Principal Software Engineer, UX – Asset Management Technology Foundations

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Software Engineer, UX – Asset Management Technology Foundations

Company: Fidelity Investments

Location: Boston, MA, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Software Engineering / UX Design Systems

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the architecture, quality, and adoption of an enterprise-wide design system, driving consistency and scalability across the Asset Management technology ecosystem.

• Translate complex user experience principles into production-ready, reusable engineering assets, including design tokens, component libraries, and theming frameworks.

• Collaborate at the intersection of UX design and engineering to ensure a high-fidelity, user-centered, and accessible digital experience across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

• Influence platform direction and UX standards at scale, championing best practices in design systems, accessibility (WCAG), and inclusive design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Principal Software Engineer, UX," the core responsibilities and required skills indicate a strong emphasis on design systems engineering and a deep understanding of UX principles. This role is not a traditional UX designer role but rather a highly technical engineering position focused on building the foundational components and standards that enable great UX. The "IT" category from the raw data is too broad; "Software Engineering / UX Design Systems" is more specific to the role's function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect and develop scalable, reusable, and accessible design system assets, including design tokens, component libraries (e.g., PrimeNG-based), and theming frameworks.

• Drive the adoption and governance of the enterprise design system across multiple application teams within Asset Management.

• Collaborate closely with UX designers to ensure precise translation of visual and interaction designs into robust engineering components.

• Define and enforce UX standards, accessibility guidelines (WCAG), and inclusive design practices across the Asset Management technology stack.

• Develop and maintain documentation for design system components, patterns, and usage guidelines to facilitate team understanding and adoption.

• Explore and integrate AI-enabled UX patterns, such as context-aware interfaces and intelligent workflows, to enhance user experiences.

• Potentially contribute to desktop interoperability platforms and standards (e.g., FDC3) to enable advanced application composition and context sharing.

• Ensure visual and interaction consistency across diverse applications, including desktop, web, and mobile interfaces.

• Champion a culture of design quality, performance, and usability within the engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The raw description provides a good overview, but detailing the specific deliverables like "design tokens," "component libraries," and "theming frameworks" adds clarity. Emphasizing the "adoption and governance" aspect highlights the leadership and strategic influence expected of a Principal Engineer.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field.

• An advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant discipline is preferred. Experience:

• 10+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a significant focus on front-end development and design systems.

• Proven track record of building and scaling enterprise-level design systems from inception to widespread adoption.

• Demonstrated experience translating UX designs into codified, reusable engineering assets. Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in building and scaling enterprise design systems, including design tokens, theming architectures, and component library governance.

• Hands-on experience with modern component ecosystems, specifically PrimeNG or equivalent advanced UI component frameworks.

• Advanced proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and TypeScript, with a strong understanding of scalable and maintainable UI system architecture.

• Extensive experience with Figma and modern design-to-development workflows, ensuring fidelity and efficiency.

• Strong understanding and practical application of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Proven ability to drive consistency and adoption of UX standards across complex, multi-application platforms (desktop, web, mobile).

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive consensus on platform direction. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with desktop interoperability platforms and standards such as FDC3, enabling application composition, context sharing, and cross-application workflows.

• Exposure to AI-enabled UX patterns, including context-aware interfaces, intelligent workflows, and personalization.

• Familiarity with integrating AI tooling into the design system lifecycle, such as AI-assisted design generation or code scaffolding.

• Experience with API-driven UI integration and understanding of shared platform services.

• Ability to create prototypes and conduct UX validations as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Explicitly stating the "10+ years" as derived from the ai_experience_level is crucial. Breaking down "Required" and "Preferred" skills based on the job description's emphasis helps candidates prioritize. Highlighting specific technologies like PrimeNG and Figma, along with standards like WCAG, provides clear technical benchmarks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a history of successfully architecting, building, and deploying enterprise-level design systems.

• Showcase contributions to significant UI component libraries, including examples of reusability and scalability.

• Provide case studies illustrating the translation of complex UX designs into production-ready engineering assets.

• Highlight projects that emphasize adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Include examples of how design system adoption was driven and managed across multiple teams or applications. Process Documentation:

• Examples of design token systems and their implementation across various themes and applications.

• Documentation illustrating the architecture of reusable UI components and patterns, including their lifecycle management.

• Workflows that detail the collaboration process between UX designers and front-end engineers for design system development.

