Principle UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer

Company: Itron, Inc.

Location: Liberty Lake, WA, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-05

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of user experience (UX) design for global enterprise solutions, with a strong focus on distributed energy management systems (DERMS), distribution grids, and distributed energy resources (DERs).

• Drive the adoption of user-centered design methodologies, including conducting comprehensive user research and translating insights into intuitive, accessible, and impactful human-centered experiences for complex enterprise platforms.

• Champion inclusive and equitable design principles, ensuring all deliverables meet accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and cater to a diverse user base within the utility and energy sectors.

• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and other cross-functional stakeholders to align UX strategies with business objectives, product roadmaps, and agile development cycles, ensuring seamless integration of design into the product lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Principal UX Designer, indicating a senior-level individual contributor role with significant strategic influence and potential mentorship responsibilities. The focus on DERMS, Distribution Grid, and DERs within the utility sector suggests a specialized domain within enterprise UX. The company's emphasis on innovation and scaling UX frameworks points towards a need for a candidate who can not only design but also establish and evolve design processes and systems.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end UX design process for global enterprise solutions, from conceptualization and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and design handoff, demonstrating ownership and accountability for design outcomes.

• Conduct and synthesize user research using a variety of methodologies to deeply understand utility personas, their workflows, pain points, and needs, thereby informing customer-centric design decisions.

• Develop detailed user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes using advanced Figma capabilities, including the creation and maintenance of scalable, reusable component libraries and design systems based on atomic design principles.

• Collaborate effectively within an agile framework with product managers, engineers, and other design and research team members to ensure design solutions are aligned with business priorities, technical feasibility, and project timelines.

• Actively advocate for and embed inclusive design principles and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) throughout the design lifecycle, ensuring that solutions are usable and equitable for all users.

• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to iterate on and enhance existing user experiences to improve usability, efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction.

• Facilitate clear, efficient, and collaborative design handoffs to development teams and other stakeholders, ensuring accurate implementation of design specifications.

• Contribute to the evolution of Itron's design system, exploring and potentially integrating innovative applications of AI-enabled design tools to enhance productivity and design quality.

• Apply systems thinking, creativity, and empathy to tackle complex design challenges within a dynamic and evolving technology landscape.

• Mentor and guide junior designers and researchers, fostering a collaborative, authentic, and growth-oriented design culture within the UX team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design execution, and team mentorship. The focus on "global enterprise solutions" and "complex enterprise platforms" highlights the need for experience with large-scale systems and diverse user needs. The explicit mention of "systems thinking" and "atomic design principles" suggests a mature design practice where consistency and scalability are paramount.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) Design and User Research, with a significant portion focused on enterprise-level SaaS or complex technology platforms.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in leading UX design initiatives for large-scale, cross-functional programs, with a strong portfolio showcasing accountability for design outcomes and impact.

• Advanced proficiency in user research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative techniques, and the ability to translate complex research insights into actionable, high-quality design solutions.

• Expert-level command of Figma, including extensive experience with building and managing design systems, component libraries, and complex prototyping.

• Proven experience in designing for enterprise SaaS products or similar complex technology platforms, understanding the unique challenges and requirements of these environments.

• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence and build consensus with stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Extensive experience working within agile development environments, demonstrating adaptability to evolving priorities, technical constraints, and team velocity.

• A strong commitment to inclusive design, accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), and best practices, with the ability to advocate for and implement these principles.

• Experience in mentoring, coaching, or supporting the professional development of other designers and researchers. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience within the Utilities or Energy sector, including familiarity with smart grid technologies, IoT platforms, DERMS, DERs, or distribution grid systems.

• Deep understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) and practical application in enterprise product design.

• Background in systems thinking, service design, or solution architecture, particularly for complex, interconnected enterprise platforms.

