Sr Designer - UX - Irving,TX - Citi

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr Designer - UX

Company: Photon

Location: Irving, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-17T22:50:01

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and development of sophisticated user interfaces and client interaction experiences for a leading financial services organization.

• Drive user-centered design principles through advanced wireframing, prototyping, and mock-up creation using industry-standard tools like Figma.

• Translate complex business requirements and user challenges into elegant, intuitive, and user-friendly design solutions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering and product management, to ensure seamless integration of design standards and user advocacy throughout the product lifecycle.

• Champion the adoption of AI technologies to enhance UX processes and develop innovative AI-driven design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The raw job description focuses heavily on UX/UI design principles and tools. Given the company's implied association with financial services (based on the "Citi" mention in the title, though Photon is the employer), the role likely involves designing complex financial applications, dashboards, or internal tools where data visualization, security, and regulatory compliance are critical. The emphasis on "client interactions" and "financial services industry" suggests a B2B or B2B2C focus.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop intuitive wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups using advanced design tools, primarily Figma, to articulate user flows and interface designs.

• Translate intricate business and user challenges into clear, elegant, and user-friendly design solutions that meet strategic objectives.

• Champion user-centered design principles by actively participating in user research, conducting usability testing, and gathering feedback to inform design iterations.

• Present and articulate complex design concepts, trade-offs, and prioritized requirements to diverse stakeholders across all organizational levels.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops and prepare comprehensive documentation to effectively translate business requirements into actionable design strategies and user stories.

• Explore and integrate AI technology tools to enhance UX process efficiency and develop strategic AI-driven design solutions within user workflow product designs.

• Collaborate closely with end-users and internal teams to deeply understand requirements, ensuring the delivery of intuitive and frictionless user experiences.

• Architect and design solutions with a holistic, end-to-end user workflow mindset, ensuring comprehensive design coverage.

• Create clear and intent-driven user tickets for engineering teams, facilitating smooth development cycles and seamless design handoffs.

• Continuously research and apply the latest trends and best practices in UX design and the financial services industry to drive innovation and client satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a senior-level role requiring not just design execution but also strategic thinking, leadership in design processes, and strong communication skills for cross-functional alignment. The mention of "AI integration" and "financial services industry" suggests a forward-thinking environment with a focus on modernizing user experiences within a regulated sector.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of six years of dedicated professional experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of leading design initiatives and delivering sophisticated user experiences.

Required Skills:

• Advanced UX/UI Design: Demonstrated expertise in creating wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for design creation, collaboration, and prototyping.

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design methodologies and principles.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to leverage user data, analytics, and research insights to inform design choices and validate assumptions.

• Stakeholder Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate complex design concepts, rationale, and trade-offs clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Problem Solving: Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to translate intricate business and user challenges into elegant design solutions.

• Design Thinking Facilitation: Experience in facilitating design thinking workshops to foster collaboration and generate innovative solutions.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Experience in planning, executing, and analyzing user research and usability testing sessions.

• AI Tool Exploration: Familiarity with exploring and integrating AI technologies within design workflows.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for the financial services industry or complex B2B enterprise applications.

• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation within engineering workflows.

• Experience with AI integration in product design and user workflows.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Experience in mentoring junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum of six years of experience, coupled with the expectation to "lead design initiatives" and "mentor," strongly suggests a Senior or Lead Designer level. The emphasis on Figma is a critical technical requirement. The financial services industry context implies a need for an understanding of complex data, security, and regulatory considerations, even if not explicitly stated as a requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 complex UX/UI design projects, demonstrating your design process from problem identification to solution delivery.

• Projects should highlight your ability to tackle intricate business challenges and translate them into intuitive user experiences.

• Include case studies that detail your role, the problems you solved, your design approach, key decisions, and the impact of your solutions.

• Showcase proficiency with advanced design tools, with a clear emphasis on Figma-based deliverables.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups.

• Examples of design documentation, including research findings, user journey maps, and design specifications for engineering handoff.

• Showcase your ability to articulate design rationale, trade-offs, and decisions clearly through documentation.

