Principal UI & UX Designer - Payroll

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UI & UX Designer - Payroll Company: UKG Location: Lowell, MA; Atlanta, GA; Alpharetta, GA; Sunrise, FL (United States) Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: October 03, 2025 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic vision and user experience for UKG's payroll products, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory compliance.
• Lead end-to-end product design, from concept and research to execution and implementation, for complex enterprise payroll systems.
• Champion user-centered design principles and digital innovation, including the integration of Generative AI, to enhance product usability and efficiency.
• Foster a collaborative design culture, mentor design talent, and influence product strategy across senior leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title specifies UI/UX Designer, the responsibilities and experience level indicate a senior leadership role focused on strategic design, information architecture, and service design within the payroll domain, aligning with a Principal Designer or Design Lead capacity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic Design Leadership: Define and articulate the UX vision for payroll products, aligning with UKG's business goals, market demands, and regulatory frameworks.
• Information Architecture & Service Design: Develop and refine the information architecture and service design for complex payroll ecosystems, ensuring scalable navigation and cohesive user journeys across platforms.
• AI-Driven Innovation: Lead exploration and integration of Generative AI and other emerging technologies to transform user workflows, improve accessibility, and drive product innovation.
• End-to-End Design Ownership: Manage the entire design lifecycle, translating user research and insights into visionary concepts, detailed interaction models, and high-fidelity prototypes.
• Cross-Functional Program Leadership: Drive design execution across multiple, complex programs, collaborating closely with product management, engineering, and business stakeholders to align design outcomes with strategic priorities and technical feasibility.
• User Research & Data-Informed Decisions: Oversee and influence research agendas to uncover deep user insights, validate design decisions, and leverage qualitative and quantitative data to shape product strategy and measure UX impact.
• Design Systems Evolution: Drive the advancement of dynamic design systems to ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency across global product teams, while allowing for domain-specific needs and localization.
• Process Innovation & Optimization: Define, scale, and refine design processes to enhance efficiency, foster innovation, and embed best practices within product development teams.
• Mentorship & Talent Development: Act as a design leader and mentor, nurturing professional growth, recruiting top talent, and cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning within the design organization.
• Domain Expertise Application: Apply in-depth knowledge of payroll administration, employee compensation, tax compliance, and time tracking to create user-centered designs that meet regulatory requirements and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize strategic influence, program leadership, and the application of advanced design principles (AI, systems thinking) within a specific domain (payroll), suggesting a role that goes beyond typical individual contributor UI/UX design and requires significant cross-functional leadership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Graphic Design, Information Sciences, Psychology, or a related field.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience designing enterprise applications, with a significant portion dedicated to leadership or Senior+ level roles.
• Proven track record of systems thinking, designing beyond individual screens to shape complex, multi-platform ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience in defining and enforcing design standards, patterns, and best practices at scale.
• Strong record of advocating for customer value while balancing business and technical priorities.

Required Skills:

• UI & UX Design Mastery: Comprehensive expertise in user interface and user experience design principles, with a strong portfolio showcasing complex enterprise application design.
• Information Architecture (IA): Proven ability to define and structure complex information spaces, ensuring intuitive navigation and content organization.
• Service Design: Experience in mapping and optimizing end-to-end user journeys and service interactions within complex systems.
• Generative AI Integration: Deep understanding and practical experience in exploring, adopting, and integrating Generative AI to enhance usability and workflows.
• Design Systems: Proficiency in developing, evolving, and scaling design systems for consistency and efficiency across product portfolios.
• User Research & Data Analysis: Ability to oversee research agendas, conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis, and use data to inform strategic design decisions and measure impact.
• Prototyping & Tool Proficiency: Mastery of design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, or Adobe XD.
• Exceptional Communication & Storytelling: Articulate complex design concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including executives, with persuasive storytelling and presentation abilities.

