Product Designer (Design Systems)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Design Systems

Company: Novi AMS

Location: Remote (United States-based)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Design Systems

Date Posted: May 21, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4-6 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the development and stewardship of Novi AMS's product design system, ensuring a cohesive and scalable user experience across the platform.

• Drive innovation in AI-native design tooling, contributing to the future of machine-readable design systems that integrate seamlessly with component code and documentation.

• Design intuitive and effective user interfaces for a variety of complex association workflows, translating user needs into elegant and functional product features.

• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and customers to rapidly iterate on designs, validate solutions, and ensure successful implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes a "builder" mentality, focusing on individual contribution and execution rather than team management, with significant potential for future leadership growth as the company scales. The core focus is on establishing and evolving the design system layer, with a forward-looking emphasis on AI integration within design tooling.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design System Ownership:

  • Architect, build, and maintain the comprehensive product design system, including defining reusable components, interaction patterns, design tokens, and usage guidelines.
  • Act as the primary steward of the design system, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and adherence to best practices across all product touchpoints.
  • Partner with the front-end architecture lead to ensure tight alignment between the design system and the underlying component code architecture.
  • Develop and manage Figma libraries, design documentation, and contribution guidelines to facilitate scalability and team adoption.

• AI-Native Design Tooling Exploration:

  • Research and advocate for the adoption of AI-enabled design tools and workflows to enhance the efficiency and intelligence of the design system.
  • Contribute to defining and implementing a machine-readable, AI-native design system that enables native communication between design assets, code, and documentation.
  • Experiment with and prototype new approaches to design system management that leverage AI for tasks such as pattern generation, code translation, and documentation updates.

• Product UI/UX Design:

  • Design user interfaces and experiences for new features and significant redesigns across the Novi AMS platform, including areas like website building, member portals, event management, and administrative back-end systems.

  • Translate complex association-specific workflows (e.g., membership management, dues collection, event registration, communication strategies) into clear, user-friendly, and efficient interfaces.

  • Conduct user research and collaborate with customers to gather insights, validate design hypotheses, and ensure designs meet user needs and business objectives.

  • Apply a bias for action, shipping iterative designs, gathering feedback on performance, and refining solutions based on real-world usage and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on establishing a robust foundational design system and pioneering future-state AI integration within design processes. The emphasis on translating complex association workflows suggests a need for strong analytical and problem-solving skills in understanding niche business requirements.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, user experience, and interaction design is expected, typically acquired through a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 4 to 6 years of dedicated product design experience, with a significant portion focused on B2B SaaS environments. Proven experience in building and managing design systems is a critical requirement.

Required Skills:

• Design Systems Expertise: Demonstrated experience in creating, documenting, and maintaining comprehensive design systems, including component libraries, design tokens, and governance models.

• Figma Proficiency: Mastery of Figma, including advanced features such as variables, auto-layout, component properties, variants, and effective library management for collaborative workflows.

• UI/UX Design: Strong capabilities in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, with a portfolio showcasing the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and visually appealing interfaces.

• B2B SaaS Design: Experience designing for business-to-business software-as-a-service products, understanding the unique needs and workflows of enterprise users.

• Collaboration with Engineering: Familiarity with front-end development concepts and the implementation of design systems in code (e.g., understanding component architecture, CSS, JavaScript frameworks) to facilitate effective collaboration with engineers.

• Self-Management & Initiative: Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, push back constructively on project scope or direction, and deliver high-quality work with minimal direct oversight.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate design decisions, collaborate candidly with cross-functional teams, and embrace a help-first attitude.

Preferred Skills:

• AI/ML Design Tooling: Genuine curiosity and a point of view on the future of AI in design, particularly concerning AI-native design systems, machine-readable assets, and design-to-code workflows.

• Association/Nonprofit Market Experience: Previous design experience for trade associations, non-profits, or membership organizations, providing a nuanced understanding of their specific operational needs.

• Front-End Framework Familiarity: Exposure to component-based front-end frameworks such as React, Vue, or Blazor, aiding in the understanding of technical implementation constraints and opportunities.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Background in applying accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles to ensure products are usable by a diverse range of users.

• Token Pipelines & Design-to-Code: Experience with tools and workflows for managing design tokens (e.g., Style Dictionary, Tokens Studio) and enabling seamless transitions from design to code.

