Principal UX designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer

Company: HG Insights

Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-09T08:31:24

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end User Experience (UX) design process, encompassing user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final implementation for HG Insights' Revenue Growth Intelligence platform.

• Act as the sole UX representative within the product organization, driving user-centered design principles and ensuring intuitive, accessible, and engaging digital experiences for B2B technology buyers.

• Collaborate extensively with Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders to translate user needs and business objectives into effective design solutions and product strategies.

• Own and evolve the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product interfaces and customer touchpoints.

• Champion UX best practices, establish design function standards, and set the cadence for critiques and research, preparing the function for future team growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the "Head of UX" within a growing product organization, indicating a significant opportunity for strategic impact and process ownership. The emphasis on operating "as a design team of one" highlights the need for a self-starter with strong autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage multiple priorities without direct team support. The company's focus on "Revenue Growth Intelligence" and "AI-powered GTM automation" suggests that the UX design will be critical for complex data visualization and workflow optimization for sales, marketing, and RevOps teams.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and execute the complete UX design lifecycle, from initial user research and concept development to detailed wireframing, interactive prototyping, and close collaboration with engineering for successful implementation.

• Conduct and lead comprehensive user research initiatives, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to deeply understand user behaviors, needs, and pain points within the B2B technology intelligence domain.

• Synthesize research findings into actionable design insights and strategic recommendations that inform product roadmaps and feature development, directly impacting GTM automation and data analytics for clients.

• Create and maintain a robust set of design deliverables, including user flows, journey maps, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, utilizing industry-standard design tools.

• Advocate for and embed user-centered design principles and best practices across the product organization, ensuring all design decisions are data-informed, user-validated, and aligned with business objectives.

• Develop, maintain, and govern the company's design system, ensuring consistency in UI patterns, components, and visual language across all HG Insights products.

• Manage and direct external design contractors or agencies when necessary to supplement design capacity and support specific project needs.

• Define and document the design function's operational standards, including critique cadences, research methodologies, and preferred tooling, establishing a scalable framework for future team expansion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities emphasize end-to-end ownership and strategic leadership, crucial for a "Principal" level role, especially when operating as a solo design function. The focus on user research synthesis and translating insights into product strategy is key for this role's impact on HG Insights' B2B buyer data and GTM automation offerings.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is preferred.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive professional experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior or principal-level capacity, demonstrating a strong track record of delivering impactful digital experiences.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in the end-to-end UX design process, from user research and ideation to interaction design, visual design, and prototyping.

• Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously as a sole UX designer, effectively balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution and managing competing stakeholder priorities.

• Proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma and Sketch, for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Experience leading and executing various user research methodologies, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, and analyzing findings to drive design decisions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex design rationale and user insights to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and technical teams.

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and design thinking methodologies.

• Experience working within an Agile development environment, contributing to sprint planning and iterative development cycles. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with AI-assisted design and prototyping tools, offering innovative approaches to design workflows.

• Experience with information architecture, ensuring logical and intuitive navigation and content organization for complex data platforms.

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to prioritize effectively and make sound independent judgments.

• Empathy for users and a strong advocacy for their needs throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Proven ability to foster strong cross-functional collaboration, especially in the absence of a dedicated design team for support.

• Familiarity with GTM Intelligence, B2B buyer data, and data analytics platforms, providing relevant context for product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly indicate a need for a seasoned UX professional capable of independent strategic leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on operating "as a team of one" and managing priorities without direct delegation is a critical differentiator. Familiarity with GTM Intelligence platforms is a significant plus, directly aligning with HG Insights' core business.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5-7 distinct projects that demonstrate expertise across the full UX design spectrum: user research, interaction design, visual design, and prototyping.

• Projects should clearly articulate the problem statement, the design process followed, the user research methodologies employed, and the final design solutions.

• Specific focus on complex data visualization, dashboard design, or enterprise SaaS applications is highly valued.

• Evidence of ability to operate independently, showing initiative in research, problem-solving, and stakeholder management.

• Demonstrable understanding of how design decisions contribute to business objectives, particularly in areas of GTM automation, sales enablement, or data analytics. Process Documentation:

• Examples of detailed user research reports, including synthesis of findings and actionable insights.

• Documentation of user flows, journey maps, and wireframes that illustrate a structured approach to problem-solving.

• Interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent and user interactions.

