Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer Company: Couchbase, Inc. Location: Bangalore, India Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX Design Date Posted: December 16, 2025 Experience Level: Senior / Lead (8+ years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of user experiences for Couchbase's flagship product, Capella, a cloud-native database-as-a-service platform.
• Translate complex technical requirements and workflows into intuitive, scalable, and delightful user-centered solutions for developers and enterprises.
• Drive design initiatives from conceptualization through to polished execution, influencing product direction and elevating the overall user experience.
• Conduct user research to uncover pain points and opportunities, leveraging insights to inform strategic design decisions and product enhancements.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the company's design system, ensuring visual cohesion and scalability across the product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead UX Designer, implying significant ownership, strategic input, and potential team leadership responsibilities within the design function, specifically for the Capella platform. The emphasis on "developer data platform for critical applications in our AI world" and familiarity with database software suggests a highly technical B2B SaaS environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of comprehensive product experiences for Couchbase Capella, from initial concept and user flows to detailed high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams to deeply understand complex requirements, identify constraints, and challenge assumptions to define and refine the problem space.
• Explore a wide range of design solutions, thoroughly articulating the trade-offs and rationale behind each approach to stakeholders.
• Deliver pixel-perfect, robust, and production-ready design assets, meticulously considering edge cases, interactive states, and accessibility standards.
• Develop and execute user research plans, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather actionable insights that directly inform design decisions and product strategy.
• Provide constructive design feedback to peers and actively mentor junior designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and design excellence.
• Contribute to and maintain the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficient implementation of UI components across the product.
• Champion user-centered design principles throughout the product development lifecycle, advocating for the needs of specialized audiences like developers, SREs, and DBAs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design craft, and collaborative problem-solving, typical of a Lead Product Designer role in a sophisticated B2B SaaS environment. The emphasis on "clarifying requirements, identifying constraints, and challenging assumptions" points to a proactive and analytical approach to design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for roles requiring deep conceptual understanding and strategic thinking. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in UX or Product Design, with a demonstrable track record of designing and shipping complex software products.

Required Skills:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience as a UX or Product Designer.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a breadth of high-quality design projects, demonstrating end-to-end product design capabilities and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to translate complex product briefs and technical requirements into simple, intuitive, and user-centered experiences.
• Mandatory experience designing products for specialized audiences such as developers, Site Reliability Engineers (SREs), and Database Administrators (DBAs).
• Mandatory experience conducting user research (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys) and effectively applying research insights to drive design decisions.
• Strategic thinking capabilities, with a knack for considering the broader product vision and interdependencies between features before diving into detailed design.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design concepts, rationale, and trade-offs to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.
• Familiarity with AI tools relevant to the design process or product domain.
• Experience working effectively in distributed teams and collaborating across different time zones.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with database software concepts and architectures.
• Experience contributing to or maintaining design systems.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices in UI design.
• Experience with interactive prototyping tools beyond Figma.
• Understanding of systems thinking and its application to complex software products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory qualifications around designing for specialized technical audiences (developers, SREs, DBAs) and familiarity with database software are critical differentiators for this role, indicating a niche focus within the broader UX design field. The explicit mention of Figma and AI tools points to the current technology stack and future direction.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant product design projects that demonstrate a full design lifecycle, from problem definition to final execution.
• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed, key challenges encountered, and the ultimate outcomes or impact.
• Highlight projects specifically involving complex B2B SaaS products, ideally with a focus on developer tools, technical platforms, or data management solutions.
• Include examples that demonstrate your ability to design for specialized technical audiences (developers, SREs, DBAs) and your understanding of their unique needs and workflows.
• Showcase your proficiency in Figma, providing examples of complex components, interactive prototypes, and contributions to design systems.
• Present case studies that clearly illustrate your user research process, how insights were translated into design solutions, and the impact of those solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving and design exploration, detailing how you move from ambiguity to clarity.
• Provide examples of how you conduct user research, synthesize findings, and integrate them into iterative design processes.
• Illustrate your methods for collaborating with product management and engineering teams, including how you handle feedback, clarify requirements, and manage design handoffs.
• Showcase your understanding of design system principles and how you contribute to or leverage them for scalable and consistent design.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It must go beyond aesthetics and demonstrate strategic thinking, user advocacy, technical understanding, and leadership potential. The emphasis on B2B SaaS, specialized audiences, and a structured process is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead UX Designer role with 8+ years of experience in Bangalore, India, the estimated salary range is ₹20,00,000 to ₹35,00,000 per annum. This range accounts for the senior level, specialized technical design experience, and the cost of living in Bangalore.