• Include examples of how you've integrated user feedback and data insights into iterative design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, a portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just visual design skills but a robust understanding of the UX process, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to collaborate effectively. The emphasis should be on showcasing the thinking behind the design, not just the final output, especially for complex financial applications.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD 36,000 - USD 126,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Medical insurance

• Vision insurance

• Dental insurance

• 401k retirement plan with company contributions

• Variable pay and performance-based incentives

• Generous paid time off (PTO)

• Paid holidays

Working Hours: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is broad, indicating that compensation will be highly dependent on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and demonstrated ability to meet the senior-level requirements. The benefits package is standard for full-time employees in the US, with the inclusion of variable pay and incentives suggesting a performance-driven environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Services / Financial Services (implied). Photon appears to be a technology services company that partners with large enterprises, potentially including financial institutions like Citi. The role is located in Irving, TX, a significant business hub.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify Photon's exact size, but the job posting originating from Oracle Cloud HCM suggests they are a substantial organization utilizing enterprise HR systems, likely mid-to-large enterprise.

Founded: Information on Photon's founding date is not provided.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will likely be part of a UX/Design team, potentially within a larger Product or Technology division.

• This team will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and potentially Business Analysts or other stakeholders within the client organization (e.g., Citi).

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: The core methodology revolves around understanding and advocating for the user throughout the design and development process.

• Agile/Iterative Development: The emphasis on "engineering workflows," "user tickets," and "seamless handoffs" suggests an agile or iterative product development environment.

• Data-Informed Design: Decisions are expected to be supported by user research, data insights, and usability testing.

• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Design thinking workshops and cross-functional collaboration are key to translating business needs into effective solutions.

Company Website: https://www.photon.com (inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: While "Photon" is listed as the employer, the job title explicitly mentions "Sr Designer - UX - Irving,TX - Citi." This implies that Photon is likely a third-party vendor or consulting firm providing design services to Citi. Therefore, the "Company Culture" and "Team Structure" should be considered within the context of a consulting engagement, which often involves adapting to client environments and project-specific methodologies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role is positioned as a senior designer responsible for leading design efforts on complex projects, mentoring others, and contributing to design strategy. It requires a high degree of autonomy and problem-solving capability.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director within Photon's design practice, and closely collaborate with client-side stakeholders (e.g., at Citi) on project-specific deliverables.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is measured by the effectiveness, usability, and adoption of the designed interfaces. Successful UX design directly influences client satisfaction, operational efficiency, and potentially revenue generation for the client organization by improving user engagement and task completion rates.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Lead UX Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing larger projects or teams.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, financial services UX, or design systems.

• Client Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse clients and complex enterprise challenges, expanding professional network and project portfolio.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in cutting-edge UX tools, AI integration, and evolving design trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior role within a service-oriented company, career growth often involves a blend of deepening technical expertise, developing leadership and client management skills, and potentially moving into management or specialized consulting tracks. The "Operations Impact" is framed around the tangible business outcomes driven by effective UX.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based in Irving, Texas, indicating a requirement to work from a physical office location.

Office Location(s): Irving, Texas. This is a major business and technology hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace that fosters collaboration with fellow designers, product managers, and engineers, both within Photon and potentially at the client site.

• Technology Access: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and collaborative tools necessary for executing design tasks.

• Client Integration: Potential for integration into client teams on-site, requiring adaptability to different corporate cultures and workflows.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule (approximately 40 hours per week), with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Irving, TX, suggests a collaborative office setting. For consulting roles, this can also mean client-site presence, which requires adaptability and excellent interpersonal skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Resume and portfolio review by a Photon recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications against requirements.

• Technical/Design Interview: In-depth discussion about design philosophy, UX process, problem-solving approaches, and Figma proficiency. Candidates will likely be asked to walk through their portfolio.

• Stakeholder/Client Interview: Interview with client stakeholders (e.g., from Citi) to assess communication skills, ability to understand business needs, and cultural fit for the engagement.

• Potential Design Challenge: A practical exercise or case study, possibly presented live or as a take-home assignment, to evaluate design thinking and execution under timed conditions.

• Final Interview: With senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss compensation/onboarding.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project. Highlight how you identified problems, conducted research, iterated on solutions, and addressed constraints.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Highlight Figma Mastery: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work created with Figma and be prepared to discuss your advanced techniques.

• Tailor to Financial Services: If you have relevant financial services UX experience, emphasize it. Showcase projects that demonstrate an understanding of complex data, security, and regulatory environments.

