Principal Product Designer, Vrbo

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Product Designer, Vrbo

Company: Expedia Group

Location: Austin, TX; San Jose/San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Other EG Locations

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Experience Level: Principal / 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and shape end-to-end Vrbo traveler experiences, with a strategic focus on core shopping, discovery, and booking journeys to elevate the brand's overall quality bar.

• Drive ambiguous, high-priority, zero-to-one design programs, defining future-state experiences and establishing clear strategic direction from early concepts through to successful delivery within the product lifecycle.

• Apply advanced interaction, visual, and systems design craft to create cohesive, high-fidelity user flows, encompassing information architecture, data presentation, and component-level patterns across the entire product ecosystem.

• Utilize prototyping as a primary tool for rapid idea exploration, concept validation, and clear narrative communication to align design, product, engineering, content, and research partners effectively.

• Partner closely with cross-functional leaders to strategically connect brand identity, product objectives, and customer needs, leveraging storytelling, structured frameworks, and empirical research to influence strategy and execution.

• Explore and shape the integration of evolving capabilities, including AI-enabled experiences and workflows, to inform and advance future traveler journeys, demonstrating familiarity with AI-driven systems and applying AI/ML concepts to real-world product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Principal Product Designer, indicating a significant level of seniority and influence within the organization. The emphasis on "thought and domain leadership," "organization-level visibility," and "zero-to-one design programs" suggests a strategic contributor who will not only execute but also define design direction and mentor others. The inclusion of AI-enabled experiences highlights a forward-thinking approach to product development in the travel tech space.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design strategy and execution for critical Vrbo traveler journeys, including search, discovery, booking, and post-booking experiences, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality brand representation.

• Spearhead the definition and development of new, innovative product features and experiences from initial concept through to launch, tackling ambiguous problems with a clear design vision and roadmap.

• Craft detailed user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design solutions and gather stakeholder alignment.

• Collaborate intimately with Product Managers, Engineers, User Researchers, and Content Strategists to ensure designs are technically feasible, strategically aligned, and deeply rooted in user needs and business objectives.

• Contribute to and evolve the Vrbo design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product touchpoints and platforms.

• Champion user-centered design principles and advocate for the user throughout the product development process, translating research insights into actionable design improvements.

• Explore and prototype innovative uses of AI and machine learning to enhance traveler experiences, such as personalized recommendations, intelligent search, or automated support.

• Present design concepts and rationale clearly and persuasively to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, effectively articulating the value and impact of design decisions.

• Mentor and guide junior designers within the team, fostering a culture of design excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership ("lead and shape," "drive ambiguous programs") and hands-on design execution ("apply strong interaction, visual, and systems design craft," "use prototyping"). The explicit mention of AI-enabled experiences signals a need for designers to be at the forefront of technological innovation in the product space.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• 10+ years of related professional experience in product design, UX design, or brand experience design, with a proven track record of thought and domain leadership.

• Extensive experience designing and shipping end-to-end digital product experiences within cross-functional teams, from initial definition through successful launch.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead design initiatives, influence product strategy, and drive design vision at an organizational level.

• Interaction Design: Deep expertise in crafting intuitive, efficient, and engaging user interactions and workflows.

• Visual Design: Strong command of visual design principles, typography, color theory, and layout to create aesthetically pleasing and brand-aligned interfaces.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to design and maintain scalable design systems, understand complex product ecosystems, and ensure consistency across touchpoints.

• Prototyping: Proficiency in using modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to create high-fidelity interactive prototypes for concept validation and communication.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success working effectively with product management, engineering, research, and content strategy teams.

• Storytelling & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, present complex ideas clearly, and influence stakeholders.

• User Research & Data Analysis: Ability to leverage qualitative user research, behavioral data, and product context to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for shopping, discovery, search, marketplace, or travel-related digital products, particularly at scale.

• Familiarity with AI-enabled experiences, AI/ML concepts, and their application in enhancing user journeys and product functionality.

• Experience in balancing brand expression, usability, and strategic business goals within a complex product ecosystem.

• Demonstrated ability to lead lean, highly collaborative programs with flexibility, initiative, and strong facilitation skills.

• Experience in creating and maintaining comprehensive design systems and pattern libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Functional skills breadth and depth" requirement suggests candidates should be specialists in at least two core design disciplines (Interaction, Visual, Systems, Strategy) and proficient in others, reflecting the Principal level's need for well-rounded expertise. The explicit mention of AI/ML literacy is a key differentiator for preferred candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex, end-to-end product design projects that demonstrate your ability to solve challenging user problems and drive business impact.

