Sr. UX Designer (US Core)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Designer (US Core)

Company: Applied Systems, Inc.

Location: United States, Canada

Job Type: OTHER

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: March 04, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote/Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end user experience design for the Applied Epic product suite, a core Application Management System (AMS) for insurance agencies.

• Drive product innovation by collaborating with Product Management to translate complex insurance workflows into intuitive and efficient user interfaces.

• Conduct generative user research, ideation sessions, and create detailed design artifacts to solve challenging user problems.

• Manage workstreams from strategic planning through design hand-off, ensuring the quality and success of the product's user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Sr. UX Designer," the responsibilities clearly indicate a product design focus, emphasizing ownership of the entire product lifecycle and strategic collaboration. The "US Core" designation suggests a focus on the primary North American market for the Applied Epic product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of user needs, motivations, and pain points within the insurance agency environment through comprehensive user research.

• Strategize with cross-functional stakeholders (Product Management, Engineering, etc.) to identify and prioritize problem spaces that impact user experience and business objectives.

• Lead discovery efforts by employing mixed-methods research to gather attitudinal and behavioral user data, synthesizing findings into actionable insights.

• Create a range of design artifacts, including user flows, experience maps, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, to explore and validate potential solutions.

• Own and manage specific workstreams, overseeing the design process from initial concept and research through to final design hand-off, post-release testing, and user feedback incorporation.

• Collaborate with Product Management to define product strategy and roadmap, ensuring user-centricity is embedded throughout the development process.

• Advocate for the user by presenting design rationales and research findings to stakeholders, influencing product decisions and ensuring alignment.

• Continuously iterate on designs based on user feedback, usability testing, and performance analytics to optimize the user experience and drive adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role requiring not just design execution but also strategic input, research leadership, and cross-functional influence. The emphasis on "Applied Epic" and "AMS offering" indicates a need to understand the specific domain of insurance agency management software.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Designer role. However, the company explicitly encourages applications from candidates without a degree, valuing experience and diverse backgrounds.

Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a strong preference for experience in commercial software and enterprise environments.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in user experience research methodologies, including generative research, usability testing, and user interviews.

• Proficiency in creating detailed design artifacts such as user flows, experience maps, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Advanced proficiency with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Balsamiq, and Miro.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills to articulate design decisions and research findings to diverse audiences.

• Strong facilitation and collaboration skills to effectively lead workshops and partner with cross-functional teams.

• Exceptional problem-solving, reasoning, and analytical skills to tackle complex user challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the insurance industry or in Insurtech.

• Familiarity with AI and Machine Learning concepts and their application in UX design.

• Experience designing for complex business workflows and enterprise-level software.

• Understanding of Agile development methodologies and how UX integrates within them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical skills and experience over formal education, aligning with the company's inclusive hiring philosophy. The inclusion of "AI, Machine Learning" as a preferred skill suggests the company is forward-thinking and may be exploring these technologies in future product iterations or current processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional UX design work, with a strong emphasis on commercial software and enterprise applications.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the entire product development lifecycle, from user research and ideation through to detailed design and post-launch analysis.

• Include case studies that highlight complex problem-solving, user-centered design strategies, and measurable outcomes.

• Showcase proficiency in creating a variety of design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.

Process Documentation:

• Your portfolio should illustrate your ability to document and communicate UX processes clearly, including research plans, design rationale, and user testing reports.

• Demonstrate how you've mapped and optimized user journeys and workflows for complex systems.

• Show examples of how you've collaborated with Product Management and engineering teams, documenting hand-offs and iterative feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, a portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just visual design; it must showcase strategic thinking, research capabilities, and the ability to manage complex projects. Given the enterprise software context, examples of designing for B2B or internal employee workflows will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $100,000 - $130,000 USD annually.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on the provided job description's salary data, considering the "Sr." title, 5-10 years of experience, the enterprise software industry, and the specified US location parameters. This range aligns with industry benchmarks for senior UX Designers in comparable markets.

• Additional Compensation: Candidates may be eligible for bonus and commission plans, depending on the role and performance.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

• Holiday and Vacation Time

• Health & Wellness Days

• A Bonus Day for Your Birthday

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time professional role.

• The company emphasizes flexibility in how teams collaborate, suggesting adaptability in daily schedules, provided work is completed and team coordination is maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is a starting point for the United States. For Canadian locations, salary benchmarks would typically be lower due to cost of living and compensation norms. Benefits are standard but good to call out, especially the birthday bonus day which adds a nice touch.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurtech (Insurance Technology) - Applied Systems is a significant player in providing software solutions for the insurance industry, focusing on agency management systems (AMS). This means the company operates within a regulated, data-intensive, and business-critical sector.

