Senior Design Technologist, Design Systems, CNN

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Technologist, Design Systems, CNN

Company: Warner Bros. Discovery

Location: Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Washington, DC

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Systems / Digital Product Design / Engineering

Date Posted: June 22, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years Relevant Experience

🚀 Role Summary

• This role operates at the cutting edge of design, engineering, and emerging AI capabilities, focusing on building and evolving CNN's multi-platform design system, "Vossi."

• The Senior Design Technologist will translate design intent into scalable, system-driven UI, with a strong emphasis on integrating AI to augment and accelerate design system workflows.

• Key responsibilities include building and maintaining reusable UI components, ensuring consistency between design artifacts and production code, and optimizing design-to-code workflows.

• A significant aspect of this role involves pioneering the application of AI in areas such as token generation, component scaffolding, content generation, and workflow automation to enhance efficiency and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title and description focus on Design Technology and Design Systems, the emphasis on AI integration, workflow automation, and bridging design/engineering with emerging tech suggests a strong alignment with aspects of Revenue Operations and GTM enablement, particularly in how design systems and AI can drive faster product iteration, consistent brand experiences, and potentially improve the efficiency of content creation and delivery pipelines that impact revenue. The role requires a blend of creative problem-solving, technical implementation, and strategic thinking about future-proof design and development processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• AI Integration in Design Workflows:

  • Bridge the gap between design, engineering, and AI, identifying opportunities to integrate AI into design system workflows.
  • Explore and implement AI for programmatic tasks such as generating/maintaining design tokens (color, spacing, typography), automating component creation, documentation, or testing, and assisting with layout generation or variant exploration.
  • Ensure design system artifacts are consumable by AI models, MCPs, or other AI-powered tools.
  • Collaborate with data/ML teams to integrate intelligent or adaptive UI behaviors.
  • Advocate for high-quality UX in AI-assisted or AI-generated interfaces, ensuring feasibility, constraints, and ethical considerations are addressed.

• Design System Engineering:

  • Build and maintain scalable, reusable UI components aligned with design tokens and system architecture.
  • Ensure pixel-perfect accuracy and consistency between design artifacts (e.g., Figma) and production code.
  • Contribute to comprehensive system documentation, usage guidelines, and governance models.
  • Partner closely with engineering teams to ensure performant, accessible, and maintainable implementations.
  • Enable and empower feature teams to effectively utilize and contribute to design system enhancements.

• Tooling & Workflow Innovation:

  • Develop internal tools, scripts, plugins, or pipelines to enhance efficiency across design and engineering processes.
  • Optimize design-to-code workflows through automation and AI augmentation.
  • Contribute to the development of experimentation frameworks for rapid testing of new ideas and features.

• Quality, Accessibility & Responsible AI:

  • Ensure responsiveness, performance, and adherence to design specifications across all UI implementations.

  • Champion accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices throughout the design system and its applications.

  • Advocate for responsible AI usage, focusing on transparency, bias mitigation, and user trust.

  • Conduct audits of UI quality and AI-assisted outputs to maintain high standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a forward-thinking approach to design systems, integrating AI not just as a tool but as a strategic component for efficiency and innovation. This directly impacts the speed and quality of GTM initiatives by ensuring a consistent and rapidly deployable user experience across CNN's digital platforms. The emphasis on bridging design and engineering with AI suggests a role that could influence process optimization and the adoption of new technologies within the product development lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Experience:

• 6+ years in a relevant role such as Design Technologist, UX/UI Engineer, or Product Designer, with a focus on design systems.

• Demonstrated experience in enterprise platforms and/or internal tools is preferred, indicating an understanding of complex system needs.

• Proven ability to incorporate AI into the design workflow to test ideas more efficiently and communicate solutions with greater speed and clarity. Required Skills:

• Expert Figma Proficiency: Including advanced features like variable maintenance, components, styles, and shared libraries.

• Front-end Development: Strong skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, ideally within a major framework (React, Vue, Angular).

• Design Systems Expertise: Deep understanding of design system principles, component architecture, and design tokens.

