Senior UX Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Engineer Company: Microsoft Location: Redmond, Washington, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience Engineering / Design Systems Date Posted: July 23, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develops and implements cutting-edge front-end designs and user interface systems, focusing on the visual expression of Windows and AI integration.
• Drives product design by identifying user needs, generating ideation solutions, and creating prototypes to validate concepts and gather feedback.
• Serves as a crucial liaison between Design and Engineering teams, ensuring seamless collaboration, consistent implementation of design systems, and delivery of product requirements.
• Champions accessibility and user experience coherence throughout the product cycle, from prototyping and design consultation to feature implementation and iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior UX Engineer," the responsibilities strongly indicate a hybrid role with a significant emphasis on front-end development and design system implementation, rather than traditional UX research or pure interaction design. The focus on "implementing successful user experiences" and "developing front end designs, specs, user interface systems" points to a hands-on engineering role with a strong design sensibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain front-end interfaces and user interface systems, ensuring alignment with Windows design language and AI integration requirements.
• Collaborate closely with UX designers to translate design concepts into functional prototypes and production-ready code, iterating based on feedback and user research.
• Partner with software engineers to implement, test, and refine user-facing features, ensuring technical feasibility and adherence to design specifications.
• Create detailed design specifications and documentation for components within the Windows design system, facilitating consistency and scalability.
• Identify and address user needs through user-centric design processes, problem-solving, and the development of innovative solutions.
• Champion accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) throughout the design and development process, ensuring inclusive user experiences for all.
• Conduct user feedback sessions on prototypes and implemented features to inform iterative design improvements and product enhancements.
• Liaise between design and engineering teams to ensure clear communication, manage expectations, and drive the timely delivery of product requirements.
• Maintain consistency with existing codebases and design systems, contributing to their evolution and improvement.
• Contribute to the full product cycle, including ideation, prototyping, design consultation, and feature implementation, ensuring a cohesive and delightful user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes a holistic product cycle involvement, extending beyond typical front-end development to include ideation, user needs identification, and direct collaboration with both design and engineering. This suggests a role that requires strong ownership and a deep understanding of both the user and the technical implementation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in UX Engineering, Front-End Development with a strong design focus, or a similar hybrid role.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing user interfaces and systems within a large-scale product environment.
• Proven track record of working within or contributing to design systems.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design Awareness: Exceptional eye for visual design, aesthetics, and user interface principles.
• Front-End Development: Proficiency in modern front-end technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript) and frameworks relevant to Windows development (e.g., WinUI, XAML, or similar component-based UI frameworks).
• Prototyping: Experience creating interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or custom code-based solutions to validate design concepts.
• User Interface (UI) Systems: Deep understanding and practical experience in developing and implementing UI systems and component libraries.
• Accessibility: Strong knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and experience implementing accessible user interfaces.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across disciplines, partnering with designers, engineers, and product managers.
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to tackle complex user experience challenges and develop innovative, user-centric solutions.
• Design Systems Thinking: Understanding of how to maintain consistency, scalability, and coherence within a design system codebase.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Windows UI frameworks (WinUI, UWP, WPF).
• Familiarity with AI integration concepts and their user interface implications.
• Experience with user research methodologies and incorporating user feedback into design iterations.
• Proficiency in version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Experience in agile development methodologies.
• Strong communication skills for liaising between design and engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level implies a need for candidates who can operate independently, mentor junior team members, and contribute strategically to the design system's direction. The emphasis on "exceptional visual design awareness" suggests that candidates with a design background who can code, or engineers with a strong portfolio of design work, will be highly competitive.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing front-end development projects with a significant emphasis on user interface design and implementation.
• Include case studies that highlight your involvement in the entire product cycle, from ideation and prototyping to final implementation and iteration.
• Showcase examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, including component libraries and style guides.
• Provide evidence of successful collaboration with designers and engineers, detailing your role in bridging the gap between design and development.
• Quantify the impact of your work where possible, using metrics related to user experience improvements, efficiency gains, or design system adoption.

