Design Group Manager, UI System Utilities

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Group Manager, UI System Utilities

Company: General Motors

Location: Warren, Michigan, United States of America / Sunnyvale, California, United States of America

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) Design Operations / Product Design Management

Date Posted: 2025-09-12T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years (Managerial)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of User Experience (UX) Designers focused on in-vehicle interfaces and UI system utilities, driving human-centered design principles.

• Define and optimize design processes, standards, and operating models for a world-class digital design team within a complex automotive ecosystem.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, engineering, and agency partners to ensure cohesive and compelling user experiences across multiple platforms and programs.

• Manage the evolution of a specific domain area, focusing on enhancing presentation and functional behavior to meet evolving customer needs and expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Group Manager, UI System Utilities," the responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a Senior UX/Product Design leadership role with a strong emphasis on operationalizing design processes, managing a design team's output, and ensuring consistency through design systems. The "Operations" aspect is inherent in managing a team, defining standards, and overseeing the design lifecycle within a large organization like GM.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary design lead for a designated domain area, establishing a vision and guiding product and engineering partners toward human-centered design decisions across various platforms and programs.

• Define, direct, and continuously optimize the design process for the domain area, ensuring user needs are met through effective presentation and functional behavior.

• Leverage and evolve existing and emerging design systems to ensure cohesive, consistent, and high-quality cross-channel user experiences for end customers.

• Collaborate with broader design leadership to establish and refine studio operating standards, driving continuous improvement of design processes and team outcomes in a dynamic corporate environment.

• Manage, develop, and grow a team of Product/User Experience Designers, fostering their skills and ensuring the successful definition, design, and delivery of user experiences for in-vehicle interfaces.

• Conduct regular performance reviews, set individual and team goals, and support the professional development of direct reports, aligning their growth with organizational objectives.

• Assess team capabilities and strengths to allocate resources effectively and ensure the highest quality of design output, adhering to established quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize not just design output but also the operational aspects of managing a design team and process. This includes defining standards, optimizing workflows, and ensuring cross-functional alignment, which are core to operations roles. The role requires a blend of creative leadership and operational management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience specifically leading the creation and delivery of vehicle user interfaces within the automotive or a related technology sector.

• Proven track record of successfully designing and delivering complex digital experiences, demonstrating an understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle from concept to launch.

Required Skills:

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep expertise in user-centered design principles, user research methodologies, information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing.

• Team Leadership & People Management: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage a team of designers, including performance management, skill development, and fostering a positive team culture.

• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate complex design decisions, rationale, and strategic vision clearly and objectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and cross-functional partners.

• Design Systems: Proficient understanding and practical application of design systems for creating cohesive, scalable, and consistent cross-channel experiences.

• Agile Methodologies: Solid understanding of the user experience design process within Agile and SCRUM frameworks, and how to integrate design activities effectively into software development lifecycles.

• Portfolio Development: A strong, compelling portfolio showcasing a breadth and depth of work samples that demonstrate expertise in UX design, creative problem-solving, and strategic thinking.

Preferred Skills:

• Automotive UI/UX: Specific experience with in-vehicle infotainment systems, connected car technologies, and the unique challenges of automotive UX design.

• Process Improvement: Experience in defining, refining, and optimizing design processes, workflows, and operating standards to enhance team efficiency and design quality.

• Complexity Management: Ability to manage complexity in design projects and team dynamics, ensuring clarity and focus in a rapidly evolving environment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success in building strong working relationships and collaborating effectively with product management, engineering, marketing, and other stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a blend of deep UX expertise and strong managerial capabilities. The "5+ years of experience leading the creation of vehicle user interfaces" is a critical differentiator for operations professionals looking to leverage their design leadership and process management skills in the automotive sector.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Leadership & Process Ownership: Showcase examples where you defined or significantly improved design processes, team workflows, or operational standards within a design team.

• Showcase End-to-End Project Ownership: Include case studies that illustrate your role in leading a design initiative from conception through to successful delivery, highlighting your management of the process and team.

• Illustrate Design System Application: Provide examples of how you utilized or contributed to a design system to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple products or platforms.

• Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Present projects where you effectively collaborated with engineering, product management, and other stakeholders, demonstrating your ability to integrate design into broader development lifecycles.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, demonstrate the impact of your team's work and process improvements through metrics related to user satisfaction, efficiency gains, or achievement of business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate and document the design process, including best practices for user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and handoff to development.

• Showcase experience in establishing and maintaining quality standards for design deliverables, ensuring consistency and adherence to brand guidelines and system requirements.