• UX Research: Light UX research skills, including conducting usability testing, customer interviews, and heuristic evaluations to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "real design system work" in the portfolio, specifically mentioning components, documentation, contribution patterns, and governance, indicates a strong emphasis on the maturity and operational aspects of design systems, not just aesthetic output. The "AI-Native Design Tooling" aspect suggests this role is positioned at the forefront of design technology trends.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase at least one significant design system project, detailing its architecture, component examples, token strategy, documentation approach, and governance model. Highlight how the system supports scalability and consistency.

• Component Design & Implementation: Provide examples of individual UI components designed and how they were implemented or intended to be implemented in code, demonstrating an understanding of technical feasibility and collaboration with engineers.

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your ability to design end-to-end workflows for complex business processes, translating user needs and business logic into clear, usable interface flows.

• Figma Mastery Examples: Demonstrate advanced Figma skills, such as sophisticated auto-layout structures, component property utilization, variant usage, and efficient library organization.

• Problem/Solution Narratives: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design process, the solutions you implemented, and the impact of your work, preferably with quantifiable results or qualitative feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Design System Documentation: Examples of well-structured, accessible documentation for design system components and guidelines, illustrating clarity and ease of use for both designers and developers.

• Contribution Guidelines: Showcase or describe the process and guidelines established for contributing to the design system, ensuring it can evolve effectively with team growth.

• Design Process & Workflow: Outline your typical approach to product design, from discovery and research through to iteration and handoff, emphasizing efficiency and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "components, documentation, contribution patterns, governance" in the portfolio requirements signifies that Novi AMS is looking for a designer who understands the operational rigor and long-term maintainability of a design system, not just its visual output. The mention of "AI-native design tooling" suggests a potential for portfolio pieces that explore or propose future-state integrations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The stated starting salary is $110,000 USD per year. This is presented as a "starting" point, with the final title and salary determined by the candidate's experience and qualifications. Given the 4-6 years of experience requirement and the specialized nature of design systems work, particularly with an AI focus, this figure aligns with mid-to-senior level roles in the US tech market, especially for remote positions.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Financial Flexibility: Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), flexible scheduling, and paid corporate holidays.

• Retirement Savings: 401K plan with a 3% company match.

• Security & Support: Company-paid life insurance, short-term to long-term disability coverage.

• Remote Work Support: Provided computer, equipment, and software, plus a dedicated internet stipend to ensure a productive remote work environment.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically implying around 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes schedule flexibility, suggesting that while core hours for collaboration may exist, there is latitude in how the 40 hours are structured, accommodating remote work dynamics and individual productivity patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The $110,000 starting salary is explicitly mentioned, which is valuable for candidates. The benefits package is robust, covering health, financial planning, work-life balance, and remote work enablement, all key considerations for experienced professionals in the tech industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology, specifically focused on Association Management Software (AMS). Novi AMS serves the unique needs of associations, non-profits, and membership organizations.

Company Size: Novi AMS operates as a small, collaborative team. The description implies a lean structure where individual contributions are highly valued and have a direct impact. This size fosters agility and a close-knit working environment.

Founded: Novi AMS has a history of being a remote-first company for nearly 10 years, indicating a mature understanding of remote work operations and culture. This longevity suggests stability and a well-established remote infrastructure.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design role reports to the VP of Product & Engineering, indicating a direct line of influence on product strategy and execution.

• The team is described as small and collaborative, suggesting a flat hierarchy where cross-functional interaction is frequent and essential.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The company utilizes customer feedback and performance data to validate designs and drive iterations, indicating a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to product development.

• Agile & Iterative: The "bias to action" and focus on shipping work, learning, and refining suggests an agile development methodology.

• Collaborative Problem-Solving: The culture encourages candid collaboration and open sharing of ideas, fostering a supportive environment for tackling complex challenges.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Novi AMS's long-standing commitment to a remote-first culture is a significant differentiator. Their focus on serving associations implies a need for designers who can grasp specific industry challenges and translate them into user-friendly solutions, emphasizing trust and clarity in their interfaces.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior level Product Designer, specifically focused on Design Systems. It's a "builder" role where the individual is expected to establish and execute the design system independently. This level requires significant autonomy, strategic thinking about system architecture, and the ability to influence technical direction.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer reports directly to the VP of Product & Engineering. This close reporting line offers high visibility to senior leadership and direct involvement in strategic product decisions.

Operations Impact: The design system is identified as a "most important growth lever" for Novi AMS. This means the Product Designer's work will have a direct and substantial impact on the company's ability to scale its platform, improve user experience, and drive adoption. The role is pivotal in shaping the future look, feel, and scalability of the entire Novi AMS platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Path: The role explicitly states, "If you do this well, you'll build the team underneath you and grow into a leadership role as we scale." This offers a clear trajectory from individual contributor to design leadership.

