Software Engineer Principal (UX Design SME)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Software Engineer Principal (UX Design SME)

Company: PNC

Location: Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Technology / Software Engineering / UX Design

Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a Principal Software Engineer role with a specific focus as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in User Experience (UX) Design, bridging the gap between technical implementation and user-centric design principles.

• The role requires a strong understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), with an emphasis on aligning business strategies with effective, user-friendly software solutions.

• Responsibilities include leading end-to-end UX design efforts, from initial discovery and user research through to final delivery and implementation.

• The position demands an innovative approach to applying modern principles, methodologies, and tools to advance business initiatives, with a critical focus on user research, journey mapping, and usability testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Software Engineer Principal (UX Design SME)" title clearly indicates a senior-level engineering role that requires deep expertise in UX design. This is not a pure UX designer role but an engineering role that leads UX design efforts, implying a need for both technical proficiency and strong design acumen. The "Principal" level suggests significant responsibility for technical leadership, mentorship, and strategic input.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive end-to-end UX design initiatives, overseeing all phases from initial discovery and user research to final product delivery and implementation.

• Conduct and synthesize in-depth user research, employing methods such as user interviews, journey mapping, persona development, and usability testing to gather critical insights.

• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive user flows, detailed wireframes, and interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent.

• Define and establish experience principles and design standards that are strategically aligned with enterprise objectives and promote a consistent, high-quality user experience across PNC's digital platforms.

• Propose, design, and code innovative software solutions that address complex business needs, ensuring these solutions are user-centered and technically sound.

• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and support to colleagues and cross-functional teams involved in solution development, fostering a culture of best practice sharing.

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of technical and procedural documentation, ensuring clarity and completeness for development, implementation, and ongoing support.

• Apply modern principles, methodologies, and tools to advance business initiatives and capabilities, demonstrating an innovative and forward-thinking approach to software engineering and design.

• Uphold PNC's values of being customer-focused and managing risk by ensuring all designed solutions prioritize customer needs and adhere to enterprise risk management frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: deep UX design leadership (research, strategy, prototyping) and core software engineering duties (coding, proposing solutions, technical guidance). The emphasis on leading "end-to-end" design and defining "experience principles and design standards" points to a strategic, high-impact role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of industry-relevant experience in software engineering and UX design is expected.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design Expertise: Proven ability to lead and execute user-centered design processes, from discovery to delivery.

• User Research Proficiency: Demonstrated experience in conducting user research (interviews, journey mapping, usability testing) and synthesizing findings into actionable design insights.

• Design & Prototyping Skills: Expertise in translating user needs into user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Mastery: Comprehensive understanding and practical application of SDLC principles, including design, coding, and implementation.

• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Ability to provide technical guidance, mentorship, and support to engineering and design teams.

• Problem-Solving Acumen: Skill in leading complex problem-solving initiatives and developing innovative software solutions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with various business stakeholders and technical teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Application Development: Experience in building and deploying robust software applications.

• Design Standards & Strategy: Ability to define and implement enterprise-level design principles and standards.

• UI/UX Design: Deep understanding of UI design principles in addition to UX methodologies.

• Technical Troubleshooting: Strong capabilities in diagnosing and resolving technical issues.

• Architecture & System Design: Experience in designing scalable and efficient software architectures.

• Release Management: Familiarity with software release processes and best practices.

• IVR (Interactive Voice Response) Development: Experience with IVR systems, if applicable to specific PNC product areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Skills" list, particularly "Application Development," "Architecture," and "Release Management," alongside the core UX skills, reinforces the hybrid nature of this role. Candidates should be comfortable with both strategic design leadership and hands-on technical contributions. The mention of IVR suggests potential application in customer service or telephony-related software.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• UX Design Case Studies: Showcase end-to-end UX design projects, detailing the problem, your role, research methodologies, design process (user flows, wireframes, prototypes), key decisions, and the impact of your solutions.

• User Research Synthesis: Provide examples of how you've synthesized user research findings into actionable design strategies and requirements.

• Prototyping Examples: Include interactive prototypes or detailed mockups demonstrating your ability to visualize and communicate design solutions effectively.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Examples: Highlight instances where you've collaborated with engineering, product management, and business teams to bring designs to fruition.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping out and optimizing user workflows and business processes through design interventions.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase how your designs have been implemented and potentially automated within software systems.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Provide examples of how you've measured the success of UX designs using metrics and user feedback, linking them to business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role designated as "Principal" and an "SME," a robust portfolio is critical. It should not just showcase final designs but the entire process, emphasizing leadership in research, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate research into tangible, impactful design solutions. The focus on "end-to-end" design means the portfolio needs to cover the full spectrum from discovery to delivery.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Medical, prescription drug coverage (with HSA option), dental, and vision insurance.

• Financial Security: Short and long-term disability protection, employee and spouse/child life insurance, 401(k) with PNC match, pension plan, and stock purchase plans.

