Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer

Company: Global Payments Inc.

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States; Troy, Michigan, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: September 01, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ years (typically) / Senior-Level

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the user experience strategy and design for the Genius portfolio, a flagship commerce and software platform, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive customer journey across mobile, web, kiosk, and point-of-sale touchpoints.

• Drive customer-centered design initiatives from discovery through delivery, collaborating closely with Product Management and Engineering to create engaging and effective digital experiences.

• Establish and evolve scalable design systems and component libraries, promoting consistency and accelerating product delivery by defining reusable design patterns and interaction models.

• Champion UX best practices, including accessibility and usability, while enhancing UX maturity within the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) and acting as a key advocate for user-centered design across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role title "Lead UX Designer" and the responsibilities described, particularly "owning user experience strategy and design for a strategic component of the Genius portfolio" and "leading user-centered design efforts," indicate a senior-level position with significant strategic influence. The emphasis on design systems and collaboration with Product Management and Engineering further solidifies its importance within the product development process. The mention of "Genius portfolio" suggests a focus on a specific, critical product suite within Global Payments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the user experience (UX) vision and strategy across multiple platforms including mobile, web, kiosk, and point-of-sale (POS) systems, ensuring a seamless and intuitive omnichannel customer journey.

• Lead the end-to-end user-centered design process, from initial concept and user research to final delivery, partnering closely with Product Management and Engineering teams to translate product requirements into exceptional user experiences.

• Develop and maintain key UX artifacts such as personas, customer journey maps, experience frameworks, and interaction models to inform product strategy and drive design decisions.

• Own the creation, implementation, and ongoing evolution of scalable design systems, component libraries, and reusable design patterns to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across the Genius portfolio.

• Strengthen UX-to-development workflows by collaborating closely with Engineering teams to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of designs, maintaining design integrity throughout the development cycle.

• Conduct and oversee comprehensive user research activities, including usability testing, customer interviews, journey mapping, and prototype validation, potentially partnering with external research vendors.

• Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, user flows, and high-fidelity visual designs to effectively communicate design solutions and gain stakeholder alignment.

• Advocate for accessibility, usability, and modern UX best practices, actively contributing to the improvement of UX maturity and its integration within the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC).

• Serve as a primary UX advocate within the organization, influencing product direction and contributing to the modernization and enhancement of customer-facing digital experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are comprehensive and cover the full spectrum of a lead UX role. The emphasis on "defining and evolving the user experience vision," "leading user-centered design efforts," and "establishing and evolving scalable design systems" highlights a strategic and influential capacity. The inclusion of specific deliverables like personas, journey maps, and prototypes, along with user research oversight, indicates a hands-on yet strategic approach. The mention of "omnichannel customer journey" and "point-of-sale experiences" points to a complex, multi-faceted product environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Product Design, Interaction Design, Human Factors, Psychology, or a closely related field.

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

• Typically 8+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) Design, Product Design, or a comparable role.

• Demonstrated experience designing customer-facing digital experiences across various platforms, including mobile and web.

• Proven track record of collaborating effectively with Product Management and Engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Experience in developing comprehensive user journeys, creating detailed personas, and formulating effective design strategies.

• Hands-on experience in establishing, managing, or significantly evolving design systems and component libraries. Required Skills:

• Expertise in UX design principles and methodologies, with a strong understanding of user-centered design processes.

• Proficiency in product design, including the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and effective user interfaces.

• Strategic thinking in developing user experience strategy and defining product roadmaps from a UX perspective.

• Ability to create and manage design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Skill in wireframing, prototyping, and creating detailed user flows using industry-standard tools.

• Experience conducting and leveraging user research, including usability testing and customer journey mapping, to inform design decisions.

• Strong understanding of interaction design principles and best practices.

• Experience designing for mobile platforms (iOS/Android) and web platforms.

• Proven ability to align stakeholders and gain buy-in for design solutions.

• Commitment to accessibility standards and best practices in design.

• Understanding of the Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) and how UX integrates within it. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in specialized domains such as restaurant technology, hospitality technology, digital ordering, or commerce platforms.

• Experience designing omnichannel experiences that span mobile, web, kiosk, and point-of-sale (POS) environments.

• Experience leading UX modernization initiatives within an organization.

• Experience managing or partnering with external user research providers.

• Experience in mentoring designers or contributing to the growth and development of a UX practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "8+ years" for a "Lead" role is standard. The emphasis on a "strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design work" is critical for UX roles. The preferred skills, particularly omnichannel experience and domain-specific knowledge (restaurant/hospitality tech, digital ordering, commerce platforms), suggest the "Genius portfolio" likely encompasses these areas, making candidates with this background highly valuable.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design work, demonstrating a deep understanding of the design process from discovery to delivery.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process followed, key design decisions, and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Examples of how you have developed and applied design systems or component libraries to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple products or features.

