UX Product Designer, Homes.com

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Product Designer, Homes.com

Company: CoStar Group

Location: Arlington, Virginia, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/Product Design

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

Experience Level: 3+ years

Remote Status: On-site (Monday to Friday)

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end design efforts, including UX Strategy, User Flows, Prototyping, and Visual Design, for the Homes.com platform.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Researchers to define and deliver world-class User Journeys that enhance the home search experience.
• Drive the evolution of Design Practices and contribute to an emerging Design System, ensuring scalable and flexible design solutions.
• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and aesthetically appealing digital experiences, balancing Usability and Aesthetic Appeal.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and execute design initiatives from concept through implementation, encompassing Information Architecture, Interaction Design, and high-fidelity Visual Design.
• Partner with Product Leads and Engineering Teams to understand technical constraints and opportunities, ensuring design solutions are feasible and aligned with development timelines.
• Conduct and utilize User Research (surveys, interviews, observations, data analysis) to gain deep insights into customer needs and pain points, informing design decisions.
• Create and iterate on design artifacts such as Wireframes, User Flows, Mockups, and interactive Prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts to stakeholders.
• Champion Usability Testing and other validation methods to gather feedback, refine designs, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, user-centered products.
• Contribute to and maintain the Design System, developing reusable components, patterns, and guidelines to ensure consistency and efficiency across the platform.
• Elevate team practices in areas such as User Testing, Research Methodologies, and Interaction Design Principles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited, not-for-profit University or College in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically preferred, demonstrating a foundational understanding of design principles and research methodologies.

Experience: A minimum of 3+ years of hands-on experience in Product Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Usability, User Interface Design, and/or Visual Design. A strong portfolio showcasing this experience is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to take a design from initial concept to polished execution, demonstrating a strong Design Eye and attention to detail.
• Expertise in Sketch and Invision for design and prototyping, demonstrating proficiency in industry-standard design tools.
• Strong abilities in Sketching, Prototyping, and evaluating Interaction Design patterns.
• In-depth knowledge of Best Practices for Interaction Design across various platforms and devices (web, mobile, etc.).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale effectively to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within an Agile Development Environment.
• Strong Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills, with the ability to analyze complex issues and develop innovative design solutions.
• A track record of commitment and collaboration within previous roles.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in developing and maintaining a Design System, including creating components, documentation, and governance processes.
• Experience in establishing and tracking Product Metrics to measure the success and impact of design solutions.
• Comfort working with and interpreting Data and Information to inform design decisions.
• An interest in the Real Estate Industry, providing relevant domain knowledge.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should showcase a diverse range of projects demonstrating your end-to-end Design Process, from initial research and problem definition to final visual design and implementation.
• Include detailed Case Studies for several key projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, your design process (including research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key design decisions, and the impact or outcome of your work.
• Present high-fidelity Visual Designs and interactive Prototypes that demonstrate your aesthetic sensibility and attention to detail.
• If applicable, include examples of your contribution to or experience with Design Systems and component libraries.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly document your approach to the Research and Discovery Phase, including methodologies used (e.g., user interviews, surveys, competitive analysis) and key insights gathered.
• Illustrate your Ideation and Iteration Methods, showing how you explored different design solutions and refined your concepts based on feedback and testing.
• Describe your approach to Validation and Testing, including how you conducted usability tests, analyzed results, and incorporated findings into your designs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While the specific salary range is not provided in the job description, based on industry data for a UX Product Designer with 3+ years of experience in the Arlington, Virginia area (a major tech hub), the typical salary range could be estimated between $90,000 and $130,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation skills. Research from sources like Glassdoor, Salary.com, and industry reports for the Greater Washington D.C. area supports this estimate for a mid-level design role at a company of CoStar Group's size and industry standing.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: Includes Medical, Vision, Dental, and Prescription Drug plans, providing essential health and wellness support for designers and their families.
• Financial Security: Life, Legal, and Supplementary Insurance options, along with a 401(K) retirement plan with matching contributions and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, supporting long-term financial planning.
• Well-being & Support: Access to Virtual and in-person Mental Health Counseling Services and Commuter and Parking Benefits, promoting overall employee well-being and ease of commute.
• Professional Development: Paid Time Off and Tuition Reimbursement opportunities, supporting continuous learning and professional growth within the design field.
• Fitness & Wellness: On-site Fitness Center access or reimbursed fitness center membership costs (location dependent), including amenities like yoga studio, Pelotons, and group exercise classes, encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
• Community & Inclusion: Access to CoStar Group’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Employee Resource Groups, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting a supportive work environment.
• Work Environment Perks: Complimentary gourmet coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fresh fruit, and other healthy snacks, contributing to a positive and energizing workspace.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position with required in-office presence Monday through Friday, implying standard business hours. While design workflows often benefit from flexibility for creative deep work, the on-site requirement suggests a need for consistent presence for team collaboration and meetings.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: CoStar Group is a leading global provider in the Real Estate Information, Analytics, and Online Marketplaces industry. This context is crucial for a designer working on Homes.com, requiring an understanding of the real estate market, user needs in the home search process, and the competitive landscape of online real estate platforms.