• Family Support: Dependent care reimbursement account, back-up child/elder care, adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement.

• Professional Development: Educational assistance (including fully paid programs), a robust wellness program with financial incentives.

• Work-Life Balance: Maternity and/or parental leave, up to 11 paid holidays, 9 occasional absence days, and 15-25 vacation days annually (depending on career level and years of service).

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours for this full-time role are 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes an in-office culture, suggesting a typical 5-day work week with standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for Principal Software Engineers with specialized UX SME skills in a major metropolitan area like Pittsburgh, considering PNC's likely compensation structure for senior technical roles. The detailed benefits list is extracted directly from the provided text, highlighting PNC's comprehensive offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking. PNC is a major diversified financial services institution operating across a wide range of banking, investment, and lending services.

Company Size: Large enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This implies established processes, a structured environment, and opportunities for impact within a significant organization.

Founded: 1852. PNC has a long history, suggesting stability, a strong legacy, and a deep understanding of the financial services market.

Team Structure:

• Operations: This role is within the Technology organization, likely part of a larger engineering or product development division.

• UX Design Integration: The "UX Design SME" designation indicates that UX expertise is either embedded within engineering teams or closely partnered with them, suggesting a collaborative approach between design and development.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect to work closely with product managers, business analysts, other software engineers, and potentially UX researchers and designers.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: The emphasis on UX design and user research points to a commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs in product development.

• Agile/Iterative Development: While not explicitly stated, large tech organizations like PNC often adopt Agile methodologies for software development, requiring iterative design and development cycles.

• Risk Management Focus: As a financial institution, there's a strong emphasis on risk management, which will influence design and development processes, ensuring compliance and security.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: PNC's industry and size are crucial. In financial services, technology roles often involve complex legacy systems, stringent security requirements, and a focus on regulatory compliance. The "Principal" and "SME" titles within a large, established company suggest a role with significant influence, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills alongside technical and design expertise.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Software Engineer (UX Design SME). This is a senior individual contributor role, signifying a high level of expertise and the ability to lead technically and strategically in the domain of UX design within software engineering. It implies a level of autonomy and responsibility for shaping technical and design direction.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to an Engineering Manager or Director, with close collaboration with Product Management and other senior technical leads. The structure would support the integration of UX design deeply into the engineering process.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the user experience of PNC's digital products, influencing customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and operational efficiency. By ensuring software solutions are intuitive and effective, the role contributes to customer retention and the company's overall reputation and bottom line.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise as a UX Design SME within the financial services technology domain, potentially becoming a sought-after authority on user experience for complex banking applications.

• Leadership Development: Transition into management roles (e.g., Engineering Manager, UX Design Lead) or move into senior architectural or strategic roles within Technology.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gain broader experience in other areas of software engineering, product management, or business strategy within PNC.

• Mentorship: Lead and mentor junior engineers and designers, contributing to the development of talent within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title typically offers a defined career path for individual contributors who excel technically. Growth here is often about increasing scope, influence, and mastery, rather than necessarily moving into pure management. The SME designation means growth can also involve becoming a go-to expert for specific technologies or disciplines across the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: PNC is described as an "in-office company," indicating a preference for and expectation of employees working from a physical office location. This fosters in-person collaboration and a traditional corporate environment.

Office Location(s): The primary location specified is Two PNC Plaza (PA374) in Pittsburgh, PA. This is a significant corporate office, suggesting a professional and well-equipped workspace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workplace designed to encourage collaboration among team members, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially informal gathering areas.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, development tools, and potentially specialized UX/design software and hardware.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues, including engineers, designers, product managers, and other business stakeholders, facilitated by the on-site work arrangement.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (40 hours/week), and as an on-site position, it will adhere to standard business hours, likely Monday through Friday, with potential for occasional overtime depending on project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on "in-office" work is a key differentiator. Candidates who thrive in remote or hybrid settings might find this challenging. It suggests a culture that values face-to-face interaction, potentially for innovation, mentorship, and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will likely conduct an initial review of applications and may conduct a brief phone screen.

• Technical & UX Assessment: Expect one or more interviews focusing on technical skills (software engineering principles, coding) and UX design expertise (design process, research methods, problem-solving). This may include coding challenges and design exercises.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to present and discuss your portfolio, focusing on your UX design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to articulate your role and contributions clearly.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit: Interviews designed to assess PNC's core competencies (Customer Focused, Managing Risk) and your fit within their corporate culture.

• Final Round: Potentially interviews with senior leadership or hiring managers to confirm fit and discuss strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem statement, your specific responsibilities, the methodologies used (research, design), key decisions made, challenges encountered, and measurable outcomes/impact.

• Highlight the "SME" Aspect: Emphasize your leadership in UX design, how you influenced strategy, and how you guided others. Showcase your ability to define standards and principles.

• Demonstrate Process, Not Just Output: Show the journey from research to ideation to iteration to final solution. Explain why you made certain design choices.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the business value of your UX work.

