Principal UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer

Company: intive

Location: Remote: Poland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / GTM Enablement

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: Senior / Principal (10+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (Poland)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end User Experience (UX) design initiatives, encompassing research, strategy, prototyping, and validation for complex digital products.

• Define and execute product strategies for client engagements, leveraging Product Thinking and outcome-oriented methodologies like Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) and hypothesis-driven design.

• Champion and integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and workflows into daily design practices and client projects, focusing on automation vs. augmentation patterns.

• Act as a design leader, setting quality standards, mentoring junior and senior designers, and supporting presales activities with design artefacts and effort estimations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Principal UX Designer, indicating a significant level of experience and leadership. The emphasis on AI integration, product strategy, and client-facing responsibilities suggests it's a strategic GTM-adjacent role, where design directly influences product adoption and client success. The focus on "pioneering, sustainable digital experiences" and "shaping the future of digital innovation" points towards a forward-thinking, client-centric service delivery model.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire UX design lifecycle, from initial user research and synthesis to concept development, iterative prototyping, and final validation.

• Develop and articulate product strategies for client engagements, ensuring alignment with user needs, business objectives, and measurable outcomes.

• Apply advanced Product Thinking principles, including JTBD, hypothesis-driven design, and defining key success metrics to guide product development.

• Establish and maintain high-quality standards for all design deliverables, ensuring consistency and excellence across project teams.

• Engage directly with client stakeholders at management and executive levels to present design concepts, gather feedback, and build consensus.

• Serve as an internal advocate for best UX design practices, promoting a design-centric culture within intive.

• Lead and manage design project teams of 3-5 individuals, providing mentorship and guidance to both junior and senior designers.

• Contribute to presales efforts by developing design artefacts, conceptual proposals, and effort estimations for pitches and new business opportunities.

• Actively integrate and leverage AI tools and workflows in day-to-day design tasks, from research synthesis and ideation to advanced prototyping.

• Apply a deep understanding of AI interaction patterns, specifically distinguishing between automation and augmentation, to inform strategic product design decisions.

• Proactively advocate for AI adoption within client projects, identifying value-creation opportunities and driving integration even when AI is not initially on the client's radar.

• Act as an AI influencer within the company by sharing learnings, introducing new tools and workflows, and enhancing AI literacy among colleagues.

• Contribute to intive's thought leadership in design and AI through internal presentations, blog posts, or community engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a leadership role that blends deep UX expertise with strategic product thinking and a strong focus on emerging technologies like AI. The emphasis on client interaction, presales support, and internal evangelism highlights the GTM aspect of this role, where design leadership directly contributes to business development and client success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Experience:

• 8-12 years of progressive experience in UX/Product Design, with a strong preference for candidates coming from digital consulting or agency environments.

• Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end design projects and successfully delivering complex digital products.

• Proven track record of leading and mentoring design teams, fostering collaboration and ensuring high-quality output. Required Skills:

• T-shaped Profile: Deep expertise in UX design complemented by solid foundational knowledge in UI design, user research methodologies, service design principles, and technical feasibility.

• Product Sense: Exceptional ability to connect user needs with business outcomes, translating insights into measurable product impact and strategic direction.

• AI Fluency: Demonstrated hands-on experience utilizing AI-augmented design workflows, a strong understanding of AI-powered product patterns, and the ability to articulate AI's value proposition.

• Agile Methodologies: Understanding of dual-track agile software delivery processes and how UX integrates within them.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, with experience in other relevant prototyping and design software.

• Client-Facing Confidence: Ability to confidently present, articulate, and defend design decisions to senior client stakeholders and executive teams.

• Strategic Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to develop and execute high-level design strategies.

• Pragmatic & Impact-Driven: A hands-on mentality focused on delivering pragmatic solutions that drive measurable impact, adapting methods to specific project contexts.

• Communication: Excellent English communication skills (C1 level), both written and verbal, for effective collaboration and client interaction.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with service design frameworks and their application in complex digital ecosystems.

