Principal Designer, Content Discovery

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Designer, Content Discovery

Company: NBCUniversal

Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NEW YORK, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: April 22, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office/week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic evolution of content discovery experiences, leveraging UX strategy, systems thinking, and design excellence for a leading media and entertainment company.

• Drive end-to-end design for complex initiatives, including AI Search, personalized interfaces, and next-gen mobile experiences, within the fast-paced Media Group at NBCUniversal.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Data, and Research teams to define requirements, scope, and success criteria for innovative discovery features.

• Provide creative direction, mentorship, and leadership to design talent, shaping the future of product design culture and practices at NBCUniversal.

• Translate ambiguous problem spaces into clear frameworks, hypotheses, and actionable design directions, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within the Media Group, specifically focusing on the Peacock viewing product. The emphasis on "Content Discovery" and "Principal Designer" indicates a senior-level position responsible for strategic direction, complex problem-solving, and leadership within the UX/Product Design discipline. The hybrid work arrangement with a minimum of four days in the office highlights the importance of in-person collaboration and team integration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for significant content discovery features, such as AI-powered search functionalities, dynamic metadata experiences (e.g., bento-style layouts), and advanced mobile discovery interfaces.

• Develop and articulate clear design frameworks, user hypotheses, and strategic design directions from ambiguous problem statements, ensuring alignment with product goals.

• Deliver production-ready UX designs that meet both domestic and international audience needs, adhering to overarching business objectives and user experience principles.

• Extract actionable insights from user data and research, ensuring these insights are integrated into the long-term design and product strategy.

• Foster strong alignment among key stakeholders, including leadership, on research findings and design decisions through compelling communication and data-backed arguments.

• Proactively manage and accelerate the progress of existing design work, including experience designs, UX guidelines, information architecture, and visual designs, through to successful project completion.

• Formulate detailed requirements, identify dependencies, and define success metrics in close partnership with Product Managers, Engineering teams, Data Analysts, and User Researchers.

• Actively participate in broader UX team ideation sessions and concept explorations, facilitating discussions and driving planning while maintaining oversight of project execution.

• Demonstrate an obsessive attention to detail and maintain a critical perspective on all design outputs and processes.

• Lead and mentor junior designers, fostering their growth and providing creative direction, while also defining and establishing best practices and design patterns for the broader team and product.

• Visually present findings and design rationales to internal teams and stakeholders, ensuring design coherence with the long-term product vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize end-to-end ownership, strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and mentorship, all critical for a Principal Designer role in a large media organization. The mention of "AI Search" and "bento-powered metadata experiences" points to a forward-thinking approach to content discovery, requiring a designer adept at leveraging new technologies and complex information architectures.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion dedicated to leadership roles in UX and product design.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience as a design leader, capable of guiding and directing creative processes for design teams.

• Expertise in translating complex user needs and business objectives into elegant and effective design solutions.

• Deep understanding of interaction design principles and best practices for digital products.

• Demonstrated proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma, Adobe Suite, Microsoft 365, and Jira.

• Strong portfolio showcasing a broad range of work across web, mobile applications, and multimedia projects, with a focus on content discovery or similar user-facing experiences.

• Comprehensive knowledge of cross-platform usability standards, UI specifications, and design for diverse user bases.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and solutions to diverse stakeholders, including executive leadership.

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities, with a knack for identifying innovative solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in and knowledge of UX/prototyping development and motion graphics best practices.

• Familiarity with various platforms such as Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, Apple TV, and X1, including their unique design constraints and opportunities.

• Experience designing for accessibility (WCAG compliance) and international audiences, considering cultural nuances and localization.

• Understanding of data-driven design methodologies, including leveraging user analytics and A/B testing results to inform design decisions.

• Experience with design systems and their application in maintaining consistency and efficiency across large product portfolios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 10+ years of experience and proven leadership abilities clearly defines this as a senior, influential role. The specific mention of Figma, Adobe Suite, and Jira, along with platforms like Roku and Apple TV, indicates the practical toolset and ecosystem the candidate will operate within. The emphasis on a strong portfolio and cross-platform usability is crucial for demonstrating design competence in a multi-device streaming environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design process for at least 2-3 complex projects, demonstrating problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and final design implementation.

• Highlight specific contributions to content discovery, personalization, or recommendation systems, detailing the challenges and solutions implemented.

• Include examples of how data and user feedback were incorporated into the design process to drive iterations and improvements.

• Demonstrate experience with designing for multiple platforms (web, mobile, connected TV) and understanding their unique interaction paradigms.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of how you have translated ambiguous product requirements into actionable design plans and workflows.

• Detail your approach to cross-functional collaboration, illustrating how you partnered with Product, Engineering, and Data teams to bring designs to life.

• Include examples of how you have documented design decisions, created UX guidelines, or contributed to design systems.

