Lead Product Design, Design Systems & Experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Design, Design Systems & Experience Quality

Company: Brightspeed

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Design Systems

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation and maintenance of a robust design system, encompassing reusable components, interaction patterns, and design standards for all digital products.

• Champion experience quality and consistency across Brightspeed's digital ecosystem, including AI-supported and agent-based interactions.

• Lead the strategic development and evolution of the design system to enhance scalability, accessibility, and implementation efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with product, design, and technology teams to ensure seamless integration of design system principles into the development lifecycle.

• Act as a subject matter expert in design systems, advocating for best practices and facilitating adoption across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an advanced individual contributor, focusing on the strategic and technical aspects of design systems rather than direct people management. The emphasis on "experience quality" and "AI-supported and agent-based experiences" indicates a forward-thinking approach to user interaction design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, document, and maintain reusable components, interaction patterns, templates, and standards to ensure consistent and scalable digital experiences across Brightspeed's digital platforms.

• Define detailed specifications for component anatomy, properties, variants, states, responsive behavior, accessibility requirements, content guidance, and intended usage.

• Maintain high-quality Figma libraries, comprehensive component documentation, contribution standards, reference designs, and interactive prototypes.

• Proactively identify and address gaps, duplication, inconsistencies, and implementation drift within customer experiences, proposing scalable design system solutions.

• Establish practical standards for interaction behavior, visual hierarchy, responsive design, accessibility, content presentation, and design annotations.

• Design and validate complex components, interaction models, prototypes, and reference flows that demand advanced systems thinking and close technical collaboration.

• Develop and showcase prototypes and reference experiences that effectively demonstrate the integrated functionality of approved components and interaction patterns across intricate customer journeys.

• Conduct thorough reviews of design work to ensure adherence to Brightspeed's design system, accessibility standards, responsive design requirements, and documented interaction patterns.

• Foster alignment between Figma components, design tokens, coded components, and front-end documentation through proactive partnership with design and technology teams.

• Develop reusable components, interaction patterns, behavioral documentation, reference prototypes, and quality criteria specifically for AI-enabled, conversational, and agent-based digital experiences.

• Design and implement AI experience patterns that clearly articulate AI interaction boundaries, system capabilities, data usage, customer confirmation needs, and escalation/human handoff procedures.

• Create reusable patterns for AI feedback mechanisms, confirmation flows, error handling, escalation processes, failure states, and human handoff to promote consistent, accessible, and understandable customer interactions.

• Provide expert, craft-focused guidance on design system usage, interaction patterns, accessibility, AI behavior, responsive design principles, and overall implementation quality.

• Lead and facilitate design system working sessions and workshops to enhance adoption, consistency, and effective utilization of shared standards and components.

• Collaborate with design leadership to prioritize design system investments based on customer impact, delivery efficiency, adoption rates, and strategic business needs, aligning with established product strategy and priorities.

• Influence and lead through specialized expertise across cross-functional teams, operating without direct people management responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep dive into the technical and strategic aspects of design systems, including a significant focus on emerging AI and conversational interfaces. The emphasis on "identifying gaps, duplication, inconsistencies, and implementation drift" points to a role focused on continuous improvement and optimization of the digital product landscape.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, User Experience (UX), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human Factors, Visual Communication, Product Design, or a closely related field.

• Equivalent practical experience will be considered in lieu of a formal degree. Experience:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive experience in product design, interaction design, design systems, UX/UI design, or digital product design.

• Proven track record of successfully designing, building, or maintaining scalable design systems, reusable components, and interaction patterns.

• Demonstrated experience in developing comprehensive design system documentation and supporting artifacts.

• Practical experience designing or prototyping AI-enabled experiences, including AI interaction patterns, agent workflows, prototypes, or reusable design solutions.

• Experience working within cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and QA. Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in design systems principles, component architecture, interaction design, responsive design, and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Expert-level skills in Figma, including advanced component creation, library management, prototyping, and documentation.

• Strong understanding of design tokens, their relationship to coded components, and front-end implementation workflows.

