Design Systems Design Lead

SUMMARY: The Design System Design Team Lead is a senior practitioner and strategic leader responsible for the aesthetic vision, quality, and evolution of the design system. This role sits at the intersection of craft, education, and leadership—equally capable of doing the work, teaching others to do it well, and articulating why it matters to stakeholders at every level of the organization.  

HIERARCHY: This is a senior-level role that requires leading by example and mentoring designers at various levels while partnering with engineering, product, and brand leadership.  

PRIMARY DUTIES: 

• Practice & Craft: Lead by example as an individual contributor, setting the quality bar for component design, interaction patterns, and documentation.  
• Consistency & Accessibility: Drive consistency, accessibility, and scalability across all design deliverables.  
• Strategy & Roadmap: Define and steward a long-term design roadmap that responds to enterprise-wide needs and product team realities.  
• Stakeholder Alignment: Partner with engineering, product, and brand leadership to align system direction with broader organizational goals.  
• Training & Enablement: Build a culture of system literacy through workshops, onboarding programs, and ongoing coaching.  
• System Stewardship: Identify systemic gaps, adoption risks, and governance needs to build pragmatic structures for the organization.  

COMPETENCY: 

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand how local design decisions affect the entire ecosystem.  
• Communication: Exceptional skills across audiences, from technical Figma walkthroughs to high-level leadership briefings.  
• Strategic Mindset: Grounded in practicality, with the ability to hold a long-term view while shipping real assets on tight timelines.  
• Mentorship: A focus on growing a team that can perform effectively without constant central involvement.  

REQUIRED EDUCATION: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Interaction Design, Visual Communication, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience will be considered. 

EXPERIENCE: 

• Demonstrated experience leading a design team at enterprise scale.  
• Proven track record of making nuanced design decisions rooted in user needs and technical constraints.  
• Experience navigating competing stakeholders and building buy-in in complex environments.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

• Ability to translate complex design decisions into language that resonates with non-designers.  

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Strong portfolio showcasing visual quality, component design, interaction patterns, and detailed documentation.  
• Expertise in Figma and advanced design system frameworks.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Regular use of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.  
• Regular, repetitive movements such as typing, mouse movements, and scrolling.  
• Ability to hear and understand spoken communications, both in person and via remote communication tools (e.g., phone, video conferencing).  
• Ability to see and read computer screens and printed documents, as well as adjust focus. This includes prolonged periods of looking at a computer screen.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

• Remote environment.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Regular use of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment. Regular, repetitive movements such as typing, mouse movements, and scrolling. Ability to hear and understand spoken communications, both in person and via remote communication tools (e.g., phone, video conferencing). Ability to see and read computer screens and printed documents, as well as adjust focus. This includes prolonged periods of looking at a computer screen. 

EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK: Normal Business Hours- Monday-Friday. 

TRAVEL: Potential Travel for onsite workshop (bi-annually) 

ADA Statement 

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.