• Showcase your methods for iterating on designs based on user testing, A/B testing results, and performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. The emphasis should be on demonstrating strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and the ability to lead design initiatives from conception to launch. Specific examples of impact on user engagement, conversion, or retention within content discovery contexts will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $170,000 - $220,000 USD per year. This range may be adjusted based on experience, qualifications, and location. The role is also eligible for bonus and long-term incentive (LTI) compensation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Tuition reimbursement program for continued education.

• Access to a variety of employee discounts and perks.

Working Hours: This role is designated as full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid schedule mandates a minimum of four days per week in the New York office, with flexibility in daily scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Principal Designer role in a major metropolitan area like New York City, especially within a large media conglomerate like NBCUniversal. The inclusion of bonus and LTI indicates a compensation structure that rewards performance and long-term commitment. The benefits package is standard for a large corporation, offering comprehensive coverage for employees and their families. The explicit mention of bonus and LTI eligibility suggests performance-driven compensation beyond the base salary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media and Entertainment, specifically focusing on streaming services, television, and film production. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology leader.

Company Size: NBCUniversal is a large, established enterprise with thousands of employees globally, indicating a robust organizational structure, extensive resources, and opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: NBCUniversal has a long history, evolving through various acquisitions and mergers, with its core brands like NBC dating back to 1926. This heritage suggests a company with deep roots in media innovation and a forward-looking approach to entertainment.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team within the Media Group is dedicated to the Peacock viewing product and content discovery. It likely comprises various design specialists (UX, UI, Interaction, Motion) working in close collaboration.

• The reporting structure for a Principal Designer typically involves reporting to a Director or VP of Design, with direct leadership over a pod or specific feature areas.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core component, with insights derived from user analytics, A/B testing, and consumer feedback guiding design iterations and strategic planning.

• Workflow optimization is crucial, focusing on iterative design processes that allow for rapid prototyping, testing, and refinement of user experiences.

• Automation and efficiency practices are encouraged, particularly in areas like design systems and tooling, to accelerate development cycles and maintain consistency across platforms.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: NBCUniversal's culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and a consumer-first approach, especially within its Media Group and Peacock product. The company's size and history suggest a stable yet dynamic environment where a Principal Designer can influence significant product strategies. The focus on data-driven insights and iterative processes aligns perfectly with modern UX/Product Design practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the "Principal" level, signifying a senior individual contributor with significant experience and leadership responsibilities. It implies a deep expertise in product design, UX strategy, and systems thinking, with the ability to mentor others and influence product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Design within the Media Group. They will collaborate extensively with Product Management, Engineering, and Research leads, acting as a key design authority for content discovery initiatives.

Operations Impact: The Principal Designer's work will directly impact user engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction with the Peacock platform by improving how users discover and consume content. This role is critical in shaping the user experience of a core product within NBCUniversal's streaming strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven personalization, next-generation discovery interfaces, or connected TV UX, potentially leading larger design initiatives or teams.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to learn and apply cutting-edge design methodologies, tools, and technologies, including generative AI in design. Exposure to diverse product areas within NBCUniversal.

• Career Advancement: Potential to move into management roles (e.g., Design Manager, Director of Design) or continue as a senior individual contributor with expanded scope and influence, becoming a recognized expert in the field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title denotes a significant level of responsibility and potential for influence. Growth opportunities are geared towards both deepened technical expertise and leadership development, offering clear career progression paths within a major media organization. The impact on a core product like Peacock highlights the strategic importance of this role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "Hybrid," requiring a minimum of four days per week at the NBCUniversal office located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed for team interaction and in-person brainstorming.

Office Location(s): The primary office is at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY. This iconic location offers a vibrant work setting in the heart of Manhattan, with excellent access to public transportation and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to foster collaboration, with shared spaces for meetings, design critiques, and team discussions.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations, software licenses (Figma, Adobe Suite), and collaboration platforms, will be provided.

• Opportunities for frequent interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Research) will be integral to the daily workflow, supporting a cohesive product development process.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. While the hybrid model requires consistent office presence, the company may offer some flexibility within the workday, allowing operations professionals to balance focused work with collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model at a prominent location like Rockefeller Plaza indicates a commitment to in-person collaboration while offering some flexibility. This environment is conducive to the dynamic and iterative nature of product design, facilitating seamless communication and idea exchange among teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio. Be sure your resume highlights relevant experience and your portfolio showcases your best work in content discovery and product design.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or present a detailed case study from your portfolio. Focus on demonstrating your process, problem-solving skills, and how you arrived at your final solutions.

• Interviews with Team: Expect interviews with other designers, Product Managers, and potentially Engineering leads. Prepare to discuss your design philosophy, experience with complex projects, and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• Leadership Interview: A final interview with senior leadership (Director/VP) to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in content discovery, UX strategy, and complex problem-solving. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the key decisions you made, and the impact of your work. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Show your thinking process – sketches, wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations. Explain why you made certain design choices.

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

• Tailor to NBCU: Briefly explain how your skills and experience align with NBCUniversal's mission and the specific challenges of the content discovery space.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the prompt for any design challenge. Identify the core problem and constraints.

