Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: MSCI

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: February 16, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for MSCI's Private Assets business, focusing on creating intuitive and scalable experiences for investment analytics, data, and technology solutions.

• Drive consistency, usability, and design quality across a suite of products at a platform and portfolio level, shaping overall experience strategy and interaction patterns.

• Design user experiences for AI-enabled product features, leveraging AI tools to enhance the speed and quality of the product design lifecycle.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Research, and Business stakeholders to translate complex financial and technical requirements into clear, cohesive user experiences.

• Deliver high-quality design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity UI, prototypes, dashboards, and data visualizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer within the Private Assets business unit, indicating a focus on complex, data-rich enterprise software. The emphasis on platform and portfolio level design suggests a need for strategic thinking and the ability to influence design across multiple products, rather than isolated feature design. The explicit mention of AI-enabled product experiences and AI-assisted design tools points towards a forward-thinking design team that values innovation and efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete product design lifecycle, from initial discovery and ideation through to delivery, ongoing iteration, and continuous improvement for MSCI Private Assets solutions.

• Establish and enforce UX consistency and adherence to design system standards across all products, ensuring scalable interaction patterns and a unified user experience.

• Develop intuitive and transparent user interfaces for AI-powered features, enhancing analytics, insights generation, and decision-support workflows for institutional investors.

• Utilize AI-assisted design tools to accelerate the ideation process, prototyping efforts, and overall execution within the product design lifecycle.

• Actively partner with Product Management, Engineering, Program Management, and Research teams to define product requirements, establish project priorities, and translate intricate financial and technical concepts into elegant, user-centered solutions.

• Produce comprehensive design documentation, including detailed user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity user interface mockups, interactive prototypes, performance dashboards, and sophisticated data visualizations.

• Effectively manage multiple concurrent design initiatives, demonstrating proactivity and decisive action to meet demanding project timelines in a fast-paced environment.

• Advocate for and implement user-centered design principles, accessibility standards, and usability best practices, while adeptly balancing business objectives, technical constraints, and regulatory requirements.

• Serve as a senior design leader within the Private Assets UX team, contributing creativity, strong design judgment, and assertiveness to foster effective cross-functional collaboration and drive informed decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "platform and portfolio level" indicates a need for candidates who can think architecturally about design systems and user experience across a suite of products. The integration of AI tools and AI-powered features suggests a requirement for designers comfortable with emerging technologies and their application in complex financial domains.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred.

Experience: 6+ years of experience applying user-centered design methodologies to complex, data-rich, or enterprise software products. Demonstrated ability to lead end-to-end product design and influence outcomes at a platform or portfolio level. Experience working in an Agile product development environment.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design Methodologies: Proven ability to apply design thinking and user research to solve complex problems.

• End-to-End Product Design Leadership: Experience guiding projects from concept through to launch and iteration, influencing product strategy and outcomes.

• Figma Proficiency: Expertise in using Figma for design, including creating and managing component libraries and design systems.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Skilled in creating user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs.

• Data Visualization: Ability to design effective and insightful data visualizations for complex datasets.

• Agile Development: Experience working within Agile/Scrum frameworks and collaborating with development teams.

• User Flows & Information Architecture: Strong understanding of mapping user journeys and structuring complex information.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to analyze complex requirements and translate them into elegant, user-friendly solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• AI-Enabled Design Tools: Experience with AI tools within design software (e.g., Figma plugins, AI assistants) to enhance productivity and creativity.

• AI-Driven Product Features: Experience designing or supporting the development of products that incorporate AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics.

• Financial Services/Investment Management Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with financial markets, investment analytics, risk management, or private assets is highly desirable.

• Design Systems Management: Experience in establishing, scaling, or managing comprehensive design systems.

