Lead, UX Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead, UX Design

Company: Kyndryl

Location: United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Design, Product Design

Date Posted: June 12, 2025

Experience Level: 8+ years

Remote Status: Remote

🎨 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end UX efforts including user research, interaction design, and visual design for sophisticated SaaS applications within the cloud IaaS domain.
• Shape the UX culture and processes for the Skytap business under Kyndryl, focusing on delivering elegant, intuitive, and consistent user experiences, even more so in the age of AI.
• Collaborate closely with customers, engineers, and product managers to understand technical constraints and user needs, translating them into high-quality design solutions.
• Lead design initiatives across the product lifecycle, from initial discovery and ideation through detailed design, prototyping, and implementation, emphasizing systems thinking and attention to detail.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Lead UX design initiatives across the entire product lifecycle, encompassing initial discovery, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, detailed interaction design, and visual design specification.
• Conduct lightweight user research activities, competitive analysis, and usability testing to gather insights that inform design direction and validate design solutions for enterprise users of cloud infrastructure.
• Create and maintain detailed design artifacts including wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and comprehensive UI specifications using industry-standard tools like Figma.
• Collaborate closely and proactively with engineering teams throughout the development process to understand technical constraints, ensure accurate implementation of designs, and maintain design quality.
• Drive consistency and scalability in the user experience by thoughtfully utilizing and contributing to design systems, shared interaction patterns, and component libraries across the product suite.
• Work incrementally and iteratively, testing design ideas directly with customers, rapidly iterating based on feedback and data, and adjusting designs to optimize for user needs and business goals.
• Partner strategically with product managers and key stakeholders to influence roadmap priorities, advocating for user needs and identifying experience gaps based on research and usability insights.
• Establish, refine, and document scalable design processes, standards, and best practices to support the growth and maturity of the UX design practice within the Skytap business unit.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred for a Lead-level design role. Equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies will also be highly valued.

Experience: A minimum of 8+ years of dedicated UX design experience is required, with a strong preference for experience in cloud IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) or similar technical product environments. A compelling portfolio showcasing user-centered design process, UI craftsmanship, and systems thinking across complex applications is essential for demonstrating the required experience level.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in end-to-end UX design, including user research, interaction design, and visual design principles and practices.
• Proven ability to lead design initiatives across the product lifecycle, from discovery and ideation to implementation and iteration.
• Strong proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools, with specific mention of Figma. Experience with other tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, or InVision is also beneficial.
• Experience conducting various user research methods, competitive analysis, and usability testing to inform design decisions and validate concepts.
• Solid understanding of front-end web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and the technical feasibility and constraints involved in implementing designs.
• Experience working effectively within agile development methodologies and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including engineers and product managers.
• Demonstrated systems thinking approach to design, with the ability to create consistent, scalable, and intuitive user experiences across complex applications.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with a passion for crafting polished and high-quality user interfaces.
• Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills, with the ability to advocate for users, present design rationale, and effectively receive and incorporate feedback.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design systems and contributing to or maintaining a design system library.
• Familiarity with analytics tools like Pendo for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.
• Experience designing for enterprise-level applications and understanding the unique needs of technical users and administrators.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for creating inclusive user experiences.
• Experience mentoring or guiding junior designers.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should clearly demonstrate your end-to-end UX design process, showcasing how you approach problem identification, research, ideation, design, and validation.
• Include detailed case studies for several key projects, particularly those involving complex SaaS applications or technical product environments, outlining the challenge, your role, your process, and the impact of your design solutions.
• Present high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that showcase your UI craftsmanship, attention to detail, and understanding of visual design principles.
• If applicable, demonstrate your understanding of technical constraints and collaboration with engineering by including examples of design handoff documentation or discussions.

Process Documentation:

• Document your research and discovery phase, including methods used (e.g., user interviews, competitive analysis), key findings, and how these insights informed your design direction.
• Showcase your ideation and iteration methods, including sketches, wireframes, low-fidelity prototypes, and how you explored different design solutions.
• Detail your validation and testing approaches, including usability testing methodologies, key findings, and how feedback was incorporated into subsequent design iterations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The compensation range for this position in the U.S. is stated as $88,680 to $168,480 based on a full-time schedule. This range reflects the seniority of the role and the technical nature of the domain. The actual compensation may vary depending on geography, job-related skills, and experience. For part-time roles, the compensation will be adjusted appropriately. The pay or salary range will not be below any applicable state, city, or local minimum wage requirement.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage to support your health and well-being.
• Disability insurance provides financial security in case of illness or injury.
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for your future.
• Paid leave and paid time off, allowing for work-life balance and personal time.
• Eligibility for Kyndryl’s discretionary annual bonus program, based on performance and subject to the terms of applicable plans.
• Access to employee learning programs with industry-leading resources and certifications (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Skillsoft, etc.) for continuous professional development in design and technology.
• Opportunities to participate in company-wide volunteering and giving initiatives through a dedicated platform.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position. While specific daily hours may vary depending on project needs and collaboration requirements across time zones for a remote role, the expectation is generally around 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility to accommodate creative flow and global team interactions.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: IT Services and IT Consulting, specifically focusing on designing, building, managing, and modernizing mission-critical technology systems. This role is within the Skytap business unit, which specializes in cloud IaaS, indicating a focus on complex, technical user interfaces for enterprise clients.