• Define Scope: Clearly define the scope of your solution and any assumptions you are making.

• Show Your Process: Even in a time-constrained challenge, outline your steps – user research (even if hypothetical), ideation, sketching, wireframing, and rationale for your final design.

• Focus on Impact: Consider how your design would drive key business or user goals for a streaming service.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily emphasize a candidate's ability to demonstrate their design process and strategic thinking through their portfolio and potential case studies. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their reasoning and impact clearly, showcasing their leadership potential and collaborative skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect to use it for creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator): Useful for asset creation, image editing, and graphic design tasks.

• Jira: Standard for project management, task tracking, and bug reporting, indicating close collaboration with engineering teams.

• Microsoft 365 Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint/Teams): For documentation, presentations, and general communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a design tool, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude) is highly beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the design role, but understanding how CRM data or marketing automation might influence user journeys or content recommendations could be a plus.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools and methodologies may be advantageous.

• Motion Graphics Tools: Proficiency in tools for creating motion graphics and animations to enhance user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Suite is non-negotiable. Experience with Jira and Microsoft 365 is standard for large corporate environments. Understanding how to leverage data from analytics platforms to inform design is a key differentiator for senior designers.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Consumer-First: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the Peacock audience, ensuring delightful and intuitive content discovery experiences.

• Design Excellence: Upholding rigorous standards for visual design, interaction design, and overall user experience quality.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies like AI and exploring novel approaches to content discovery to stay ahead in a competitive market.

• Collaboration: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work cohesively towards shared goals.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing data and insights to validate hypotheses, measure impact, and make informed design decisions.

• Growth Mindset: Encouraging continuous learning, skill development, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working hand-in-hand with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers from ideation through launch.

• Constructive Feedback: An open culture where design critiques are welcomed, and constructive feedback is used to refine and improve solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging designers to share learnings, best practices, and insights across teams and with the broader design community within NBCUniversal.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at NBCUniversal's Media Group emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and a strong user focus. Designers are expected to be proactive, data-informed, and adept at working within a multidisciplinary team structure to deliver high-quality, engaging experiences.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Content Discovery: Balancing vast content libraries with intuitive user interfaces to help users find what they want, amidst evolving user expectations and technological advancements like AI.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and high-quality discovery experience across diverse devices (web, mobile, CTV) with varying input methods and screen sizes.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating diverse opinions and priorities from various stakeholders (Product, Marketing, Business, Legal) to drive unified design direction.

• Rapid Iteration: Operating in a fast-paced environment that demands quick turnaround times for design solutions while maintaining high quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Gaining hands-on experience with generative AI in design, advanced personalization techniques, and new interaction paradigms for connected devices.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and internal training sessions focused on cutting-edge UX and product design.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Direct mentorship opportunities from senior design leaders and the chance to mentor junior designers, developing leadership capabilities.

• Broad Product Exposure: Potential to work on diverse projects across NBCUniversal's portfolio, expanding knowledge of the media and entertainment landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle complex, cutting-edge design challenges in the streaming media space. The growth potential is significant, offering pathways for both deep specialization and broader leadership within a major entertainment company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex content discovery challenge you've faced and how you approached it, detailing your process from problem definition to solution and impact." (Focus on your systematic approach, user-centricity, and data-informed decisions.)

• "How do you balance the needs of business stakeholders, technical constraints, and user experience goals when designing a new feature?" (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and prioritization skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about NBCUniversal and the Peacock platform, specifically regarding content discovery?" (Research Peacock's current strategy, competitors, and target audience.)

• "How do you approach mentorship and leading other designers? Describe your philosophy on building a strong design culture." (Showcase your leadership style and commitment to team growth.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation like a story, beginning with the problem, detailing your journey and solutions, and concluding with the impact and learnings.

• Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, focus on clearly explaining your thought process, research, and iterations. Show the why behind your design choices.

• Interactive Elements: If presenting digitally, leverage interactive prototypes to showcase user flows and key interactions.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data points to demonstrate the tangible results of your design work. If direct metrics aren't available, use user feedback or qualitative insights.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Prepare to present your most impactful projects efficiently and be ready to dive deeper into specific areas based on interviewer interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of the design process, particularly as applied to content discovery in a streaming environment. Candidates should be ready to articulate their impact with data and showcase their ability to collaborate effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Designer position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Curate and tailor your online portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating expertise in content discovery, UX strategy, and complex digital product design. Highlight your end-to-end process and quantifiable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of experience, leadership achievements, and proficiency in key tools like Figma and Adobe Suite. Use keywords from the job description to align with ATS scanning.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your problem-solving approach, collaboration skills, and ability to articulate design rationale. Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, product strategy, and design culture.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with NBCUniversal's Media Group, the Peacock platform, its current content discovery features, and its competitive landscape. Understand the company's values and how they translate into the design culture.

⚠️ 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.