Digital Experience Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Digital Experience Design Director

Company: Slate Auto

Location: Troy, Michigan, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Digital Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: April 30, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Remote OK (US-based)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and execution for all customer-facing digital experiences, encompassing web, mobile applications, and in-vehicle Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of UI designers, UX designers, and copywriters to deliver exceptional digital products.

• Establish and evolve a robust digital design system to ensure consistency, accessibility, and reusability across web and native app platforms.

• Act as a key partner to Product and Software leadership, influencing roadmap prioritization and resolving design-engineering trade-offs to drive cohesive user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for a rapidly scaling automotive startup focused on reindustrialization and personalized EVs. The Director will be instrumental in shaping the brand's digital identity and customer journey from discovery to ownership, requiring a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on system building.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the overarching design vision for all digital touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and human-centered experience that aligns with Slate's brand strategy.

• Translate business objectives and product strategy into elegant, intuitive, and impactful user interfaces and interaction models for web, mobile, and in-vehicle systems.

• Lead the recruitment, development, and mentorship of a diverse design team, fostering a culture of craft, curiosity, and constructive feedback.

• Own and advance Slate's digital design system, ensuring its scalability, accessibility, and effective implementation across all digital products.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Software Engineering to integrate design processes seamlessly into agile development workflows, from ideation through to production delivery.

• Partner with Brand, Marketing, and Vehicle Design teams to ensure digital experiences are a true extension of the Slate brand identity.

• Champion and scale a user research practice, incorporating user testing, usability reviews, and data analysis to inform design decisions and iterative improvements.

• Represent the design team in executive-level discussions, clearly articulating design rationale, strategic intent, and customer advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "translating brand and product strategy into cohesive, human-centered design" and "scaling a lightweight but durable UX research practice" indicates a need for a leader who can balance strategic thinking with practical, data-informed execution in a fast-paced startup environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Product Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field, OR equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• 12+ years of experience in product design, UX, or UI design, with a focus on high-volume consumer or customer-facing digital experiences.

• A minimum of 5 years in a people leadership role, managing and growing design teams.

Required Skills:

• Design Leadership & Vision: Ability to define and drive a compelling design vision across multiple digital platforms.

• Portfolio Excellence: A strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end ownership of complex digital products, including strategy, research, interaction design, visual design, and successful delivery.

• Design Systems Mastery: Deep experience building, maintaining, and scaling design systems using atomic design principles (tokens, components, documentation, governance).

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product and engineering teams in agile environments, participating in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and technical trade-off discussions.

• Multi-Surface Design: Experience designing for web (responsive/adaptive), native mobile (iOS/Android), and/or embedded or in-vehicle UI.

• Tool Proficiency: Mastery of Figma and modern prototyping workflows; experience establishing team-wide design tooling standards.

• UX Research Acumen: Strong instincts for user research, knowing when to employ usability testing, data analysis, or informed intuition.

• Communication Skills: Excellent ability to present design decisions to executives, facilitate whiteboard sessions, and articulate design rationale clearly in writing.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience leading the design of new or scaling e-commerce platforms or digital marketplaces.

• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and component-based front-end frameworks (e.g., MUI, Tailwind) to facilitate credible discussions with engineers.

• Experience scaling a design team from an early-stage startup through a major product launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "equivalent professional experience" in lieu of a specific degree, combined with the preference for a Master's, suggests that practical, demonstrable expertise is highly valued. The emphasis on Figma and design system experience highlights the need for candidates who can establish and maintain a scalable design foundation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive case studies demonstrating end-to-end ownership of complex digital products from concept to launch.

• Evidence of strategic thinking, including problem definition, user research methodologies, and how design decisions addressed business objectives.

• Detailed examples of interaction design and visual design execution across web, mobile, and/or in-vehicle interfaces.

• Demonstration of design system development, including component libraries, design tokens, and documentation.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase of how design work is integrated into agile development sprints, including artifact creation, review, and handoff processes.

• Examples of workflow design and optimization strategies employed within previous roles.

• Documentation of how design decisions were validated and how feedback was incorporated.

• Demonstration of system implementation standards and the creation of reusable design patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on establishing and scaling design practices, the portfolio should not only showcase finished products but also the candidate's process, their ability to build repeatable systems, and their collaborative approach with engineering and product teams. Demonstrating experience with design system governance and iterative improvement based on data will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Eligibility for short-term and long-term incentive programs, including annual bonus and company equity.

• 401k match for retirement savings.

• Robust offering of health and wellness plans.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected for a leadership role in a startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Director-level design leadership role in the US, especially considering the emphasis on remote work flexibility. The inclusion of bonus, equity, and comprehensive benefits signals a robust total compensation package for this senior position. The salary range is based on the provided data for a US-based remote role with 10+ years of experience in a specialized design leadership capacity within the automotive technology sector.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive (Electric Vehicles), Technology, Manufacturing, E-commerce

Company Size: Startup (Pre-production phase, scaling rapidly)

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but context suggests a relatively new venture focused on reindustrialization and EV innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Digital Experience Design Director will be part of a senior leadership triad, alongside Product and Software leaders, jointly responsible for digital product strategy and execution.

