Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer

Company: Lennox International

Location: Richardson, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: April 24, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ years (equivalent to Senior/Lead level)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic vision and hands-on execution of user experience (UX) and product design for Lennox International's digital products.

• Lead complex, high-priority design initiatives from initial concept through to final implementation, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Act as a design expert and mentor, setting high standards for UI craft, quality, and user-centered design practices within the team.

• Champion design thinking, user advocacy, and data-driven decision-making throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Collaborate extensively with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to define problems, develop innovative solutions, and validate designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Lead" UX Designer, indicating significant responsibility for project ownership, strategic input, and mentorship, beyond individual contribution. The explicit mention of leading "high-priority, complex projects" and "strategic initiatives" alongside hands-on design work in Figma confirms this senior-level expectation. The emphasis on "setting the standard for craft and quality" and "mentoring peers" further solidifies the lead capacity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Actively contribute as a hands-on designer in Figma, creating high-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed interaction designs.

• Develop visually compelling, brand-aligned user interfaces with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring a polished and professional aesthetic.

• Own the end-to-end UX design process for major digital initiatives, encompassing research, discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, and final execution.

• Lead UX strategy development for key digital projects, balancing strategic vision with detailed execution of design elements and interactions.

• Partner with product management and engineering teams to clearly define user problems, explore potential solutions, and iterate on designs based on feedback and research findings.

• Conduct and leverage qualitative and quantitative user research, including usability testing, to inform design decisions and ensure user-centered outcomes.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops, critiques, and working sessions to foster collaboration, ensure a shared UX vision, and build consensus among cross-functional teams.

• Advocate for the end-user throughout the development process, using data, research insights, and testing results to champion user needs.

• Present design concepts, strategies, and research findings to senior leadership, product managers, and engineering teams to secure buy-in and alignment.

• Stay abreast of emerging UX trends, technologies, and best practices, including AI-assisted design tools, to continuously improve design methodologies and product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities are detailed and cover the full spectrum of a Lead UX Designer's role, from strategic leadership to hands-on execution. The inclusion of "AI-assisted design and research tools" and "design systems" as specific areas of engagement indicates a modern and evolving UX practice within Lennox International. The emphasis on "advocating for users," "leveraging data, research, and testing," and "presenting designs to leadership" highlights the expectation of influence and impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) and Product Design.

• Demonstrated experience leading significant, complex digital initiatives from concept to launch.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma: Demonstrated mastery in using Figma for wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity UI design, and collaborative workflows.

• Comprehensive UX Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design patterns, information architecture, and user flows.

• Exceptional Visual Design Skills: Strong portfolio showcasing mastery of UI design principles, including typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy.

• User Research & Testing: Proven experience conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, usability testing, and synthesizing findings to drive design decisions.

• Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving: Ability to think strategically, anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and develop scalable design solutions aligned with business goals.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to partner effectively with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders, fostering strong working relationships.

• Communication & Presentation: Superior verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with a proven ability to present and defend design rationale and strategies to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

• Attention to Detail: A keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering pixel-perfect, production-ready design assets.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Systems Management: Experience in creating, managing, and evolving design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and facilitate collaboration across teams.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Familiarity with leveraging AI tools for design and research workflows (e.g., drafting concepts, summarizing insights, generating variations, supporting usability analysis).

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Experience designing for accessibility (WCAG standards) and applying inclusive design principles to ensure products are usable by everyone.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within Agile or Scrum development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "8+ years of experience" is interpreted as a minimum requirement, and the "Lead" title suggests candidates with even more extensive experience or demonstrable leadership capabilities will be highly regarded. The emphasis on "expert-level proficiency in Figma" is critical, as is the requirement for a strong portfolio showcasing complex, user-centered solutions. The preferred skills, particularly AI-assisted design and design systems, point towards a forward-thinking UX team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex, end-to-end UX/product design projects that highlight your strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on design craft.

• Projects should demonstrate a clear understanding of the user-centered design process, from initial research and discovery through to final UI execution and iteration.

• Include case studies that articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, design process, key decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcomes of your solutions.

