Corporate Intern - UX Designer (Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Corporate Intern - UX Designer (Remote)

Company: First Citizens Bank

Location: California, United States

Job Type: TEMPORARY

Category: Digital Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Experience Level: Entry Level / Internship

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship offers a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in UX design and research within a corporate financial services environment.

• The role involves contributing to the enhancement of digital products, services, and channels, focusing on creating intuitive and accessible client experiences.

• Interns will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including designers, product owners, product managers, developers, and business stakeholders, to deliver tangible value.

• The position emphasizes learning and skill development, encouraging initiative to ensure thoughtful and user-centric design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description lists "Corporate Intern - UX Designer," the detailed responsibilities and preferred qualifications strongly indicate a focus on User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design within the digital product development lifecycle. The role is categorized under Digital Design / UX.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Support & Iteration: Create and iterate on prototypes, visual designs, digital design assets, user journey maps, and wireframes as assigned to support the enhancement of the bank's digital user experience.

• User-Centric Design: Ensure digital products, services, and channels deliver an efficient, easy-to-use, and accessible experience for First Citizens clients.

• User Advocacy: Help understand and advocate for product design that effectively supports the needs and behaviors of the target audience, communicating these insights to the product team.

• Brand Application: Develop an understanding of brand guidelines and apply visual elements and styles consistently across user interfaces.

• User Research Assistance: Assist in conducting user interviews and surveys to gather insights into user needs and behaviors.

• Research Analysis & Synthesis: Analyze research outcomes, compile reports, and help draft user personas and scenarios to inform design decisions.

• Competitive Analysis: Perform competitive analysis to identify patterns, best practices, and potential areas for innovation in digital financial services.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with other design team members, product owners, product managers, technology, and QA stakeholders to ensure successful product development and measure team success.

• Contribution to Standards: Contribute to the development and refinement of brand guidelines and standards for the enterprise design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are broken down by functional area (Design Support, User Research, Collaboration) with specific tasks detailed to provide a clear picture of the intern's day-to-day activities and contributions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required.

• Must be currently enrolled in an accredited collegiate institution during the duration of the summer program.

Experience:

• 1 year of experience required (can be concurrent with collegiate enrollment).

Required Skills:

• Design Fundamentals: Understanding of design principles, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) concepts.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Ability to create basic prototypes and wireframes to visualize design concepts.

• User Research Support: Willingness to assist in conducting user interviews or surveys and analyzing findings.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with other team members and stakeholders.

• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to articulate design ideas and research findings.

• Adaptability & Learning: Ability to adapt and adjust priorities, absorb information quickly, and take direction.

• Initiative: Self-starter, comfortable asking questions and determining the best course of action.

• Time Management: Ability to work 40 hours per week during the program duration.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced Design Tools: Proficiency or familiarity with industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), and prototyping tools like Axure.

• UX Research Methodologies: Familiarity with user research techniques, data analysis, and persona development.

• Visual Design: Strong visual design skills, including an understanding of typography, color theory, and layout.

• Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze problems and propose design solutions.

• Multitasking: Capacity to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

• Positive Attitude: A proactive and enthusiastic approach to learning and contributing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required qualifications" are adapted to reflect the internship level, emphasizing current collegiate enrollment and a baseline of experience. Preferred qualifications highlight specific technical skills and academic focus areas relevant to UX/UI design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Process Documentation: Showcase wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs that demonstrate a clear understanding of the design process from concept to execution.

• User Research Insights: Include examples of how user research (interviews, surveys, usability testing) informed design decisions, with synthesized findings and resulting design iterations.

• Problem-Solving Case Studies: Present 1-2 concise case studies detailing a design challenge, the problem-solving approach taken, and the impact of the solution, even if from academic projects.

• Tool Proficiency Demonstration: Briefly illustrate the use of specific design tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch) in creating design artifacts.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design process clearly, demonstrating an understanding of user-centered design methodologies.

• The ability to document research findings, design iterations, and rationale behind design choices will be valuable.

