UX Designer - UXD/Digital Design System (DDS)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer - UXD/Digital Design System (DDS)

Company: Syncreon Consulting

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: Contract

Category: Digital Design / UX Operations

Date Posted: 2026-01-29

Experience Level: Mid-level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for developing and maintaining a robust Digital Design System (DDS) that underpins public-facing digital experiences.

• The UX Designer will be instrumental in creating a library of reusable design patterns and components to ensure coherence and efficiency in website development.

• This position requires a strong understanding of UX best practices, atomic-based design principles, and accessibility standards to deliver intuitive and accessible user interfaces.

• The role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including UX Strategy and product delivery teams, within an agile framework to meet sprint deadlines and drive product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core job is UX Design, the emphasis on a "Digital Design System (DDS)" and its integration into "public-facing experiences" positions this role within a broader operational context. The DDS acts as a foundational "system" that streamlines digital product development, directly impacting operational efficiency, brand consistency, and user experience scalability. Therefore, it can be categorized under "Digital Design / UX Operations" to reflect this operational impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop reusable digital design patterns and components for a comprehensive Digital Design System (DDS).

• Create interactive digital experiences for various channels, including web, email, and mobile applications, ensuring a cohesive user journey.

• Collaborate with UX Strategy teams and product delivery teams to integrate new design patterns and components into the DDS, adhering to UX best practices and research findings.

• Document design patterns, components, and their usage within Figma, ensuring clarity and usability for other team members and stakeholders.

• Work within an agile development environment, utilizing Jira to manage tasks, contribute to sprint planning, and ensure timely delivery of design assets.

• Champion and implement WCAG accessibility standards across all digital designs to ensure inclusivity and compliance.

• Lead discovery work for new design patterns and user experiences, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation.

• Maintain a strong understanding of design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and composition, to create visually appealing and functional interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "digital and email design patterns and components" and "interactive digital experiences" indicates a need for structured, repeatable design solutions. This aligns with operational efficiency by standardizing design elements, reducing redundant work, and ensuring brand consistency. The responsibility to "lead discovery work on new design patterns" suggests a proactive approach to evolving the design system, which is a key operational function for continuous improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in User Experience Design (UXD) or a closely related digital design role.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma: Demonstrated ability to create complex components, manage design systems within Figma, and thoroughly document design work.

• Deep understanding of design principles: Expertise in layout, typography, color theory, and composition for creating aesthetically pleasing and functional user interfaces.

• Agile Methodologies & Jira: Experience working within agile development processes and proficiency with Jira for task management, sprint planning, and progress tracking.

• WCAG Accessibility Standards: Thorough knowledge and practical application of current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure inclusive design.

• Discovery & Research: Ability to independently lead discovery efforts for new design patterns and user experiences across multiple digital channels.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Self-Starter Mentality: Proactive and motivated individual capable of taking ownership of tasks and driving initiatives forward with minimal supervision.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other design and prototyping tools.

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better understand implementation constraints.

• Experience designing for email marketing platforms and understanding their unique constraints.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies and how to translate insights into design solutions.

• Experience in a large enterprise or financial services environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "five+ years relevant experience" and the focus on creating "design patterns based on UX best practices and research" points to a mid-level to senior individual contributor role. The need for "self-starter" capabilities and leading "discovery work" suggests a high degree of autonomy and proactive problem-solving, common in roles that manage and evolve operational systems like a DDS.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Digital Design System Contribution: Showcase examples of contributions to a Digital Design System, highlighting atomic design principles, component creation, and documentation.

• Interactive Experience Design: Present case studies demonstrating the design of engaging and intuitive interactive digital experiences across web, email, or mobile platforms.

• Figma Proficiency: Include examples of complex component libraries, design system documentation, and prototyping within Figma.

• Accessibility Integration: Demonstrate how WCAG accessibility standards were incorporated into design solutions.

• Process Documentation: Provide examples of design documentation, style guides, or pattern libraries created to support design implementation and consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate understanding of design workflows, from initial concept and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and prototyping, especially within a DDS context.

• Component Development Lifecycle: Showcase experience with the process of defining, designing, documenting, and iterating on design components within a system.

• Agile Integration: Detail how design processes were integrated with agile development sprints, including collaboration with engineering and product teams.

• User-Centered Design Process: Explain the approach to user research, needs assessment, and how user feedback informed the design of patterns and experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Designer role focused on a Digital Design System, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also the ability to create scalable, maintainable, and well-documented design assets that function as a core operational resource for development teams. The emphasis on Figma and documentation highlights the need for structured output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the contract nature of this role, the compensation will likely be commensurate with experience and market rates for mid-level UX Designers in Austin, TX. Based on industry benchmarks for contract UX Designers with 5-10 years of experience in major tech hubs like Austin, a typical hourly rate could range from $55 to $85 USD.

