Design Systems Program Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Systems Program Manager

Company: Procore Technologies

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Operations / Program Management

Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the operational strategy and execution for Procore's central design foundations, ensuring alignment with the broader design organization's strategic objectives.

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of Design System and Core UX initiatives, from initial requirements gathering through to successful rollout and adoption.

• Develop and implement scalable workflows and robust documentation to enhance visibility, foster feedback loops, and drive efficiency across product lines.

• Cultivate strong stakeholder relationships to build trust and improve the overall health and impact of the design system.

• Drive continuous improvement by advocating for new productivity tools, implementing best practices, and optimizing creative workflows for the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role of Design Systems Program Manager at Procore is positioned within the Core UX and Design Systems team, indicating a focus on foundational design elements that support product development across the organization. This is a strategic operations role, bridging the gap between design execution and product strategy, requiring strong program management and systems thinking skills to ensure scalable design excellence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the comprehensive design lifecycle for Design System and Core UX initiatives, including roadmap definition, cross-functional alignment, and stakeholder communication.

• Define and execute program plans for Design System and Core UX releases, establishing clear milestones, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational efficiency, and ensuring seamless integration with product team schedules.

• Develop and implement scalable creative workflows and documentation standards to improve visibility, streamline feedback cycles, and enhance collaboration across diverse product lines.

• Build and nurture strong relationships with key stakeholders across Product Design, Engineering, and Product Management to foster trust and drive adoption of the design system.

• Coordinate and facilitate design team rituals, such as critiques and weekly updates, to promote a high-performance culture, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

• Proactively identify and mitigate project blockers through clear communication plans and collaborative problem-solving with various stakeholder groups.

• Lead prioritization discussions and trade-off analyses between technical debt, new feature development, and design system evolution to meet schedule objectives and strategic goals.

• Champion the adoption of new productivity tools and best practices to elevate the overall creativity, efficiency, and output of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on operationalizing the design system, moving beyond just component management to strategic program planning, workflow optimization, and stakeholder engagement. The role requires a blend of strategic foresight and tactical execution, with a focus on measurable outcomes (KPIs) and efficient processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's degree in Design, Computer Science, Business, or a related field is typically expected, though equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Design Program Management, Design Operations Management, or UX Program Management.

• Demonstrated experience within an in-house design organization, understanding the unique challenges and dynamics of scaling design within a company.

Required Skills:

• Design Systems Expertise: Deep understanding of design system principles, component libraries, and their strategic implementation in product development.

• Program & Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional programs, including roadmap definition, planning, execution, and risk mitigation.

• Operational Strategy: Experience in defining and implementing operational strategies to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and achieve organizational goals.

• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, influence decision-making, and manage expectations.

• Systems Thinking: Demonstrated ability to analyze complex systems, identify interdependencies, and design scalable solutions that improve overall output and consistency.

• Communication: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and design concepts to senior leadership and non-technical audiences.

• Tools Proficiency: Expertise in design and program management tools such as Figma (for design system components and collaboration), Jira (for workflow tracking and backlog management), and Miro (for ideation, diagramming, and collaboration).

• Product Development Lifecycle: A thorough understanding of the software product development lifecycle and user-centered design principles.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and integrating user feedback into design system iterations.

• Experience with agile development methodologies and their application to design operations.

• Knowledge of design tokens and their role in maintaining design system consistency across platforms.

• Experience in advocating for and implementing new design tooling and automation to enhance team productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of design system knowledge, program management rigor, and strong interpersonal skills. Proficiency in Figma, Jira, and Miro is crucial, indicating the need for hands-on experience with the tools that facilitate design system development and program coordination. The preference for PMP certification underscores the importance of structured project management in this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase examples of your involvement in building, scaling, or managing a design system. Detail the challenges faced, the strategies implemented, and the quantifiable improvements achieved (e.g., reduced design/dev time, increased consistency, faster feature delivery).

• Program Management Examples: Provide evidence of managing complex, cross-functional programs. This should include examples of roadmaps, project plans, KPI dashboards, and how you navigated project blockers or trade-off discussions.

• Workflow Optimization: Illustrate instances where you designed or implemented new workflows or processes to improve team efficiency, collaboration, or output quality. Highlight the impact of these changes.

• Stakeholder Management Initiatives: Present examples of how you built relationships, managed expectations, and influenced stakeholders to gain buy-in and drive adoption for design initiatives.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to designing and optimizing workflows for design system development, contribution, and adoption. This includes how to document processes for clarity and scalability.