Company Size: Kyndryl is a large public company with over 10,001 employees globally (58,049 according to LinkedIn). Working within a large organization means opportunities for collaboration across diverse teams and access to extensive resources, but also potentially more structured processes.

Founded: Kyndryl was founded in 2021 as a spin-off from IBM, bringing with it a legacy of enterprise technology expertise while establishing its own identity and culture. This relatively recent founding date suggests a dynamic environment focused on establishing new processes and ways of working.

Team Structure:

• The role is described as a foundational member of the product team, implying close collaboration with product managers and engineers.
• As a Lead UX Designer, you may work within a smaller, focused design team dedicated to the Skytap product, potentially reporting to a design manager or product leader.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, product management, and potentially customer success or sales teams will be essential for gathering requirements and ensuring design implementation.

Methodology:

• The mention of working closely with engineers in agile development environments indicates the use of agile or lean methodologies.
• The focus on user research, iterative design, and testing with customers suggests a user-centered design approach integrated within the agile sprints.
• Emphasis on using design systems and shared interaction patterns implies a structured approach to maintaining design consistency and efficiency.

Company Website: https://kyndryl.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is titled "Lead, UX Design" and described with "Senior UX Designer" responsibilities, indicating a position above a standard Senior Designer but potentially below a Manager or Principal Designer. It involves leading design initiatives and influencing strategy, suggesting a path towards design leadership or deeper specialization.

Reporting Structure: As a foundational member of the product team, this role likely reports to a Design Manager or a Product Leader within the Skytap business unit. The reporting structure will influence the level of autonomy and strategic input the Lead Designer has.

Design Impact: Design at Kyndryl, particularly within a product unit like Skytap, has a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and overall satisfaction of enterprise clients managing critical cloud infrastructure. The role emphasizes influencing roadmap priorities, indicating that design insights are valued in shaping the product direction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Further specialization in designing complex technical interfaces or cloud-specific UX challenges.
• Potential to move into a Design Management role, leading a team of UX designers within the Skytap unit or a broader Kyndryl product area.
• Opportunities to contribute to or lead the development and expansion of the company's design system.
• Growth into a Principal Designer role, focusing on strategic design initiatives, innovation, and mentoring across multiple product areas.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: This is a remote position, indicating a distributed team environment. While there is no central "studio," the company likely utilizes virtual collaboration tools and platforms to facilitate teamwork and communication among designers and cross-functional teams.

Office Location(s): The primary location listed is "No City (KUS51446) Washington Default MY3" and "All Cities - USA," confirming the remote nature of the role within the United States. While Kyndryl has physical office locations (e.g., New York City headquarters), this specific role is designated as remote.

Design Workspace Context:

• As a remote designer, you will be responsible for creating your own productive workspace.
• Collaboration will primarily occur through video conferencing, instant messaging, and shared design tools, requiring strong remote communication skills.
• Opportunities for interaction with the design team and cross-functional partners will be facilitated through scheduled virtual meetings, design critiques, and collaborative working sessions.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time. While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the remote nature may offer some flexibility. However, coordination with team members and stakeholders across potentially different time zones will be necessary, requiring adaptability in scheduling.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• The interview process will likely begin with an initial screening call by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit. Prepare to discuss your experience and interest in the role and Kyndryl.
• Following the screening, you can expect interviews with members of the design team, product managers, and potentially engineering leads or hiring managers. These interviews will focus on your portfolio, design process, problem-solving skills, and collaboration style. Be prepared to walk through specific case studies in detail.
• A design challenge or take-home exercise may be part of the process. This could involve a hypothetical design problem related to the technical domain or an iteration on an existing product feature. Be prepared to articulate your thinking process and rationale.
• Interviews will also assess cultural fit and your ability to work effectively within a large organization and a remote team environment. Be ready to discuss your collaboration style and how you handle feedback.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight projects relevant to complex SaaS applications or technical products, emphasizing your experience in the cloud IaaS space if applicable.
• Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your role, your user-centered process (research, ideation, testing), your design solutions, and the impact or outcomes.
• Be prepared to discuss your design decisions and rationale in detail, explaining the "why" behind your choices and how they address user needs and business goals.
• Showcase your proficiency with Figma and other relevant tools, demonstrating not just final designs but also your workflow.

Challenge Preparation:

• If given a design challenge, clarify the scope and expectations upfront.
• Allocate sufficient time to understand the problem, conduct minimal necessary research (if applicable), explore different solutions, and refine your chosen direction.
• Structure your presentation to clearly articulate your understanding of the problem, your process, your proposed solution, and your rationale. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and alternative approaches.
• Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, focusing on storytelling and demonstrating your problem-solving skills.

