs. Highlight how your skills align with their projects and mention any related work you've done. Remember, clients love to see how you can add value to their business, so be clear about what you can bring to the table.
✨Leverage Social Media for Visibility
Showcase your design work on platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn. Post regularly and engage with your audience; ask for feedback on your designs or share insights into your creative process. This not only builds your brand but can lead to potential clients sliding into your DMs!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Product Designer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Portfolio:As a freelance UX/UI designer, your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it’s packed with your best work, showcasing your design process, user flows, and final products. Highlight projects that demonstrate not just your aesthetic skills but also your ability to solve real user problems.
Tailor Your Application to C10labs:When applying for the freelance role of Founding Product Designer at C10labs, take a moment to research their style and design language. Customising your CV and portfolio to align with their brand aesthetics shows you're not just any designer, but the perfect fit for their team.
Crisp and Clear Proposals:When you pitch yourself, be direct about what you can bring to the table. Outline your skills clearly and mention your rates upfront. A straightforward proposal lets C10labs know you're professional and ready to hit the ground running!
Highlight Collaboration Experience:Freelance roles often involve working with various clients. Make sure to showcase any previous collaboration experiences in your CV. Mention how you’ve worked with developers, marketers, or stakeholders to create designs that keep all parties happy — that's a key selling point for us!
How to prepare for a job interview at C10labs
✨Showcase Your Portfolio like a Pro
Your portfolio is your calling card, so make sure it’s not just pretty but also tells a story. Arrange your best UX/UI design projects in a way that highlights your thought process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Talk about the challenges you faced and how you tackled them—freelancers need to show they can handle real-world problems.
✨Use Design Tools Effectively
Familiarity with design tools such as Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD is crucial in our field. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools in real scenarios. They might ask specific technical questions about how you’d approach a design problem or your workflow, so brush up on those details and think of examples from your previous freelance projects.
✨Prepare for Client-Centric Questions
As a freelancer, you'll be client-facing, so expect questions about handling client feedback and managing expectations. Prepare examples of how you've dealt with difficult situations or miscommunications in previous projects. Your ability to communicate effectively with clients is a major selling point, and it’s worth stressing how well you can read and meet their needs.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Self-Management
Freelance work requires a lot of self-discipline and time management. Be prepared to discuss how you organise your time, juggle multiple clients, and prioritise tasks. Sharing how you've successfully managed deadlines and client relationships in the past can really set you apart from the competition and show that you're more than just a designer—you're a complete package.