• Technical Specialization: Opportunity to become a deep expert in design systems, AI-native design tooling, and cutting-edge design-to-code workflows, positioning the candidate at the forefront of industry trends.

• Product Strategy Influence: Direct collaboration with the VP of Product & Engineering provides opportunities to contribute to broader product strategy and influence the company's technological direction.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Working closely with engineering on component architecture and with product on complex workflows will hone skills in technical understanding and business acumen.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path is explicitly defined as moving from a "builder" individual contributor to a potential team lead/manager. This is a strong selling point for individuals looking for clear advancement within a specialized design track. The emphasis on AI integration presents a unique opportunity for skill development in emerging technologies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. Novi AMS has operated as a virtual company for nearly 10 years, indicating a mature and established remote work infrastructure and culture.

Office Location(s): Remote within the United States. Candidates must be based in the US.

Workspace Context:

• Autonomy and Flexibility: The remote nature allows for significant autonomy in setting up a personal workspace and managing work hours, within the context of full-time employment and collaborative needs.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Expect to leverage a suite of digital tools for communication, project management, and design collaboration, common in remote SaaS environments.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Despite being remote, the culture promotes close collaboration, suggesting frequent virtual meetings, discussions, and shared work sessions with product, engineering, and potentially customers.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. While core hours for team collaboration might be expected, the company emphasizes schedule flexibility, allowing for adaptation to personal productivity peaks and remote work benefits.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's decade-long experience with remote work suggests a well-honed operational framework for remote employees, likely including strong communication protocols, effective digital collaboration tools, and a supportive culture for distributed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess fit against the core requirements.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A dedicated session focusing on your design systems work. Be prepared to walk through specific examples, discuss your process, articulate design decisions, and explain the impact of your contributions. This is where your "builder" experience will be scrutinized.

• Technical & Collaboration Interview: Discussions with the VP of Product & Engineering and potentially the front-end architecture lead. Expect questions about your understanding of component implementation, design-to-code workflows, and how you collaborate with engineers.

• Cultural Fit & Scenario-Based Interview: Questions to assess your self-management, problem-solving approach, communication style, and alignment with Novi AMS's values (e.g., "help-first attitude," comfort with ambiguity).

• Potential Practical Exercise: While not explicitly stated, a small design challenge or a deeper dive into a specific design system problem might be presented.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Focus on demonstrating your design system expertise through concrete examples. Include screenshots of components, documentation snippets, Figma library structures, and process flows.

• Highlight System Thinking: Emphasize how you approach the design system as a whole product, considering its architecture, scalability, maintainability, and adoption by other teams.

• Document Your Process: Clearly explain the "why" behind your design decisions, your iterative process, and how you collaborated with engineering and other stakeholders.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design system work (e.g., increased development efficiency, improved UI consistency, faster feature delivery).

• Address AI Interest: If you have relevant experience or thoughts on AI-native design tooling, be ready to articulate them clearly, showcasing your forward-thinking perspective.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Audit: Be prepared to analyze an existing design system (hypothetical or real) and suggest improvements.

• Component Design Exercise: You might be asked to design a new component or a set of related components based on a given requirement.

• Workflow Optimization: Practice breaking down a complex user flow and identifying areas for simplification or improvement through design.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you'd handle disagreements with engineers or product managers regarding design system implementation or feature design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio, particularly the "design system work." Candidates should prepare to discuss the governance, contribution, and technical implementation aspects in detail, not just visual design. The AI-native tooling aspect suggests interviewers will probe for forward-thinking perspectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Mastery of its advanced features (variables, auto-layout, component properties, libraries) is essential.

• Design System Platforms: While not explicitly named, tools like Storybook, Zeroheight, or similar documentation platforms are likely used to host and manage design system documentation. Familiarity with these is beneficial.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities are expected to be utilized extensively for demonstrating interactions and user flows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo are likely used to track user behavior, feature adoption, and identify areas for design improvement within the platform.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Potentially used for broader performance analysis and reporting, though less directly tied to the designer's day-to-day unless involved in dashboard creation.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM System: Novi AMS likely uses a CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for managing customer relationships, which may inform design decisions related to customer data presentation.

• Project Management Tools: Tools such as Jira, Asana, or Trello are expected for managing product development cycles, task tracking, and cross-functional workflows.

• Design-to-Code Tools: Experience or familiarity with tools that facilitate the handoff and implementation of designs into code, potentially including token pipelines (e.g., Style Dictionary, Tokens Studio) or integration platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is highlighted as a critical tool, with specific advanced features mentioned. The emphasis on "AI-native design tooling" suggests an openness to integrating new technologies, and familiarity with design-to-code workflows and token management tools would be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Build & Execute: A strong emphasis on individual contribution, taking ownership, and driving projects to completion ("builder role," "bias to action").

