Advanced Specialist, UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Advanced Specialist, UX Designer

Company: Pearson

Location: Hoboken, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: UX/Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-05T15:11:12

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design of complex, user-centered experiences for Pearson's higher education digital products across web and mobile platforms.

• Champion user needs and advocate for design quality through strategic thinking, collaboration, and exceptional craft.

• Contribute to and evolve Pearson's design system, ensuring scalability, accessibility, and cross-platform consistency.

• Lead user research initiatives, translating insights into actionable design and product recommendations to enhance learning outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an "Advanced Specialist," indicating a need for significant experience and the ability to lead design efforts independently, mentor others, and influence product strategy. The focus on "AI-powered experiences" and "learning science" suggests a forward-thinking and technically integrated design approach within the education technology sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex, end-to-end user experiences from initial discovery through launch and iteration, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.

• Partner closely with product managers to define and frame design problems, identify opportunities, and establish clear success metrics for product initiatives.

• Create high-fidelity designs, including user flows, screens, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, demonstrating exceptional craft and attention to detail.

• Develop and document reusable components and patterns for the design system, considering scalability, accessibility, and cross-platform consistency.

• Plan, facilitate, and synthesize user research and usability testing, translating findings into actionable design and product recommendations.

• Present design work, strategic recommendations, and research insights to senior leadership, building conviction for design decisions.

• Facilitate design workshops and collaborative sessions to foster shared understanding and drive alignment among cross-functional stakeholders.

• Leverage data and analytics, including A/B testing and experimentation, to validate design decisions and iteratively improve user experiences.

• Mentor junior designers through design critiques, pair designing sessions, and constructive feedback to accelerate their professional growth.

• Design for AI-driven teaching and learning experiences, considering ethical implications, pedagogical effectiveness, and learning science principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution (design execution, research) and leadership (mentoring, stakeholder management, strategic influence), aligning with an "Advanced Specialist" level. The emphasis on AI and learning science indicates a specialization within EdTech.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., Interaction Design, Graphic Design, HCI), Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for an Advanced Specialist role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• 5-8 years of professional product design experience.

• Proven track record of designing and delivering successful user experiences across web and mobile platforms.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and application of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• UX Design & Strategy: Ability to define and articulate design strategy, problem framing, and user journeys.

• High-Fidelity Design: Proficiency in creating detailed wireframes, user flows, screen designs, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Experience planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to, managing, or developing design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and accessibility.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of and adherence to WCAG and other accessibility guidelines.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, content strategists, researchers, and stakeholders.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present design work and strategic recommendations to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• AI/ML Design Experience: Specific experience designing for AI-driven features or products, particularly in educational contexts.

• Learning Science Integration: Understanding of learning science principles and how to apply them to digital learning experiences.

• Data Analytics & A/B Testing: Experience leveraging data and experimentation (A/B testing) to validate design decisions and drive product improvements.

• Mentorship: Experience guiding and mentoring junior designers.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with working in agile development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement (5-8 years) and the emphasis on leading complex projects, mentoring, and strategic influence strongly suggest this is an advanced individual contributor role, not an entry-level position. The "strong plus" for AI experience and the explicit mention of learning science indicate a specialized niche within the broader UX field.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing 5-8 years of product design experience with a focus on higher education or complex digital products.

• Demonstrations of end-to-end design process, from problem definition and user research through to high-fidelity design and implementation.

• Case studies that highlight strategic thinking, problem-framing, and how design decisions led to measurable impact on user experience and business outcomes.

• Examples of contributions to design systems, including reusable components and patterns, with explanations of design rationale.

• Evidence of user research and usability testing methodologies employed, along with how insights influenced design iterations.

• Prototypes that showcase interaction design skills and user flow clarity.

• Consideration for accessibility and inclusive design practices within case studies.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, including how you approach problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and handoff.

• Showcase your ability to document design decisions, user flows, and interface specifications for engineering teams.

• Demonstrate experience in contributing to or maintaining design system documentation.

• Provide examples of how you track and measure the impact of your design work, potentially through metrics or A/B test results.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an "Advanced Specialist" role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase visual design skills but, more importantly, the candidate's strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and ability to drive measurable impact. The emphasis on AI and learning science suggests that including projects relevant to these areas would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the provided information and typical market rates for an Advanced Specialist UX Designer in the Hoboken, NJ area with 5-8 years of experience, the estimated salary range is between $130,000 - $160,000 annually. This estimate is derived from industry salary benchmarks for similar roles in high-cost-of-living areas, factoring in the specialist nature of the position and Pearson's stated compensation policy.

Benefits:

• Eligible to participate in an annual incentive program.

