Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer

Company: Texas Capital

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience Design / Digital Innovation

Date Posted: 2026-08-19

Experience Level: 7+ years (with 2+ years in leadership)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the User Experience (UX) Design and Digital Insights functions, establishing best practices and driving excellence across the organization.

• Champion user-centered design principles and accessibility (WCAG standards) to enhance customer journeys and drive digital innovation.

• Translate complex business requirements and user research into intuitive, engaging digital experiences across platforms like websites, web applications, and mobile apps.

• Develop and operationalize design standards, governance models, and design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business stakeholders to embed design thinking into decision-making processes and ensure strategic alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a leadership opportunity within UX Design, focusing on strategic implementation, team development, and cross-functional influence. The emphasis on "Digital Insights" suggests a data-informed approach to design, moving beyond traditional UX to incorporate analytics and behavioral data.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain UX design standards, best practices, and governance models across the organization.

• Lead the design and development of intuitive, user-centered digital experiences for internal and external platforms, including websites, online banking portals, and digital onboarding processes.

• Champion accessibility (WCAG standards) and inclusive design principles, ensuring all digital products are usable by a diverse user base.

• Translate user research, behavioral data, and business requirements into actionable design recommendations and strategic product roadmap input.

• Produce comprehensive design artifacts such as journey maps, wireframes, prototypes, and design system components.

• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Engineering teams, and other cross-functional stakeholders within an Agile SDLC to ensure design vision is realized through implementation.

• Communicate and present design concepts, strategies, and solutions effectively to inspire and align stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Drive digital innovation by identifying opportunities to improve user experience and leverage new technologies.

• Mentor and guide other design talent, fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The mention of "Digital Insights" implies a need for the candidate to integrate data analysis and user research findings directly into the design process, informing prioritization and strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Interaction Design, UX Design, Service Design, Visual Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field. Experience:

• Minimum of 7+ years of relevant experience in Product Design, UX Design, or a related discipline.

• Minimum of 2+ years in a leadership or senior-level design role, demonstrating ability to guide teams and influence strategy.

• Proven experience working across multiple platforms (websites, web applications, mobile apps) and understanding their translation into code.

• Experience within the financial services industry is preferred.

• Experience establishing or scaling design systems and governance models is preferred.

• Leadership experience mentoring design talent is preferred. Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in WCAG accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.

• Proficiency with standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, or Sketch.

• Proven ability to translate user research, behavioral data, and insights into actionable design recommendations.

• Strong communication, storytelling, and presentation skills to effectively influence stakeholders across organizational levels.

• Experience working within Agile Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies and iterative development processes.

• Ability to produce foundational design artifacts including journey maps, wireframes, and design system components. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and data-driven design approaches.

• Experience in establishing or scaling design systems and governance models.

• Experience leading and mentoring design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7+ years of experience with at least 2 in a leadership capacity clearly defines this as a senior or lead role. The emphasis on WCAG and inclusive design is a critical technical and ethical requirement, suggesting a strong focus on compliance and broad usability. Proficiency in industry-standard tools like Figma is essential for day-to-day execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7 years of work in Product Design, UX Design, or related fields, with a clear emphasis on leadership contributions and strategic impact.

• Demonstrations of end-to-end design process, from user research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, and final implementation, across web and mobile platforms.

• Case studies that highlight the ability to translate complex business requirements into elegant, user-centered design solutions.

• Examples of experience in establishing or scaling design systems and governance models, illustrating how consistency and efficiency were achieved.

• Projects that specifically showcase expertise in accessibility (WCAG standards) and inclusive design practices, demonstrating a commitment to usability for all users.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, business) and how design solutions were integrated into development cycles.

• Projects that illustrate the ability to influence stakeholders and drive adoption of user-centered design principles. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how user research and data insights were leveraged to inform design decisions and product prioritization.

• Document the process of creating and utilizing journey maps, wireframes, and prototypes to communicate design vision and gather feedback.

• Provide examples of how design standards and governance were established or implemented to ensure consistency across platforms.

• Demonstrate the ability to work within Agile SDLC methodologies, outlining the iterative design and development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX Designer role, the portfolio must go beyond showcasing individual UI designs. It needs to demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, process ownership, and the ability to drive significant UX improvements and establish scalable design practices. The emphasis on accessibility and design systems is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead UX Designer in Austin, Texas, with 7+ years of experience and leadership responsibilities, the estimated salary range is $140,000 - $190,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Austin, the demand for experienced UX professionals, and the specific requirements of a financial services institution.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage

• Wellness program

• Fertility and family building aids

• Life insurance

• Disability insurance

• Retirement savings plans

• Generous 401K match

• Paid leave programs

• Paid holidays

• Paid time off (PTO) Working Hours:

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

• While the role is on-site, flexibility may be offered based on team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for a Lead UX Designer in Austin, TX, considers the city's growing tech scene and cost of living. The provided range reflects the seniority and leadership aspect of the role. The listed benefits are standard for a large financial institution and are competitive.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking)

Company Size: Large (Texas Capital Bank is a significant regional bank with multiple offices and a substantial employee base, indicated by its presence in major Texas cities and its awards.)

