📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Sr. Manager, UX Engineering
Company: Pinterest
Location: San Francisco, CA, US (Hybrid) or Remote, CA, US (Hybrid)
Job Type: Full-time
Category: UX Engineering / Design Technology / Engineering Management
Date Posted: 2025-06-10
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (1-2 times/quarter in office)
🎨 Role Summary
- Drive the strategic vision and roadmap for the centralized UX Engineering team at Pinterest, championing the discipline's value.
- Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of UX Engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
- Serve as the critical connective tissue between Design, Product, and Engineering, ensuring seamless translation of design vision into world-class user experiences.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance, establishing best practices in accessibility, performance, and code quality within the design-engineering intersection.
🖼️ Primary Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the strategic vision and roadmap for the centralized UX Engineering team, aligning with broader company and design objectives.
- Recruit, onboard, mentor, and manage a diverse team of talented UX Engineers, fostering their professional growth and cultivating a positive team culture.
- Collaborate closely with leadership across Design, Product, and Engineering to define goals, prioritize initiatives, and ensure the successful implementation of design concepts.
- Provide technical oversight and guidance on architecture, implementation strategies, and process improvements to enhance efficiency and quality.
- Champion and enforce best practices in frontend engineering, accessibility, performance optimization, and code quality standards within the team and across relevant engineering teams.
- Scale and refine the operational processes and rituals of the centralized UX Engineering function to ensure consistent, cohesive, and innovative user experiences across the platform.
- Act as a key advocate for the UX Engineering discipline, communicating its value and impact to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Design, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of experience in UX Engineering, Frontend Engineering, Design Technology, or similar roles, with at least 3+ years in an engineering management or technical leadership position. Proven track record of managing and scaling high-performing teams, preferably within a centralized organizational structure. Experience delivering impactful cross-functional projects that improve user experience and developer productivity.
Required Skills:
- Extensive experience managing and scaling UX Engineering or Design Technology teams, ideally in a centralized model.
- Deep technical expertise in front-end web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React/TypeScript) and/or platform UI frameworks (iOS/Android development).
- Strong strategic thinking ability to translate complex organizational and technical challenges into actionable plans.
- Proven ability to deliver impactful, cross-functional projects that elevate user experience, performance, and developer productivity.
- Exceptional communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire stakeholders across Design, Engineering, and executive leadership.
- Demonstrated experience recruiting, mentoring, and growing engineering talent.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working on large-scale consumer-facing products.
- Familiarity with design systems and their implementation.
- Experience with performance optimization techniques for large web or mobile applications.
- Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices (WCAG).
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
While a traditional design portfolio showcasing visual design work may not be the primary focus, candidates for this UX Engineering leadership role should be prepared to present a portfolio or case studies that demonstrate:
- Examples of complex technical projects led or significantly contributed to, highlighting the intersection of design and engineering.
- Case studies illustrating successful implementation of design systems and their impact on consistency and efficiency.
- Documentation of processes and strategies implemented to improve collaboration between design and engineering teams.
- Examples of initiatives focused on improving front-end performance, accessibility, or code quality.
Process Documentation:
Be prepared to discuss and potentially showcase documentation related to:
- Strategies for translating design specifications and prototypes into production-ready code.
- Processes established for design handoff and collaboration with engineering teams.
- Methods for integrating user feedback and design iterations into the development lifecycle.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $200,569 - $412,937 USD per year.
This range represents the base salary for US-based applicants. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including location, relevant prior experience, skills, and expertise. This position is also eligible for equity.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
- Equity compensation package.
- Generous paid time off and holidays.
- Opportunities for professional development and learning.
- Flexible work arrangements (Hybrid/Remote as specified).
- Additional benefits detailed on the Pinterest careers website.
Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with potential for flexibility based on project needs and team collaboration requirements.
🎯Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Software Development / Social Media / Visual Discovery Platform. Pinterest operates in a dynamic market focused on visual inspiration and discovery, which places a high premium on intuitive and engaging user experiences. The UX Engineering team's role is critical in bringing this vision to life technically.
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees (LinkedIn data). A company of this size typically has established processes and structures, but still offers opportunities for significant impact and influence, particularly in a centralized function like UX Engineering.
