Principal Designer, Content Discovery

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Designer, Content Discovery Company: NBCUniversal Location: New York, New York, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / UX Design Date Posted: December 02, 2025 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 4 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design strategy and execution for complex content discovery initiatives, including AI-powered search, personalized interfaces, and next-generation mobile experiences.
• Translate ambiguous problem spaces into clear frameworks, hypotheses, and innovative design directions, driving product evolution and user engagement.
• Champion design excellence, systems thinking, and deep operational knowledge across all aspects of UX and product design within a fast-paced, iterative environment.
• Influence and align stakeholders, including Product Management, Engineering, Data, and Research, on design decisions and product strategy, ensuring a cohesive and user-centric approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Principal Designer," the responsibilities and qualifications strongly indicate a senior-level Product Designer role with significant leadership and strategic influence, particularly within the "Content Discovery" domain. This role requires not just execution but also strategic vision and the ability to shape the design culture and future of the product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for critical content discovery features, such as AI Search, metadata-driven experiences, and advanced mobile discovery interfaces, ensuring seamless integration and user delight.
• Develop comprehensive problem frameworks, articulate clear hypotheses, and define innovative design directions for complex and evolving user needs within the content discovery space.
• Deliver high-fidelity, production-ready UX and visual designs that align with overarching business objectives, user experience goals, and brand standards for both domestic and international audiences.
• Leverage user research, data analysis, and market insights to identify actionable opportunities, ensuring strategic alignment for long-term product and design roadmaps.
• Drive consensus and alignment among diverse stakeholders, including Product, Engineering, Data Science, and Research teams, by clearly articulating design rationale, research findings, and strategic recommendations.
• Proactively manage the progress of existing design work, including wireframes, UX guides, information architecture, and visual designs, ensuring timely and successful project completion.
• Foster strong collaborative partnerships with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and Researchers to define project requirements, scope, dependencies, and success metrics.
• Actively participate in ideation sessions and concept explorations with the broader UX team, facilitating discussions and driving innovative UX solutions while maintaining oversight of project execution.
• Maintain an obsessive attention to detail and a critical eye for quality, ensuring all design outputs meet the highest standards of usability, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal.
• Lead and mentor other designers, providing creative direction, fostering talent development, and establishing best practices and design patterns for the team and product.
• Effectively share design findings and present visual solutions to internal teams, ensuring clear communication and alignment with the long-term design and product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize end-to-end ownership, strategic influence, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership, which are hallmarks of a Principal-level design role focused on driving significant product initiatives. The mention of "AI Search" and "generative AI" points to a forward-looking product strategy where this designer will play a key role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Computer Science, Human Factors, or a related field, or equivalent practical work experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in UX and product design, with a strong track record of leading complex digital product initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in design leadership, with a proven ability to guide and mentor design teams through the entire creative and product development process.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in UX Strategy and Systems Thinking, with a deep understanding of how to design scalable and coherent user experiences.
• Exceptional Design Excellence and a relentless pursuit of high-quality, user-centric solutions.
• Proficiency in translating loose or ambiguous problem spaces into clear frameworks, hypotheses, and actionable design directions.
• Mastery of industry-standard design and prototyping tools, including Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft 365, and Jira.
• Strong understanding of interaction design principles, user-centered design methodologies, and best practices for consumer digital products.
• Proven ability to articulate design solutions clearly and effectively to diverse stakeholders, including leadership, through compelling storytelling and fact-based discourse.
• Excellent collaborative skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced, iterative, and cross-functional team environments.
• Robust critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities, with a talent for executing innovative ideas to enhance product and user experience.
• Deep knowledge of cross-platform usability standards and UI specifications, with experience designing for diverse platforms.
• Strong portfolio showcasing solid web, mobile, and multimedia design work, demonstrating end-to-end design process and impact.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for accessibility (WCAG standards) and international audiences, ensuring inclusivity and global relevance.
• Familiarity with various platforms such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, and Comcast's X1.
• Experience in UX/prototyping development and motion graphics best practices.