• Demonstrations of wireframing, prototyping, and user flow creation, highlighting your ability to effectively communicate complex interactions and user journeys.

• Evidence of user research integration into the design process, including how insights from usability testing or customer journey mapping influenced design outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Clear documentation of your personal design process, including how you approach problem-solving, ideation, iteration, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Examples of how you have contributed to or established Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC) processes that effectively integrate UX design.

• Demonstrations of how you champion accessibility and modern UX best practices within established workflows.

• Evidence of your ability to work within agile or iterative development environments, including how you manage design tasks and handoffs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX Designer role, a portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on showcasing not just the final designs, but the strategic thinking, process, and measurable impact behind them. The specific mention of "design systems," "component libraries," and "omnichannel experiences" aligns with the responsibilities, suggesting these should be prominently featured. Highlighting the integration of user research and adherence to PDLC processes is also key for demonstrating a mature approach to design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead UX Designer role in Charlotte, NC, and Troy, MI (major metropolitan areas with significant tech presence) with 8+ years of experience and a hybrid work arrangement, the estimated annual salary range is $130,000 - $180,000. This estimate considers factors such as lead responsibilities, specialized skills in design systems and omnichannel experiences, and the company's position in the payments technology sector.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A compensation package designed to recognize your contributions and expertise.

• Global Benefits and Programs: Comprehensive benefits available to support employees at every stage of their career and life.

• Career Development Opportunities: Access to roles and projects that foster professional growth within a large, global organization.

• Learning and Development Access: Opportunities for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and on-the-job experience expansion.

• Supportive, Inclusive Team Environment: A collaborative workplace culture where ideas and input are valued.

• Community and Charity Initiatives: Opportunities to engage in and contribute to community and charitable activities.

• Global Employee Assistance Program: Support services available to assist with personal wellbeing.

• Recognition Platform: A system for celebrating and acknowledging employee achievements.

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Standard medical coverage options.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Options for long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies.

Working Hours:

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

• The hybrid work arrangement suggests a flexible schedule, likely requiring a combination of in-office and remote work days, allowing for some autonomy in managing work hours around core business needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on data for similar roles in comparable tech hubs in the US. The benefits listed are directly extracted from the job description's "Our perks" section, which are typically detailed and attractive to candidates. The working hours are inferred from "Full time" employment type.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Payments Technology & Financial Services. Global Payments Inc. operates at the intersection of technology and finance, providing critical infrastructure for millions of transactions daily. This industry demands high levels of security, reliability, innovation, and customer focus. The "Genius portfolio" likely refers to a significant suite of products within this ecosystem, possibly focused on merchant services, payment processing, or digital commerce solutions.

Company Size: Global Payments Inc. is a large enterprise, indicated by its global presence, extensive employee base, and comprehensive benefits. This size offers opportunities for significant impact, career mobility, and exposure to diverse projects and markets, but also means processes can be more structured and require navigating larger organizational frameworks.

Founded: Global Payments Inc. has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the early 2000s through mergers and acquisitions, evolving into a major player in the payments industry. This history suggests a stable, established company with a deep understanding of the market, while also being agile enough to adapt to rapid technological changes.

Team Structure:

• The UX team likely operates within a Product Development or Technology division, composed of designers with various specializations (UX research, interaction design, visual design, design systems).

• As a "Lead," this role will report into a UX Manager, Director, or Head of Product Design, and will likely oversee or mentor other designers working on the Genius portfolio.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management (defining strategy and requirements) and Engineering (implementation), as well as Product Delivery teams. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and market data to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile/Iterative Development: UX processes are likely integrated into Agile sprints, requiring close collaboration and rapid iteration with development teams.

• Design System Centricity: A strong focus on building and maintaining robust design systems to ensure scalability, consistency, and efficiency across products.

• Customer-Centricity: A core value of understanding and meeting customer needs through thoughtful and intuitive design solutions.

Company Website: https://www.globalpayments.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description provided a good foundation. The industry context is crucial for understanding the demands on design – security, reliability, and innovation are paramount in payments. The "Genius portfolio" is highlighted as a key strategic area. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on typical large tech organizations and the explicit responsibilities of the role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior/Lead level within the UX Design discipline. It signifies a transition from individual contribution to strategic influence and potential team leadership. The "Lead" title implies ownership of a significant product area, responsibility for defining its UX strategy, and the expectation to mentor or guide other designers. The focus is on shaping the direction of the user experience for a critical platform like the Genius portfolio.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX Designer will likely report to a UX Manager, Director of Product Design, or a similar senior leadership role within the product or design organization. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for the Genius portfolio, forming a core triad for product development.