• Highlight your expertise in using Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design, with examples of detailed interaction design.

Process Documentation:

• For each project, clearly outline the research methodologies employed (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, competitor analysis) and how findings informed design decisions.

• Detail your approach to interaction design, prototyping, and the creation of detailed specifications for development handoff.

• Document your process for collaborating with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, Stakeholders) and how you managed feedback and achieved alignment.

• If applicable, provide examples of how you contributed to or managed a design system, showcasing its components and impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Demonstrate your ability to articulate design rationale and defend design choices, particularly in scenarios where you presented to leadership or navigated conflicting feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It must demonstrate not just individual design skills but also strategic leadership, process ownership, and the ability to drive complex projects to successful outcomes. The emphasis is on showcasing the entire design process and its impact, not just final visual outputs. Providing clear documentation of research, collaboration, and decision-making is crucial for a lead-level candidate.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,600 - $164,850 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance; Prescription Drug Coverage.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) Retirement Plan with potential company match.

• Income Protection: Short-term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance.

• Paid Time Off & Leave: Up to 12 days Paid Time Off (PTO), 2 Paid Well-being Days, 1 Paid Volunteer Day, 3 Floating Holidays, 12 Paid Holidays annually.

• Parental Leave: 8 weeks Paid Birthing Leave, 2 weeks Paid Bonding Leave.

• Professional Development: Tuition Reimbursement.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (salaried exempt, not eligible for overtime).

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and competitive for a Lead UX Designer role in the Richardson, TX area, considering the experience level and responsibilities. The extensive benefits package is typical for a large, established company like Lennox International, with strong offerings in health, retirement, time off, and parental leave. The "salaried exempt" status aligns with typical lead-level positions. Local salary research for Lead UX Designers in Richardson, TX (a major tech hub within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex) confirms this range is within industry standards, with potential for higher compensation based on exceptional qualifications or specific market demand.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: HVAC and Refrigeration Manufacturing. Lennox International is a global leader with a 130-year legacy in providing climate-control solutions for residential and commercial customers.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (likely 5,000+ employees, based on its global presence and public trading status). This size suggests opportunities for structured career paths, significant impact, and exposure to diverse business functions.

Founded: 130 years ago, indicating a long-standing history, stability, and deep industry expertise.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team likely operates within a larger digital product or technology organization.

• Reporting structure is expected to be to a Director or VP of Product/Design, with the Lead UX Designer mentoring other UX/UI designers.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using research, analytics, and user feedback to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile Development: Likely operates within an Agile or Scrum framework, requiring iterative design processes and close collaboration with development sprints.

• User-Centered Approach: A core tenet, ensuring that user needs and experiences are prioritized throughout the design and development lifecycle.

• Continuous Improvement: Encouragement to stay updated on UX trends and technologies, fostering a culture of ongoing learning and refinement of design practices.

Company Website: www.lennoxinternational.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Lennox International's industry (HVAC and Refrigeration) is key. While the role is digital UX, awareness of the core business context will be beneficial. The company's long history suggests a blend of established processes with a forward-looking approach to digital transformation, as evidenced by the inclusion of AI in design. The "win as a team" and "value each team member’s contributions" aspects point to a collaborative and inclusive environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead UX Designer. This signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant project leadership, strategic influence, and potential mentorship responsibilities. It bridges the gap between senior individual contributor and management.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Director or VP level within the Product, Digital, or Technology organization. Will have direct interaction with Product Managers and Engineering leads.

Operations Impact: The Lead UX Designer will have a direct impact on the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of Lennox International's digital products. This includes enhancing customer satisfaction, driving efficiency through intuitive interfaces, and contributing to revenue growth by creating engaging and user-friendly digital experiences for both internal and external users.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific UX areas like design systems, accessibility, or emerging technologies (e.g., AI in design).

• Leadership Development: Transition into a UX Manager or Director role, leading a team of designers, defining design strategy, and managing departmental budgets.

• Cross-Functional Expansion: Move into Product Management or broader Digital Strategy roles, leveraging UX expertise to influence product roadmaps and business outcomes.

• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in UX for the HVAC/Refrigeration industry, a niche but critical sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Lead UX Designer role is a critical stepping stone for individuals looking to advance their careers in UX. The emphasis on strategic thinking and influencing leadership provides a strong foundation for future management or senior strategic roles. The "come, stay, and grow with us" slogan suggests a commitment to internal development and career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site (Richardson, Texas). This indicates a traditional office setting, promoting in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Richardson, Texas (part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex), a significant hub for technology and business.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect an open or semi-open office layout designed to facilitate interaction between designers, product managers, and engineers. Regular design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and stand-ups are likely.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma is mandatory), collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Teams), project management software (e.g., Jira), and potentially user research platforms.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct engagement with team members, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. This on-site presence is expected to enhance spontaneous idea generation and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week for a salaried exempt position. While the core hours are fixed, there might be flexibility depending on project deadlines and team needs, but the expectation is consistent on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key differentiator. For a Lead UX Designer, this often means being physically present to foster strong team dynamics, facilitate in-person workshops, and provide immediate design support to engineering and product teams. The Richardson, TX location places the candidate in a vibrant tech ecosystem.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, salary expectations, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A dedicated session with hiring managers and/or senior designers to walk through your portfolio. This will likely include a hands-on design challenge or a deep dive into a specific project's problem-solving and execution.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other stakeholders to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and strategic thinking.

• Leadership Interview: A final interview with a senior leader (e.g., Director/VP) to assess strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit with company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and end-to-end UX process. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the "why" – the business problem, user need, and your specific role in addressing it. Use a narrative structure: Problem -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Highlight Figma Mastery: Be prepared to demonstrate your Figma skills, explaining your workflow, component usage, prototyping techniques, and how you ensure design consistency.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, improved user satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Collaboration: Explain how you worked with cross-functional teams, managed feedback, and influenced decisions.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design process, decision-making rationale, how you handle difficult feedback, and your experience with AI design tools.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a design challenge is given beforehand, thoroughly research Lennox International, its products (HVAC/Refrigeration), and its target users.

• Focus on Process: In a live challenge, prioritize demonstrating your thought process, problem-solving approach, and ability to think critically under pressure, rather than just delivering a polished final output.

• Time Management: Allocate time effectively for understanding the prompt, brainstorming, ideation, sketching/wireframing, and presenting.

• Communication: Articulate your thinking clearly and concisely during the challenge and in your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a wide range of skills for a Lead role. The portfolio review is the most critical stage, requiring candidates to not only show their work but also articulate the strategic thinking and process behind it. The emphasis on "impact" and "collaboration" is key for a lead position.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration. Expert-level proficiency is mandatory.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, familiarity with specialized prototyping tools might be beneficial.

• Design Systems Management Tools: Tools like Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal systems for managing and documenting design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior on digital products.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) for creating dashboards and reports to present user behavior data and design impact.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback widgets).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) may be useful for understanding customer data and how digital interactions influence sales and service processes, though not a primary UX tool.

• Project Management Software: Jira, Asana, Trello for managing design tasks, sprints, and collaborating with engineering teams.

AI & Emerging Tech:

• AI Design Tools: Tools that assist in design generation, content creation, research synthesis, or prototyping (e.g., tools integrated within Figma, or standalone AI design assistants).

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a primary tool with expert-level requirements. The inclusion of "AI-assisted design and research tools" indicates a forward-looking approach, and candidates with experience here will have an advantage. Familiarity with tools that support design systems and analytics is also important for a lead role that needs to demonstrate impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity, Respect & Excellence: These are Lennox's core values and are expected to permeate all aspects of work, including design practice, team interactions, and decision-making.

• User-Centered Mindset: A fundamental value where advocating for the user is paramount, driving intuitive, accessible, and impactful experiences.

• Strategic Thinking: Aligning design decisions with long-term business goals, anticipating challenges, and crafting scalable solutions.

• Collaboration & Influence: Working seamlessly across teams, communicating design rationale clearly, building relationships, and driving consensus.

