[Job-31595] Design Systems Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: [Job-31595] Design Systems Lead

Company: CI&T

Location: Brazil

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Operations / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-11

Experience Level: 8+ Years (Lead/Principal Level)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the comprehensive design strategy and governance for unified design systems across web and native mobile platforms, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

• Drive cross-functional alignment between design, product, and engineering teams to ensure seamless execution of user journeys for a major retail e-commerce transformation.

• Act as the primary design anchor, championing high-converting user journeys and setting design system standards for both SAP Commerce Cloud/Angular web and Flutter mobile applications.

• Facilitate strategic design direction and advisory to client executives, product owners, and engineering leaders, bridging business goals with user-centric design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Systems Lead," the responsibilities heavily lean into a strategic Design Operations and GTM (Go-To-Market) Operations function. This role is about operationalizing design excellence, ensuring consistency, and driving efficient delivery of user experiences across multiple platforms. The focus on "unified design systems," "cross-functional alignment," and "seamless delivery" points to a need for strong operational and strategic thinking within a design context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Direct the overarching UX/UI strategy, ensuring a single, converging design language is enforced across web (SAP Commerce Cloud / Angular) and native mobile app (Flutter) channels.

• Establish and govern shared design system tokens, components, and interaction patterns to maintain consistency and prevent experience drift between platforms.

• Oversee and optimize end-to-end user journeys for high-intent touchpoints, including Single Page Checkout (SPC), Product Detail Pages (PDP), Search/Type-ahead, and loyalty features.

• Act as the lead design partner to client executives, product owners, and engineering leaders, facilitating alignment workshops, design reviews, and crucial decision-making processes.

• Bridge business objectives with user-centric design decisions, validating concepts through usability testing and data-backed UX rationale to ensure business impact.

• Lead sprint planning for design deliverables across parallel tracks, ensuring build-ready artifacts and annotated specifications are delivered on time for engineering teams.

• Work directly within the client's design environment (Figma) to ensure full transparency, seamless co-creation, and effective knowledge transfer.

• Pair with client designers and internal pod members to mentor, maintain quality standards, and execute smooth knowledge handoffs with zero migration overhead.

• Integrate advanced, mobile-first, and store-companion patterns (e.g., AI size confidence, personalization, in-store features) into the core e-commerce experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong operational focus on design delivery. Key operational aspects include "governing shared design system tokens," "leading sprint planning for design deliverables," "ensuring build-ready artifacts," and "seamless co-creation/knowledge handoffs." This indicates a need for someone who can manage the process of design as much as the creative output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 8+ years of digital product design experience.

• Minimum of 3 years in a Lead or Principal Design role, specifically governing complex e-commerce or retail ecosystems. Required Skills:

• Design Systems Mastery: Proven track record of creating, maintaining, and scaling enterprise-level design systems using design tokens and shared pattern libraries across Web and Mobile Native frameworks.

• E-commerce & Retail Expertise: Deep hands-on experience designing for large-scale omnichannel retail, with a strong focus on e-commerce conversion optimization (Checkout, PDP, Cart, Search) and mobile-first user journeys.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level mastery of Figma, including variables, auto-layout, advanced prototyping, component libraries, and developer handoff workflows.

• Technical Familiarity: Strong understanding of front-end capabilities and constraints across web storefronts (e.g., Angular/Spartacus) and native mobile frameworks (e.g., Flutter).

• Strategic Leadership: Exceptional presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate complex design decisions clearly to non-designers.

• UX Strategy: Ability to direct overall UX/UI strategy and establish design standards.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in defining and governing interaction patterns.

• Conversion Optimization: Demonstrated understanding of how design impacts conversion rates.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-assisted UX patterns (e.g., AI sizing recommendation tools, personalization engines).

• Background in omnichannel "store-companion" or BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up in Store) user experiences.

• Familiarity with SAP Commerce Cloud and Angular/Spartacus.

• Experience with Flutter.

• Usability testing and data-backed UX rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert-level mastery of Figma" and "proven track record of creating, maintaining, and scaling enterprise-level design systems" is critical. This role is not just about using design tools but about operationalizing design at scale. The technical familiarity with specific frameworks like Angular and Flutter, combined with e-commerce domain knowledge, positions this as a highly specialized operational design role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase examples of creating, implementing, and scaling enterprise-level design systems. Detail the process, challenges, and impact of design tokens, component libraries, and pattern governance across different platforms (web and mobile).

• E-commerce Conversion Optimization: Present detailed case studies of optimizing key e-commerce user journeys (e.g., SPC, PDP, Search, Cart). Quantify the impact of your design decisions on conversion rates and key business metrics.