Operations Impact: The UX of the Genius portfolio directly impacts customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue. By improving the usability, efficiency, and desirability of these payment and commerce solutions, the Lead UX Designer will have a direct influence on user adoption, transaction success rates, and the overall competitive positioning of Global Payments' offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Path: Potential to move into a formal UX Management or Director role, leading larger teams and broader product portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, omnichannel UX, or payments technology UX, becoming a recognized subject matter expert.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunity to influence product strategy and roadmap decisions beyond UX, collaborating more closely with executive leadership.

• Mentorship: Formal or informal mentorship of junior designers, contributing to the growth of the UX practice within Global Payments.

• Broader Product Ownership: Transition to owning UX strategy for multiple product lines or even the entire user experience domain for a business unit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title clearly positions this role as senior. The growth opportunities are standard for such positions, emphasizing both vertical (management) and horizontal (specialization, broader influence) career progression within a large organization like Global Payments. The impact on revenue is a key consideration for any operations-adjacent role, and UX directly drives user behavior and adoption.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job posting indicates hybrid work, suggesting a mix of in-office and remote work. This likely means the company maintains physical office spaces in Charlotte and Troy, but employees are not required to be present 100% of the time. This offers a balance between in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s):

• Charlotte, North Carolina: Toringdon Way office.

• Troy, Michigan: Specific office details not provided, but a known tech hub.

These locations are in major metropolitan areas, offering access to talent, amenities, and potentially diverse work environments.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices likely feature open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and collaboration zones designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming, and stakeholder discussions, crucial for a hybrid UX role.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard office technology, reliable internet, and potentially specialized hardware for prototyping or testing. The company's tech stack will heavily influence the specific software and tools available.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for face-to-face interaction with design colleagues, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders during in-office days, fostering stronger working relationships and idea exchange.

Work Schedule:

• A standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is expected.

• The hybrid nature allows for flexibility in scheduling remote work days, but in-office days will likely be coordinated for team meetings, workshops, and collaborative sessions. The exact schedule will depend on team agreements and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" remote status is a key indicator of the work environment. The specific office locations are provided, and the general context of a large enterprise in these areas suggests a professional, well-equipped office setup with ample opportunities for collaboration, balanced with remote flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the UX Manager or Director to delve deeper into experience, leadership capabilities, and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their work, showcasing case studies, design process, and impact. Expect to discuss specific projects in detail.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and problem-solving approach.

• Executive/Senior Leadership Interview: Potential final interview with a VP or other senior leader to assess strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest end-to-end projects that best represent your skills and experience, particularly those relevant to payments, commerce, or complex digital platforms.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, user needs, your specific role and contributions, the design challenges, your process and rationale for decisions, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, reduced errors, improved satisfaction).

• Highlight Design Systems: If you have experience with design systems, showcase how you've contributed to or leveraged them. This is a key requirement.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly explain your design process, from research and ideation to iteration and delivery. Show how you incorporate user feedback and collaborate with engineering.

• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions, trade-offs you made, and how you would approach similar challenges in the future.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You may be given a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This could involve solving a specific UX problem related to payments or digital commerce.

• Problem-Solving Focus: Demonstrate your ability to break down complex problems, ideate solutions, and articulate your reasoning clearly.

• Time Management: If given a timed exercise, practice managing your time effectively to deliver a coherent solution.

• Communication: Be prepared to present your approach and rationale clearly and concisely, as if presenting to product stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process outlined is typical for senior/lead roles in tech. The portfolio review is the most crucial part for UX designers, so detailed tips are provided. The potential for a design challenge is also standard, requiring preparation in problem-solving and clear communication of design thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision (or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, UI design, and prototyping).

• Design Systems: Tools for managing design systems, component libraries, and style guides (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal systems).

• User Research & Testing: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics), usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), and session recording/analytics (e.g., Hotjar, FullStory).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel (for understanding user behavior and tracking key metrics).

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (for creating dashboards and reporting on UX performance and impact).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics (while not primary for UX, understanding CRM data can inform user segmentation and journey mapping).

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello (for managing tasks, sprints, and documentation).

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams (for daily communication and team coordination).

