Principal UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer Company: HMH Location: United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: 2025-07-25 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic definition and execution of User Experience (UX) and Service Design initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and educational outcomes within the EdTech sector.
• Drive the evolution of design practices by integrating service design thinking across the entire product lifecycle, fostering collaboration between product, engineering, and learning science teams.
• Mentor and inspire a team of UX and service designers, cultivating a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning to achieve design excellence.
• Oversee user research methodologies, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions and measure the impact of user experiences on educational goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role emphasizes a strategic leadership position within the Product Experience Design Team, requiring a strong blend of design expertise, team leadership, and a deep understanding of the K-12 educational technology landscape. The focus on "service design" indicates a holistic approach beyond digital interfaces to encompass the entire user journey and organizational touchpoints.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion a comprehensive UX and service design vision that supports HMH's business goals, educational impact, and platform strategy for K-12 solutions.
• Lead the advancement of the design practice, embedding service design principles and methodologies throughout product development, from ideation to iteration and ongoing optimization.
• Translate complex educational challenges and technical requirements into scalable, user-centered design strategies and solutions.
• Inspire, mentor, coach, and grow a high-performing team of UX and service designers, fostering a collaborative and experimental environment.
• Oversee generative and evaluative user research initiatives, including user interviews, usability testing, and journey mapping, to uncover deep user needs and systemic pain points.
• Ensure design quality and consistency across all HMH products and services by developing and maintaining robust design systems and governance frameworks.
• Facilitate workshops, co-creation sessions, and design critiques to drive stakeholder alignment and champion design excellence.
• Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Learning Science, and other cross-functional teams to co-create solutions and prioritize design efforts.
• Present design strategies, research findings, and recommendations compellingly to executive leadership and diverse stakeholder groups to influence product roadmaps and investment.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in educational technology, user experience design, and related fields to drive innovation and maintain competitive differentiation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role focused on strategic direction, team leadership, and cross-functional influence. The emphasis on "service design" and "systemic pain points" suggests a need for candidates who can think holistically about the user's entire interaction with HMH's offerings, not just the digital interface.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Service Design, Interaction Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) and Service Design.
• At least 3 years of experience in a principal-level, strategic leadership, or management role within a design function.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within Agile development environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering complex, multi-touchpoint services, ideally within the EdTech, SaaS, or digital learning platform industries.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of user-centered design (UCD) principles and methodologies.
• Deep expertise in service design thinking, including journey mapping, service blueprints, and ecosystem mapping.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse groups.
• Strong facilitation skills for workshops, co-creation sessions, and design thinking exercises.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Miro, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, XD).
• Proven ability to conduct and leverage both qualitative (e.g., user interviews, usability testing) and quantitative research methods to inform design decisions.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, and managing design team members to foster talent and drive performance.
• Ability to establish and evolve design standards, best practices, and design systems tailored to specific industry needs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the K-12 education technology (EdTech) sector.
• Familiarity with learning science principles and their application in digital product design.
• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, and adaptive learning platforms and their UX implications.
• Experience in building and evangelizing design systems to ensure product consistency and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive experience requirement and the emphasis on both UX and Service Design indicate a need for a seasoned professional with a strategic, systems-thinking approach. The mention of EdTech and learning platforms suggests that domain-specific experience will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong command of UX and Service Design methodologies applied to complex digital products and services.
• Demonstrate experience in defining and driving design strategy, translating business and user needs into cohesive design visions.
• Include case studies that highlight leadership in user research (both qualitative and quantitative), demonstrating how insights informed design decisions and led to measurable outcomes.
• Showcase examples of successful stakeholder engagement, workshop facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration that led to impactful design solutions.
• Present evidence of experience in mentoring designers and fostering design team growth and excellence.
• Illustrate work on complex, multi-touchpoint services, preferably within the EdTech or SaaS domains, emphasizing seamless user journeys and integrated experiences.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of developed design systems, style guides, or component libraries that ensure consistency and scalability across product portfolios.
• Demonstrate experience in establishing design governance processes to maintain quality and coherence across multiple products and services.
• Showcase artifacts from service design engagements, such as service blueprints, journey maps, or ecosystem maps, that illustrate a holistic understanding of user and organizational touchpoints.
• Include documentation or case studies detailing how feedback loops and continuous improvement mechanisms were implemented to refine user experiences and service delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it will be used to assess strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and hands-on design and research expertise. The emphasis on service design and design systems suggests a need for portfolios that showcase a broader impact beyond individual UI screens.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $135,000 - $145,000 per year

