UX Designer, Google Ad Manager
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: UX Designer, Google Ad Manager Company: Google Location: New York, NY, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: 2025-10-15 Experience Level: 5-10 Years of Experience Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
- Focus on user-centered design methodologies to craft intuitive and engaging user experiences for Google Ad Manager, a critical enterprise platform within the advertising technology domain.
- Translate complex user needs and business requirements into elegant design solutions, from initial concepts through to detailed interaction specifications and prototypes.
- Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including UX Research, Product Management, and Engineering, to drive product strategy and ensure the successful execution of design initiatives.
- Contribute to the evolution of Google's design language and best practices, applying them to enterprise-grade platforms that power the open internet and support businesses of all sizes.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Google Ad Manager UX team, which specifically partners with Product and Engineering to address the needs of enterprises in the ads business generation domain. The emphasis on "enterprise-grade platforms" and "ads business generation" suggests a focus on complex workflows, B2B user needs, and high-stakes decision-making environments, distinct from consumer-facing product design. The "5-10 Years of Experience" AI-derived level indicates a mid-to-senior level role, requiring significant autonomy and strategic input.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Partner closely with UX Researchers to develop hypotheses, participate in user research sessions, and translate research insights into validated design concepts and actionable product strategies.
- Develop comprehensive user journeys, scenarios, storyboards, and detailed interaction specifications to effectively communicate complex design ideas and user flows.
- Create low and high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes to visualize and test design concepts, ensuring usability and alignment with user needs.
- Collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineers, and other UX Designers, to generate and gain buy-in for innovative UX ideas and strategies.
- Contribute to the evolution of in-product features by exploring both immediate user needs and long-term product goals through design.
- Communicate design proposals and ideas clearly and persuasively at various stages of the product development lifecycle using compelling design artifacts and presentations.
- Ensure designs adhere to and evolve the Google design language, maintaining a consistent and high-quality user experience across the Google Ad Manager platform.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep involvement in the entire design process, from research interpretation to final communication of design specifications. The emphasis on "translating research insights," "articulating user journeys," and "communicating proposals" points to a role that requires strong analytical and communication skills in addition to core design capabilities. The collaboration with "Sellside and Ads UX teams" implies a broad scope of influence within the advertising ecosystem.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Master's degree in a related field is preferred, indicating a potential for deeper theoretical understanding and research capabilities.
Experience:
- Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in interaction design or UX design, with a strong portfolio showcasing product design work.
- Preferred 2 years of experience working within a cross-functional organizational structure, demonstrating an ability to navigate complex team dynamics.
- Preferred 1 year of experience leading design projects, indicating leadership potential and the ability to guide design initiatives.
- Experience working on enterprise-grade platforms is crucial, requiring an understanding of complex user needs, scalability, and B2B workflows.
- Experience with emerging AI capabilities is a plus, suggesting an opportunity to work on innovative features leveraging artificial intelligence.
Required Skills:
- Interaction Design: Proven ability to design intuitive and efficient user flows and interactions for complex applications.
- User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and application of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
- Prototyping: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes (low and high-fidelity) to test and communicate design concepts.
- User Research: Ability to partner with UX Researchers, interpret research findings, and translate them into design solutions.
- Wireframing: Skill in creating clear and effective wireframes to map out user interfaces and information architecture.
- Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, fostering positive working relationships.
- Design Strategy: Capacity to contribute to and influence product and experience strategies based on user insights and business goals.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting design proposals and articulating design decisions.
Preferred Skills:
- Enterprise Platform Design: Experience designing for complex, B2B applications with a focus on scalability and robust functionality.
- AI Capabilities Integration: Familiarity with designing user experiences that incorporate emerging AI technologies.
- Design Leadership: Experience guiding design projects and mentoring junior designers.
- Storyboarding & User Journeys: Advanced skills in visualizing and articulating user experiences through detailed scenarios and journey maps.
- Cross-Functional Navigation: Proven ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams (e.g., Engineering, Product Management, Sales).
📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between "4 years of interaction design experience" and "2 years of experience working in a cross-functional organization" suggests that while core design skills are paramount, the ability to integrate design within a larger organizational framework is a key differentiator for this role. The preference for "leading design projects" implies that candidates with some project ownership and strategic influence will be highly valued. The "enterprise-grade platforms" requirement is critical for understanding the complexity and user base of this role.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Demonstrate End-to-End Design Process: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies that clearly articulate your role, process, and impact from problem identification through to solution implementation and iteration.
- Highlight User-Centered Design Application: Your portfolio should explicitly detail how user research, usability testing, and user feedback informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.
- Showcase Interaction Design Expertise: Include detailed examples of user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your ability to design for complex systems and workflows.