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for UX design roles, with a strong emphasis on modern design and prototyping tools, design system management, and user research platforms. Given Global Payments' scale, proficiency with enterprise-level analytics and project management tools is also highly probable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of Global Payments' clients (merchants, financial institutions, consumers) through exceptional product experiences.

• Ownership & Accountability: A culture where individuals take responsibility for their work, drive initiatives forward, and are accountable for the outcomes of their designs.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively across departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing) to achieve shared goals, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly seek better ways to solve problems, improve processes, and enhance user experiences, embracing new technologies and methodologies.

• Integrity & Trust: Upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and data security, paramount in the financial services and payments industry.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The UX team is deeply integrated with Product Management and Engineering, participating in all stages of the product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch and iteration.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and frequent communication through stand-ups, design reviews, and collaborative sessions to ensure alignment and efficient problem-solving.

• Feedback Culture: A willingness to give and receive constructive feedback on designs and processes to drive continuous improvement and elevate the quality of work.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A preference for using data (user research, analytics) to validate hypotheses and inform design decisions, rather than relying solely on intuition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are inferred from the "What makes a Globalpayer" section and general industry best practices for large, customer-facing tech companies. The collaboration style is derived from the explicit responsibilities of the Lead UX Designer role, which necessitates close work with other departments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Enterprise: Adapting to the processes, stakeholders, and decision-making structures inherent in a large, global corporation like Global Payments.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Designing for a critical payments platform requires a delicate balance between introducing innovative features and ensuring the utmost stability, security, and reliability.

• Omnichannel Complexity: Designing for a seamless experience across diverse touchpoints (mobile, web, kiosk, POS) presents significant technical and design challenges.

• Driving UX Maturity: Continuing to elevate the importance and integration of UX within the product development lifecycle across different teams and projects.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying abreast of evolving payment technologies, consumer behaviors, and design trends to ensure the Genius portfolio remains competitive.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the payments industry, FinTech, and commerce solutions, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Design System Leadership: Developing advanced skills in building, scaling, and governing design systems for large organizations.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Enhancing skills in working effectively with diverse teams, including product managers, engineers, marketing, and business stakeholders.

• Strategic Influence: Developing capabilities in influencing product strategy and roadmap decisions at a higher organizational level.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and potentially step into formal leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are derived from the nature of the role (Lead UX) and the industry (FinTech/Payments). Growth opportunities are standard for senior/lead roles, focusing on domain expertise, leadership, and strategic impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the UX strategy for a new feature within the Genius portfolio, given its importance and complexity?" (Preparation: Discuss your framework for strategy development, including research, stakeholder alignment, and defining success metrics.)

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user-centered design decision that faced resistance from product or engineering. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Prepare a STAR method answer focusing on influencing skills, data-backed arguments, and collaborative problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure consistency and scalability in your designs, especially when working across multiple platforms and with a large team? What is your experience with design systems?" (Preparation: Detail your experience with design systems, component libraries, and the processes you use to maintain design integrity.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Global Payments and the payments industry? Why are you interested in working here?" (Preparation: Research Global Payments' mission, recent news, products (especially the Genius portfolio), and the FinTech landscape.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with product managers and engineers? Describe your ideal working relationship with these teams." (Preparation: Emphasize your understanding of cross-functional dynamics and your proactive communication style.)

• "How do you measure the success of your UX designs? Can you provide examples of metrics you've tracked?" (Preparation: Be ready to discuss quantitative (e.g., conversion rates, task completion time, error rates) and qualitative (e.g., user satisfaction, feedback) metrics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, typically by project. For each project, use a framework like: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify the results of your work whenever possible. Use data to demonstrate the value you delivered.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the process.

• Showcase Your Thinking: Don't just show final screens; explain why you made certain design decisions and the trade-offs involved.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, challenges encountered, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions are tailored to a Lead UX role, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership, collaboration, and impact measurement. The portfolio presentation strategy provides actionable advice for showcasing work effectively in an interview setting.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the official career portal link provided by Global Payments Inc.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience with design systems, omnichannel design, payments technology, and leading UX initiatives. Ensure your portfolio prominently features end-to-end case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, key skills (UX strategy, design systems, user research, prototyping), and specific achievements using keywords from the job description (e.g., "Genius portfolio," "customer-centered design," "PDLC").

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on the "Problem -> Solution -> Impact" narrative. Be ready to discuss your design process, collaboration style, and how you handle challenges, particularly those related to large enterprise environments and financial technology.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Global Payments Inc., its mission, values, recent news, and its product offerings, especially the "Genius portfolio." Understand the competitive landscape in the payments industry to better articulate your interest and fit.

⚠️ 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.