• Ability to speak to market strategies and competitor standards within the content discovery or streaming media landscape.
• Scrappy, driven mindset with the capacity to own both strategic vision and practical daily output.
• Adaptability to work on multiple project tracks and pivot between different initiatives seamlessly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "10 or more years of relevant work experience" and "proven experience as a design leader" clearly positions this as a senior, Principal-level role. The emphasis on "systems thinking," "AI Search," and "design culture" indicates a strategic focus beyond individual feature design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end ownership of complex design projects, showcasing the entire design process from problem definition to final implementation and iteration.
• Present case studies that highlight your ability to translate ambiguous problem spaces into clear frameworks, hypotheses, and impactful design solutions within the content discovery domain.
• Showcase examples of how you've leveraged user research, data, and consumer insights to inform design decisions and drive product strategy.
• Include detailed examples of your collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Data teams, illustrating how you've driven alignment and achieved project success.
• Provide evidence of your leadership capabilities, including mentorship of other designers and contributions to design team best practices or culture.

Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your approach to defining and documenting complex user flows, information architecture, and interaction models for digital products.
• Showcase examples of how you've facilitated the creation of design systems, style guides, or pattern libraries to ensure consistency and scalability across platforms.
• Present work that demonstrates your understanding of agile development processes and how design integrates effectively within iterative product development cycles.
• Include examples of how you've used prototyping and user testing to validate design concepts and refine user experiences before full-scale development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Principal" title and the emphasis on strategy and leadership, a portfolio is crucial. It should go beyond just showcasing final UI and demonstrate strategic thinking, process ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership impact on product outcomes within the content discovery space.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $225,000 per year

• This salary range is specifically for the Principal Designer, Content Discovery role at NBCUniversal in New York, NY.
• The compensation is eligible for bonus and long-term incentive plans.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is based on the job posting's specified figures. For a Principal Designer role in New York City with 10+ years of experience in the media/tech industry, this range is competitive and aligns with industry benchmarks for senior design leadership positions. Research indicates that similar roles in major tech hubs like NYC can range from $170,000 to $240,000+ depending on specific responsibilities, company size, and candidate experience.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan with 401(k) contributions.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) for vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement program to support continuous learning and professional development.
• Access to a variety of employee discounts and exclusive perks.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically 40 hours per week.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: While a standard 40-hour week is implied, the role's senior nature and the fast-paced environment may necessitate flexibility. The hybrid model (minimum 4 days in office) suggests a structured but potentially flexible approach to daily work hours, accommodating collaboration needs.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment / Technology. NBCUniversal operates across film, television, streaming, theme parks, and consumer experiences, with a significant focus on digital platforms and content distribution. Company Size: Large Enterprise. As a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, NBCUniversal is a global media and entertainment conglomerate with a vast workforce and extensive reach. Founded: NBCUniversal was formed in 2004 through the merger of NBC and Universal Studios. Its deep roots in media and entertainment, combined with recent strategic expansions into streaming (Peacock) and digital assets, shape its innovative and dynamic culture.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team within Peacock Viewing Product Design is dedicated to revolutionizing content discovery. It operates with a focus on bold experimentation, including generative AI and personalized interfaces.
• This role will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Design, working closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data Science leads.
• Collaboration is high, with frequent interaction across Product, Design, Engineering, Research, and Data teams to define requirements, drive consensus, and deliver cohesive user experiences.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is emphasized, with a focus on leveraging analytics, user research, and consumer feedback to inform design strategies and product iterations.
• The team embraces an iterative approach, prioritizing rapid progress, experimentation (A/B testing), and continuous improvement of the content discovery experience.
