Principle UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UI Designer, Sportsbook

Company: FanDuel

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States / New York City, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UI/UX Design, Product Design, Design Leadership

Date Posted: September 09, 2026

Experience Level: Senior / Principal (Implied 10+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Champion the visual and interaction design language for FanDuel's Sportsbook across iOS, Android, and Web platforms, ensuring a premium and intuitive user experience.

• Drive the evolution of visual design principles, including typography, color, hierarchy, interaction, and motion, to create cohesive and engaging digital products.

• Foster strong partnerships with Product Design, Product Management, Engineering, and Brand teams to influence product strategy and elevate design quality at scale.

• Lead the exploration of emerging technologies, including AI-assisted design workflows, to unlock new customer experiences and enhance design efficiency.

• Serve as a craft leader, mentoring other designers, setting high visual quality standards, and ensuring exceptional implementation quality in collaboration with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an individual contributor leadership role, emphasizing influence and guidance over direct management. The "Principal" title and the focus on defining visual language and coaching designers suggest a senior-level individual contributor with significant strategic impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the visual design quality bar for the Sportsbook product suite across all primary platforms (iOS, Android, Web).

• Establish and evangelize the application of visual design principles, including typography, color, hierarchy, layout, interaction, and motion, to ensure clarity, cohesion, and emotional engagement.

• Partner with Product Design leaders and teams to shape the future of FanDuel's visual language, defining interaction, motion, and visual principles that are scalable across all customer touchpoints.

• Build and nurture trusted partnerships with Product Design, Product Management, Engineering, Brand, and Formation teams, contributing deep visual craft expertise to shared product decisions.

• Drive the evolution of FanDuel's design language system, ensuring consistency while enabling innovation that delivers meaningful customer value.

• Champion accessibility, inclusive design, and usability standards without compromising visual craft, personality, or brand expression.

• Explore and integrate emerging interaction models, AI capabilities, and platform technologies to unlock novel customer experiences.

• Lead rapid concept exploration initiatives to help teams envision ambitious customer experiences prior to implementation.

• Establish and implement AI-assisted design workflows to improve the quality, consistency, and speed of the design process.

• Coach and mentor designers through critiques, pairing sessions, workshops, and hands-on craft leadership to elevate their skills and output.

• Influence engineering implementation to ensure production quality consistently aligns with design intent and visual standards.

• Develop and maintain reusable design libraries, templates, prompts, and tooling to enhance the capability and efficiency of the broader design organization.

• Represent Product Design in executive-level discussions concerning product strategy where visual quality is a critical component.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic, influential, and hands-on role focused on elevating design craft and driving innovation through visual leadership. The emphasis on AI-assisted design, cross-functional collaboration, and coaching indicates a senior-level impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio and demonstrated expertise in design principles are paramount. A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, HCI, or a related field would be beneficial.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in digital product design, with a significant focus on UI design and visual systems within complex product ecosystems. Experience in defining and evolving design languages at scale is critical.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional visual design portfolio demonstrating world-class digital product craft and a strong point of view.

• Deep expertise in typography, layout, hierarchy, color theory, interaction design, motion design, and visual storytelling.

• Profound understanding of modern platform conventions, interaction models, motion systems, and contemporary UI patterns across iOS, Android, and Web.

• Proven experience in defining and scaling visual systems, reusable interaction patterns, and design frameworks for large product ecosystems.

• Outstanding ability to balance brand expression, usability, accessibility, and business objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to define visual direction that shapes the work of other designers and elevates product quality at scale.

• Proven capacity to influence multiple teams and senior stakeholders without formal management responsibility.

• Experience partnering closely with engineering teams to ensure exceptional implementation quality and production craftsmanship.

• Strong understanding of AI-assisted design workflows and their application to enhance design judgment, creativity, and customer-centric thinking.

• Proven ability to coach designers, raise craft standards, and strengthen design practice through mentorship, critique, and example.

• Recognized for exceptional craft judgment, a clear design point of view, intellectual openness, and the ability to inspire through vision and execution. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the sports betting or gaming industry, understanding the unique demands of real-time, high-stakes user experiences.

• Familiarity with design system implementation and governance.

• Experience with user research methodologies and translating insights into visual design decisions.

• Proficiency in advanced prototyping tools for complex interactions and motion.

• Experience in building and leading design communities of practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" implied experience level and the emphasis on "Principal" and "leadership" in an individual contributor capacity strongly suggest a need for extensive experience in defining and scaling design systems and influencing product strategy. The ability to mentor and coach designers is a key differentiator for this senior role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of case studies showcasing your expertise in defining and evolving visual design languages for digital products, particularly mobile and web applications.