• Evidence of process optimization in design-to-development handoffs, improving efficiency and reducing friction.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal Engineer role focused on design systems, a portfolio is paramount. This section elaborates on what a strong portfolio should contain, focusing on tangible evidence of design system development, adoption, and impact, aligning with process optimization and system implementation standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $107,000 - $216,000 USD per year

• This range is based on Fidelity Investments' stated compensation for this position. Placement within the range will be determined by factors such as job responsibilities, geographic location, candidate experience, and other relevant qualifications. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Care Coverage: Access to medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Emotional Well-being Support: Resources and programs focused on mental health and overall emotional well-being.

• Market-Leading Retirement Plan: Robust retirement savings plans designed to support long-term financial security.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Ample vacation, sick leave, and personal days to promote work-life balance.

• Parental Leave: Supportive policies for new parents to bond with their children.

• Charitable Giving Employee Match Program: Opportunities to contribute to non-profit organizations with employer matching.

• Educational Assistance: Comprehensive support for continuous learning and career development, including:

  • Student Loan Repayment assistance.

  • Tuition Reimbursement for approved educational programs.

  • Access to learning resources and platforms. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, typical for an on-site role. Flexibility may be available based on team needs and project demands, but the primary expectation is on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range and benefits are directly extracted from the provided text. The "Working Hours" are inferred from the FULL_TIME employment type and On-site work arrangement, with a note on potential flexibility common in such roles. The note about Fidelity's regulatory environment is also incorporated.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Asset Management Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Fidelity Investments is a global financial services leader with tens of thousands of employees), indicating a complex, structured environment with established processes and significant resources.

Founded: 1946. Fidelity Investments has a long-standing history and a well-established reputation in the financial industry, suggesting a culture that values stability, long-term vision, and robust operational frameworks.

Team Structure:

• The Architecture and Technology Foundation (ATF) team is a central, specialized group within Asset Management.

• This team focuses on providing foundational technology solutions, including frameworks, components, and services, to empower application development.

• The Principal Engineer will likely report into a management layer responsible for platform engineering or architecture within ATF, working closely with other engineers, UX designers, and product managers. Methodology:

• The team operates with a focus on building "ready-to-use solutions" and "reusable software components and services."

• Emphasis is placed on integrated experience platforms, design systems, and core UI frameworks, suggesting a structured approach to product development and component-based architecture.

• Data-driven decision-making and user-centered design principles are likely integral to their development processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Information about Fidelity's industry, size, and founding date is derived from general knowledge and the company's public profile. The description of the ATF team is taken directly from the job posting, enhanced with context about how such central teams typically operate within large enterprises.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Software Engineer, UX – Asset Management Technology Foundations

• This is a senior individual contributor role, signifying a high level of technical expertise, leadership, and influence.

• The "Principal" title indicates responsibility for setting technical direction, mentoring other engineers, and driving strategic initiatives within the design systems domain.

• The focus on UX Design Systems places this role at the critical intersection of product development strategy and technical implementation, impacting the user experience and development efficiency of numerous applications. Reporting Structure:

• The role will likely report to an Engineering Manager or Director within the Architecture and Technology Foundation (ATF) team.

• Close collaboration is expected with UX designers, product managers, and other engineering teams across Asset Management. Operations Impact:

• This role has a direct and significant impact on the efficiency and consistency of software development within Asset Management.

• By establishing and governing a robust design system, the Principal Engineer enables faster delivery of high-quality, user-friendly applications, reduces redundant development efforts, and enhances the overall brand experience.

• The integration of AI patterns and interoperability standards can further push the boundaries of user experience and application capabilities. Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Leadership: Opportunity to become a recognized expert and thought leader in enterprise design systems and front-end architecture within Fidelity.

• Strategic Influence: Influence the future direction of UX and technology platforms across the entire Asset Management division.

• Mentorship: Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, fostering their growth in design systems and front-end development.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deep insights into the Asset Management business and collaborate with diverse teams, potentially leading to opportunities in product management or broader architectural roles.

• Emerging Technologies: Engage with cutting-edge technologies like AI in UX and application interoperability, enhancing skill sets for future roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The analysis of career level and impact is derived from the "Principal" title and the described responsibilities. Growth opportunities are inferred based on the seniority of the role and the typical career progression paths within large technology organizations like Fidelity.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role at a major corporate campus, likely fostering a collaborative and structured work environment.

Office Location(s): 245 Summer St, Boston, MA. This is a significant corporate location for Fidelity Investments, suggesting a dynamic urban setting with access to resources and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site nature encourages direct interaction with colleagues, fostering teamwork and knowledge sharing, crucial for design system development and adoption.

• Technology & Tools: Access to Fidelity's enterprise-grade technology stack, development tools, and support infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal discussions with designers, engineers, and product stakeholders.