• Projects should clearly illustrate your role, responsibilities, and contributions, particularly in areas of strategic influence, zero-to-one initiatives, and cross-functional leadership.

• Highlight your expertise in interaction design, visual design, and systems thinking through detailed case studies.

• Include examples of how you've leveraged prototyping to explore, validate, and communicate design solutions effectively.

Process Documentation:

• For each project, provide a clear narrative of your design process, including problem definition, user research insights, ideation phases, iteration cycles, and final outcomes.

• Detail how you collaborated with cross-functional partners (Product, Engineering, Research) throughout the design lifecycle, using specific examples.

• If applicable, include examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, pattern libraries, or style guides, explaining their impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Showcase how you've used data (user research, analytics, A/B testing results) to inform and validate your design decisions.

• For projects involving AI, describe your approach to designing for AI-enabled features, including ethical considerations and user trust.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the Principal level and the emphasis on "zero-to-one programs" and "systems thinking," the portfolio should not just showcase polished final designs but the robust process, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration that led to those outcomes. A strong emphasis on demonstrating impact and leadership within the design process is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Austin, TX: $224,000 - $313,500 USD annually. Potential to reach $358,500 USD based on sustained high performance.

• New York, NY: $242,000 - $338,500 USD annually. Potential to reach $387,000 USD based on sustained high performance.

• Chicago, IL: $208,000 - $291,500 USD annually. Potential to reach $333,000 USD based on sustained high performance.

• Seattle, WA: $224,000 - $313,500 USD annually. Potential to reach $358,500 USD based on sustained high performance.

• San Francisco, CA: $242,000 - $338,500 USD annually. Potential to reach $387,000 USD based on sustained high performance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holiday leave.

• Parental leave to support new parents.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support.

• Wellness & travel reimbursement program.

• Travel discounts to fuel passion for exploration.

• International Airlines Travel Agent (IATAN) membership.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time role, typically 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be available, subject to team and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary ranges are specific to location and include a potential performance-based increase, indicating a structured compensation framework. The extensive list of benefits, particularly those related to travel and wellness, aligns with Expedia Group's identity as a travel company and aims to support employee well-being and their passion for travel.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel Technology (Online Travel Agency - OTA)

Company Size: Expedia Group is a large, global enterprise with thousands of employees worldwide. This size offers stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for broad impact, while also requiring effective navigation of complex organizational structures.

Founded: Expedia Group was founded in 1996, with Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) acquired in 2015. This history provides a foundation of experience and innovation in the travel sector.

Team Structure:

• The Principal Product Designer will be part of the Vrbo product design team, which operates within the broader Expedia Group design organization.

• This role is highly visible, with significant interaction with senior leadership, Product Management, Engineering, and User Research partners across Vrbo and potentially other Expedia Group brands.

Methodology:

• Expedia Group emphasizes a data-driven approach, combining user research, behavioral analytics, and A/B testing to inform product decisions.

• Design is seen as integral to the product development process, working in close partnership with Product and Engineering in agile or similar iterative frameworks.

• There is a strong focus on innovation, including exploring emerging technologies like AI to enhance customer experiences.

• The company values a culture of "openness, belonging, and winning together," encouraging diverse perspectives and collaborative problem-solving.

Company Website: https://careers.expediagroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's position as a leader in travel tech and its emphasis on a diverse, inclusive culture are key aspects for any candidate to understand. The Principal role's interaction with multiple brands and senior leadership highlights the strategic scope of this position within a large corporate structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Product Designer. This level signifies a senior individual contributor who is a recognized expert in their field. They are expected to provide strategic direction, lead complex initiatives, mentor others, and influence design practices and product strategy across the organization.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Principal Product Designer typically reports to a Director or VP of Design or Product. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific initiatives and may manage or mentor junior designers.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the user experience of millions of travelers using Vrbo. By shaping core shopping, discovery, and booking journeys, the designer influences customer acquisition, conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue for Vrbo and Expedia Group. Their work in defining future-state experiences and leveraging new technologies like AI can significantly shape the company's competitive advantage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to grow into higher leadership roles (e.g., Director of Design), manage larger teams, and influence design strategy across multiple brands or product areas within Expedia Group.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as AI-driven design, complex marketplace dynamics, or global product localization.

