Product Designer at American Express

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Systems Designer (B35) – Web

Company: American Express

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design (Design Systems)

Date Posted: March 04, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ years (implied 10+ years based on role complexity and company standards)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Design and evolve a comprehensive enterprise-wide design system for complex web platforms, ensuring consistency and efficiency across American Express.
Develop and maintain core design system assets, including symbols, tokens, and libraries within Figma, and create supporting visual assets such as icons and brand elements.
Champion accessibility best practices by adhering to WCAG guidelines and advising internal teams on digital policies and external best practices.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and other design disciplines, to define requirements and deliver high-quality digital experiences.
Drive the adoption and proper usage of the design system across the enterprise by creating documentation, hosting workshops, and developing educational resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role title "Design Systems Designer (B35)" suggests a mid to senior-level position within American Express's internal banding system, indicating a need for significant experience and proven ability to influence design strategy. The emphasis on "enterprise-wide" and "complex web platforms" points to a role with broad impact and strategic importance. The required 7+ years of experience, combined with the seniority implied by the banding, suggests that candidates with 10+ years of overall design experience will be strongly considered.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Design System Component Development: Create, maintain, and evolve complex symbols, design tokens, and comprehensive component libraries within Figma, ensuring scalability and reusability across web applications.
Visual Asset Creation: Design and manage visual assets such as icons, flags, and brand elements that align with American Express's established brand identity and design system principles.
Documentation and Guidelines: Develop and maintain a robust documentation site and clear design guidelines that articulate the usage, best practices, and rationale behind design system components.
Accessibility Advocacy: Ensure all design system elements meet or exceed WCAG guidelines, acting as a subject matter expert to advise product teams on accessibility standards and internal digital policies.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with product managers, engineers, accessibility specialists, brand teams, and other design leads to gather requirements, provide design direction, and ensure seamless integration of the design system.
Community Engagement and Education: Act as an advocate for the design system, conducting workshops, creating educational resources, and presenting design decisions to various stakeholders, including cross-functional leadership.
Process Improvement: Proactively identify opportunities to enhance design processes and workflows for the broader design organization, focusing on efficiency, consistency, and adoption of the design system.
User Research and Testing: Contribute to user research and testing initiatives to gather feedback on design system components and inform future iterations and enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of deep design craft, strategic thinking, and strong communication. The emphasis on "enterprise-wide," "complex product ecosystems," and "cross-functional leadership" indicates that the role requires not just design execution but also the ability to influence and drive adoption at a significant organizational scale. The requirement to "advise the community on internal digital policies as well as external best practices" underscores the consultative nature of this position.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this seniority. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or a related design discipline.
Demonstrated significant experience specifically in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems for web platforms.

Required Skills:

Expert-level Figma Proficiency: Deep expertise in Figma, particularly in creating and managing complex symbols, design tokens, and large, shared design system libraries.
Design Systems Expertise: Thorough understanding of design system principles, including component-based design, atomic design methodologies, and tokenization strategies.
Visual Design Craft: Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for typography, color theory, layout, and brand consistency.
Interaction Design: Ability to design intuitive and effective interaction patterns for web applications.
Accessibility (WCAG): Comprehensive knowledge of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and demonstrated ability to design accessible digital products. Experience advising teams on accessibility is crucial.
Systems Thinking: Ability to think holistically about design solutions within a complex system, considering scalability, maintainability, and impact across multiple products.
Documentation and Communication: Excellent skills in creating clear and concise design documentation, articulating design decisions effectively through presentations, and facilitating workshops.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work collaboratively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with Agile methodologies and project management tools like JIRA or Airtable.
Familiarity with front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React), enabling effective communication with development teams.
Experience designing for multiple platforms (e.g., native mobile, email) to ensure a consistent brand experience.
Knowledge of Lean UX principles and practices.
Motion design and animation skills to enhance user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "significant design systems work" and "expert-level proficiency in Figma" points to the need for candidates who are not just users of the tool but are masters of its capabilities for system design. The explicit mention of WCAG and the requirement to "advise" on it indicates a strong need for accessibility expertise beyond basic compliance. The preference for knowledge of web implementation technologies is to facilitate communication with engineers, not to require coding.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Design System Focus: A dedicated section or case studies showcasing direct experience with design systems, including the creation, maintenance, and evolution of components, tokens, and libraries.
Project Scope and Role Clarity: Clearly define your specific role, responsibilities, and contributions within each project, especially highlighting system-level design work.
Inception-to-Delivery: Demonstrate the full lifecycle of design system elements, from initial concept and research through design, prototyping, and implementation considerations.
Figma Mastery: Showcase complex Figma file structures, component variants, auto layout usage, and robust library management practices.
Accessibility Integration: Provide examples of how accessibility was incorporated into the design process and the resulting accessible design solutions.

