designer, Digital UX & Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Designer, Digital UX & Design

Company: Starbucks

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Digital Design / User Experience

Date Posted: May 29, 2026

Experience Level: 0-2 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver world-class digital experiences across mobile, web, and in-store platforms for millions of Starbucks customers.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and data analysts, to bring innovative digital solutions to life.

• Support the creation of clean, intuitive user interfaces through a full design process, from research and planning to wireframing and prototyping.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of Starbucks' design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Digital organization, focusing on the end-to-end design of customer-facing digital products. The emphasis on "millions of users" and "in-store platforms" alongside mobile and web suggests a significant impact on the core customer journey and operational efficiency within the retail environment. The "0-2 years" experience level indicates a junior to mid-level position, suitable for individuals looking to grow their UX/UI design skills within a large, established brand.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop user interfaces and interaction flows for new features and enhancements across Starbucks' digital ecosystem (mobile app, web, in-store digital touchpoints).

• Conduct user research, competitive analysis, and data analysis to inform design decisions and identify opportunities for improved user experience.

• Create wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design concepts to stakeholders and development teams.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to ensure design feasibility, technical accuracy, and timely delivery of high-quality digital products.

• Contribute to the Starbucks design system by applying existing patterns, documenting new components, and providing feedback for system improvements.

• Prepare and present design solutions, rationale, and user insights to cross-functional teams, leadership, and other departments.

• Support the design file handoff process by providing clear specifications, assets, and interaction details to engineering and QA teams for seamless implementation.

• Participate in design critiques and provide constructive feedback to peers to foster a culture of continuous improvement and design excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on the entire design lifecycle, from initial concept and research to final implementation and system maintenance. The mention of "in-store platforms" and "underlying systems and platforms" suggests involvement in both customer-facing interfaces and potentially operational tools that support store functions, requiring a broad understanding of the digital product landscape within a retail context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 1+ years of experience designing customer-facing digital products. The emphasis is on the quality of work and approach to design challenges rather than strictly years of experience.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in UX and UI design principles, with a strong understanding of interaction design and visual design fundamentals.

• A robust portfolio showcasing a clear design process, problem-solving abilities, and successful execution of user-centered design solutions.

• Expertise in modern design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma, for collaborative design, wireframing, prototyping, and asset creation.

• A strong user-first perspective, with the ability to translate user needs, behaviors, and preferences into intuitive and engaging digital experiences.

• An iterative design mindset, receptive to feedback and adept at refining designs based on user insights and business objectives.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and solutions effectively to diverse audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for mobile ordering platforms, loyalty programs, retail environments, or e-commerce.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Hands-on experience with advanced prototyping tools and techniques.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and data analysis for design validation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is critical, emphasizing the need to demonstrate not just aesthetic skills but also a methodical approach to problem-solving and user advocacy. The specific mention of Figma highlights its importance as the primary design tool, and the preference for retail-specific experience suggests a focus on practical application within the company's operational context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 end-to-end design projects that demonstrate your UX/UI design process from problem definition to final solution.

• Highlight your problem-solving methodology and how you approached complex design challenges.

• Include detailed case studies for each project, explaining the user needs, business goals, your role, design decisions, and the outcomes achieved.

• Present wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final visual designs, clearly articulating the iterative design process.

• Demonstrate proficiency with Figma, showcasing your skills in wireframing, prototyping, and creating design assets within the tool.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, clearly articulate the design process followed, including research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and handoff.

• Document the rationale behind key design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business objectives.

• Explain how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, researchers) throughout the design process.

• If applicable, show examples of how you contributed to or utilized a design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a clear design process and problem-solving within the portfolio is paramount for a junior to mid-level role. Candidates should focus on demonstrating their ability to think critically and apply design principles systematically, rather than just presenting polished visuals. Highlighting collaboration and iteration is also key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Digital UX/UI Designer with 0-2 years of experience in Seattle, WA, the estimated annual base salary range is between $70,000 and $95,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Seattle, the company's industry, and the specific experience level required.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Life and disability insurance: Basic and supplemental life insurance, short-term and long-term disability.

• Paid time off: Paid vacation, sick time (accrued at 1 hour per 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year. Specific vacation accrual limits apply based on location.

• Retirement savings: 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.

• Equity and stock programs: Discounted company stock program (S.I.P.) and Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock).

• Financial wellness: Incentivized emergency savings and financial well-being tools.

• Education assistance: 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree through Arizona State University's online program (Starbucks College Achievement Plan), and student loan management resources.