• Usability Testing & Research: Experience conducting user research, usability testing, and synthesizing findings to inform design decisions.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of WCAG and other accessibility guidelines for inclusive design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 6+ years of experience and the emphasis on platform/portfolio level design suggest a need for a senior-level individual contributor who can operate with significant autonomy. The preference for Figma and AI-enabled design tools indicates a modern, tech-forward design environment. Domain knowledge in financial services is listed as preferred but highly desirable, suggesting that candidates with this background will have a strong advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant projects, detailing the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable impact.

• End-to-End Design Examples: Demonstrate experience across the full design lifecycle, from user research and ideation to high-fidelity UI and post-launch iteration.

• Platform/Portfolio Thinking: Include examples that illustrate how you've maintained consistency, scalability, and strategic alignment across multiple related products or features.

• Data-Rich/Complex Problem Solving: Highlight projects involving complex data, financial analytics, or enterprise-level challenges, demonstrating your ability to simplify intricate information.

• AI Integration Examples (if applicable): Showcase any experience designing for AI-powered features or leveraging AI tools in your design process.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Explanation: Clearly articulate your personal design process, emphasizing user-centered methodologies, research integration, and iterative refinement.

• System Design Approach: Detail how you approach designing for scalability, consistency, and maintainability, particularly in the context of design systems and platform-level solutions.

• Collaboration Workflow: Illustrate how you collaborate with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design and development cycle.

• Impact Measurement: For each case study, clearly define the success metrics and demonstrate the positive impact your design had on user experience, business goals, or product performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, especially given the emphasis on complex data and platform-level design. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design process and demonstrate how they've driven impact. The inclusion of AI-enabled tools in the portfolio, even if experimental, would be a significant differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $186,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Eligible for annual bonus.

• Transparent compensation schemes.

• Comprehensive employee benefits tailored to location.

• Financial security, health, and overall wellbeing support.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Access to advanced technology.

• Collaborative workspaces.

• Global Orientation program.

• Access to Learning@MSCI platform, AI Learning Center, LinkedIn Learning Pro, and tailored learning opportunities.

• Multi-directional career paths for professional growth and development.

• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) fostering inclusion and belonging.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Senior UX Designer role in New York City, aligning with industry benchmarks for experienced professionals in complex enterprise software environments. The comprehensive benefits package emphasizes professional development, work-life balance, and employee wellbeing, which are attractive to senior-level talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Data & Analytics, Investment Management Technology. MSCI is a global leader in providing critical decision support tools and benchmark indexes for the investment community.

Company Size: MSCI is a large, publicly traded company with a global presence, likely employing thousands of individuals worldwide. This scale suggests established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for broad impact.

Founded: MSCI's origins trace back to 1968, indicating a long history of innovation and adaptation within the financial markets. This heritage suggests stability and deep domain expertise.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will be part of the Private Assets UX team, suggesting a specialized group focused on a specific business unit.

• This team likely collaborates closely with dedicated Product Management, Engineering, and Research functions within the Private Assets division.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using data, analytics, and user insights to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile Development Practices: The team operates within an Agile framework, requiring iterative design and close partnership with development.

• User-Centered Approach: A strong commitment to understanding user needs and translating them into effective, intuitive experiences.

• Design System Utilization: A focus on leveraging and contributing to a robust design system for consistency and scalability.

• AI Integration: Exploration and practical application of AI tools and AI-powered features in product design and development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: MSCI's position as a leader in financial data and analytics means the company culture likely values rigor, accuracy, innovation, and a deep understanding of client needs. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a forward-looking approach to technology adoption within a traditionally conservative industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a "Senior" individual contributor level, indicating a strong command of UX design principles and the ability to lead complex projects independently. It implies a level of expertise that can mentor junior designers and influence design strategy. The focus on platform/portfolio level design suggests expectations beyond individual feature ownership.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or Head of Design within the Private Assets division. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads in a matrixed environment.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of MSCI's Private Assets solutions. By creating intuitive and powerful tools for institutional investors, the designer contributes to better decision-making, improved risk management, and enhanced portfolio performance for clients, ultimately driving revenue and client satisfaction for MSCI. The integration of AI features further amplifies this impact by potentially unlocking new levels of insight and efficiency for users.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing teams and defining design vision.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as AI-driven design, complex data visualization, or financial analytics UX.

