UX / Product Design Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX / Product Design Lead
Company: PK Companies Group (for intelliSPEC)
Location: The Woodlands, TX, US
Job Type: Full Time
Category: Product Design / UX
Date Posted: 2026-02-06T22:36:00
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end user experience (UX) and product design strategy for IntelliSPEC's complex SaaS platform and mobile applications.
• Translate intricate industrial workflows, data-heavy interfaces, and AI-assisted interactions into intuitive, efficient, and human-centered digital experiences.
• Drive design direction and directly shape critical user journeys across web and mobile platforms, with a specific focus on offline and low-connectivity field use cases.
• Operate at the strategic intersection of product vision, domain-specific workflows, and engineering execution, ensuring design feasibility and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX / Product Design Lead," the description emphasizes this as a senior, hands-on individual contributor role initially, with the potential to build a design function. The "Lead" aspect pertains to design direction and ownership rather than direct team management at the outset. The role requires a strong understanding of B2B enterprise applications and complex data visualization within industrial contexts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and drive the overall UX vision and product design strategy for IntelliSPEC's evolving suite of web and mobile applications.
• Architect intuitive and efficient user flows for complex industrial inspection, asset management, and operational workflows, ensuring domain fidelity is maintained.
• Design and optimize user experiences for mobile field applications, with a critical focus on developing robust offline-first and low-connectivity capabilities.
• Establish, document, and maintain a scalable design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and alignment with engineering implementation across platforms.
• Partner closely with Product Management to translate business requirements and user needs into clear, user-centered design solutions and prototypes.
• Collaborate effectively with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of design intent and to provide ongoing design support throughout the development lifecycle.
• Lead and facilitate usability testing sessions, gather user feedback, and drive iterative design improvements based on data and insights.
• Establish best practices, standards, and documentation to lay the groundwork for a future, scalable design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic ownership ("Own IntelliSPEC's UX vision") and hands-on execution ("Design intuitive user flows," "Lead usability testing"). The emphasis on offline/low-connectivity mobile experiences and industrial workflows suggests a need for domain-specific empathy and problem-solving.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in UX, product design, or interaction design, with a significant focus on SaaS and mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of designing complex, data-intensive enterprise or B2B applications that solve real-world business problems.
• Strong portfolio showcasing ownership of end-to-end web and mobile product experiences, demonstrating a deep understanding of the design process from concept to launch.
• Profound understanding of core UX principles, information architecture, interaction design patterns, and user-centered design methodologies.
• Hands-on expertise with modern design and prototyping tools, with a specific emphasis on proficiency in Figma.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely and effectively with engineering teams to ensure production-ready designs and accurate implementation.
• Skill in simplifying complex workflows and data presentations without sacrificing essential domain fidelity or user comprehension.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to influence product strategy and engineering decisions with clear, data-backed rationale.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing user experiences for industrial, operational technology (OT), or highly regulated environments.
• Experience specifically designing for offline-first mobile applications or environments with intermittent or low-connectivity.
• Familiarity with the technical constraints and design patterns associated with React-based web applications and native mobile app development (iOS/Android).
• Experience designing user workflows that incorporate AI-assisted features or leverage data-driven insights.
• Experience defining, implementing, and maintaining scalable design systems to ensure product consistency and developer efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between required and preferred skills clarifies the core competencies versus desirable additional expertise. The emphasis on "8+ years" and a "strong portfolio" indicates a senior-level candidate is sought. The preferred skills point towards specific technical and industry knowledge that would be advantageous.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end ownership of at least two significant web and mobile product experiences, ideally within B2B or enterprise SaaS.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, key decisions, and the resulting impact or outcomes.
• Examples of how you have simplified complex workflows or data-intensive screens.
• Visual representation of user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.
• Evidence of collaboration with engineering and product management teams.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you have contributed to or maintained design systems, including component libraries and style guides.
• Demonstrate experience with user research methodologies, usability testing, and how feedback informed design iterations.
• Provide insight into your workflow for translating complex requirements into actionable design specifications for engineering.
• Illustrate how you ensure design consistency and quality across different platforms (web and mobile).

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it's the primary mechanism for demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership and the ability to handle complexity. The emphasis should be on the candidate's process, problem-solving approach, and tangible results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a UX/Product Design Lead with 8-10+ years of experience in a hybrid role in the Houston metropolitan area (The Woodlands, TX), the estimated salary range is $120,000 - $160,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive Pay (depending on experience)
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Company Match 401(k)
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Working Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, 40 hours weekly. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on typical compensation for senior UX/Product Design Lead roles in the Texas market, considering the hybrid work arrangement and the specific industry context of industrial SaaS. Benefits are comprehensive, reflecting a standard package for full-time employees in a medium-to-large organization.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / SaaS, focusing on industrial operations, safety, and efficiency solutions. IntelliSPEC aims to transform industrial operations with a unified, intelligent platform. Company Size: PK Companies Group is a significant organization (implied by ADP's platform usage and benefits offered); intelliSPEC appears to be a specific division or product line within it. The role is described as a core member of the Product and Technology leadership group, initially an individual contributor role expected to grow into a broader design function. Founded: The founding date of PK Companies Group or intelliSPEC is not specified, but the context suggests a company focused on modernizing industrial processes through technology.

