Design Systems Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Systems Designer

Company: Genius AI

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Operations / Product Design Infrastructure

Date Posted: 2026-09-15

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the vision, strategy, and execution for Genius AI's design system, ensuring scalability and consistency across all digital products.

• Architect, maintain, and evolve a comprehensive component library and design token system for both web and mobile platforms.

• Champion best practices in UI craft, accessibility, and design-to-development handoff to empower product teams.

• Collaborate closely with engineering, product management, and other designers to influence product strategy and adoption of system standards.

• Play a pivotal role in the company-wide rebrand initiative, translating the new visual language into a robust and maintainable design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Design Systems Designer," its focus on owning the vision, influencing roadmaps, and leading the system's evolution positions it as a strategic operations role within the design function, akin to a Design Operations or Product Design Infrastructure lead. The emphasis on process, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration aligns it with core Revenue Operations principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and own the long-term vision and strategic roadmap for the Genius AI design system.

• Architect and meticulously maintain a scalable, well-documented, and reusable component library for web and mobile applications.

• Lead the creation and governance of design tokens, variables, and naming conventions to ensure a consistent and flexible visual language.

• Streamline and optimize the design-to-development handoff process, fostering close partnerships with engineering teams.

• Champion and enforce high standards for UI craft, accessibility (WCAG compliance), and overall product quality.

• Develop and manage comprehensive documentation and contribution guidelines to facilitate system adoption and collaboration.

• Spearhead the integration of the new company-wide visual identity into the design system during the rebrand.

• Evaluate and implement AI-powered tools and workflows to enhance design velocity and system efficiency.

• Mentor and elevate the design craft of other designers within the organization through collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing.

• Influence product roadmap prioritization by providing strategic insights on the design system's capabilities and future direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, typical for a senior role driving critical operational infrastructure. The mention of "AI-powered workflows" and "company-wide rebrand" suggests a dynamic environment where process innovation and large-scale change management are key.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial for understanding system architecture and technical constraints.

Experience: 4+ years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant and demonstrable focus on design systems, component libraries, or design infrastructure.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience leading the vision and execution of a design system in a production environment.

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma, including advanced use of components, variables, auto layout, and libraries.

• Deep understanding of systems thinking, with the ability to design for scalability, edge cases, and future growth.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to align engineers, PMs, and designers effectively.

• Excellent communication and articulation skills, capable of defending design decisions and influencing stakeholders.

• Strong mobile-first design sensibility and experience.

• Hands-on experience with core design system pillars: Tokens, Accessibility, collaboration with developers, Documentation, and Contribution models.

• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional UI craft, end-to-end product thinking, and design system impact. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Storybook, Tokens Studio, or Style Dictionary for component documentation and management.

• Experience with rebrand initiatives or major platform evolution projects.

• Familiarity with AI tools relevant to design and development workflows (e.g., Cursor, Claude).

• Experience in contributing to or defining design governance models.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "leading" the design system and "not just contributing" signifies a need for a candidate with proven ownership and strategic influence, beyond standard design contributions. The "4+ years" combined with "senior" title suggests a mid-to-senior level candidate capable of operating with minimal oversight.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design work, with a distinct emphasis on design system contributions and impact.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating ownership of a design system, including its architecture, component library, and evolution over time.

• Evidence of how the design system facilitated consistency, scalability, and efficiency across multiple products or features.

• Examples of design token implementation, variable usage, and adherence to naming conventions.

• Demonstrations of how design system principles were applied to solve complex UI challenges and ensure a cohesive user experience. Process Documentation:

• Examples of well-structured design system documentation, including guidelines for component usage, contribution models, and governance policies.

• Case studies illustrating the process of driving design-to-development handoff, including collaboration with engineering and iteration based on production feedback.

• Documentation or examples of accessibility standards and how they were integrated into the design system.

• Artifacts showcasing the development and implementation of design tokens and their impact on visual consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Design Systems Designer, the portfolio is critical for demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to build and scale operational infrastructure. It should highlight impact on team velocity and product consistency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The provided salary range for this position is $170,000 - $210,000 USD per year. This range is competitive for a Senior Design Systems Designer role in a major metropolitan area like New York City, reflecting the advanced skills, experience, and strategic responsibilities required.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellbeing programs.

• Retirement Savings plan (e.g., 401k) with potential company match.

• Equity Plan, offering ownership stake in Genius AI's growth.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference attendance.

• Hybrid work environment with 2 days in the NYC office.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility, with team collaboration prioritized on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is well within industry standards for senior-level design operations and infrastructure roles in high-cost-of-living areas like New York City. The benefits package is typical for a growth-stage tech company aiming to attract and retain top talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on AI-powered solutions for local businesses. Genius AI operates within the SaaS (Software as a Service) and AI/ML sectors, aiming to automate administrative tasks for small businesses.