• Experience with AI-enabled design tools and workflows, and an understanding of their potential applications in enterprise UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" requirement for UX design and research, coupled with the emphasis on "enterprise SaaS" and "large-scale, cross-functional programs," clearly defines this as a senior, high-impact role. The strong preference for utility/energy sector experience and familiarity with DERMS/DERs indicates a specialized domain requirement, making candidates with this background highly competitive.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, with a clear emphasis on enterprise-level SaaS or complex technology platforms.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of user-centered design processes, from initial research and ideation through to detailed design and validation.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to lead UX initiatives, manage complex design challenges, and deliver measurable business and user value.

• Showcase experience with creating and utilizing design systems, component libraries, and pattern-based design approaches for consistency and scalability.

• Present examples of user research synthesis and how insights directly informed design decisions and improved user outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples or descriptions of how you have documented and communicated design processes, workflows, and decisions to cross-functional teams.

• Highlight experience in contributing to or evolving design systems, including documentation of components, patterns, and usage guidelines.

• Demonstrate how you have applied agile methodologies to your design process, including adaptation and iteration based on feedback and evolving requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal UX Designer role, the portfolio needs to go beyond just showcasing visual design. It must demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership in UX processes, research impact, and the ability to scale design solutions through robust design systems. The emphasis on "enterprise-level" and "complex technology platforms" means projects should reflect these scales.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $120,000 - $190,000 USD per year.

• Explanation: This estimate is based on the provided salary range of $96,000 – $188,000 for Liberty Lake, WA, combined with the Principal UX Designer title and 10+ years of experience requirement. Principal-level roles in major tech hubs or specialized fields often command salaries at the higher end of stated ranges, especially with niche industry experience. The $96,000 minimum aligns with senior-level UX roles, while the $188,000 maximum allows for significant compensation for highly experienced candidates in this specific domain and location. The annual bonus program is an additional compensation component.

Benefits:

• Financial: Competitive salary, annual bonus program, 401k matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).

• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive health and wellbeing programs, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Time Off: Generous paid vacation policy.

• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work schedule offering flexibility.

• Other: Various social programs and other benefits as part of a competitive package.

Working Hours:

• The standard work week is typically 40 hours.

• The hybrid work schedule offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work. Specific in-office days may be determined by team needs and manager guidance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $96,000 – $188,000 is substantial for Liberty Lake, WA, and aligns with a Principal-level role. The estimate provided above adjusts slightly upwards to reflect the "Principal" title and the stated 10+ years of experience, assuming candidates meeting these criteria would be at the higher end. The inclusion of an annual bonus program is a key compensation detail.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Itron operates within the Energy, Utilities, and Smart City technology sectors. They are a global leader in intelligent infrastructure solutions for utilities and cities, focusing on managing energy, water, and city services more resourcefully. This industry context implies a need for designers who understand complex, regulated environments and critical infrastructure.

Company Size: Itron is a large enterprise company, indicated by its global presence and the nature of its solutions. This means a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact within a large organization.

Founded: Itron was founded in 1977. This long history suggests a stable company with deep domain expertise and a well-established market presence.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is likely part of a larger Product Development or Engineering organization. As a Principal Designer, you would likely report to a Director or VP of UX/Product Design.

• You will work within product-focused teams, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, and potentially other UX Designers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving stakeholders from various departments including Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and potentially Customer Support or Operations. Methodology:

• Itron employs agile development practices, meaning the UX team will be integrated into sprint cycles, working closely with development teams.

• User-centered design and inclusive design principles are actively championed, forming the core of the UX methodology.

• Emphasis is placed on data-driven decision-making, leveraging user research and analytics to inform design strategies and measure impact.

• The company is committed to evolving its design systems and exploring innovative technologies like AI to enhance design processes and product capabilities.

Company Website: www.itron.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Itron's industry focus on critical infrastructure (energy, water) means that UX design must prioritize reliability, security, and usability for professional users (utility operators, city planners) in high-stakes environments. The company's size and history suggest a formal structure and a strong emphasis on process and established best practices, but also an openness to innovation and scaling.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the "Principal" individual contributor level. This signifies a senior expert who is not only responsible for designing complex solutions but also for setting strategic direction, influencing best practices, and potentially mentoring other team members. It's a role that requires deep domain expertise and a strong understanding of enterprise product development cycles.