Company Size: CoStar Group is a large organization with 5,001-10,000 employees. Working within a large company means the design team likely operates within established processes, with opportunities for specialization and collaboration across different product areas. It also suggests a need for strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Founded: Founded in 1986, CoStar Group has a long history in the real estate data and technology space. This history provides a foundation of experience and established market position, which influences the company's approach to innovation and product development on platforms like Homes.com.

Team Structure:

• The design team at Homes.com likely consists of other UX/Product Designers, potentially Visual Designers, UX Researchers, and Design Leadership.
• You will be partnering closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, indicating a collaborative, cross-functional team structure where design is integrated into the product development lifecycle.
• Reporting structures may involve reporting to a Design Manager or Lead, with opportunities for mentorship and peer feedback within the design team.

Methodology:

• The mention of working in an Agile Environment indicates that the team likely utilizes agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban for product development and design sprints.
• The role requires understanding customer needs through various Research Techniques, suggesting a commitment to a user-centered design process that includes discovery and validation phases.
• The emphasis on collaboration with product and engineering points to an integrated approach where design is involved from the initial stages of problem definition through implementation and iteration.

Company Website: http://www.costargroup.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Based on the "3+ years of experience" requirement and the responsibilities that include leading design efforts and contributing to a design system, this role is likely at a Mid-Level to Senior UX Product Designer level. This level typically involves taking ownership of significant product areas, mentoring junior designers (though not explicitly stated), and influencing design strategy.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report to a Design Manager or a more senior Design Lead within the Homes.com product team. This provides a clear reporting line for guidance, performance reviews, and career development discussions.

Design Impact: As a UX Product Designer on Homes.com, your design work will directly impact millions of unique visitors each month. You will play an integral role in shaping the user experience for a rapidly growing real estate platform, with the potential to significantly influence key product metrics and the overall success of Homes.com.

Growth Opportunities:

• Career Progression: Potential for advancement to Senior UX Product Designer, Lead UX Designer, or Design Management roles within CoStar Group, based on performance, impact, and demonstrated leadership.
• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas such as Design Systems Management, advanced User Research Methodologies, Data-Driven Design, and potentially specialization within different parts of the Homes.com platform (e.g., consumer search, agent tools).
• Leadership Potential: As you gain experience and demonstrate impact, there may be opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead larger design initiatives, or contribute to shaping the overall design strategy and culture at Homes.com.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: This position is explicitly stated as being in-office Monday through Friday. This suggests a traditional office environment, likely with dedicated workspaces for designers and collaborative areas for team meetings and brainstorming. The on-site nature facilitates face-to-face interaction with cross-functional team members.

Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is Arlington, VA. CoStar Group's headquarters are also in Arlington, indicating this is a central and important location for the company. Information regarding specific office addresses can typically be found on the company's website or during the interview process.