Company Size: The company has experienced significant growth, indicated by its investment in scaling design systems and undergoing a major rebrand. While exact numbers aren't provided, the scope of operations and ambition suggests a company that is likely in the growth-stage, possibly ranging from 100-500 employees, requiring robust operational processes.

Founded: Genius AI was founded with a mission to empower local businesses through technology. The company's history is marked by innovation and a focus on delivering tangible value, evidenced by metrics like saved admin hours and increased revenue for their clients.

Team Structure:

• The Design Systems team is part of a larger design organization, likely collaborating closely with product design, UX research, and engineering departments.

• The Senior Design Systems Designer will report into a Design Lead or Head of Design, with significant autonomy in driving the design system's direction.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, involving regular interaction with Product Managers, Frontend Engineers, and potentially Brand Designers. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is emphasized, as indicated by the company's metrics and focus on AI.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed for product development, requiring efficient design-to-development workflows.

• A strong emphasis on user empathy, particularly for small business owners, informs product and design strategies.

Company Website: https://genius.ai

📝 Enhancement Note: Genius AI's focus on AI for local businesses suggests a mission-driven culture that values efficiency, automation, and empowering underserved markets. The investment in a design system and rebrand indicates a commitment to scaling and professionalizing its product development and brand identity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level, implying a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and leadership within the design systems domain. It's a critical infrastructure role that supports the entire product development lifecycle and impacts the efficiency and consistency of all design output.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Design Systems Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Director of Design, or Head of Product Design. They are expected to operate with minimal oversight, influencing peers and stakeholders across engineering and product.

Operations Impact: The design system is a foundational operational tool. This role directly impacts:

• Product Consistency & Quality: Ensures a unified brand experience and high-quality UI across all Genius AI products.

• Team Velocity & Efficiency: Reduces redundant design and development work, allowing teams to ship features faster.

• Scalability: Provides the framework to support rapid product growth and new feature development.

• Brand Cohesion: Crucial for the success of the company-wide rebrand initiative.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Systems Lead or Manager role, building and managing a dedicated design systems team.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of design and product development at Genius AI.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design infrastructure, AI tools for design, and complex system architecture.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and evangelizing design system best practices.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of engineering processes, product strategy, and AI development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for an experienced designer to establish and lead critical operational infrastructure. The growth path could lead to management, specialized technical leadership, or broader product strategy roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring 2 days per week in the New York City headquarters (Tuesdays & Thursdays). This setup aims to balance the flexibility of remote work with the benefits of in-person collaboration and team building.

Office Location(s): New York, New York, United States. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to be collaborative, supporting the in-person collaboration days for design system team meetings, workshops, and cross-functional alignment sessions.

• Access to the necessary tools and technology for design systems work, including robust Figma setups, collaboration platforms, and potentially specialized design infrastructure tools.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with engineering and product teams to ensure seamless integration of the design system into the development workflow.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time schedule, with flexibility for remote work days. The hybrid model emphasizes structured in-office days for key collaborative activities, ensuring efficient communication and alignment on design system initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is common in the tech industry, aiming to capture the benefits of both remote flexibility and in-person synergy. The designated office days (Tuesdays & Thursdays) suggest a deliberate strategy for maximizing collaborative opportunities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess initial fit.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, focusing on design system experience, strategic thinking, and problem-solving approaches. Expect to discuss specific case studies and your role in driving design system initiatives.

• Design Exercise/Challenge: A practical task, potentially involving evaluating existing components, proposing improvements, or designing a new pattern within a system context. This may be timed and require presentation.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with engineers, product managers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate overall strategic alignment and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Ownership: Clearly articulate your role and impact in leading or significantly contributing to design systems. Use "I" statements for your direct contributions and "We" for team efforts.

• Showcase Process: Detail the steps involved in creating, documenting, and scaling your design systems. Include challenges faced and how you overcame them.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your work (e.g., reduction in design/dev time, increase in consistency score, adoption rates).

• Focus on Systems Thinking: Illustrate your ability to see patterns, build for scale, and consider edge cases.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Show how you partnered with engineers, PMs, and other designers.

• Tailor to Genius AI: Research Genius AI's products and brand. If possible, highlight how your experience aligns with their mission and potential rebrand needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Design Systems Fundamentals: Be ready to discuss core concepts like design tokens, component states, accessibility standards, and contribution models.

• Figma Proficiency: Prepare to demonstrate advanced Figma skills, including variables, auto layout, and component best practices.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would approach a specific design system challenge (e.g., onboarding new teams, managing technical debt, integrating new patterns).

• Communication: Practice articulating complex design and technical concepts clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a thorough evaluation of both design craft and operational leadership. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates process, impact, and systems thinking is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design, prototyping, component creation, and library management. Expertise in advanced features like variables, auto layout, and component properties is critical.

• Design System Management Platforms: While not explicitly listed, tools like Zeplin or Abstract may be used for design-to-dev handoff and version control.