Process Documentation:

Workflow Design: Illustrate your process for defining new components, updating existing ones, and managing changes within a design system.
Collaboration Workflows: Detail how you collaborate with engineering, product, and other design teams to ensure successful implementation and adoption of design system elements.
Measurement and Impact: If possible, demonstrate how you measured the impact or success of design system initiatives (e.g., adoption rates, efficiency gains, consistency improvements).

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role. It should not only display aesthetic quality but also demonstrate a deep understanding of system design principles, practical application of Figma for complex libraries, and a commitment to accessibility. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and the impact of the design system on product development velocity and user experience will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $103,750.00 - $174,750.00 annually

Benefits:

Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
6.25% Company Match on retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k)
Free financial coaching and financial well-being support
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
Life insurance and disability benefits
20+ weeks of paid parental leave for all parents (pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy)
Free access to global on-site wellness centers (location dependent)
Free and confidential counseling support through the Healthy Minds program
Career development and training opportunities
Flexible working model (hybrid, onsite, or virtual arrangements)

Working Hours: Standard full-time, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the Amex Flex working model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Design Systems Designer role in a major metropolitan area like New York City, especially at a company of American Express's caliber. The extensive benefits package emphasizes a commitment to employee well-being, financial security, and professional growth, which are strong attractors for experienced professionals. The mention of "Amex Flex" indicates a structured approach to hybrid or remote work.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Technology, Consumer Services

Company Size: Large Enterprise (American Express is a global financial services corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide).

Founded: 1850, indicating a long history of innovation and adaptation in the financial sector.

Team Structure:

The Design Systems team operates as a specialized unit within American Express's broader design and technology organization.
It comprises designers, product managers, and engineers who collaboratively maintain and evolve the enterprise design system.
This team likely works closely with numerous product teams across the company, acting as a central hub for design consistency and best practices.

Methodology:

Data-Driven Design: The team utilizes user research and testing to inform design decisions and system evolution, ensuring components meet user needs and business objectives.
Agile Development: Likely employs Agile methodologies (potentially JIRA/Airtable mentioned in preferred qualifications) for iterative development and delivery of design system updates.
Collaborative Design: Emphasizes close collaboration between design, product, and engineering to ensure feasibility and successful implementation of design system elements.
Process Optimization: Focuses on improving design workflows and enabling faster, more consistent product development across the enterprise.

Company Website: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/company/

📝 Enhancement Note: American Express's long history suggests a culture that values stability and trust, while its focus on innovation indicates an openness to adopting new technologies and methodologies. For a design systems role, this means balancing established brand guidelines with the need for modern, efficient design practices. The large company size implies a complex stakeholder landscape and the potential for significant impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role, identified as "B35," signifies a senior individual contributor position. It requires a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and the ability to influence design direction and adoption across multiple teams. It's a crucial role for enabling scale and consistency within the organization.

Reporting Structure: The Design Systems Designer will likely report to a Design Systems Manager or Lead. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, Accessibility Specialists, Brand Teams, and various Product Design teams across American Express.