• Demonstrations of your ability to translate complex user needs and business requirements into elegant, intuitive, and visually compelling UI designs.

• Examples of how you have applied typography, color, layout, and interaction principles to create cohesive and engaging user experiences.

• Evidence of your work in establishing and scaling design systems, including components, patterns, and guidelines.

• Case studies that highlight your collaboration with product management, engineering, and brand teams, demonstrating your influence and partnership.

• Examples of projects where you've championed accessibility, inclusive design, and usability without compromising visual craft.

• Work that illustrates your exploration and application of emerging technologies, including AI-assisted design workflows. Process Documentation:

• Showcase how you approach design critique and mentorship, providing examples of how you've coached other designers to improve their craft.

• Detail your process for rapid concept exploration and how you use it to inspire ambitious product visions.

• Illustrate your methods for influencing engineering implementation to ensure production quality aligns with design intent.

• Provide examples of reusable libraries, templates, or tooling you have developed to enhance design team efficiency.

• Demonstrate your ability to articulate design decisions and strategy in executive-level discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not only display finished work but also the strategic thinking, process, and collaborative approach behind it. For a Principal role, demonstrating leadership through influence, mentorship, and process improvement is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $148,000 - $203,500 USD per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is provided in the job description and is specific to the United States market. It reflects a senior-level position, aligning with the "Principal" title and extensive experience requirements. Factors such as location within the US (New York City typically commands higher salaries than Atlanta), specific experience, and market demand will influence the final offer within this range.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health plans, with some options as low as $0 per paycheck.

• Programs for fertility and family planning.

• Robust mental health support.

• Fitness benefits.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and sick leave.

• Annual bonus opportunities.

• Long-term incentive opportunities (based on performance).

• 401k with up to a 5% match.

• Commuter benefits.

• Pet insurance.

• Life insurance.

• Disability insurance.

• 14 paid company holidays.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time). The hybrid work arrangement implies flexibility in structuring these hours, with a requirement to be in the office on certain days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is extensive and competitive, catering to holistic employee well-being. The inclusion of fertility planning, mental health support, and fitness benefits reflects a modern, employee-centric approach. The 401k match is a significant financial benefit.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mobile Gaming & Sports Betting. FanDuel is a leading player in the US and Canadian mobile gaming market, encompassing sports betting, iGaming, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports. This industry is fast-paced, highly regulated, and driven by user engagement and data analytics.

Company Size: FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment, a global leader in sports betting and gaming. FanDuel itself operates across the US and Canada with offices in major cities, indicating a substantial workforce. The specific size of the design team is not detailed but is likely significant given the company's scale and ambition.

Founded: FanDuel Group has a significant presence and history in the US market, though the exact founding date for the group or its core brands isn't specified here. Its parent company, Flutter Entertainment, is publicly traded on the NYSE, underscoring its corporate stature.

Team Structure:

• The Principal UI Designer will likely be part of a larger Product Design organization, which is then integrated into product development teams.

• This role is an individual contributor but requires extensive collaboration with Product Designers, Product Managers, Engineering leads, Brand teams, and potentially Data Scientists or AI specialists.

• The reporting structure will likely involve reporting to a Director or VP of Product Design or a similar senior design leadership role. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is expected in this industry, influencing design choices based on user behavior, A/B testing results, and performance metrics.

• Agile development methodologies are standard, requiring designers to work iteratively and adapt to changing priorities.

• A strong emphasis on user-centric design, ensuring that products are intuitive, engaging, and meet the needs of a diverse customer base.

• The integration of AI into workflows suggests a forward-thinking approach to design tools and processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: FanDuel operates in a dynamic and competitive industry. The culture likely values innovation, speed, data-informed decisions, and a strong focus on user experience to maintain market leadership. The "One Team" principle suggests a collaborative and inclusive environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Principal-level individual contributor role, representing a senior position within the design hierarchy. It signifies a high degree of expertise, influence, and strategic responsibility, often considered a peer to management roles in terms of impact and scope.

Reporting Structure: The Principal UI Designer will report to a senior design leader (e.g., Director of Product Design, VP of Design) and will work closely with Product Management and Engineering leadership. While not a direct management role, it involves significant influence over the work of other designers and cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly shaping the user experience and visual identity of FanDuel's flagship Sportsbook product. By setting the visual quality bar and driving design system evolution, the Principal UI Designer influences customer acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall brand perception, all of which are critical to revenue generation and market competitiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Director or VP role, managing larger design teams and setting broader design strategy.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like motion design, interaction systems, or AI-driven design innovation.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Transition into Product Management or a strategic role within the broader Product organization.

