Lead Product Designer, Design System and Platform UX

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer, Design System and Platform UX

Company: Celigo

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: March 02, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creation, management, and evolution of a comprehensive Figma-based design system, ensuring visual and interaction consistency across Celigo's product suite.

• Define and implement a robust governance model for design system contributions, version control, and release cycles, with clear communication of updates to internal teams.

• Collaborate closely with front-end engineering teams to ensure seamless alignment between Figma components and code (React, Web Components), and facilitate the integration of design tokens into codebases.

• Provide hands-on UX/UI design for complex platform flows, advocating for a user-centered, data-informed approach grounded in UX principles and user research insights.

• Drive the adoption and effective utilization of the design system across multiple product pods/squads, while contributing to the overall platform user experience from discovery through delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Lead" Product Designer with a specific focus on Design Systems and Platform UX. This implies a significant level of ownership, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence design direction and standards across the organization, rather than solely executing design tasks. The emphasis on governance, collaboration with engineering, and driving adoption suggests a senior individual contributor role with leadership potential within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design System Development & Management:

  • Create, maintain, and evolve a Figma-based design system, including components, variants, and auto-layout structures.
  • Define and manage design tokens for colors, spacing, typography, and other visual elements.
  • Develop and implement responsive and adaptive layout patterns for diverse user interfaces.
  • Establish and enforce a governance model for design system contributions, version control, and release cycles.
  • Maintain detailed change logs and effectively communicate system updates to internal design and development teams.

• System Auditing & Refinement:

  • Audit existing components and patterns to identify redundancies and ensure adherence to best practices.
  • Refactor components to improve maintainability, scalability, and consistency.
  • Write and maintain comprehensive system usage guidelines, including accessibility specifications (e.g., WCAG compliance).

• Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing:

  • Publish tutorials, usage examples, and best practices for internal designers and developers.
  • Host design system onboarding sessions, workshops, and regular office hours to support users.
  • Collaborate closely with front-end engineers to align Figma components with code implementation (React, Web Components) and integrate design tokens.
  • Ensure fidelity between design specifications and final code implementation.

• Product UX & Pattern Support:

  • Support product teams by providing UX guidance and reusable design patterns.

  • Facilitate the adoption of the design system across multiple product pods/squads.

  • Provide hands-on UX/UI design for complex platform flows that benefit from systemic consistency.

  • Define and contribute to the overall platform user experience, encompassing discovery, design, and delivery phases.

  • Conduct and apply user research insights to shape user journeys, workflows, wireframes, and prototypes.

  • Advocate for a user-centered, data-informed design approach grounded in UX principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic design system leadership and hands-on product design execution. The emphasis on "governance," "version control," "release cycles," and "collaboration with front-end engineers" points to a need for strong process orientation and technical understanding, common in operations-adjacent design roles where efficiency and scalability are paramount.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5-10 years of experience in UX/UI design, with a significant portion focused on building and scaling design systems.

• Proven track record of designing and delivering complex, user-centered digital products and platforms.

Required Skills:

• Design System Expertise: Deep understanding of design system principles, component libraries, design tokens, and best practices for implementation and maintenance.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for creating, managing, and documenting design systems, including components, variants, auto-layout, and prototyping.

• UX/UI Design: Strong abilities in user research, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design for complex applications.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, other designers) and present design concepts clearly.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of WCAG compliance and experience integrating accessibility best practices into design systems and product interfaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Front-end Development Understanding: Familiarity with front-end development concepts, particularly with frameworks like React and Web Components, and experience aligning design specifications with code.

• Design Token Implementation: Experience with the technical implementation or integration of design tokens into codebases.

• User Research Methodologies: Proficiency in a variety of user research techniques and the ability to translate insights into actionable design improvements.

• Agile/Scrum Experience: Experience working within agile development environments to deliver design solutions iteratively.

• Platform Design: Experience designing for enterprise-level platforms, SaaS products, or integration technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 Years" experience level, coupled with the "Lead" title and specific responsibilities, suggests this is a senior individual contributor role. The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and collaboration with engineering points to a need for deep practical skills in these areas. The preferred skills highlight the importance of bridging the gap between design and development, a critical aspect for scalable product design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Study: A dedicated section showcasing your experience in building, managing, or significantly contributing to a design system. This should detail your role, the system's architecture (components, tokens, patterns), the process of its creation and evolution, and its impact on product consistency and development efficiency.