• Demonstrate proficiency in integrating design operations into Agile/SCRUM methodologies, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and iterative design feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a management role, the portfolio should not only showcase design work but also evidence of process ownership, team leadership, and operational efficiency. This aligns with the expectations for a manager who oversees the "how" as much as the "what" of design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The provided annual base salary range for this position is $219,000 - $336,200 USD.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This range is based on GM's good-faith estimate for positions in specific US states (New York, Colorado, California, or Washington). Actual compensation will vary based on factors such as the candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and the specific location of employment within the US. The higher end of the range reflects senior leadership responsibilities and the specialized nature of automotive UX management.

Bonus Potential:

Benefits:

• GM offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and professional growth. Key benefits include:
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401(k) with company match)
  • Sickness and Accident Benefits
  • Life Insurance coverage
  • Generous Paid Vacation & Holidays
  • Tuition Assistance Programs for continued education and skill development
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are typically aligned with a full-time schedule, approximately 40 hours per week.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: As a hybrid role requiring 3 days in the office, the working hours will involve a structured schedule with flexibility for remote work days, allowing for focused work and team collaboration.

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing & Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (General Motors is a global automotive manufacturer with tens of thousands of employees worldwide).

Founded: 1908 (General Motors has a long and rich history in the automotive industry, evolving from manufacturing to a leader in automotive technology and future mobility.)

Team Structure:

• The Design Group Manager will likely lead a sub-team within a larger UX/Product Design organization. This team would consist of Product Designers, UX Designers, and potentially UI Designers.

• The role reports to a higher-level design leadership position (e.g., Director of UX Design, Head of Product Design).

Methodology:

• The team likely operates within Agile/SCRUM frameworks, requiring integration of design activities into development sprints.

• Emphasis on Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles, user research, iterative prototyping, and data-driven decision-making.

• Strong reliance on design systems for consistency and efficiency in creating scalable user experiences.

• Focus on continuous improvement of design processes and team operations to adapt to the fast-paced automotive technology landscape.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: GM's culture is undergoing a significant transformation towards electrification and software-defined vehicles. This role is at the forefront of that transformation, requiring adaptability, a forward-thinking mindset, and a strong understanding of how design operations can support innovation in a large, established company.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior management position, overseeing a specialized design team and contributing to the operational excellence of the broader design organization. It sits at a critical intersection of creative leadership and operational management.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a senior design executive and manages a team of designers. This structure offers opportunities to influence design strategy and operational practices at both the team and departmental levels.

Operations Impact: The Design Group Manager directly impacts the user experience of GM vehicles, which is increasingly a key differentiator in the automotive market. By leading a team and optimizing design processes, this role significantly influences product quality, customer satisfaction, and brand perception. Effective operations management in design leads to faster iteration cycles, reduced development costs, and higher-quality products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to Director/VP Level: Potential to move into broader design leadership roles, overseeing larger departments or multiple design disciplines.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of automotive UX, such as autonomous vehicle interfaces, EV charging experiences, or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to lead strategic initiatives that span across different departments, leveraging design thinking and operational excellence to solve complex business problems.

• Mentorship and Development: Develop strong people management and coaching skills, guiding the career paths of talented designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within a major automotive player, particularly for individuals who can demonstrate strong leadership in both design execution and operational efficiency. The focus on managing a team and processes is key to moving into higher-level operational and strategic roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Environment. The successful candidate will be expected to work from either the Warren, Michigan or Sunnyvale, California technical centers a minimum of three days per week.

Office Location(s):

• GM Global Technical Center - Sloan Engineering Center, Warren, Michigan, USA

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is likely collaborative and dynamic, with opportunities to engage with diverse teams of designers, engineers, and product managers.

• Access to state-of-the-art design tools, prototyping technologies, and potentially advanced automotive simulation environments.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time work schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected.

• The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility in managing personal time while ensuring core in-office hours are met for team collaboration and critical business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role requires individuals to be self-disciplined and effective in managing their time across different work settings, a common requirement in modern operations leadership roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, leadership style, understanding of UX processes, and how you manage teams and projects.

• Design Team/Peer Interviews: You will likely meet with other design leaders and senior designers to evaluate your technical skills, design thinking, collaboration capabilities, and cultural fit.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interview: An interview with partners from Product Management or Engineering to assess your ability to collaborate effectively and drive design decisions within a broader product development context.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your work, focusing on your leadership, process optimization, and the impact of your team's contributions. This is a critical component.

• Final Interview (Potentially with Senior Leadership): A final discussion to confirm overall fit and alignment with the company's strategic vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Leadership & Process: Select projects that clearly showcase your leadership in managing a design team, defining and improving design processes, and achieving tangible outcomes. Go beyond just showcasing final designs; explain the "how" and "why."