Company Size: Applied Systems is a large, established company, likely falling into the "1,000-10,000+ employees" category based on its long history and broad market presence. This size implies structured processes, career ladders, and a potentially diverse range of internal opportunities.

Founded: 1980s (over 40 years of experience). This longevity indicates stability, deep market knowledge, and a history of adapting to technological changes within the insurance industry.

Team Structure:

• The Sr. UX Designer will be part of the "Applied Epic" team, which focuses on a core Application Management System (AMS). This suggests a dedicated product team with specialized roles in Product Management, Engineering, QA, and UX.

• The reporting structure is likely within a Product Design or UX department, with the Sr. UX Designer reporting to a UX Manager or Director.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging user research, attitudinal and behavioral data, and analytics to inform design decisions.

• Workflow planning and optimization are core to the role, particularly in simplifying complex insurance processes for users.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely key considerations, as the company aims to make its software indispensable to customers.

Company Website: https://www.appliedsystems.com/ and https://www1.appliedsystems.com/en-us/about-us/jobs/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the Insurtech industry is crucial. It's a field where reliability, data security, and efficiency are paramount. Applied Epic is a well-known product, so familiarity with enterprise AMS or similar complex business software will be beneficial. The company's culture emphasizes learning, trying new things, and teamwork, which is important for collaborative design roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior-level individual contributor position. It signifies a substantial level of expertise and responsibility in UX design, requiring the ability to lead projects, mentor junior designers (potentially), and influence product strategy. The focus is on deep domain knowledge within the Applied Epic product suite and the insurance industry.

Reporting Structure: The Sr. UX Designer will likely report to a Manager or Director of UX/Product Design. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and engineering teams, forming a core product triad for specific workstreams.

Operations Impact: The Sr. UX Designer's impact is directly tied to the usability, efficiency, and adoption of the Applied Epic software. By simplifying complex workflows and improving user interfaces, they directly contribute to customer retention, operational efficiency for insurance agencies, and ultimately, Applied Systems' market competitiveness and revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise within the insurance technology domain, becoming a go-to expert for the Applied Epic product suite or specific user segments.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Designer role, managing a small team or a larger product area, or moving into a UX Management position.

• Cross-Functional Moves: Leverage design expertise for roles in Product Management, UX Research leadership, or even strategic customer success roles.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to learn about emerging technologies like AI and ML and apply them to UX challenges, as mentioned in the preferred skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." title implies a path beyond this role, either through increased scope, leadership, or specialization. The company's long history and size suggest structured career paths are available.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers flexibility with a "remote or hybrid setting." This indicates that while there are physical office locations, the expectation is that employees can work effectively from home or a combination of home and office.

Office Location(s): The job postings indicate potential for roles in the United States and Canada. Specific office locations are not detailed but will be relevant for those choosing a hybrid work arrangement.

Workspace Context:

• The emphasis on collaboration, even in remote/hybrid settings, suggests an environment where team communication and shared understanding are prioritized.

• Access to standard design and collaboration tools (Figma, Miro, etc.) is expected, supporting a modern digital workspace.

• Opportunities for interaction with UX peers, Product Managers, and engineers will be crucial for design iteration and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The typical 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility in daily scheduling. This allows for accommodating different time zones within the US and Canada, and for personal needs, as long as project deadlines and team collaboration are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote/hybrid option is a significant factor for work-life balance. Candidates should clarify expectations regarding in-office days if they opt for hybrid. The flexibility described points to a culture that trusts its employees to manage their time effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your application and resume for alignment with the core requirements and experience.

• Portfolio Review/Presentation: A crucial step where you will present your portfolio, highlighting 2-3 key case studies that demonstrate your UX process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcomes.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be given a take-home assignment or an in-interview design exercise to assess your design thinking, problem-solving approach, and ability to work within constraints.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, fellow UX designers, and potentially engineering leads to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Director of Product or Design) for a final assessment of strategic thinking and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best showcase your senior-level skills, focusing on complex problems you've solved in enterprise or commercial software environments. Highlight your process from research to final design.

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

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative: the problem, your approach, your solutions, and the results. Explain your rationale at each step.

• Showcase Your Process: Detail your research methods, ideation techniques, wireframing, prototyping, and testing approaches. Demonstrate your ability to adapt your process to project needs.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with Product Management, engineering, and other stakeholders. Demonstrate your ability to incorporate feedback and communicate effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Applied Systems, the Applied Epic product, and the insurance industry to inform your approach.

• Time Management: Be mindful of any time limits. Prioritize your approach and focus on delivering a well-reasoned solution rather than an overly polished final product if time is constrained.