• Cross-Brand Collaboration: Expand influence and experience by contributing to design initiatives across other Expedia Group brands, gaining exposure to different product challenges and user bases.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop leadership and coaching skills by mentoring junior designers, fostering talent, and contributing to the overall design community within Expedia Group.

• Industry Influence: Represent Expedia Group at conferences or through thought leadership initiatives, building a personal brand and contributing to the broader UX/Product Design community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title clearly indicates a senior, influential role. The growth opportunities are framed around expanding leadership scope, deepening specialized skills, and increasing organizational impact, which are typical trajectory paths for senior designers in large tech companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Expedia Group maintains modern, collaborative office spaces designed to foster innovation and teamwork. The "Austin Domain 11 - HomeAway" location is specifically mentioned. The company also promotes a flexible work model, suggesting a hybrid approach where employees balance on-site collaboration with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary listed location is Austin, TX. However, the posting also mentions San Jose/San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL, with "other EG Locations up for discussion." This indicates a willingness to consider candidates in various major tech hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Offices are designed to facilitate interaction, with common areas, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan workspaces. This supports the need for close collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to industry-standard design and productivity tools, likely including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses.

• Team Interaction: The on-site requirement suggests regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, and researchers, crucial for rapid iteration and problem-solving.

Work Schedule:

• Based on the full-time employment type and on-site requirement, a standard work week is expected, likely with some flexibility in daily hours depending on team needs and project deadlines. The emphasis is on achieving outcomes and collaborating effectively within the team's rhythm.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of a "flexible work model" alongside "on-site" locations suggests a hybrid approach. For a Principal role, the emphasis will be on leveraging the office for strategic collaboration, mentorship, and key team syncs, while potentially allowing for focused work remotely.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on experience alignment and key qualifications.

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio to the hiring team (Design Leads, Product Managers, Engineers). This session will delve into your process, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and design craft. Expect in-depth discussions about your case studies.

• Design Challenge / Whiteboarding Session: A practical exercise to assess your design thinking, problem-solving abilities, and ability to articulate solutions under pressure. This might involve a design prompt or a collaborative whiteboarding session.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with peers and stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other design disciplines to assess collaboration style, communication, and cultural fit.

• Leadership / Executive Interview: A final interview, potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Director/VP of Design), to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your Principal-level capabilities: strategic thinking, end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and leadership. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Compelling Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the trade-offs you made, the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact achieved. Use a narrative structure.

• Highlight Process & Rationale: Don't just show final screens. Explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, data, business goals, and design principles. Show your iterative process.

• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Include examples of how you've worked with or contributed to design systems, or how you ensure consistency and scalability in your designs.

• Showcase Collaboration: Detail how you partnered with Product, Engineering, and Research. Provide examples of how you influenced strategy and navigated challenging stakeholder discussions.

• Prepare for AI Discussion: Be ready to discuss your experience or perspective on designing with AI, including any relevant projects or thought leadership.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough to ensure a smooth, concise, and impactful delivery within the allotted time.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Prompt: Carefully analyze any design challenge or prompt. Identify the core problem, constraints, and objectives.

• Think Out Loud: During a whiteboarding session, articulate your thought process clearly. Explain your assumptions, questions, and the rationale behind your proposed solutions.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving, even if you don't reach a fully fleshed-out solution. Show how you would break down the problem and explore potential avenues.

• Consider Trade-offs: Discuss potential trade-offs and solutions that might be considered in a real-world scenario.

• User-Centricity: Always bring it back to the user. How does your proposed solution address user needs and pain points?

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and collaborative capabilities, aligning with the Principal level. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to demonstrate a deep understanding of their process and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma is highly likely to be the primary tool, given its industry prevalence. Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and Principle/Protopie for advanced prototyping are also potential tools.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com are commonly used for task management, documentation, and cross-functional team coordination.

• Communication: Slack or Microsoft Teams for real-time team communication and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal custom solutions for tracking user behavior and site performance.

• Product Analytics: Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo to understand user engagement, feature adoption, and conversion funnels.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards and reporting key metrics to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

AI/ML Exploration:

• Familiarity with platforms or conceptual understanding of how AI/ML models are integrated into user-facing products. This could include knowledge of AI APIs or AI development platforms, though deep technical expertise is not expected for a design role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on modern design tools like Figma and the integration of AI/ML concepts into the tech stack highlights the forward-looking nature of this role. Familiarity with analytics tools is crucial for demonstrating the impact of design decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of travelers and hosts, ensuring that design decisions prioritize user experience and value.