• Tailor to PNC: Research PNC's products and services. Be prepared to discuss how your UX skills can benefit their specific customer base and business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Fundamentals: Brush up on core data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming principles.

• UX Design Challenges: Practice thinking through design problems on the spot. Prepare to walk through your thought process for designing a feature or solving a user pain point.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses for questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, risk management, and customer focus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "SME" designation means interviewers will probe deeply into your expertise. Be ready to defend your design decisions with data and principles, and to articulate how you've guided others. The "Principal" level also means they'll look for strategic thinking and influence.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM & Core Banking Systems: Familiarity with financial industry-specific software is a plus.

• Application Development Platforms: Experience with modern programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C#) and associated frameworks.

• Cloud Platforms: Exposure to cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) if PNC leverages them for application deployment.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms for tracking user behavior and website performance.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Proficiency with BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) for visualizing data and reporting on key metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Essential tools include Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar platforms for wireframing, prototyping, and design collaboration.

• Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, Slack for project management, documentation, and team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role implies proficiency in standard design software (Figma, Sketch) and development tools. Given PNC's industry, knowledge of financial services platforms and a strong understanding of data analytics for user behavior are highly relevant.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focused: This is a primary value at PNC. Expect to prioritize understanding and meeting customer needs through thoughtful design and execution.

• Managing Risk: A critical value in financial services. Designs and solutions must be secure, compliant, and adhere to strict risk management frameworks.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in all aspects of work.

• Innovation: Encouraged to apply modern principles and methodologies to advance business initiatives.

• Inclusivity: Fostering a workplace where all employees feel respected and valued.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: High emphasis on working collaboratively across departments (engineering, product, business, risk) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Discussions: Expect decisions to be informed by user research, analytics, and business data.

• Structured Communication: Clear and professional communication is expected, especially given the corporate environment and the need for documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Customer Focused" and "Managing Risk" as core values is paramount for success at PNC. Candidates need to demonstrate how their work in UX design and software engineering directly supports these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing UX Idealism with Business Constraints: Navigating the complexities of a large financial institution, including legacy systems, regulatory hurdles, and budget limitations, while striving for optimal user experiences.

• Driving Adoption of UX Best Practices: Educating and influencing stakeholders and engineering teams to consistently adopt user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Integrating Design into a Principal Engineering Role: Effectively leveraging UX SME expertise within a predominantly engineering-focused Principal role, ensuring design thinking is embedded from the outset.

• Adapting to Evolving Technology & Regulations: Staying current with rapid advancements in UX/UI technology and the ever-changing landscape of financial regulations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/Design Methodologies: Opportunities to explore cutting-edge UX research, design thinking, and interaction design techniques.

• Financial Services Technology: Deepen understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the financial technology sector.

• Leadership & Strategy: Develop strategic leadership skills, potentially moving into architecture, product strategy, or management roles.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential for participation in relevant UX, technology, or financial services industry events and certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Recognizing these challenges and framing them as opportunities for growth will be key during interviews. Demonstrating proactive strategies for overcoming them will showcase maturity and problem-solving skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX design challenge you faced and how you, as a Principal Engineer and SME, led the team to a successful resolution. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on leadership, process, and impact).

• "How do you ensure that user needs are prioritized while also meeting strict business requirements and risk management protocols in a financial services environment?" (Highlight balance, understanding of constraints, and risk mitigation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody PNC's values of 'Customer Focused' and 'Managing Risk' in your day-to-day work as a Principal Software Engineer?" (Prepare specific examples linking your UX/engineering work to these values).

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with a difficult stakeholder or team. How did you manage the relationship and ensure project success?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and problem-solving).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the 'Why': Clearly articulate the business problem or user need for each case study.

• Showcase Your Role: Differentiate between what you did as an individual contributor and your leadership/SME contributions.

• Detail Your Process: Walk through your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing phases. Explain the rationale behind key decisions.

• Quantify Results: Present metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on users and the business.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your technical choices, design rationale, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both deep technical/UX expertise (SME) and strategic leadership (Principal). Be prepared to discuss how you influence others and drive initiatives within a large, regulated organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

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

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your experience in both software engineering and UX design, highlighting achievements that align with "Principal" level responsibilities and "SME" expertise. Use keywords from the job description such as "User-Centered Design," "UX Design," "Software Solutions," "Technical Guidance," and "Risk Management."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest UX design case studies that best showcase your end-to-end process, leadership, and impact. Ensure they clearly articulate your role, methodology, and quantifiable results, ideally with relevance to financial services or complex enterprise applications.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio projects using the STAR method for behavioral questions. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research, design strategy, technical problem-solving, and how you uphold company values like customer focus and risk management.

• Research PNC: Familiarize yourself with PNC's products, services, and recent news. Understand their corporate culture, particularly their emphasis on an in-office environment and their core values.

⚠️ 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.