Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: GEICO

Location: Fredericksburg, VA (Hybrid)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-09T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days on-site)

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead the design of high-quality, customer-centered digital experiences for GEICO's platforms, focusing on user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design principles.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and business stakeholders to translate complex requirements into intuitive and effective design solutions.
• Advocate for the user throughout the product development lifecycle, employing human-centered design methods such as user research, usability testing, and journey mapping.
• Contribute to and leverage an established design system to ensure consistency and scalability across various digital products and platforms.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product managers, engineers, and business analysts to define problem spaces, understand user needs, and gather design requirements.
• Translate complex business goals and user needs into clear, understandable design concepts, user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Conduct and participate in user research activities, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather insights and validate design decisions.
• Create detailed user interface specifications and design assets for handoff to engineering teams, ensuring design intent is accurately implemented.
• Facilitate design workshops and collaborative sessions with stakeholders to align on project goals, explore design solutions, and gather feedback.
• Manage multiple design initiatives simultaneously, adapting to shifting priorities while providing clear design direction and input on product strategy.
• Ensure design solutions adhere to established design system guidelines, accessibility standards (WCAG), and cross-platform usability best practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred. A Master's degree in a related field is a strong asset and can potentially offset some experience requirements.

Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) design. Candidates with a Master's degree may be considered with 3+ years of relevant experience. A strong portfolio demonstrating experience across various design processes and complex system design is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in User Experience (UX) design, covering the full design lifecycle from research and ideation to testing and implementation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in User Interface (UI) design, including creating high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and detailed visual design specifications.
• Experience conducting and applying insights from user research, usability testing, and other human-centered design methods.
• Strong ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user flows, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design tools, specifically Figma, for creating designs and collaborating with teams.
• Experience working within established design systems and contributing to their evolution.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and collaborating effectively with engineering teams in an agile environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices for designing inclusive digital products.
• Understanding of cross-platform usability considerations for web, mobile, and potentially other interfaces.
• Familiarity with developer workflows, including common tools (IDEs, APIs, SDKs, CLIs), documentation portals, and the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• Experience designing for complex systems and enterprise-level platforms with numerous interconnected components and services.
• Experience designing and shipping products or features for enterprise platforms.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should showcase a range of projects demonstrating your end-to-end design process, from initial problem definition and research through to final UI design and implementation.
• Include detailed case studies that explain the problem you were solving, your role, the research methods used, your design iterations, key decisions, and the impact of your work.
• Highlight your visual design skills through high-fidelity mockups and prototypes, demonstrating attention to detail, typography, color, and layout.
• If applicable, show examples of your work within or contributing to a design system, demonstrating your understanding of scalability and consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your approach to research and discovery, including how you gathered user needs and insights.
• Document your ideation and iteration process, showing sketches, wireframes, and different design options explored.
• Explain your approach to validation and testing, including how you conducted usability tests or gathered feedback to refine your designs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $97,375.00 - $172,200.00 Annually

The provided salary range is a general guideline. The final offer will be based on factors including the candidate’s experience, education, training, work location, and market conditions. This range aligns with typical senior UX/UI Designer salaries in the United States, particularly in areas with a higher cost of living or for roles requiring specialized skills in complex systems or enterprise design within the insurance industry.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Total Rewards program designed to support physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.
• Market-competitive compensation with performance and recognition-based incentives.
• 401K savings plan with immediate vesting and a 6% company match.
• Tuition assistance for continued learning and professional development.
• Access to mental healthcare support.
• Support for fertility and adoption assistance.
• Flexible work arrangements, including the GEICO Flex program allowing work from anywhere in the US for up to four weeks per year (in addition to the hybrid requirement).

Working Hours: Full-time position, typically 40 hours per week. Hybrid work model requires 3 days on-site at one of the specified locations, allowing for some flexibility in managing creative workflows.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Insurance. As a major player in the insurance industry, GEICO's design work directly impacts millions of customers interacting with their digital platforms for quotes, policy management, and claims. This requires a strong focus on clarity, trust, and efficiency in the user experience.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (LinkedIn: 30,136). Working in a large organization means collaborating with numerous teams and navigating established processes. Design work here will involve significant stakeholder management and contributing to large-scale initiatives.