• Omnichannel Experience Design: Include examples of designing integrated omnichannel experiences, demonstrating an understanding of how digital and physical retail touchpoints connect.

• Figma Mastery Demonstration: Provide examples within your portfolio that highlight advanced Figma skills, such as complex component libraries, dynamic prototypes, and efficient developer handoff workflows.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Demonstrate instances where you successfully maintained design consistency and unified experience across web and native mobile applications.

Process Documentation:

• Design System Governance Framework: Outline how you would establish and maintain governance for design systems, including processes for component updates, versioning, contribution guidelines, and communication strategies.

• Cross-Functional Workflow Design: Illustrate your approach to designing and managing workflows that ensure seamless collaboration between design, product management, and engineering teams, especially in agile environments.

• User Journey Optimization Process: Detail a structured process for identifying, analyzing, and optimizing high-intent user journeys, incorporating usability testing, data analysis, and iterative design improvements.

• Developer Handoff & Integration: Showcase a robust process for developer handoff that minimizes friction and ensures accurate implementation of design specifications, particularly for complex component libraries and interaction patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role of this nature, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showcasing aesthetics but about demonstrating the operational rigor behind design. Candidates must be prepared to articulate their process for building and maintaining design systems, managing cross-platform consistency, and driving measurable business outcomes through design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the "Expert" level designation, 8+ years of experience, and the specific technical and leadership requirements for a major retail e-commerce transformation in Brazil, a highly competitive salary is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major tech hubs within Brazil, we estimate a range of R$15,000 to R$25,000+ per month, depending on the candidate's specific experience, negotiation skills, and proven impact.

Benefits:

• Health insurance

• Dental insurance

• Meal allowance

• Food allowance

• Childcare assistance

• Extended paternity leave

• Partnership with gyms and health and wellness professionals via Wellhub (Gympass) / TotalPass

• Profit Sharing and Results Participation (PLR)

• Life insurance

• Continuous learning platform (CI&T University)

• Discount club

• Free online platform dedicated to physical, mental, and overall well-being

• Pregnancy and responsible parenting course

• Partnerships with online learning platforms

• Language learning platform

• And many more! (See detailed benefits at https://ciandt.com/br/pt-br/carreiras) Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week, typical for full-time roles.

• Given the "Homeoffice" designation and the nature of a lead role, there may be an expectation for flexibility to accommodate critical project needs or stakeholder availability across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on senior-level design leadership roles in Brazil, considering the specific domain (e-commerce, retail) and required expertise (design systems, Figma, cross-platform). The provided benefits package is extensive and typical for a large, established tech consultancy like CI&T, offering strong support for employee well-being and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, Digital Transformation, AI Deployment. CI&T operates at the intersection of technology and business strategy, helping large enterprises leverage AI and digital solutions for real-world impact.

Company Size: 8,000+ employees across more than 25 countries. This indicates a large, globally distributed organization with a strong presence in Brazil.

Founded: 30 years of experience in technological transformation. This suggests a mature company with a solid understanding of market evolution and client needs.

Team Structure:

• Design Pods/Teams: Likely organized into cross-functional "pods" or teams dedicated to specific client projects or transformation initiatives, such as this major retail e-commerce project.

• Reporting Structure: The Lead will likely report to a senior design director or a program lead, while also acting as the primary design liaison for client executives and product owners.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes deep collaboration with client executives, product owners, engineering leaders, and client designers, indicating a highly integrated, team-based approach.

Methodology:

• AI-Native Execution: CI&T focuses on AI Deployment, AI-native execution, and tech-integrated business solutions, suggesting a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption and implementation.

• Agile & Iterative: Given the mention of "sprint planning" and "parallel tracks," agile methodologies are undoubtedly central to their project delivery.

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on "data-backed UX rationale" and "usability testing" points to a commitment to evidence-based decision-making in design.

Company Website: https://www.ciandt.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: CI&T's positioning as a large, experienced technology consultancy focused on AI and digital transformation implies a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and a strong client-centric approach. The scale of the organization means established processes for project management, talent development, and operational excellence are likely in place.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at an "Expert" or Principal level within the design discipline, with significant operational responsibilities. It sits at the intersection of strategic design leadership and the operational execution of design systems and user experiences for large-scale digital transformations.

Reporting Structure: The Design Systems Lead will report into a senior leadership position within the CI&T project team (e.g., Design Director, Program Manager) and will work very closely with client-side executives, product owners, and engineering leads, acting as the primary design advocate and operational lead for the project.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the success of a major retail e-commerce transformation by ensuring a unified, high-converting, and scalable user experience. This operational excellence in design directly influences customer acquisition, retention, and overall revenue for the client. The ability to govern design systems efficiently translates to faster development cycles, reduced technical debt, and consistent brand representation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to lead larger design teams or multiple design system initiatives within CI&T.