• Ownership & Execution: Taking pride in completing tasks, delivering high-quality work on time, and being results-driven.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active participation in product development teams, working closely with PMs and Engineers to ensure designs are feasible, aligned, and effectively implemented.

• Open Communication & Feedback: A culture that encourages open discussion of design ideas, constructive critique, and receptiveness to feedback from peers and stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Mentoring junior designers, sharing best practices, and contributing to the overall growth of the design practice within the organization.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A preference for grounding design choices in user research, data analytics, and performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Lennox's core values (Integrity, Respect, Excellence) alongside the behavioral competencies (User-Centered Mindset, Strategic Thinking, Collaboration, Ownership) provides a clear picture of the desired cultural fit. Collaboration is highlighted as a key aspect, essential for a lead role operating within a cross-functional environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Hands-on Execution: Effectively leading design strategy while still being a significant individual contributor requires strong time management and prioritization skills.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Persuading diverse stakeholders (including senior leadership) with varying priorities and technical understanding to adopt user-centered design recommendations.

• Integrating AI Tools: Seamlessly incorporating AI-assisted design tools into established workflows without compromising design quality, user trust, or accessibility.

• Evolving Digital Landscape: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in UX/UI design, digital technologies, and user expectations within the HVAC/Refrigeration industry.

• Design System Maturity: If the design system is nascent, the challenge might be in its development and adoption; if mature, the challenge is in its evolution and maintenance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Training: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and online courses to deepen expertise in cutting-edge UX methodologies and tools.

• Mentorship Programs: Potentially formal or informal mentorship opportunities with senior leaders within Lennox or through industry networks.

• Leadership Skill Development: Training and experience in project management, team leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder management.

• Exposure to New Technologies: Gaining hands-on experience with AI in design and other emerging technologies that can enhance product development.

• Industry-Specific UX Knowledge: Developing unique expertise in designing for the complexities of HVAC and refrigeration solutions and their respective user bases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare. The blend of strategic leadership and hands-on work is a common challenge for lead roles. The opportunity to work with AI in design is a significant growth area.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex digital product you led the UX design for. What was the business problem, your strategic approach, and the measurable impact?" (Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving, and impact quantification).

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints when making design decisions?" (Showcase your user-centered approach and pragmatic problem-solving).

• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research and how you translate those insights into actionable design improvements." (Highlight your research methodologies and data-driven approach).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Lennox International and our mission in the HVAC/Refrigeration industry?" (Research the company, its products, and its market position).

• "How do you see your role as a Lead UX Designer contributing to Lennox's core values of Integrity, Respect, and Excellence?" (Connect your work and approach to company values).

• "Describe your experience working with AI-assisted design tools. How do you see them enhancing the UX design process?" (Be prepared to discuss your practical experience and forward-thinking perspective).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Use a clear narrative for each case study: the challenge, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the outcomes/impact.

• Highlight Your Contribution: Be explicit about what you did, especially in team projects. Use "I" when describing your specific actions.

• Focus on Figma: Be ready to share your screen and walk through interactive prototypes, explain your design system components, and demonstrate your Figma workflow.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively. Show wireframes, user flows, mockups, and prototypes. Explain the rationale behind key design decisions.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Ask clarifying questions, and be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process, tools, and decisions.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows smoothly, stays within the allotted time, and clearly communicates your value proposition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on behavioral and situational questions common for lead roles, emphasizing strategic thinking, collaboration, and impact. The portfolio presentation advice is tailored to showcase Figma proficiency and a comprehensive understanding of the UX process and its business value.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Lennox International careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful UX/Product Design projects that best demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, hands-on Figma skills, and end-to-end process. Ensure each project has a clear narrative detailing the problem, your role, process, solution, and measurable outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 8+ years of experience, expert-level Figma proficiency, experience leading complex projects, and contributions to user-centered design, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on articulating your design rationale, collaboration strategies, and the impact of your work. Be ready to demonstrate your Figma skills and discuss your approach to AI-assisted design.

• Research Lennox: Thoroughly research Lennox International's products, services, company culture, and values. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company to demonstrate your engagement and 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.