• Familiarity with various AI technologies and their application in product development (e.g., generative AI, machine learning insights).

• Experience in supporting presales activities, including proposal development and client pitch contributions.

• A generalist curiosity and interest in business strategy, emerging technologies, and adjacent design disciplines.

• Comfort and adaptability in ambiguous and fast-changing project environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "T-shaped profile" requirement is critical for a Principal role, emphasizing both depth in UX and breadth across related disciplines. The explicit mention of AI fluency and its practical application in design workflows is a key differentiator. The "Pragmatic over dogmatic" attitude highlights a flexible, results-oriented approach valued in consulting environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating leadership in UX design from initial research and strategy through to final product launch and impact measurement.

• Product Strategy & Vision: Include examples where you defined product strategy, articulated a clear product vision, and demonstrated how it translated into actionable design decisions.

• AI Integration Examples: Integrate specific examples or case studies where AI tools or AI-powered patterns were leveraged to enhance the design process, user experience, or product outcomes.

• Client & Stakeholder Management: Provide evidence of successful engagement with senior client stakeholders, including how you managed expectations, presented complex ideas, and secured buy-in for design solutions.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrate instances of leading design teams, mentoring junior designers, and setting quality standards for design deliverables.

Process Documentation:

• Methodology Articulation: Be prepared to articulate your design process, explaining how you adapt methodologies (e.g., JTBD, hypothesis-driven design, design sprints) to different project contexts and client needs.

• AI Workflow Integration: Showcase how you have integrated AI tools and workflows into your design process for tasks such as research synthesis, ideation, prototyping, or user testing.

• Outcome Measurement: Clearly outline how you measure the success of your design solutions, referencing specific metrics and demonstrating the impact on user behavior and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal level role, the portfolio must go beyond showcasing individual design skills. It needs to demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, client management, and the ability to drive impact through design, especially with the integration of AI. The expectation is to see a structured approach to problem-solving and a clear understanding of how design contributes to business objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Principal level, 8-12 years of experience, and the remote nature within Poland (a developed European market), an estimated annual gross salary range would be between 180,000 PLN to 280,000 PLN. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, demonstrated AI expertise, and negotiation.

• Methodology: This estimate is derived from market data for senior/principal UX Designer roles in major European tech hubs and consulting firms, adjusted for the Polish market's cost of living and IT sector compensation benchmarks. Data sources considered include industry salary surveys, recruitment agency reports, and online compensation platforms for Poland.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access to private healthcare services, often including dental and optical coverage.

• Professional Development Budget: Annual allowance for training, conferences, workshops, and certifications to enhance skills, particularly in emerging areas like AI and advanced UX.

• Flexible Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week with flexibility to manage hours around core collaboration times, supporting work-life balance.

• Performance-Based Bonuses: Potential for bonuses tied to individual performance, project success, and company profitability.

• Multisport Card/Wellness Programs: Subsidies for sports activities and wellness initiatives.

• Company Laptop and Equipment: Provision of necessary hardware and software for remote work.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services.

• International Travel Opportunities: Potential for travel to client sites or intive offices globally for key engagements.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time employment, typically 40 hours per week. While core working hours will be established for team and client collaboration, there is an emphasis on flexibility to accommodate personal needs and different time zones where applicable, especially when working with international clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for Poland, reflecting the Principal level. Benefits are standard for a professional role in a large tech consulting firm, with a focus on professional development and health. The flexibility in working hours is crucial for a remote role supporting international clients.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Digital Transformation, Consulting, Software Development. intive operates across multiple sectors including Automotive & Mobility, Commerce, Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Technology, Media & Communication.

Company Size: Approximately 2000 professionals across four continents. This large size suggests a structured organization with established processes and a global reach, offering opportunities for diverse project experiences.

Founded: intive has a history of growth and integration, with its current form resulting from mergers and acquisitions, indicating a dynamic and evolving company culture. (Specific founding date for the current entity not provided, but the legacy companies suggest decades of experience).