• Complex Platform UX Design: Examples of designing intricate user flows and interfaces for complex software platforms or applications, demonstrating your ability to handle challenging UX problems.

• Component-Based Design Examples: Showcase projects where you've effectively utilized or created reusable components, illustrating your understanding of modular design principles.

• Accessibility Integration: Evidence of how you've incorporated accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) into your design process and deliverables.

• Process & Documentation: Include examples of design guidelines, usage documentation, or contribution models you've developed for design systems or design processes.

Process Documentation:

• Design System Governance Model: Clearly outline the proposed or implemented process for how the design system is maintained, updated, and contributed to, including versioning and release strategies.

• Component Auditing & Refactoring Process: Detail your methodology for auditing existing UI components, identifying issues, and executing refactoring efforts to improve quality and reduce redundancy.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Workflow: Illustrate the process for collaborating with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle, particularly concerning design system adoption and implementation.

• User Research Integration: Demonstrate how user research findings are systematically integrated into the design process, from initial concept to final implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Product Designer role focused on design systems, the portfolio is critical. It needs to demonstrate not just design execution but also strategic thinking around scalability, governance, and cross-functional impact. The emphasis on process documentation reinforces the need for structured and repeatable methods, echoing operational excellence principles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Three weeks of vacation (starting year one).

• Wellness days and holidays to recharge.

• Parental leave.

• Generous benefits package.

• Monthly tech stipend.

• Recognition opportunities.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often afforded in a remote-first environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and falls within the mid-to-senior level for Lead Product Designer roles in the US tech market, especially for specialized areas like design systems. The inclusion of a monthly tech stipend is a valuable perk for remote employees. The "40 hours" is an assumption based on standard full-time employment; actual hours may vary based on project needs and team dynamics.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology (Integration Platform as a Service - iPaaS, Intelligent Automation)

Company Size: Based on LinkedIn data, Celigo is likely in the range of 201-500 employees, indicating a rapidly growing mid-sized company. This size often offers a balance between the agility of a startup and the structure of a larger organization.

Founded: Celigo was founded in 2007, giving it over 15 years of experience in the integration and automation space. This longevity suggests stability and a deep understanding of the market.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: Likely part of a Product or Engineering organization. The Lead Product Designer role suggests a structure where this individual will set standards and potentially mentor junior designers.

• Cross-functional Pods/Squads: The mention of "multiple pods/squads" indicates an agile, product-focused team structure where designers work closely with product managers, engineers, and QA.

• Engineering Collaboration: A strong emphasis on collaboration with front-end engineers is noted, requiring close alignment on design system implementation.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core principle is advocating for a user-centered, data-informed design approach.

• Agile Development: Implied through the mention of "pods/squads" and the need for iterative delivery.

• Design System Driven: The role is central to establishing and maintaining a systemic approach to design, promoting consistency and efficiency.

• Data-Informed Decisions: User research and data insights are expected to shape design decisions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Celigo's positioning as a leader in iPaaS and Intelligent Automation, backed by recognition from Gartner and G2, indicates a company focused on innovation and market impact. The "remote-first culture built on trust, collaboration, and transparency" suggests an environment that values autonomy and open communication, which is beneficial for a lead role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Product Designer, Design System and Platform UX. This is a senior individual contributor role, often seen as a step below a Design Manager but with significant influence and autonomy over a critical area of product development. It signifies expertise and the ability to shape design strategy.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Head of Product, Director of Design, or VP of Engineering/Product. The role will collaborate heavily with engineering leads and product managers within various pods.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts operational efficiency by reducing redundant design and development work through a standardized design system. It ensures platform consistency, which enhances user adoption, reduces support load, and accelerates future feature development. The focus on platform UX also contributes to overall customer satisfaction and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Manager or Head of Design role, leading a larger team and setting broader design strategy.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, platform UX, or specific areas of integration/automation design.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across product strategy, engineering practices, and company-wide design standards.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and evangelize design system best practices throughout the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title suggests a defined path for growth, either into management or deeper specialization. The emphasis on design systems and platform UX aligns with current industry trends, offering valuable and transferable skills. The role's impact on operational efficiency through standardization is a key aspect of its strategic importance.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Remote-first culture. This implies that the primary work environment is home-based, with an emphasis on digital collaboration tools and asynchronous communication.