Founded: 2010. Founded over a decade ago, Pinterest has matured into a significant player in the tech industry with a well-defined mission and user base. This history suggests a stable environment with ongoing innovation.
Team Structure:
- The UX Engineering team is described as a "centralized" organization, reporting to the Head of Design Foundations. This structure indicates a focus on consistency, shared resources, and establishing best practices across the company.
- Collaboration with Design, Product, and Engineering leadership is a core function, highlighting the team's role as an enabler across different disciplines.
- The team is responsible for serving as the "connective tissue" between design and engineering, suggesting a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment.
Methodology:
- Likely utilizes agile development methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) given the software development industry context.
- Emphasizes seamless translation of design vision into product experiences, implying a strong design handoff and collaboration process.
- Focuses on establishing best practices in accessibility, performance, and code quality, indicating a commitment to technical excellence and user-centered development.
Company Website: https://www.pinterestcareers.com/
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: Senior Manager. This level involves significant leadership responsibility, strategic planning, team management, and influence across multiple departments. It is a key leadership position within the Design Foundations organization.
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Design Foundations. This indicates a high level of visibility and strategic importance within the design organization and potentially across the company.
Design Impact: The role is positioned to have a significant impact on the overall user interface experience of the Pinterest platform by leading the team responsible for the technical implementation of design. This involves influencing technical direction, quality standards, and the efficiency of the design-to-engineering workflow.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential for advancement within the Design Foundations organization or broader engineering leadership roles at Pinterest.
- Opportunities to deepen expertise in scaling technical teams, strategic leadership, and cross-functional influence.
- Exposure to complex technical and organizational challenges within a large-scale consumer platform.
🌐 Work Environment
Studio Type: Hybrid/Remote. The role offers flexibility with the option to work remotely within the US, but requires in-office presence 1-2 times per quarter for in-person collaboration. This suggests a culture that values both independent work and focused in-person interaction for key activities.
Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA (primary office location mentioned in the job posting). While remote work is an option, candidates should be able to travel to the San Francisco office as required.
Design Workspace Context:
- The hybrid model suggests a blend of virtual collaboration tools and in-person meeting spaces designed to facilitate creative and technical collaboration during quarterly gatherings.
- Remote work requires effective virtual communication and collaboration strategies within the UX Engineering team and with cross-functional partners.
- In-office sessions are likely focused on strategic planning, team building, complex problem-solving, and key project kickoffs or reviews.
Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are likely encouraged within the framework of core team collaboration times, accommodating the remote nature of the role while ensuring effective interaction with teams across different time zones (if applicable). Quarterly in-office requirements necessitate planning for travel.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Initial screening call (likely with a recruiter or hiring manager) to assess basic qualifications, experience, and fit.
- Technical interview(s) focusing on frontend engineering expertise, architecture knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
- Behavioral and leadership interviews to evaluate management experience, strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and cultural fit.
- Portfolio or case study review to discuss past projects, leadership approach, and impact at the intersection of design and engineering. Be prepared to walk through how you managed teams to deliver complex technical implementations of design.
- Potentially a panel interview with key stakeholders from Design, Product, and Engineering leadership.
- Final interview(s) with senior leadership, including the hiring manager (Head of Design Foundations) and potentially other executives.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Focus on case studies that highlight your leadership in scaling teams and delivering complex technical solutions for design challenges.
- Emphasize your process for bridging the gap between design and engineering, including collaboration strategies, technical decisions, and outcomes.
- Quantify the impact of your work where possible, such as improvements in performance, accessibility, developer productivity, or user experience metrics.
- Be prepared to discuss the technical challenges faced and how your team overcame them.
Challenge Preparation:
- While a traditional design challenge might not be applicable, be prepared for technical discussions or potential whiteboard sessions focusing on frontend architecture, system design, or solving complex UI engineering problems.
- Practice articulating your thought process clearly and explaining technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Review best practices in frontend performance, accessibility, and scalable architecture.