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team is likely integrated within project teams dedicated to specific client engagements. Designers will report to a Design Lead or Practice Lead within intive's broader UX/Product Design department.

• The role involves leading small design teams (3-5 people), implying a flat or matrixed reporting structure within projects, with direct reporting to a Design Director or Head of UX for career development and performance reviews.

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, involving close partnerships with Product Managers, Developers, AI Specialists, Researchers, and Client Stakeholders. Methodology:

• intive emphasizes agile thinking and outcome-oriented methods, including Product Thinking, JTBD, and hypothesis-driven design.

• The company actively promotes the integration of AI tools and workflows into design and development processes.

• A strong focus on creating "pioneering, sustainable digital experiences" suggests a commitment to innovation, user-centricity, and long-term value.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's global presence and diverse industry focus mean this role will encounter a wide array of challenges and opportunities. The emphasis on AI and sustainable digital experiences points to a forward-looking culture that values innovation and continuous learning.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal UX Designer. This level signifies a senior expert who not only excels in execution but also in strategy, leadership, and influence. At this level, the focus shifts from individual contribution to guiding teams, shaping product direction, and driving innovation within client engagements and the organization.

Reporting Structure:

• Directly reports to a Design Director, Head of UX, or a similar senior leadership role within intive's design practice.

• Leads and mentors junior and senior designers within project teams, providing guidance and oversight.

• Works closely with client-side stakeholders, presenting to and influencing management-level individuals. Operations Impact:

• This role has a significant impact on revenue and business decisions by defining product strategies that drive user adoption, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, client business outcomes.

• By championing AI and innovative design practices, the Principal UX Designer helps intive differentiate its service offerings and secure new business, directly contributing to revenue growth.

• The ability to influence client stakeholders and shape product roadmaps ensures that intive's design solutions deliver tangible business value and foster long-term client partnerships. Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Transition to roles like Head of UX, Director of Design, or Practice Lead, overseeing larger teams and strategic initiatives across multiple clients or industries.

• Specialization in AI/Emerging Tech: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, becoming a go-to expert for AI integration across intive's service portfolio.

• Strategic Consulting: Move towards more strategic advisory roles, focusing on digital transformation and product innovation consulting for C-suite clients.

• Internal Advocacy & Training: Develop and deliver internal training programs on UX best practices and AI adoption, becoming a key contributor to intive's knowledge base and talent development.

• Cross-Industry Expertise: Gain exposure to diverse industries, building a broad understanding of different market needs and user behaviors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal level is a critical juncture for career growth, moving from expert execution to strategic leadership and influence. The emphasis on AI and product strategy provides distinct pathways for specialization and advancement within a global consulting firm.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote within Poland. This offers maximum flexibility and autonomy for the individual.

Office Location(s): Remote work from any location within Poland. While there might be occasional travel for client meetings or team gatherings, the primary work environment is home-based.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: The work is conducted primarily through digital collaboration tools, requiring strong virtual communication and teamwork skills. Expect frequent video calls, shared digital whiteboards, and collaborative design platforms.

• Access to Tools & Technology: Employees are expected to have a reliable internet connection and a suitable home office setup. intive provides necessary software licenses (e.g., Figma) and potentially hardware as required.

• Team Interaction: While remote, there will be structured opportunities for interaction through regular team meetings, design critiques, knowledge-sharing sessions, and virtual social events.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, standard 40-hour week. Flexibility is offered, but core hours will be established for collaboration with colleagues and clients, especially those in different time zones. This requires proactive time management and clear communication regarding availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of this role necessitates strong self-discipline, excellent communication skills, and comfort with asynchronous and virtual collaboration tools. The "Poland only" remote aspect suggests a focus on local employment laws and tax structures.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with an HR or recruitment specialist to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, leadership style, and understanding of UX strategy and AI integration. This is often where initial technical questions are posed.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study Review: A dedicated session where you will present 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your design process, strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role, team dynamics, and the outcomes achieved.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential peers, junior designers you might mentor, and potentially client stakeholders or senior intive leaders to assess collaboration skills, strategic alignment, and client-facing capabilities.