Founded: 1936. GEICO has a long history, suggesting a well-established organizational structure and potentially a mix of legacy systems and modern technology adoption. The design team likely plays a key role in modernizing the customer experience.

Team Structure:

• Part of a multi-disciplinary design and research team.
• Collaborates directly with product management, engineering, and business teams.
• The team structure likely involves reporting to a Design Manager or Director, with opportunities to mentor or guide more junior designers.

Methodology:

• Employs human-centered design methods, including discovery, research, and user testing.
• Works within an agile development framework.
• Leverages an established design system.

Company Website: https://geico.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External (Primary career site link)

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating expectations of significant experience, autonomy, and the ability to lead design initiatives. Senior designers are typically expected to solve complex problems independently, mentor others, and influence product strategy.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Design Manager or Director within the larger design organization. This structure suggests opportunities for mentorship and career guidance within the design discipline.

Design Impact: Design plays a crucial role in enhancing the customer experience across GEICO's digital platforms, directly impacting user satisfaction, engagement, and business outcomes in a highly competitive industry.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to move into a Lead Designer or Design Management role within the GEICO design organization.
• Opportunities to specialize in specific areas such as complex system design, enterprise platforms, or particular product lines within GEICO.
• Development through internal training programs, certification assistance, and mentorship opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid office environment. Requires being on-site 3 days a week at one of the designated office locations, fostering in-person collaboration while offering some flexibility.

Office Location(s): Primary listed location is Fredericksburg, VA. Other potential on-site locations mentioned include Chevy Chase, MD; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; and San Jose, CA. This suggests potential for collaboration across different geographic teams.

Design Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model encourages face-to-face interaction for brainstorming sessions, collaborative design workshops, and team meetings.
• Office locations likely provide dedicated workspaces and meeting rooms equipped for design collaboration and presentations.
• Working alongside product and engineering teams on-site can facilitate faster communication and more seamless handoffs.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid attendance requirement of 3 days per week on-site. The GEICO Flex program offers additional flexibility for remote work up to four weeks per year.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• The process likely begins with an initial screening call by a recruiter or HR representative to assess basic qualifications and interest.
• Subsequent rounds will involve interviews with members of the design team, product managers, and potentially engineering leads, focusing on past experience, design process, and problem-solving skills.
• A portfolio review will be a critical component, where you will be expected to walk through case studies and explain your design decisions and impact.
• Expect a design exercise or challenge, either as a take-home assignment or an in-person whiteboard session, to evaluate your on-the-spot problem-solving and design thinking abilities.
• Final interviews may involve discussions with hiring managers or senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select case studies that demonstrate your experience with complex systems, enterprise platforms, and working within established design systems, as these are highlighted in the preferred qualifications.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your design process (research, ideation, testing), your specific contributions, and the measurable impact of your design work on users or the business.
• Be prepared to discuss the trade-offs and challenges you faced during the design process and how you overcame them.
• Highlight your proficiency in Figma and how you used it for collaboration and creating detailed specifications.
• Showcase your understanding of accessibility standards and how you incorporated them into your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice articulating your design process under pressure, explaining your rationale for key decisions.
• If it's a take-home challenge, manage your time effectively and focus on demonstrating a solid process, not just a polished final output.
• If it's a whiteboard session, focus on structuring your thinking, asking clarifying questions, and involving the interviewer in your process.
• Be prepared to discuss how you would collaborate with product and engineering teams on the challenge.