• Implementation & Automation: Detail experience in implementing new processes or tools, and any efforts to automate repetitive tasks within the design system lifecycle to enhance efficiency.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Be ready to explain how you define, track, and report on KPIs related to design system health, adoption, and operational efficiency. Candidates should demonstrate how they use data to inform process improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, the portfolio is critical for demonstrating practical experience in operationalizing design systems. It should go beyond static design examples to showcase strategic thinking, process implementation, and measurable impact on team efficiency and product quality.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $90,400 - $124,300 USD Annually

• Methodology: This estimate is based on the provided salary range of $90,400 - $124,300 USD Annual for the Design Systems Program Manager role in Austin, Texas. This range is benchmarked against industry standards for program management roles with a focus on design operations and systems, considering the experience level (5+ years) and the specific technology sector (SaaS/Construction Tech). Austin, TX is a competitive market for tech talent, supporting this salary band.

Benefits:

• Equity Compensation: Opportunity to receive company stock, aligning personal success with the company's growth and performance.

• Bonus Incentive Compensation: Potential for additional financial rewards based on individual and company performance metrics.

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Likely includes medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Such as a 401(k) with potential company match to support long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays to promote work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and certifications to enhance skills in design operations and program management.

Working Hours:

• Standard Hours: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility: While on-site, there may be an expectation for flexibility to accommodate cross-functional team needs, project deadlines, and diverse stakeholder time zones, particularly during key release phases or critical issue resolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and appears to be a direct indication from the employer. The listed benefits "Equity Compensation" and "Bonus Incentive Compensation" are also explicitly mentioned. Other benefits are standard for a full-time role at a company like Procore, but should be confirmed directly.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Construction Technology (SaaS)

• Procore operates within the rapidly evolving Construction Technology (ConTech) sector, providing a comprehensive suite of software solutions for the construction industry. This industry context implies a focus on efficiency, integration, and tangible project outcomes, which should be reflected in its design systems and operational processes.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (1,000 - 5,000 employees)

• As a large enterprise, Procore likely has established processes, a complex organizational structure, and a significant number of product teams. This scale necessitates robust design systems and strong program management to ensure consistency, efficiency, and effective collaboration across numerous initiatives.

Founded: 2002

Team Structure:

• Core UX / Design Systems Team: This role reports to the Head of Design Systems, suggesting a dedicated team focused on foundational design elements, standards, and operational efficiency for the broader design organization.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The program manager will work closely with Product Design Leads, Engineering teams, and Product Managers, highlighting a highly collaborative, matrixed environment where C

• Centralized vs. Decentralized Model: The role implies a centralized design system managed by a dedicated team, which then supports decentralized product teams. The program manager's role is to ensure this model functions effectively and efficiently.

Methodology:

• Agile & User-Centered: Procore, like most modern SaaS companies, likely employs agile development methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and a user-centered approach.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Expect an emphasis on using data (KPIs, user feedback, adoption metrics) to inform design system evolution, workflow improvements, and strategic decisions.

• Process Optimization Focus: The role is inherently about process optimization, aiming to reduce "coordination tax" and enhance the speed and quality of design execution.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Procore's position in the ConTech industry suggests a practical, results-oriented culture. The company's size and age indicate a need for scalable, well-managed systems. The Design Systems Program Manager will operate at the intersection of design, product, and engineering, requiring strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Program Management / Design Operations Leadership

Reporting Structure:

• Reports directly to the Head of Design Systems. This position implies a close working relationship with design leadership and potentially influences the strategic direction of the design system.

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Evolution: Potential to grow into a more senior role within the Design Systems team, leading strategy for the entire system, or specializing in areas like design tooling or platform architecture.

• Design Operations Leadership: Opportunity to expand responsibilities into broader Design Operations, managing other operational aspects of the design team, such as research operations, team enablement, or vendor management.

• Product Management/Strategy: The deep understanding of product development, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic alignment gained in this role could serve as a pathway to Product Management or Product Strategy roles.

• Formal Certifications & Training: Procore may support further professional development, such as advanced program management certifications (e.g., PgMP) or specialized courses in design systems or operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career advancement within design operations and program management, particularly for individuals interested in shaping scalable design initiatives within a large enterprise. The strategic nature of the role positions the candidate for leadership opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily On-site with potential for hybrid flexibility within the Austin office.