• A culture of design excellence and systems thinking is fostered, encouraging designers to think holistically about user journeys, platform consistency, and scalable design solutions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: NBCUniversal's position across traditional and digital media means its culture is a blend of established media practices and fast-paced tech innovation. The emphasis on Peacock and its streaming ambitions signals a strong focus on user experience, data, and growth within a competitive digital landscape.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal. This designation signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic influence, ownership of complex initiatives, and leadership responsibilities in mentoring and shaping design practices. It's a level where individuals are expected to drive innovation and provide creative direction. Reporting Structure: The Principal Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Design within the Peacock Viewing Product team. They will work in close partnership with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Data Science counterparts, forming a core triad for product development. Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on user engagement, content consumption, and ultimately, the success of Peacock's streaming service. By optimizing content discovery, the designer influences user retention, watch time, and the overall perception of the platform, directly contributing to revenue and growth objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into management roles (e.g., Design Manager, Director of Product Design) or evolve into a Staff/Principal level UX Strategist focusing on long-term product vision.
• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in emerging areas like Generative AI in design, advanced personalization techniques, or cross-platform design systems.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining broader experience by working on different product areas within NBCUniversal's vast portfolio or contributing to strategic initiatives across the media group.
• Mentorship & Influence: Directly shaping the design culture and mentoring junior designers, leaving a lasting impact on the team's capabilities and output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title is a clear indicator of a senior individual contributor path with significant growth potential, either into management or deeper strategic specialization within the design field at a major media conglomerate.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role requires a minimum of four days per week in the office, suggesting a collaborative workspace environment. Office Location(s): 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112. This iconic location provides a vibrant, urban work setting.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment at 30 Rock is likely dynamic and collaborative, fostering interaction among design, product, and engineering teams.
• Access to industry-leading design tools and technology (Figma, Adobe Suite, etc.) is expected, supporting efficient workflow and creative output.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with a diverse range of professionals across NBCUniversal's media and entertainment empire, facilitating cross-functional learning and idea exchange.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, hybrid arrangement with a minimum of 4 days per week in the New York office. This structure balances focused work time with collaborative team engagement.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to capture the benefits of in-person collaboration while allowing for some flexibility. Operations professionals in this role will need to manage their time effectively to meet in-office requirements and deliver on project deadlines.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key projects that demonstrate their experience in content discovery, complex problem-solving, and leadership. Expect in-depth questions about your process, decision-making, and impact.
• Design Challenge / Case Study: A potential take-home assignment or live exercise focused on a content discovery problem, requiring you to apply your UX strategy and design skills.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and technical understanding.
• Leadership/Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (Director/VP level) to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that directly showcase your experience in content discovery, personalization, AI-driven features, and complex UX challenges. Highlight your end-to-end design process.
• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the solutions you designed, and most importantly, the measurable impact (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion, user satisfaction).
• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a narrative arc – problem, exploration, solution, outcome. Explain your rationale for key design decisions.
• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you've influenced product strategy, mentored junior designers, or driven process improvements within a team.
• Visual Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with current trends in content discovery, AI in search, personalization algorithms, and the streaming media landscape.
• Practice Problem Framing: Be prepared to articulate the problem space, identify user needs, and define success metrics for a given challenge.
• Demonstrate Process: Focus on showing your thought process, not just the final output. Explain trade-offs, assumptions, and how you'd iterate.
• Communicate Clearly: Practice presenting your solutions concisely and persuasively, anticipating potential questions from product and engineering perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily emphasize portfolio review and an understanding of design strategy within the content discovery domain. Candidates should prepare to articulate their leadership capabilities and how they drive product impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration, likely the primary tool for daily design work.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Used for asset creation, image editing, and potentially more advanced visual design tasks.
• Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel): For documentation, presentations, and data analysis.
• Jira: For project management, task tracking, and collaboration with engineering teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) is crucial for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.
• Experience with dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) for visualizing data and performance metrics may be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly CRM-focused, understanding how user data is managed and how design impacts customer journeys within a CRM context is valuable.
• Familiarity with A/B testing platforms and experimentation frameworks is important for iterative product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Suite, and Jira is explicitly required. A strong understanding of analytics and experimentation tools will be critical for a data-informed design approach within this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to creating elegant, intuitive, and highly usable experiences that delight users and elevate the brand.
• User-Centricity: Placing the viewer at the heart of every design decision, driven by a deep understanding of their needs and behaviors.