Benefits:

• HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees' well-being and professional development, which typically includes:
  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Robust medical coverage options for employees and their families.
  • Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with company matching contributions to support long-term financial goals.
  • Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay to ensure work-life balance.
  • Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, and career advancement, including access to industry conferences and workshops.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and work-related challenges.
  • Life and Disability Insurance: Coverage to provide financial security for employees and their beneficiaries.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours of approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, HMH likely offers flexibility within core business hours to accommodate project needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific. The benefits listed are standard for a company of HMH's size and industry, with an emphasis on professional development relevant to a Principal UX Designer role. The on-site nature implies the need for adherence to standard office hours, with potential for some flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Learning Technology / EdTech Company Size: HMH is a significant player in the K-12 education market, serving millions of students and educators in 150 countries. This implies a large, established organization with diverse departments and a global reach. The company size suggests opportunities for collaboration across various functions and potential for significant impact. Founded: HMH has a long history in education, evolving to become a leading learning technology company. This history likely instills a culture that values educational impact, innovation, and a deep understanding of the needs of students and educators.

Team Structure:

• The Principal UX Designer will be part of the "Product Experience Design Team," indicating a dedicated group focused on user-centric product development.
• This team likely comprises UX designers, researchers, content strategists, and potentially service designers, working collaboratively.
• The Principal UX Designer will report to a higher-level design leader (e.g., Director or VP of Design) and will lead or mentor other designers within the team.
• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering, Learning Science, Marketing, and Sales teams to ensure cohesive product strategy and execution.

Methodology:

• HMH emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging user research (qualitative and quantitative) to inform design decisions and measure outcomes.
• The company operates within Agile development environments, requiring designers to be adaptable and integrated into iterative product cycles.
• A focus on "service design thinking" suggests a methodology that maps entire user journeys and organizational touchpoints to create seamless experiences.
• Emphasis on "design excellence" and "innovation" points to a culture that values high-quality design output and the exploration of new technologies and approaches.

Company Website: www.hmhco.com

📝 Enhancement Note: HMH's mission to transform education through technology provides a strong sense of purpose for its employees. The company's long-standing presence in the education sector suggests a culture that values expertise, impact, and a deep understanding of pedagogical principles. The emphasis on a dedicated Product Experience Design Team highlights the strategic importance of UX within the organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Principal" level role, signifying a senior individual contributor or a lead position with significant strategic responsibility and influence. It is a career-defining role for a UX/Service Designer looking to shape product strategy and lead design initiatives at a high level.

Reporting Structure: The Principal UX Designer will likely report into a senior design leadership role (e.g., Director of Product Design, VP of Design). They will manage or mentor a team of UX and Service Designers, working closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product lines or initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the effectiveness and adoption of HMH's educational products. By ensuring exceptional user experiences and seamless service delivery, the Principal UX Designer contributes to improved student outcomes, increased teacher efficacy, and stronger customer satisfaction, which in turn drives revenue and market position for HMH. Their strategic design vision influences product roadmaps and investment priorities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Design Manager, Director of UX, or Head of Design roles, leading larger teams and broader design functions.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like EdTech UX, Service Design, Design Systems, or UX Research leadership.
• Strategic Influence: Increased involvement in setting company-wide product strategy and design vision.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead design initiatives across multiple product portfolios or contribute to company-wide innovation projects.
• Mentorship and Coaching: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior and mid-level designers, developing leadership and people management skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title signifies a high level of expertise and strategic contribution. Growth opportunities are geared towards leadership, specialization, and increasing strategic influence within the organization, aligning with typical career paths for senior design professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a collaborative workspace designed for in-person interaction, team meetings, and fostering a strong company culture.

