Product Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer II

Company: Cox Enterprises

Location: Irvine, CA; Atlanta, GA; United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-04-24

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on Product Design, specifically within the UX/UI domain for Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book (KBB) brand, integrating AI advancements.

• Responsibilities involve end-to-end product design execution, from user research and concept ideation to prototyping and delivery support.

• A key aspect is contributing to and leveraging design systems and AI-powered design tools to ensure a high standard of user experience and consistency.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and fellow designers, is crucial for successful product development in an agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core title is "Product Designer II," the job profile is listed as "UX Designer II" and the job family group is "Engineering / Product Development." This indicates a strong emphasis on the user experience aspect of product design, with a focus on practical application and user-centric problem-solving within a technology-driven organization. The integration of AI tools and the KBB brand context are significant differentiators for this role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide expert design guidance within an AI transformation team, ensuring user needs are met while adhering to the KBB Design System.

• Execute the full spectrum of product design, from initial user research and discovery through concept ideation, wireframing, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototyping.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and software engineers in an agile development process to ensure accurate implementation of designed experiences.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of design systems, style guides, and UX standards to guarantee a consistent and high-quality user experience across all digital products.

• Present design concepts, user flows, and trade-offs to peers and business leaders, building alignment and securing buy-in.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies (especially in AI and UX), and best practices in product design.

• Champion user-centered design methodologies and advocate for data-informed decision-making throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Leverage AI-powered tools for design workflow acceleration, ideation, and complex prototype creation, particularly those involving Large Language Models (LLMs).

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of traditional UX/UI design practices with a forward-looking focus on AI integration. The emphasis on delivering "high level of quality for end users" and "maintaining consistency across experiences" through design systems points to a structured and quality-conscious design process. The mention of "spec-driven development team" suggests a need for clear and detailed design documentation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Computer Science, or a related discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2+ years of experience in UX, UI, Product Design, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated experience with end-to-end product design execution across one or more shipped digital products.

Required Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Extensive experience using Figma for design, prototyping, and alignment with a shared design system. Ability to work independently within the tool.

• AI-Powered Tools: Experience using AI tools within the design workflow, including for prototyping, ideation, or workflow acceleration. Specific experience creating complex prototypes using LLM-powered AI tools is essential.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, software engineers, and other roles within an agile or iterative delivery team.

• Design Documentation: Skill in creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to clearly communicate user flows and design intent.

• Design Systems: Experience applying and contributing to design systems, style guides, and UX standards.

• User-Centered Design: Advocate for and apply user-centered design methods and data-informed decision-making.

Preferred Skills:

• Accessibility Standards: Experience producing design work that aligns with accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

• Design System Adherence: Experience applying and adhering to an established design system or component library for design consistency and quality.

• Stakeholder Presentation: Experience presenting design work to internal stakeholders, articulating design approach, decisions, and trade-offs.

• Specific AI Tools: Familiarity with tools like Claude Enterprise, Figma Make, MCPs, and Claude Skills.

• Team Collaboration: Experience working within a multi-designer team, actively receiving and incorporating feedback from peers.

• Industry Experience: Previous experience in the automotive industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly emphasize practical experience with Figma and novel AI design tools, indicating a progressive and technically adept design team. The "portfolio demonstrating thoughtful UX solutions" is a critical, non-negotiable requirement. The AI-specific prototype creation requirement, especially with LLMs, is a unique and critical differentiator for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies that illustrate your end-to-end product design process, from problem identification and user research to solution design, prototyping, and impact measurement.

• Problem-Solving Focus: Clearly articulate the user problems or business challenges addressed in each case study, demonstrating critical thinking and a methodical approach to finding solutions.

• Process Documentation: Include visual representations of your design process, such as user journey maps, wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Metrics & Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible, using relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, task completion times) to demonstrate ROI and user value.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you've mapped out and optimized user workflows for clarity, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

• System Integration: Demonstrations of how your designs integrate with existing systems or platforms, maintaining consistency and enhancing user experience.