Operations Impact: This role has a significant impact on operational efficiency by providing standardized, reusable components that accelerate product development cycles. By ensuring consistency and adherence to accessibility standards, it reduces rework, improves user experience, and enhances brand perception, directly contributing to business value and customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

Leadership in Design Systems: Potential to grow into a Design Systems Lead or Manager role, overseeing strategy and team direction.
Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, component architecture, or design tooling.
Cross-Product Influence: Expand influence across different business units or product verticals within American Express.
Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design community within the company.
Broader Design Leadership: Transition into broader Product Design leadership roles by leveraging experience in scaling design efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The B35 banding suggests this is a key role with significant responsibility. Growth opportunities are likely tied to demonstrating leadership in design systems, driving adoption, and contributing to the strategic direction of design at American Express. The company's emphasis on learning and development further supports career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: American Express operates with a "Hybrid" work model, meaning a blend of in-office and remote work. Specific arrangements will depend on the role and business needs, but this indicates a structured approach to flexible work.

Office Location(s): The role is based in New York, New York. American Express has a significant presence in this city, likely offering modern office spaces designed for collaboration.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Spaces: Offices are likely equipped with collaborative areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated spaces for design critiques and workshops.
Technology Access: Employees will have access to the necessary hardware, software (including Figma licenses), and network infrastructure to perform their duties effectively, whether in-office or remotely.
Team Interaction: Expect regular interaction with the core Design Systems team and frequent engagement with product teams through virtual meetings and in-person sessions.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the "Amex Flex" model suggests flexibility in how and when work is completed, provided objectives are met and collaboration needs are satisfied. This flexibility is crucial for designers who often need focused blocks of time for deep work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model offers a balance between the benefits of in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work. Candidates should be prepared for a structured hybrid arrangement, understanding that flexibility will be balanced with the need for face-to-face interaction, particularly for team strategy sessions and critical design discussions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on relevant design systems work, Figma expertise, and problem-solving approaches. Be prepared to discuss your role, design decisions, and outcomes in detail.
Technical/Design Challenge: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise focused on design system principles, component design, or accessibility considerations.
Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with engineering, product management, and other design team members to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and alignment with the team's working style.
Leadership Interview: A final interview with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, impact, and overall fit within American Express's culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight Design Systems: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your most impactful design systems projects. Detail the specific challenges, your approach, the tools used (especially Figma), and the results achieved.
Showcase Figma Skills: Demonstrate your proficiency in Figma for complex libraries, including symbols, variants, auto layout, and design tokens.
Explain Your Process: Clearly articulate your design process, from research and ideation to iteration and final delivery, emphasizing how you ensure accessibility and consistency.
Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., adoption rates, time saved for product teams, reduction in design debt).
Accessibility First: Explicitly show how you incorporate accessibility into your designs and discuss your understanding of WCAG guidelines.
Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling story about the problem, your solution, and the impact.

Challenge Preparation:

Design System Fundamentals: Brush up on core design system concepts, component architecture, design tokens, and best practices for web.
Accessibility Standards: Review WCAG guidelines and common accessibility issues in web design.
Figma Proficiency: Practice creating complex components and managing libraries efficiently in Figma.
Communication: Prepare to articulate your design thinking and decisions clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a mixed audience of designers, engineers, and product managers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at a company like American Express will be thorough. Emphasis will be placed not only on design skills but also on collaboration, communication, and strategic thinking. The portfolio review is a critical gate, so ensure it's polished, relevant, and clearly showcases expertise in design systems and Figma.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Figma: The core design tool for creating and maintaining symbols, tokens, and libraries. Expert-level proficiency is mandatory.
Design System Platforms: Tools used for documenting and distributing the design system (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook – though not explicitly mentioned, these are common).
Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities, potentially supplemented by others if needed.