• For this internship, demonstrating a structured approach to design tasks and an eagerness to learn and apply established processes is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an internship, portfolio requirements are adjusted to focus on demonstrating potential and understanding of process rather than extensive professional experience. Emphasis is placed on academic projects and the candidate's ability to articulate their design thinking.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $18.70 - $28.60 per hour

Benefits:

• While specific benefits for interns are not detailed, the company notes that "Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates."

Working Hours:

• Full-time commitment required: 40 hours per week during the program duration.

• Internship Dates: May 27, 2026 - July 31, 2026.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided in the job description. The benefits statement is generalized, as specific intern benefits are often different from full-time employees. The working hours and internship dates are clearly defined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking

Company Size: First Citizens Bank is a large financial institution, indicating a structured corporate environment with established processes and a significant digital footprint. This means interns will be exposed to enterprise-level design challenges and large-scale user bases.

Founded: First Citizens Bank was founded in 1900, signifying a long-standing history and stability in the financial sector. This heritage likely influences a culture that values tradition, trust, and long-term customer relationships, while also adapting to modern digital demands.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer Intern will be part of a digital design team, likely embedded within a larger product development or digital transformation department.

• They will collaborate closely with experienced designers, product owners, product managers, developers, and other business stakeholders, offering exposure to various roles and their interdependencies.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes creating "usable features and products" and ensuring "thoughtful and intuitive experiences for customers," suggesting a commitment to user-centered design principles.

• Collaboration with product owners, product managers, and developers implies an agile or hybrid development methodology where design is integrated into the product lifecycle.

• Data analysis and research are key components, indicating a data-informed approach to design decision-making.

Company Website: https://jobs.firstcitizens.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company industry and founding date provide context for its culture and market position. The team structure and methodology are inferred from the described collaboration and responsibilities, highlighting the intern's integration into a professional product development environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Internship / Entry-Level

Reporting Structure:

• The intern will report to a designated manager or senior team member within the digital design team.

Operations Impact:

• While an intern's direct impact might be on specific project components or design assets, their work contributes to the broader goal of enhancing the digital user experience for First Citizens Bank's clients.

• Successful contributions can lead to improved client satisfaction, increased engagement with digital channels, and support for the bank's digital transformation initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Significant opportunity to develop practical skills in UX/UI design tools, research methodologies, prototyping, and visual design.

• Industry Exposure: Gain firsthand experience in the financial services industry and understand the unique design challenges and opportunities within banking.

• Networking: Build professional relationships with experienced designers, product managers, and other banking professionals.

• Portfolio Building: Create tangible design artifacts and case studies that can be added to a professional portfolio, enhancing future job prospects.

• Potential for Future Opportunities: Strong performance may lead to recommendations for future internships or full-time roles within First Citizens Bank, depending on business needs and program structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the internship within a broader career context, emphasizing skill acquisition, industry exposure, and the potential for future growth, which are key considerations for interns.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Remote (with potential for hybrid elements depending on program structure, though listed as fully remote).

Office Location(s):

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Tools: Interns will likely utilize collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) and project management tools to communicate with team members and stakeholders.

• Design Software Access: Access to necessary design software and tools will be provided or supported.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for virtual team meetings, design critiques, and knowledge-sharing sessions will be available to foster collaboration and learning.

• Remote Work Support: The company's remote work policy should provide guidelines and resources for effective remote work.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (40 hours per week) are expected.

• The internship period is fixed from May 27, 2026, to July 31, 2026.

• Flexibility may exist within daily schedules, but consistent availability during core business hours for collaboration is typically required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is highlighted, along with the implications for workspace setup and collaboration. Geographic targeting within California is also noted.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the resume and application to assess qualifications and academic enrollment.

• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: Candidates may be asked to present a portfolio showcasing relevant academic projects, design process, and tool proficiency. This is a critical step for UX roles.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Interviews with hiring managers and team members to assess problem-solving skills, communication abilities, cultural fit, and eagerness to learn. Questions may focus on how candidates approach design challenges and collaborate.

• Final Round: Potentially a final interview to discuss the role in more detail, answer candidate questions, and confirm fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 2-3 strong academic or personal projects that best showcase your UX/UI design skills, research process, and problem-solving abilities.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, clearly explain the problem you were trying to solve, your role, the research methods used, your design decisions (and rationale), iterations, and the final outcome.