• Collaboration & Help-First: Fostering an environment where team members support each other, share knowledge readily, and work together to solve problems effectively.

• Innovation & Future-Thinking: A demonstrated interest in emerging technologies like AI and a desire to explore how they can shape the future of design systems and product development.

• Customer-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the unique needs of associations, translating complex workflows into clear and usable interfaces.

• Impact & Results: Focusing on delivering meaningful work that drives business growth and positively impacts customers' lives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships between design, product, and engineering are essential, with open communication and shared ownership of outcomes.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture that encourages candid feedback and constructive debate to refine designs and strategies.

• Remote-First Communication: Proficiency in asynchronous and synchronous communication tools and practices to ensure effective collaboration across a distributed team.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing a flexible approach to problem-solving, with a willingness to experiment, learn from results, and adapt quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values center around proactive contribution, collaborative problem-solving, and a forward-looking approach, particularly concerning technology. The "bacon" celebration mention, while lighthearted, hints at a team that values camaraderie and celebrating successes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a Mature Design System: As a company growing its design system, the primary challenge will be defining robust patterns, scaling the system effectively, and ensuring widespread adoption and adherence across product teams.

• Pioneering AI Integration: Translating the vision of AI-native design tooling into practical, implementable workflows will be a significant challenge, requiring exploration, experimentation, and strong technical collaboration.

• Designing for Niche Workflows: Understanding and effectively designing for the complex and specific operational needs of associations (membership, events, communications) requires deep empathy and analytical skill.

• Balancing Systemization with Agility: Maintaining the integrity and consistency of the design system while allowing for rapid product iteration and feature development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Design Systems Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in design system architecture, governance, and advanced tooling.

• AI in Design Exploration: Gaining hands-on experience and thought leadership in the emerging field of AI-enabled design systems and workflows.

• Product Strategy Influence: Contributing directly to product strategy and gaining a broader understanding of B2B SaaS business operations.

• Leadership Development: The potential to build and lead a design team, developing management and mentorship skills.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of and contributing to advancements in UI/UX design, design systems, and relevant technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, particularly in the areas of design system maturity and AI integration. These are high-impact areas that can significantly advance a designer's career.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience building a design system from the ground up or significantly scaling an existing one. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, governance, and adoption.)

• "How would you approach designing a new component for our design system, considering its potential impact on existing features and future scalability?" (Demonstrate systematic thinking and awareness of system implications.)

• "What are your thoughts on the future of design systems, especially with the rise of AI? How do you envision AI impacting design tooling and workflows?" (Showcase your forward-thinking perspective and understanding of AI trends.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Novi AMS and our mission to serve associations?" (Research the company's mission and tailor your response.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers, especially when discussing design system implementation or technical constraints?" (Emphasize communication, empathy, and problem-solving.)

• "Describe your experience working in a fully remote environment. How do you ensure you stay connected and productive?" (Highlight self-management and remote work best practices.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the impact. Use a consistent structure.

• Deep Dive on Design Systems: Be prepared to spend significant time on your design system projects. Detail your component architecture, token strategy, documentation, and any governance models you established.

• Show Figma Mastery: Demonstrate advanced Figma techniques live or through recorded examples, showcasing variables, auto-layout, and component properties.

• Discuss Collaboration: Explain how you partnered with engineers and product managers, highlighting communication strategies and any challenges overcome.

• Articulate AI Vision: Be ready to discuss your perspective on AI's role in design systems, even if you haven't implemented it extensively. Show your understanding and curiosity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to the "builder" role and the specific focus on design systems and AI. Emphasizing practical examples, system thinking, and forward-looking perspectives will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer, Design Systems position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Novi AMS's careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your design system work. Prioritize case studies that showcase component design, documentation, governance, and your process for building scalable systems. If you have explored AI-native design concepts, include those as well.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 4-6 years of B2B SaaS product design experience, with specific keywords related to Design Systems, Figma, UI/UX, component architecture, and AI tooling. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, especially for design system projects. Prepare to walk through your Figma files and discuss technical implementation considerations with engineering partners. Rehearse your responses to common behavioral and situational questions.

• Company Research: Understand Novi AMS's mission to serve associations and their decade-long remote-first culture. Familiarize yourself with their platform and consider how a robust design system contributes to their growth and customer trust.

⚠️ 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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