Principal UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX/UI Designer

Company: myCareer - NSW Government

Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time (until June 2026, potential for extension)

Category: Product Design, UX/UI Design, Visual Design

Date Posted: June 13, 2025

Experience Level: Principal (10+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (flexible working arrangements within NSW)

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives through discovery, framing, iterative development, and delivery, driving a customer-centric approach within the NSW Government's Digital NSW team.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Engineers, Product Managers, and Subject Matter Experts to create meaningful and practical design solutions for NSW citizens.
• Establish and nurture strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders across government agencies to align user needs with product capabilities and business requirements.
• Shape product roadmaps and drive customer-led prioritisation while providing expert guidance on UX, UI, and visual design best practices and innovative solutions.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, encompassing discovery, framing, iterative development, and delivery, ensuring a strong customer-centric focus throughout the design lifecycle.
• Collaborate effectively with Engineers, Product Managers, and other Subject Matter Experts to translate user needs and business goals into intuitive and effective digital products and services for NSW citizens.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across various government departments to gather requirements, understand constraints, and co-create innovative solutions that meet both user expectations and policy objectives.
• Work with management to define strategic direction, drive customer-led prioritisation, and influence product roadmaps to ensure timely and impactful delivery of design initiatives.
• Stay abreast of relevant industry trends, challenges, opportunities, and best practices in UX, UI, and Product Design, promoting awareness within the team and recommending innovative solutions to optimise government digital services.
• Lead contributions to enhance and mature design and research practices within the team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and design excellence.
• Coach and mentor less experienced designers, providing guidance and support to increase the overall design capability within product teams and help individuals reach their full potential.
• Balance competing and complex demands, ensuring that product strategy and vision are achieved while consistently delivering high-quality, user-centered designs.
• Provide expert advice to Product Owners, clients, and stakeholders on the application of best practices in product design, focusing on the delivery of innovative and user-centred applications and software solutions.
• Stay up to date on the current and best UI and visual design practices and trends, integrating this knowledge into design workflows and recommendations.
• Develop comprehensive product design artefacts, including customer journey maps, service design blueprints, and detailed solution prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.
• Define the future state vision and value proposition for product design initiatives, leveraging customer-centric design thinking and related design and innovation methodologies.
• Take ownership of design projects, managing workflows, timelines, and deliverables while providing leadership and mentorship to junior designers contributing to those projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is typically preferred for a Principal-level role. Equivalent professional experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating advanced design skills and leadership is also highly valued.

