Senior UX CX Designer, Design Systems (Token Architect) - Remote

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX CX Designer, Design Systems (Token Architect)
Company: UnitedHealth Group
Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Design Systems / Product Design Operations
Date Posted: October 22, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Remote (with hybrid requirement for Minneapolis/DC area hires)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the architectural vision and execution for the token layer of the Abyss Design System, prioritizing scalability and brand consistency across diverse product ecosystems.
• Drive the strategic implementation of design tokens, ensuring seamless integration between design intent and code through robust variable structures and semantic naming conventions.
• Foster a culture of design and development collaboration, enabling efficient cross-platform theming and accessibility adherence.
• Champion the adoption and understanding of design system principles, particularly tokenization, among designers and engineers to enhance consistency and development velocity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the broader "Design Systems" or "Product Design Operations" space, focusing on the foundational elements that enable efficient and consistent product development. The emphasis on "token architect" and cross-platform implementation suggests a critical role in bridging design and engineering, with a strong operational component in system governance and rollout.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Token System Leadership: Architect, maintain, and evolve the comprehensive token framework, encompassing core, semantic, component, and theme layers across Figma, Token Studio, and code delivery pipelines (e.g., Style Dictionary, internal tooling).
• Multi-Brand & Multi-Theme Architecture: Design and implement strategies for seamless brand and theme switching (e.g., UHC, Surest, Optum) within both design and development environments, ensuring consistent user experiences.
• Engineering Partnership for Token Parity: Collaborate closely with engineering teams to establish and maintain one-to-one parity between design tokens and code tokens, leveraging modern tools like Code Connect, Style Dictionary, or custom pipelines for efficient integration.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance:
  • Integrate accessibility requirements (e.g., contrast, motion, legibility) directly into token definitions from the outset.
  • Partner with leadership to embed token governance workflows, defining scalable and traceable contribution, review, and publishing processes.
  • Lead initiatives for token naming conventions, variable collections, and theme inheritance strategies within Figma.
  • Define and meticulously document token strategy and usage guidelines on the system's documentation site.
  • Mentor and upskill designers and engineers on token literacy, highlighting how tokens drive consistency, efficiency, and cross-platform alignment.
  • Identify and deliver measurable outcomes, such as time saved, reduction in theme-related defects, or demonstrable accessibility improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic, hands-on role requiring deep technical understanding of design systems, specifically tokenization. The emphasis on "architect and maintain," "multi-brand and multi-theme architecture," and "partner with engineering" indicates a senior-level position with significant ownership and influence over critical system components. The inclusion of "mentor and upskill" and "identify and deliver measurable outcomes" points to leadership and impact-driven responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and proven experience in UX/UI design and design systems, particularly with token architecture, will be paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4+ years in UX/UI design, with a dedicated focus of at least 2+ years on building and scaling design systems.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience collaborating with developers to implement token pipelines and integrate design tokens into code.
• Proven ability to design and manage multi-brand, multi-theme systems, ensuring clear inheritance and consistency.
• Exceptional system thinking capabilities, enabling the design of scalable and maintainable design system components and frameworks.

Required Skills:

• Figma Expertise: Solid understanding of Figma Variables Architecture, including modes, collections, aliasing, and token mapping.
• Design Token Proficiency: Proven expertise in design tokens, covering structure, naming conventions, Figma variables, Token Studio, and code delivery workflows.
• Accessibility Standards: Understanding of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) accessibility standards and the ability to express them through tokens (e.g., contrast ratios, color roles, motion guidelines).
• Cross-Functional Communication: Excellent system thinking and cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to lead clearly in ambiguous environments.
• Documentation Skills: Proven exceptional documentation skills and direct experience contributing to design system documentation sites.
• Theming Architecture: Demonstrated ability to design and manage multi-brand, multi-theme systems with clear inheritance strategies.

Preferred Skills:

• AI Design Tools: Experience with AI-assisted design and code generation tools (e.g., Code Connect, Figma MCP, Cursor).
• Versioning & Pipelines: Understanding of semantic versioning and release pipelines for both tokens and design system components.
• Cross-Platform Development: Familiarity with mobile development frameworks like React Native, SwiftUI, or Android Compose, and how tokens translate across these platforms.
• Enterprise-Scale Systems: Proven expertise in designing and implementing solutions for enterprise-scale design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications strongly emphasize practical, hands-on experience with specific design system tools and concepts, particularly around tokenization and cross-functional implementation. The distinction between required and preferred skills highlights the core competencies expected, while preferred skills point to areas where additional expertise would be highly valued, especially concerning modern development practices and AI integration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Present detailed case studies showcasing your experience in building, scaling, or significantly contributing to design systems. Focus on projects where you influenced system architecture or core components.
• Tokenization Expertise: Include specific examples demonstrating your work with design tokens, including architecture, implementation strategy, and impact. Showcase how you've managed tokens across multiple brands or themes.
• Cross-Platform Implementation: Highlight projects where you collaborated with engineering to implement design tokens across different platforms (web, mobile) and technologies (React, React Native).
• Accessibility Integration: Provide examples of how you've incorporated accessibility standards (WCAG) into your design system work, specifically through token design and implementation.
• Documentation Samples: Showcase examples of clear, comprehensive documentation for design system elements, especially token usage guidelines and architectural decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating or contributing to design system documentation, including strategy documents, governance models, and usage guidelines.
• Examples of workflow designs or process improvements related to design system contributions, reviews, and releases.
• Demonstrations of how you measure the effectiveness and impact of design system components, particularly token systems, through metrics and analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on design systems and token architecture, a portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond visual design to demonstrate deep understanding of system architecture, cross-functional collaboration, and the operational aspects of design system management, especially tokenization and its impact on development efficiency and consistency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $89,900 - $160,600 annually

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Typically includes health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Incentive Programs: Opportunities for performance-based bonuses or rewards.
• Recognition Programs: Formal and informal acknowledgement of contributions and achievements.
• Equity Stock Purchase: Potential to invest in company stock, often at a favorable rate.
• 401k Contribution: Retirement savings plan with potential company matching.
• Other Benefits: Subject to eligibility requirements, may include life insurance, disability coverage, and wellness programs.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week.
• While the role is remote, specific work hours may need to align with team collaboration needs and business operational demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is typical for a Senior UX/UI Designer role with specialized design system and token architecture expertise in the US market. The benefits listed are standard for a large enterprise organization like UnitedHealth Group. The remote work arrangement is clarified with a hybrid requirement for specific locations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology & Services. UnitedHealth Group is a diversified healthcare company, involved in health insurance, health services, and technology. This industry context means a strong focus on user trust, data security, accessibility, and the impact of digital experiences on millions of lives. Company Size: Large Enterprise (likely 100,000+ employees). This scale implies established processes, a significant user base, complex organizational structures, and a need for robust, scalable design systems to maintain consistency across a vast portfolio of products and brands. Founded: 1977. With a long history, UnitedHealth Group has a mature organizational structure and a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape, influencing its approach to innovation and operational rigor.

Team Structure:

• The role likely sits within a central design systems team or a product design function with a dedicated design systems unit.
• Reporting structure would typically be to a Design Systems Lead, Principal Designer, or Director of Product Design, with close collaboration across engineering leads, accessibility specialists, and product managers.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving designers, front-end engineers (React, React Native), back-end engineers, accessibility experts, product managers, and potentially brand and marketing teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are informed by user research, analytics, and feedback loops to ensure the design system meets user needs and business objectives.
• Iterative Development: The design system, including tokens, is continuously refined and updated based on new requirements, technologies, and user feedback.
• Scalability and Efficiency: Focus on creating repeatable patterns and processes that enhance development speed and maintainability across numerous products.
• Accessibility-First Approach: Integrating accessibility as a core tenet from the foundational stages of system design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's scale and industry heavily influence the design system's requirements. A large enterprise in healthcare demands rigorous standards for accessibility, security, and consistency across many brands. This role is critical for operationalizing design at scale.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Lead. This role is senior, requiring significant autonomy and expertise. The "Token Architect" designation implies a specialized leadership role within the design system discipline, focusing on foundational elements. It's a position with significant influence on how design is implemented across the organization. Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Design Systems Manager or Director of Product Design. The role involves significant collaboration with engineering leads and other senior stakeholders, positioning it as a key technical contributor within the design organization. Operations Impact: The impact is substantial. By architecting and governing the token layer, this role directly influences: - Development Velocity: Streamlined token implementation reduces coding time and effort. - Brand Consistency: Ensures a unified look and feel across all UHG products and sub-brands. - Accessibility Compliance: Embeds accessibility standards at the core, reducing risk and improving user experience for all. - Maintainability: A well-architected token system simplifies updates and reduces technical debt. - Scalability: Enables rapid expansion and adaptation of design across new products and features.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise as a leading authority on design tokens, theming, and design system architecture within enterprise environments.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Grow into a team lead or manager role, guiding other designers and engineers in design system practices. Mentor junior team members on tokenization and system design.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Take on broader system ownership or lead initiatives that span multiple product teams or business units.
• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the strategic direction of the design system and its adoption across the organization.
• Industry Recognition: Potential to contribute to industry best practices or speak at design conferences on design system architecture.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for deep technical specialization and leadership within the design systems domain. The impact on operational efficiency and product consistency makes it a strategically important position with significant growth potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Model. For those located near Minneapolis or Washington D.C., a minimum of four days per week in the office is required. For other U.S. remote employees, the policy is TBD but likely involves adherence to a "Telecommuter Policy." This indicates a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. Office Location(s): While the role is remote-friendly across the US, the specific mention of Minneapolis and Washington D.C. suggests these are key hubs. The primary listed location is Minnetonka, MN. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest a dynamic workspace designed for both focused individual work and team interaction.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, Token Studio), development tools, and internal UHG systems will be provided. The role requires proficiency with these.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with design, engineering, and product leadership, fostering a culture of shared problem-solving and continuous improvement.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week).
• Flexibility is implied by the remote nature, but core hours for team meetings and collaboration will likely be established. The focus on "delivering measurable outcomes" suggests a results-oriented work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement for specific locations is a key detail for candidates considering relocation or those already in those areas. The overall environment is geared towards balancing focused work with collaborative engagement, typical of large tech-enabled enterprises.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, motivations, and understanding of design systems and tokenization.
• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A core part of the process. Candidates will likely present a curated selection of their work, focusing on design system case studies, token architecture examples, and cross-functional collaboration. Expect detailed questions about their process, decisions, and impact.
• Technical/Team Interview: Meeting with design system engineers and/or other senior designers to assess technical depth, problem-solving skills, and collaborative approach. This might include a live design exercise or a deep dive into a specific technical challenge.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a design director or VP of Design, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with UHG's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem you solved, your specific role, the solutions implemented (especially token architecture), and the measurable outcomes (e.g., efficiency gains, consistency improvements, accessibility enhancements).
• Showcase Token Strategy: Dedicate a section or case study to your design token work. Explain your architecture (core, semantic, component, theme layers), naming conventions, and how you ensured parity with code.
• Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide examples of how you partnered with engineering, accessibility, and product teams. Highlight communication strategies and how you navigated technical constraints.
• Accessibility Integration: Explicitly show how accessibility was considered and implemented within your design system and token strategy.
• Documentation Clarity: If possible, include examples of documentation you've created, demonstrating your ability to communicate complex system rules clearly.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize your experience with Figma Variables, Token Studio, and cross-platform implementation (React, React Native), as these are key requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Token Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you need to design or refactor parts of a token system for a new brand or feature. Focus on structure, naming, and inheritance.
• System Thinking Problem: You might be asked to diagnose issues within an existing design system or propose solutions for scaling challenges.
• Code Parity Discussion: Be ready to discuss how you would ensure design tokens align with code implementations and the tools/processes you'd use.
• Accessibility Tokenization: Discuss how you would define tokens to meet specific WCAG requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the candidate's ability to demonstrate their expertise through their portfolio and practical problem-solving. Success hinges on clearly articulating design system strategy, technical implementation, and measurable impact, with a strong focus on token architecture and cross-functional collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and critically, managing design variables and token structures. Advanced proficiency with Figma's variable and component architecture is expected.
• Token Studio for Figma: A key tool for creating, managing, and syncing design tokens, often used in conjunction with Figma.
• Design System Documentation Platform: Experience with tools used to host and manage design system documentation (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, custom-built sites).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how design system adoption and impact are measured may involve analytics platforms. Familiarity with how design decisions translate into measurable user experience metrics is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how design systems support the development of CRM or other enterprise applications is relevant context.

Development-Adjacent Tools/Concepts:

• Style Dictionary: A common tool for transforming design tokens into code for various platforms. Familiarity with its concepts or similar token compilation pipelines is important.
• React & React Native: Understanding how design tokens are implemented and consumed within these JavaScript frameworks is crucial for effective collaboration with engineering.
• Code Connect / Figma MCP: Experience with tools facilitating direct connections between design tools and code repositories, enabling smoother token implementation.
• Version Control (e.g., Git): Understanding basic principles of version control is beneficial for collaborating on design system assets and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on the design-to-development pipeline, with Figma and Token Studio at its core. Expertise in how these translate into code, particularly for React and React Native, is a critical requirement for bridging the gap between design and engineering.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Caring: Reflecting the company's mission, this likely translates to empathy in design for all users, especially those with specific needs or in vulnerable situations.
• Connecting: Emphasizing collaboration, clear communication, and building strong relationships across diverse teams and disciplines.
• Growing Together: A commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and mutual support within the team and across the organization.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Valuing evidence-based approaches, using metrics and user feedback to guide design system evolution and strategic choices.
• Excellence & Rigor: Upholding high standards for craft, consistency, accessibility, and technical implementation, essential for an enterprise healthcare company.
• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on building systems and processes that enable rapid, consistent, and maintainable product development across a large organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Actively seeking out and fostering strong working relationships with engineering, accessibility, product management, and other design teams.
• Transparent Communication: Openly sharing progress, challenges, and decisions, particularly regarding the design system's architecture and governance.
• Feedback-Driven: Encouraging and acting upon constructive feedback from peers and stakeholders to continuously improve the design system and individual contributions.
• Proactive Problem Solving: Identifying potential issues or opportunities within the design system and proactively proposing solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values, particularly "Caring," "Connecting," and "Growing Together," provide insight into the expected interpersonal dynamics and approach to work. The emphasis on operational values like efficiency and scalability is directly relevant to the design systems function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Across a Large Enterprise: Managing a design system and token architecture that serves numerous diverse product lines and brands within a massive organization presents significant scaling and governance challenges.
• Maintaining Token Parity: Ensuring consistent and accurate translation of design tokens into code across multiple platforms and development teams requires constant vigilance and strong engineering partnerships.
• Balancing Brand Needs: Architecting a token system that can accommodate distinct brand identities (e.g., UHC, Surest, Optum) while maintaining core consistency is complex.
• Driving Adoption: Influencing and enabling widespread adoption of the token system among designers and developers across different teams, some of whom may be resistant to change.
• Navigating Ambiguity: As a senior role, you'll likely face situations with unclear requirements or evolving priorities, requiring strong system thinking and leadership to navigate.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Token Architecture: Deepen expertise in complex token strategies, including advanced theming, conditional theming, and dynamic token generation.
• Cross-Platform Tokenization: Gain deeper insights into how tokens are implemented and managed across web, iOS, and Android native development.
• Design System Governance: Develop skills in establishing and refining governance models for large-scale design systems.
• AI in Design Systems: Explore and potentially implement AI-driven tools for design token generation, validation, or code translation.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunity to lead initiatives, mentor junior designers and engineers, and contribute to the strategic direction of the design systems practice at UHG.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the complexities of a large enterprise environment and the technical intricacies of design systems and tokenization. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering deep technical specialization and leadership development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you architected a design token system for a multi-brand or multi-theme environment. What were the key considerations and challenges?" (Focus on your token structure, naming, inheritance, and how you handled brand variations.)
• "How do you ensure one-to-one parity between design tokens in Figma and code tokens? What tools and processes do you recommend?" (Be prepared to discuss Style Dictionary, Code Connect, custom pipelines, and collaboration with engineering.)
• "Walk me through your process for integrating accessibility standards (WCAG) into a design token system. What specific tokens or strategies would you use?" (Highlight your understanding of contrast, color roles, and how tokens can enforce accessibility.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see your role as a Token Architect contributing to UnitedHealth Group's mission of helping people live healthier lives?" (Connect your work to user impact, accessibility, and simplifying healthcare experiences.)
• "Describe your experience mentoring designers or engineers on design system best practices, particularly regarding tokens." (Showcase your ability to educate and upskill others.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with engineering teams when implementing design system components and tokens?" (Emphasize partnership, communication, and problem-solving.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Begin with a high-level overview of your design system experience, then dive into 1-2 key case studies.
• Deep Dive on Tokens: Dedicate significant time to showcasing your token architecture. Use visual aids to explain layers, relationships, and how brands/themes are managed.
• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly state the problem, your solution (especially token strategy), and the measurable results achieved. Use metrics like "reduced development time by X%", "increased consistency score by Y%", or "improved accessibility compliance for Z feature."
• Showcase Collaboration: Discuss specific instances of cross-functional interaction and how you navigated technical challenges or differing opinions.
• Address Tooling: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Figma Variables, Token Studio, and your understanding of code implementation tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating deep, practical expertise in design tokens, their architecture, implementation, and impact, especially within a large-scale, regulated environment like healthcare. Highlighting collaboration and mentoring skills is also key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Taleo careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to prominently feature your experience with design systems, design tokens, Figma Variables, Token Studio, and cross-platform implementation (React, React Native). Prioritize case studies that demonstrate architectural leadership and measurable impact.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights the required years of experience and specific skills mentioned in the job description, using keywords like "design tokens," "theming architecture," "Figma Variables," "accessibility," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected case studies, focusing on your role, process, technical decisions (especially token architecture), and quantifiable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your approach to accessibility and collaboration.
• Research UnitedHealth Group: Understand the company's mission, values, and the broader healthcare industry context. Consider how your design system expertise can contribute to UHG's goals of improving healthcare experiences.

⚠️ 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.

---