ATS Keywords:

• Design Skills: User Experience, UX Design, UI Design, User Interface, Human-Centered Design, Design Thinking, User Research, Usability Testing, Wireframing, Prototyping, Journey Mapping, User Flows, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Information Architecture, Accessibility (WCAG), Cross-Platform Usability, Complex System Design, Enterprise Platforms, Design Specifications, Design Assets.
• Tools: Figma, [Other specific tools you are proficient in, e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Zeplin].
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Lean UX.
• Soft Skills: Collaboration, Communication, Storytelling, Stakeholder Management, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Mentorship, Facilitation, Adaptability.
• Industry Terms: SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle), APIs, SDKs, CLIs, Developer Workflows, Design System, Component Library, Style Guide, User-Centered Design, Product Design, Digital Product.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly required for creating concepts, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes. Expect to use Figma for collaborative design sessions and asset handoff.
• [Infer other potential tools based on typical senior designer workflows in large organizations, e.g., Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision for prototyping/collaboration depending on legacy systems or specific team preferences]. Proficiency in additional tools beyond Figma can be a plus.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Figma: Features like shared files, commenting, and version history are likely used for collaboration with design team members and stakeholders.
• [Infer tools for handoff, e.g., Zeplin, Abstract, or built-in Figma features] to provide detailed specifications and assets to engineering teams.
• [Infer project management/communication tools, e.g., Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams] for tracking design tasks, documenting decisions, and communicating with cross-functional teams.

Research & Testing:

• [Infer tools for user research, e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey] for conducting remote or in-person usability studies, interviews, and surveys.
• [Infer tools for analytics, e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, internal dashboards] for measuring the performance of designs and identifying areas for improvement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Customer Obsession: A core value at GEICO, directly impacting the design team's focus on creating user-centered experiences that meet customer needs.
• Human-Centered Design: A stated value, emphasizing empathy, research, and iterative design processes to build products around user needs.
• Collaboration: Working closely with product, engineering, and business teams is essential, indicating a collaborative and integrated design function.
• Growth Mindset: The team values continuous learning and development, encouraging designers to expand their skills and stay updated on design trends and technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration with product management, engineering, and business teams is a key aspect of the role.
• Expect regular design critiques and feedback sessions within the design team to refine work and share knowledge.
• Working within an agile framework suggests close, iterative collaboration with development teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Designing for complex enterprise platforms with numerous interconnected systems and services can present significant technical and design challenges.
• Balancing user needs with business goals and technical constraints within a large, established organization requires strong negotiation and prioritization skills.
• Working within an established design system requires adherence to guidelines while also contributing to its evolution and addressing edge cases.
• Advocating for human-centered design within potentially legacy systems or processes may require persuasive communication and demonstrating the value of design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in designing for complex systems and enterprise platforms.
• Enhance skills in stakeholder management and influencing product strategy within a large organization.
• Contribute to the development and scaling of a design system.
• Access to tuition assistance and internal development programs to learn new skills or specialize further in areas like accessibility or specific design disciplines.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end design process for a complex project, focusing on how you approached research, ideation, iteration, and validation. Use examples from your portfolio.
• Explain how you collaborate with product managers and engineers throughout the design lifecycle.
• Describe a time you had to make a difficult design decision or navigate conflicting feedback, and how you approached it.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research GEICO's recent product launches or updates and be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for similar initiatives.
• Ask questions about the design team structure, collaboration practices, and how design impact is measured within the organization.
• Be ready to discuss how you advocate for user needs and human-centered design within a business-focused environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your case studies using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly articulate the problem, your role, your actions, and the impact of your work.
• Focus on the process as much as the final output, showing sketches, wireframes, and iterations.
• Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight projects relevant to complex systems, enterprise platforms, or working within design systems if you have them.
• Be prepared to discuss your design decisions and rationale in detail, showing your understanding of user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link on the GEICO careers site.
• Carefully review the job description and tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in UX/UI design, complex systems, enterprise platforms, and working within design systems.
• Prepare your online portfolio, curating case studies that best demonstrate your skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this senior role. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process, contributions, and impact.
• Practice presenting your portfolio case studies to clearly and concisely communicate your design thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Research GEICO and its digital products to understand the company's business, target audience, and design challenges, which will help you tailor your application and interview responses.