• Showcase Tool Usage: Highlight the specific design tools you used (Figma, Adobe XD, etc.) and how they aided your process.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Even for academic projects, explain the intended or actual impact of your design solutions.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate (e.g., using a personal website, Behance, or a well-structured PDF).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process and how you approach user research and problem-solving.

• Practice articulating your design decisions and the rationale behind them.

• Familiarize yourself with common UX/UI design principles and terminology.

• Research First Citizens Bank's digital presence to understand their current user experience and potential areas for improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Since this is a UX role, emphasis is placed on the portfolio review process and how candidates should prepare to showcase their design thinking and practical skills, even if derived from academic work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (preferred), Axure (desired). Candidates are expected to have familiarity with at least one industry-standard tool.

• Visual Design: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator for asset creation and editing.

• Wireframing: Tools like Balsamiq, Miro, or built-in features within Figma/Sketch/XD.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this UX design role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific design tools mentioned in the "Preferred qualifications" are highlighted as the core technology stack for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of First Citizens Bank clients through intuitive and accessible digital experiences.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals in product development.

• Innovation & Improvement: A drive to enhance digital products and services, encouraging initiative and learning.

• Professionalism & Integrity: Upholding the standards of a reputable financial institution.

• Continuous Learning: Encouragement for interns to expand their knowledge and skills.

Collaboration Style:

• The team likely operates with a collaborative approach, involving designers, product managers, developers, and business stakeholders in the design process.

• Expect regular feedback sessions, design reviews, and cross-functional meetings to ensure alignment and effective problem-solving.

• The internship encourages proactive engagement and asking questions to foster a learning-oriented collaborative environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are inferred from its industry, mission (client experience), and the description of the internship program, focusing on aspects relevant to a design intern.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Corporate Structure: Understanding established processes, brand guidelines, and stakeholder expectations within a large financial institution.

• Balancing Learning and Contribution: Juggling academic responsibilities with the demands of a full-time internship, while quickly learning new tools and processes.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with a remote team and stakeholders.

• Translating Theory to Practice: Applying academic knowledge of UX/UI design to real-world business problems and constraints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Practical Design Experience: Gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard design tools and methodologies.

• Industry Insight: Understanding the specific UX challenges and considerations within the financial services sector.

• Professional Skill Enhancement: Developing crucial soft skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced UX designers and product professionals.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a strong portfolio with real-world project contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around the typical experience of an intern in a corporate setting, while growth opportunities focus on the unique learning benefits of this specific role and industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process for academic projects. How do you approach understanding user needs?

• Describe a time you had to work collaboratively on a project. What was your role, and how did you contribute to the team's success?

• How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?

• Why are you interested in UX design, and specifically in interning at First Citizens Bank?

Company & Culture Questions:

• What do you know about First Citizens Bank and the financial services industry?

• How do you see yourself contributing to our team and company culture?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative – the problem, your approach, your solutions, and the outcome.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your design decisions, not just the final visuals.

• Tool Showcase: Briefly mention the tools you used and why.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present key projects within a limited timeframe.

• Demonstrate Learning: Highlight what you learned from each project and how you would approach similar challenges differently in the future.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on common UX interview questions, company-specific research, and effective portfolio presentation strategies tailored for an internship role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this corporate intern position:

• Submit your application through the First Citizens Bank careers portal (https://jobs.firstcitizens.com).

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your resume highlights relevant academic projects, coursework, and any prior design experience. If you have a digital portfolio, ensure it is polished, easily accessible, and showcases your design process and work samples.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize skills mentioned in the job description, such as prototyping, wireframing, user research support, collaboration, and proficiency with design tools like Figma. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., GPA, specific project outcomes).

• Interview Readiness: Practice articulating your design thinking, problem-solving approach, and collaborative experiences. Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in detail and explain your interest in UX design and the financial industry.

• Company Research: Research First Citizens Bank's digital products and services to gain an understanding of their current user experience. Familiarize yourself with their company values and mission.

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

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