• Comprehensive benefits package, details available at pearsonbenefitsus.com.

• Hybrid work arrangement.

• Opportunity to work on impactful projects shaping the future of learning.

• Professional development and growth opportunities within a global learning company.

Working Hours: The role is listed as full-time, implying a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement suggests flexibility in how these hours are structured between remote and in-office work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided in the source data ($130,000 - $160,000) is specific and legally mandated for certain regions. This range is assumed to apply to the Hoboken, NJ location. The "Annual Incentive Program" is a key benefit beyond standard health and retirement plans.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology (EdTech), Publishing, Digital Learning. Pearson is a global leader in providing educational content, assessments, and digital learning solutions.

Company Size: 18,000+ employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with structured processes and potential for diverse career paths.

Founded: Pearson was founded in 1844, giving it a long history and deep expertise in education.

Team Structure:

• Product design teams are embedded within product teams, fostering close collaboration with content, product management, research, and engineering.

• The role involves partnering with various disciplines to define problems, develop solutions, and drive product success.

• There's an expectation of cross-functional leadership and advocacy for user needs.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core tenet, emphasized throughout the job description.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Implied through the mention of "launch and iteration" and "A/B testing and experimentation."

• Design System: A key operational component for ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Use of analytics, A/B testing, and user research to inform design.

• AI Transformation: A strategic focus area for the company, particularly within Higher Education.

Company Website: https://www.pearson.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Pearson's long history combined with its current digital and AI transformation highlights a company that values both established expertise and forward-thinking innovation. The embedded design team structure is common in tech companies and fosters tight integration with product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Advanced Specialist in UX Design. This level signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy, expertise, and the ability to influence product direction and team practices. It typically involves leading complex projects, mentoring junior colleagues, and contributing to the strategic vision of the design function.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, an Advanced Specialist typically reports to a Design Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Product Design. They would work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads within their embedded product teams.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the user experience of Pearson's higher education products, which in turn influences learning outcomes, student engagement, and institutional adoption. By designing effective and engaging digital learning tools, the UX Designer contributes to Pearson's mission of improving learning at a global scale. Strategic design decisions, informed by user research and data, can significantly impact product success, user retention, and revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Progressing to a Senior UX Designer, Lead UX Designer, or Design Manager role, taking on more strategic oversight and team management responsibilities.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in areas like AI in education, learning science integration, or design system architecture.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into Product Management or other strategic roles within Pearson, leveraging their deep understanding of user needs and product development.

• Mentorship and Training: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially lead design initiatives, developing leadership skills.

• Impactful Projects: Working on cutting-edge AI-driven learning technologies that have a significant global impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Advanced Specialist" title implies a career path focused on deep expertise and leadership within the design discipline, rather than necessarily moving into people management immediately. The growth opportunities listed reflect typical progression for senior design professionals in established tech companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is advertised as "Hoboken - Hybrid," indicating a blend of in-office and remote work. This suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is Hoboken, New Jersey. This area offers access to a major metropolitan hub (New York City) with a strong presence of tech and media companies.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes close collaboration with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, content, research). Design workshops and pair designing are mentioned, pointing to an interactive and team-oriented workspace.

• Tooling: While specific tools aren't listed, standard UX design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, prototyping tools) are expected. Access to analytics platforms and research tools will also be necessary.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with peers, design leadership, and cross-functional partners is integral to the role.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, with flexibility offered by the hybrid model. The focus on iterative development and meeting launch timelines suggests a dynamic work pace at times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, offering a balance between remote flexibility and in-person collaboration essential for design thinking and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, and impact. A design challenge (e.g., a case study, a problem-solving exercise) may be given to assess practical skills and thought process.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other Designers to evaluate collaboration, communication, and technical understanding.

• Leadership Interview: A final interview, possibly with a Design Director or VP, to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, and the measurable outcomes of your design work. Quantify impact whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).

• Highlight Process: Detail your approach to user research, problem framing, ideation, prototyping, and iteration. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Focus on Higher Education/EdTech: If possible, tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant experience in the education sector, complex digital products, or AI-driven features.

• Design System Contributions: If you have experience with design systems, showcase your contributions and how they improve efficiency and consistency.

• Accessibility & Ethics: Demonstrate an understanding of accessibility best practices and, crucially for this role, ethical considerations in AI and education.

• Clarity and Craft: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually polished, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Pearson's products, mission, and the challenges in the higher education technology space.

• Practice Problem Framing: Be ready to break down ambiguous problems into manageable design challenges.

• Articulate Your Process: Prepare to walk through your design process on a given challenge, explaining your rationale at each step.

• Consider AI & Ethics: Think about how AI can be ethically and effectively integrated into learning experiences.