Office Location(s): While telecommuting is permitted within the US, the company has a presence in multiple locations, indicated by "Various Worksites" and the company headquarters. This suggests a distributed team structure.

Workspace Context:

• Digital Collaboration: Expect heavy reliance on tools like Slack, Figma, Jira, and video conferencing for communication and collaboration.

• Asynchronous Workflows: The remote-first nature necessitates efficient asynchronous workflows, requiring clear documentation and communication.

• Technology Access: The provision of a monthly tech stipend indicates support for employees to maintain an effective home workspace and necessary technology.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for team interaction will likely be through scheduled virtual meetings, workshops, and informal digital channels.

Work Schedule:

• While a standard full-time schedule is expected (approx. 40 hours/week), the remote-first environment may offer some flexibility in terms of specific working hours, provided that collaboration across time zones and team needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: A remote-first environment requires strong self-management, proactive communication, and comfort with digital collaboration tools. For a Lead role, this also means establishing clear communication protocols and ensuring team alignment despite physical distance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess initial fit.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, focusing on design system case studies, platform UX examples, and your process. Be prepared to discuss your contributions, rationale, and impact.

• Practical Design Exercise: Likely a take-home assignment or a live design challenge focused on a specific UX problem, potentially involving design system application or extension.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with product managers and front-end engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and alignment with team dynamics.

• Leadership/Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design System Impact: Clearly articulate the problems your design system solved, the processes you established (governance, contribution), and the measurable benefits (e.g., reduced design/dev time, improved consistency, faster onboarding).

• Showcase Process & Rationale: For each project, explain your thought process, the research conducted, the iterative steps taken, and why specific design decisions were made.

• Demonstrate Systemic Thinking: For platform UX examples, show how your designs fit within a larger system and contribute to a cohesive user experience.

• Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., % reduction in UI bugs, % increase in design consistency score).

• Tailor to Celigo: Research Celigo's product and target users. Frame your experience in a way that addresses their specific challenges in integration and automation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Celigo's Platform: Familiarize yourself with Celigo's iPaaS and automation capabilities. Consider the unique UX challenges associated with integrating complex systems.

• Design System Application: If given a design challenge, consider how you would apply or extend an existing design system (or create foundational elements if none exists) to solve the problem efficiently and consistently.

• Accessibility First: Ensure any design solutions consider accessibility from the outset.

• Engineering Alignment: Think about how your design solutions would be implemented by front-end engineers, considering potential technical constraints and the alignment with code components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on practical skills, process, and collaborative capabilities, particularly concerning design systems and engineering alignment. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but how and why, with a focus on impact and scalability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for design system creation, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is essential.

• Design System Management Platforms: Potentially tools like Zeroheight, Storybook (for documentation and component previews), or internal tools for managing design system assets and guidelines.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping, potentially supplemented by tools for more advanced interactions if needed.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

• Product Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools for interpreting data and presenting insights, which may include capabilities within analytics platforms or separate tools.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Trello for task management, workflow tracking, and Agile sprints.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for real-time and asynchronous communication.

• Documentation Tools: Confluence, Notion, Google Workspace for creating and sharing design guidelines, research findings, and project documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is paramount. Beyond that, understanding how design systems integrate with engineering workflows (React, Web Components) and how design decisions are informed by data analytics and user research is crucial. The role bridges design, engineering, and product strategy, requiring familiarity with tools used across these disciplines.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Efficiency: Celigo values innovation, as evidenced by its "Integration meets Innovation" slogan and focus on runtime AI. The design system role directly supports efficiency by standardizing design and development.

• User-Centricity: A strong emphasis on a user-centered, data-informed design approach is a core value, driving product development decisions based on user needs and insights.