• Bias for Action & Execution: A drive to move quickly, iterate, and deliver high-quality solutions, balancing thoughtful design with efficient execution.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design, data handling, and decision-making, building trust with users and colleagues.

• Inclusivity & Belonging: Actively fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, celebrated, and integrated into the design process, leading to richer and more equitable solutions.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Embracing teamwork, seeking input from others, and working effectively across disciplines to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply embedded within product teams, working hand-in-hand with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers from concept to launch.

• Open Feedback Culture: A willingness to both give and receive constructive feedback on design work, utilizing it for continuous improvement and refinement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the design team and broader organization to elevate collective expertise.

• Data-Informed Design: A collaborative approach where design decisions are informed by user research, data analytics, and A/B testing results, rather than solely relying on intuition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a user-centric, results-oriented, and collaborative approach, typical of leading tech companies. The Principal role will be expected to embody and champion these values, particularly inclusivity and collaboration, within their sphere of influence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Ensuring that Vrbo's unique brand identity is maintained while pushing the boundaries with new features, especially incorporating AI, can be a delicate balance.

• Navigating a Large Organization: As a Principal Designer at Expedia Group, influencing product direction and driving change across multiple stakeholders and teams requires strong communication, negotiation, and strategic partnership skills.

• Defining Ambiguous "Zero-to-One" Problems: Tackling entirely new product areas or features requires significant initiative, research, and the ability to define a clear path forward with limited initial direction.

• Integrating AI Responsibly: Designing AI-enabled experiences that are trustworthy, ethical, and genuinely beneficial to users presents complex challenges in terms of user perception, data privacy, and algorithmic bias.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Leadership: Formal and informal opportunities to hone skills in strategic thinking, team leadership, and influencing organizational direction.

• AI in Design Workshops/Training: Access to resources and training focused on leveraging AI and machine learning in product design, staying at the forefront of industry trends.

• Cross-Brand Exposure: Opportunities to work on projects that span multiple Expedia Group brands, broadening product knowledge and strategic perspective.

• Industry Conferences & Communities: Support for attending relevant design conferences and participating in industry communities to stay abreast of best practices and network with peers.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal mentorship from senior leaders within Expedia Group or external industry experts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the strategic and leadership aspects of the role, requiring more than just design execution. The growth opportunities are geared towards accelerating career progression for senior designers, focusing on leadership, specialized skills, and broad organizational impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, zero-to-one product initiative from concept to launch. What was your process, how did you define the problem, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic approach, problem definition, and ability to navigate ambiguity.)

• "How do you balance brand expression with user experience and business objectives in your designs? Provide an example." (Demonstrate your understanding of holistic product strategy and design trade-offs.)

• "How do you approach designing for AI-enabled experiences? What are the key considerations for user trust and ethical implementation?" (Prepare to discuss your perspective on AI/ML in design, referencing any relevant experience or research.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Vrbo and the travel industry? How do you see design shaping the future of travel experiences?" (Show genuine interest and strategic thinking about the domain.)

• "How do you foster inclusivity and belonging within your design process and team collaborations?" (Relate to Expedia Group's values and your personal approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solutions -> Impact -> Learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rate increase, task completion time reduction, user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Show Your Thinking: Don't just present final screens. Explain your rationale, the hypotheses you tested, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about specific design decisions, technical constraints, and your contributions.

• Focus on Leadership: For a Principal role, emphasize how you led initiatives, influenced strategy, and mentored others, not just your individual design contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to probe for strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of the design process and its impact. Candidates should prepare specific examples that showcase their ability to operate at a Principal level.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Product Designer position at Expedia Group:

• Submit your application through the official Expedia Group careers portal, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 10+ years of experience, leadership in product/UX/brand design, and specific achievements in end-to-end product delivery and complex initiatives. Strategically incorporate keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that demonstrate strategic thinking, zero-to-one program leadership, systems design, and proficiency in modern design tools. Ensure each case study clearly outlines your role, process, rationale, and measurable outcomes.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and highlighting your leadership contributions and strategic impact. Be ready to discuss your design process and rationale in detail.

• Research Expedia Group & Vrbo: Understand the company's mission, values, recent news, and Vrbo's specific market position. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their goals and culture.

• Anticipate Interview Questions: Prepare thoughtful answers to strategy, behavioral, and situational questions, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) where appropriate, with a focus on demonstrating Principal-level capabilities.

⚠️ 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.