Process Documentation:

• Present documentation or examples of your process for translating design specifications into functional code, including any wireframing, prototyping, or spec-writing you've performed.
• Illustrate your approach to integrating accessibility best practices into your development workflow.
• Detail your methods for iterating on designs based on user feedback and team input, demonstrating a structured approach to refinement.
• Include examples of how you've ensured consistency and coherence across multiple features or products using design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Engineer role, the portfolio should not just display finished products but also the process behind them. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their design and development workflows, explaining their decision-making, problem-solving approaches, and how they leveraged design systems and user feedback to achieve successful outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated salary range for a Senior UX Engineer in Redmond, Washington, with 5-10 years of experience, typically falls between $130,000 and $180,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific skills, interview performance, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)) with company matching.
• Stock purchase programs and potential for equity.
• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and certifications.
• Employee discounts on Microsoft products and services.
• Wellness programs and resources.
• Parental leave and family-friendly benefits.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Microsoft generally offers flexibility in daily start and end times, provided core business hours and team collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Seattle metropolitan area, considering Microsoft's compensation structure for senior technical positions. Benefits are standard for large tech companies and are tailored to attract and retain top talent in the engineering and design fields.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software & Technology (Cloud Computing, Operating Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Gaming, Hardware) Company Size: Enterprise (Microsoft is one of the largest technology companies globally, employing hundreds of thousands of people). This large scale offers opportunities for broad impact and exposure to diverse projects but may also involve navigating complex organizational structures. Founded: 1975. Microsoft has a long history of innovation, evolving from PC software to cloud services, AI, and beyond, fostering a culture that values continuous adaptation and forward-thinking.

Team Structure:

• The Windows Design Systems team likely comprises a mix of UX Designers, UX Engineers, Program Managers, and potentially researchers, all focused on creating a cohesive and efficient design language for Windows products.
• Reporting structures will likely involve a lead designer or engineering manager overseeing the team, with direct reports handling specific design system components or feature integrations.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with close partnerships between this team and core Windows development teams, AI integration specialists, and product marketing.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Decisions are heavily data-driven, utilizing user telemetry, A/B testing results, and user research findings to inform design and development choices.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Emphasis on agile methodologies, iterative development cycles, and continuous improvement of design system components and implementation processes.
• Automation & Efficiency: Utilizing tools and processes to automate repetitive tasks, streamline design handoffs, and ensure efficient implementation of design system elements across various Windows experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Microsoft's culture is built on a "growth mindset," encouraging learning, embracing challenges, and fostering collaboration. For a Senior UX Engineer, this translates to an environment where innovation is encouraged, and continuous skill development is supported, particularly in emerging areas like AI integration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior individual contributor role within the User Experience and Design Systems discipline. It signifies a level of expertise where the individual is expected to lead technical execution on complex design initiatives, mentor others, and contribute to strategic decisions regarding the design system's evolution.

Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a Design Lead, Engineering Manager, or Group Program Manager responsible for the Windows Design Systems portfolio. The role involves close collaboration with UX Designers, Product Managers, and various engineering teams across Windows and AI product groups.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Engineer's work directly influences the user experience and visual consistency of the Windows operating system and its integrated AI features. By developing and implementing robust design systems, they enable faster feature development, ensure a higher quality user interface, and contribute to Microsoft's mission of empowering users globally. Their ability to bridge design and engineering ensures that innovative user experiences are realized efficiently and effectively.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in front-end development for operating systems, advanced UI frameworks, or specific areas of AI-driven UX.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Advance into technical leadership roles, guiding junior engineers, leading specific design system initiatives, or becoming a subject matter expert.
• Cross-Product Exposure: Transition to roles that involve applying design system principles across other Microsoft products or platforms.
• Management Track: With demonstrated leadership and people management skills, potential progression into management roles overseeing design system teams or broader UX engineering efforts.
• Learning & Development: Access to internal training, external conferences, and opportunities to stay abreast of the latest trends in UX, design systems, and AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title at Microsoft often implies a significant level of autonomy and influence. Growth opportunities are typically tied to demonstrated impact, leadership potential, and a commitment to continuous learning within the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Microsoft's Redmond campus is a modern, expansive office environment designed to foster collaboration and innovation. It typically includes open-plan workspaces, dedicated team areas, meeting rooms equipped with advanced technology, and various amenities. Office Location(s): The primary location is Redmond, Washington, within Microsoft's corporate headquarters. This provides access to a vibrant tech ecosystem and a hub of technological innovation.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely to be collaborative, encouraging frequent interaction with designers, engineers, and program managers. This fosters a dynamic environment for problem-solving and idea generation.
• Access to state-of-the-art tools, hardware, and software is a given, supporting efficient design and development workflows.
• Opportunities for informal and formal knowledge sharing sessions, tech talks, and team building activities are common, promoting a strong sense of community and continuous learning.