- Quantify Impact and Results: Where possible, include metrics, KPIs, or qualitative outcomes that demonstrate the positive impact of your design solutions on user experience, business objectives, or operational efficiency.
Process Documentation:
- Workflow Design & Optimization: Evidence of designing and optimizing complex user workflows, with a focus on efficiency, clarity, and task completion for enterprise users.
- System Implementation Standards: Examples of how your designs were translated into functional specifications for engineering teams, ensuring fidelity to the original design intent and adherence to platform standards.
- Measurement and Performance Analysis: Showcase how you have used data and analytics to inform design iterations and measure the success of implemented features, particularly within a B2B context.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX role at Google, especially on an enterprise platform like Ad Manager, a portfolio that demonstrates a deep understanding of design process, user advocacy, and quantifiable impact is essential. The emphasis should be on how the candidate navigates complexity, collaborates effectively, and drives measurable outcomes for both users and the business. The "enterprise-grade platforms" requirement means case studies should reflect B2B scenarios, which often involve more intricate workflows and stakeholder management than B2C products.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
- Estimated Range: $129,000 - $185,000 per year (Base Salary)
- Additional Compensation: This range does not include potential bonuses, equity awards, or other benefits.
- Methodology: The provided range is based on the US base salary details listed in the job description. Google's compensation structure is typically tiered by role, level, and location. For New York City, this range represents a competitive offering for a UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience.
Benefits:
- Bonus: Performance-based bonus opportunities.
- Equity: Stock options or grants, reflecting long-term incentive and company ownership.
- Comprehensive Benefits Package: Includes health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k), paid time off, parental leave, and other wellness programs.
- Professional Development: Access to learning and development resources, training, and conferences to support career growth.
Working Hours:
- Standard: Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role.
- Flexibility: While on-site, Google often offers some flexibility in daily schedules, but core collaboration hours will be expected. The nature of enterprise platform development may require focused work periods.
📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Bonus + equity + benefits" alongside the base salary range is critical. For a role at Google, these components can significantly increase total compensation. The "enterprise-grade platforms" context suggests that while standard hours apply, there might be periods requiring focused effort to meet project milestones, especially in collaboration with engineering and product teams.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Technology (Search Engines, Advertising Technology, Cloud Computing, AI) Company Size: Large Enterprise (100,000+ employees) Founded: 1998 Company Description: Google is a global technology leader renowned for its innovative products and services, including search, advertising, cloud computing, hardware, and artificial intelligence. The company's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Company Specialties: Search Engine Technology, Online Advertising, Cloud Computing, Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Hardware, User Experience Design.
Team Structure:
- UX Team: A multi-disciplinary group comprising UX Designers, UX Researchers, Writers, Content Strategists, Program Managers, and Engineers, all focused on user-centered product development.
- Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a Design Manager or Lead within the Google Ad Manager UX team. Collaboration is expected across Product Management and Engineering departments.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close partnership with UX Research, Product Management, and Engineering teams to define and deliver product features. Collaboration also extends to other UX teams within the broader Ads organization.
Methodology:
- Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong emphasis on using user research, product analytics, and A/B testing to inform design choices and product strategy.
- Agile Development Practices: While not explicitly stated, Google typically employs agile methodologies, requiring iterative design and development cycles.
- User-Centered Design: The core philosophy, "Focus on the user and all else will follow," permeates all aspects of product development, ensuring user needs are prioritized.
Company Website: https://www.google.com
📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture is known for its innovation, data-driven approach, and emphasis on user experience. For a UX Designer on the Ad Manager team, this means working within a large, structured organization but with significant opportunities for impact. The "enterprise-grade platforms" context implies a focus on robustness, scalability, and supporting complex business operations, which may involve a more structured design process compared to some consumer products.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level:
- This role is a mid-to-senior level UX Designer position, typically corresponding to a L4/L5 level at Google. It requires a strong foundation in interaction design principles, a proven ability to tackle complex design problems, and the capacity to work autonomously and collaboratively. The focus on enterprise platforms and the potential for leading design projects suggest a trajectory towards Senior UX Designer or Design Lead roles.
Reporting Structure:
- The UX Designer will report to a Design Manager or senior design leader within the Google Ad Manager UX team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, participating in cross-functional team meetings and contributing to product strategy discussions. The collaboration model is highly integrated, with designers acting as key partners in the product development lifecycle.
Operations Impact:
- As a UX Designer on Google Ad Manager, your work will directly influence the efficiency, effectiveness, and adoption of a critical advertising technology platform used by businesses worldwide. Your designs will impact how publishers and advertisers manage their ad inventory, optimize campaigns, and generate revenue, thereby contributing significantly to Google's advertising business and the broader open internet ecosystem.