Design Workspace Context:

• The on-site requirement suggests a workspace designed to facilitate collaboration among the product, design, and engineering teams.
• Expect access to necessary design tools, software, and potentially physical resources like whiteboards and meeting rooms optimized for creative sessions.
• Being in the office full-time provides ample opportunity for spontaneous discussions, informal feedback, and building strong working relationships with team members.

Work Schedule: The required in-office presence Monday through Friday indicates a standard full-time work schedule. While the specific hours may be somewhat flexible within the typical workday, the expectation is to be present and available for collaboration during core business hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Typically involves a recruiter call to assess basic qualifications and interest, followed by a hiring manager screening to discuss your background and fit for the role. Be prepared to discuss your experience outlined in your resume and portfolio.
• Portfolio Review/Presentation: A key step for design roles. You will likely be asked to walk through 2-3 key projects from your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Be ready to articulate your design decisions and respond to questions about your methodology.
• Team Interviews: You will likely interview with members of the design team, product managers, and engineering leads. These interviews will assess your collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: Many design interview processes include a take-home design challenge or an on-site whiteboard exercise. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to think critically under pressure.
• Final Round(s): May include interviews with design leadership or other senior stakeholders to assess your strategic thinking and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curation is Key: Select projects that are most relevant to the UX Product Designer role at Homes.com. Focus on projects that demonstrate your end-to-end process, from research to final design.
• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies like a narrative. Clearly state the problem, your approach, your process, the challenges you faced, the decisions you made, and the outcome.
• Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens. Include sketches, wireframes, user flows, research findings, and iterations to demonstrate your thinking and methodology.
• Highlight Impact: Quantify the impact of your design work whenever possible. Use metrics to show how your designs improved user engagement, conversion rates, or other relevant outcomes.
• Be Ready to Explain: For every design decision, be prepared to explain the "why" behind it. Articulate your rationale based on user needs, business goals, and design principles.
• Tailor to Homes.com: If possible, demonstrate an understanding of the real estate domain and the potential design challenges on a platform like Homes.com.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Goal: Pay close attention to the prompt and ensure you understand the core problem you are being asked to solve.
• Structure Your Approach: Even in a time-boxed challenge, demonstrate a structured design process (e.g., brief discovery, ideation, sketching, key screens, rationale).
• Focus on the User: Center your solution around user needs and how your design addresses them.
• Communicate Your Thinking: Verbalize your thought process during the challenge, explaining your decisions and considerations.
• Ask Clarifying Questions: Don't hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear.

ATS Keywords:

• Design Skills: UX Design, Product Design, UI Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, User Research, Usability, Prototyping, Wireframing, Mockups, User Flows, Information Architecture, Design Thinking, Responsive Design, Mobile Design, Web Design, Design Systems, Usability Testing, A/B Testing, Data Analysis.
• Tools: Sketch, Invision, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Zeplin, Abstract, Jira, Confluence.
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Lean UX, Design Sprints, User-Centered Design.
• Soft Skills: Collaboration, Communication, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Stakeholder Management, Presentation Skills, Teamwork, Adaptability.
• Industry Terms: Real Estate, Online Marketplace, Residential Real Estate, Home Search, Agent Tools, Consumer Experience, Digital Product, SaaS.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Sketch: Explicitly required, indicating it's a primary tool for UI design and potentially some prototyping. Proficiency with Sketch is essential for creating high-fidelity mockups and contributing to the design system.
• Invision: Explicitly required, used for creating interactive prototypes and potentially for collaboration and design handoff. Strong skills in Invision are needed to demonstrate user flows and interactions.
• Other Design Software: While not explicitly mentioned, proficiency in other industry-standard tools like Figma or Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) may be beneficial, depending on the specific visual design requirements and team workflows.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools like Invision are used for sharing prototypes and gathering feedback.
• Given the Agile environment and collaboration with engineering, tools for design handoff (like Zeplin or Abstract) and project management (like Jira or Confluence) are likely used, although not explicitly listed.