• Mentorship & Advocacy: Become a recognized thought leader within FanDuel and the industry, shaping design practices and advocating for user-centered design.

• Broader Product Influence: Expand influence to other FanDuel brands or Flutter Entertainment's global portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Principal individual contributor, the growth path is less about climbing a traditional management ladder and more about increasing scope of influence, strategic impact, and technical/craft leadership. The opportunity to shape the future of a major product in a high-growth industry is significant.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. This means a blend of remote work and in-office presence. The specific days in the office will likely be determined by team needs and collaboration requirements.

Office Location(s): The role is open to candidates in Atlanta, Georgia, and New York City, New York. These are major hubs for the company, likely offering modern office spaces designed for collaboration and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and the nature of the role necessitate close collaboration with design, product, and engineering teams, likely facilitated through a mix of in-person meetings and digital collaboration tools.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, prototyping tools, design system platforms, and collaboration suites will be provided. The emphasis on AI-assisted design suggests investment in cutting-edge tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for design critiques, workshops, brainstorming sessions, and informal knowledge sharing with a team of talented designers and product professionals.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaboration needs within a hybrid framework. This allows for structured work and dedicated time for focused design tasks, while also accommodating in-office collaboration days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup at major US hubs suggests a company that values flexibility while recognizing the importance of in-person collaboration for strategic roles like this. Candidates should be prepared to commute to either Atlanta or New York City offices on designated days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Review & Craft Critique: Expect a session dedicated to walking through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, rationale, challenges, and outcomes for key projects. This is where your craft judgment and ability to articulate design decisions will be heavily scrutinized. Focus on projects that showcase your expertise in visual design, systems thinking, and influencing product direction.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Designers, Product Managers, and Engineering leads to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work within a product team. Be ready to discuss how you've partnered with these disciplines.

• Leadership & Vision Interview: A discussion with senior design leadership (potentially the hiring manager or a higher-level executive) to evaluate your strategic thinking, leadership potential, mentorship capabilities, and long-term vision for design at FanDuel.

• Case Study/Design Challenge (Potentially): While not explicitly mentioned, some senior roles may include a take-home challenge or a live design exercise to assess problem-solving skills and design approach under pressure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your expertise in UI design, visual systems, and strategic influence. Tailor your selection to highlight experience relevant to a sportsbook or similar high-engagement digital product.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the decisions you made (and why), the challenges you overcame, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Showcase Craft: Emphasize the details of your visual design – typography, color, layout, motion, micro-interactions. Explain your rationale for these choices.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: If applicable, showcase your experience with design systems, component libraries, and ensuring scalability and consistency.

• Demonstrate Influence: Provide examples of how you've influenced stakeholders, coached other designers, or improved processes. Quantify impact where possible.

• Prepare for Critique: Be open to constructive feedback and be ready to defend your design decisions with clear reasoning.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research FanDuel, its competitors, and the sports betting industry. Understand the user base, their motivations, and the unique challenges of designing for real-time engagement and betting.

• Anticipate UI/UX Problems: Think about common pain points in sports betting apps (e.g., information overload, betting slip management, live odds, account management) and how you would approach solving them visually.

• Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining your design process and rationale concisely and persuasively. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and how you balance competing priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Principal role will be rigorous, focusing heavily on design craft, strategic thinking, and leadership through influence. A well-prepared and compelling portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and collaborative nature), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), possibly Principle or After Effects for motion design.

• Design Systems: Familiarity with building, maintaining, and scaling design systems; experience with tools for documentation and component management.

• AI-Assisted Design: Experience with AI tools that enhance design creativity, efficiency, or judgment (e.g., AI-powered ideation tools, content generation assistants, intelligent layout suggestions).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Understanding of how to use analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Google Analytics, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable design improvements.

• Experience with A/B testing methodologies and tools to validate design hypotheses. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, an understanding of how UI design integrates with customer journeys managed by CRM systems is beneficial.

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) for workflow management and collaboration with engineering.

• Experience with tools that facilitate design handoff and collaboration with developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for a modern UI design role. The emphasis on AI-assisted design suggests that familiarity with emerging tools in this space will be a significant advantage. Understanding how design impacts business metrics through analytics is crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• "One Team" Principle: Emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and shared responsibility across all departments and individuals. This means working effectively with diverse teams and contributing to a cohesive organizational culture.

• Data-Driven: A strong reliance on data and analytics to inform decisions, measure success, and drive continuous improvement in product and processes.

• Customer-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the customer, ensuring that products are intuitive, enjoyable, and valuable.