• Case studies detailing the development and implementation of design systems or significant UI components.

• Documentation of how design processes were adapted or established in previous roles, particularly in lean or solo design environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role, especially given the "Principal" title and the need to prove independent capability. The emphasis on complex data visualization and enterprise SaaS aligns with HG Insights' product offering. Demonstrating the ability to define and scale design processes is also a key expectation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Principal UX Designers in Pune, India, with 10+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is ₹18,00,000 - ₹30,00,000 INR. This estimation considers the role's seniority, the company's focus on advanced technology (Revenue Growth Intelligence, AI), and the cost of living in Pune.

• Methodology: This estimate is derived from analyzing salary data for similar roles in major Indian tech hubs, factoring in the specific requirements of a Principal UX Designer with strategic ownership and a strong portfolio emphasis. Data sources include industry salary reports, job board salary aggregators, and local market compensation trends for senior design professionals.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: Full medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families.

• Monthly Wellness Reimbursement: Financial support for employee well-being activities.

• Professional Mental Health Coaching: Access to resources like Able To for stress, anxiety, and depression support.

• Retirement Savings:

  • US Employees: 401(k) plan with up to 5% company matching.
  • UK Employees: Enrolled in a pension scheme.
  • India Operations: While not explicitly detailed for India, it's expected to align with local statutory requirements and potentially include provident fund (PF) contributions.

• Stock Options: Equity participation for all employees, aligning individual success with company growth.

• Annual Learning Reimbursement: Financial support for professional development, courses, conferences, and certifications.

• Culture Club: An avenue for employees to actively shape the company workplace and culture.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with an expectation of significant overlap with US business hours, indicating a need for flexibility and extended availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Principal UX Designer in a major Indian tech city. The benefits package is comprehensive, with specific mentions for US employees regarding 401(k) and a general pension scheme for UK employees, suggesting a global approach to employee well-being and financial security. The requirement for US business hour overlap is a critical detail for candidates in India.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: HG Insights operates in the Data & Analytics and Software sectors, specifically pioneering "Revenue Growth Intelligence." They provide AI-driven datasets on B2B buyers, technology adoption, IT spend, and buyer intent. Their platform modernizes Go-To-Market (GTM) execution through AI-powered automation for sales, marketing, RevOps, and data analytics teams.

Company Size: HG Insights is a growing technology company, likely falling into the 201-500 or 501-1000 employee range, based on its established presence and Fortune 500 client base. This size indicates a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact, but also a need for structured processes.

Founded: Founded over a decade ago, HG Insights has established itself as a leader and pioneer in its niche. This history suggests a company that has evolved, adapted to market changes, and built a solid foundation of expertise and client trust.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is currently a "team of one," led by this Principal UX Designer.

• This individual will be a key member of the broader Product organization, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineers.

• They will be the primary voice for UX across the product development lifecycle.

• The role requires establishing processes that can scale as the UX team grows in the future. Methodology:

• HG Insights leverages AI agents and first-party data to deliver insights.

• The company is focused on "AI-powered GTM automation," suggesting an emphasis on efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and sophisticated analytical tools.

• User-centered design principles are a core tenet of their product development approach.

• Agile development methodologies are likely in practice.

Company Website: https://hginsights.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is rooted in innovation, data-driven insights, and AI technology. The "team of one" structure for UX necessitates a candidate who can build and define the UX function's strategic direction and operational framework, rather than just executing within an established team.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is at the Principal/Head of UX level, signifying a senior leadership role responsible for setting the strategic direction for user experience within the product organization. It involves not just design execution but also defining design standards, processes, and potentially building a future UX team.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Principal UX Designer, especially one acting as the sole UX representative, typically reports to a senior product leader, such as the Head of Product, VP of Product, or Chief Product Officer. This ensures direct alignment with product strategy and business objectives.

Operations Impact: The UX designer's impact is directly tied to the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of HG Insights' Revenue Growth Intelligence platform. By creating intuitive and powerful user experiences, this role will:

• Enhance user satisfaction and retention for B2B technology clients.

• Drive adoption of advanced features, enabling clients to achieve better GTM automation and data analytics.

• Influence product strategy and roadmap by providing critical user insights.