• Cross-Business Unit Mobility: Opportunities to move into design roles within other MSCI business units, broadening experience.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the UX practice at MSCI.

• Skill Expansion: Continuous learning through MSCI's extensive L&D resources, focusing on emerging design technologies and financial domain knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior role, the primary growth path is likely towards leadership or deep specialization. The company's investment in learning resources and internal mobility suggests a supportive environment for career progression within the UX function and the broader organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: MSCI offers flexible working arrangements, including collaborative workspaces. While the role is on-site in New York, the company culture supports a blend of focused work and collaborative interaction. This could include open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially quiet zones for focused design tasks.

Office Location(s): The role is based at MSCI's office located at 250 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007. This is a prime location in the heart of Manhattan's financial district, offering excellent accessibility and proximity to industry hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The workspace is designed to foster interaction and teamwork, crucial for design thinking and cross-functional alignment.

• Technology-Rich: Access to advanced design tools and technology is a given, supporting efficient and high-quality design output.

• Operations Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities to engage with fellow UX designers, product managers, engineers, and research teams, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

• Focused Workspaces: While collaborative, the environment likely also provides spaces conducive to deep work required for complex design challenges.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with flexibility expected to accommodate project needs and team collaboration. Standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM EST) are typical, but adaptability to different time zones for global collaboration might be necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a major financial hub like New York suggests a dynamic work environment. The emphasis on flexible arrangements within an on-site context implies a modern approach to office work, balancing in-person collaboration with individual needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application, focusing on experience, skills, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: You will likely present your portfolio to a hiring manager or senior designer. This stage assesses your design thinking, process, and ability to articulate your work's impact. Expect questions about your experience with Figma, complex data, and AI.

• Design Exercise/Challenge: A practical design task may be given, either as a take-home assignment or an in-interview exercise, focusing on problem-solving within a relevant domain (e.g., designing a dashboard for private asset analysis).

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Round: Discussions with senior leadership to confirm overall fit, strategic thinking, and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience with complex, data-rich enterprise software, end-to-end design, and platform-level thinking.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process you followed, key challenges and decisions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Figma & AI: Explicitly demonstrate your proficiency in Figma and any experience with AI-enabled design tools or AI-driven product features.

• Showcase Process: Detail your user-centered design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your collaboration style, and your understanding of financial markets.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research MSCI, its Private Assets business, and the financial industry to inform your approach.

• Focus on Process: Even if time is limited, demonstrate a clear, user-centered design process. Outline your assumptions and how you would validate them.

• Simplify Complexity: Practice designing for complex data scenarios. Focus on clarity, hierarchy, and intuitive navigation.

• Present Concisely: Prepare a clear and concise presentation of your solution, highlighting key design decisions and their rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process appears to be thorough, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and practical design skills. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with complex data, AI, and the Figma toolset in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly mentioned as a required and preferred tool, indicating it's the primary design and prototyping platform. Expect extensive use for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency with design systems and component libraries within Figma is key.

• AI-Enabled Design Tools: The role mentions leveraging AI tools to accelerate the design lifecycle. This could include AI-powered plugins for Figma, AI assistants for content generation, or tools for automated design tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: While specific tools aren't named, the role requires designing dashboards and data visualizations. Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or custom charting libraries would be beneficial for understanding data representation.

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar platforms used to track user behavior and product performance is advantageous for understanding user data and informing design.

CRM & Automation:

• Product Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira, Confluence, or Asana for managing tasks, workflows, and documentation within an Agile development environment.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with standard communication and collaboration platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and video conferencing software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack heavily emphasizes modern design tools, particularly Figma, and embraces AI advancements in the design process. Candidates should highlight their experience with these tools and their adaptability to new technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs and experience in all design decisions.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design strategies, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering open communication and teamwork across diverse functions (Product, Engineering, Research, Business) to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Rigor: A commitment to high-quality design, accuracy, and thoroughness, especially critical in the financial industry.