• Iterative Design: Evidence of iterative design processes, including how user feedback and data were incorporated to refine designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer II role, especially one involving AI transformation, the portfolio needs to go beyond static visuals. It should demonstrate a deep understanding of the design process, the ability to articulate design decisions, and the capacity to measure and communicate the impact of design solutions. The emphasis on AI-powered tools and LLMs means portfolios showcasing innovative applications in these areas will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The anticipated base salary range is $107,200.00 - $160,800.00 USD per year.

• Actual base salary will depend on factors such as the candidate's ultimate work location, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision insurance options for individuals and families.

• Retirement Planning: Generous 401(k) retirement plan with up to an 8% company match.

• Work-Life Balance:

  • Exceptional work-life balance.
  • Flexible time-off policies.
  • Accommodating work schedules.
  • Up to 160 hours of paid wellness leave annually for personal or family wellness.
  • Flexible vacation policies.

• Paid Time Off:

  • Seven paid holidays per calendar year.
  • Bereavement leave.
  • Time off to vote.
  • Jury duty leave.
  • Volunteer time off.
  • Military leave.
  • Parental leave.

• Wellness & Support:

  • Mental health support, including counseling.
  • Access to virtual wellness resources (e.g., CALM).

• Family Support: Access to Care.com with up to 10 days of subsidized care for children, seniors, and pets.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically during the day.

• The role requires 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility, allowing work from home part of the week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Product Designer II role in major US markets, especially considering the specified locations (Irvine, CA and Atlanta, GA). The benefits package is extensive, highlighting Cox Enterprises' commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which is a significant draw for experienced professionals. The hybrid work model is also a key benefit.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Technology & Media (specifically digital automotive marketplaces and services). Cox Automotive operates iconic brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book (KBB), and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim.

Company Size: Cox Enterprises is a large, privately held corporation. Cox Automotive, as a division, is substantial, employing thousands across various functions. This scale offers stability and significant opportunities.

Founded: Cox Enterprises was founded in 1898, with Cox Automotive evolving significantly over decades from its roots in media and telecommunications. This long history suggests a stable, established company with deep industry roots.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Engineering / Product Development function, specifically aligned with the UX Designer II profile.

• The candidate will be part of a cross-functional team supporting the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) brand, likely including Product Managers, Software Engineers, and potentially other Designers.

• The team operates within an AI transformation initiative, indicating a focus on innovation and leveraging new technologies.

Methodology:

• Agile/Iterative Development: The team likely operates within an agile or iterative delivery framework, requiring adaptability and close collaboration.

• User-Centered Design: A strong emphasis is placed on understanding and solving real customer problems through user research and data-informed decisions.

• Design System Utilization: Adherence to and contribution to a shared design system ensures consistency and efficiency in design and development.

• AI Integration: A key methodology involves exploring and implementing AI-powered tools and solutions within the design workflow and product features.

Company Website: https://www.coxenterprises.com/ & https://www.coxauto.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Cox Enterprises and its subsidiary Cox Automotive represent a large, established player in the automotive tech space. The culture likely balances innovation with corporate structure. The focus on KBB and AI transformation suggests an environment that encourages forward-thinking design within a stable, well-resourced organization. The "people-centered atmosphere" mentioned in the "About Us" section is a positive indicator for employee experience.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Product Designer II / UX Designer II indicates an intermediate level. This role is for an individual contributor who has moved beyond entry-level tasks and is expected to take ownership of significant design problems, contribute strategically to the design system, and mentor junior designers indirectly through collaboration and example.

Reporting Structure: The role reports within the Engineering / Product Development group. While not explicitly stated, the "Individual Contributor" designation means the individual will likely report to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Product Development Manager who oversees multiple projects or a team of designers. Collaboration will be with Product Managers and Engineers.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer II directly impacts the user experience of key digital products for the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) brand. Their work influences customer engagement, satisfaction, and potentially conversion rates by creating intuitive, effective, and innovative user interfaces and flows. In the context of AI transformation, their role is critical in shaping how AI is integrated into user-facing products, driving adoption and delivering tangible value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design tools, LLM applications in UX, and advanced prototyping techniques.

• Design System Leadership: Progress to a Senior or Lead Designer role, taking a more significant role in defining and evolving the KBB design system.