Team Structure:

• The UX/Product Design Lead will be a core member of the Product and Technology leadership group.
• Key collaborators include Product Management, the Chief Architect, Director of Software Engineering, and various Engineering teams.
• The role reports directly to the President of intelliSPEC.
• Initially an individual contributor, the role is intended to scale into leading a broader design function as the platform matures.

Methodology:

• IntelliSPEC leverages technology to provide secure, resilient, and intuitive tools for inspection teams and plant operators, even in low-connectivity environments.
• The product development likely involves agile methodologies, with close collaboration between design, product, and engineering.
• Design is expected to be data-driven and user-centered, focusing on translating complex industrial workflows into efficient digital experiences.

Company Website: [PK Companies Group Website URL - Not explicitly provided, but implied by the ADP portal link and company name. A placeholder like pk-companies.com is referenced in the metadata.]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context suggests a focus on practical, robust technology solutions for industrial clients, requiring designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional and reliable in challenging field environments. The "President of intelliSPEC" reporting structure indicates a high level of visibility and direct impact for this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level individual contributor role, designated as a "Lead." It signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and ownership over a critical product area. The role is positioned as a foundational hire for the design function, with clear potential for future leadership and team-building responsibilities.

Reporting Structure: The UX/Product Design Lead reports directly to the President of intelliSPEC. This direct line offers significant visibility and influence with executive leadership, allowing for direct impact on product strategy and design direction.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is central to the success of IntelliSPEC's SaaS platform and mobile applications. By owning the end-to-end user experience, the lead will directly influence user adoption, efficiency gains for industrial clients, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, the platform's competitive positioning and revenue generation potential. The design of intuitive, data-intensive, and field-ready interfaces is crucial for the company's value proposition.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Leadership: The most significant growth opportunity is the potential to build and lead a dedicated design team as the platform and company scale. This involves hiring, mentoring, and establishing design processes.
• Strategic Influence: Direct reporting to the President allows for substantial influence on product strategy, technology roadmaps, and the overall user experience vision.
• Domain Expertise: Deepening expertise in industrial operations, asset management, and AI-assisted workflows within a growing SaaS company provides valuable specialization.
• System Design: Opportunity to define and evolve a comprehensive design system, setting standards for future product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a rare opportunity for a senior designer to shape a product's UX from its foundational stages and build out a design function, providing significant career advancement potential beyond typical individual contributor roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as Hybrid, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in the office. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster in-person teamwork and strategic discussions. Office Location(s): The primary office location is The Woodlands, TX, 77380.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model indicates an expectation for active participation in team meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional collaboration with Product Management, Architecture, and Engineering.
• Technology & Tools: Access to modern design tools (Figma is specified) and likely other collaborative software for remote and in-office work. The company's focus on a "unified, intelligent platform" implies a commitment to robust technological infrastructure.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with product leadership, engineering teams, and potentially other design professionals as the team grows. The reporting structure ensures close interaction with executive leadership.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, 40 hours weekly) with a hybrid in-office requirement. This schedule allows for focused work time, balancing individual design tasks with collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key characteristic of the work environment, balancing the need for in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. Candidates should be comfortable with a structured office presence and actively engaging with colleagues.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, relevant skills, and alignment with the role's requirements. Candidates must have a strong portfolio to advance.
• Portfolio Deep Dive: An interview focused on your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. Be prepared to articulate your decision-making process.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Management, Engineering Leads, and potentially the Chief Architect to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to work within a product lifecycle.
• Executive Interview: A final interview with the President of intelliSPEC to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, cultural fit, and overall vision for the design function.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your experience with complex B2B SaaS, mobile applications, and data-intensive design. Highlight projects where you had end-to-end ownership.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key challenges and solutions, and measurable outcomes or impact.
• Showcase Your Process: Demonstrate your thought process, not just the final UI. Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and any user research or testing insights.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Detail how you worked with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders. Highlight instances where your design influenced product direction.
• Address Complexity: Be ready to discuss how you approach designing for complex workflows and data visualization, especially for industrial or field applications.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential take-home design challenge or an in-interview exercise focused on a hypothetical problem related to industrial workflows or data visualization.
• Problem-Solving: Practice articulating your approach to solving design problems, focusing on user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.
• System Thinking: Consider how you would approach building or scaling a design system for a complex B2B SaaS product.
• Communication: Practice presenting your work and ideas concisely and persuasively, tailoring your message to different audiences (e.g., executives, engineers).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes portfolio strength and strategic thinking. Candidates should be prepared to defend their design decisions and articulate their vision for building a design function.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required hands-on tool for design and prototyping. Expect to use it extensively for UI design, wireframing, and creating interactive prototypes.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) might be beneficial for broader context.