Preferred Skills:

• Domain Expertise: In-depth experience in payroll administration, employee compensation, tax compliance, time tracking, banking, billing, or financial systems.
• Familiarity with Front-End Technologies: Understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development frameworks and familiarity with tools like JIRA and Confluence.
• Global Design Considerations: Experience designing for localized and global markets, adapting to regional laws, currencies, and tax rules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Domain-Driven UX Expertise" and "Empathy for Payroll Personas" suggests that direct experience within the payroll or HR tech domain is highly valued, potentially differentiating candidates. The mention of "localized & global pay design considerations" also points to a need for understanding international compliance and user needs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Impact: Showcase a portfolio that demonstrates not only outstanding design craft but also thought leadership, strategic influence, and measurable impact on products and organizations.
• Systems Thinking Examples: Include case studies that illustrate your ability to design beyond individual screens to shape complex, multi-platform ecosystems and intricate payroll workflows.
• AI Integration Case Studies: Present examples of how you have explored, evaluated, or integrated emerging technologies, particularly Generative AI, to solve user problems or improve efficiency.
• Design System Contributions: Document your involvement in the creation, scaling, or evolution of design systems, highlighting contributions to consistency, efficiency, and scalability.
• Research-to-Impact Narratives: Provide detailed case studies that clearly articulate the research process, the design solutions derived, and the quantifiable business and user outcomes achieved.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Refinement: Demonstrate experience in defining, scaling, and refining design processes to improve efficiency, foster innovation, and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality products.
• Workflow Optimization: Illustrate how you have applied process innovation to optimize design workflows, improve cross-functional collaboration, and accelerate product development cycles.
• Agile Integration: Showcase your ability to integrate design processes seamlessly within Agile methodologies, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and iterative development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this Principal level role, the portfolio is expected to go beyond visual design and demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, and measurable business impact, particularly in complex enterprise environments. Case studies on process improvement and AI integration would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $150,000 - $220,000 Annually
• Basis for Estimate: Based on industry benchmarks for Principal UI/UX Designers in enterprise software companies in major US tech hubs (like Boston/Atlanta metro areas), considering the 10+ years of experience requirement, leadership responsibilities, and specialized domain knowledge in payroll. This range can vary based on specific experience, location of employment within the listed cities, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off (PTO), holidays, and sick leave.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.
• Employee assistance program (EAP) and wellness initiatives.
• Potential for bonuses and stock options, depending on company performance and role level.
• Access to UKG's suite of HR and payroll solutions for employees.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week.
• Flexibility may be offered within established team norms for core working hours, allowing for effective collaboration across different time zones and personal needs, while maintaining on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimate considers the Principal level designation, extensive experience, and the specialized nature of payroll/HR tech. Benefits are typical for a large enterprise software company in the US.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software, Human Capital Management (HCM), Payroll, HR Technology. UKG is a leading provider of HR, payroll, and workforce management solutions, serving businesses of all sizes. Company Size: UKG is a large enterprise, formed by the merger of Kronos and Ultimate Software, employing thousands of individuals globally. This implies structured processes, robust systems, and significant career opportunities. Founded: UKG was formed in 2020 through the merger of Kronos (founded 1977) and Ultimate Software (founded 1990). This heritage brings decades of experience in workforce and HR technology.

Team Structure:

• Design Organization: The design team likely operates within a larger Product organization, potentially with sub-teams focused on specific product areas like Payroll, Workforce Management, or HR.
• Reporting: This Principal role likely reports to a Director or VP of Design/UX, with direct influence and collaboration with Product Management and Engineering leadership for the Payroll domain.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, User Researchers, and Business Stakeholders is essential for driving product strategy and execution.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: UKG operates with Agile methodologies, requiring designers to work in sprints, participate in planning, and adapt to evolving requirements.
• User-Centered Design: Strong emphasis on user research, data-driven decision-making, and continuous iteration to ensure products meet user needs and business objectives.
• Design Systems: A mature design system is likely in place to ensure consistency and efficiency across a broad product portfolio.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: UKG's scale and industry position suggest a mature product development environment with established processes and a strong focus on enterprise-grade solutions. The merger of Kronos and Ultimate Software implies a blend of established practices and a drive for integrated innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Designer. This level signifies a senior individual contributor or a design leader who sets strategic direction, influences product roadmaps, mentors others, and tackles the most complex design challenges. It’s a critical role for driving innovation and ensuring design excellence within a specific domain like Payroll. Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to a Director or VP of Design and will collaborate closely with equivalent levels in Product Management and Engineering for the Payroll product suite. This provides significant visibility and influence. Operations Impact: As a Principal Designer for Payroll, you will have a direct and significant impact on the usability, efficiency, and adoption of critical financial and HR tools used by businesses worldwide. Your work will influence how companies manage payroll, comply with regulations, and support their employees, directly affecting UKG's revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into Director-level roles, managing larger design teams or broader product portfolios.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise within the HCM/Payroll domain or expand into adjacent product areas.
• Strategic Influence: Grow influence across the broader product organization, contributing to company-wide design strategy and innovation initiatives.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior and mid-level designers, contributing to the growth of the design talent pool.
• Industry Recognition: Represent UKG at industry conferences, contributing to thought leadership in UX and HCM technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title indicates a career path that emphasizes deep expertise, strategic impact, and leadership, rather than purely people management. Growth is likely tied to increasing scope of influence and strategic contribution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. UKG offers a hybrid or on-site work environment, emphasizing in-person collaboration and team synergy. Office Location(s): The role is available in Lowell, MA; Atlanta, GA; Alpharetta, GA; and Sunrise, FL. These are established corporate office locations likely equipped with modern amenities to support productive work.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are expected to feature collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan areas designed to facilitate team interaction and brainstorming sessions.
• Tools & Technology: Access to a full suite of design and productivity tools, including high-performance workstations, necessary software licenses (Figma, Adobe Suite, etc.), and reliable network infrastructure.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with design peers, product managers, engineers, and researchers, fostering a strong sense of team cohesion and shared purpose.

Work Schedule:

• The standard working hours are 40 per week. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility to manage core working hours around critical team meetings and collaboration needs, within the framework of being present in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests UKG values in-person collaboration, team building, and spontaneous interaction, which can be particularly beneficial for complex design strategy and problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities.
• Design Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, focusing on key projects that demonstrate strategic impact, systems thinking, and domain expertise. Expect detailed questions about your process, decision-making, and outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other design leaders to assess collaboration, communication, and alignment with team dynamics.
• Executive/Senior Leader Interview: An opportunity to discuss your vision, leadership philosophy, and how you will drive impact at a principal level within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your most impactful projects that showcase your ability to handle complex enterprise challenges, drive strategic design, and deliver measurable results, ideally with some relevance to financial or HR systems.
• Tell a Compelling Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and approach, the design process, key decisions and rationale, challenges overcome, and most importantly, the quantifiable outcomes and business impact.
• Highlight Systems Thinking & AI: Explicitly call out projects demonstrating your systems thinking capabilities and any experience with AI integration or exploration.
• Showcase Leadership & Mentorship: Include examples that illustrate your leadership, mentorship, and ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss your design decisions, trade-offs made, how you leveraged data and research, and how you would approach similar challenges at UKG.

Challenge Preparation:

• Case Study Presentation: Be prepared to present a detailed case study from your portfolio or potentially tackle a hypothetical design challenge related to payroll product improvement or new feature ideation.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: Demonstrate your ability to think strategically about business goals, user needs, technical constraints, and regulatory requirements in the payroll domain.
• Stakeholder Empathy: Articulate how you would engage with and manage expectations of various stakeholders (executives, product managers, engineers, users).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to operate at a principal level within a complex enterprise environment. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Adobe XD. Mastery of at least one primary tool (e.g., Figma) is expected.
• Collaboration & Documentation: JIRA, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams.
• User Research Platforms: Tools for usability testing, surveys, and user interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and product performance.
• Ability to interpret data from business intelligence tools to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/automation role, understanding how design impacts CRM and automation workflows within enterprise software is beneficial.
• Familiarity with how design choices can affect sales enablement and customer success workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on advanced design tools and a strong understanding of how design integrates with Agile development workflows and user research methodologies. Familiarity with front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is a plus, indicating an appreciation for implementation realities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: Deep understanding and advocacy for the needs of payroll administrators, HR professionals, and employees, ensuring UKG’s solutions solve real-world problems effectively.
• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: A commitment to exploring and integrating new technologies, such as Generative AI, to drive product evolution and stay ahead of market trends.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.
• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to high standards in design craft, usability, accessibility, and the overall user experience delivered.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research, analytics, and user feedback to inform design strategies and validate product decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active participation in product development squads, working closely with Product Management and Engineering to ensure design is embedded from strategy through execution.
• Open Communication: Encouraging candid feedback, constructive critique, and transparent communication across all levels of the organization.
• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture of sharing best practices, design patterns, and learnings to elevate the entire design and product organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: UKG likely values a culture that balances innovation with a strong customer focus and operational discipline, especially in the critical domain of payroll. The emphasis on collaboration and data-driven approaches is key for enterprise software development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Payroll Domain: Navigating the intricate regulatory landscape, diverse user needs (from small businesses to large enterprises), and the high-stakes nature of payroll processing.
• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Integrating cutting-edge technologies like Generative AI while ensuring the reliability and compliance of critical payroll functions.
• Global Localization: Designing solutions that adapt effectively to varying international payroll laws, tax structures, and cultural nuances.
• Driving Strategic Alignment: Influencing and aligning diverse senior stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Sales, Legal) on a unified UX vision and roadmap.
• Scaling Design Systems: Continuously evolving and maintaining design systems that support a vast and growing product portfolio across multiple platforms.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in Human Capital Management (HCM) and Payroll technology, becoming a recognized subject matter expert.
• AI & Emerging Technologies: Stay at the forefront of AI's application in enterprise software design through training, research, and hands-on projects.
• Leadership Development: Enhance strategic leadership, executive communication, and team-building skills through mentorship and high-impact projects.
• Industry Engagement: Participate in industry conferences, workshops, and professional networks to gain insights and share UKG's advancements.
• Cross-Pollination: Opportunity to collaborate with design and product teams working on other UKG solutions, broadening your understanding of the HCM ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the critical nature of the payroll domain and the strategic importance of this design role. Growth opportunities are geared towards expanding influence, expertise, and leadership within the enterprise software and HCM space.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define the UX vision for UKG's payroll products, considering our market position, regulatory environment, and technological roadmap (including AI)?"
• "Describe a complex enterprise system you've designed. What were the key IA challenges, and how did you ensure a scalable and unified experience across platforms?"
• "How do you approach integrating emerging technologies like Generative AI into enterprise product design? What are the key considerations for risk, usability, and adoption in a domain like payroll?"
• "Walk me through a time you had to balance competing business priorities, technical constraints, and user needs. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about UKG and our mission in the HCM space?"
• "Based on your understanding of UKG, how would you contribute to our design culture and foster collaboration with Product and Engineering?"
• "How do you measure the impact of your design work? Can you provide examples of how you've used data to drive design decisions and demonstrate ROI?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize projects demonstrating strategic influence, problem-solving for complex enterprise challenges, and measurable business outcomes, not just aesthetic design.
• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (problem/opportunity), middle (your process, decisions, challenges), and end (solution, impact, learnings).
• Domain Relevance: If possible, highlight projects that touch upon financial systems, regulatory compliance, or complex workflow management to demonstrate domain understanding.
• Leadership Demonstration: Use project examples to showcase your ability to lead, mentor, influence stakeholders, and drive strategic initiatives.
• Interactive Discussion: Be prepared for in-depth questions about your process, rationale, and how you would apply your experience to UKG's specific challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of enterprise design challenges, particularly within the critical and regulated payroll domain.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UI & UX Designer position:

• Apply Online: Submit your application and resume through the UKG careers portal.
• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and strategically curated to highlight leadership, complex enterprise design, systems thinking, and measurable impact. Tailor your presentation to showcase relevant domain experience if possible.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 10+ years of experience, leadership roles, strategic contributions, and specific achievements in enterprise application design. Use keywords related to UI/UX, IA, service design, AI, and enterprise software.
• Company Research: Deeply research UKG, its products (especially payroll), its market position, and its stated company values. Understand the challenges and opportunities within the HCM industry.
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, articulate your design philosophy, and answer strategic questions related to leadership, innovation, and complex problem-solving. Practice presenting your work concisely and persuasively.

⚠️ 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.

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