Reporting Structure: The Principal UX Designer will likely report to a UX Design Manager, Director of UX, or potentially a VP of Product Design. They will operate within cross-functional product teams, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, as it directly influences the usability, efficiency, and adoption of critical enterprise software used by utilities and cities globally. Effective UX design in this domain can lead to improved operational efficiency for customers, enhanced resource management, increased safety, and greater customer satisfaction, ultimately contributing to Itron's market leadership and revenue growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to move into a UX Design Manager or Director role, leading a team of designers.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise within the energy/utility sector or focus on specific areas like system architecture for complex platforms.

• Strategic Influence: Become a key voice in defining the future of Itron's product experience, influencing product strategy and design vision.

• Mentorship: Formalize mentorship of junior designers, contributing to the growth of the overall UX practice.

• Innovation: Lead initiatives for adopting new design tools, methodologies, or technologies (e.g., AI in design).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title suggests a career path that emphasizes technical mastery and strategic influence rather than people management, although leadership through mentorship is expected. Growth typically involves taking on more complex projects, driving strategic initiatives, and potentially moving towards architect-level roles or people management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Itron offers a hybrid work schedule, indicating a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility. The "Local Office" designation for Liberty Lake suggests a physical workspace is available and utilized for team collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Liberty Lake, WA. Itron is a global company with multiple office locations worldwide, but this role is based out of their Washington facility.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace likely promotes collaboration, with shared design tools, meeting rooms, and open areas for team interaction.

• Access to standard office technology, high-performance computing for design software, and robust network infrastructure is expected.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with UX researchers, product managers, and engineers will be integral to the daily work environment, fostering a cohesive product development process. Work Schedule:

• Standard working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid model allows for flexibility, enabling employees to balance in-office days for collaboration and meetings with remote days for focused individual work. This structure supports the demanding nature of UX design while promoting work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility. Candidates should be prepared for a structured enterprise setting that values both collaborative in-person work and independent remote productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone or video screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, showcasing 2-3 key projects that demonstrate their expertise in enterprise UX design, user research, and system thinking. This is often a live presentation with Q&A.

• Technical/Design Interview: A deeper dive into UX methodologies, problem-solving approaches, and specific design challenges. This might involve a whiteboarding session or a design exercise.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other senior designers or stakeholders to assess collaboration skills and strategic alignment.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Director/VP of UX) to evaluate leadership potential, strategic vision, and overall fit for the Principal role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, and the measurable outcomes of your projects. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "increased user satisfaction by Y%").

• Showcase Process: Detail your user research methodologies, how you synthesized findings, and how those insights drove your design decisions. Illustrate your iterative design process.

• Highlight System Thinking: Include examples of how you have designed for scalability, consistency, and maintainability, ideally showcasing experience with design systems or component libraries.

• Tailor to Itron: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with complex enterprise platforms, B2B solutions, or ideally, the energy/utility sector.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, how you handle constraints, your collaboration style, and how you mentor others.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve a hypothetical problem related to energy management or utility operations. Focus on your process, problem framing, and creative solutions.

• Whiteboarding: Practice articulating your thought process verbally and visually on a whiteboard or digital equivalent, demonstrating how you approach problem-solving and system design.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare for questions about how you would handle specific workplace scenarios, such as disagreements with stakeholders, managing conflicting priorities, or implementing new design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Principal role is rigorous, focusing heavily on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to articulate complex design rationale. The portfolio presentation is a critical component where candidates must demonstrate not just design skill but also business acumen and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of UX design, including wireframing, prototyping, design systems, and collaboration. Advanced proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems using atomic design principles.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Pendo) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

• Experience interpreting data to inform design decisions and validate hypotheses. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how UX designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation platforms is beneficial for enterprise contexts.