• Innovation & Experimentation: Embracing bold ideas, generative AI, and next-gen technologies to push the boundaries of content discovery.
• Collaboration & Ownership: A culture where individuals take ownership of their work, collaborate effectively across teams, and contribute to a shared vision.
• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing data and insights to inform design strategy, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement.
• Inclusivity: Designing for diverse audiences, including accessibility and international considerations, reflecting NBCUniversal's commitment to an inclusive culture.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers working hand-in-hand with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and Researchers.
• Emphasis on open communication, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving to achieve team and product goals.
• A culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages cross-pollination of ideas across different product domains and disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a culture of respect, authenticity, and empowering people to thrive. The design team specifically focuses on bold experimentation and elevating exceptional design, indicating a culture that values creativity and pushing boundaries within a structured framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Developing cutting-edge features (like generative AI search) while ensuring they are robust, scalable, accessible, and align with long-term product strategy.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes with competing priorities to drive consensus and achieve cohesive product development for both domestic and international audiences.
• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Thriving in a dynamic setting where quick pivots, continuous experimentation, and rapid delivery are expected.
• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying ahead of rapid advancements in AI, personalization, and user interface design, and translating these into user-centric product enhancements.
• Defining the Future of Content Discovery: Setting new standards and user expectations for how people find and engage with entertainment content.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Access to Cutting-Edge Technologies: Direct involvement with generative AI, machine learning applications in personalization, and advanced UI/UX patterns.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend leading design and technology conferences, as well as pursue certifications relevant to UX strategy and product design.
• Mentorship and Leadership Development: Guidance from senior leaders within NBCUniversal and the chance to mentor emerging design talent, honing leadership skills.
• Exposure to a Broad Media Portfolio: Gaining insights into diverse product areas within NBCUniversal, from streaming to theme parks, fostering a holistic understanding of the entertainment industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative nature of the role and the competitive streaming landscape. Growth opportunities are substantial, offering deep dives into emerging technologies and significant leadership development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated a highly ambiguous problem space into a clear design strategy and delivered a successful product solution. What was your process?" (Focus on problem framing, hypothesis generation, and iterative design).
• "How do you balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints when designing for complex features like AI-powered search?" (Highlight your strategic thinking, trade-off analysis, and cross-functional collaboration).
• "Walk us through a project where you had to influence stakeholders or leadership to adopt your design recommendation. What was your approach to building consensus?" (Emphasize communication, storytelling, and data-driven persuasion).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about NBCUniversal and the future of content discovery in the streaming space?" (Research Peacock's strategy, current market trends, and articulate your vision).
• "How do you contribute to fostering a strong design culture and mentoring other designers?" (Prepare examples of leadership, knowledge sharing, and team building).
• "How do you approach designing for international audiences and ensuring accessibility?" (Demonstrate your understanding of global UX and inclusive design principles).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 curated case studies that best represent your capabilities for this role.
• Emphasize Process & Rationale: For each project, clearly explain the why behind your decisions. Detail user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Quantify Results: Present clear metrics and outcomes that demonstrate the impact of your designs on user behavior, business goals, or product performance.
• Showcase Leadership & Collaboration: Highlight instances where you led initiatives, mentored others, or effectively partnered with non-design teams.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical understanding, and ability to handle challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, a deep understanding of the content discovery domain, and the ability to articulate impact through data and compelling narratives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Designer, Content Discovery position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the SmartRecruiters platform.
• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in this job description, such as "Content Discovery," "UX Strategy," "Systems Thinking," "AI Search," "Product Design Leadership," and specific tools like "Figma." Quantify your achievements with metrics whenever possible.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date, visually polished, and features 2-3 strong case studies demonstrating your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and impact, particularly in areas relevant to content discovery and complex UX challenges.
• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear storytelling, articulating your design rationale, and demonstrating leadership and collaborative skills. Prepare to discuss your approach to challenges and your understanding of the media/streaming industry.
• Research NBCUniversal and Peacock: Understand the company's mission, values, recent product developments (especially regarding Peacock and content discovery), and the competitive landscape. 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 should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.