Growth Opportunities:
- Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in enterprise UX design, advertising technology, and potentially AI-driven design solutions.
- Leadership Development: Potential to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to shaping the design direction for Google Ad Manager.
- Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse product areas and engineering teams within Google's vast advertising ecosystem.
- Career Progression: Clear pathways to Senior UX Designer, Staff UX Designer, Design Lead, and management roles within Google's UX organization.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "enterprise-grade platforms" and "ads business generation" focus indicates that growth will likely involve mastering complex B2B design challenges and understanding the intricacies of the advertising technology landscape. Candidates should look for opportunities to showcase strategic thinking and problem-solving skills that go beyond pure visual design.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: On-site (New York City) Office Location(s): Google has multiple offices in New York City, known for their collaborative, open-plan layouts designed to foster innovation and teamwork. The specific office location will be confirmed during the hiring process.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Spaces: The office environment will feature a mix of open workstations, meeting rooms, project spaces, and common areas designed to facilitate spontaneous interactions and planned collaboration sessions.
- Tools and Technology: Access to cutting-edge design software, hardware, and internal Google tools necessary for UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. This includes robust design systems and collaboration platforms.
- Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to interact with design peers, researchers, product managers, and engineers, both within the Ad Manager team and across Google. This fosters a rich learning environment and encourages knowledge sharing.
Work Schedule:
- The role is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week, with an on-site work arrangement. While specific daily start/end times may offer some flexibility, core working hours will be established to ensure effective collaboration with global teams and immediate colleagues.
📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a major tech hub like New York City suggests a dynamic work environment. For a UX Designer, this means access to extensive resources, ample opportunities for in-person collaboration, and immersion in a culture that highly values innovation and user focus. The "enterprise-grade platforms" context implies a need for focused, deep work, often complemented by structured collaborative sessions.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: Application review, followed by a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
- Portfolio Review (First Round): Typically a 45-60 minute interview where you present 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio. Focus on your process, role, challenges, and outcomes. Be prepared to discuss your design decisions and rationale in detail.
- Design Challenge/On-site Interviews (Subsequent Rounds): This may involve a take-home design challenge or a series of interviews (virtual or in-person) covering:
- Whiteboard/Design Exercise: Solving a specific design problem, often involving system thinking, user flows, or interaction design for a given scenario.
- Behavioral Interviews: Assessing your experience, collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and alignment with Google's values.
- Cross-functional Interviews: Speaking with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with different disciplines.
- Final Round: Often a final interview with a senior leader or hiring manager for overall assessment and fit.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best demonstrate your experience with complex enterprise platforms, B2B user needs, and your full design process. Highlight the "enterprise-grade platforms" and "ads business generation" relevance.
- Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed (research, ideation, iteration, testing), key decisions, challenges faced, and measurable results.
- Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data (user metrics, business KPIs, efficiency gains) to demonstrate the success of your designs. If quantitative data isn't available, use strong qualitative insights.
- Showcase Interaction Design: Ensure your portfolio clearly displays your skills in wireframing, user flows, interaction specifications, and prototyping.
- Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows well, stays within the allotted time, and effectively communicates your expertise. Be ready for deep dives into specific design choices.
Challenge Preparation:
- Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Google Ad Manager and the broader advertising technology landscape to understand the business context and user challenges.
- Focus on Process: For design challenges, emphasize your thought process, how you approach ambiguity, and how you would gather information to inform your design, rather than just presenting a polished final solution.
- Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss design trade-offs, constraints, and how you would prioritize features or solutions in a real-world scenario.
📝 Enhancement Note: Google's interview process is rigorous and designed to assess not just design skills but also problem-solving ability, collaboration, and cultural fit. For this role, demonstrating experience with complex, enterprise-level products and understanding B2B user dynamics will be crucial during portfolio reviews and design challenges. The emphasis on "Google Ad Manager" means candidates should ideally have some familiarity with ad tech or be able to quickly grasp its complexities.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure RP, or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, mockups, and interactive prototyping.
- Collaboration Platforms: Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet), Jira, Confluence for project management, documentation, and team communication.
- User Research Tools: Tools for usability testing, user surveys, and qualitative data analysis (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, Lookback).
Analytics & Reporting:
- Data Visualization: Tableau, Looker, or internal Google analytics platforms for understanding user behavior and product performance.
- A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with platforms for conducting and analyzing A/B tests to inform design optimizations.
CRM & Automation:
- While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX designs integrate with backend systems and business logic is key. Experience with systems that manage large datasets and complex workflows is beneficial.
📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, proficiency in industry-standard UX design and prototyping software is a given. For a role at Google, familiarity with their internal collaboration suites (Google Workspace) and project management tools is highly advantageous. The mention of "enterprise-grade platforms" and "ads business generation" implies that an understanding of how designs impact data flows, backend processes, and business analytics will be appreciated.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- User Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for users, ensuring that their needs are at the forefront of all design decisions.
- Data-Driven Innovation: Leveraging data and research to inform design strategies and validate the effectiveness of solutions.
- Collaboration and Transparency: Open communication, knowledge sharing, and a collaborative spirit across all disciplines to achieve shared goals.
- Impact and Excellence: Striving for high-quality, impactful designs that solve complex problems and contribute significantly to business objectives.
- Continuous Learning: Embracing new technologies, methodologies, and user insights to constantly improve design practices and product offerings.
Collaboration Style:
- Integrated Partnerships: UX Designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers, acting as integral members of product teams rather than isolated entities.
- Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular design critiques, peer reviews, and cross-functional feedback sessions are common to refine designs and ensure alignment.
- Shared Ownership: A culture of shared responsibility for product success, where designers contribute not only to the user experience but also to product strategy and vision.
📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture strongly emphasizes collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and a relentless focus on the user. For a UX Designer on the Ad Manager team, this means being comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly analytical environment where designs are rigorously tested and iterated upon based on user feedback and business impact.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Complexity of Enterprise Systems: Designing for the intricate workflows and diverse needs of enterprise users within the advertising technology domain.
- Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating complex business requirements and technical constraints into user-friendly and effective designs.
- Navigating a Large Organization: Collaborating effectively across multiple teams and stakeholders within a global tech giant.
- Staying Ahead of Technological Advancements: Adapting to rapidly evolving AI capabilities and their integration into advertising platforms.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Specialized Training: Access to internal Google training programs focused on UX, AI, advertising technology, and leadership.
- Industry Conferences & Events: Opportunities to attend leading UX and advertising technology conferences to stay abreast of industry trends.
- Mentorship Programs: Participation in mentorship programs to receive guidance from senior designers and leaders within Google.
- Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Working with teams developing and implementing advanced AI features and other next-generation technologies.
📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be mastering the complexity of the Google Ad Manager platform and its user base. Growth opportunities will center on developing expertise in B2B UX, advertising technology, and potentially AI-driven design, with clear pathways to senior and leadership roles.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a time you had to design for a complex enterprise platform. Walk us through your process, the challenges you faced, and how you arrived at your solution. What was your specific role?" (Focus on user research, iteration, and quantifiable outcomes).
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders or navigate conflicting priorities to achieve a design goal." (Highlight communication strategies, empathy, and negotiation skills).
- User Advocacy & Data Interpretation: "How do you ensure user needs are met while also satisfying business objectives? Give an example of how you used user data or research to make a critical design decision." (Emphasize your ability to balance user and business needs with data-informed insights).
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What interests you about Google and specifically the Google Ad Manager UX team?" (Research Google's mission, values, and the role of ads in the open internet. Understand the specific challenges of enterprise ad tech).
- "How do you align with Google's user-centered design philosophy?" (Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you prioritize users in your work).
- "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment." (Highlight instances of successful collaboration and adaptability).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative with a clear beginning (problem), middle (your process and solutions), and end (results and learnings).
- Focus on "Why": For every design decision, be prepared to explain the "why" – what user need or business goal it addressed, and what alternatives you considered.
- Demonstrate Impact: Clearly articulate the quantifiable results of your work. If direct metrics are unavailable, use strong qualitative evidence and user feedback.
- Tailor to Google Ad Manager: If possible, subtly connect your past experiences to the challenges of designing for enterprise platforms or the advertising ecosystem. Show you understand the domain.
📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the entire UX process, strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication, and a genuine interest in Google's mission and the specifics of the Ad Manager product. The ability to articulate complex design decisions clearly and back them with data or user insights will be key.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this UX Designer position:
- Submit your application through the Google Careers portal, ensuring your resume includes a visible link to your portfolio or work samples.
- Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 case studies that best showcase your experience with complex enterprise platforms, your end-to-end design process, and quantifiable impact. Tailor your case study descriptions to resonate with the challenges of advertising technology and B2B user needs.
- Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights keywords related to User Experience Design, Interaction Design, User-Centered Design, Prototyping, Wireframing, Design Strategy, and experience with enterprise platforms. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
- Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership.
- Company Research: Deeply research Google's mission, values, and the specific goals of the Google Ad Manager product. Understand the competitive landscape and the importance of UX in the ad tech industry.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and at least 4 years of experience in interaction or UX design. Preferred qualifications include a master's degree and experience in cross-functional organizations and leading design projects.