• Cross-Brand Experience: Opportunity to work on other Cox Automotive brands, broadening industry exposure.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers, developing leadership and coaching skills.

• Strategic Input: Contribute more significantly to product strategy and roadmap planning based on user insights and design expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "II" designation implies a level where designers are expected to be self-sufficient, capable of handling complex projects, and contribute to team-level processes and standards. Growth often involves moving into senior roles, specializing in emerging areas like AI design, or potentially transitioning into management if that career path is desired. The hybrid work model also supports a sustainable career path.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week." This indicates a mix of in-office collaboration and remote work, offering flexibility. The physical office locations are in Irvine, CA, and Atlanta, GA.

Office Location(s):

• Irvine, CA: 217 Technology Dr

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model suggests a need for effective collaboration both in-person and remotely. Expect team meetings, design critiques, and brainstorming sessions to occur in varied formats.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), AI-powered design tools, and collaboration platforms will be essential. The company likely provides necessary hardware and software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers will be frequent, both within the KBB brand team and potentially across other Cox Automotive initiatives.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is likely around 40 hours per week, typically during daytime hours.

• The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing employees to manage their work-life balance by splitting time between home and the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role is a significant aspect of the work environment, balancing the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. This setup is common for design roles, allowing for focused individual work and collaborative problem-solving sessions. The specific office locations are key for candidates to consider based on their geographic preferences.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, walking through 1-2 key projects to demonstrate their design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Expect questions about design decisions, challenges, and outcomes.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical assessment, possibly involving a design problem related to the KBB brand or an AI-driven feature. This could be a take-home exercise or an in-person/virtual whiteboarding session.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work within an agile framework.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, career aspirations, and alignment with team goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Highlight projects that demonstrate measurable results and positive outcomes for users or the business. Quantify achievements with data whenever possible.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives, clearly outlining the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact.

• Showcase AI Integration: If possible, include examples of how you've used or explored AI tools in your design process. This is a key requirement for this role.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your workflow in Figma and how you leverage its features for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Address Design Decisions: Be ready to articulate why you made specific design choices, the trade-offs considered, and how you incorporated feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Research Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and its user base. Identify potential user needs or areas for improvement within their digital offerings.

• AI Thinking: Consider how AI can enhance the user experience within the automotive research and purchasing journey. Think about practical applications beyond just chatbots.

• Process Clarity: For any practical exercise, clearly articulate your thought process, assumptions, and how you would approach problem-solving within constraints.

• Collaboration Focus: Be prepared to discuss how you would collaborate with non-design stakeholders (PMs, Engineers) to bring a design to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on AI and design systems, interviewers will likely probe deeply into how candidates navigate complex design challenges, integrate new technologies, and maintain design integrity. A strong portfolio that showcases these aspects, along with clear communication skills, will be paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, wireframing, and collaboration. Expect to use its advanced features, including components, variants, auto-layout, and potentially plugins.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: Candidates are expected to have experience with AI tools for design workflow acceleration, ideation, and prototyping. This includes experience with LLM-powered tools. Specific mentions include Claude Enterprise and Figma Make.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's built-in capabilities, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial, though Figma is primary.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a primary tool requirement for the designer, understanding how to interpret user analytics and data (e.g., from tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal dashboards) to inform design decisions is crucial.

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are listed as direct requirements for the designer role, but understanding how design impacts user journeys within these systems (e.g., customer portals, dealer platforms) is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-powered tools" and "LLM-powered AI tools," along with specific tools like Claude Enterprise and Figma Make, signals a significant investment and focus on leveraging AI in the design process. Proficiency in these emerging technologies will be a strong differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value is designing for real user needs and solving customer problems effectively.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: Maintaining a high standard of design quality and attention to detail is paramount, ensuring polished and functional end-user experiences.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering) is essential for successful product delivery.

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: Embracing new technologies, especially AI, and applying them to improve design processes and product offerings.

• Data-Informed Decision-Making: Utilizing data and user research to guide design choices and validate solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: The team likely fosters a collaborative environment that embraces iterative development, feedback loops, and continuous improvement.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be integrated members of product teams, working closely with PMs and Engineers throughout the product lifecycle.