• Practical Challenge (Optional): A take-home assignment or live design exercise focusing on a specific problem relevant to intive's services or a hypothetical client scenario, possibly involving AI integration.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion with a senior leader to finalize the offer and discuss terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best highlight your leadership, strategic thinking, end-to-end UX process, and, crucially, your experience with AI integration or innovative digital solutions.

• Focus on "Why" and "How": Don't just show final designs. Explain the problem, your strategic approach, the user research that informed decisions, the iterative process, and the specific AI tools or patterns used.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present measurable outcomes. Use metrics to demonstrate how your design decisions led to improved user engagement, conversion rates, efficiency, or client satisfaction.

• Emphasize Leadership: For a Principal role, clearly articulate your role in leading teams, mentoring designers, influencing stakeholders, and driving the overall design vision.

• AI Integration Clarity: Be explicit about how AI was used – was it for research synthesis, ideation, prototyping, or as a core feature of the product? Discuss the benefits and any challenges encountered.

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives that showcase your problem-solving journey and impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a challenge is given, thoroughly research intive, their clients, and their stated interest in AI and sustainable digital experiences.

• Apply Frameworks: Be ready to apply your preferred design frameworks (JTBD, hypothesis-driven design) and demonstrate pragmatic problem-solving.

• AI Application: Consider how AI could be a relevant solution or enhancer for the challenge presented.

• Time Management: If it's a timed exercise, plan your approach to ensure you cover key aspects within the allocated time.

• Presentation Readiness: Prepare to present your solution clearly, concisely, and confidently, highlighting your rationale and potential impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes strategic thinking, leadership, and practical application of AI in design. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to showcase not just design execution but also strategic influence and measurable impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. Proficiency is a must.

• AI Design Tools: Experience with AI-powered design assistants for tasks such as research synthesis, content generation, ideation, or code generation (e.g., tools like Uizard, Galileo AI, Midjourney for concept art, or AI features within existing Adobe/Figma plugins).

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

• User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys, interviews, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior on live products.

• Product Analytics: Platforms such as Mixpanel, Amplitude, Heap for in-depth user behavior analysis and feature adoption tracking.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker Studio for creating dashboards and communicating insights.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) informs user segmentation and product strategy is beneficial.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for managing project workflows and documentation.

• Collaboration Suites: Microsoft Teams, Slack for communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools is a key differentiator, signaling that candidates are expected to be at the forefront of adopting and leveraging these technologies in their design practice. Proficiency in Figma is a baseline requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Pioneering: A drive to create new, cutting-edge digital experiences and explore forward-thinking solutions, especially in AI.

• User-Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs to create valuable and sustainable digital products.

• Outcome-Oriented: Focus on delivering measurable business impact and value for clients, rather than just delivering design assets.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively within diverse, cross-functional teams and fostering a supportive environment.

• Pragmatism & Adaptability: A flexible approach that prioritizes context-specific solutions and the ability to thrive in dynamic environments.

• Continuous Learning: Encouragement of ongoing skill development, particularly in emerging technologies like AI and new design methodologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with product managers, developers, AI specialists, researchers, and client teams. Design is seen as an integral part of the product development lifecycle.

• Open Feedback Culture: A willingness to give and receive constructive feedback to improve design quality and team effectiveness. Regular design critiques and reviews are likely.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in sharing insights, best practices, and learnings through internal talks, documentation, and informal discussions, especially concerning AI adoption.

• Client Partnership: A consultative approach, working collaboratively with clients as partners to achieve shared goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to value innovation, client success, and continuous improvement, with a strong emphasis on leveraging new technologies like AI. The collaborative and pragmatic approach is typical of a successful digital consulting firm.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Client Ambiguity: Clients may have varying levels of understanding of UX principles and AI capabilities, requiring strong communication and educational skills to guide them effectively.