• Innovation & Agility: A culture that encourages experimentation, embraces new technologies (like AI), and can adapt quickly to market changes and opportunities.

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: A dedication to high-quality execution in all aspects of work, particularly in design, ensuring premium user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Management, Engineering, Brand, and Data teams, actively participating in product development cycles.

• Open Communication & Feedback: A culture that values open dialogue, constructive critique, and continuous feedback to foster learning and improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, learnings, and innovative approaches across the design team and wider organization.

• Proactive Problem-Solving: A collaborative approach to identifying and solving complex design challenges, leveraging the collective expertise of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "One Team" philosophy is central to FanDuel's culture, implying a need for strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset. The company likely values individuals who can not only excel in their craft but also contribute positively to the team dynamic and overall company mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Consistency: The need to explore new AI capabilities and interaction models while maintaining a consistent, branded, and highly usable experience across a large product ecosystem.

• Influencing Without Authority: Effectively guiding and influencing product direction and design quality across multiple teams without direct management responsibility requires strong communication, persuasion, and relationship-building skills.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring that the design system remains robust, adaptable, and effectively adopted across a growing product suite and evolving platform capabilities.

• Rapid Industry Evolution: Keeping pace with the fast-changing landscape of sports betting, gaming regulations, and emerging technologies like AI, and translating these into design opportunities.

• Technical Implementation Alignment: Ensuring that complex visual designs and interactions are accurately and efficiently implemented by engineering teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Craft: Opportunities to push the boundaries of UI design, interaction, and motion through challenging projects and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.

• AI in Design: Deep dive into AI-assisted design workflows, learning how to leverage AI for enhanced creativity, efficiency, and user insight.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in stakeholder management, executive communication, and influencing product strategy at a high level.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Hone coaching and mentorship skills, contributing to the growth of junior and mid-level designers.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences, participate in design forums, and gain exposure to global design practices through Flutter Entertainment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a Principal role in a fast-paced tech company, emphasizing strategic thinking, influence, and adaptability. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to deepen their expertise and expand their leadership impact within the design field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the visual language for a new feature in our Sportsbook, considering our existing design system and brand guidelines?" (Focus on process, collaboration, and how you'd ensure consistency and innovation.)

• "Describe a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder or engineering team to adopt a design direction they were initially hesitant about. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight persuasion, data-driven arguments, and relationship building.)

• "How do you see AI transforming the UI design process, and what specific AI-assisted workflows would you implement at FanDuel to improve quality, consistency, or speed?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking, practical application of AI, and understanding of design efficiency.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility and inclusive design are prioritized without compromising visual craft or brand personality?" (Showcase your commitment to user needs and ethical design practices.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about FanDuel and the sports betting industry?" (Research FanDuel's market position, recent news, and company values.)

• "How do you embody the 'One Team' principle in your collaborative efforts?" (Provide examples of cross-functional teamwork and conflict resolution.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and emerging technologies in a rapidly evolving industry?" (Discuss your learning habits, sources of inspiration, and proactive approach to skill development.)

• "Describe your approach to coaching and mentoring designers. What makes a great design critique session?" (Showcase your leadership potential and commitment to team growth.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome. Use compelling visuals at each stage.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Instead of "improved user flow," say "reduced user drop-off in the betting slip process by 15% by redesigning the checkout flow."

• Articulate Craft Decisions: Be ready to deep-dive into the "why" behind your typographic choices, color palettes, animation timings, and interaction patterns. Connect these decisions back to user needs and business goals.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: If you have design system experience, demonstrate how you contributed to or leveraged it. Explain how your work ensures scalability and consistency.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure it flows smoothly, stays within the allotted time, and you can answer questions confidently. Be prepared to go off-script and discuss specific details of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, leadership through influence, and a deep understanding of the business and user context within the sports betting industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UI Designer position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature case studies demonstrating your expertise in visual design systems, interaction design, and driving product quality at scale. Prioritize examples relevant to high-engagement digital products, ideally within gaming or sports betting if available.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of experience, leadership through influence, mentorship capabilities, and specific achievements in defining and evolving visual languages. Integrate keywords such as "UI Design," "Design Systems," "Interaction Design," "AI-assisted Design," and "Stakeholder Management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for key portfolio projects. Prepare to discuss your approach to mentorship, cross-functional collaboration, and how you would contribute to FanDuel's "One Team" culture.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research FanDuel's brand, products (especially the Sportsbook), competitors, and recent company news. Understand their mission, values, and the unique challenges and opportunities within the sports betting industry.

⚠️ 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.