• Open Communication: Expect a culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving.

• Design System Advocacy: A collaborative approach to maintaining and evolving the design system, ensuring its adoption and effectiveness across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a blend of innovation, user focus, and robust processes. The mention of "people-centered atmosphere" suggests a supportive work environment. For a designer, this means being adaptable, communicative, and willing to contribute to a shared vision while championing user needs.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Integrating AI Effectively: Navigating the complexities of integrating AI into user experiences in a way that is intuitive, valuable, and ethically sound, while also meeting user needs and business objectives.

• Balancing Innovation with Consistency: Ensuring that the introduction of new AI features or design approaches aligns with the established KBB Design System and maintains a cohesive user experience.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating complex design concepts and AI capabilities to stakeholders with varying levels of technical understanding.

• Rapidly Evolving Technology: Staying current with the fast-paced advancements in AI and design tools and determining how best to leverage them.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Deep dive into the latest AI tools and methodologies for design, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Advanced Prototyping: Develop expertise in creating sophisticated prototypes, potentially using AI to accelerate the process or create more dynamic interactions.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Gain deeper insights into product management and software engineering processes through close collaboration.

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to learn from senior designers or potentially mentor junior team members.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to resources for continuous learning in UX, product design, and AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in the innovative application of AI within a established brand context. The growth opportunities are heavily geared towards developing expertise in cutting-edge AI design practices, making this a role for someone eager to push boundaries.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• AI Integration Strategy: "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for Kelley Blue Book that helps users research car prices more effectively? What are the key considerations for user trust and transparency?" (Focus on user needs, AI capabilities, and ethical design.)

• Design System Contribution: "Describe a time you contributed to or significantly utilized a design system. How did you ensure consistency and what were the challenges?" (Highlight understanding of design systems, component libraries, and collaborative processes.)

• Problem-Solving with Constraints: "Imagine we need to redesign a core feature with a very tight deadline and limited resources. How would you prioritize and approach this challenge?" (Demonstrate prioritization skills, iterative design, and pragmatic problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Cox Automotive & KBB Understanding: "What excites you about working for Cox Automotive and specifically the Kelley Blue Book brand? What opportunities do you see for design innovation here?" (Showcase research into the company and brand.)

• Hybrid Work Collaboration: "How do you ensure effective collaboration and maintain strong relationships with your team in a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss communication strategies and remote collaboration tools.)

• AI Tool Adoption: "What are your thoughts on the role of AI in product design, and how do you stay updated on new tools and best practices in this area?" (Demonstrate a proactive approach to learning and adapting to new technologies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Relevant Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, Figma proficiency, and ideally, any experience with AI tools or complex problem-solving.

• Focus on AI/LLM: If you have projects involving AI or LLMs, highlight them prominently. Explain your approach, the tools used, and the outcomes.

• Articulate Design Decisions: Be prepared to deep-dive into why you made certain design choices, the user research that informed them, and the trade-offs considered.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase Figma Workflow: Be ready to discuss your workflow in Figma, including how you use components, auto-layout, and prototyping features.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should heavily emphasize the AI component of the role. Candidates should be ready to discuss their understanding of AI in design, their experience with relevant tools, and how they approach designing with these new capabilities. Demonstrating a user-centric approach within an innovative AI context will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the Cox Careers portal link provided.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with Figma, AI-powered design tools, end-to-end product design, user research, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies that clearly demonstrate your design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure it showcases your Figma proficiency and any experience with AI/LLM tools. Be ready to present your work effectively.

• Research Cox Automotive and KBB: Familiarize yourself with the company's mission, values, and the Kelley Blue Book brand. Understand their market position and user base.

• Practice your messaging: Be ready to articulate your experience, design philosophy, and enthusiasm for applying AI in product design during interviews. Prepare answers to common interview questions, particularly those related to AI integration and user-centered design.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview. Specific details regarding the interview process, exact team structure, and day-to-day responsibilities should be confirmed directly with the hiring manager or recruiter. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the company's official career page for the most up-to-date and accurate information.