Principal UX Designer I

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer I

Company: Reed Technology

Location: Raleigh, NC, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-18

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the overarching design strategy and creative direction for multiple business units or product lines within Reed Technology.

• Tackle and solve the most complex and ambiguous creative challenges, often referred to as 'wicked problems', within the organization.

• Mentor and develop the broader design community, acting as a subject matter expert and facilitator of best practices.

• Drive the vision for user-centered design (UCD) across critical product areas, looking beyond immediate release cycles to future scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Principal-level individual contributor, signifying a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and expertise. The emphasis on "wicked problems" and "design strategy" indicates a focus on foundational design challenges rather than incremental feature design. The extensive experience requirement (10-15 years) and mentoring responsibilities suggest a leadership capacity within the design function, even without direct reports.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Deeply understand and articulate customer use cases, driving clarity and identifying needs where ambiguity exists.

• Analyze competitor product sets and strategies to inform customer decision-making and competitive positioning.

• Partner effectively with data scientists to gain deeper insights into customer needs and behaviors.

• Conduct thorough analysis of project briefs to ensure the organization is addressing the most critical problems.

• Apply advanced critical thinking and design thinking methodologies to identify innovative solutions.

• Independently lead the iteration and testing of design solutions to validate problem-solving effectiveness.

• Share and promote learnings and insights that advance the creative direction and user experience standards of the organization.

• Define and evangelize interaction patterns that form the core of the company's UI brand identity.

• Define the user experience strategy for the product portfolio, executing strategic user research initiatives.

• Contribute significantly to the definition of product strategy, aligning user needs with business objectives.

• Communicate and champion the importance of genuine customer engagement throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Extract and leverage the most relevant data to craft unique and impactful UX research strategies.

• Mentor other UX researchers in advanced data-driven analysis and testing techniques.

• Identify critical data gaps and proactively introduce new analytical tools and methodologies.

• Regularly oversee the testing and validation of design work across various platforms.

• Present findings from data-driven analysis and testing to guide organizational decisions and strategic direction.

• Produce pixel-perfect designs across all relevant platforms, ensuring consistency and quality.

• Trial and introduce new design and prototyping tools to enhance the organization's technical capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, deep user advocacy, advanced analytical skills, and hands-on design execution. The expectation to mentor, drive strategy, and influence product direction is characteristic of a Principal-level role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Principal-level UX Designer. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 10-15 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a proven track record of leading design strategy for complex products and systems.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in User-Centered Design (UCD) principles and methodologies.

• Advanced skills in critical thinking and design thinking for complex problem-solving.

• Proven ability to lead and drive design strategy for multiple business units or product lines.

• Demonstrated expertise in user research, including strategic planning and data extraction.

• Strong command of data-driven analysis and testing techniques to inform design decisions.

• Mastery of industry-standard design and prototyping software (e.g., Axure, Sketch, InVision).

• Exceptional ability to create pixel-perfect designs across various platforms (web, mobile, desktop).

• Demonstrated experience in defining and evangelizing interaction patterns and UI brand elements.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of delivering high-impact messages to diverse stakeholders.

• Proven ability to mentor and develop other designers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Experience in contributing to product strategy and understanding business objectives.

• Proficiency in identifying and addressing data gaps and introducing new analytical tools. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and other experimental design methodologies.

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Understanding of the technical stack relevant to Reed Technology's product offerings.

• Experience in defining and establishing design systems.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices (WCAG).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Suggested Minimum Years of Experience: 10 - 15 years" strongly indicates a Principal-level role. The "Critical Experiences (Required for entry into this role): N/A" is unusual and might suggest that the company prioritizes demonstrated skills and portfolio over specific, pre-defined critical experiences, or that this section was not fully populated. The required tools (Axure, Sketch, Invision) are explicitly mentioned.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing leadership in design strategy for complex, multi-faceted products or business lines.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to tackle 'wicked problems' and drive significant improvements through user-centered design.

• Showcase examples of defining and evangelizing interaction patterns that have shaped a UI brand.

• Present evidence of data-driven decision-making, including how you extracted relevant data, conducted analysis, and tested design solutions.

• Highlight instances where you have mentored junior designers or contributed to the growth of a design community.

• Provide examples of contributions to product strategy and how user experience informed those decisions. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your process for analyzing a brief, identifying the core problem, and ensuring the right questions are being asked before solutioning.

• Detail your approach to user research, including how you identify needs, extract insights, and translate them into actionable design principles.

• Document your methods for iterating and testing design solutions, demonstrating how you use feedback to refine outcomes.

• Showcase your ability to define and evangelize interaction patterns and design systems that drive brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, a Principal UX Designer role almost always requires a robust portfolio. The emphasis on "complex problems," "design strategy," and "data-driven analysis" suggests a need for case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, and measurable impact, rather than just visual design execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $115,400 - $192,300 USD per year. Geographic differentials may apply.

Benefits:

• Annual incentive bonus eligibility.

• Country-specific benefits tailored to employee well-being and happiness.