• AI/ML Familiarity: Proficiency with current AI capabilities (e.g., generative AI, LLMs, multimodal systems), including understanding prompt design, structured outputs, or API-based AI integrations.

• IDE Proficiency: Experience using Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) such as Cursor or Claude, highlighting comfort with AI-assisted coding tools.

• UX/UI Fundamentals: Solid grounding in interaction design, visual design, and core UX principles.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience collaborating effectively with Engineering, Program Management, and Product Management.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience creating and maintaining component libraries.

• Ability to evaluate AI outputs for quality, bias, and usability.

• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Knowledge of prompt engineering and AI model interaction patterns.

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing for design components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for AI proficiency, IDE experience with tools like Cursor/Claude, and prompt design knowledge indicates a forward-looking role that is actively preparing for the impact of AI on creative and development workflows. This aligns with operations' focus on efficiency, scalability, and leveraging technology to drive better outcomes. The emphasis on Figma and front-end development is crucial for ensuring the practical implementation of design system components.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase the development, maintenance, and evolution of design systems you've worked on, detailing your role and contributions.

• Component Library Examples: Demonstrate experience in building and documenting reusable UI components, highlighting their scalability and consistency.

• AI Integration Examples: If possible, include examples or case studies of how you've leveraged AI tools or methodologies to improve design or development workflows, even if experimental.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Provide evidence of successful collaboration with engineering and product teams, illustrating your ability to translate design into functional code and iterate based on feedback.

• Process Optimization: Highlight instances where you've identified inefficiencies in design-to-code processes and implemented solutions, ideally using automation or new technologies.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to document design system components, tokens, and usage guidelines clearly and concisely.

• Showcase experience in defining and maintaining governance models for design systems.

• Illustrate how you've contributed to or developed workflows that integrate design, development, and potentially AI-driven processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio is critical for demonstrating practical application of skills. Applicants should focus on showcasing tangible results, not just concepts. For operations-minded candidates, framing portfolio pieces around efficiency gains, consistency improvements, and the impact of implemented solutions will be highly effective. Highlighting any experience with automation, tooling, or process improvement, especially in the context of design systems, will be a significant advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $98,280.00 - $182,520.00 salary per year.

• This range reflects the seniority and specialized skillset required for a Senior Design Technologist role within a major media organization like Warner Bros. Discovery.

• The specific salary offered will be determined by factors such as the candidate's experience level, skills, qualifications, and the specific location of employment within the US (Atlanta, New York, or Washington D.C.). Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Wellness Programs: Employee wellness initiatives to support overall health and well-being.

• Life & Disability Insurance: Coverage to provide financial security for employees and their families.

• Retirement Savings Plan: A robust 401(k) or similar plan to support long-term financial goals.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick time, and paid holidays.

• Incentive Programs:

  • Annual Bonuses
  • Short-term Incentives
  • Long-term Incentives

• Other Rewards: Program-specific awards may also be applicable.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

• While the standard work week is 40 hours, the role's nature, especially with AI integration and system building, may require flexibility and a proactive approach to problem-solving outside of strict hours, typical of senior technical roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior technical role in design systems, especially in major metropolitan areas like New York or Washington D.C. The inclusion of annual bonuses and short/long-term incentives suggests a performance-driven culture where impactful contributions are recognized and rewarded, which is often a key consideration for operations professionals focused on driving measurable business results.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, News, Digital Content. Warner Bros. Discovery is a global leader in creating and distributing premium content across all platforms. CNN is a cornerstone of its news division, known for its extensive reach and influence.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This signifies a mature organization with established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for large-scale impact.

Founded: Warner Bros. Discovery was formed in 2022 through the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. CNN itself has a long history dating back to 1980. This blend of established legacy and new integration suggests a dynamic environment balancing tradition with modern innovation.

Team Structure:

• Design Systems Team (Vossi): This team is responsible for building and maintaining CNN’s multi-platform design system. It likely comprises a mix of Design Technologists, UI Engineers, and Product Designers.