Founded: Texas Capital Bank was founded in 1998. This history suggests a blend of established practices and a drive for innovation and growth, as evidenced by its recent awards and expansion.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team likely operates within a Product or Digital Innovation department, collaborating closely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Business Development teams.

• As a "Lead," this role will likely oversee a small team of UX designers or be the primary UX resource for key product initiatives, reporting to a Director or VP of Digital Product/Experience.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, requiring strong partnerships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and technical expertise. Methodology:

• Texas Capital Bank emphasizes a consultative approach, leveraging innovative technologies and deep expertise to provide clients with a competitive advantage. This suggests a culture that values strategic thinking, problem-solving, and client-centric solutions.

• The company's commitment to "building long-lasting relationships" implies a focus on trust, reliability, and deep understanding of client needs.

• Operations within the bank likely follow established regulatory frameworks while also embracing Agile methodologies for digital product development.

Company Website: www.texascapitalbank.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as client-focused, relationship-driven, and innovative, with a strong emphasis on expertise. For a UX Designer, this means the work will be impactful, strategic, and aligned with business objectives, likely within a structured financial services environment that also embraces modern digital development practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead UX Designer

This role represents a significant step into design leadership. It's beyond a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) role and involves not just designing but also setting standards, influencing strategy, and potentially managing or mentoring other designers. The focus is on establishing and operationalizing design practices at an organizational level.

Reporting Structure:

The Lead UX Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Digital Product, User Experience, or Digital Innovation. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Business Stakeholders across various departments. This structure allows for both strategic direction from leadership and hands-on execution within product teams.

Operations Impact:

The Lead UX Designer's work directly impacts customer acquisition, engagement, and retention through intuitive digital platforms. By improving usability, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction, this role contributes to digital transformation, operational efficiency, and ultimately, the bank's competitive advantage and revenue growth. The focus on "Digital Insights" and data-driven design further amplifies this impact by ensuring design decisions are aligned with business objectives and market opportunities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Head of UX, Director of Product Design, or VP of Digital Experience role, managing larger teams and broader portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, accessibility, user research, or digital strategy within financial services.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Transition into broader product management or digital strategy roles, leveraging deep UX expertise to drive broader business initiatives.

• Mentorship: Develop strong mentoring skills by guiding junior designers and fostering a high-performing design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within UX leadership, emphasizing strategic influence and team development. The financial services context provides opportunities for specialized growth within a regulated but innovative industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site

The role is explicitly listed as "On-site" with primary locations in Austin, Dallas, and Richardson, Texas. This indicates a traditional office-based work environment.

Office Location(s):

• Austin, TX

• Dallas, TX

• Richardson, TX

These locations are hubs for business and technology in Texas, offering access to talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a professional office environment designed for collaboration.

• Expect access to standard office amenities, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated spaces for design critiques and team huddles.

• Collaboration will be a key aspect, with opportunities to work closely with product managers, engineers, and other designers in person.

• The environment will support the use of design tools and technologies necessary for UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and presentations. Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time work hours (40 hours per week) are expected.

• While the role is on-site, the Agile methodology suggests a dynamic workflow where occasional extended hours might be necessary during critical project phases, though the primary expectation is adherence to standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement for this role suggests that Texas Capital Bank values in-person collaboration, team synergy, and direct mentorship opportunities, which are often crucial for developing and maintaining a strong design culture and executing complex projects within a regulated environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and resumes to assess basic qualifications and fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the Hiring Manager (likely Director/VP of Digital) to discuss experience, leadership style, strategic thinking, and alignment with company culture.

3. Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, highlighting key projects, their role, process, and impact. This may be followed by a practical design challenge, either take-home or in-person, to assess problem-solving skills, design execution, and understanding of accessibility.

4. Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other business units to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and ability to influence diverse teams.

5. Final Interview/Offer: A concluding discussion, potentially with senior leadership, to finalize the decision and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, end-to-end UX process, and specifically, your experience with accessibility and design systems.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, enhanced user satisfaction, accessibility compliance).

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize contributions that show your ability to set standards, mentor others, influence stakeholders, and drive design strategy within a team or organization.

• Showcase Process: Detail your methods for user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. Explain why you chose specific tools or approaches.

• Accessibility Focus: Clearly demonstrate how you integrated WCAG standards and inclusive design principles into your projects. Provide specific examples of challenges and solutions.

• Design Systems: If applicable, showcase your experience in creating, contributing to, or scaling design systems. Explain their benefits and how they were implemented.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle design disagreements, how you measure success, and how you stay current with UX trends.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a design challenge is given, thoroughly research Texas Capital Bank, its services, target audience, and any known digital initiatives or pain points.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a clear, logical, and user-centered design process. It's often more about how you approach the problem than the final pixel-perfect design.

• Prioritize and Justify: Be prepared to explain your design decisions and prioritize features or solutions based on user needs and business goals.

• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Ensure accessibility is a consideration in your challenge response, even if not explicitly stated.

• Time Management: Practice working within time constraints if it's a timed challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also leadership, strategic thinking, and collaborative abilities. The portfolio review is critical, and candidates must be prepared to articulate their process, impact, and leadership contributions comprehensively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred, as it's a modern industry standard), Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator), Sketch.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for Agile workflow management and documentation.