Benefits: As a contract position, benefits are typically provided through the contracting agency or are the responsibility of the individual. However, potential benefits that may be negotiated or provided by the employer of record could include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Paid Time Off (PTO) or Sick Leave

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k)

• Professional Development opportunities

• Potential for contract extension or conversion to full-time employment

Working Hours: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The role is on-site, requiring standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contract role, salary and benefits will vary significantly depending on the contracting agency and specific terms. The provided range is an estimate based on general market data for contract UX Designers in Austin, TX, with the specified experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Recruitment and Staffing Services. Syncreon Consulting positions itself as an innovative and passionate partner, utilizing customized solutions and research to understand market needs, talent availability, and compensation benchmarks. They aim to deliver high value and ROI by acting as trusted business partners with a strong understanding of client needs.

Company Size: The provided information doesn't specify the exact size of Syncreon Consulting, but their description suggests they work with various industries and have a team of "highly trained business professionals." This implies a professional services firm that could range from small to medium-sized.

Founded: Not specified.

Team Structure:

• UX Strategy Team: The role reports to the Manager of C2's UX Strategy Team, indicating a dedicated team focused on user experience strategy and design leadership.

• Creative Center (C2): The UX Strategy team is part of the Creative Center, suggesting a broader creative department within the company that likely includes various design and marketing disciplines.

• Product Delivery Teams: Close collaboration is expected with product delivery teams, which would typically include product managers, engineers, and QA testers.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role necessitates working with various stakeholders across different teams and potentially client organizations, given Syncreon's staffing and recruitment focus.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Approach: Syncreon emphasizes "passionate commitment to research" and "understanding of clients need," suggesting a data-informed approach to staffing and service delivery.

• Customized Solutions: The company prides itself on offering "innovative and customized solutions," indicating flexibility and adaptability in their service offerings.

• Agile Processes: The job description explicitly mentions working in an agile environment with product delivery teams, highlighting a methodology focused on iterative development and collaboration.

Company Website: While not explicitly provided in the raw data, the domain suggests syncreon.com.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description focuses heavily on their recruitment and staffing capabilities. The job itself, however, is for a UX Designer role within a client's organization (implied by the mention of "Charles Schwab's DDS"). Syncreon Consulting is likely the agency providing this talent. The UX Designer will operate within the client's marketing/creative department, not directly within Syncreon's core staffing operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level Contract UX Designer role. It focuses on specialized execution within a defined system (DDS) and requires independent contribution and problem-solving. It is not an entry-level position but also not a senior leadership role.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer reports to the C2 UX Strategy Team Manager. This implies a hierarchical structure within the UX team, with opportunities to learn from a manager and contribute to broader strategy discussions.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's impact is significant in streamlining digital product development and ensuring a consistent, high-quality user experience for end-users. By maintaining and expanding the DDS, they directly contribute to:

• Efficiency: Reducing development time and effort by providing pre-built, tested components.

• Consistency: Ensuring a unified brand experience across all digital touchpoints.

• Scalability: Enabling faster rollout of new features and products.

• User Satisfaction: Improving usability and accessibility, leading to better engagement and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepen DDS Expertise: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in Digital Design Systems, a highly sought-after skill.

• Cross-Channel Design Experience: Gain extensive experience designing for web, email, and mobile applications within a large organization.

• Accessibility Leadership: Develop advanced skills in accessibility implementation and potentially contribute to accessibility best practices.

• Agile Workflow Mastery: Further hone skills in agile methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Potential for Contract Extension/Conversion: Successful performance could lead to longer-term engagements or full-time opportunities with the client company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are heavily tied to the specific client's environment and the candidate's performance. The role itself is a specialized execution role within a larger operational framework (the DDS).

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" in Austin, TX. This suggests a traditional office environment within the client company's premises.

Office Location(s): State Highway 71, Austin, TX. This is a specific location within Austin.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with the UX Strategy Team, product delivery teams, and potentially other marketing and creative departments. Expect a dynamic environment where ideas are shared and feedback is given.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools, primarily Figma, and project management software like Jira will be essential. The office environment would likely provide the necessary hardware and software infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with team members, product managers, engineers, and design leadership is expected, fostering a culture of shared learning and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time business hours (approximately 40 hours per week), aligned with the client company's operational schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement is a key aspect, indicating a need for physical presence and direct collaboration within the client's office. This often fosters stronger team cohesion and more immediate feedback loops compared to remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio by the recruiting agency (Syncreon Consulting) or the client's HR.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the C2 UX Strategy Team Manager to assess experience, skills, and cultural fit. This may include discussing past projects and design philosophies.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on relevant DDS, web, email, and mobile design examples. This is a critical stage to evaluate practical skills and design thinking.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: Potentially a design challenge or a discussion focused on specific Figma capabilities, accessibility standards, or agile process integration.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: Meeting with members of the product delivery team or other stakeholders to gauge collaboration skills and ability to work within a team environment.

• Final Interview/Offer: Decision and offer extended by the client through the agency.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your experience with Digital Design Systems, component design, interactive experiences, and accessibility. Prioritize projects similar to the DDS work described.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Clearly demonstrate your ability to build and document components within Figma. Highlight your understanding of design system structure (e.g., atomic design).

• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the problem, your role, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, and the impact or outcome. Quantify results where possible (e.g., "improved user task completion by X%").

• Highlight Accessibility: Explicitly discuss how you incorporated WCAG standards into your designs and why it was important.

• Document Your Process: Show examples of your documentation, style guides, or pattern libraries. This demonstrates your ability to create operational resources.

Challenge Preparation:

• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss or demonstrate advanced Figma techniques, especially related to component variants, auto-layout, and design system organization.

• DDS Concepts: Prepare to discuss the principles of atomic design, the benefits of a DDS, and how to manage design debt within a system.

• Agile Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you integrate design into agile sprints, handle feedback, and collaborate with developers.

• Accessibility Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you approach accessibility challenges and ensure compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on DDS and Figma means the portfolio review will be highly technical and process-oriented. Candidates should be prepared to go deep into the mechanics of their design system work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design creation, component building, design system management, prototyping, and documentation. Advanced proficiency is a must.

• Jira: Required for task management, sprint planning, bug tracking, and collaborating within agile workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and how design impacts user behavior metrics would be beneficial for understanding the impact of design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX design role, but understanding how user experience impacts CRM adoption or customer engagement processes could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma and Jira are the core operational tools for this role. Proficiency in Figma, specifically for design system management and component creation, is non-negotiable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency: A core value, driven by the DDS which aims to streamline digital product creation.

• Consistency: Ensuring a unified and predictable user experience across all digital platforms.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with UX Strategy, product delivery teams, and engineers.

• User-Centricity: Designing with the end-user's needs and accessibility in mind.

• Innovation: Proactively identifying and designing new patterns and experiences to improve the DDS and user journeys.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: Expect a collaborative environment where designers, product managers, and engineers work closely together.

• Iterative Feedback: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback on designs and processes.

• Agile Integration: Seamless integration of design activities within agile development cycles, requiring frequent communication and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely a blend of creative innovation and operational discipline, driven by the need to maintain and scale a complex design system.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Design System Integrity: Ensuring that the DDS remains robust, scalable, and consistently adopted by various teams can be challenging, especially as the product suite grows.

• Balancing Innovation and Standardization: Finding the right balance between introducing new, innovative design patterns and maintaining the core standards of the DDS.

• Cross-Team Adoption: Encouraging and supporting widespread adoption of the DDS across different product teams, each with potentially unique needs and workflows.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Adapting the DDS to evolving web standards, new interaction paradigms, and emerging technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized DDS Training: Potential for formal or informal training on advanced design system methodologies and tools.

• Exposure to Large-Scale Projects: Working on a DDS for a major organization provides experience with complex, large-scale design operations.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced UX strategists and design leaders within C2.

• Industry Best Practices: Staying current with UX trends, accessibility standards, and design system evolution through conferences, webinars, and online communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in the operational aspect of managing and evolving a design system, which requires not just design skill but also strategic thinking about scalability and adoption.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience with Digital Design Systems. What are the key principles of a successful DDS, and how have you contributed to one?" (Focus on atomic design, component libraries, documentation, and adoption strategies.)

• "How do you approach creating reusable design components in Figma? Walk me through your process for building a complex component." (Be ready to discuss variants, auto-layout, and overall structure.)

• "Can you share an example of a time you had to advocate for a particular design pattern or component within a design system? What was the outcome?" (Demonstrate persuasive communication and understanding of stakeholder needs.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working on a Digital Design System, specifically at [Client Company, if known]?" (Research the client if possible, and align your interest with their digital presence and scale.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with product managers and engineers in an agile environment?" (Emphasize communication, feedback loops, and iterative design.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Begin with an overview of your DDS experience. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects, dedicating significant time to DDS examples.

• Highlight Figma Workflow: Show screenshots or live demos of your Figma setup for components, style guides, and documentation. Explain your organizational strategy.

• Emphasize Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the measurable impact (e.g., improved consistency, faster development, enhanced user experience).

• Discuss Accessibility: Dedicate a segment to how you address accessibility, referencing specific WCAG guidelines.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, component logic, and documentation methods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will heavily assess practical skills in Figma and understanding of design system operations. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their work and articulate their process in detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords like "UX Design," "Digital Design System," "Figma," "Atomic Design," "WCAG Accessibility," "Agile," and "Jira." Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on contributions to design systems or efficiency improvements.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience with Digital Design Systems, Figma component creation, and interactive digital experiences. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible and well-organized, with clear case studies.

• Prepare for the Portfolio Review: Practice presenting your most relevant projects, focusing on your process, Figma skills, and the operational impact of your design work. Be ready to discuss your approach to accessibility and agile collaboration.

• Research Syncreon Consulting and the Client: Understand Syncreon's staffing model and research the client company (likely Charles Schwab, based on the description) to understand their digital presence and potential design challenges.

⚠️ 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.