• Strategic Advisory: Grow into a more senior consulting role, advising clients on broader digital transformation and AI strategy from a design perspective.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-assisted UX, omnichannel strategies, or specific e-commerce platform integrations.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and contributing to CI&T's internal design community and best practices.

• Client Relationship Management: Strengthen relationships with key enterprise clients, potentially leading to long-term engagements and strategic partnerships.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career growth beyond traditional design roles. It's a chance to operate at a strategic level, influencing business outcomes through the operationalization of design, and to develop strong consulting and leadership skills within a global firm.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote ("Homeoffice"). This signifies a distributed workforce model where collaboration and communication will be primarily digital.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Brazil, allowing candidates within Brazil to work remotely.

Workspace Context:

• Digital Collaboration Hub: The primary workspace will be digital, relying heavily on tools like Figma, Slack, video conferencing, and project management software.

• Client Integration: Close integration with the client's design environment (Figma) is expected from day one, suggesting a highly collaborative and transparent working relationship.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Opportunities for constant interaction with diverse teams—client stakeholders, internal CI&T pods, and engineering—facilitating knowledge sharing and diverse perspectives.

• Focus on Efficiency: The remote nature and reliance on digital tools emphasize the need for efficient communication and asynchronous collaboration.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• While remote, the role's lead nature and client-facing responsibilities may require flexibility to align with client schedules or critical project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Homeoffice" designation means candidates must be highly self-motivated and adept at managing their work environment and communication effectively. The focus will be on outcomes and deliverables rather than physical presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios for initial fit.

2. Technical/Design Interview: In-depth discussion focusing on design systems, e-commerce expertise, Figma proficiency, and strategic thinking. This may involve a portfolio review and discussion of past projects.

3. Stakeholder/Client Interview: A session with client executives or product owners to assess leadership, communication, stakeholder management skills, and alignment with business goals.

4. Team/Pod Interview: Interaction with potential peers or team members to evaluate cultural fit, collaboration style, and problem-solving approach.

5. Final Decision: Based on all gathered feedback.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For every project, clearly articulate the business problem, your role, the solution, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced error rates, improved user satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Process: Detail your design process, especially for design systems. Explain how you established tokens, components, and governance. Highlight how you ensured cross-platform consistency.

• Figma Expertise: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, demonstrating advanced features like variables, auto-layout, and component variants. Show how you facilitate developer handoff.

• Strategic Rationale: For each design decision, be ready to explain the "why" – how it aligns with business objectives and user needs, backed by data or user research.

• Client Collaboration: If possible, include examples or case studies that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and within client environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Challenge: You might be asked to critique an existing design system, propose improvements, or outline a strategy for building one from scratch for a hypothetical e-commerce scenario.

• User Journey Optimization Task: You could be given a specific user flow (e.g., checkout) and asked to identify pain points and propose design solutions with a clear rationale.

• Stakeholder Alignment Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would handle conflicting requirements from different stakeholders or present a design decision to a non-design audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "major retail e-commerce transformation" and "unified design systems" means interviewers will be looking for operational excellence in design. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but how they managed the design process, ensured consistency, and drove business results through their operational approach to design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level mastery is required for UI design, prototyping, component libraries, design tokens, and developer handoff.

• Design System Management Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for managing design tokens, component libraries, and style guides.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for understanding user behavior and conversion funnels.

• User Testing Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting usability testing and gathering user feedback.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data and present insights, potentially using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Figma features.

CRM & Automation:

• E-commerce Platforms: Strong understanding of platforms like SAP Commerce Cloud (or similar enterprise e-commerce solutions).

• Web Frameworks: Familiarity with Angular and Spartacus.

• Mobile Frameworks: Familiarity with Flutter.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design deliverables and sprint planning.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Slack/Microsoft Teams: For day-to-day communication.

• Zoom/Google Meet: For video conferencing and client meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical stack is specific and crucial. Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. A deep understanding of the interplay between design systems and front-end frameworks (Angular/Spartacus, Flutter) is essential for ensuring seamless implementation and governance. Familiarity with enterprise e-commerce platforms like SAP Commerce Cloud is a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to delivering high-quality, consistent, and performant user experiences through robust design operations.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Valuing open communication and shared understanding across design, product, and engineering teams, especially in a remote setting.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights from user testing and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies like AI and adapting to evolving market trends and client needs within the retail and e-commerce space.