Office Location(s): The job is located in the "United States." Specific office location details are not provided, but HMH has multiple office locations across the US, which could include major hubs for technology and education.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The on-site nature facilitates direct collaboration with colleagues, including designers, product managers, engineers, and learning scientists, through impromptu discussions, scheduled meetings, and shared work sessions.
• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to standard office equipment and a suite of design tools (e.g., Figma, Miro, Adobe CC) necessary for their work.
• Team Interaction: The environment is conducive to team building, design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and fostering a strong sense of community within the Product Experience Design Team and HMH as a whole.
• Focus: While collaborative, the office environment also aims to provide space for focused work and deep concentration required for strategic design thinking and detailed execution.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with approximately 40 hours per week. As an on-site position, adherence to standard business hours is expected, though some flexibility may be available depending on team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the value HMH places on in-person collaboration and team synergy. This environment is ideal for roles that involve intensive brainstorming, workshop facilitation, and close working relationships with cross-functional partners.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess qualifications against the job requirements.
• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, leadership experience, and strategic thinking. This stage often includes a behavioral interview focusing on relevant experience and cultural fit.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise, either take-home or live, to evaluate problem-solving skills, design methodology, and strategic approach to a relevant EdTech challenge. This may involve presenting a solution or a strategic approach to a complex problem.
• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., Product Management, Engineering leads, Learning Scientists) and members of the design team to assess collaboration skills, communication, and team fit.
• Executive Interview: A final interview with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and overall cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Strategy: Clearly articulate the strategic thinking behind your design decisions, linking them to business goals and user needs.
• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of how you've mentored designers, influenced product direction, and led cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your end-to-end design process, from research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and implementation, emphasizing your role and contributions.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs and the impact of your work on user behavior, educational outcomes, or business objectives.
• Service Design Focus: Include case studies that exemplify your service design capabilities, illustrating your understanding of holistic user journeys and organizational touchpoints.
• Tailor to HMH: Research HMH's products and mission, and select portfolio pieces that best align with their focus on K-12 education and learning technology.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Familiarize yourself with common challenges in the EdTech space, particularly related to K-12 learning, engagement, and outcomes.
• Structure Your Approach: Be prepared to articulate a clear problem statement, define success metrics, outline your research and design process, and present a well-reasoned solution.
• Focus on Strategy: Demonstrate how your design decisions are aligned with broader business and educational goals.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Consider how your solution would be implemented and how you would collaborate with various teams to bring it to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is multi-faceted, requiring candidates to demonstrate a broad range of skills from strategic thinking and leadership to hands-on design execution and research. A well-curated portfolio that highlights relevant experience and a structured approach to challenges will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable due to industry trends), Miro (for collaboration and whiteboarding), Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, potentially XD for specific workflows).
• User Research: Tools for conducting interviews, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and potentially analytics platforms for qualitative data analysis.
• Design Systems: Experience with creating, managing, and utilizing design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency in product development.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) or product analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) to interpret user behavior data and inform design iterations.
• Ability to work with data visualization tools or dashboards to present research findings and design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed within CRM systems (like Salesforce) can provide context for user segmentation and personalization efforts within the product.
• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello for managing design workflows and communicating with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and collaboration tools is essential. The role requires a strong ability to leverage data for design decisions, underscoring the importance of analytics and research tool familiarity.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs of learners and educators in every design decision.
• Impact-Driven: Focus on creating solutions that demonstrably improve educational outcomes and enhance the learning experience.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals and create cohesive products.
• Innovation: Encouraging a proactive approach to exploring new technologies and methodologies to drive continuous improvement and differentiation.
• Design Excellence: Upholding high standards for quality, usability, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal in all design outputs.
• Inclusivity: Commitment to designing for diversity, ensuring products are accessible and relevant to a wide range of users.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expectation to work closely and collaboratively with Product Management, Engineering, Learning Science, and other departments, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical feasibility.
• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent feedback, constructive critique, and open dialogue within the design team and with stakeholders.
• Data-Informed Decision-Making: A culture that relies on research and data to validate hypotheses and guide design choices.
• Agile Partnership: Seamless integration into Agile sprints, providing timely design support and adapting to evolving project requirements.
• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: A supportive environment where experienced designers mentor others, share best practices, and contribute to the collective growth of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: HMH's mission-driven nature likely fosters a culture that emphasizes making a real difference in education. The core values will center around user advocacy, collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to high-quality, impactful design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Needs: Navigating the complex and often competing needs of students, educators, administrators, and parents within the K-12 ecosystem.
• EdTech Innovation Pace: Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements (e.g., AI in education, adaptive learning) and integrating them effectively into learning platforms.
• Scalability and Accessibility: Designing solutions that are scalable across large user bases and accessible to users with varying technical skills and abilities.
• Translating Complex Pedagogy: Effectively translating pedagogical principles and learning science research into intuitive and engaging digital experiences.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across multiple product teams and departments with different priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepening knowledge of K-12 curriculum, learning science, and the EdTech market.
• Service Design Mastery: Advanced training and application of service design methodologies to complex systems.
• Leadership Skills: Developing people management, strategic planning, and executive communication skills.
• Emerging Technologies: Opportunities to explore and integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and extended reality (XR) into educational products.
• Industry Engagement: Participation in design conferences, workshops, and professional development programs to stay current with industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to the EdTech industry and a senior leadership role. Growth opportunities are substantial, offering paths to deeper specialization, broader leadership, and significant strategic impact within a mission-driven organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Vision & Impact: "How would you define and drive HMH's UX and service design vision for K-12 learning solutions? What key educational outcomes would you prioritize?" (Prepare to discuss your strategic thinking, alignment with business goals, and understanding of the EdTech landscape.)
• Leadership & Mentorship: "Describe your experience leading and mentoring design teams. How do you foster a culture of innovation and design excellence?" (Prepare examples of your leadership style, coaching techniques, and how you empower teams.)
• Problem-Solving: "Walk us through a complex design challenge you faced where you had to translate intricate educational or technical requirements into a coherent design strategy. How did you approach it and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a detailed case study highlighting your process, research, and strategic decision-making.)
• Stakeholder Management: "How do you effectively partner with and influence product, engineering, and executive stakeholders to align on design priorities and drive adoption of your designs?" (Prepare examples of successful collaboration and communication strategies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• HMH's Mission: "What excites you about HMH's mission to transform education, and how does your design philosophy align with it?" (Research HMH's values, products, and recent initiatives.)
• Design Practice: "How would you evolve HMH's design practice, particularly in integrating service design thinking across the product lifecycle?" (Consider your approach to process improvement and embedding best practices.)
• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal design team environment and how you would contribute to fostering collaboration and inclusivity." (Reflect on your preferred working style and how you build strong team relationships.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around a compelling narrative for each case study, highlighting the problem, your process, your contributions, and the impact.
• Strategic Context: Clearly articulate the business and user context for each project. Explain why certain design decisions were made, not just what was designed.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, prototypes, user flows, service blueprints, research findings – to illustrate your process and the solutions.
• Leadership Emphasis: For this role, explicitly call out instances where you led initiatives, mentored others, or influenced strategic direction.
• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your process, decision-making, challenges faced, and how you would apply your experience to HMH's specific context. Be ready to discuss the business impact and ROI of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of UX and service design within the EdTech context. Quantifiable results and thoughtful articulation of your process will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the HMH careers portal link provided.
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature relevant case studies demonstrating UX and Service Design leadership, strategic thinking, and experience in complex digital products or services, ideally within EdTech. Highlight projects where you drove innovation or improved user experiences significantly.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of experience, specifically mentioning your principal-level or leadership roles, your expertise in user-centered and service design methodologies, stakeholder management skills, and any experience with Agile environments or the EdTech sector. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership philosophy, and strategic approach to solving complex problems. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, focusing on the impact and outcomes of your work. Research HMH's mission, products, and recent developments.
• Company Research: Gain a thorough understanding of HMH's commitment to transforming education through technology. Familiarize yourself with their product offerings and target audience (K-12 students and educators) to better align your responses and showcase your understanding of their business context.

⚠️ 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.