• The job posting specifies "based in Austin, TX" and does not list remote options, indicating a strong preference for an on-site presence. This is common for roles requiring close collaboration and team rituals.

Office Location(s): Austin, Texas, United States

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on team rituals, cross-functional partnerships, and stakeholder relationship building suggests an open and collaborative workspace designed to facilitate communication and idea exchange.

• Tools and Technology: Employees will have access to Procore's standard technology stack, including design tools (Figma), project management software (Jira), and collaboration platforms (Miro). The program manager will be instrumental in advocating for and integrating new tools that enhance productivity.

• Operations Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the Core UX / Design Systems team, as well as with Product Design, Engineering, and Product Management teams, will be a daily occurrence, fostering a dynamic and interconnected work environment.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected. However, the nature of program management often requires flexibility to attend meetings across different time zones, manage critical project phases, and respond to urgent issues, especially in a fast-paced tech environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests that Procore values in-person collaboration for its design and product development teams. The Austin location offers a competitive tech environment and access to talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience with design systems, program management, operational strategy, and stakeholder management. Expect behavioral questions and scenario-based inquiries.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: You will likely be asked to present a selection of your work, focusing on case studies that demonstrate your ability to manage design system programs, optimize workflows, and drive impact. This is a critical stage.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with peers and leaders from Product Design, Engineering, and Product Management to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate with different teams.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic fit, long-term vision, and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution/process implemented, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., efficiency gains, adoption rates, impact on product quality). Use metrics wherever possible.

• Showcase Process: Detail the methodologies and tools you used to manage the program, collaborate with teams, and overcome challenges. Highlight your systems thinking approach.

• Tailor to Procore: Research Procore's products and design aesthetic. Frame your examples to show how your experience aligns with their industry and organizational needs.

• Narrative Structure: Present your portfolio items as stories. A clear beginning (challenge), middle (your actions and process), and end (results and learnings) is most effective.

• Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Figma, Jira, Miro, and other relevant tools, and how you leverage them for program management and design system operations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Be ready for questions like, "How would you prioritize competing requests for the design system?" or "Describe how you would improve adoption of the design system across X teams."

• Process Design Exercise: You might be asked to outline a process for a specific design system initiative, such as rolling out a new component library or establishing a contribution model.

• Stakeholder Alignment Exercise: Prepare to discuss how you would gain buy-in from engineering and product teams for design system changes that might involve technical debt or new development efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to operationalize design systems and manage complex programs. A well-curated portfolio that highlights quantifiable achievements and a clear understanding of Procore's context will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, component creation, prototyping, and managing design system libraries. Proficiency in its advanced features for design system management is expected.

• Jira: Key for program and project management, backlog grooming, sprint planning, issue tracking, and KPI reporting. Experience in configuring Jira for design workflows is beneficial.

• Miro: A versatile tool for visual collaboration, brainstorming, workflow mapping, user journey mapping, and creating diagrams to communicate complex ideas.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude): While not explicitly mentioned, understanding how to interpret product usage data and user behavior analytics will be important for understanding design system adoption and impact.

• Reporting Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker): Experience in creating dashboards and reports to visualize KPIs, track progress, and communicate insights to stakeholders.

• Internal Procore Tools: Familiarity with any internal reporting or analytics tools Procore may use for product performance and design system metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (e.g., Salesforce): While not directly a design tool, understanding CRM principles and how design impacts customer-facing products is valuable.

• Automation Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for automating repetitive design tasks or workflows, potentially through scripting or integrations.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how design systems integrate with development workflows and potentially with CI/CD pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma, Jira, and Miro is non-negotiable for this role. The ability to leverage these tools for operationalizing a design system, managing programs, and communicating effectively is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency & Optimization: A strong drive to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions that streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve team output.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A belief in working closely with cross-functional teams, fostering shared ownership, and building strong, trusting relationships.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing metrics, data analysis, and user insights to inform strategic decisions and measure the impact of initiatives.

• Scalability & Consistency: A commitment to building systems and processes that can grow with the company and ensure a consistent user experience across all products.

• Continuous Improvement: An ongoing pursuit of learning, adopting new best practices, and iterating on processes and systems to achieve better outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Communication: Regularly sharing updates, potential blockers, and insights with all relevant stakeholders.