Experience: Extensive experience (typically 10+ years) in UX, UI, and Visual Design, with a proven track record of leading the delivery of complex product solutions, particularly within customer service delivery environments or large-scale digital platforms. Experience mentoring design professionals is essential.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in UI, Visual Design, and UX Design, with a focus on delivering complex product solutions in customer service delivery environments.
• Demonstrated ability to create and present a clear, professional, and impactful design portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process and outcomes.
• Extensive experience with Data Visualisation, Branding, and Visual Identity design principles and application.
• Proven experience conducting User Testing and effectively incorporating user feedback into design iterations.
• Extensive experience using analytics tools such as Google Analytics and Hotjar to inform design decisions and measure product success metrics.
• Demonstrated experience in visual design creation, including icon design and related graphical elements.
• Proven experience ensuring digital products rigorously follow WCAG Accessibility Guidelines to ensure inclusivity for all users.
• Experience designing for Native Mobile Applications (iOS/Android) and Web Applications built with frameworks like React.
• Experience designing solutions that integrate with or utilise Google Maps functionalities.
• Experience liaising with Vendor Risk teams and Privacy teams regarding the implementation and use of UX tools and data handling.
• Extensive experience coaching and mentoring less experienced designers, fostering their growth and development.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, present ideas to stakeholders, and collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience working with design systems, specifically the SNSW GEL (NSW Government Experience Language) and the NSW Digital Design System.
• Demonstrated proficiency using design and collaboration tools including Figma, Miro, and Confluence.
• Understanding of CSS principles and their application in front-end development, particularly in relation to design handoff and implementation.
• Understanding of Monorepo build systems and their implications for front-end development and design collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within a government or public sector environment.
• Familiarity with Service Design methodologies and creating service design blueprints.
• Experience defining and articulating future state vision and value propositions for digital products.
• Knowledge of Lean Start-up and Agile methodologies as applied to product design workflows.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should be clear, professional, and easily accessible online. It must demonstrate a strong foundation in both UX and UI design, showcasing your ability to tackle complex problems and deliver polished visual designs.
• Include detailed case studies that walk through your end-to-end design process for several key projects, particularly those involving complex product solutions or customer service delivery environments.
• Showcase your visual design skills through examples of UI design, branding, visual identity work, and specifically, examples of icon design and creation.
• Where applicable, demonstrate your ability to design for both Native apps and React web applications, highlighting your understanding of platform-specific design considerations.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly document your approach to the research and discovery phase, including methods used to understand user needs and empathise with citizens of NSW.
• Illustrate your ideation and iteration methods, showing how you explored different design solutions and refined your concepts based on feedback or testing.
• Detail your validation and testing approaches, explaining how you used methods like user testing and analytics (Google Analytics, Hotjar) to measure design effectiveness and inform decisions.
• Include examples of design artefacts such as customer journey maps, service design blueprints (if applicable), wireframes, flows, and prototypes to illustrate your process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: AUD $145,378 - $168,130 base per annum, plus superannuation. This range is specified in the job description and reflects the DCS Clerk Grade 11/12 level within the NSW Government salary structure. This is competitive for a Principal-level design role in Sydney, Australia, considering the public sector context. Superannuation in Australia is currently set at 11% of ordinary time earnings.

Benefits:

• Access to exceptional health and wellbeing benefits, promoting employee welfare.
• Eligibility for the Fitness Passport program, offering access to a wide range of gyms and pools.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), providing confidential counselling and support services.
• Competitive pay and conditions based on the NSW Government remuneration framework.
• Support for employee health and wellbeing initiatives.

Working Hours: This is a full-time temporary position. While standard government hours typically apply (approx. 35-40 hours per week), the role offers flexible working arrangements, including the option for remote working within NSW, to accommodate creative workflows and personal needs.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Government Administration. The NSW Government is focused on improving government services, digital transformation, and regulatory reform, directly impacting the lives of over 8 million citizens. This context means design plays a crucial role in making public services accessible, intuitive, and efficient.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Department of Customer Service). Working within a large government department means navigating complex organizational structures and collaborating with numerous agencies, requiring strong communication and stakeholder management skills for designers.

Founded: The Department of Customer Service (DCS) is a key part of the NSW Government structure, focused on modernising public services. Its initiatives reflect a commitment to digital transformation and customer-centricity.

Team Structure:

• The Principal Product Designer role sits within the Government Technology Platforms team within Digital NSW.
• You will collaborate closely with a team of Engineers, Product Managers, and other subject matter experts, indicating a cross-functional team structure.
• The role involves liaising with various stakeholders across government, highlighting the need for effective cross-agency collaboration.

Methodology:

• The team values Lean Start-up, Agile, and User-Centred Design principles and practices, indicating an iterative and user-focused approach to product development.
• The role involves leading end-to-end product design through discovery, framing, iterative development, and delivery, aligning with these methodologies.
• Emphasis on understanding and empathising with citizens suggests a strong foundation in design research and discovery methods.

Company Website: https://www.customerservice.nsw.gov.au/

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Principal-level role, indicating a senior position with significant responsibility for leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product strategy. It represents a high level of expertise and leadership within the design career path.

Reporting Structure: The role requires working with managers to set strategic direction, suggesting reporting to a manager or director within the Digital NSW or Government Technology Platforms team. It also involves coaching and mentoring other designers, indicating a leadership position within the design team.