• Adaptability & Continuous Learning: Embracing new technologies (like AI) and methodologies to stay at the forefront of design and industry trends.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes and driving projects to successful completion.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are integrated into product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers from discovery through delivery.

• Proactive Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, seeking feedback, and proactively sharing design progress and insights.

• Shared Vision: Working towards a common understanding of product goals and user needs, aligning design solutions with business objectives.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture where constructive feedback is welcomed and used to refine designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: MSCI's culture appears to value both technical excellence and collaborative teamwork. The emphasis on data, user-centricity, and continuous learning aligns well with the demands of a senior role in a cutting-edge financial technology company.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Financial Data: Designing intuitive experiences for highly complex, data-intensive financial products and analytics requires deep understanding and sophisticated design solutions.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Juggling requirements from Product, Engineering, Research, Business, and regulatory bodies while maintaining a strong user focus.

• AI Integration Nuances: Effectively designing user experiences for AI-powered features, ensuring transparency, trustworthiness, and practical utility, especially in a regulated industry.

• Maintaining Consistency Across Platforms: Ensuring a cohesive and scalable user experience across a broad suite of Private Assets solutions requires diligent application of design systems and strategic thinking.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to rapidly evolving market demands and project timelines in the financial technology sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Emerging Tech: Access to MSCI's AI Learning Center and other resources provides opportunities to deepen knowledge in AI-driven design and product development.

• Financial Domain Expertise: Continuous learning through internal resources and industry exposure to enhance understanding of private markets, investment analytics, and risk management.

• Design System Mastery: Opportunity to contribute to and lead the evolution of MSCI's design system, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Leadership Skills: Development opportunities through mentorship, leading projects, and potential progression into management roles.

• Global Exposure: Working with a diverse, global team provides exposure to different perspectives and market needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the chance to tackle significant challenges in a high-impact industry, with ample support for professional growth and skill development, particularly in the burgeoning areas of AI and complex data visualization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a complex, data-rich enterprise software product. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure a successful outcome?" (Focus on process, ownership, and impact)

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for our Private Assets platform that provides investment insights? What ethical considerations would you prioritize?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI UX, transparency, and domain relevance)

• "Walk us through your process for contributing to or evolving a design system. How do you balance consistency with the need for flexibility across different products?" (Highlight system thinking, collaboration, and scalability)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about MSCI and our Private Assets business?" (Research MSCI's mission, products, and recent news)

• "How do you approach collaborating with Product Managers and Engineers in an Agile environment?" (Emphasize partnership, communication, and iterative feedback)

• "MSCI values data-driven innovation. How do you incorporate data and user research into your design process?" (Provide specific examples of data informing decisions and measuring success)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: problem, your role, process, solutions, impact, and learnings. Use a clear narrative for each case study.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out where your work demonstrates expertise in Figma, complex data visualization, AI integration (if applicable), and platform-level thinking.

• Quantify Results: Present metrics and data to support the success of your designs. Use clear charts and graphs.

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your design process step-by-step, explaining the rationale behind your decisions at each stage.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your specific contributions, design choices, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing strategic thinking, deep UX expertise, a strong understanding of complex data, and adaptability to new technologies like AI, all within the context of financial services.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the MSCI careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex, data-rich enterprise software, end-to-end design leadership, and platform-level thinking. Specifically showcase your proficiency in Figma and any exposure to AI-enabled design tools or AI-driven features.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of relevant experience, highlighting achievements and responsibilities that align with the job description, especially those related to complex problem-solving, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, design decisions, and the impact of your work using the STAR method. Prepare specific examples for common UX interview questions and be ready to discuss your experience with MSCI's industry and products.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research MSCI, its Private Assets business, its mission, values, and recent developments. Understand the competitive landscape within financial technology and data analytics. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

⚠️ 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.