• The role involves building and leading a multidisciplinary design team (UI, UX, Copywriting).

Methodology:

• The company operates with a "startup spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness," emphasizing "grit, determination, and attention to detail."

• Agile delivery processes are in place, with design integrated into sprint cycles.

• A focus on data-driven iteration, user testing, and continuous improvement is core to the design team's function.

• Emphasis on creating cohesive digital experiences that extend the Slate brand identity.

Company Website: slate.auto

📝 Enhancement Note: Slate Auto is positioned as a new American EV company focused on affordability and personalization, aiming for reindustrialization. The culture is described as "startup spirit," "grit," and "ingenuity," suggesting a fast-paced, hands-on environment that values innovation and direct feedback. The "One Team" value is particularly important for cross-functional collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Leadership / Director

This role represents a senior leadership position within the digital product organization. The Director is responsible for setting the strategic direction for digital user experience, building and managing a team, and establishing scalable design systems and processes. This is a critical role for shaping the company's core digital offerings and customer engagement.

Reporting Structure:

• Likely reports to a VP of Product, Chief Product Officer, or similar executive responsible for the digital product organization.

• Manages a team of designers and copywriters.

Operations Impact:

• Directly influences customer acquisition through the website and online marketplace, conversion rates through the configurator and purchasing flow, and customer retention/satisfaction via the ownership app and in-vehicle experience.

• Plays a key role in defining the brand's perception and differentiating Slate from competitors through superior digital experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow the design team significantly as the company scales and expands its product offerings.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term digital product roadmap and contribute to overall business strategy.

• Industry Impact: Be a foundational leader in a disruptive automotive startup, influencing the future of EV customer experience.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in automotive HMI design, e-commerce UX, and scaling digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a "build from the ground up" role, offering significant opportunity for impact and growth. The Director will not only manage but also define the design function and its strategic importance within the company, making it an attractive position for ambitious design leaders.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (The role is listed as Remote OK, with a primary location in Troy, Michigan. This implies flexibility, potentially with occasional in-office collaboration or team gatherings.)

Office Location(s): Troy, Michigan, United States (Primary hub), with the ability to work remotely within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as a "startup spirit," emphasizing "ingenuity and resourcefulness," "grit, determination, and attention to detail."

• Expect a fast-paced, dynamic setting where collaboration is key.

• Designers will work with modern tools like Figma and benefit from established design systems and processes.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, standard 40-hour work week is the baseline, but a leadership role in a startup often requires flexibility and dedication beyond standard hours, especially during critical launch phases or project deadlines. The remote option provides flexibility in managing one's work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While remote is an option, the presence of a physical headquarters in Troy, Michigan, suggests that team collaboration, potentially including occasional in-person meetings or retreats, may be part of the work environment. The "Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy" value points to an environment that prioritizes efficiency and adaptability.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Resume and portfolio review to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with required skills.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focusing on leadership philosophy, team building, design vision, and strategic approach to digital experience.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product and Software leadership to evaluate collaboration style, ability to partner, and understanding of agile development processes.

• Design Deep Dive/Portfolio Presentation: A comprehensive review of the candidate's portfolio, likely involving a presentation of key case studies detailing their process, strategic thinking, and impact. This will assess their ability to articulate design rationale and defend decisions.

• Executive Interview: Final discussion with senior leadership to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Present case studies that clearly illustrate your involvement from initial strategy and research through to final design delivery and iteration.

• Highlight Leadership & Team Building: Include examples of how you've mentored designers, built teams, and fostered a positive design culture.

• Emphasize Design Systems: Detail your experience in creating, scaling, and governing design systems. Explain the principles and processes you implemented.

• Demonstrate Strategic Impact: Clearly articulate the business problems you solved with your designs and quantify the impact (e.g., conversion improvements, engagement metrics, efficiency gains).

• Prepare for HMI/Automotive Context: If possible, include any relevant experience with in-vehicle interfaces or complex system design, and be ready to discuss how you'd approach automotive-specific challenges.

• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your workflow in Figma and how you leverage its features for collaboration, prototyping, and design system management.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach building a design team and design system from the ground up.

• Prepare to articulate your philosophy on balancing user needs with business goals and technical constraints.

• Anticipate questions about how you handle design-engineering trade-offs and conflict resolution within a cross-functional team.

• Consider how you would integrate user research into a fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review will be a critical component. Candidates should be prepared to present detailed case studies that not only showcase design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership experience, and process development, particularly concerning design systems and cross-functional collaboration in an agile setting.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools for Design:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as the primary tool. Expected proficiency in its full suite of features for UI design, prototyping, collaboration, and design system management.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other modern prototyping workflows is beneficial.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools for managing design tokens, component libraries, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for usability testing, user interviews, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting A/B and multivariate testing to optimize user experiences.