• Solid grasp of AI-enabled experience considerations, such as model behavior, prompt engineering, system instructions, data access, confidence scoring, latency, failure states, privacy, and security.

• Exceptional systems thinking ability, with a knack for identifying patterns, dependencies, and opportunities for reuse across complex digital ecosystems.

• Proven ability to translate strategic objectives into scalable design patterns, standards, and practical implementation guidance.

• Advanced collaboration, communication, facilitation, and influencing skills, with the ability to provide specialized design guidance and drive consensus.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through expertise and influence, effectively guiding product and technology teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the telecommunications, broadband, or utility industries.

• Prior experience designing customer support, self-service portals, checkout flows, account management interfaces, recommendation engines, conversational AI interfaces, or agent-based applications.

• Familiarity with creating design system contribution models, governance frameworks, system training materials, component usage guidelines, or enablement resources.

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "component architecture, reusable interaction patterns, accessibility, responsive design, systems thinking, documentation, and implementation quality" is critical. Candidates should prepare to showcase projects that clearly articulate these elements and their impact. The "AI-enabled experience considerations" suggest a need for candidates to articulate their understanding of how AI integrates into user interfaces and workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a strong command of design systems, component architecture, and reusable interaction patterns.

• Demonstrate expertise in designing for accessibility (WCAG compliance) and responsive behavior across various devices and screen sizes.

• Highlight examples of systems thinking, illustrating how you approach complex problems and create scalable solutions.

• Include detailed documentation for at least one significant design system project, explaining component specifications, usage guidelines, and rationale.

• Present case studies that clearly articulate the impact of your design system work on implementation quality, delivery efficiency, and overall user experience. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of documented design processes, including workflow design and optimization phases for component creation and system evolution.

• Provide evidence of process implementation and automation methods used to streamline design system workflows and ensure consistency.

• Include examples of how you measure and analyze the performance and adoption of design system components and standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary tool for evaluating a candidate's fit for this role. It must go beyond visual design and demonstrate a deep understanding of system architecture, process, and the ability to articulate complex design decisions and their impact. Specific attention should be paid to showcasing work related to AI-driven experiences and their associated design patterns.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designers with 8+ years of experience in a major metropolitan area like Charlotte, NC, the estimated salary range for this position is $130,000 - $170,000 per year. This range accounts for the advanced individual contributor nature of the role, the specialized expertise in design systems and AI experience design, and the cost of living in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health and well-being support.

• 401K plan with a competitive company match to support long-term financial planning.

• A robust suite of Voluntary Benefits designed to provide additional flexibility and coverage.

• Paid time off programs designed to promote overall wellness. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time commitment, typically 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility is offered, with the understanding that occasional additional hours may be required to support project deadlines, business priorities, or critical deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in Charlotte, NC, considering the experience level and specialized skills required. The benefits listed are directly from the provided text and are typical for a company of Brightspeed's size and industry. The "occasional additional hours" note suggests a need for strong time management and prioritization skills.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Telecommunications / Broadband Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Company Size: Large (Estimated 5,000-10,000+ employees based on typical ISP operations, though not explicitly stated). This size suggests a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impact within specialized teams.

Founded: Brightspeed was formed in 2021, indicating a relatively new company with a rapidly evolving culture and infrastructure, focused on modernizing and expanding its network.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Consumer Group," suggesting a focus on end-user digital products and services.

• The Lead Product Designer will likely be part of a broader Product Design or Digital Product team, working closely with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Engineers.

• This role emphasizes collaboration across Product, Design, and Technology teams, indicating a matrixed or integrated team structure rather than strict silos.

• The "Lead" title, without direct reports, points to a leadership role through expertise and influence, driving strategic initiatives within their domain. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The emphasis on "customer impact," "delivery efficiency," and "business needs" suggests that decisions regarding design system investments and implementations will be data-informed.

• Agile & Iterative Development: The need to "identify gaps, duplication, inconsistencies" and to "continuously improve" implies an agile approach to design system evolution.

