Principal UX Designer, AVP

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer, AVP

Company: State Street

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UI/UX Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-10

Experience Level: 10+ Years (Principal Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design strategy and execution for the UI Framework team, a critical component of State Street's platform modernization initiative.

• Drive the evolution and adoption of UI patterns and a cohesive design system across cloud-based technologies (e.g., Microsoft Azure, AKS, React).

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and user-centric experiences through close collaboration with engineering, product management, and UX teams.

• Mentor junior designers and engineers on UI/UX best practices, fostering a culture of design excellence within the Platform Engineering organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Platform Engineering, specifically the UI Framework team, indicating a focus on foundational design elements and reusable components that underpin multiple applications. The "Principal" title and AVP level suggest significant autonomy, strategic influence, and a need for strong leadership in driving design standards and best practices. The emphasis on cloud modernization and specific technologies like Azure, AKS, and React highlights the need for designers who can translate complex technical requirements into intuitive user interfaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Champion and drive design solutions in close partnership with engineers, product managers, and fellow UX professionals, ensuring alignment with strategic platform goals.

• Own, maintain, and evolve the platform's design system, ensuring consistency, usability, and accessibility across all components and applications.

• Create, iterate, and deliver high-fidelity designs, prototypes, and design specifications using Figma and related tooling, adhering to agile scrum methodologies.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and accessibility audits to ensure all deliverables meet stringent quality standards and user needs.

• Mentor and guide engineers and designers on UI/UX best practices, promoting design thinking and user-centricity within the broader engineering teams.

• Advocate for and integrate AI adoption into design workflows and deliverables, optimizing user experiences for intelligent systems.

• Actively participate in the agile software development lifecycle, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives, to ensure seamless design integration.

• Collaborate effectively with global teams to drive platform initiatives and ensure consistent design language across diverse projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of hands-on design work, strategic leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. The mention of "CRD scrum methodology" suggests adherence to specific agile practices within the Charles River Development (CRD) division, which requires familiarity with established team workflows. The focus on AI adoption is a forward-looking aspect requiring designers to consider future technological trends.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 12+ years of progressive professional experience in UI/UX Design, Product Design, or a closely related field, with a strong track record of leading design initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience in contributing to or leading the evolution of modern design systems.

• Proven success in collaborating closely with engineering teams in an agile development environment.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma: Expertise in creating complex user interfaces, interactive prototypes, and design system components.

• Design System Management: Deep understanding and practical experience in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems.

• User-Centered Design (UCD) Methodologies: Strong grasp of user research, persona development, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Accessibility Standards: Comprehensive knowledge of WCAG guidelines and best practices for designing inclusive digital products.

• Agile & Scrum Proficiency: Experience working within agile frameworks, particularly with the CRD scrum methodology, including active participation in ceremonies.

• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Mentorship Capabilities: Proven ability to guide and mentor junior designers and engineers on design principles and practices.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with cloud-native technologies and platforms (e.g., Microsoft Azure, AKS, Kubernetes).

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (e.g., React) to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering.

• Experience designing for complex enterprise software, particularly in financial services (e.g., portfolio management, order management).

• Knowledge of AI integration in user interfaces and design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" level and AVP title necessitate a candidate with extensive experience in leading design efforts, not just executing them. The emphasis on design systems and collaboration with engineering is crucial for a UI Framework role. Experience in financial services is a strong plus due to the nature of State Street's business.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Contributions: Showcase examples of contributions to or leadership in the development and maintenance of a robust design system, detailing its structure, components, and governance.

• Complex UI Solutions: Present case studies of designing user interfaces for complex applications, highlighting problem-solving approaches, user-centered design processes, and impactful outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Illustrate how you have partnered with engineering and product teams to bring designs to life, emphasizing communication, iteration, and problem-solving during development.

• Accessibility & Usability: Provide examples demonstrating a commitment to accessibility and usability, including research, testing, and implementation of inclusive design principles.

Process Documentation:

• Design Workflow: Document your end-to-end design process, from discovery and research to high-fidelity design and handoff, emphasizing efficiency and collaboration.

• Design System Governance: Outline your approach to managing and evolving a design system, including contribution guidelines, version control, and communication strategies.

• Accessibility Implementation: Detail how you ensure accessibility standards are met throughout the design and development lifecycle, including testing methodologies and remediation strategies.

• Agile Integration: Describe how your design process integrates seamlessly with agile development sprints, including UX activities within backlog grooming, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal UX Designer role, particularly within a UI Framework team, the portfolio should emphasize leadership in design systems, complex problem-solving, and successful cross-functional collaboration. Demonstrating a structured approach to design processes, especially within an agile and enterprise context, is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Generous medical care, insurance plans, and savings plans.

• Work-Life Integration: Access to a flexible Work Program designed to help employees balance professional and personal needs.

• Professional Development: Robust development programs and educational support to foster continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Community Engagement: Paid volunteer days and matching gift programs to encourage active participation in community initiatives.

