Principal, UX Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal, UX Design

Company: DEPT®

Location: Capital Federal, Gran Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Argentina

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design, Digital Strategy & Operations

Date Posted: March 23, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead user-centered design initiatives, bridging business objectives with user needs to create world-class digital experiences.

• Drive innovation in UX strategy and architecture, setting new standards for digital interactions.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and iterate on user experience solutions using established design systems and best practices.

• Champion accessibility and user-centric methodologies throughout the design and development lifecycle.

• Articulate strategic design points of view and present compelling solutions to clients and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Principal," indicating a senior level of expertise and autonomy required in UX design, strategy, and potentially team leadership or mentorship within the user experience discipline. The emphasis on bridging business objectives with user goals and setting new standards suggests a strategic operational component, managing the "how" of user experience delivery.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with client project leads to conceptualize and strategize innovative user experience solutions.

• Iterate on new and existing digital experiences, adhering to and evolving a predefined design language and system.

• Present design thinking, concepts, and solutions clearly and effectively to internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Implement and define user experience best practices informed by user research and testing findings.

• Develop comprehensive presentations for stakeholders and internal workshares, articulating design rationale and impact.

• Create and refine prototypes for rapid user research and testing to validate design hypotheses.

• Respond quickly to urgent design requests and "fire drills" with guidance from the design lead.

• Generate detailed annotations for design handoff to development teams, ensuring clarity and accuracy.

• Conduct Design Quality Assurance (QA) to ensure implemented designs meet specified standards and user experience goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed emphasize a blend of strategic thinking, hands-on design execution, and collaborative project management. The inclusion of "Design QA" and "generating comprehensive annotations" highlights a focus on operational excellence in the design delivery process, ensuring high-quality outputs and smooth transitions to development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating mastery of UX principles and a proven track record in digital strategy are expected. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 7+ years of experience in digital strategy, user experience design, and design systems are required.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in digital strategy development and execution.

• Advanced user experience (UX) design principles and methodologies.

• Expertise in building and maintaining design systems.

• Strong capabilities in prototyping and user testing.

• In-depth understanding of web best practices and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Ability to multitask effectively and solve complex challenges within a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Articulate a solid point of view and demonstrate a highly collaborative nature.

• Entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Passion for design, creativity, and technology.

• Excellent communication skills for one-on-one, group, and video conferencing interactions.

• Ability to collaborate, provide, receive, and seek critical feedback constructively.

• Meticulous attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

• Ability to set goals and maintain priorities in a dynamic environment.

• Experience in proposing and developing solutions within scope to address client needs.

• Adaptability to adjust scope and move quickly when necessary.

• Familiarity with AI-enhanced design workflows.

• Professional demeanor within a creative culture.

• Proven ability to demonstrate personal responsibility, follow-through, and project ownership.

• Skill in accurately estimating task and project timelines and communicating potential deviations.

• Dedication to understanding tasks, feedback, and decisions, with a proactive approach to asking questions.

• Patience and compromise in managing client relationships with multiple decision-makers and stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific UX research methodologies and tools.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles to inform design decisions.

• Experience in a client-facing agency or consulting environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of required skills emphasizes not just design craft but also operational competencies such as project management, client communication, time estimation, and adaptability. The mention of "AI-enhanced design workflows" points to a forward-thinking approach to UX operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 7 years of work demonstrating digital strategy, UX design, and design systems implementation.

• Include case studies that highlight your approach to defining problems, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing.

• Present examples of how you have bridged business objectives with user goals to create impactful digital experiences.

• Demonstrate experience with accessibility standards and how they were integrated into your designs.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your process for collaborating with client project leads and multidisciplinary teams.

• Illustrate your workflow for iterating on designs based on a predefined design language and system.

• Provide examples of how you have implemented and defined UX best practices based on research findings.

• Showcase your experience in developing presentations for stakeholders and delivering design workshares.