• Scalability and Consistency: The core function of a design system is to ensure scalability and consistency, which will be a primary methodological focus.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires strong partnerships with technology teams, indicating a methodology that bridges design and development.

Company Website: http://brightspeed.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Brightspeed's recent formation and focus on fiber optic upgrades suggest a dynamic, growth-oriented environment. The company culture aims for "contemporary ways of working" and emphasizes "Inclusion and belonging," indicating a commitment to diversity and modern workplace practices, which is crucial for attracting top talent in design and technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level individual contributor position within the Product Design discipline, specifically focused on Design Systems and Experience Quality. It is a "Lead" role, signifying expertise and the ability to influence strategy and adoption across multiple teams. It sits above mid-level designers and below design managers or directors.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report to a Design Leadership role (e.g., Director of Product Design, Head of UX) within the Consumer Group. While not directly managing people, they will lead through influence and expertise, collaborating closely with Product Management and Engineering leads.

Operations Impact: This role has a significant impact on operational efficiency and product quality. By establishing and maintaining a robust design system, the Lead Product Designer directly contributes to:

• Reduced Development Time: Reusable components streamline the design and development process, leading to faster time-to-market for new features and products.

• Enhanced Product Consistency: A unified design language ensures a cohesive and predictable user experience across all digital touchpoints, improving brand perception and user trust.

• Improved Scalability: A well-defined design system allows for easier scaling of digital products as the company grows and expands its offerings.

• Higher Quality User Experiences: By enforcing standards for accessibility, usability, and interaction design, the role directly contributes to better customer satisfaction and reduced support costs.

• Efficient AI Integration: Specific focus on AI patterns ensures that new AI-powered features are integrated seamlessly and understandably for users, optimizing adoption and reducing friction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialized Expertise: Deepen expertise in advanced design system architecture, AI interaction design, and cross-functional leadership.

• Strategic Influence: Gain opportunities to shape the future direction of Brightspeed's digital product strategy through design system leadership.

• Mentorship: Potentially mentor junior designers on design system best practices and contribute to their skill development.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Transition into broader product design leadership roles, product management, or even technology architecture roles that leverage systems thinking.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to industry best practices through potential speaking engagements or publications related to design systems and AI experience design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career growth for individuals passionate about the foundational elements of digital product development. The focus on design systems and AI positions the candidate at the forefront of modern digital product creation. The "influence without direct management" aspect is key for those who prefer to lead through technical expertise and strategic vision.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Brightspeed emphasizes "contemporary ways of working" and offers flexibility. The Charlotte HQ is described as a vibrant destination for a hybrid workforce. This suggests a modern office space designed for collaboration, with amenities to support both focused work and team interaction. The role is designated as Hybrid.

Office Location(s):

• Primary location is Brightspeed HQ at 1120 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC.

• The company also has roles designated as remote, indicating a distributed workforce, but this specific role is hybrid, requiring presence at the Charlotte office. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is designed to foster collaboration, with spaces conducive to workshops, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional team meetings.

• Technology-Enabled: Brightspeed invests in technology to enable its team to stay connected, implying access to modern collaboration tools and potentially advanced design software.

• Hybrid Model Support: The workspace and policies will support a hybrid model, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work flexibility. This means the role requires comfort with both in-person and virtual communication and collaboration.

• Focus on User Experience: As a design-centric role, the workspace likely supports creative thinking and detailed design work.

Work Schedule:

• The standard working hours are 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid arrangement allows for a balance between in-office and remote work, providing flexibility. Specific days in the office may be determined by team needs and leadership guidance.

• While core hours are expected, there's an acknowledgment that occasional additional hours might be necessary to meet project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role means candidates should be comfortable working both in the Charlotte office and remotely. The emphasis on "contemporary ways of working" suggests a progressive office environment that values flexibility and employee well-being.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, design philosophy, and suitability for the Lead Product Designer role. This will likely include questions about design systems, AI experience design, and leadership through influence.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, highlighting key projects related to design systems, component architecture, and AI experiences. A practical design challenge or case study analysis focused on design systems or experience quality may be included.