CRM & Automation (Indirectly Relevant for Collaboration):

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with agile project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) for workflow integration.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams for communication and team collaboration.

Development Technologies (for Credible Collaboration):

• HTML, CSS: Working knowledge to understand implementation constraints and discuss with engineers.

• Component-Based Front-End Frameworks: Familiarity with frameworks like MUI, Tailwind CSS.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and design systems is paramount. While direct use of CRM or automation tools might not be required for the designer, understanding how design integrates with these systems and the broader tech stack (especially front-end development) is crucial for effective collaboration with engineering.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Safety First: A foundational principle, likely extending to digital product safety and data security.

• Delight Customers: Core to the UX/Design role, focusing on creating positive and memorable interactions.

• One Team: Emphasizes collaboration, shared responsibility, and breaking down silos between departments.

• Relentless Improvement: A commitment to continuous learning, iteration, and optimization of processes and products.

• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy: Reflects a startup mentality, prioritizing efficiency, resourcefulness, and agile execution.

• Respectful Collaboration: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and communication is constructive.

• Positive Legacy: A broader mission-driven value, suggesting a focus on long-term impact and building something meaningful.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, especially with Product and Software Engineering leadership, forming a core decision-making unit.

• Partnership extends to Brand, Marketing, and Vehicle Design teams to ensure brand cohesion.

• Emphasis on direct feedback and open communication within the design team.

• Designers are expected to be proactive in integrating with agile development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values reflect a typical but ambitious startup culture focused on rapid innovation, customer centricity, and strong teamwork. The "Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy" value, combined with "Relentless Improvement," highlights an environment that demands adaptability and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing a comprehensive design team, process, and design system for a new automotive brand from its early stages.

• Balancing Innovation and Constraints: Designing for a highly regulated industry (automotive) with specific safety and HMI requirements while pushing innovative digital experiences.

• Scaling Design Operations: Growing the design function rapidly to meet the demands of pre-production, launch, and post-launch phases.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across diverse teams (digital, vehicle design, brand, marketing, engineering).

• Remote Team Management: Effectively leading and fostering culture within a potentially distributed design team.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Role: Opportunity to build and define the entire digital design function and culture for a new automotive company.

• Strategic Impact: Significant influence on product strategy and customer experience, shaping the future of the brand.

• Industry Disruption: Be at the forefront of innovation in the electric vehicle and automotive technology sector.

• Leadership Growth: Develop advanced skills in scaling teams, managing complex projects, and influencing executive decision-making.

• Cross-Domain Expertise: Gain experience in diverse areas such as e-commerce, mobile applications, and in-vehicle HMI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and growth opportunity lie in the "build it as you go" nature of a startup. This role offers immense potential for impact and career advancement for a leader who thrives in ambiguity and is eager to shape a new digital landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and drive the design vision for a new EV brand across web, mobile, and in-vehicle experiences?" (Prepare to discuss your process for synthesizing brand, product, and user needs.)

• "Describe your approach to building and scaling a design system. What are the key components and governance strategies you'd implement?" (Focus on atomic design, reusability, and collaboration with engineering.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Slate Auto's mission and the automotive industry's digital transformation?" (Research their reindustrialization focus, affordability, and personalization aspects.)

• "Based on our stated values (Safety First, Delight Customers, One Team, etc.), how would you foster a positive and productive design culture?" (Connect your leadership style to their values.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process undertaken, the solution, and the impact achieved.

• Focus on Strategic Thinking: Go beyond visual polish; explain why you made specific design decisions and how they aligned with business goals or user needs.

• Showcase Design System Expertise: Dedicate a portion of your presentation to your experience with design systems, including how you built, maintained, and evangelized them.

• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Provide examples of how you led teams, mentored designers, and collaborated effectively with cross-functional partners.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your design initiatives.

• Be Prepared for HMI/Automotive: If you have relevant experience, highlight it. If not, be ready to discuss how you would approach the unique challenges of in-vehicle design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tailor your portfolio presentation to emphasize leadership, strategic thinking, design system development, and cross-functional collaboration. Be ready to articulate your vision for Slate's digital experience and how you would build and lead the design function to achieve it.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Digital Experience Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://recar.wd108.myworkdayjobs.com/SLATEcareers/job/Troy-Michigan/Digital-Experience-Design-Director_JR100414

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature end-to-end product ownership case studies, design system development examples, and instances of leadership and cross-functional collaboration. Tailor the selection to highlight experience relevant to web, mobile, and ideally, HMI or complex system design.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 12+ years of experience in product/UX/UI design and your 5+ years in people leadership. Use keywords from the job description such as "design leadership," "design systems," "Figma," "cross-functional partnership," and "HMI." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on strategic rationale, process, impact, and leadership. Prepare to discuss your vision for Slate Auto's digital experience and how you would build and scale a design team in a startup environment.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Slate Auto's mission, values, and the electric vehicle market. Understand their commitment to reindustrialization, personalization, and affordability to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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.