• Be Ready for Collaboration: If the challenge involves collaboration, demonstrate your ability to work with others.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Advanced Specialist" title and the focus on AI and learning science, expect interviewers to probe deeply into your strategic thinking, understanding of the educational domain, and ability to handle complex, ethically sensitive design problems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure RP, or similar tools for wireframing, UI design, and interactive prototyping.

• Design System Tools: Tools for managing and documenting design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal documentation platforms).

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar tools for understanding user behavior and product performance.

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO, or similar platforms for experimentation.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or built-in analytics dashboards for reporting on key metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly listed as a primary tool for a UX Designer, an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with user-facing products can be beneficial for understanding the broader business context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tool requirements are not detailed, proficiency in industry-standard design tools is a given. The emphasis on data-driven design and AI suggests familiarity with analytics and potentially AI-specific design tools or frameworks will be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: A drive to understand users, technology, and the learning domain deeply.

• Collaboration: Working effectively in cross-functional teams is paramount.

• Craft Excellence: Commitment to high-quality design, attention to detail, and polished execution.

• User Advocacy: Championing the needs and experiences of learners and educators.

• Vision & Execution: The ability to contribute to strategic vision while delivering on execution.

• Persistence: Tackling complex problems and driving them to completion.

• Empathy: Understanding and designing for the diverse needs of learners.

• Intentionality & Ethics: Particularly in the context of AI and education, a focus on responsible design.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Teams: Designers are integrated into product teams, working daily with product managers, engineers, content strategists, and researchers.

• Workshop-Driven: Use of design workshops and collaborative sessions to align teams and generate ideas.

• Feedback Culture: Expectation of giving and receiving constructive feedback through design crits and pair designing.

• Data-Informed: Collaboration is informed by user research, analytics, and experimentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a blend of innovation (AI transformation) and deep educational expertise, supported by strong collaborative practices and a commitment to user-centricity and quality.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for AI in Education: Navigating the complexities of integrating AI ethically and effectively into learning experiences, ensuring pedagogical soundness and avoiding bias.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Finding optimal solutions that satisfy diverse user needs (students, instructors, institutions) while meeting Pearson's business objectives and technical constraints.

• Driving Adoption of New Technologies: Introducing and gaining buy-in for AI-driven features and innovative learning approaches within the higher education market.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and communication across diverse teams with potentially different priorities and technical backgrounds.

• Scalability and Accessibility: Designing for a global user base with varying needs, technical access, and accessibility requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Education Specialization: Opportunities to become a leader in designing AI-powered learning experiences.

• Learning Science Integration: Deepen understanding and application of pedagogical principles in digital product design.

• Design System Advancement: Contribute to the evolution and strategic direction of Pearson's design system.

• Leadership Development: Mentoring opportunities and potential pathways into design leadership roles.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of EdTech innovation through research, conferences, and internal knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to Pearson's strategic focus on AI and digital transformation in education, providing significant opportunities for growth and impact for designers willing to tackle these complex areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX problem you solved for a higher education product. How did you approach it, what was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, user research, and impact).

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for a learning platform? What ethical considerations would you prioritize?" (Assess understanding of AI ethics, learning science, and user-centered AI design).

• "Walk me through your process for contributing to or developing a design system. How do you ensure scalability and accessibility?" (Evaluate design system expertise and strategic thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Pearson's mission and its transformation in the EdTech space?" (Gauge alignment with company vision).

• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers, engineers, and researchers? Describe a time you navigated a disagreement with a stakeholder." (Assess teamwork and communication skills).

• "How do you stay updated on trends in UX design, AI, and education technology?" (Evaluate continuous learning and industry awareness).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative – the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the impact.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase Process: Explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, heuristics, or business goals.

• Focus on Higher Ed/AI: Highlight projects relevant to the role's specific domain and technologies.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific contributions, technical constraints, and design rationale.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with others to achieve project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the advanced nature of the role and the specific industry focus, expect questions that test not only design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving in complex domains, and an understanding of educational technology and AI ethics.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Advanced Specialist, UX Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the Pearson careers portal via the provided link and complete the online application form.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant work, focusing on end-to-end UX design projects, design system contributions, user research, and any experience with AI or educational technology. Emphasize case studies that demonstrate measurable impact and your strategic thinking.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5-8 years of experience, highlighting key achievements and skills relevant to UX design, product design, user research, design systems, and collaboration. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio with confidence, explaining your process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Practice articulating your contributions clearly and concisely.

• Research Pearson: Familiarize yourself with Pearson's mission, its products (especially in higher education), its recent initiatives (like AI transformation), and its company values. Understand their approach to learning and education.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.