• Contribute to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of client-facing sales, marketing, and RevOps teams through better product usability. Growth Opportunities:

• Team Building: Opportunity to build and lead a dedicated UX team as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Shape the UX vision and strategy for a pioneering AI-driven GTM intelligence platform.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX for complex data visualization, enterprise SaaS, and AI-powered products.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in establishing design operations, mentoring junior designers (in the future), and influencing product leadership.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in Revenue Growth Intelligence, B2B buyer behavior, and technology adoption trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, moving beyond execution to strategic leadership and team building. The impact is substantial, directly influencing client success and the company's competitive edge in the GTM intelligence market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, implying a traditional office environment where face-to-face collaboration and interaction are expected. The specific office setup in Pune is not detailed but typically involves modern workspaces designed for collaboration.

Office Location(s): Pune, Maharashtra, India. This is a major IT and business hub in India, offering access to talent and infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, suggesting an open or semi-open office layout designed to foster teamwork.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch), as well as company-specific internal tools and platforms for data analysis and GTM intelligence.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with product teams, stakeholders, and potentially clients during research phases. The "team of one" aspect means the designer will be a central point of contact for UX-related discussions.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. However, the requirement for "significant overlap with US business hours" means candidates must be prepared to adjust their working hours to accommodate meetings and collaborations with teams in different time zones. This could involve early mornings or late evenings depending on the specific needs of the day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature in Pune, coupled with the US business hours overlap, is a key consideration for work-life balance and daily scheduling. Candidates should be prepared for a hybrid approach to their workday that prioritizes cross-continental collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio with the hiring manager (likely Head of Product or senior product leader). This will focus on UX process, research methodologies, problem-solving skills, and design decision rationale. Expect to present 2-3 key projects in detail.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Interview: An interview with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, ability to articulate design needs, and understanding of technical constraints. This may include a discussion on how the candidate would integrate UX into an Agile workflow.

• Strategic & Leadership Interview: A final interview, potentially with senior leadership, to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, ability to define processes, and overall cultural alignment. This might involve discussing how they would approach building a UX function from scratch.

• Case Study/Design Challenge: A take-home or live design challenge may be assigned to assess practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and how the candidate approaches a specific product problem relevant to HG Insights.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio to clearly present each project with a problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions and rationale, and the outcome/impact.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your solutions, not just the final polished designs. Detail your user research methods, synthesis of findings, and iterative design process.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the impact of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Solo Execution: Highlight projects where you operated with significant autonomy, demonstrating your ability to manage the entire design process independently.

• Company Alignment: Tailor your presentation to showcase relevant experience with enterprise SaaS, data visualization, B2B platforms, or GTM tools if applicable.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research HG Insights' Revenue Growth Intelligence platform, its target audience (tech companies, sales/marketing/RevOps teams), and its core value proposition.

• Identify Potential UX Gaps: Based on your research, consider areas where the user experience could be enhanced, particularly for data interpretation, workflow automation, or reporting.

• Focus on Problem-Solving: For any challenge, clearly define the problem, outline your approach, and explain your design decisions based on user needs and business goals.

• Data-Driven Approach: Be prepared to discuss how you would use data (user research, analytics) to inform your design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to build processes from the ground up. A well-curated portfolio that highlights independent work and impact is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Sketch: A strong alternative or complementary tool for UI design and prototyping. Familiarity is a significant plus.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma/Sketch, experience with tools like InVision, Adobe XD, or Axure for more complex interactive prototypes.

• AI-Assisted Design/Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with emerging AI tools in the design space is a plus, indicating a forward-thinking approach.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting surveys, usability testing, and collecting user feedback (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Analytics Tools: Familiarity with web/product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: Understanding of how data is presented and the ability to design effective visualizations for complex datasets.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how UX design impacts CRM usage and data input for sales and marketing teams is beneficial.

• GTM Intelligence Platforms: Familiarity with HG Insights' own platform or similar B2B intelligence tools is a strong advantage.

• Agile Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks within development sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a must. The company's focus on AI and data intelligence suggests that an understanding of how design integrates with these technologies, and how to design for complex data visualization, will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs and experience is paramount. This is the foundation of UX design.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Designs should be informed by user research, analytics, and business metrics, ensuring objective validation and impact.

• Collaboration & Communication: Open and effective communication with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering) is essential for successful product development.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new design solutions, adopt new technologies (like AI in design), and consistently refine processes and products.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for the UX outcomes and proactively driving initiatives, especially within a "team of one" structure.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Designing solutions and processes that are not only effective but also efficient and can scale as the company grows.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Partnership: Actively engaging with Product Managers to define product vision and requirements, and with Engineers to ensure feasible and high-quality implementation.