• Document your process for creating prototypes for rapid research testing and generating comprehensive annotations for handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on demonstrating a robust and repeatable design process, emphasizing strategic thinking, collaboration, and the operational aspects of delivering high-quality UX solutions. This aligns with the "Principal" level, expecting candidates to not only perform but also to define and refine these processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Principal UX Designer role in major Argentine metropolitan areas (Capital Federal, Gran Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata) with 7+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is ARS 15,000,000 - ARS 25,000,000. This estimate considers the cost of living, demand for senior UX talent, and the hybrid work model.

Benefits:

• Premium healthcare through OSDE for the employee and their immediate family members.

• Prepaid card with a monthly allowance for grocery purchases.

• Monthly reimbursements for Wi-Fi/electricity expenses.

• Monthly reimbursements for training/English classes, fostering continuous learning.

• 100% covered "Plan Total" membership at Sportclub for employee well-being.

• A flexible vacation policy to promote work-life balance.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The role operates on a hybrid model, requiring 2 days per week in one of the DEPT® offices located in Villa Crespo or Mar del Plata.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on publicly available data for senior UX roles in Argentina, adjusted for the specified experience level and the hybrid work requirement. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being, professional development, and work-life integration, which are key considerations for senior operations and design professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital agency, marketing technology, and consulting, with a focus on Growth Invention. DEPT® operates at the intersection of technology and marketing, helping ambitious brands grow faster through innovative digital solutions.

Company Size: DEPT® is a large organization with over 4,000 specialists globally. This size indicates a robust infrastructure, a wide range of expertise, and significant opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and learning.

Founded: DEPT® was founded with a vision to be a Growth Invention company, emphasizing innovation, speed, and forward momentum. The company's culture is built on values of being "better together," "relentlessly curious," and "get sh*t done."

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team is part of a larger, cohesive group of over 40 individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

• This role involves collaboration with client project leads, design leads, and potentially other senior members of the UX team.

Methodology:

• DEPT® emphasizes a user-centered design approach, putting the user at the forefront of all initiatives.

• The company champions innovation and pioneering new ideas, acting fast and moving further.

• A data-driven approach is implied through the focus on user testing, research findings, and measuring impact.

• The culture encourages collaboration, curiosity, and efficient execution ("get sh*t done").

Company Website: http://www.deptagency.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative environment. The "Principal" UX Designer will operate within a large, multidisciplinary team, requiring strong interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate complex projects. The "Growth Invention" ethos suggests a focus on delivering measurable business outcomes through creative and technological solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Principal-level UX Design position, signifying a senior expert role. It requires not only advanced design skills but also the ability to define strategy, set standards, and influence client direction. This level typically involves significant autonomy, mentorship of more junior designers, and a key role in shaping the user experience vision for major client projects.

Reporting Structure: The Principal, UX Design will likely report to a Director of Design, Head of UX, or a similar senior leadership role within the DEPT® design or digital strategy practice. They will also work closely with Project Leads and client stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The UX design operations at DEPT® are critical for translating client business objectives into user-centric digital products and services that drive growth. This role directly impacts client satisfaction, user engagement, conversion rates, and brand perception by ensuring that digital experiences are intuitive, effective, and innovative. The Principal's strategic input ensures that UX is not just an execution layer but a core driver of business success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in emerging areas like AI-enhanced design, advanced accessibility, and complex digital strategy.

• Leadership Development: Potential to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the evolution of DEPT®'s UX methodologies and best practices.

• Client Relationship Growth: Develop strong client relationships, becoming a trusted advisor on user experience strategy for key accounts.

• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize in specific industries or types of digital products based on project assignments.

• Global Exposure: Collaborate with international teams, gaining exposure to diverse markets and project types within the DEPT® network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title implies a significant growth trajectory beyond individual contribution, likely encompassing leadership, strategic influence, and mentorship within the operations of the UX design practice. The company's global presence offers diverse learning and advancement opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring approximately 2 days per week in either the Villa Crespo or Mar del Plata office. This suggests a blend of remote work flexibility and in-person collaboration opportunities.

Office Location(s): Offices are located in Villa Crespo and Mar del Plata, Argentina, providing options for employees in these regions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The offices are equipped with great common spaces, fostering interaction and teamwork among local colleagues.

• Tools and Technology: While not explicitly detailed, a digital agency like DEPT® would typically provide access to industry-standard design