Senior UX Designer, Search

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer, Search Company: Google Location: London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-Time Category: UX/Product Design Date Posted: 2026-01-29 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing intuitive and engaging user experiences for Google's Search products, impacting billions of users globally.
• The Senior UX Designer will be instrumental in translating complex user needs into simple, elegant, and magical product interactions.
• Responsibilities include end-to-end design processes, from concept and user research to prototyping and final UI development, with a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams including engineers, product managers, and researchers is key to driving innovation and ensuring a holistic systems-thinking approach across platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original listing is for a UX Designer, given the "Senior" title and the emphasis on "driving explorations of experiences across a portfolio of features and products" and "partnering with executive members of the team," this role implies a significant level of autonomy and strategic input, aligning with a senior-level operations contributor in a GTM context, albeit within product design. The focus on user needs, validation, and iteration is analogous to operational efficiency and process optimization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceive, test, and iterate on innovative and engaging prototypes for Search features, driving explorations across a portfolio of products based on user research and validation.
• Partner strategically with engineering, product management, and Search Foundations teams to define and deliver exceptional user experiences across multiple platforms and applications.
• Advocate for user needs and a holistic systems-thinking approach, ensuring consistency and quality of design across the Search ecosystem.
• Develop and document interaction design best practices, contributing to and evolving the Google design language and design systems.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, presenting compelling design rationale and fostering a system-wide design mindset.
• Contribute to building accessible products, ensuring inclusivity and usability for all users.
• Drive the creative process from concept to execution, leveraging user-centered design methods to craft industry-leading user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and a deep understanding of user needs, which are critical in operational roles focused on GTM efficiency and user adoption. The emphasis on "holistic systems-thinking" and "advocating for user needs across platforms" directly translates to understanding and optimizing end-to-end GTM processes and user journeys.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in product design or UX, with a proven track record of developing and prototyping for Android or iOS platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in UI development for apps or operating systems (System UI).
• Experience designing across multiple platforms, working collaboratively with technical and design teams to create user flows, wireframes, and build user interface mockups and prototypes.

Required Skills:

• Product Design & UX: Extensive experience in end-to-end product design and user experience development.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
• Visual & Interaction Design: Strong skills in visual design, interaction design, and creating compelling user interfaces.
• Motion Design: Experience with motion design principles, particularly related to physics, patterns, and visual design elements within user interfaces.
• Platform Experience: Proven ability to design for and develop on Android and/or iOS platforms.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with engineering, product management, and other design teams.
• Portfolio: A strong portfolio or link to work demonstrating visual design, prototyping, and user-centered design skills is mandatory.

Preferred Skills:

• User Research: Experience in conducting user research and translating insights into design decisions.
• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to design systems, ensuring design consistency and scalability.
• Accessibility: Proven ability to design accessible products that meet diverse user needs.
• Product Thinking: Strong product thinking capabilities with the ability to articulate strategic design decisions.
• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate compelling design rationale and stories to diverse stakeholders.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and design for complex systems and cross-platform experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are highly transferable to operations roles, particularly in understanding user flows (customer journeys), system thinking (GTM process mapping), and collaboration. A strong portfolio showcasing process and impact is crucial, mirroring the need for a process portfolio in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your process from problem identification to solution implementation. For each case study, clearly articulate the user problem, your role, the design process undertaken, key decisions, and the final outcome.
• User-Centered Design: Highlight examples that explicitly demonstrate your application of user-centered design methodologies, including research, testing, and iteration.
• Systemic Thinking: Present projects that illustrate your ability to design for complex systems, considering cross-platform consistency and integration within a larger product ecosystem.
• Impact & Metrics: Where possible, quantify the impact of your designs, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion, efficiency, or other relevant KPIs. Focus on demonstrating ROI or user value.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate experience in mapping and designing user flows and interaction workflows that are intuitive and efficient.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Showcase your ability to create high-fidelity prototypes and articulate how they were used for testing and iteration.
• Design System Contribution: If applicable, provide examples of how you have contributed to or leveraged design systems to ensure scalability and consistency in your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial. For operations roles, a portfolio should highlight process optimization, system implementation, data analysis, and measurable business impact. Applicants should tailor their portfolio to showcase similar frameworks: problem definition, process mapping, solution design, implementation, and performance measurement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Designers in London with 6+ years of experience at a major tech company like Google, the estimated salary range is £90,000 - £130,000 per annum. This range is subject to variation based on specific experience, interview performance, and internal Google compensation bands.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., pension scheme) with company matching.
• Stock options or Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of compensation.
• Parental leave and family-friendly benefits.
• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and access to learning resources.
• On-site amenities (depending on office location) such as cafeterias, fitness centers, and wellness programs.
• Commuter benefits and relocation assistance where applicable.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week.
• While on-site, Google often offers flexibility in daily work schedules, allowing for adjustments to accommodate personal needs, provided core collaboration hours are met and project deadlines are achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates for London are based on market research from reputable sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and industry-specific salary surveys for senior UX roles in the tech sector. Benefits are standard for large tech organizations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Internet Services and Software) Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees) Founded: 1998 Company Slogan: "Focus on the user and all else will follow."