• Integrating AI Pragmatically: Balancing the hype around AI with practical, value-driven applications that genuinely solve user problems or business needs. Avoiding AI for AI's sake.

• Leading Diverse Teams: Effectively leading and mentoring designers with different experience levels and backgrounds, ensuring cohesive and high-quality output.

• Staying Ahead of the Curve: Continuously learning and adapting to the rapid advancements in AI technology and UX methodologies to maintain a leading edge.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Aligning diverse stakeholder needs and expectations across clients and internal teams, especially when introducing novel solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI's application to UX, potentially attending specialized AI/ML conferences or pursuing certifications.

• Strategic Product Leadership: Develop skills in product strategy, business analysis, and market research to enhance impact on client business outcomes.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Building: Expand knowledge in related areas like service design, business design, or technical architecture to foster a more holistic product development perspective.

• Mentorship Programs: Participate in or lead mentorship initiatives, both receiving guidance from senior leaders and developing junior talent.

• Industry Exposure: Gain exposure to a broad range of industries and clients, enhancing versatility and strategic problem-solving capabilities across different market contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior consulting role focused on innovation. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering clear pathways for specialization, leadership, and strategic impact, particularly in the high-demand field of AI-augmented design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define a product strategy for a new digital product. What was your process, and how did you ensure alignment with user needs and business goals?" (Focus on Product Thinking, JTBD, hypothesis-driven design).

• "Walk us through a complex UX project where you led a team. What were the key challenges, how did you overcome them, and what was the ultimate outcome?" (Highlight leadership, team management, problem-solving, and impact).

• "How have you integrated AI tools or AI-powered patterns into your design process or a product you've worked on? What was the value proposition, and what did you learn?" (Demonstrate AI fluency and pragmatic application).

• "How do you ensure design quality and consistency across a project team, especially when working remotely?" (Showcase your approach to standards and team leadership).

• "Describe a situation where you had to present and defend a challenging design decision to senior client stakeholders. How did you prepare, and what was the result?" (Assess client-facing skills and persuasion). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about intive's focus on 'pioneering, sustainable digital experiences' and AI integration?" (Show you've researched their mission and values).

• "How do you see yourself contributing to intive's culture of innovation and continuous learning?" (Align your personal values with intive's).

• "How do you foster collaboration within a remote, cross-functional team?" (Demonstrate your teamwork and communication approach).

• "What are your thoughts on the balance between automation and augmentation when designing AI-powered features?" (Test your understanding of AI interaction patterns). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: Problem -> Research -> Strategy -> Design Process (Iterations, Key Decisions) -> AI Integration (if applicable) -> Solution -> Outcomes & Impact.

• Visuals are Key: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flow diagrams, and potentially short video walkthroughs to illustrate your work.

• Highlight Your Role: Be explicit about your contributions, especially if you led the team or drove strategic decisions. Use "I" for your individual actions and "we" for team efforts.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. If exact metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how it would be measured.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, your rationale behind specific decisions, challenges faced, and how you would approach similar problems in the future.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and practical experience with AI. The interview is designed to assess not just design skills but also consulting acumen, client management potential, and cultural fit.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant UX leadership case studies, specifically emphasizing projects involving product strategy, client management, and any application of AI in design or product development. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your "T-shaped" profile and your pragmatic, outcome-driven approach.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords such as "UX Design," "Product Strategy," "AI-Augmented Design," "Team Leadership," "Client Engagement," "Figma," "Product Thinking," and "JTBD." Quantify achievements wherever possible, focusing on impact and results.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership philosophy, and AI integration strategies. Prepare specific examples for common interview questions related to strategy, problem-solving, and team collaboration. Be ready to present your portfolio case studies concisely and engagingly.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research intive's website, client portfolio, and recent news. Understand their industry focus areas (Automotive, Media, etc.) and their stated commitment to AI and sustainable digital experiences. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.