• Networking & Support: Access to vibrant employee networks to foster connections and professional growth.

• Retirement & Savings: Competitive savings plans and potential for matching contributions.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, aligning with the agile scrum methodology followed. Flexibility may be available through the company's flexible work program, but core hours will likely require availability for global team collaboration and daily stand-ups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is a professional estimation based on the role's seniority, location (Hyderabad, India), and industry (financial technology). State Street is a large, established financial institution, so benefits are expected to be competitive and comprehensive.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Investment Management Technology

Company Size: 10,000+ Employees (State Street Global)

Founded: 1792 (State Street)

Team Structure:

• Platform Engineering: This role is embedded within the Platform Engineering organization, specifically focusing on the UI Framework team. This suggests a group dedicated to building foundational technologies and reusable components.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The UX Designer will work closely with Product Managers, Software Engineers (front-end and potentially back-end), and other UX professionals, both within the immediate team and across global locations.

• Reporting: As a Principal Designer (AVP), the role likely reports into a Director or Senior Manager of UX/Design or a Head of Platform Engineering, with direct influence on design strategy.

Methodology:

• Agile & Scrum: The team operates under the CRD scrum methodology, emphasizing iterative development, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Design-Driven Innovation: The team is actively modernizing the platform using cloud technologies, indicating a culture that values innovation and embracing new technologies, with UX playing a key role in shaping these advancements.

• Data-Informed Design: While not explicitly stated, the focus on analytics and technology modernization implies a data-informed approach to design decision-making, leveraging user data and performance metrics.

Company Website: www.statestreet.com

📝 Enhancement Note: State Street's long history and global presence in financial services are key. The Platform Engineering context, especially the UI Framework team, highlights a focus on building scalable, reusable solutions. The company's commitment to diversity and inclusion, as mentioned in the description, is also a significant cultural aspect.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal UX Designer (Assistant Vice President - AVP)

This level signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy and influence. Responsibilities extend beyond task execution to include strategic design leadership, system-level thinking, and mentorship. It's a crucial role for driving architectural design decisions for user interfaces and contributing to the overall platform's technical and user experience strategy.

Reporting Structure:

• Typically reports to a Senior Manager or Director of UX Design, Product Management, or Platform Engineering.

• Works closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on a day-to-day basis.

Operations Impact:

• The role directly impacts the usability, efficiency, and adoption of State Street's core investment management platform (Charles River Investment Management System - CRIMS).

• By driving a consistent and high-quality UI framework and design system, this role influences developer productivity, reduces redundant design/development efforts, and enhances the user experience for internal and external clients, ultimately supporting State Street's business objectives in asset servicing and management.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to move into management roles (e.g., UX Manager, Lead UX Designer) overseeing teams or specific product areas.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like design system architecture, accessibility, AI-driven UX, or specific financial technology domains.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into product management, program management, or other strategic roles within the technology organization.

• Continuous Learning: Access to State Street's development programs, educational support, and industry conferences to stay abreast of evolving UX and technology trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The AVP title at this level suggests a significant level of responsibility and potential for future career advancement within State Street's technology division. The emphasis on platform modernization and AI offers opportunities for skill development in cutting-edge areas.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Model

Office Location(s): Hyderabad, Telangana, India - This specific location will house the primary team members and necessary infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes collaborative zones, meeting rooms equipped for hybrid work (video conferencing), and individual workspaces designed to support focused design tasks.

• Technology Access: Employees will have access to industry-standard design software (Figma), development tools, and robust IT infrastructure necessary for working with cloud technologies.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration for key design sessions, brainstorming, and team-building, balanced with remote flexibility for focused work.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week, with participation in agile ceremonies requiring specific time commitments.

• Flexibility offered through State Street's Flexible Work Program, allowing employees to balance work and personal life, likely involving a mix of in-office and remote days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role requires self-discipline and strong communication skills to maintain collaboration and productivity across different work settings. Collaboration with global teams means awareness of different time zones is also important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager focusing on experience, leadership, and alignment with the role's strategic objectives.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key projects, design process, and impact. This is often a critical step for senior design roles. Expect to walk through 2-3 significant case studies.

• Technical/Team Interview: Interviews with engineers and product managers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and problem-solving abilities within the context of platform development.

• Final Round/Panel Interview: May involve senior leadership to confirm strategic fit and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design solution, and the measurable business impact (e.g., improved usability metrics, increased adoption, reduced development effort).

• Showcase Design System Expertise: Highlight your contributions to design systems, including how you approached component design, documentation, and governance.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Use examples that show how you effectively partnered with engineers and product managers, navigating challenges and achieving shared goals.

• Highlight Process: Walk through your design process for key projects, emphasizing user research, iteration, and how you applied agile principles.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your understanding of cloud technologies (Azure, AKS), React, and accessibility standards in relation to design.

• Tailor to State Street: Research State Street's business, its platform (CRIMS), and its commitment to modernization. Align your portfolio examples to demonstrate relevant experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: You may be given a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise focused on a specific component, feature, or platform modernization problem.