Work Schedule:

• Primarily an on-site role, requiring consistent presence in the Boston office.

• While specific working hours are not detailed, a standard 40-hour work week is typical, with potential for some flexibility in daily start/end times, subject to team and project needs. The emphasis is on being present to collaborate effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are inferred from the "On-site" designation and the specific Boston location. The context is tailored to a large financial institution, emphasizing collaboration, resources, and adherence to established work structures.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess overall fit, experience, and interest.

• Technical Interviews (Multiple Rounds): Expect in-depth technical discussions covering front-end development, design systems architecture, TypeScript, CSS, HTML, and specific component frameworks like PrimeNG. This may include live coding exercises or whiteboard challenges.

• Design System Deep Dive: A dedicated session focusing on your experience with design systems, including architecture, governance, adoption strategies, and your philosophy on creating scalable and accessible components.

• UX/Collaboration Interview: An interview focusing on your collaboration with UX designers, understanding of design principles, and ability to translate design into code. Questions about accessibility (WCAG) and inclusive design will be critical.

• System Design / Architecture Interview: A discussion where you'll be asked to architect a solution, potentially related to a design system or component library, demonstrating your ability to think critically about scalability, maintainability, and performance.

• Behavioral/Leadership Interview: Assessment of your leadership potential, problem-solving skills, ability to influence, and alignment with Fidelity's culture. This is where your "Principal" level capabilities will be evaluated.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your expertise in building and scaling enterprise design systems, component libraries, and design tokens. Prioritize impact and complexity.

• Demonstrate the "Why" and "How": For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your approach (the "how"), and the outcomes or impact achieved (e.g., adoption rates, efficiency gains, consistency improvements).

• Code Samples: Be prepared to discuss specific code implementations, particularly regarding component architecture, theming, and accessibility. Highlight your TypeScript, HTML, and CSS skills.

• Figma & Workflow: Showcase your understanding of Figma and how you bridge the gap between design and development. Include examples of design-to-code workflows you've implemented or improved.

• Accessibility Focus: Dedicate a section or specific examples to how you ensure WCAG compliance and inclusive design within your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• System Design Challenge: Practice designing a scalable component library or a design token architecture for a large enterprise. Consider aspects like maintainability, theming, internationalization, and performance.

• Coding Challenge: Be ready for advanced front-end coding challenges, likely in TypeScript, focusing on component creation, state management, and adherence to best practices.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to discuss how you would handle challenges related to design system adoption, conflicting design requirements, or technical debt within a component library.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is detailed based on typical senior engineering roles at large financial institutions. The portfolio review and challenge preparation sections are specifically tailored to the "Principal Software Engineer, UX – Asset Management Technology Foundations" role, emphasizing design systems, front-end tech, and UX collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Front-End Frameworks/Libraries: PrimeNG (heavily emphasized), potentially Angular or React depending on the broader ecosystem.

• Languages: TypeScript (expert level), HTML5, CSS3.

• Design Tools: Figma (deep expertise required for design-to-development workflows).

• Version Control: Git, GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket.

• Build Tools: Webpack, Vite, or similar module bundlers.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly in the job description, expect to use tools for tracking component usage, performance metrics, and adoption rates. This might involve custom dashboards or integration with existing enterprise analytics platforms. CRM & Automation:

• Less directly relevant to this specific role, but understanding how front-end components integrate with back-end services and potentially customer-facing applications (which might involve CRM data) is beneficial. Specific to Design Systems:

• Design Token Management Tools: Potentially tools like Style Dictionary, or custom solutions for managing and distributing design tokens.

• Storybook or Similar: For documenting and showcasing UI components, though not explicitly mentioned, it's a common tool in this space.

• Accessibility Testing Tools: axe-core, Lighthouse, WAVE, and manual testing methodologies.

• Interoperability Standards: FDC3 (preferred) for desktop application integration.

• AI Integration Tools: Familiarity with AI tools for design generation (e.g., Figma plugins) or code scaffolding.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section extrapolates the technology stack based on the required skills (PrimeNG, TypeScript, Figma, HTML, CSS) and common industry practices for design systems engineering. It highlights both core development tools and specialized design system tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Quality: A strong commitment to delivering high-quality, robust, and performant engineering solutions. This is paramount for a Principal Engineer role.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with designers, product managers, and other engineering teams to achieve shared goals. Emphasis on bridging the gap between design and engineering.

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: Embracing new technologies and patterns (like AI in UX) to drive continuous improvement and stay ahead of industry trends.