Benefits:

• Generous Time Off Program: Flexibility to care for personal needs and family.
• Wellness Benefits: Comprehensive medical plans (including dental and vision), life insurance, and employee assistance programs.
• Financial Planning: Retirement program and business travel insurance.
• Career Growth: Opportunities aligned with a "Be valued, Create value" approach.
• Fun Perks: Support for ergonomic and comfortable work setups (in-office/WFH), and food/snacks for in-office employees. Note: Some benefits may vary by country.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. Given the distributed team structure, flexibility in scheduling may be available, but core collaboration hours will be essential, aligning with Asia/Kolkata time zone.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on market research for senior/lead UX Designer roles in major Indian tech hubs like Bangalore, considering the specific industry (SaaS, B2B) and the company's likely compensation philosophy for experienced hires. The listed benefits are directly from the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically Cloud Database Platform and AI. Couchbase operates in the rapidly evolving data management and AI infrastructure space, providing solutions that are critical for modern application development. Company Size: Couchbase is a mid-to-large-sized technology company, likely employing several hundred to over a thousand individuals globally. This size typically allows for both structured processes and opportunities for individual impact. Founded: Couchbase was founded in 2009. This history suggests a mature company with established product lines and a solid understanding of its market, while also being dynamic enough to lead in emerging areas like AI.

Team Structure:

• The Design team likely comprises several designers specializing in various areas (UX, UI, Research, Design Systems), with a Lead Designer overseeing specific product areas or initiatives.
• This Lead Designer will report into a Design Manager or Director of Product Design, working closely with Product Management and Engineering leads for the Capella platform.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect, requiring constant interaction with product managers, software engineers, researchers, and potentially marketing and sales teams.

Methodology:

• Couchbase emphasizes a user-centered approach, leveraging data and research to inform product development.
• Design processes are likely agile, integrating closely with engineering sprints.
• The company values innovation, particularly in the AI space, and encourages a data-driven mindset for decision-making.
• A strong focus on collaboration and communication is essential, especially in a distributed global environment.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and cloud-native solutions positions it at the forefront of technology trends. A mid-to-large size implies a professional environment with established processes, but also potential for individual contribution and influence, especially in a lead role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Lead Product Designer, signifying a senior individual contributor with leadership responsibilities. It's a critical role for shaping the user experience of a key product, requiring strategic thinking, deep design craft, and the ability to influence product direction. It sits above a standard Product Designer and below a Design Manager.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design. They will work collaboratively with Product Managers and Engineering leads for the Capella platform, forming a core product triad. Peer designers and potentially junior designers may also be part of their reporting or mentorship network.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the usability, adoption, and overall success of Couchbase Capella. By creating intuitive and efficient experiences for developers, SREs, and DBAs, the Lead UX Designer will enable customers to leverage Couchbase's platform more effectively, driving customer satisfaction, retention, and potentially new customer acquisition. This directly supports the company's revenue objectives by enhancing the value proposition of its core product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Expertise: Deepen expertise in designing for complex technical audiences and database technologies, becoming a recognized subject matter expert within Couchbase and the industry.
• Leadership Development: Transition into a formal management role (e.g., Design Manager) by demonstrating strong mentorship, team leadership, and strategic vision.
• Product Strategy Influence: Play a key role in defining the future roadmap and strategic direction of the Capella platform from a user experience perspective.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead design initiatives across multiple product areas or contribute to broader GTM strategy through user insights.
• Industry Recognition: Contribute to thought leadership through speaking engagements, blogs, or industry forums, building personal brand and Couchbase's reputation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title indicates a clear career path beyond individual contribution, offering opportunities for mentorship, strategic leadership, and potentially management. The impact on a core product like Capella means visibility and influence within the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as on-site in Bangalore, India. This suggests a traditional office environment where employees are expected to work from a designated company location. Office Location(s): Bangalore, India. This location is a major tech hub, offering access to a rich talent pool and a vibrant professional community. Specific office details (e.g., accessibility, amenities) would need to be confirmed directly.

Workspace Context:

• The Bangalore office likely offers a modern workspace designed for collaboration, with shared areas, meeting rooms, and individual workstations.
• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses, will be provided.
• Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues from design, product management, and engineering teams, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule will be full-time, Monday through Friday. While on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start/end times, but adherence to core business hours and team collaboration needs will be expected. Occasional travel might be required for team meetings or company events, though the role is primarily based in Bangalore.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being an on-site role in a major tech city suggests a structured work environment focused on in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which can be beneficial for complex design projects requiring rapid iteration and brainstorming.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through 2-3 key projects. Expect in-depth questions about your design process, decision-making, research methodologies, and the impact of your work.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: A take-home or live design exercise might be assigned to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design craft, and ability to apply a structured design process to a specific problem relevant to Couchbase's products.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other Designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Lead/Manager Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager or a senior leader to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit within the team and company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex B2B SaaS, developer tools, and your ability to handle technical requirements. Prioritize projects that show end-to-end ownership and measurable impact.
• Tell a Story: For each project, structure your presentation around a narrative: the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. Quantify impact whenever possible.
• Highlight Technical Acumen: Emphasize how you understood the needs of developers, SREs, and DBAs. Showcase your research methods for these specific audiences.
• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be ready to demonstrate specific Figma skills, such as component creation, complex prototyping, and collaboration features.
• Address AI Integration: If applicable, highlight any experience with AI tools or designing for AI-powered features.
• Be Prepared for "Why": For every design decision, be ready to explain the "why" – linking it back to user needs, business goals, or technical constraints.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Couchbase, Capella, and the general landscape of database technologies and cloud platforms. Understand the challenges faced by developers, SREs, and DBAs in managing data and applications.
• Practice Problem Decomposition: For any given challenge, practice breaking it down into smaller, manageable parts. Identify assumptions and user needs early.
• Focus on Process: Even if the final design is simple, emphasize the thought process, research, and rationale behind your solutions.
• Consider Edge Cases: Show that you think about the full spectrum of user scenarios, including errors and edge cases.
• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your design thinking and solutions concisely and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, technical understanding, and collaborative capabilities, especially given the specialized audience and product complexity.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect advanced usage, including creating and maintaining design components and flows.
• AI Tools: Mentioned as a requirement, likely referring to AI-assisted design tools (e.g., for content generation, image creation, workflow optimization) or designing features that incorporate AI. Specifics would depend on Couchbase's internal stack.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for designers, understanding how analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) track user behavior and product performance is crucial for data-informed design.
• Familiarity with dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) might be useful for understanding product usage metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Generally less direct for UX Designers, but understanding the CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms used by the company can provide context on customer journeys and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for Figma and AI tools indicates the current and future technology focus for the design team. Proficiency in these is non-negotiable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs of developers, SREs, and DBAs.
• Innovation: Driving forward with AI and cloud-native solutions, encouraging creative problem-solving and embracing new technologies.
• Collaboration: Working effectively in cross-functional, distributed teams to achieve shared goals.
• Excellence: Striving for high-quality design, robust solutions, and continuous improvement in craft and process.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing research and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Communicative: Actively engaging with Product Management and Engineering to clarify requirements and provide design input early and often.
• Feedback-Oriented: Open to giving and receiving constructive design feedback within the team and with stakeholders.
• Systems-Focused: Contributing to and leveraging the design system to ensure consistency and efficiency across the product.
• Empathetic: Understanding the challenges and workflows of technical users and translating that empathy into effective design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Couchbase's culture likely emphasizes innovation, technical excellence, and strong collaboration, especially given its position in the fast-paced AI and cloud database market. The values will heavily influence how design decisions are made and how teams interact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Highly Technical Audiences: Understanding the nuanced needs, workflows, and expectations of developers, SREs, and DBAs requires deep empathy and domain knowledge.
• Complexity of Database Management: Translating intricate database concepts and operations into intuitive user interfaces is inherently challenging.
• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Integrating cutting-edge AI features while maintaining the reliability and performance expected of a critical database platform.
• Distributed Team Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and driving alignment across different time zones and cultures requires strong communication and process.
• Evolving AI Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in AI and determining how best to integrate AI capabilities into the product to provide tangible value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in database technologies, cloud infrastructure, and AI applications.
• Leadership Skills: Hone mentorship, team leadership, and strategic product influence through the Lead role.
• Advanced Design Techniques: Explore and implement new design methodologies and tools, including AI-assisted design.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain a deeper understanding of product management, engineering challenges, and go-to-market strategies within a SaaS company.
• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend conferences, workshops, and potentially contribute to industry discussions on UX for technical products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to the role's domain and seniority, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development in specialized areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly technical audience. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure your design met their needs?" (Focus on research, empathy, and validation with technical users.)
• "Walk us through your process for designing a complex workflow from scratch. How do you identify requirements, explore solutions, and ensure a user-centered outcome?" (Highlight your structured approach, research integration, and iterative design.)
• "How do you balance the need for a robust design system with the exploration of novel design solutions for new features?" (Showcase your understanding of design systems and their strategic application.)
• "Describe a situation where you had to influence product direction based on user insights. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Demonstrate your ability to advocate for users and drive strategic change.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Couchbase and the Capella platform specifically?" (Research Couchbase's mission, Capella's features, and its role in the AI/cloud database market.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, especially in a distributed environment?" (Emphasize your communication style, feedback loops, and shared ownership.)
• "How do you stay current with advancements in AI and how they might impact product design?" (Showcase your proactive learning and forward-thinking approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Begin with a high-level overview of your role and the project's goals. Clearly define the problem space and the target user.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, research artifacts) to convey your process and solutions.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased adoption, reduced errors, improved task completion time).
• Discuss Trade-offs: Be ready to explain why certain design decisions were made over others, highlighting technical constraints, business goals, or user feedback.
• Tailor to Couchbase: Explicitly connect your project experiences and skills to the requirements of the Lead UX Designer role at Couchbase, particularly regarding technical audiences and complex SaaS products.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the product domain, a mature and strategic design process, strong collaborative skills, and the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse platform.
• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with B2B SaaS products, designing for technical audiences (developers, SREs, DBAs), and proficiency in Figma and user research. Use keywords from the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your experience with complex technical products and your research methodologies. Make sure it's easily accessible (e.g., a live website or a well-organized PDF).
• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your chosen portfolio projects. Focus on articulating the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the challenges, and the outcomes, with a strong emphasis on user impact and business value.
• Research Couchbase: Understand Couchbase's mission, its Capella platform, its position in the market (especially concerning AI and cloud databases), and its company culture. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

---