• Problem-Solving: Prepare to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical design challenge related to improving a complex financial application or integrating AI features.

• System Thinking: Be ready to discuss how your designs fit into a larger system and how they impact other components or user flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal UX Designer role, the portfolio presentation is paramount. Candidates must demonstrate not just design skills but strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to articulate complex design decisions and their business impact effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and design system development. Proficiency is essential.

• Design System Management Tools: Potentially tools for documentation (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration) and version control.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in capabilities, potentially supplemented by tools like InVision or Axure for more complex interactions if needed.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal dashboards to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with tools used for experimentation to validate design hypotheses.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data presented in tools like Tableau or Power BI to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how automation impacts user experience within enterprise software is beneficial.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, or similar tools for agile workflow management and documentation.

Cloud & Development Technologies:

• Microsoft Azure: Understanding the principles and capabilities of Azure for cloud-based applications is important.

• AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service): Familiarity with container orchestration concepts as they relate to application deployment.

• React: Knowledge of React principles and how UI components are built and implemented by front-end developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Deep expertise in Figma and design system tooling is non-negotiable. Familiarity with the broader tech stack (Azure, AKS, React) is crucial for effective collaboration with engineering teams and understanding the technical constraints and opportunities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and meeting user needs, ensuring that designs are intuitive, efficient, and accessible.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and partnership across disciplines (UX, Engineering, Product Management) to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Modernization: A drive to embrace new technologies (Cloud, AI) and continuously improve processes and products.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to delivering high-quality, polished, and reliable design solutions that meet rigorous standards.

• Inclusion & Diversity: State Street's stated commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse backgrounds and perspectives are valued and contribute to better outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working within scrum teams means a highly collaborative, iterative approach with frequent feedback loops.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong emphasis on building relationships and effective communication with engineers and product managers to ensure design vision is realized.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages senior members to mentor others and share best practices, fostering collective growth.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and user feedback to inform design choices and validate solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely blends the structured, process-oriented environment of a large financial institution with the forward-thinking, agile approach of a technology modernization team. Valuing diversity and inclusion is a key stated company value.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design System Evolution with Application Needs: Ensuring the design system remains flexible enough to support diverse application requirements while maintaining consistency and scalability.

• Driving Adoption of New Technologies: Advocating for and integrating AI and modern cloud technologies into design workflows and user experiences within a large enterprise context.

• Global Collaboration: Effectively collaborating with distributed teams across different time zones and cultural contexts to ensure design alignment.

• Navigating Legacy Systems: Modernizing UI frameworks while potentially needing to integrate with or support existing systems.

• Quantifying Design Impact: Clearly demonstrating the ROI and business value of UX initiatives to stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge Technology: Gaining hands-on experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AKS) and AI integration in UX design.

• Design System Leadership: Developing expertise in architecting and governing large-scale design systems.

• Financial Technology Domain: Deepening knowledge of investment management systems and the financial services industry.

• Leadership Skills: Opportunities to hone mentorship, strategic planning, and stakeholder management skills.

• Industry Exposure: Potential access to conferences, training, and certifications relevant to UX, design systems, and financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to work on the cutting edge of platform modernization within a stable, established financial institution, providing both significant challenges and substantial growth potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience leading the design of a complex UI framework or design system. What were the key challenges, and how did you address them?" (Focus on system thinking, governance, and cross-functional collaboration)

• "How do you balance the need for design consistency with the need for application-specific customization within a large organization?" (Prepare examples of creating flexible design patterns)

• "How would you approach integrating AI capabilities into the user experience of our investment management platform? What ethical considerations would you prioritize?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking and responsible design)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about State Street and this specific role within Platform Engineering?" (Research State Street's mission, values, and recent tech initiatives)

• "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers in an agile environment?" (Provide examples of your communication and problem-solving approaches)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the project scope, your design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), the final solution, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your strategic contributions, decision-making processes, and how you influenced outcomes, especially for senior-level projects.

• Showcase System Thinking: For UI Framework/Design System projects, explain the architecture, component strategy, and governance model.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to effectively communicate your design solutions.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; focus on the most impactful projects and key takeaways. Be prepared to go deeper on specific aspects if asked.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic design leadership, deep understanding of design systems, effective collaboration, and the ability to articulate complex design challenges and solutions with measurable impact, especially within the financial technology domain.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the State Street careers portal link provided.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 12+ years of experience, specific achievements in UI/UX design, design systems, Figma proficiency, accessibility expertise, and any financial services experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best showcase your leadership in design systems, complex problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and user-centered design. Ensure it aligns with the requirements of a UI Framework role.

• Prepare your presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on impact, process, and collaboration. Be ready to articulate your strategic thinking and leadership approach.

• Research State Street: Familiarize yourself with State Street's business, its commitment to technology modernization, and the Charles River Investment Management System (CRIMS) to tailor your responses 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.

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