• Scalability & Reusability: A core tenet of design systems engineering – building solutions that can be leveraged effectively across a large organization.

• User-Centricity: A deep understanding of and commitment to creating user-friendly, accessible, and inclusive experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role is inherently cross-functional, requiring seamless collaboration between design and engineering disciplines.

• Proactive Communication: Essential for driving design system adoption and ensuring alignment across diverse teams.

• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: As a Principal Engineer, actively sharing expertise and guiding other team members is expected.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing metrics and feedback to refine design system components and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred from the nature of a Principal Software Engineer role focused on design systems within a large, established financial institution. They align with industry best practices for such positions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Driving Adoption at Scale: Convincing and enabling numerous diverse teams to adopt a new or evolving design system can be a significant organizational challenge.

• Balancing Standardization with Flexibility: Creating a design system that is comprehensive enough to ensure consistency but flexible enough to accommodate unique product needs.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Technologies: Continuously updating the design system to incorporate new front-end technologies, design trends, and AI capabilities.

• Integrating with Legacy Systems: Ensuring seamless integration of new design system components with existing, potentially older, application architectures.

• Measuring ROI: Quantifying the impact and return on investment of the design system to stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Expertise: Become a leading expert in enterprise design systems, front-end architecture, and UX engineering within the financial services sector.

• AI in UX Exploration: Opportunities to research, experiment with, and integrate AI-driven UX patterns and tools into the design system.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in technical leadership, mentorship, and strategic platform planning.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to represent Fidelity at industry conferences or contribute to open-source projects related to design systems or front-end technologies.

• Broadening Business Acumen: Develop a deeper understanding of Asset Management operations and how technology foundations directly impact business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on common obstacles in design system implementation and scaling, while growth opportunities are derived from the seniority of the role and the evolving landscape of UX and technology.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience architecting and building an enterprise design system from the ground up. What were the key phases, challenges, and success metrics?" (Focus on your process, governance, and adoption strategies.)

• "How do you ensure a design system remains scalable, maintainable, and accessible as it grows? Provide specific examples of your approach to component architecture and theming." (Highlight your technical depth in TypeScript, CSS, and accessibility standards.)

• "Walk me through a situation where you had to influence multiple teams to adopt your design system. What was your strategy, and what were the outcomes?" (Demonstrate your leadership, communication, and change management skills.)

• "How do you collaborate with UX designers to achieve fidelity between design and implementation? Describe your workflow with tools like Figma." (Showcase your understanding of the design-to-development handoff.)

• "What are your thoughts on integrating AI into the design system lifecycle? What potential applications do you see, and how would you approach implementing them?" (Assess your forward-thinking and adaptability.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about Fidelity Investments and the Asset Management Technology Foundations team, how do you see your role contributing to our overall strategy?" (Research Fidelity's mission in asset management and their technology focus.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior engineers or sharing your expertise on design systems within a large organization?" (Evaluate your leadership and team-building capabilities.)

• "Describe a time you encountered resistance to a technical standard or process you advocated for. How did you handle it?" (Assess your problem-solving and persuasion skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by key design system areas: Design Tokens, Component Libraries, Theming, Accessibility, and Adoption Stories.

• Storytelling: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your unique contribution, the technical solutions implemented, and the measurable impact (e.g., reduced development time, improved consistency score, increased accessibility compliance).

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive into code examples, architectural diagrams, and discuss the trade-offs you made.

• Visuals: Use screenshots, mockups, and live demos where possible to illustrate the visual and interactive aspects of your work.

• Connect to Fidelity: Tailor your examples to resonate with the challenges and opportunities at a large financial institution like Fidelity.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are designed to target the specific requirements of a Principal Software Engineer role focused on UX Design Systems, emphasizing technical expertise, leadership, and strategic thinking relevant to Fidelity Investments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Software Engineer, UX – Asset Management Technology Foundations position:

• Submit your application through the Fidelity Investments careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your professional portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your expertise in enterprise design systems, component libraries (especially PrimeNG), design tokens, and accessibility (WCAG). Ensure case studies clearly articulate challenges, solutions, and quantifiable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Principal Software Engineer," "UX Design Systems," "TypeScript," "Figma," "PrimeNG," "WCAG," and "enterprise architecture." Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "Increased design system adoption by 30%").

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with design system governance, cross-functional collaboration, and technical leadership. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your approach to system design challenges.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fidelity Investments' business in Asset Management, their technological initiatives, and their commitment to user experience and innovation. Understand their corporate values and regulatory environment.

⚠️ 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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