Design Impact: Design in this role has a direct impact on the digital experiences of over 8 million citizens in NSW. The Principal Designer will play a key role in shaping meaningful and practical solutions to public service problems, contributing significantly to digital transformation efforts within the government.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in government digital service design and large-scale platform development.
• Significant opportunity to develop leadership and mentoring skills by coaching less experienced designers.
• Exposure to strategic decision-making and roadmap shaping processes within a large government organisation.
• Potential for professional development through exposure to diverse government projects and collaboration with various agencies.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: While the specific office setup isn't detailed, working within the NSW Government typically involves professional office environments in Sydney. The role offers flexible working arrangements, including remote work within NSW, suggesting a hybrid model that balances in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Sydney, NSW (2000). The specific office address within Sydney is not provided, but it is likely within a government building in the CBD or surrounding areas.

Design Workspace Context:

• The emphasis on collaboration with cross-functional teams suggests access to meeting rooms, collaboration tools, and potentially shared workspaces designed to facilitate teamwork.
• A focus on user-centred design and testing implies access to facilities or tools for conducting user research and usability testing, whether in-person or remotely.
• The use of tools like Figma, Miro, and Confluence indicates a digital-first workflow, allowing for effective collaboration regardless of physical location within the hybrid model.

Work Schedule: Full-time hours are required for this temporary role. The flexible working arrangements within NSW allow for adaptability in daily schedules, supporting work-life balance while ensuring project deadlines are met within an Agile framework.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• The process will likely involve an initial application review focusing on your resume and portfolio to assess your experience and alignment with the essential requirements. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your Principal-level experience and expertise in UX, UI, and visual design in complex environments.
• Shortlisted candidates will likely undergo one or more interview rounds. Be prepared to discuss your experience in detail, particularly your leadership, mentoring, and experience with government design systems and accessibility.
• A portfolio presentation will be a crucial part of the interview process. Be ready to present case studies that highlight your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your design work. Focus on projects relevant to government services or large-scale platforms.
• You may be asked to complete a design challenge or discuss your approach to a hypothetical design problem relevant to government services. Be prepared to articulate your design thinking process and rationale.
• Interviews will also assess your cultural fit, collaboration style, and ability to work effectively within a large government organization and cross-functional teams.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate your portfolio specifically for this role, highlighting projects that demonstrate your experience with complex systems, customer service delivery, and potentially government or public sector work.
• Structure your case studies using a clear narrative: problem, your role, process (research, ideation, testing), solution, and impact/outcomes. Quantify results where possible (e.g., improvements in user task completion, reduction in support calls).
• Explicitly showcase your expertise in UI, visual design, data visualisation, branding, and icon design with high-fidelity mockups and examples.
• Dedicate a section or highlight within your case studies how you ensured accessibility (WCAG compliance) and incorporated user testing and analytics (Google Analytics, Hotjar) into your design process.
• If you have experience designing for Native apps and React apps, include examples of these projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is part of the process, it will likely involve a problem related to improving a government service or digital interaction. Research current NSW Government digital initiatives and citizen needs to inform your approach.
• Focus on demonstrating your design thinking process within the given time constraints. Clearly articulate your understanding of the problem, your user-centred approach, potential solutions, and how you would validate your designs.
• Be prepared to explain your design decisions and rationale, considering technical constraints, accessibility requirements, and the specific context of government services.

ATS Keywords: UX Design, UI Design, Product Design, Visual Design, Interaction Design, User Experience, User Interface, Data Visualisation, Branding, Visual Identity, User Testing, Usability Testing, Accessibility (WCAG), Native Apps, React, Google Maps API, Mentoring, Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Communication, Collaboration, Figma, Miro, Confluence, CSS, Monorepo, Agile, Lean Start-up, User-Centred Design, Design Systems, NSW Digital Design System, SNSW GEL, Customer Journey Mapping, Service Design, Prototyping, Wireframing, Information Architecture, User Research, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Government, Public Sector, Digital Transformation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Required proficiency for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design work. Expect to use Figma extensively for creating high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.
• Miro: Required proficiency for collaborative whiteboarding, brainstorming, user flow mapping, and potentially creating customer journey maps or service blueprints.
• Confluence: Required proficiency for documentation, knowledge sharing, and project management within the team and across departments. Expect to document design decisions, research findings, and design specifications here.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Confluence: Used for documenting design specifications and ensuring clear communication with engineering teams and stakeholders.
• Understanding of CSS: Essential for effective collaboration with front-end developers, ensuring designs can be accurately and efficiently implemented.
• Understanding of Monorepo build systems: Provides context for how front-end code is structured and built, aiding in smoother design handoff and collaboration.

