Senior Experience Designer – Aetna Digital UX / Product Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Experience Designer – Aetna Digital UX / Product Design

Company: CVS Health

Location: Hartford, CT, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: March 17, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for remote flexibility)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation of end-to-end user flows and journey maps to define product scope and improve digital experiences for healthcare colleagues and patients.

• Partner closely with product and engineering teams to co-create requirements, adapt design systems, and lead critical user research initiatives.

• Advocate for user needs and business goals, ensuring solutions enhance healthcare outcomes and digital engagement across Aetna Medicaid member-facing platforms.

• Champion human-centered design principles, accessibility, and inclusive design practices throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Leverage advanced proficiency in design tools and design systems to deliver clean, functional, and accessible user interfaces and prototypes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Experience Designer," the responsibilities and required experience (5+ years) align with a senior-level role focused on product design and user experience within a highly regulated industry. The "Aetna Digital UX / Product Design" focus indicates a specialization within the broader CVS Health organization, likely involving member-facing digital health solutions. The description mentions "TELECOMMUTE" in the raw data but "On-site" in the derived location, suggesting hybrid or flexible on-site arrangements might be possible.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design direction for digital healthcare experiences, ensuring user needs and business objectives are strategically integrated.

• Reframe and deconstruct complex design and business challenges to foster shared understanding and facilitate clear strategic direction among cross-functional teams.

• Apply human-centered design methodologies, selecting appropriate tools and techniques for diverse problem sets within the healthcare domain.

• Collaborate with product managers and engineering leads to co-create requirements, ensuring design feasibility and alignment with development roadmaps.

• Develop strategic design artifacts, including comprehensive journey maps and service blueprints, to inform product vision and guide detailed design execution.

• Deliver polished, functional end-to-end user flows and user interfaces (UI) for healthcare platforms, with a strong emphasis on clarity and usability.

• Create fully functional prototypes that accurately represent user experience (UX) flows and essential business logic for stakeholder review and testing.

• Integrate accessibility and inclusive design principles into all aspects of the design process, providing detailed annotations for multiple accessibility levels.

• Contribute to, maintain, and adapt existing design system standards, particularly within tools like Figma, ensuring consistency and scalability.

• Identify and implement consistent design patterns across various healthcare applications, prioritizing a mobile-first design approach.

• Proactively anticipate industry trends, document design edge cases and technical constraints, and adapt strategy frameworks to specific project contexts.

• Plan and lead evaluative research studies, including screening participants, developing test plans, and analyzing findings to generate actionable insights for UX iteration.

• Structure and create content for diverse healthcare platforms, discerning the appropriate use of reusable design system components versus bespoke content solutions.

• Adapt designs iteratively based on new information, user feedback, and evolving project requirements, managing feedback diplomatically with stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic design thinking, hands-on design execution, and user research leadership. The mention of "Aetna Medicaid member-facing experiences" highlights a specific focus area, requiring an understanding of the unique needs and regulatory landscape of this demographic. The emphasis on "end-to-end user flows," "journey maps," and "service blueprints" points to a need for strong systems thinking and the ability to map complex user journeys.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in user experience (UX) design.

• Preferred: 3+ years of digital product design experience within the healthcare sector or other highly regulated industries.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma.

• Deep understanding and practical application of design systems, including contribution to and adaptation of their standards.

• Strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design processes, including user research, ideation, design execution, and validation.

• Comprehensive knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Proven experience leading and executing usability studies, including participant screening, test plan development, and synthesizing actionable research findings.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions and research insights to diverse stakeholders.

• Strong collaboration skills, with experience working effectively alongside product managers, engineers, and other cross-functional partners.

• Expertise in creating strategic artifacts such as user journey maps, service blueprints, and user flows.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with emerging tools and technologies that enhance UX workflow efficiency, including AI-powered design tools and Figma features like "Make."

• Experience designing for complex, regulated environments such as healthcare, finance, or insurance.

• Understanding of healthcare member-facing digital platforms and their specific user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and a strong portfolio is critical. Candidates should be prepared to showcase a diverse range of projects that highlight their ability to tackle complex problems, conduct user research, and deliver impactful design solutions. The preferred qualifications suggest that experience in healthcare or regulated industries will be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design processes, detailing the problem, your role, the process followed, and the outcomes.

• Include examples of user research methodologies employed (e.g., usability studies, interviews) and how findings informed design decisions.

• Demonstrate proficiency in creating strategic artifacts like journey maps, service blueprints, and user flows that articulate complex systems.

• Present examples of UI design, prototyping, and interaction design, highlighting solutions for accessibility and inclusive design.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of structured design thinking and problem-solving methodologies.

• Demonstrate an ability to adapt and contribute to existing design systems and standards.

• Highlight experience in collaborating with product and engineering teams to define requirements and drive design execution.