• Access to a comprehensive benefits package, details of which can be accessed via the provided link.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are implied, typically around 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility based on project needs and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and falls within the typical band for a Principal UX Designer in a major US tech hub like Raleigh, NC. The mention of "geographic differentials" acknowledges that pay can vary by location, even within the US. The "country specific benefits" note suggests a global company with localized HR policies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Reed Technology operates within the technology and information services sector, likely focusing on data, analytics, and legal/business solutions given its parent company, LexisNexis. This industry context suggests a data-driven, innovation-focused environment that values robust problem-solving and user-centricity.

Company Size: Reed Technology is part of LexisNexis, a large global corporation. This implies a significant organizational structure with established processes, resources, and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, while also potentially offering the agility of a dedicated technology division.

Founded: While the founding date for Reed Technology specifically isn't provided, LexisNexis was founded in 1973. This long history suggests a stable, established company with deep market presence and a mature approach to its operations and product development.

Team Structure:

• The UX design team likely operates within product development or technology divisions, with potential for specialization across different product lines or business units.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a UX Lead or Director, with this Principal role potentially guiding other designers and collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Scientists.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key expectation, with designers working closely with product, engineering, research, and data science teams to deliver integrated solutions. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are central to the company's approach, emphasizing the need for designers to be data-literate and collaborate with data scientists.

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical, especially for complex products, requiring a structured approach to design and development.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely valued, aligning with the technology sector's focus on streamlined processes and scalable solutions.

Company Website: https://www.reedtech.com/ (Derived from domain)

📝 Enhancement Note: Given Reed Technology is part of LexisNexis, the company culture is likely to be professional, data-driven, and focused on delivering high-value solutions for legal and business professionals. The Principal UX Designer role will be central to ensuring these solutions are intuitive and effective.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior, individual contributor path within UX Design. As a Principal Designer, the focus is on strategic impact, complex problem-solving, technical mastery, and influencing design direction across multiple product lines. It signifies a level of expertise beyond Senior Designer, often involving thought leadership and mentorship.

Reporting Structure: The Principal UX Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Design/Product, or a Senior Manager overseeing a portfolio of products. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other Principal-level strategists.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the usability, adoption, and effectiveness of complex products. By driving design strategy and ensuring user-centered development, the Principal UX Designer contributes to customer satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, revenue growth by making Reed Technology's offerings more valuable and competitive.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like complex data visualization, enterprise UX, or emerging technologies.

• Leadership: Transition into management roles (e.g., UX Manager, Design Lead) or continue on a principal/fellow track focusing on strategic initiatives and architectural design decisions.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence into product strategy, business development, or technology roadmapping.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in new design tools, methodologies, and emerging industry trends through training, conferences, and internal knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal title strongly suggests a path for continued growth as a senior individual contributor, focusing on strategic impact and thought leadership within the design domain, rather than solely management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Raleigh, NC, and described as "On-site," indicating a traditional office environment. This setting typically fosters spontaneous collaboration, team cohesion, and direct interaction with colleagues.

Office Location(s): Raleigh, NC (RDU area). This location is known for its strong technology and research presence, offering a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be collaborative, with opportunities for in-person brainstorming sessions, whiteboarding, and team meetings with product and engineering counterparts.

• Access to advanced design and prototyping tools (Axure, Sketch, InVision) is expected, along with standard office technology and potentially specialized hardware for testing.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with other designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers will be frequent, facilitating a dynamic and communicative work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard "Full time" employment type suggests a typical 40-hour work week. While the role is on-site, there may be flexibility in daily start/end times, subject to team and project needs, allowing for effective workflow management and collaboration across different time zones if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is key. Candidates should be prepared for a fully in-office role, which typically means more in-person collaboration and less flexibility compared to remote or hybrid positions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key projects, design process, and impact. Expect to discuss your approach to complex problems, user research, and data analysis.

• Technical/Design Interview: In-depth discussion with design peers and leads, focusing on design thinking, problem-solving methodologies, tool proficiency, and strategic contributions. May include a design exercise or whiteboard challenge.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Data Scientists to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate design into the product development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership (e.g., Director of Design, VP) to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit with the company's direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems, lead design strategy, and drive measurable outcomes. Prioritize projects that align with Reed Technology's industry (legal tech, data solutions) if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and responsibilities, the process you followed (emphasizing research, ideation, iteration, testing), the solutions you designed, and the quantifiable results or impact achieved.

• Highlight 'Wicked Problems': Be prepared to discuss projects where you tackled ambiguous or highly complex challenges, detailing your approach to defining the problem space and navigating uncertainty.

• Showcase Data-Driven Insights: Include examples of how you used data (quantitative and qualitative) to inform your design decisions, validate hypotheses, and measure success.

• Demonstrate Leadership & Mentorship: If applicable, include examples of how you've influenced design direction, mentored junior designers, or contributed to design best practices.

• Prepare for Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with tools like Axure, Sketch, and InVision, and how you leverage them effectively in your workflow.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem Framing: Practice breaking down complex, ambiguous problems into manageable components, identifying key stakeholders, and defining success metrics.

• Design Thinking Application: Be ready to articulate your design thinking process and how you apply it to solve user and business problems.