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role as a leader/manager, the processes you implemented or optimized, the challenges faced, your team's solutions, and the measurable results or impact.

• Highlight Operational Contributions: Emphasize any work related to design system implementation, process documentation, efficiency improvements, or team development strategies.

• Be Prepared for "How": Be ready to discuss not just the final product of a project but also the methodology, tools, and collaborative approaches used by your team under your leadership.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Connect your design work and operational approaches to broader business goals and customer needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential case studies or design challenges that may require you to outline a strategy for improving a specific aspect of GM's current UI or design process.

• Practice articulating your design philosophy and leadership approach concisely and persuasively.

• Understand GM's current product offerings and their design language to tailor your responses effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and behavioral questions related to leadership, process management, and cross-functional collaboration is key for this operations-focused design management role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, XD), InVision, Axure RP, or similar.

• Design Systems: Experience working with, contributing to, or managing design systems (e.g., using tools like Zeroheight, Storybook, or custom-built systems).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams for workflow management and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design management role, but understanding how user data managed in CRMs (like Salesforce) might inform UX strategy can be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a design role, understanding the operational side of design tools, design systems, and project management software is crucial for its effectiveness and for demonstrating operational proficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs through user-centered design principles and processes.

• Excellence & Quality: Driving high standards in design output, process execution, and team performance.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional partnerships are strong.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies, methodologies, and creative approaches to solve complex problems in a rapidly evolving industry.

• Efficiency & Optimization: Continuously seeking ways to improve design processes, workflows, and team productivity.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a highly collaborative style, requiring proactive engagement with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of design into the development lifecycle.

• Emphasis on open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of project success.

• A culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the design team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values, particularly "Excellence & Quality" and "Efficiency & Optimization," directly align with the operational aspects of this role. Demonstrating how you embody these values through your team and process management will be key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Complexity: Navigating the intricate systems and diverse product lines within a large automotive organization like GM.

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Developing cutting-edge user experiences while ensuring they are scalable, maintainable, and consistent across a wide range of vehicles and software updates.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring design vision and user needs are effectively translated and integrated across multiple engineering and product teams with potentially differing priorities.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in automotive technology, AI, and software-defined vehicles, and translating these into user-centric experiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/Product Management Training: Access to internal and external training programs focused on leadership, strategy, and specialized UX domains.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend leading UX and automotive technology conferences to stay abreast of industry trends and network.

• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from mentorship from senior leaders within GM's design and technology organizations.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Work on the forefront of automotive innovation, including electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and advanced connectivity features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for leadership roles in large tech-driven companies, and overcoming them requires strong operational management skills, strategic planning, and continuous learning.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your philosophy on managing a design team, including your approach to mentorship, performance evaluation, and fostering a positive and productive work environment.

• Articulate how you would define and operationalize design standards and processes within your team to ensure quality and efficiency.

• Explain how you prioritize and manage multiple design projects simultaneously, especially in a hybrid work setting.

• Discuss your approach to integrating design into Agile/SCRUM development cycles and collaborating effectively with engineering and product management.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research GM's current strategic initiatives, particularly their vision for future vehicles, electrification, and software-defined experiences.

• Understand GM's stated values and how they translate into daily operations and team dynamics.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact and Process: For each project presented, clearly articulate the problem, your leadership role, the operational processes you managed or improved, the solutions your team delivered, and the quantifiable results or impact achieved.

• Highlight Management Skills: Showcase examples of how you mentored designers, managed team workflows, resolved conflicts, and made strategic decisions for your team.

• Showcase Design System Proficiency: Detail your experience with design systems, including how you ensured their adoption and utilization for consistent, high-quality experiences.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, how you handle stakeholder feedback, and your strategies for dealing with design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to not only design but also to manage the operational aspects of a design team effectively. Demonstrating a clear process for team development and project execution is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Group Manager position at General Motors:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday portal link. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and tailored to highlight relevant experience.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to specifically showcase your leadership in managing design teams, optimizing design processes, and delivering impactful user experiences within complex product environments. Include examples that demonstrate your understanding of design systems and cross-functional collaboration.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your years of experience in leading vehicle UI design, people management, process improvement, and Agile methodologies. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, design process management approach, and how you foster team growth. Prepare specific examples for your portfolio presentation that highlight operational successes.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with General Motors' current automotive offerings, their strategic direction (especially regarding EVs and software), and their company culture to articulate your fit and potential contributions effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview for operations professionals. All details, including specific responsibilities, required qualifications, and compensation, should be verified directly with General Motors through their official application process.