• Communication: Microsoft Teams, Slack for daily team and cross-functional communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding user behavior on websites and applications.

• Data Visualization/BI Tools: Tableau, Power BI (or similar) for presenting data insights to stakeholders, though the UX team might primarily consume reports rather than create them.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback widgets).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managed by UX, understanding the bank's CRM (likely Salesforce or a proprietary system) and marketing automation platforms will be beneficial for context.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability tests, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is highly desirable for modern UX roles, and experience with the broader Adobe Creative Suite is often expected. Familiarity with Agile project management tools and analytics platforms is crucial for effective collaboration and data-informed design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity: A primary value, emphasizing understanding and serving the needs of business clients and individuals. This translates to designing with empathy and a focus on delivering tangible value.

• Expertise & Knowledge: A deep respect for experienced professionals and a commitment to leveraging that expertise to solve complex problems.

• Innovation & Technology: A drive to use innovative technologies to create competitive advantages, suggesting an openness to modern design approaches and tools.

• Relationship Building: A focus on establishing and maintaining long-lasting relationships, implying a need for clear communication, trust, and reliability in all interactions, including design.

• Integrity & Trust: Essential in the financial services sector, requiring ethical design practices and a commitment to user privacy and security.

Collaboration Style:

• Consultative Partnership: Working closely with business units, product management, and engineering in a consultative manner to understand needs and co-create solutions.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by user research, behavioral data, and business metrics, promoting an objective and analytical approach to design.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration across different departments is expected to ensure design aligns with business goals and technical feasibility.

• Accessibility Advocacy: A culture that champions accessibility not just as a compliance requirement but as a competitive advantage and a core aspect of inclusive design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values strongly align with a user-focused and strategically minded UX professional. The emphasis on expertise and relationships suggests a collaborative environment where thoughtful design solutions are highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Navigating the complex regulatory landscape of financial services while pushing for digital innovation and modern user experiences.

• Legacy Systems Integration: Potentially working with or around older banking systems, requiring creative solutions to integrate modern UX designs.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and consistent application of design standards across diverse teams with varying priorities and technical understanding.

• Driving Design Maturity: As the company grows its design practice, establishing and scaling processes, tools, and a design-centric culture can be a significant undertaking.

• Measuring UX Impact: Quantifying the ROI of UX improvements in a way that resonates with traditional financial metrics.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Financial Services UX Expertise: Deepen understanding of the unique UX challenges and opportunities within the banking and financial services sector.

• Design System Leadership: Gain experience in building, scaling, and governing comprehensive design systems for an enterprise organization.

• Accessibility Mastery: Become a go-to expert in WCAG standards and inclusive design, leading initiatives that ensure compliance and enhance usability for all.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in influencing senior leadership and driving organizational change through design advocacy and data-driven insights.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Cultivate leadership skills by guiding and developing junior design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to shape the digital experience within a growing financial institution. Overcoming the inherent challenges of the industry will provide valuable experience and drive professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to establishing design standards and governance for a growing UX team within a large organization."

• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints, especially in a regulated industry like finance?"

• "Walk us through a time you successfully championed accessibility (WCAG) as a competitive advantage or key requirement. What was the impact?"

• "How do you translate complex user research or behavioral data into actionable design recommendations for product roadmaps?"

• "Describe your experience in building or scaling a design system. What were the key challenges and successes?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about Texas Capital Bank, where do you see the biggest opportunities for UX to drive impact?"

• "How do you see your leadership style fitting into a client-centric and relationship-driven company culture?"

• "How would you approach embedding user-centered design thinking into product and engineering teams that may not have a strong UX background?"

• "What are your thoughts on the balance between innovation and the inherent conservatism of the financial services industry?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Begin each case study by stating the problem and the measurable outcome or impact achieved.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, journey maps) to illustrate your process and solutions. Explain why you made certain design choices.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., X% increase in conversion, Y% reduction in errors, Z% improvement in user satisfaction scores).

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with product, engineering, and other stakeholders. Showcase your communication and influencing skills.

• Accessibility Integration: Clearly articulate how accessibility was considered and implemented in your projects.

• Leadership Contributions: For this role, be ready to discuss how you've led initiatives, mentored others, or influenced design direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of UX principles applied within a financial services context. Be ready to articulate your process, impact, and how you embody the company's values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the provided Workday job portal link and complete the online application form.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 7+ years of UX/Product Design experience, with a clear emphasis on your 2+ years in a leadership capacity. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Design," "Product Design," "Accessibility," "WCAG," "Design Systems," "Agile," and "Stakeholder Management." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, end-to-end UX process, and specific experience with accessibility and design systems. Be prepared to present these projects with clear narratives of problem, solution, process, and impact.

• Prepare for Design Challenges: If a design challenge is part of the process, research Texas Capital Bank and its digital offerings. Focus on demonstrating a user-centered design process and justifying your decisions, especially regarding accessibility and business objectives.

• Research Texas Capital Bank: Understand their mission, values, recent achievements (awards), and target audience. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest and cultural 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.