ATS Keywords:

• Design Skills: UX Design, User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, User Research, Usability Testing, Wireframing, Prototyping, Information Architecture, Design Systems, Systems Thinking, UI Design, Design Strategy, Agile UX, Lean UX, Design Thinking, Accessibility, Inclusive Design.
• Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Pendo, Miro, Mural, Zeplin, Abstract, Storybook.
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, User-Centered Design (UCD), Design Sprints, Iterative Design, Lean Startup.
• Soft Skills: Collaboration, Communication, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Mentoring, Stakeholder Management, Presentation Skills, Adaptability, Detail-Oriented.
• Industry Terms: SaaS, Cloud IaaS, Enterprise Software, Technical Product, B2B, AI, Machine Learning, Infrastructure Management, Data Visualization, Complex Systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Required proficiency for creating wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and detailed UI specifications. Expect to utilize its collaboration features for real-time teamwork.
• Pendo: Mentioned as a potential tool, suggesting its use for product analytics, understanding user behavior, and potentially in-app guides or feedback collection to inform design iterations.
• Expect to use other standard design tools as needed, potentially including Sketch or Adobe XD if parts of the existing design system or legacy files are in other formats.
• Tools for creating interactive prototypes to test user flows and interactions (e.g., InVision, Figma's prototyping features).

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Collaboration tools for communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence).
• Handoff tools for developers, potentially integrated with Figma or separate platforms like Zeplin or Abstract, to ensure accurate implementation of designs.
• Documentation tools for maintaining design specifications, style guides, and design system documentation.

Research & Testing:

• Tools for conducting remote user interviews and usability testing (e.g., Zoom, Lookback, UserTesting.com).
• Survey tools for gathering user feedback (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).
• Analytics platforms (like Pendo, potentially Google Analytics or similar enterprise tools) to measure design performance and identify areas for improvement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• A strong emphasis on user-centered design, focusing on understanding the needs of enterprise users managing critical cloud infrastructure.
• Value placed on collaboration and communication, working closely with engineering, product management, and customers to deliver effective solutions.
• A culture of continuous iteration and improvement, testing ideas with users and adapting designs based on feedback and data.
• Expectation of systems thinking and attention to detail to create consistent, scalable, and high-quality user experiences across complex applications.

Collaboration Style:

• Close cross-functional collaboration with engineering and product teams throughout the agile development process.
• Likely involves regular design critiques and feedback sessions within the design team to share work and receive constructive input.
• Emphasis on clear communication and documentation to ensure alignment and smooth handoff to development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Designing complex user interfaces for sophisticated cloud infrastructure management, requiring a deep understanding of technical concepts and user workflows.
• Balancing the needs of experienced technical users with the goal of creating intuitive and accessible interfaces, especially in the age of AI integration.
• Working incrementally and iterating quickly within an agile framework while maintaining design consistency and a long-term vision for the product's user experience.
• Shaping the UX culture and processes within the Skytap business unit under Kyndryl, requiring leadership and influence without direct managerial authority.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in designing for cloud technologies and enterprise-level technical products.
• Enhance skills in strategic design, influencing product roadmaps and advocating for user needs at a higher level.
• Opportunities to contribute to or lead the development of the design system, improving design efficiency and consistency.
• Access to Kyndryl's learning programs for certifications and training in relevant technologies and design practices.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through your end-to-end design process for a complex project, highlighting your approach to research, ideation, prototyping, and testing. Use specific examples from your portfolio.
• Discuss how you collaborate with engineers and product managers throughout the design and development lifecycle in an agile environment. Provide examples of successful collaboration and how you handle challenges.
• Explain how you approach problem-solving and decision-making in your design work, particularly when faced with technical constraints or ambiguous requirements.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Kyndryl's values and mission, particularly as they relate to innovation, client focus, and building a more equitable world. Be ready to discuss how your values align.
• Ask questions about the design team structure within the Skytap unit, how design collaborates with other functions, and the level of influence design has on product decisions.
• Inquire about the team's approach to design critique and feedback and how collaboration works in a remote setting.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies from your portfolio that best demonstrate your experience with complex technical products, enterprise software, or cloud-related design challenges.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and responsibilities, your user-centered design process (including research, ideation, and testing), your final design solution, and the impact or results of your work.
• Focus on storytelling and clearly explaining your design decisions and rationale. Be prepared for questions about alternative approaches and trade-offs.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link on the Kyndryl careers site.
• Customize your design portfolio to specifically highlight projects and case studies that demonstrate your experience in designing for complex technical products, enterprise software, or cloud-related domains, showcasing your end-to-end UX process and the impact of your work.
• Optimize your resume for design roles by incorporating relevant keywords from the job description and highlighting your experience with required design tools (especially Figma), methodologies (Agile, UCD), and domain knowledge (cloud IaaS, enterprise).
• Prepare thoroughly for the interview process by practicing presenting your portfolio case studies, anticipating questions about your design process, collaboration style, and experience with technical challenges, and preparing thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company culture.
• Research Kyndryl and the Skytap business unit to understand their mission, products, and target audience, specifically focusing on their cloud offerings and how design contributes to their success.