Team Structure:

• The UX team at Google is a multi-disciplinary group comprising UX Designers, Researchers, Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers.
• This role is within the Search division, a core product area for Google, implying close collaboration with product management and engineering teams focused on Search experiences.
• The team operates with a strong emphasis on collaboration, user advocacy, and data-informed decision-making.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: The core philosophy is to deeply understand user needs, behaviors, and emotions to inform product strategy and design.
• Iterative Development: A continuous cycle of design, prototyping, testing, and refinement is employed to ensure product quality and user satisfaction.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close partnerships with engineering and product management are essential to translate insights and designs into functional, high-quality products.
• Data-Driven Insights: Insights gathered from user research and product analytics are critical for informing design decisions and validating concepts.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture is well-documented for its emphasis on innovation, user focus, and data-driven decision-making, which are highly relevant to operations roles aiming for efficiency and impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor

• This role represents a senior individual contributor position within the design function, focusing on complex problem-solving and strategic input for a critical product area.
• It demands a high degree of autonomy, technical expertise, and the ability to influence product direction.

Reporting Structure:

• Senior UX Designers typically report to a UX Manager or Lead within their product area.
• They work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other cross-functional stakeholders.

Operations Impact:

• The design decisions made in this role directly impact the usability, engagement, and effectiveness of Google Search for billions of users worldwide.
• Successful designs contribute to user retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, Google's business objectives through enhanced user journeys and product adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to move into a UX Lead role, managing a small team or a specific product initiative, or a Principal UX Designer role, focusing on highly complex, strategic design challenges.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like interaction design, visual design, motion design, accessibility, or user research within the Search domain.
• Cross-Product Mobility: Potential to move to other product areas within Google to apply design skills to different user problems and product challenges.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the broader design community within Google.

📝 Enhancement Note: In an operations context, this translates to career progression from individual contributor to team lead, manager, or senior specialist, with opportunities to impact broader GTM strategies and business outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily On-site with potential for hybrid flexibility. Office Location(s): Google's London office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and teamwork. Specific details about the Search UX team's immediate environment within the London office would be provided during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely features a variety of work environments, including open-plan areas, quiet zones, meeting rooms, and informal collaboration spaces designed to support diverse work styles.
• Tools & Technology: Access to state-of-the-art design software, hardware, and internal Google tools essential for UX design and prototyping.
• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for informal and formal interaction with design peers, product managers, engineers, and researchers, fostering a dynamic and supportive team environment.

Work Schedule:

• While the standard is 40 hours per week, Google emphasizes results over strict hours. There is often flexibility in daily schedules, allowing designers to manage their time effectively to meet project milestones and personal needs. Core hours for collaboration are typically expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaborative spaces and access to tools aligns with the needs of operations professionals who rely on integrated systems and team synergy for efficiency.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application and portfolio. If aligned, you'll have an initial conversation.
• Technical Screen/Portfolio Review: You'll likely present your portfolio to a panel of UX Designers and potentially a Product Manager. This involves walking through your case studies, explaining your process, design decisions, and impact.
• On-site/Virtual Interviews: Typically 3-5 interviews covering various aspects:
  • Design Skills: Deep dive into your design process, problem-solving abilities, and interaction/visual design expertise.
  • Product Thinking & Strategy: Assessing your ability to understand business goals, user needs, and translate them into strategic design solutions.
  • Collaboration & Communication: Evaluating your ability to work with cross-functional teams and articulate your ideas clearly.
  • Behavioral Questions: Standard questions assessing teamwork, handling challenges, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Committee Review: The feedback from interviews is compiled and reviewed by a hiring committee for a final decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase a range of skills and impact.
• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative – problem, your role, process, challenges, solutions, and outcomes.
• Emphasize Process: Clearly articulate how you arrived at your design solutions. Highlight your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing methodologies.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the success and business value of your work.
• Be Prepared to Defend Decisions: Anticipate questions about your choices and be ready to explain the rationale behind them, especially trade-offs.
• Tailor to Google: Understand Google's design philosophy and search product. Frame your experience in a way that resonates with their user-centric approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge, which could be a take-home assignment or an in-interview exercise. This will likely involve a specific problem related to Search or a related product.
• Focus on demonstrating your structured thinking, user advocacy, and ability to generate creative solutions within constraints.
• Practice presenting your thought process clearly and concisely, even if you don't have a fully polished solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations candidates should prepare similarly, focusing on showcasing their process for problem-solving, system optimization, and data-driven decision-making within their portfolio and interview responses.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), Framer, ProtoPie.
• User Research & Testing: Google's internal research tools, UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet), Jira, Asana, Trello.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker (Google's own BI platform), Google Data Studio.
• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, internal Google analytics tools for user behavior tracking.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for UX, familiarity with how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation tools influence user journeys can be beneficial for understanding the broader product ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in design and prototyping tools is paramount. For operations roles, familiarity with CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), Marketing Automation (Marketo, Pardot), BI Tools (Tableau, Power BI), and potentially ERP systems is critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: A deep and unwavering commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring all design decisions prioritize the user experience.
• Innovation: A drive to explore new ideas, push creative boundaries, and develop novel solutions that delight users.
• Collaboration: A belief in the power of teamwork, fostering open communication and mutual respect across diverse disciplines.
• Data-Informed: Utilizing data and insights from research and analytics to guide decisions and measure impact, rather than relying solely on intuition.
• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to crafting high-quality, polished, and effective products that meet Google's rigorous standards.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working closely with Product Managers and Engineers to co-create solutions, ensuring alignment on goals and feasibility.
• Open Feedback: A culture where constructive feedback is encouraged and valued as a means to improve designs and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing learnings, best practices, and design patterns across teams to elevate the collective expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values directly map to operational excellence: user focus becomes customer focus, innovation drives process improvement, collaboration ensures GTM alignment, and data-informed decisions are the bedrock of operational strategy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Designing for Google Search, a product used by billions, presents immense challenges in terms of scalability, performance, and catering to diverse user needs and contexts globally.
• Balancing User Needs and Business Goals: Effectively integrating user needs with Google's business objectives and technical constraints requires sophisticated problem-solving and negotiation.
• Staying Ahead of Trends: The rapidly evolving digital landscape and user expectations necessitate continuous learning and adaptation to maintain product relevance and innovation.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and high-quality experience across a vast array of devices, platforms, and operating system versions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Internal Workshops & Training: Access to extensive internal training programs on design techniques, new tools, and product areas.
• Conferences & External Learning: Opportunities to attend industry conferences and access online learning platforms for continuous skill development.
• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal mentorship opportunities with senior designers and leaders within Google.
• Design Guilds & Communities: Participation in internal design communities to share knowledge, receive feedback, and stay abreast of industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations professionals face similar challenges in aligning complex GTM processes with business goals, managing data at scale, and adapting to evolving market dynamics. Growth lies in mastering these complexities and driving strategic improvements.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing a new feature for Google Search, focusing on user needs, potential challenges, and how you'd measure success.
• Expect questions about your process for handling conflicting stakeholder opinions or design constraints. How do you advocate for the user while considering business realities?
• Prepare to explain how you would diagnose and solve a usability problem within an existing Search feature, using your design process and potential data sources.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research Google's mission, values, and the specific goals of the Search product. Understand how user experience contributes to these.
• Be ready to discuss how you collaborate with engineers and product managers. Provide examples of successful cross-functional partnerships.
• Prepare to articulate how you measure the impact of your design work and how you use data to inform your decisions.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve and the user needs you addressed.
• Walk Through Your Process: Detail your steps, including research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. Explain the rationale behind key decisions.
• Showcase Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially if it was a team project.
• Highlight Outcomes: Present the results of your work, using metrics and user feedback to demonstrate impact. If metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates, preparation should focus on articulating GTM strategies, process optimization methodologies, data analysis frameworks, and cross-functional alignment strategies with clear, quantifiable examples.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Google Careers portal, ensuring your resume includes a direct, viewable link to your portfolio.
• Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product design, UX, prototyping, and working with technical teams, using keywords from the job description.
• Prepare to articulate specific examples from your portfolio that demonstrate your user-centered design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver high-quality, impactful designs.
• Research Google's design philosophy, the Search product, and its user base to understand the context and demonstrate your alignment with the company's values.
• Practice presenting your portfolio case studies clearly and concisely, focusing on your process, decisions, and the outcomes achieved.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations/design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Google's hiring organization before making application decisions. The salary range is an estimate based on market data for London.