• Family support: Paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, and backup care.

• Other benefits: DACA reimbursement, and voluntary insurance options.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically involving 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes a hybrid work model, requiring 4 days in the office per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for UX/UI designers in a major tech hub like Seattle, considering the junior to mid-level experience requirement. The provided benefits list is extensive and aligns with large corporate offerings, with particular emphasis on educational support and financial well-being programs, which are strong selling points. The hybrid work arrangement with 4 days in-office is a key detail for candidates to consider.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage / Retail / Technology. Starbucks operates at the intersection of traditional retail and digital innovation, leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience and streamline operations.

Company Size: Starbucks is a large, global corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale offers opportunities for significant impact and exposure to diverse projects and teams.

Founded: Starbucks was founded in 1971. Its long history is built on a commitment to quality coffee, community, and a unique customer experience, which now extends into its digital platforms.

Team Structure:

• The Digital UX & Design team is part of the broader Digital organization, likely comprising specialized roles such as UX Researchers, UI Designers, Interaction Designers, and Design Operations professionals.

• This team collaborates extensively with Product Management, Engineering, Data Analytics, Marketing, and Store Operations teams to ensure a cohesive and effective digital strategy.

Methodology:

• Starbucks likely employs a hybrid approach to design methodology, integrating agile development practices with user-centered design principles.

• Data-driven decision-making is crucial, with a focus on analyzing user behavior, A/B testing designs, and measuring the impact of digital features on customer engagement and business metrics.

• Emphasis is placed on iterative design, continuous improvement, and maintaining brand consistency across all digital touchpoints.

Company Website: starbucks.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture at Starbucks is known for valuing its partners (employees) and fostering a sense of community. For a digital design role, this translates to a collaborative environment where cross-functional teamwork is essential. The company's commitment to digital transformation means this role is integral to the future of the brand's customer engagement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a junior to mid-level Digital UX/UI Designer. It offers a foundational opportunity to build expertise in designing for a large-scale, customer-facing digital ecosystem. The position implies a focus on execution and learning under the guidance of senior designers.

Reporting Structure: The Designer will likely report to a UX/UI Design Manager or Lead within the Digital organization. This manager will provide guidance, feedback, and support for career development. Collaboration will extend across various departments, including Product Management and Engineering.

Operations Impact: The work of a Digital UX/UI Designer at Starbucks has a direct and significant impact on millions of customer interactions daily. Successful designs can enhance customer loyalty, drive sales through digital channels (ordering, payments, loyalty programs), and improve the overall brand perception by creating seamless and enjoyable digital experiences. The role contributes to the company's strategic goal of digital innovation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like mobile UX, interaction design for complex systems, or design for retail environments.

• Design System Contribution: Grow into a role focused on design system management or architecture.

• Leadership Development: Potential to advance into senior designer roles, lead design projects, and eventually move into design management or team lead positions.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse teams, understanding different facets of the business from product development to store operations.

• Learning & Development: Access to internal training, workshops, and potentially external conferences or courses to stay current with design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a designer at this level, growth is typically structured through increasing project complexity, mentorship from senior designers, and expanding responsibilities within the design system or specific product areas. The company's scale provides ample opportunity to gain diverse experience.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle, WA, which houses corporate functions. This implies a professional office environment conducive to collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Starbucks Support Center, Seattle, Washington. This central location in Seattle provides access to urban amenities and public transportation.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed for collaboration, with opportunities for designers to interact with colleagues from Product Management, Engineering, and other digital teams.

• Access to standard office technology and design software (Figma) will be provided.

• The hybrid work model (4 days in office) suggests a balance between in-person collaboration and independent work, allowing for focused design tasks.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, with an expectation of 4 days per week spent in the Seattle office. This hybrid arrangement supports team cohesion and spontaneous collaboration while allowing for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a significant aspect of the work environment. The expectation of 4 days in the office suggests a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration, team building, and maintaining a connected company culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review applications, focusing on resume and portfolio.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing their design process and problem-solving approach. A design challenge, potentially a take-home assignment or an in-person/virtual whiteboard exercise, may be given to assess design thinking and execution skills.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager and potential team members to assess technical skills, cultural fit, and collaboration style. Questions will focus on design philosophy, experience with Figma, and approach to user-centered design.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, or other departments to evaluate collaboration capabilities and understanding of business objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your skills relevant to the job description (customer-facing digital products, mobile/web, Figma proficiency).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, key decisions made, and the impact or outcome. Use visuals effectively to guide the narrative.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your thinking process, user research, iteration, and how you addressed challenges. Show your work in progress, not just final polished designs.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be prepared to discuss your use of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, collaboration, and design system integration.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction).