• Familiarity with project management tools common in agile environments (e.g., Jira, Confluence) for workflow management and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a required tool, emphasizing its central role. The mention of "AI-enabled design tools" suggests an openness to exploring and integrating newer technologies into the design workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of utility and city customers through exceptional design.

• Innovation: Driving forward-thinking solutions and embracing new technologies to improve resource management and operational efficiency.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where diverse perspectives are valued and cross-functional partnerships thrive.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing data and insights to inform decisions, measure impact, and continuously improve products and processes.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Ensuring that all products are designed to be usable, equitable, and accessible to a diverse global user base.

• Resourcefulness: Reflecting the company's mission to create a more resourceful world through efficient and effective solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with Product Management and Engineering in an agile setting, ensuring design is an integral part of the development lifecycle.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive feedback, and active listening among team members and stakeholders.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture where senior designers actively mentor junior team members and knowledge is shared freely across the team and organization.

• Iterative Improvement: Embracing feedback loops and continuous iteration to refine designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values likely mirror its mission of resourcefulness and innovation. For a Principal UX Designer, demonstrating an ability to embody these values in day-to-day work and interactions is crucial.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Enterprise Systems: Designing for sophisticated, large-scale enterprise platforms with numerous interconnected features and diverse user roles.

• Domain Specificity: Quickly gaining deep understanding of the utility and energy sector, including regulatory nuances and specific operational workflows.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Integrating new design approaches and technologies while maintaining the reliability and security required for critical infrastructure software.

• Global User Base: Catering to the varied needs, technical capabilities, and cultural contexts of a global user base.

• Agile Iteration: Adapting design strategy and execution within fast-paced agile sprints while maintaining a long-term vision for the user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Opportunities to become a subject matter expert in DERMS, smart grid technologies, and the broader energy/utility landscape.

• Advanced Design Skills: Deepening proficiency in complex system design, service design, and the application of AI in UX.

• Strategic Leadership: Developing skills in influencing product strategy, driving design vision, and leading large-scale design initiatives.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Formalizing and expanding mentorship capabilities to guide the development of other designers.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, engage with user communities, and represent Itron at relevant events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the specialized nature of this role, requiring both deep UX expertise and an ability to navigate complex domains and enterprise environments. The growth opportunities are geared towards senior-level career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the UX strategy for a complex enterprise product. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, process, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible for a global user base, especially in a critical infrastructure context?" (Highlight your commitment to accessibility standards and diverse user needs.)

• "Walk us through your process for translating complex user research into actionable design solutions for enterprise platforms." (Emphasize your research synthesis and design translation skills.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS)?" (Prepare to apply your design process to a relevant domain challenge.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Itron's mission and the energy/utility sector?" (Showcase your research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you foster collaboration and build consensus with product managers and engineers in an agile environment?" (Provide examples of effective cross-functional collaboration.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers or contributing to a design system." (Demonstrate leadership and system-thinking contributions.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcomes -> Learnings.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project, focusing on the challenges and how you overcame them.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals of your work, but be prepared to talk through the details and rationale behind them.

• Metric Focus: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss anticipated impact or user feedback.

• Interaction: Be ready for in-depth questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and how you handled feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of enterprise UX, particularly within specialized domains. Demonstrating how you apply your process and achieve measurable outcomes is critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Designer position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 of your strongest enterprise UX design projects. Prioritize examples that demonstrate leadership, complex problem-solving, user research impact, and experience with design systems or scalable components. If possible, highlight projects related to B2B software, complex platforms, or ideally, the energy/utility sector.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as "enterprise SaaS," "user research," "Figma," "design systems," "inclusive design," "agile," "stakeholder management," and "mentoring." Quantify achievements and responsibilities where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and project outcomes clearly and concisely. Prepare to present your portfolio confidently and answer scenario-based questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Itron's mission, products, and recent news. Understand their role in the energy and utility sector and how your UX expertise can contribute to their goals. Research their approach to innovation and customer-centricity.

⚠️ 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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