• Design Critiques: Establishing a regular cadence for design reviews to gather feedback, iterate on solutions, and maintain high design quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share UX insights, best practices, and design system updates across teams to foster a design-aware culture.

• Feedback Integration: Openness to receiving and integrating feedback from various stakeholders to refine designs and improve collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values emphasize user advocacy, data-informed decisions, and proactive collaboration. For a Principal UX Designer acting as the sole representative, demonstrating strong ownership and the ability to foster a design-conscious culture across non-design teams is critical.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Solo Design Function: The primary challenge is operating and leading the entire UX function independently, requiring immense self-discipline, strategic prioritization, and the ability to wear multiple hats (researcher, designer, strategist, process owner).

• Establishing Processes: Defining and implementing scalable UX processes, standards, and a design system from scratch in a growing company.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Effectively influencing product and engineering teams without a dedicated design team to back up recommendations, requiring strong communication and persuasion skills.

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical: Juggling high-level strategic design thinking and process definition with the day-to-day demands of hands-on design execution.

• Remote Collaboration: Managing effective collaboration with teams in different time zones, especially the required US business hours overlap.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Build a UX Practice: The opportunity to define and build a best-in-class UX function, including hiring and mentoring future designers.

• Deep Dive into GTM Intelligence: Become an expert in the domain of Revenue Growth Intelligence, B2B buyer behavior, and AI-driven GTM automation.

• Leadership Development: Gain significant experience in product strategy, design operations, and influencing organizational direction.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Utilize the annual learning reimbursement for advanced UX training, AI in design courses, or leadership development programs.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior product leaders within HG Insights or to mentor emerging talent as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but directly tied to the growth opportunities. This role is ideal for an ambitious UX leader looking to make a profound impact and build something from the ground up in a cutting-edge technology domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe how you would approach establishing a UX function and design system from scratch within a growing product organization." (Focus on process definition, prioritization, and stakeholder buy-in.)

• "Walk me through a complex project where you had to balance competing stakeholder demands and limited resources to deliver a successful user experience. How did you manage this as a solo designer?" (Highlight prioritization, negotiation, and independent decision-making.)

• "How would you ensure that user-centered design principles are integrated into an Agile development process, especially when you are the only UX advocate?" (Discuss collaboration tactics, user story integration, and feedback loops.)

• "Given HG Insights' focus on Revenue Growth Intelligence and AI, what are the key UX considerations for designing effective data visualization and GTM automation tools?" (Showcase domain understanding and strategic design thinking for complex B2B SaaS.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about HG Insights and our mission in Revenue Growth Intelligence?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest in the company's domain.)

• "How do you see yourself fitting into a product team where you are the sole UX representative initially?" (Emphasize proactivity, collaboration, and process-building.)

• "How do you stay current with the latest trends in UX design, AI, and B2B SaaS?" (Showcase continuous learning and industry awareness.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative: the challenge, your unique approach, the insights you uncovered, the solutions you designed, and the impact achieved.

• Process Focus: Clearly articulate your UX process, highlighting user research, ideation, iteration, and testing for each project. Show why you made certain design decisions.

• Highlight Autonomy: For projects where you worked independently, explicitly state your role and responsibilities to demonstrate your ability to manage the entire UX lifecycle.

• Quantify Results: Use metrics (even estimates if precise data isn't available) to demonstrate the business impact of your designs.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you would handle specific scenarios relevant to HG Insights' product.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to operate independently and build processes. Candidates must be ready to articulate their UX philosophy and how it aligns with HG Insights' business goals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the HG Insights careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your 10+ years of UX experience, with a strong emphasis on your 5+ years in senior/principal roles and your ability to operate as a "team of one." Showcase relevant experience with enterprise SaaS, data visualization, or B2B platforms.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiencies in Figma, Sketch, user research methodologies, and experience with Agile development. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Portfolio Walkthrough Practice: Rehearse presenting 2-3 of your strongest portfolio projects, focusing on articulating your process, rationale, and impact. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building a UX function from scratch.

• Company & Domain Research: Thoroughly research HG Insights, its Revenue Growth Intelligence platform, its target market (Fortune 500 tech companies), and its competitors. Understand the challenges faced by GTM teams and how UX can address them.

⚠️ 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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