Analytics & Reporting:

JIRA / Airtable: Preferred qualifications suggest familiarity with these tools for project tracking, workflow management, and potentially documentation.
Analytics Platforms: While not directly responsible for analyzing product performance, understanding how design system components impact user behavior and conversion rates is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

Internal Tools: American Express will have its own suite of internal tools for collaboration, project management, and potentially content management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of this role's toolset. Familiarity with tools that support design system documentation and management (like Storybook or Zeroheight) would be beneficial, though not explicitly required. Understanding how design decisions translate into code (HTML, CSS, React) is important for effective collaboration with engineering.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Consistency & Scalability: A core value is ensuring design consistency and enabling scalable product development across the enterprise.
Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (design, engineering, product, brand, accessibility) to achieve shared goals.
Innovation & Evolution: Commitment to continuously improving and evolving the design system based on user needs, technological advancements, and business objectives.
Accessibility & Inclusivity: Designing with an "accessibility-first mindset" is a critical value, ensuring all products are usable by everyone.
Craftsmanship & Excellence: Maintaining high standards for design quality, detail, and usability within the design system.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: The team actively integrates with various departments, fostering a collaborative environment where design is a partner, not just a service provider.
Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages open feedback, constructive critiques, and continuous learning from peers and stakeholders.
Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing expertise through documentation, workshops, and mentorship to elevate the design capabilities across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: American Express's stated values of "shared values and Leadership Behaviors" and commitment to customer experience are likely reflected in the Design Systems team's culture. Expect a professional, results-oriented environment that values collaboration, data-informed decisions, and a strong commitment to quality and inclusivity.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Scale and Complexity: Managing a design system for a large enterprise with numerous product teams and diverse user needs presents significant scaling and complexity challenges.
Adoption and Governance: Driving consistent adoption of the design system across different teams and ensuring adherence to guidelines can be difficult.
Balancing Innovation and Stability: Keeping the design system current with emerging design trends and technologies while maintaining stability and backward compatibility.
Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across web, mobile, and other platforms, even if the primary focus is web.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Design Systems Mastery: Deepen expertise in advanced design system architecture, tooling, and strategy.
Accessibility Expertise: Become a recognized expert in digital accessibility within a large financial institution.
Cross-functional Skill Development: Enhance skills in stakeholder management, technical communication, and product strategy through close collaboration.
Industry Best Practices: Stay abreast of the latest trends in design systems, UI/UX, and accessibility through conferences, training, and internal knowledge sharing.
Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially step into leadership roles within the design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working on a large-scale design system. Overcoming them provides significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development, making this a rewarding role for ambitious designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you had to advocate for a design system change that was met with resistance. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, persuasion, and stakeholder management.)
"How do you balance the need for design consistency with the need for product teams to innovate and meet specific user needs?" (Demonstrate understanding of design systems as enablers, not constraints.)
"Walk us through your process for designing a new component for a design system, from initial concept to documentation and developer handoff." (Highlight your systematic approach, Figma skills, and collaboration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

"What do you know about American Express's commitment to customer experience and digital innovation?" (Research the company's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives.)
"How do you see a design system contributing to American Express's business goals?" (Connect design system benefits to efficiency, brand consistency, and customer satisfaction.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Start with Design Systems: Lead with your strongest design systems case studies. Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (especially in Figma), and the impact.
Highlight Figma Capabilities: Showcase your mastery of Figma for building scalable libraries, using components, variants, auto layout, and design tokens.
Emphasize Accessibility: Dedicate specific points to how you addressed accessibility in your designs and your understanding of WCAG.
Showcase Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with engineers and product managers, and how your designs were implemented.
Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, technical constraints, and the rationale behind your choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your design system experience in detail, focusing on practical application, problem-solving, and quantifiable results. Demonstrating a strong understanding of web design principles, accessibility, and how design systems drive business value will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Systems Designer position:

Submit your application through the provided application link on the American Express careers portal.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your most relevant design systems experience, specifically highlighting your work with Figma, component design, and accessibility. Ensure case studies demonstrate the full lifecycle of design system elements.
Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize keywords related to design systems, Figma, web design, accessibility (WCAG), component-based design, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design system philosophy, and collaborative approach. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions, focusing on your experience with complex projects and stakeholder management.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with American Express's brand, values, and recent digital initiatives. Understand their commitment to customer experience and innovation to better align your responses with their strategic goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description provides a comprehensive overview and strategic insights for the Design Systems Designer role at American Express. While based on the provided information and industry best practices, candidates should always refer to the official job posting and direct communication with the hiring team for the most accurate and up-to-date details regarding responsibilities, qualifications, and the application process.

Product Designer