• Present Storytelling: Frame your projects as compelling narratives. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions and how they aligned with business and user goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to apply design thinking principles to solve hypothetical problems related to financial services or enterprise software.

• Figma Proficiency: Brush up on advanced Figma features, including component libraries, auto-layout, and prototyping.

• Communication Clarity: Practice articulating your thought process concisely and clearly, especially when explaining complex design decisions or trade-offs.

• Research Client: Understand Photon's services and, if possible, the client (Citi) and their likely needs in the financial tech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX role, the portfolio review is critical. Candidates must demonstrate not just design talent but also strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders. The potential client involvement (Citi) means candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience working within larger, potentially more structured organizations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The essential tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mock-up creation. Mastery is expected.

• Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator): May be used for asset creation or supporting design tasks.

• Prototyping Tools: In addition to Figma's built-in capabilities, familiarity with other prototyping tools could be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel): Familiarity with how to interpret user data to inform design decisions.

• Usability Testing Platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback): For conducting and analyzing remote or in-person usability tests.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how CRM systems and automation workflows impact user experience in enterprise environments can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a primary tool. The emphasis on data-driven decisions and user research implies a need for familiarity with analytics and testing platforms, even if the UX designer isn't the primary analyst.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A deep commitment to understanding and prioritizing user needs and experiences in all design decisions.

• Excellence in Craft: Striving for high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and adherence to design principles.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where ideas are shared, feedback is constructive, and collective problem-solving is encouraged.

• Innovation & Continuous Learning: Embracing new technologies (like AI), trends, and methodologies to enhance design processes and outcomes.

• Data-Informed Approach: Valuing evidence-based design decisions derived from research and analytics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure design alignment and successful implementation.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and frequent communication, including active listening and clear articulation of ideas.

• Constructive Feedback: Participating in design critiques and providing/receiving feedback in a way that drives improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a consulting firm like Photon, the culture likely blends its internal values with the need to adapt to client cultures. The core values would emphasize delivering high-quality design solutions while being adaptable and collaborative.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Requirements: Translating intricate business logic and regulatory constraints within the financial services sector into user-friendly designs.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Gaining buy-in and managing expectations from diverse stakeholders with potentially conflicting priorities.

• AI Integration Strategy: Effectively identifying and implementing AI tools and solutions that genuinely enhance user experience without adding unnecessary complexity.

• Adapting to Client Environments: Quickly integrating into new project teams and understanding unique client workflows and design standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Tool Training: Deepening expertise in Figma and exploring new design technologies.

• Industry Specialization: Gaining in-depth knowledge of UX best practices within the financial services sector.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and learn from senior design leaders.

• Exposure to AI in Design: Hands-on experience with emerging AI tools and their application in UX workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexities of working in enterprise and financial services, while the growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and career progression within a specialized field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX challenge you faced in a previous role, particularly in a regulated industry like finance, and how you approached solving it." (Focus on your process, trade-offs, and outcomes).

• "How do you ensure your designs are user-centric while also meeting strict business requirements and technical constraints?" (Illustrate with examples of balancing user needs with feasibility).

• "Walk me through a project in your portfolio where you utilized data or user research to significantly influence your design decisions." (Be ready to discuss metrics and insights).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with Photon and potentially on projects for clients like Citi?" (Show research into Photon and your understanding of consulting).

• "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers?" (Highlight your cross-functional communication and teamwork skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), and the final solution.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated impact or user feedback.

• Highlight Figma Expertise: Be prepared to discuss specific Figma features you used and how they facilitated your workflow and collaboration.

• Tell a Story: Present your projects as compelling narratives that showcase your problem-solving abilities and design thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating senior-level capabilities: strategic thinking, problem-solving, strong communication, and a deep understanding of the UX process, particularly within complex or regulated industries.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the provided application portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects showcasing your Figma proficiency, complex problem-solving, and ideally, experience within financial services or similar enterprise environments.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 6+ years of experience, specific UX/UI skills, Figma expertise, and achievements in user-centered design and stakeholder communication.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and portfolio projects clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss your approach to AI integration and complex stakeholder management.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Photon's services and their approach to design consulting. If possible, research Citi's digital initiatives in areas relevant to the role.

⚠️ 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.