Research & Testing:

• The role mentions using different Research Techniques (surveys, interviews, observations, data analysis). This implies the use of tools for conducting surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user interviews (video conferencing tools), and potentially analytics platforms to understand user behavior.
• Experience with tools for Usability Testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback) and potentially A/B testing platforms would be valuable for validating design decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-Centered Approach: The focus on understanding customer needs through research indicates a strong commitment to a user-centered design philosophy. Designers are expected to advocate for the user throughout the product development process.
• Collaboration: The emphasis on partnering with product managers, engineers, and other designers highlights a collaborative culture. Success is driven by a "we, not me" mindset, requiring strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Innovation & Improvement: CoStar Group's mission to "digitize the world’s real estate" and the Homes.com team's drive to be "#1" suggest a culture that values innovation and continuous improvement in the home search experience.
• Quality & Polish: The requirement for an "excellent design eye" and the ability to take a design from "good to great" indicates a value placed on delivering high-quality, polished design solutions that balance usability and aesthetic appeal.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close partnership with Product and Engineering teams implies daily interaction, shared goals, and integrated workflows.
• Design Critique: While not explicitly mentioned, a healthy design team culture typically includes regular design critiques where designers share their work and receive constructive feedback from peers and leadership.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to the Design System and elevating team practices suggests a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the design team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Scaling Design: Working on a rapidly growing platform like Homes.com presents challenges in maintaining design consistency and efficiency across different features and teams, emphasizing the importance of contributing to the Design System.
• Balancing Speed and Quality: In an Agile environment focused on rapid growth, balancing the need to ship quickly with the commitment to high-quality, polished design solutions can be a persistent challenge.
• Complex User Needs: The real estate domain involves diverse user groups (buyers, sellers, agents) with complex needs and workflows, requiring deep user research and careful consideration of different user journeys.
• Integrating Data and Design: Effectively utilizing data and analytics to inform and validate design decisions requires strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data insights into actionable design strategies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize in specific areas of the Homes.com platform (e.g., search experience, agent tools, data visualization) or design disciplines (e.g., design systems, user research).
• Industry Expertise: Deepen your understanding of the real estate industry and the unique challenges and opportunities within online real estate marketplaces.
• Mentorship: Potential to receive mentorship from senior designers or design leadership within CoStar Group, and potentially mentor more junior designers.
• Professional Development: Utilize the tuition reimbursement benefit to pursue further education or certifications relevant to product design, UX research, or a related field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through your end-to-end design process for a key project from your portfolio. Discuss your approach to problem definition, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Expect questions about how you handle feedback, iterate on designs, and make design decisions based on user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.
• Be ready to discuss specific design methodologies you've used (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean UX) and how they informed your work.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research CoStar Group and Homes.com thoroughly. Understand their business model, target audience, and recent product developments.
• Be prepared to discuss why you are interested in working for Homes.com specifically and how your skills and experience align with the company's mission and values.
• Think about examples of how you've collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) in the past.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your skills and experience as a UX Product Designer, particularly those that demonstrate your end-to-end process and impact.
• For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, key design decisions, and the outcome or impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.
• Practice presenting your portfolio to ensure a smooth and engaging delivery. Be prepared to answer questions about your work and rationale.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link on the CoStar Group careers page.
• Tailor your resume to highlight your relevant UX Design, Product Design, and Interaction Design experience, incorporating keywords from the job description and ATS keywords list.
• Prepare a compelling Portfolio that showcases your end-to-end design process and the impact of your work. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible and clearly organized.
• Craft a cover letter that specifically addresses your interest in the UX Product Designer role at Homes.com and how your skills and experience align with the requirements and the company's mission.
• Practice your Portfolio Walkthrough and prepare responses to common design interview questions, focusing on demonstrating your problem-solving skills and collaborative approach.
• Research CoStar Group and Homes.com thoroughly to understand their products, market position, and design culture, preparing thoughtful questions for your interviews.