• Cross-Functional Team Interviews: Interviews with potential collaborators from Product Management, Engineering, and other Design team members to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior design or product leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your expertise in design systems, component architecture, AI experience design, accessibility, and responsive design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the challenges faced, your design process, the solutions implemented (with specific examples of components, patterns, and documentation), and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Explicitly show how you approached the problem from a systems perspective, focusing on scalability, reusability, and consistency.

• Showcase Documentation: Include examples of your design system documentation, component specifications, and contribution guidelines.

• Demonstrate AI Experience: If possible, showcase projects involving AI-enabled interfaces, conversational design, or agent-based experiences, explaining the specific patterns and considerations you applied.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your design system implementations (e.g., reduction in design/dev time, increase in consistency scores, improved user feedback).

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Audit/Critique: Be prepared to audit an existing interface or a set of components for consistency, adherence to best practices, and potential improvements.

• Component Design: You might be asked to design a new component or adapt an existing one for a specific use case, considering its place within a larger system.

• Pattern Definition: Prepare to define an interaction pattern or a set of guidelines for a specific user journey, particularly related to AI interactions or complex data presentation.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you would address common design system challenges like adoption, governance, or managing design debt.

• AI Integration Scenarios: Practice articulating how you would design for scenarios involving AI feedback, error handling, or human handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potential design challenges means candidates should thoroughly prepare to articulate their thought process, design decisions, and the impact of their work, especially concerning design systems and AI. Understanding Brightspeed's business context (telecom, customer experience) will be beneficial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Design System Platforms/Tools: While Figma is the primary tool, familiarity with tools that support design token management (e.g., Specify, Zeroheight integrations) and component documentation is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Understanding how design system elements impact user behavior and conversion rates.

• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Ability to interpret data related to design system adoption and user experience metrics.

• User Feedback Tools (e.g., Hotjar, UserTesting.com): Gathering qualitative and quantitative data on component and experience performance.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): Understanding how digital product experiences integrate with customer data and support workflows.

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Managing design system tasks, sprints, and cross-functional workflows.

• Collaboration Tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams): Facilitating communication and collaboration across distributed and hybrid teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. While not explicitly stated, familiarity with the broader ecosystem of design system tools, analytics platforms, and project management software will be highly advantageous for seamless integration into Brightspeed's workflow. Understanding how design decisions impact downstream systems like CRM and support is also crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Being Real: This value, highlighted in the company description, suggests an emphasis on authenticity, transparency, and genuine interaction, both internally and with customers. Operations professionals should strive for honest communication and clear expectations.

• Inclusion and Belonging: Brightspeed actively promotes an inclusive environment. Operations professionals are expected to contribute to a welcoming atmosphere, value diverse perspectives, and ensure processes and systems are equitable.

• Customer Focus: As Brightspeed aims for "best-in-class customer experience," operations must prioritize customer needs in all decision-making, from system design to process implementation.

• Innovation & Modernization: The company's vision to "accelerate the upgrade of copper to fiber" and "reimagine how people live, work, play and connect" indicates a culture that embraces technological advancement and forward-thinking solutions. Operations should be open to adopting new technologies and optimizing existing processes.

• Efficiency and Quality: The core of operations roles is to drive efficiency and maintain high quality. This aligns with the need for scalable design systems and streamlined processes to deliver reliable internet service and excellent customer experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where design, product, and technology teams work in tandem. Operations professionals should be adept at bridging communication gaps and ensuring alignment.

• Data-Informed Partnerships: Collaboration will likely be grounded in data and shared metrics, fostering a results-oriented approach to problem-solving.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A culture that values continuous improvement means operations professionals should be comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback to refine processes and systems.

• Proactive Communication: Given the hybrid and potentially distributed nature of the workforce, proactive and clear communication through various channels (Slack, email, meetings) is essential for effective collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Being Real" and "Inclusion and Belonging" suggests that cultural fit is as important as technical skills. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they embody these values in their work and interactions, particularly within an operations context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Design System Adoption: A common challenge is ensuring widespread adoption and adherence to design system standards across diverse teams and projects. This role will need strategies to encourage consistent usage and provide effective support.