• Client Focus: Prioritizing client success and delivering solutions that drive real business impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Pods: Working closely within cross-functional, agile teams (pods) that include client members.

• Proactive Communication: Regularly engaging with stakeholders to provide updates, gather feedback, and ensure alignment, particularly important in a remote environment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in design reviews, mentoring sessions, and contributing to CI&T's internal knowledge base.

• Design System Advocacy: Championing the use and adherence to design system principles across all project touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: CI&T's values likely align with a consulting firm's ethos: client-centricity, expertise, innovation, and strong teamwork. For a Design Systems Lead, this translates to a culture that supports operationalizing design best practices, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and driving measurable business outcomes through strategic design leadership.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Cross-Platform Consistency at Scale: Ensuring a unified and high-converting experience across web (Angular/SAP Commerce Cloud) and native mobile (Flutter) for a large e-commerce platform, while managing multiple stakeholders and parallel development tracks.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating differing priorities and perspectives among client executives, product owners, and engineering teams to maintain design integrity and strategic direction.

• Technical Constraints: Balancing ideal design solutions with the technical realities and limitations of web and mobile frameworks, especially within an enterprise environment.

• Adoption of Design Systems: Driving adoption and adherence to the established design system across diverse teams and evolving project needs.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining effective communication, collaboration, and team cohesion in a fully remote setting.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in UX: Gaining practical experience with AI-assisted UX patterns and their integration into e-commerce journeys.

• Omnichannel Strategy: Deepening expertise in designing seamless omnichannel customer experiences, including "store-companion" and BOPIS functionalities.

• Enterprise E-commerce Platforms: Expanding knowledge of complex platforms like SAP Commerce Cloud.

• Consulting & Leadership: Developing advanced consulting skills, client management, and leadership capabilities within a global technology firm.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to CI&T's internal learning resources and potential mentorship from senior leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around operationalizing design effectively in a complex, multi-platform, client-facing environment. The growth opportunities are significant, offering pathways into more strategic consulting, specialized expertise, and leadership roles within a global organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for establishing and governing an enterprise-level design system across web and native mobile platforms. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on operational rigor, governance, and cross-platform strategy.)

• "How do you ensure design consistency and alignment with business goals when working with multiple stakeholders (client executives, product owners, engineering) on a large-scale e-commerce project?" (Prepare examples of facilitation, negotiation, and data-backed rationale.)

• "Walk us through a complex e-commerce user journey (e.g., checkout) you've optimized. What was the problem, your approach, the specific design solutions, and the measurable impact on conversion rates?" (Emphasize data-driven optimization and process.)

• "Imagine you need to introduce a new component to a mature design system. What steps would you take from proposal to implementation, including getting buy-in from engineering and product?" (Demonstrate understanding of the design system lifecycle and cross-functional collaboration.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about CI&T's work in AI and digital transformation? How do you see your role contributing to that mission?" (Research CI&T's AI capabilities and case studies.)

• "How do you approach collaboration in a fully remote, cross-functional team environment?" (Highlight proactive communication, transparency, and tool proficiency.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in e-commerce, retail technology, and design systems?" (Showcase continuous learning and industry awareness.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating key skills (e.g., Design Systems, Conversion Optimization, Omnichannel).

• Storytelling: For each case study, tell a compelling story: the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the quantifiable results.

• Focus on Operations: When discussing design systems, emphasize the operational aspects: governance, scalability, maintenance, consistency enforcement, and developer handoff efficiency.

• Figma Walkthrough: Be prepared to share your screen and navigate through a Figma file to demonstrate your process, component structure, and prototyping capabilities.

• Metrics First: Whenever possible, lead with or prominently feature the business impact and metrics achieved through your design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be assessing not just design craft but operational discipline, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead and govern complex design initiatives within a large enterprise context. Your preparation should reflect this operational focus.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Systems Lead position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies on design system creation, governance, and scaling, with a clear emphasis on cross-platform consistency (web/mobile) and quantifiable business impact (e.g., conversion optimization).

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in lead/principal design roles, expertise in Figma, e-commerce/retail domain knowledge, and any experience with SAP Commerce Cloud, Angular, or Flutter. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for a Figma Deep-Dive: Be ready to showcase your Figma skills, including variables, auto-layout, component libraries, and developer handoff workflows, possibly during the interview.

• Research CI&T: Understand CI&T's focus on AI, digital transformation, and their approach to client engagements. Familiarize yourself with their culture and values.

• Practice Your Narrative: Prepare to articulate your strategic approach to design systems, your leadership style, and how you drive collaboration and operational excellence in a remote setting.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.