• Data Interpretation: Prepare to discuss how you interpret data to derive actionable insights and make informed design recommendations.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would collaborate with product managers, engineers, and data scientists on challenging projects, anticipating potential conflicts and outlining resolution strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "difficult and complex creative problems" and "design strategy" means interviewers will be looking for strategic thinking, not just execution. The portfolio is paramount for this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Axure (Expert knowledge required), Sketch (Power user), InVision (Power user). These are explicitly mentioned and are critical for the role.

• Design Systems: While not explicitly stated, experience with or ability to contribute to design systems is highly probable for a Principal role in a large organization.

• Collaboration Tools: Standard suite likely includes Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis: Partnership with Data Scientists is key. Familiarity with how data is collected and analyzed for UX insights is important.

• Testing Platforms: Experience with user testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback) and A/B testing tools would be beneficial.

• Reporting: Ability to interpret and present findings from analytics and testing reports.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX impacts customer journeys within CRM systems and how automation affects user workflows might be relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Axure, Sketch, and InVision as "design and prototyping software" where the candidate should be a "power user" is a strong indicator of the required technical proficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep understanding of customer needs is paramount, driving the organization to solve real problems.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas, taking calculated risks, and learning quickly from both successes and failures.

• Collaboration: Promoting high levels of cooperation within the workgroup and across the organization to achieve shared objectives.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing data analysis and testing to guide decisions and measure impact, fostering a culture of continual improvement.

• Excellence: Striving to exceed expected results and producing pixel-perfect, high-quality designs.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Communication: Building trusted, two-way communication interfaces between the design team and stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding of direction and purpose.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seeking opportunities to work with other teams and divisions, building relationships that enhance business results.

• Conflict Resolution: Taking a lead in resolving conflicts within work groups and ensuring team alignment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively contributing to a team culture where learnings are shared, and continuous improvement is encouraged.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Competencies" section of the job description directly outlines the expected interpersonal and personal capabilities, which translate into the team's cultural values and collaboration style.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity: Tackling "wicked problems" and leading design strategy for multiple, potentially disparate, product lines requires strong analytical skills and the ability to synthesize information.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Gaining buy-in and alignment from various stakeholders (product, engineering, data science, business leadership) on design vision and strategy.

• Balancing Innovation with Execution: Innovating for future scenarios while ensuring current product releases meet user needs and business objectives.

• Mentoring and Upskilling: Effectively guiding and developing a community of designers, ensuring consistent quality and adoption of best practices across the organization.

• Data Integration: Effectively partnering with data scientists to extract meaningful insights and translate them into design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to explore and master cutting-edge UX methodologies and tools.

• Strategic Influence: Developing skills in product strategy, business analysis, and cross-functional leadership.

• Mentorship: Receiving mentorship from senior leaders and providing mentorship to aspiring designers.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of evolving technology, design trends, and user expectations through conferences, workshops, and internal knowledge sharing.

• Career Progression: Potential pathways into management, principal/fellow roles, or specialized design leadership positions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a Principal-level role, focusing on strategic impact, leadership, and complex problem-solving within a large organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you tackled a 'wicked problem' in UX design. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, critical thinking, and ability to define ambiguity.)

• "How do you define and evangelize design strategy for multiple product lines? Provide an example." (Highlight your strategic planning, communication, and leadership skills.)

• "How do you partner with data scientists and engineers to ensure user needs are met and technical constraints are understood?" (Emphasize collaboration, data interpretation, and cross-functional communication.)

• "Walk us through a project where you used data analysis and user testing to significantly influence a product's direction or improve its user experience." (Prepare a case study focusing on data-driven decision-making and measurable impact.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Reed Technology and its position in the market?" (Research LexisNexis and Reed Technology's offerings, focusing on their data, legal, or business solutions.)

• "How do you foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within a design team?" (Relate this to your mentoring experience and approach to problem-solving.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders with differing opinions on a design decision." (Prepare an example demonstrating your communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Problem, Your Role/Approach, Process (Research, Ideation, Iteration, Testing), Solution, and Impact/Results.

• Highlight Strategic Thinking: For each project, explicitly state the business problem and how your UX strategy addressed it.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced support tickets, improved user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the value of your work.

• Showcase Process: Be ready to deep-dive into your design process, explaining why you chose specific methodologies and tools.

• Be Prepared for Tool-Specific Questions: Discuss your proficiency with Axure, Sketch, and InVision, and how you leverage their features for complex problem-solving and prototyping.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for evidence of strategic thinking, leadership, complex problem-solving, and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles backed by data.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Designer I position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday job portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating leadership in complex problem-solving, design strategy, and data-driven outcomes relevant to Reed Technology's domain (e.g., data solutions, legal tech). Prepare 3-5 detailed case studies.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10-15 years of experience, emphasizing leadership, strategic contributions, and proficiency in required tools (Axure, Sketch, InVision). Use keywords from the job description such as "design strategy," "user-centered design," "complex problems," and "mentoring."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on strategic thinking, process, and measurable impact. Prepare answers for common UX interview questions, particularly those related to complex problem-solving and stakeholder influence.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Reed Technology and LexisNexis, understanding their products, market position, and any publicly available information on their design philosophy or culture.

⚠️ 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.