• Facilitation: Skilled in leading meetings, workshops, and critiques to ensure productive discussions and clear outcomes.

• Influence and Persuasion: Ability to articulate the value of design systems and operational improvements to gain buy-in from diverse teams.

• Feedback Integration: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

• Cross-Functional Empathy: Understanding the needs and constraints of different departments (Product Design, Engineering, Product Management) to build effective collaborative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely values pragmatism, efficiency, and a collaborative spirit, essential for managing complex cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced tech environment like Procore.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Priorities: Managing numerous requests from different product teams, balancing new feature development with technical debt within the design system, and enforcing adoption across diverse teams.

• Driving Adoption: Overcoming resistance to change and ensuring that product teams consistently utilize and contribute to the design system effectively.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the ROI and tangible benefits of the design system and operational improvements to justify ongoing investment and effort.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying abreast of new design tools, technologies, and best practices in design systems and program management to keep the system relevant and effective.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design system principles and processes across product, engineering, and design departments with varying goals.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Systems Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced design system strategies, governance models, and contribution frameworks.

• Program Management Advancement: Pursue advanced certifications (e.g., PgMP) or leadership training to manage larger, more complex programs.

• Design Operations Expansion: Broaden skills into other areas of design operations, such as research operations, design tooling strategy, or team enablement.

• Industry Engagement: Attend industry conferences (e.g., DesignOps Summit, UX Australia) to learn from peers and share best practices.

• Mentorship: Benefit from mentorship from senior design and operations leaders within Procore, and potentially mentor junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex operational challenges and developing expertise in a critical area of modern product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define the strategic goals for a design system in a company like Procore, and how would you align them with broader business objectives?"

  • Preparation: Research Procore's business model, target customers, and strategic priorities. Focus on how a design system can directly support these. Think about aligning with product roadmap cycles and business OKRs.

• "Describe your approach to creating and managing a program roadmap for design system initiatives. What KPIs would you track, and how would you report on progress?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss common roadmap frameworks, prioritization methodologies (e.g., RICE, MoSCoW), and specific metrics for design system health (e.g., adoption rate, contribution rate, component usage, reduction in UI bugs).

• "How do you handle disagreements or trade-off discussions with engineering or product teams regarding design system implementation or adoption?"

  • Preparation: Emphasize data-driven arguments, collaborative problem-solving, focusing on shared goals (e.g., faster time-to-market, improved quality), and understanding technical constraints.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Procore and the construction technology industry, and how do you see the design system supporting our mission?"

  • Preparation: Thoroughly research Procore's products, values, and recent news. Understand the challenges and opportunities in the ConTech space.

• "How would you foster a collaborative relationship between the design systems team and various product teams within Procore?"

  • Preparation: Discuss building trust, clear communication channels, feedback loops, and demonstrating the value the design system provides to their work.

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a new tool or process that improved design team productivity. What was the outcome?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) story that highlights your initiative, communication skills, and positive impact.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and responsibilities, the methodology/process followed, the solution implemented, and the measurable results.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize your role in managing programs, defining workflows, tracking KPIs, and managing stakeholders, not just the visual design.

• Showcase Tools: Be prepared to discuss how you utilized Figma, Jira, Miro, and other relevant tools to achieve your objectives.

• Quantify Impact: Use numbers and data to demonstrate the success of your initiatives (e.g., "Reduced component development time by 20%", "Increased design system adoption by 30% within 6 months").

• Tailor to the Role: Select examples that most closely align with the responsibilities of a Design Systems Program Manager at Procore.

📝 Enhancement Note: Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational rigor, and a proven ability to drive results through effective program management and cross-functional collaboration. Your portfolio should be a testament to your ability to operationalize design systems.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Systems Program Manager position:

• Submit your application through the Procore careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to highlight 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your experience in design systems, program management, and operational strategy. Ensure these projects clearly articulate challenges, your role, processes used, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "Design Systems," "Program Management," "Operational Strategy," "Figma," "Jira," "Stakeholder Management," and "Workflow Optimization." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method for behavioral questions. Prepare a concise narrative for your portfolio presentation, focusing on the operational and strategic aspects of your work. Research Procore's company culture and products.

• Company Research: Gain a deep understanding of Procore's mission, its products within the construction technology sector, and its stated values. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding compensation, benefits, and specific interview processes, should be verified directly with Procore Technologies during the application or interview stages.