Work Schedule:

• The role is designated as On-site, meaning regular attendance at the Redmond office is expected. This facilitates close collaboration and team cohesion. Standard business hours apply, with flexibility often available for daily schedules as long as core responsibilities and team needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement at Microsoft's headquarters is indicative of the company's emphasis on in-person collaboration, serendipitous interactions, and the benefits of a shared physical workspace for driving innovation in complex projects like operating system development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application, focusing on relevant experience, skills, and portfolio.
• Technical Phone Screen: Expect a call with a UX Engineer or Designer to discuss your background, key skills, and potentially a brief technical or design challenge.
• On-site/Virtual Loop: This typically involves multiple interviews (4-6 sessions) covering:
  • Design System Deep Dive: Discussion of your experience with design systems, component development, and maintenance.
  • Front-End Technical Interview: Coding exercises focusing on JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and potentially a specific framework, assessing your ability to implement UI components efficiently and accessibly.
  • Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, explaining your process, design decisions, and impact on past projects. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies in detail.
  • Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions assessing collaboration, problem-solving, handling ambiguity, leadership, and alignment with Microsoft's values.
  • System Design/Architecture: Discussion on how you'd approach designing or scaling a UI system for a large product.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Final discussion focusing on overall fit, career aspirations, and alignment with the team's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills in UX engineering, front-end development, and design systems. Prioritize projects with clear problem statements, your specific contributions, and measurable outcomes.
• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design and development process, the tools you used, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Use visual aids effectively.
• Showcase Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did your work improve user satisfaction, reduce development time, increase adoption of design system components, or enhance accessibility?
• Design System Examples: If you have specific contributions to design systems, showcase them clearly – component examples, style guide elements, or documentation you created.
• Accessibility Focus: Ensure at least one project demonstrates a strong understanding and implementation of accessibility best practices.
• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation like a narrative, guiding the interviewer through your thought process and problem-solving journey.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Challenges: Practice front-end coding problems, focusing on JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and potentially common UI patterns. Expect questions related to performance optimization, responsive design, and accessibility.
• Design System Challenges: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or extending a design system, designing a specific component, or solving a common UI problem within a system context.
• Behavioral Questions: Prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, and handling difficult situations.
• Microsoft Culture: Research Microsoft's mission, values, and current strategic initiatives (e.g., AI integration, Windows evolution) to demonstrate your understanding and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Microsoft interviews are known for their rigor. The portfolio review is a critical component, so candidates must be able to articulate their contributions and demonstrate a deep understanding of their craft. Expect technical depth and a focus on how you think and solve problems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP (for interactive prototypes).
• Front-End Development: HTML5, CSS3 (including preprocessors like Sass/LESS), JavaScript (ES6+), TypeScript.
• Frameworks/Libraries: Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js) is often beneficial, though specific Windows UI frameworks will be crucial.
• Version Control: Git, GitHub, GitLab, or Azure Repos.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) for understanding user behavior.
• Experience with A/B testing tools and methodologies to validate design changes.
• Proficiency in using data visualization tools for reporting on UX metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how UI elements integrate with backend systems and data flows is important.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and build automation tools (e.g., Jenkins, Azure DevOps) for efficient deployment of front-end code.
• Experience with accessibility testing tools and linters.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific frameworks might vary, a strong foundation in modern web technologies, coupled with the ability to adapt to Microsoft's internal tooling and Windows-specific UI frameworks (like WinUI), is essential. The emphasis is on building robust, scalable, and accessible user interfaces.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Growth Mindset: Embracing challenges, learning from feedback, and continuously seeking to improve skills and processes, especially in the rapidly evolving fields of UX and AI.
• Customer Focus: Deeply understanding user needs and prioritizing the creation of delightful, efficient, and accessible experiences for all Windows users.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams (design, engineering, product management) to achieve shared goals and deliver high-quality products.
• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving, exploring new technologies, and pushing the boundaries of user interface design and implementation.