• Be Concise and Clear: Present your work in a well-organized and easy-to-understand manner, respecting the allotted time.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a take-home challenge is provided, thoroughly read and understand the prompt, goals, and constraints.

• Embrace the Process: Focus on demonstrating a strong design process, even if you don't have time to perfect every pixel. Show your thinking.

• User-Centricity: Ensure your solution is grounded in user needs and business objectives.

• Communicate Clearly: Be prepared to articulate your rationale and design choices verbally and/or visually.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio and a potential design challenge underscores the practical nature of this role. Candidates should prepare to deeply articulate their design process and demonstrate their ability to solve real-world problems using Figma.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is mandatory.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for advanced functionalities or specific project needs.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for managing and contributing to design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Understanding how to interpret user data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that help visualize user behavior and performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct requirement for a UX designer, understanding how CRM systems and marketing automation platforms interact with customer-facing digital products can provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is highlighted as the core design tool. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their proficiency in Figma and how they leverage its collaborative and prototyping features. Awareness of analytics tools is also valuable for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of Starbucks customers through intuitive and delightful digital experiences.

• Partnership: Fostering a collaborative environment where designers work effectively with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders to achieve common goals.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative thinking and exploring new digital solutions to enhance the customer journey and differentiate the Starbucks brand.

• Excellence: Striving for high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering polished, user-friendly products.

• Inclusivity: Designing for all customers, adhering to accessibility standards and promoting inclusive design practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be active participants in cross-functional teams, contributing design expertise throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and sharing of ideas among team members.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Embracing a process where designs are shared early and often, with feedback integrated to refine solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on customer focus, partnership, and innovation aligns with Starbucks' brand ethos. For a designer, this means being a strong advocate for the user while also understanding business objectives and working effectively within a team structure.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively navigating the need to create user-centric designs while also meeting Starbucks' business objectives and technical constraints.

• Scalability and Consistency: Ensuring designs are scalable across a vast digital ecosystem and maintain brand consistency across various platforms and touchpoints.

• Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying current with emerging design trends, technologies, and user expectations in the fast-paced digital world.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Managing feedback and requirements from multiple stakeholders with potentially differing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in specific areas like complex interaction design, motion design, or advanced prototyping.

• Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge and contribution to large-scale design systems, potentially leading to specialized roles in design operations or governance.

• User Research Exposure: Gain more hands-on experience with user research methodologies and translating insights into actionable design improvements.

• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance and mentorship from senior designers and design leads within the organization.

• Industry Trends: Access to resources and opportunities to learn about new design tools, techniques, and best practices in the UX/UI field.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an excellent opportunity for a junior designer to tackle significant challenges within a well-established brand, providing a strong foundation for future career growth in UX/UI design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements in a design project. How did you resolve it?" (Focus: Stakeholder management, negotiation, design rationale)

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio that demonstrates your problem-solving approach. What was the problem, your solution, and the outcome?" (Focus: Problem-solving, design process, impact)

• "How do you ensure your designs are user-centered and meet accessibility standards?" (Focus: User advocacy, inclusivity, design principles)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about designing for Starbucks?" (Focus: Brand alignment, passion for the company)

• "How do you incorporate feedback into your design process?" (Focus: Iterative mindset, coachability)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Start with an overview, dive into key projects with clear problem statements, your process, and outcomes.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your contributions, especially in team projects.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points and process.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions about specific design decisions, alternatives considered, and the rationale behind them.

• Showcase Figma Expertise: Be ready to discuss your workflow and specific features used in Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process clearly and provide specific examples from their portfolio that demonstrate problem-solving, user advocacy, and collaboration using Figma.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Digital UX & Design position:

• Submit your application through the Starbucks careers portal, ensuring your resume and portfolio link are up-to-date and easily accessible.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best align with the job description, focusing on customer-facing digital products, mobile/web experiences, and your proficiency with Figma.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your years of experience, key skills (UX/UI design, Figma, prototyping, user research), and any relevant retail or e-commerce design experience. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving methodology, and the rationale behind your design decisions. Prepare to discuss your experience with Figma and how you approach user-centered design and collaboration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Starbucks' digital presence, mobile app, and any recent digital initiatives to better understand their design context and challenges.

⚠️ 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.