• Collaboration & Transparency: The remote-first culture is built on trust, collaboration, and transparency, encouraging open communication and mutual support.

• Continuous Learning: Celigo promotes "Lightspeed learning opportunities," fostering an environment where employees stay at the forefront of their fields.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: The "Taking a Stand Initiative" and commitment to equal-opportunity employment highlight a dedication to creating a safe, collaborative, and inclusive environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration within agile pods, working alongside product managers, engineers, and QA.

• Design System Evangelism: The role requires actively promoting and educating teams on the design system's value and usage.

• Feedback Loops: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, particularly through workshops, office hours, and design reviews.

• Data-Driven Dialogue: Discussions are likely informed by user research, analytics, and performance metrics, fostering objective decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: Celigo's stated values align well with a design systems role, emphasizing efficiency, user focus, and collaborative innovation. The remote-first aspect requires a proactive, transparent collaboration style.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Driving Adoption: Encouraging consistent adoption of the design system across multiple product teams, each with potentially unique needs and workflows.

• Balancing Consistency & Flexibility: Maintaining visual and interaction consistency while allowing enough flexibility for product teams to innovate and address specific user requirements.

• Aligning Design with Evolving Codebases: Keeping the Figma design system in sync with rapidly evolving front-end codebases (React, Web Components) and technical debt.

• Scalability of Governance: Establishing a governance model that scales effectively as the company and product suite grow.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the ROI and impact of the design system on development speed, product quality, and user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Maturity: Opportunity to mature Celigo's design system from its current state to a highly sophisticated, enterprise-grade system.

• Platform UX Strategy: Influence the strategic direction of Celigo's platform user experience, impacting how users interact with complex integrations and automation.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to Celigo's reputation as a leader in iPaaS and Intelligent Automation through exceptional UX.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Grow leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and leading design initiatives.

• Technical Skill Enhancement: Deepen understanding of front-end development and integration technologies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for design system leaders but are critical for success. Overcoming them will require strong strategic, communication, and technical collaboration skills. The growth opportunities are significant for someone looking to make a substantial impact in a growing tech company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a design system from scratch, or significantly evolving an existing one, within a growing SaaS company?" (Focus on phases, governance, tooling, and adoption strategy.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance the need for design system consistency with the need for product-specific customization. How did you resolve it?" (Look for examples of flexible patterns, contribution guidelines, and stakeholder negotiation.)

• "How do you ensure a design system remains aligned with front-end code implementation? What is your experience collaborating with engineers on this?" (Discuss processes for component mapping, design token integration, and feedback loops.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Celigo and our mission in integration and automation?" (Research Celigo's product, market position, and values.)

• "How do you foster a user-centered design approach within a team and across different product pods?" (Discuss research methodologies, advocacy, and data integration.)

• "Describe your experience working in a remote-first environment. How do you maintain effective collaboration and communication?" (Highlight proactivity, documentation, and tool proficiency.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Start your portfolio review by summarizing the key problems you solved and the impact you achieved, especially for design system projects.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each relevant project (especially design systems), use a clear structure: Problem, Your Role, Process/Solution, Outcome/Impact.

• Demonstrate Systemic Thinking: When presenting platform UX work, show how it fits into a broader system and how you considered scalability and consistency.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively (screenshots, prototypes, diagrams) to illustrate your points. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your process, tools, and decision-making, particularly on design system governance, component architecture, and collaboration with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process, and a deep understanding of design systems' operational impact. Candidates need to articulate how they can drive consistency and efficiency while collaborating effectively in a remote, agile environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features a strong case study on design system development and management. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight experience in Figma, component creation, design tokens, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, specific contributions to design systems, and any leadership or mentorship roles. Use keywords like "Design System," "Figma," "Platform UX," "WCAG," "React," and "component-based design."

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Celigo's products, market position, and company values. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and practice articulating your design process and the impact of your work, especially concerning design systems and operational efficiency.

• Company Research: Understand Celigo's iPaaS and Intelligent Automation platform. Consider the unique UX challenges associated with integrating complex systems and how a robust design system can address them, driving both user satisfaction and operational efficiency.

⚠️ 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.