• Show an understanding of how to integrate user feedback and research findings into iterative design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Experience Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It must go beyond static mockups to illustrate a deep understanding of the design process, user-centered methodologies, and the ability to translate complex requirements into elegant, functional, and accessible digital solutions. The emphasis on "end-to-end" and "strategic artifacts" indicates a need for comprehensive case studies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Affordable medical plan options, wellness screenings, tobacco cessation programs, weight management programs, confidential counseling, and financial coaching.

• Retirement & Investment: 401(k) plan with matching company contributions and an employee stock purchase plan.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, flexible work schedules, family leave, and dependent care resources.

• Employee Support: Colleague assistance programs, tuition assistance, and retiree medical access.

• Incentive Programs: Eligibility for a CVS Health bonus, commission, or short-term incentive program in addition to base pay.

Working Hours:

• Anticipated weekly hours: 40 hours per week.

• Full-time employment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, reflecting the "senior" level and potential for significant experience. The actual offer will depend on factors such as candidate experience, specific skills, and geographic location. The extensive benefits package highlights CVS Health's commitment to employee well-being and financial security, which can be a significant draw for experienced professionals. The "TELECOMMUTE" status in the raw data versus "On-site" in derived data suggests a potential for hybrid work, which is further supported by "Flexible Work Schedules" in the benefits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Services & Retail Pharmacy. CVS Health is a diversified healthcare company that operates CVS Pharmacy, Aetna (health insurance), and Caremark (pharmacy benefit manager), focusing on simplifying healthcare and improving health outcomes.

Company Size: Large enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This implies a structured environment with established processes, opportunities for specialization, and significant cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: 1963 (CVS), 1853 (Aetna). CVS Health has a long history and extensive experience within the healthcare and retail sectors, indicating stability and deep industry knowledge.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Experience Designer will likely be part of the Aetna Digital UX/Product Design team, which is embedded within the broader CVS Health digital transformation efforts.

• This team will collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and other Go-To-Market (GTM) functions.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design principles are explicitly stated as a core methodology.

• Agile development practices are preferred, suggesting iterative design and development cycles.

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, leveraging user research and business metrics.

• Collaboration and co-creation with product and engineering are key to the workflow.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CVS Health's scale and mission ("building a world of health around every individual") suggest a culture focused on impact, innovation, and patient/member-centricity. The integration of Aetna highlights a strong focus on leveraging digital solutions to enhance health insurance and care management experiences. The "highly-regulated space" context is crucial for understanding the design constraints and compliance requirements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role is for an experienced designer who can lead projects independently, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy. It sits above mid-level roles and below management positions.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a Design Lead or Director within the Aetna Digital UX/Product Design team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the user experience of Aetna Medicaid members and potentially internal healthcare colleagues. Successful designs can lead to improved member engagement, better health outcomes, increased operational efficiency, and enhanced brand perception for Aetna/CVS Health. The role is critical in translating complex healthcare needs into intuitive digital solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the evolution of the design system and processes.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in healthcare UX, focusing on specific user segments (e.g., Medicaid members, providers) or product areas (e.g., member portals, care management tools).

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain experience influencing product strategy and roadmap decisions through strong design advocacy and research.

• Industry Exposure: Work on large-scale digital transformation projects within a leading healthcare organization, providing valuable resume-building experience.

• Emerging Technologies: Opportunity to explore and integrate emerging technologies (e.g., AI in design) into workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role, growth typically involves increased strategic influence, leadership, and specialization rather than purely hierarchical advancement. The candidate should look for opportunities to mentor, lead complex projects, and contribute to the strategic direction of digital products within CVS Health.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job posting indicates "TELECOMMUTE" in the raw data but derived "On-site" and derived "Remote OK" status, with a specific location in Hartford, CT. This typically means the role is primarily based in the Hartford office but may offer hybrid or flexible work arrangements based on team needs and performance.

Office Location(s): Hartford, CT, United States (specifically Hartford-Farmington Ave Atrium). This is a major hub for CVS Health operations.

Workspace Context:

• Likely a collaborative office environment with access to necessary design tools and technology.

• Expect a mix of individual focused work and team collaboration sessions (design sprints, reviews, workshops).

• Opportunities to interact with a diverse team of designers, product managers, engineers, and researchers.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.

• While the role is primarily on-site, the mention of "Flexible Work Schedules" in benefits suggests some degree of flexibility may be available, subject to team and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/flexible on-site nature of the role is a key detail for candidates to clarify during the interview process. The environment is likely professional and structured, given the size and industry of CVS Health.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A core part of the process will involve presenting a portfolio of work, showcasing end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. This may be followed by a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise focused on a relevant problem.

• Hiring Manager & Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager and key team members (e.g., product leads, fellow designers) to assess technical skills, collaborative abilities, and cultural fit.

• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interviews: Potential interviews with stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, or Research to evaluate collaboration and communication skills.

• Final Round: May involve a broader discussion on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with CVS Health's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies. For each case study, define the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed, key decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or learnings.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows, journey maps) to illustrate your process and solutions.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, positive user feedback). If quantitative data isn't available, focus on qualitative insights and user impact.

• Demonstrate Process: Emphasize your thought process, how you approached challenges, and how you incorporated user feedback and research.

• Tailor to Healthcare: If possible, highlight any experience with healthcare or regulated industries, or demonstrate an understanding of the unique challenges and considerations within this space.

• Accessibility Focus: Explicitly call out how you integrated accessibility and inclusive design principles.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for design challenges that test your ability to quickly understand a complex problem, define scope, and propose a user-centered solution within a limited timeframe.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely.

• Focus on defining the problem space, identifying key user needs, proposing a viable solution, and outlining how you would validate it.

• Think about how your proposed solution aligns with business goals and potential constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most critical step for a designer. Candidates must meticulously prepare their case studies to showcase not just visual design skills but also strategic thinking, research capabilities, and a deep understanding of the end-to-end design process within a complex domain like healthcare.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned and required for design, prototyping, and design system management. Advanced proficiency is expected.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to, adapting, and utilizing established design systems.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in creating functional prototypes within Figma or other relevant tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a direct requirement for the designer, understanding how to interpret and utilize data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to inform design decisions is highly beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX design role, but understanding how user data is managed and how digital experiences integrate with broader customer relationship management or workflow automation systems can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool mentioned. Candidates should be ready to discuss their specific workflows and best practices within Figma, especially concerning collaboration, design systems, and accessibility features.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and advocating for user needs, particularly for Aetna Medicaid members.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, research) to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation with Purpose: Driving improvements in healthcare experiences through thoughtful design and technology.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of design outcomes and delivering high-quality, impactful solutions.

• Compassion & Care: Reflecting the core values of CVS Health in the design of healthcare services.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing research and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a collaborative approach involving design thinking workshops, co-creation sessions with product and engineering, and regular design reviews.

• Open communication and constructive feedback are likely encouraged to ensure the best possible user experiences.

• Designers are expected to be proactive in seeking alignment and resolving design challenges with stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a strong purpose-driven approach, aligning with the mission of improving health. The collaborative style is essential for navigating complex projects within a large organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Healthcare: Designing for diverse user needs within a highly regulated industry, balancing user experience with compliance requirements.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating the needs and priorities of multiple stakeholders across product, engineering, legal, and business units.

• Data Interpretation: Synthesizing insights from complex user research and business data to drive design decisions.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and adapting a large-scale design system while maintaining consistency and scalability.

• Digital Transformation Pace: Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements and evolving user expectations in the digital health space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Healthcare UX Specialization: Deepen expertise in user research, design, and strategy specifically for healthcare and insurance products.

• Leadership Skills: Develop mentorship capabilities and take on leadership roles in design projects.

• Emerging Technologies: Explore and apply new design tools and methodologies, including AI applications in UX.

• Cross-functional Acumen: Gain a deeper understanding of product management, engineering processes, and business strategy within a large enterprise.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant UX and healthcare industry events and pursue certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in regulated industries. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening expertise and increasing strategic influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex healthcare problem you solved through design. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem reframing, user needs, and impact.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints in a regulated environment like healthcare?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and negotiation skills.)

• "Walk us through a journey map or service blueprint you created. What insights did it reveal, and how did it influence product strategy?" (Demonstrate your ability to map complex systems and drive strategic decisions.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about CVS Health and the Aetna Digital mission?" (Research the company's mission, recent initiatives, and values.)

• "How would you contribute to a collaborative design culture within our team?" (Emphasize your teamwork and communication style.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative that clearly articulates the problem, your journey, and the resolution.

• Focus on Your Role: Be explicit about your contributions, especially if working in a team.

• Show the "Why": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user research, business goals, or technical requirements.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your visuals are clean, well-annotated, and easy to understand.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows smoothly and stays within the allotted time. Be prepared for deep dives into specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of the design process, particularly in the context of healthcare. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Experience Designer position:

• Submit your application through the CVS Health Careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to highlight 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact, ideally with relevance to healthcare or complex digital products.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords such as "User Experience Design," "Product Design," "Figma," "Design Systems," "Accessibility," "Usability Studies," and "Human-Centered Design." Quantify your achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of your process, and demonstrating how you drive user-centered solutions. Prepare answers to common UX and behavioral interview questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with CVS Health's mission, Aetna's role in healthcare, and recent digital initiatives to articulate your interest and align your responses with the company's values and goals.

⚠️ 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. The "TELECOMMUTE" status in the original posting versus "On-site" derived status should be clarified regarding hybrid work expectations.