Research & Testing:

• Google Analytics: Extensive experience required for analysing user behaviour, measuring design effectiveness, and identifying areas for improvement based on data.
• Hotjar: Extensive experience required for gaining visual insights into user interactions through heatmaps, session recordings, and conversion funnels.
• User Testing Tools/Platforms: While not explicitly named, the requirement for extensive user testing experience implies the use of various tools for recruiting participants, conducting remote or in-person tests, and analysing findings.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value, emphasizing the importance of understanding and empathising with the citizens of NSW to create meaningful and practical solutions.
• Collaboration: Highly valued, involving close work with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders across government.
• User-Centred Design: A foundational principle, guiding the end-to-end product design process from discovery through delivery.
• Innovation: Expected in recommending and delivering solutions that optimise government products and services, staying abreast of industry trends.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration: Working closely with Engineers, Product Managers, and Subject Matter Experts is central to the role.
• Stakeholder engagement: Building relationships and partnering with a range of stakeholders across government is essential for aligning design solutions with broader objectives.
• Mentorship and knowledge sharing: The role involves coaching and mentoring other designers, contributing to the overall growth and capability of the design team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Navigating the complexities of a large government organization with diverse stakeholders and potentially bureaucratic processes. Effective communication and strong influencing skills will be crucial.
• Designing solutions that meet the needs of a broad and diverse user base (all citizens of NSW), requiring a deep understanding of accessibility (WCAG) and inclusive design principles.
• Balancing competing demands and priorities from various stakeholders while ensuring the delivery of high-quality, user-centred designs within project timelines.
• Staying up to date with evolving industry trends and technologies while adhering to government standards and security requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to gain extensive experience in designing for large-scale public service platforms and complex government systems.
• Enhance leadership and mentoring skills by guiding and supporting less experienced designers.
• Develop expertise in navigating government structures and influencing strategic decisions related to digital product development.
• Potential to contribute to the maturation of design and research practices within a significant government department.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end design process for a complex project, focusing on how you approached discovery, framing, iterative development, and delivery. Use specific examples from your portfolio.
• Explain how you incorporate user research, testing, and analytics (Google Analytics, Hotjar) into your design workflow and how data informs your design decisions.
• Discuss your experience with Agile and Lean Start-up methodologies and how you apply user-centred design principles within these frameworks.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research the NSW Government's digital transformation initiatives and the Department of Customer Service's mission. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with their goals of improving citizen services.
• Discuss your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (Engineers, Product Managers) and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders. Provide examples of successful collaborations.
• Highlight your experience mentoring and coaching other designers and your approach to fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your Principal-level experience, leadership, and ability to handle complex projects relevant to government services or large platforms.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role, the design process you followed, key design decisions and their rationale, and the impact or outcomes of your work.
• Emphasize how you incorporated user research, testing, accessibility (WCAG), and data (analytics) into your projects.
• Showcase your visual design skills with high-quality visuals, including UI mockups, prototypes, and examples of branding or icon design if relevant to the project.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link.
• Review and tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your Principal-level experience, leadership skills, and specific experience with UX, UI, visual design, and the tools mentioned (Figma, Miro, Confluence, Google Analytics, Hotjar). Use relevant ATS keywords throughout your application documents.
• Carefully curate your online design portfolio, ensuring it is professional, easy to navigate, and includes detailed case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving abilities, and the impact of your work on complex projects, ideally with a focus on customer service delivery or large platforms. Highlight your experience with accessibility (WCAG) and user testing/analytics.
• Prepare for the interview process by reviewing your portfolio projects, practicing articulating your design process and rationale, and researching the NSW Government's digital initiatives and the Department of Customer Service's role. Be ready to discuss your experience mentoring other designers and collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Familiarise yourself with the NSW Government's Capability Application Tool and practice questions based on the focus capabilities listed in the role description to prepare for the recruitment process.