• Articulate Your Strategy: Be prepared to clearly explain your design decisions, the trade-offs you made, and how your solution addresses the stated problem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is likely the most critical part of the interview process for this role. Candidates should be ready to articulate their thought process and demonstrate their ability to handle complex, enterprise-level design challenges.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely to be the primary tool), Balsamiq, Miro (for collaboration and ideation).

• User Research Platforms: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, or similar platforms for remote usability testing and data collection may be utilized.

• Wireframing & Flow Tools: Tools integrated within Figma or standalone options for creating user flows and wireframes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for UX, the team will likely use analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Pendo, Mixpanel) to monitor user behavior and product performance. UX designers will need to interpret this data.

CRM & Automation:

• The Applied Epic system itself is a form of CRM/AMS. UX designers will need to understand its structure and how it interacts with other business processes.

• Familiarity with how CRM systems are used by insurance agencies will be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern UX roles. Miro is crucial for collaborative ideation, especially in a remote/hybrid setting. Understanding how to leverage user data from analytics tools to inform design decisions is key for a senior role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of insurance agencies, making their operations more efficient and effective.

• Innovation & Agility: Willingness to "learn, try new things, and deliver innovative software," balancing this with the stability required in the insurance sector.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasizing that "winning is a team sport" and valuing diverse experiences and backgrounds.

• Integrity & Professionalism: A commitment to delivering high-quality software and services, supported by ethical practices and a secure approach to candidate data.

• Continuous Improvement: The role involves iterating on designs based on feedback and data, reflecting a culture of ongoing optimization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close partnership with Product Management and Engineering is essential, forming a core product development unit.

• Open Communication: Encouraging diverse perspectives and valuing learning from team members' experiences.

• Feedback Loops: A culture that supports iterative design processes, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, users, and fellow team members.

• Shared Ownership: While roles are defined, there's an implicit understanding of shared responsibility for product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly states values like learning, trying new things, collaboration, and customer focus. Candidates should align their communication and examples with these principles. The "we flex our time together" statement suggests a modern, adaptable approach to work management.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Insurance Workflows: Designing intuitive interfaces for intricate and often highly regulated insurance processes requires deep domain understanding and user empathy.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating complex user requirements and business objectives into a cohesive and efficient user experience.

• Driving Adoption of New Features: Ensuring that new designs are not only functional but also adopted and valued by a diverse user base, potentially resistant to change.

• Staying Ahead of Technology: Integrating emerging technologies (like AI) into existing enterprise software while maintaining usability and performance.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong team cohesion and design quality in a distributed work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry and agency management systems.

• Advanced UX Techniques: Opportunities to refine skills in generative research, complex workflow design, and strategic product thinking.

• Emerging Technologies: Exposure to and potential application of AI and Machine Learning in UX design.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers and learn from experienced product leaders within a large organization.

• Industry Exposure: Working on a leading Insurtech product that impacts thousands of insurance agencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in enterprise software, especially in niche industries like Insurtech. Highlighting how one would approach these challenges in their interview will be key.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly complex or regulated workflow. How did you approach understanding the user needs and constraints?" (Focus on process, research, and simplification.)

• "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Walk us through a project where your collaboration was critical to success." (Emphasize communication, integration, and shared ownership.)

• "Tell us about a challenging UX problem you solved. What was your process, what were the trade-offs, and what was the outcome?" (Use a STAR method for a detailed case study.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Applied Systems and the Applied Epic product?" (Research the company's mission, values, and product offerings.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially in a remote/hybrid setting?" (Align your answer with the company's emphasis on teamwork and flexibility.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Strategy: For each case study, explain the "why" behind your decisions, not just the "what." Detail the problem, your research, your hypotheses, and your strategic approach.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Pixels: Emphasize your methodology, how you gathered insights, iterated on designs, and validated solutions.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, present metrics that demonstrate the positive outcomes of your work. If direct metrics are unavailable, explain how you would measure success.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Interviewers may ask detailed questions about specific aspects of your work, so be ready to elaborate on any part of your portfolio.

• Tailor to Applied Epic: If possible, draw parallels between your past work and the challenges faced by Applied Epic users.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on articulating a structured, user-centered design process and demonstrating senior-level strategic thinking. Candidates should be ready to defend their design choices with research and rationale.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the official careers portal at Applied Systems.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience in commercial software, enterprise environments, and complex workflow design. Select 2-3 strong case studies that best demonstrate your senior-level UX process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with UX research methodologies, design tools (Figma, Miro, Balsamiq), and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, process explanation, and quantifying outcomes. Prepare answers to common UX interview questions and specific questions about Applied Systems and the Insurtech industry.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Applied Systems, its mission, values, the Applied Epic product, and the broader Insurtech landscape to demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ 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.

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