• Balancing Innovation with Standardization: Integrating new technologies like AI while maintaining the integrity and scalability of the core design system requires careful planning and execution.

• Managing Design Debt: Over time, design systems can accumulate "debt" if not actively maintained or if quick fixes are implemented without system-level consideration. Proactively managing and reducing this debt will be crucial.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in from various stakeholders (product, engineering, marketing) on design system principles and priorities can be complex.

• Evolving AI Landscape: The rapid evolution of AI technology presents an ongoing challenge to keep the design system current and effective for new AI-driven features and interactions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Architecture: Opportunities to delve into complex design system patterns, governance models, and scalable component frameworks.

• AI/Conversational Design Specialization: Develop deep expertise in designing user experiences for AI-powered applications, chatbots, and agent-assist tools.

• Cross-Functional Leadership Development: Hone skills in influencing without direct authority, strategic planning, and stakeholder management.

• Industry Best Practices: Stay abreast of emerging trends in design systems, AI, and user experience through conferences, workshops, and continuous learning.

• Contribution to Company Growth: Play a pivotal role in shaping Brightspeed's digital future, contributing directly to customer satisfaction and operational efficiency during a period of significant company expansion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they have tackled similar challenges in previous roles. Highlighting proactive strategies and a growth mindset will be key. The opportunity to specialize in AI design within a growing company is a significant growth prospect.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience building or scaling a design system from scratch or significantly evolving an existing one. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, documentation, and adoption strategies.)

• "How do you approach designing for AI-enabled experiences? What are the unique considerations for AI interaction patterns, error handling, and human handoff compared to traditional interfaces?" (Prepare specific examples of AI patterns you've designed or would propose.)

• "Imagine you need to introduce a new, complex component into the design system that will be used across multiple product lines. Outline your strategy for design, documentation, and ensuring cross-functional buy-in." (Demonstrate systems thinking and stakeholder management.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Brightspeed's mission and values (e.g., 'Being Real,' 'Inclusion'), how would you ensure these are reflected in the design system and the digital experiences you help create?" (Connect your work to company values.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of design system components and patterns, especially regarding responsive design and accessibility?" (Highlight your understanding of the design-to-development handoff.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of a design system? What key metrics would you track to demonstrate its value to the business?" (Focus on ROI, efficiency, and user experience improvements.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your design system philosophy and approach. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects, dedicating significant time to explaining the "why" and "how."

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use live Figma prototypes or detailed walkthroughs to demonstrate components, interactions, and documentation. Explain the rationale behind design decisions.

• Quantify Achievements: For each project, clearly state the problem, your specific contributions, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact (e.g., "Reduced front-end development time by X%," "Improved consistency score by Y points").

• Address AI/Conversational Design: If applicable, dedicate a portion of your presentation to any AI or conversational interface design work, detailing the unique patterns and considerations.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design process, technical constraints, collaboration methods, and how you handle feedback or design disagreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should thoroughly research Brightspeed's current digital presence, customer experience initiatives, and any public statements about their technology strategy. Tailoring portfolio examples and interview responses to align with Brightspeed's goals and values will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Design, Design Systems & Experience Quality position:

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

• Curate Your Portfolio for Impact: Carefully select and refine your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest work in design systems, component architecture, AI-enabled experience design, accessibility, and responsive design. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, process, solutions, and measurable outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume for Operations Keywords: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities directly relevant to design systems, product design, UX/UI, Figma, accessibility, AI experience design, and cross-functional leadership. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenges: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear storytelling, demonstrating your systems thinking, and articulating the impact of your work. Prepare for potential design exercises that assess your ability to apply design system principles and solve complex UX challenges.

• Research Brightspeed's Operations and Culture: Gain a deep understanding of Brightspeed's business, its customer base, its focus on customer experience, and its stated values ("Being Real," "Inclusion"). Consider how your design system expertise can directly contribute to their goals of modernization and customer satisfaction.

⚠️ 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.