• Design System Management: Experience with tools or methodologies for creating and maintaining scalable design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, proficiency in using product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions and measure impact would be a strong asset. Understanding how to interpret data to drive design improvements is key.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms is not directly required for this UX role but understanding how design interacts with these systems in a B2B context can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary technical requirement is mastery of Figma. Beyond that, the role demands an understanding of how design integrates with the broader technology stack, including development frameworks (React, mobile patterns) and analytics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and serving the user, particularly industrial field workers and operators, by designing intuitive and efficient experiences.
• Innovation & Efficiency: Driving innovation in industrial operations through intelligent, unified platforms that enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency.
• Collaboration & Communication: Fostering strong partnerships between design, product management, and engineering to achieve shared goals.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing data and user feedback as a foundation for design choices and continuous improvement.
• Reliability & Resilience: Designing robust solutions that function effectively even in challenging environments, including offline and low-connectivity scenarios.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires deep integration with Product Management to define requirements and with Engineering to ensure accurate implementation. This involves regular communication, feedback loops, and shared ownership.
• Process Improvement: A culture of continuous improvement, evident in the expectation to lead usability testing and iterative design refinements.
• Knowledge Sharing: As the foundational member of the design team, there will be an opportunity and expectation to establish standards and share best practices for design within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture values practical innovation and user focus within a demanding industrial context. Collaboration is key, with design acting as a bridge between user needs and technical execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for intricate industrial workflows, data-heavy screens, and AI-assisted interactions requires deep understanding and careful simplification without losing critical detail.
• Offline/Low-Connectivity Design: Developing robust, user-friendly experiences for field applications that must function reliably with intermittent or no internet access is a significant technical and design challenge.
• Building a Design Function: As the first dedicated design lead, establishing design processes, standards, and potentially building a team from the ground up requires strong leadership, strategic vision, and initiative.
• Balancing Vision with Execution: Translating a high-level UX vision into practical, implementable designs that align with engineering capabilities and timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: The opportunity to transition from an individual contributor to a design leader, including hiring, mentoring, and team management.
• Industry Specialization: Deepening expertise in the industrial SaaS sector, understanding critical workflows in areas like inspection, asset management, and operational technology.
• Design System Architecture: Gaining experience in architecting and scaling a comprehensive design system for a growing enterprise platform.
• AI Integration: Working with AI-assisted features provides exposure to emerging design paradigms in enterprise software.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities, particularly for those looking to make a strategic impact and build a design practice.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a complex, data-intensive enterprise application. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and impact.)
• "How would you approach designing an offline-first mobile application for field technicians? What are the critical considerations?" (Highlight your understanding of constraints, data syncing, and user workflows.)
• "Imagine you need to create a design system for our SaaS platform. What would be your first steps, and what principles would guide your approach?" (Demonstrate your knowledge of design system architecture and scalability.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and engineering constraints in your design process?" (Showcase your pragmatic approach to product development.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of IntelliSPEC, what do you see as the biggest UX opportunities and challenges for our platform?" (Research the company and its products thoroughly.)
• "How would you build a collaborative relationship with our Product Management and Engineering teams?" (Emphasize your communication and teamwork skills.)
• "What is your vision for the future of UX design at IntelliSPEC, given this is a foundational role for the design function?" (Articulate your leadership aspirations and strategic thinking.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, starting with an overview of your experience, followed by detailed case studies of 2-3 key projects.
• Storytelling: For each project, clearly define the problem, your specific role, the design process, your key contributions, the solutions you developed, and the impact/outcomes. Use visuals effectively.
• Focus on Process: Don't just show final screens. Explain your rationale, design decisions, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user efficiency, reduced error rates, improved task completion times).
• Address Complexity: Be prepared to specifically discuss how you handled complex data, intricate workflows, and the unique challenges of mobile/field applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the design process for complex B2B SaaS and mobile applications, with a clear vision for the role's strategic impact and potential leadership.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX / Product Design Lead position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP portal link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with enterprise SaaS, complex data-intensive applications, mobile design (especially offline-first), and your leadership capabilities. Use keywords from the job description like "UX," "Product Design," "SaaS," "Mobile Applications," "Figma," and "Design Systems."
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that showcase end-to-end ownership of web and mobile experiences, ideally in B2B or industrial contexts. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your contributions, and the impact.
• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and ability to collaborate with engineering and product teams. Be ready to discuss your vision for building a design function.
• Research IntelliSPEC: Understand their product, target industry (industrial operations), and value proposition. Prepare thoughtful questions about their product roadmap, user base, and 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.

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