ATS Keywords: UX Engineering, Frontend Engineering, Design Technology, Engineering Management, Technical Leadership, Team Leadership, Scaling Teams, Cross-functional Collaboration, Strategic Planning, Roadmap, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, TypeScript, iOS Development, Android Development, Platform UI, Accessibility, Performance Optimization, Code Quality, Design Systems, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Mentoring, Recruiting, Innovation, User Interface, User Experience, Product Development, Software Engineering, Technical Architecture, Process Improvement, Stakeholder Management, Influence, Communication, Problem Solving, Technical Strategy.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
While this is an engineering role, familiarity with tools used by the design team is beneficial for effective collaboration and handoff. The UX Engineering team would likely interact with outputs from tools like:
- Figma or Sketch (for design specifications, prototypes, and assets)
- Abstract or other version control systems for design files
- Potentially prototyping tools like Principle or After Effects for motion design specifications
Collaboration & Handoff:
- Collaboration platforms like Slack, Zoom, or Google Meet for team communication and meetings.
- Project management tools such as Jira or Asana for tracking tasks and workflows.
- Design handoff tools (potentially integrated with Figma/Sketch or custom solutions) for specifications, redlines, and asset delivery to engineering.
Research & Testing:
- Familiarity with how design research findings are documented and shared (e.g., in presentations, reports).
- Tools used for user testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze) and how insights from these tools inform design and development decisions.
- Analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of implemented designs.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- Bringing "inspiration to create a life they love" suggests a focus on positive impact and user empowerment through the platform.
- Emphasis on world-class, cohesive, and future-forward user interface experiences highlights a commitment to high-quality design and innovation.
- Championing accessibility and performance indicates a value placed on inclusivity and technical excellence in the user experience.
Collaboration Style:
- Described as the "connective tissue" between design and engineering, emphasizing a highly collaborative and bridging role.
- Requires close partnership with leadership across Design, Product, and Engineering, indicating a matrixed and cross-functional collaboration model.
- Nurturing a "healthy, inclusive, and high-performing team culture built around innovation, quality, and partnership" suggests a focus on psychological safety, continuous improvement, and mutual respect within the team.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- Scaling a centralized UX Engineering function within a large organization, requiring strong operational excellence and process definition.
- Ensuring consistency and cohesion of user interfaces across a complex and evolving platform with multiple teams.
- Bridging potential gaps in understanding and priorities between creative design teams and technical engineering teams.
- Staying ahead of evolving frontend technologies and UI frameworks while maintaining performance and accessibility standards.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Opportunity to significantly influence the technical direction and operational efficiency of design implementation at a large scale.
- Exposure to complex technical challenges related to building a world-class consumer platform.
- Development of advanced leadership skills in managing, mentoring, and scaling high-performing technical teams.
- Opportunities to enhance strategic thinking and cross-functional influence within a large organization.
💡 Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- Describe your experience leading teams that implement complex design systems. How did you ensure consistency and adoption? (Prepare specific project examples and metrics if possible).
- Walk me through a time your team successfully bridged a gap between design's vision and engineering's implementation constraints. What was your approach? (Highlight collaboration and problem-solving skills).
- How do you prioritize technical debt related to UI implementation alongside new feature development? (Discuss your approach to balancing quality and speed).
Company Culture Questions:
- How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within a technical team? (Provide examples of initiatives you've implemented).
- Describe your leadership style and how you mentor and grow engineers, particularly those working at the intersection of design and technology. (Share specific examples of coaching or development plans).
- How do you approach collaborating with non-technical stakeholders, such as design and product leadership, to align on goals and priorities? (Discuss communication strategies and building relationships).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure your presentation around 2-3 key case studies that best demonstrate your leadership in UX Engineering, focusing on the challenges, your team's approach, technical decisions, and the resulting impact on the product or organization.
- Clearly articulate your role and the specific contributions of your team in each project.
- Be prepared to discuss the technical architecture and implementation details, as well as the collaboration process with design and other teams.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this design position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Prepare a resume that highlights your experience in UX Engineering leadership, team management, and relevant technical skills (frontend web/mobile, design systems, accessibility, performance). Optimize your resume with keywords listed in the ATS Keywords section.
- Develop a portfolio or case study presentation that showcases your leadership in implementing complex designs, scaling teams, and improving the design-engineering workflow. Focus on the technical challenges, your team's solutions, and the impact.
- Research Pinterest's products, design culture, and recent technical developments to demonstrate your understanding and interest in the company.