• Accountability: Taking ownership of work, delivering on commitments, and driving projects to successful completion with a focus on quality and impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively participating in design reviews, engineering stand-ups, and product planning meetings to ensure seamless integration of design and technical efforts.
• Process & Feedback Exchange: Openly sharing work, providing constructive feedback to peers, and being receptive to feedback from others to refine designs and code.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to internal wikis, documentation, and informal knowledge-sharing sessions to elevate the team's collective expertise in design systems and UX engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: Microsoft's emphasis on its core values permeates all teams. For a Senior UX Engineer, demonstrating these values through your work, communication, and collaborative approach will be key to fitting into the team and company culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Working with the immense scale and complexity of the Windows operating system and its integrations requires meticulous attention to detail and robust engineering practices.
• Design System Evolution: Keeping a design system current, scalable, and adopted across a vast product ecosystem is an ongoing challenge requiring strong advocacy and technical leadership.
• Balancing Design & Engineering: Effectively bridging the gap between high-fidelity design concepts and feasible, performant engineering implementation requires constant negotiation and problem-solving.
• Rapid Technological Advancements: Staying ahead of emerging trends in AI, UI technologies, and user expectations necessitates continuous learning and adaptation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in front-end frameworks, accessibility standards, UI architecture, and performance optimization.
• Industry Exposure: Access to internal Microsoft conferences, external tech events, and workshops focused on UX, design systems, and AI.
• Mentorship: Potential to receive mentorship from senior leaders and contribute to mentoring junior engineers, fostering leadership skills.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to product management, user research, and advanced engineering practices within Microsoft.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in working at this scale also present significant growth opportunities. Successfully navigating these complexities will build valuable experience and expertise highly sought after in the tech industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Operations Strategy: "How would you approach building or evolving a design system component for a new AI feature in Windows, considering performance, accessibility, and broad adoption?" Prepare to discuss your process, potential challenges, and how you'd collaborate with designers and engineers.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a time you had to influence a team or stakeholder to adopt a new design standard or technical approach. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?" Focus on clear communication, data-driven arguments, and building consensus.
• Problem-Solving: "Imagine a critical UI bug is reported in a component you helped implement. How would you diagnose the issue, prioritize a fix, and prevent recurrence?" Showcase your debugging process, understanding of the product lifecycle, and proactive measures.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Operations Culture: "What interests you about Microsoft's approach to design systems and user experience for Windows?" Research recent Windows updates, AI initiatives, and Microsoft's design philosophy.
• Team Dynamics: "How do you prefer to collaborate with UX Designers and Software Engineers? Describe a successful cross-functional project you were part of." Emphasize your ability to communicate effectively across disciplines.
• Operations Impact Measurement: "How would you measure the success of a new design system component or a feature you implemented?" Be ready to discuss key metrics like adoption rates, user satisfaction, performance improvements, and accessibility compliance.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Process Improvement Case Study: Select a project where you significantly improved a user experience or a development process. Clearly outline the "before" state, the problem, your proposed solution, the implementation steps, and the "after" state with quantifiable results.
• Metrics & ROI: For your chosen projects, be prepared to present the key metrics you tracked and how they demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) of your work – e.g., how a well-designed component reduced support calls, or how a streamlined process sped up feature delivery.
• Interactive Demonstration: If possible, have a live demo or interactive prototype ready to showcase the functionality and user flow of a key project. Be prepared to navigate it smoothly and explain your design choices in real-time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interview questions to probe your understanding of design systems, front-end architecture, accessibility, and your ability to translate design vision into reality. Your portfolio is your primary tool to demonstrate these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the Microsoft Careers portal using the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to specifically highlight your experience with front-end development, design systems, UI implementation, and accessibility. Select projects that best showcase your ability to bridge design and engineering.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, technical proficiencies (languages, frameworks, tools), and achievements using action verbs and quantifiable results. Integrate keywords like "UX Engineer," "Front-End Development," "Design Systems," "Accessibility," and "UI Implementation."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your process, design decisions, and project outcomes. Prepare STAR method answers for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in depth. Familiarize yourself with Microsoft's mission and values.
• Company Research: Understand Microsoft's current focus areas, particularly regarding Windows, AI integration, and their commitment to user experience and accessibility. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.