• AI Design Tools: Curiosity and potential experience with AI-powered design tools like Cursor (for code assistance) or Claude (for generative AI support) are a plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with how design system adoption and impact are tracked (e.g., usage metrics, consistency audits).

• Documentation Platforms: Tools for hosting design system documentation (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, Confluence).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly applicable to the core design system role, understanding how the design system integrates with broader product development workflows and potentially how it supports CRM or automation features within Genius AI's offerings could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. Experience with specific design token tools (Tokens Studio, Style Dictionary) and component documentation platforms (Storybook) are highly desirable and indicate a deeper level of expertise in design systems infrastructure.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Empowerment: A core value is empowering small business owners through technology, which translates to building tools that empower internal teams.

• Efficiency & Automation: The company's mission is rooted in automating busywork, suggesting a culture that values efficiency, process optimization, and leveraging technology (including AI) to achieve more with less.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: The emphasis on a robust design system and rebrand points to a commitment to high-quality design and execution.

• Collaboration & Ownership: The expectation for minimal oversight and strong cross-functional alignment highlights values of autonomy, responsibility, and teamwork.

• Innovation: The integration of AI and focus on evolving technology indicates a culture that embraces innovation and forward-thinking solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Designers are expected to work closely with engineers and PMs, acting as partners rather than order-takers.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are ideally backed by data, whether it's user research, product analytics, or design system adoption metrics.

• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages continuous improvement through feedback loops and iterative development.

• Transparent Communication: Open communication channels are essential for aligning on standards, sharing progress, and resolving issues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Genius AI seems to value a blend of mission-driven purpose, technological innovation, and operational excellence. The design system role is central to fostering consistency and efficiency, aligning perfectly with these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling the System: Evolving the design system to support rapid product growth and new feature development while maintaining performance and ease of use.

• Driving Adoption: Ensuring widespread adoption of the design system across multiple product teams, overcoming potential resistance or inertia.

• Rebrand Integration: Successfully translating and implementing a company-wide rebrand into a cohesive and functional design system.

• AI Integration: Exploring and effectively integrating AI-powered tools into design workflows without compromising quality or introducing new complexities.

• Balancing Autonomy and Collaboration: Operating with minimal oversight while maintaining strong alignment and collaborative relationships across diverse teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Systems Leadership: Opportunity to define and lead the strategic direction of a critical design infrastructure.

• AI in Design: Hands-on experience with emerging AI tools and their application in design systems and workflows.

• Rebrand Execution: Gaining experience in large-scale visual identity implementation and systemization.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Developing leadership skills by mentoring designers and potentially helping to build out the design systems function.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Deepening understanding of engineering, product management, and business strategy within a fast-growing AI company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges in terms of scale, change management, and technological integration, all of which offer substantial opportunities for professional growth and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define the vision for a design system at a rapidly scaling AI company like Genius AI, especially during a rebrand?" (Focus on strategic alignment, scalability, and rebrand integration.)

• "Describe your process for ensuring high adoption rates of a design system across multiple product teams. What are the key enablers and potential roadblocks?" (Highlight collaboration, documentation, training, and addressing team needs.)

• "Given our focus on AI, how might you leverage AI tools to enhance the design system's efficiency, documentation, or component creation process?" (Show curiosity and practical application of AI.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Genius AI's mission to help local businesses?" (Connect your values to their mission.)

• "How do you approach working with engineers to ensure seamless handoff and implementation of design system components?" (Emphasize partnership, clear communication, and shared ownership.)

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders who were resistant to adopting new design standards or processes." (Focus on communication, data, and problem-solving.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation around 2-3 key design system projects. For each, clearly state the problem, your role, the solution (your design system contributions), the process, and the impact.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly discuss how you approached scalability, reusability, and consistency. Use diagrams or visual aids to explain system architecture.

• Showcase Figma Expertise: Be prepared to walk through specific examples in Figma, demonstrating your proficiency with components, variables, and auto layout.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics on adoption, efficiency gains, or quality improvements that resulted from your design system work.

• Address the Rebrand: If you have relevant experience, discuss how you've managed visual identity changes within design systems.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your decision-making process, technical implementation considerations, and how you managed trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, deep technical expertise in design systems, strong collaborative abilities, and a clear understanding of how design systems function as critical operational infrastructure.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Systems Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with design systems, Figma mastery, and contributions to product infrastructure. Use keywords from the job description, such as "design systems," "component libraries," "design tokens," "Figma," "scalability," and "cross-functional collaboration."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest design system projects that showcase leadership, process, and impact. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your solution, your process, and quantifiable results.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design system philosophy, your approach to collaboration, and how you drive adoption and efficiency. Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on strategic impact.

• Research Genius AI: Understand their mission, products (GlossGenius, Reception), and the implications of their AI focus and upcoming rebrand. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

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