• Digital Product Design Team: The Senior Design Technologist is a member of this broader team, which is responsible for creating industry-leading digital experiences consumed by millions globally.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with Product, Engineering, Research, Editorial, Analytics, and Content Strategy teams. This indicates a highly collaborative environment where operations principles (efficiency, consistency, data-driven decisions) are likely valued.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The involvement of Analytics suggests that design decisions and system improvements are informed by user data and performance metrics.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on fast iteration, component libraries, and cross-functional teams points towards agile or iterative development methodologies.

• Systems Thinking: The core of the role is building and maintaining a scalable design system, requiring a systematic approach to problem-solving and component design.

• AI Augmentation: The integration of AI into workflows represents a commitment to exploring and adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Warner Bros. Discovery's scale and CNN's position as a major news outlet mean that design system decisions have a significant impact on user experience and brand consistency across a vast audience. This role offers the chance to influence a globally recognized brand, aligning operations principles with large-scale product delivery. The emphasis on innovation, particularly with AI, suggests a culture that embraces technological advancement to improve efficiency and user engagement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This level signifies a high degree of technical expertise, autonomy, and the ability to influence technical direction and best practices within the design systems domain.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports into a Design Systems Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Digital Product. The role involves significant collaboration with Engineering leads and Product Managers.

Operations Impact:

• Efficiency & Speed: By building and maintaining a robust design system, this role directly contributes to faster product development cycles and more efficient use of design and engineering resources.

• Consistency & Brand Integrity: The design system ensures a consistent user experience and brand identity across all CNN digital products, which is crucial for brand perception and user trust.

• Innovation Enablement: By integrating AI and optimizing workflows, the role helps CNN stay at the forefront of digital product development, enabling the rapid testing and deployment of new features.

• Scalability: The design system provides a scalable foundation for future product growth and expansion.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, front-end architecture, and AI integration within design workflows.

• Leadership: Transition into a Design Systems Lead or Manager role, guiding a team and setting strategic direction.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across different product teams and departments, championing best practices and driving adoption of the design system.

• Emerging Technology Exploration: Lead initiatives related to AI-driven design tools and workflows, positioning as a thought leader in this space.

• Broader Product Strategy: Contribute to higher-level product strategy discussions, leveraging insights from design system implementation and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a unique blend of technical depth and strategic impact. The ability to drive efficiency through systems and automation, combined with the opportunity to influence product strategy and adopt new technologies like AI, provides a strong foundation for career growth. The impact on CNN's bottom line is indirect but significant, through faster time-to-market and improved user engagement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based in major US cities (Atlanta, New York, Washington DC) with an implied hybrid work model, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s):

• Atlanta, GA (1050 Techwood Drive NW)

• New York, NY

• Washington, DC

• Candidates should be prepared to work from one of these primary locations, with flexibility for remote work days. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic studio-like environment within the Digital Product Design team, fostering close collaboration with designers, engineers, and product managers.

• Technology-Rich: Access to industry-standard design and development tools, likely including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses. The mention of specific AI IDEs suggests a focus on providing advanced tooling.

• Innovation Hub: The role is situated within a team focused on pushing boundaries, particularly with AI integration, suggesting an environment that encourages experimentation and learning.

• High-Impact Projects: Work on projects that directly shape the user experience for millions of CNN users globally, offering a sense of purpose and significant professional visibility.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for flexibility.

• The nature of system building and innovation may require periods of focused work or occasional adjustments to accommodate project deadlines or urgent issues, typical for senior technical roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is common and offers flexibility. For operations roles, understanding the balance of in-office collaboration for team synergy and remote work for focused tasks is key. The emphasis on a technology-rich environment with advanced tooling (AI IDEs) suggests a commitment to providing the resources necessary for efficient and innovative work, which aligns with operational efficiency goals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: Typically involves several stages:

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

2. Technical Interview(s): In-depth discussions focusing on design systems, front-end development, and AI integration capabilities. This may include coding challenges or system architecture discussions.

3. Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your contributions, and the impact of your work. This is a critical stage for this role.

4. Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with potential team members from Product, Engineering, and potentially other design disciplines to assess collaboration skills and team fit.

5. Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with team goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your expertise in design systems, component building, and especially any AI integration or workflow optimization efforts.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution you implemented, the technologies used, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., efficiency gains, consistency improvements, user satisfaction).

• Highlight AI/Automation: If you have examples of using AI tools (like Cursor/Claude), scripting, or automation to streamline processes, make these prominent. Explain the "before" and "after" state.

• Demonstrate System Thinking: Show how your work fits into a larger system, emphasizing scalability, maintainability, and reusability.

• Be Prepared for Technical Deep Dives: Expect questions about your code, Figma best practices, and how you approach technical challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Challenge: You might be given a scenario to design a component or a set of components within a hypothetical system, or asked to critique an existing system.

• Coding Challenge: Expect a front-end coding task related to implementing a component or solving a UI problem using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• AI Integration Scenario: You may be asked to brainstorm or propose how AI could be used to solve a specific design system problem or improve a workflow.

• System Design: Be ready to discuss how you would architect a new design system or evolve an existing one.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and problem-solving. For operations candidates, framing your portfolio and interview responses around efficiency, scalability, process improvement, and measurable impact will resonate strongly. Highlighting experience with AI tools and automation in your portfolio presentation is crucial for this specific role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency required for design artifact creation, component management, and library sharing.

• IDEs (Cursor, Claude): Proficiency with AI-assisted Integrated Development Environments is specifically mentioned, indicating a focus on leveraging AI for coding efficiency.

• Front-end Development Frameworks: Experience with major frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular will be essential for component implementation.

• Version Control: Git (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) for code management and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for this role, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions would be beneficial.

• Experience with data visualization tools for reporting on system adoption or performance metrics. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role, as it's focused on design systems and development tooling rather than sales or marketing CRM. However, understanding how design systems support broader GTM efforts (e.g., consistent product interfaces) is relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI-assisted IDEs like Cursor and Claude is a key differentiator. This signals that Warner Bros. Discovery is actively exploring and adopting AI to enhance developer productivity. For candidates applying, showcasing experience with these or similar AI coding assistants will be a significant advantage. The emphasis on Figma and front-end development skills underscores the need for strong technical execution in building and maintaining the design system.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A strong drive to explore and integrate new technologies, particularly AI, to improve processes and create cutting-edge experiences.

• Collaboration: A highly cross-functional environment where teamwork across design, engineering, product, and editorial is essential for success.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible, and performant digital products and design systems.

• Efficiency: A focus on optimizing workflows and leveraging tools (including AI) to increase speed and effectiveness in product development.

• User-Centricity: A dedication to creating stellar end-user experiences, informed by research and data.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working closely with engineering to ensure design intent is realized in code, and with product to align on strategic goals.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to documentation and best practices, and empowering other teams to use and contribute to the design system.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous improvement through feedback loops with various stakeholders.

• Proactive Communication: Keeping stakeholders informed about system updates, challenges, and opportunities, especially concerning AI integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and efficiency aligns well with the mindset of professionals in Revenue Operations and Sales Operations. Demonstrating how your experience in process optimization, system implementation, and cross-functional alignment translates to these values will be key to a successful application. The proactive approach to AI integration suggests a forward-thinking team that values continuous learning and adaptation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• AI Integration Complexity: Navigating the rapid evolution of AI technologies and successfully integrating them into established design and development workflows, while managing ethical considerations and ensuring quality.

• Scalability & Maintenance: Ensuring the Vossi design system remains scalable, performant, and maintainable as CNN's digital presence grows and evolves.

• Adoption & Governance: Driving adoption of the design system across numerous product teams and maintaining consistent governance.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Integrating new AI-driven tools and processes without compromising the stability and reliability of existing systems.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring all stakeholders understand and buy into the value and implementation of the design system and AI integrations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-edge AI Tools: Gaining hands-on experience with advanced AI coding assistants and generative design tools.

• Design Systems at Scale: Deepening expertise in building and managing complex, multi-platform design systems for a major global brand.

• Technical Leadership: Developing skills in guiding technical direction, mentoring junior team members, and influencing product strategy.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of design technology, AI in design, and front-end development best practices.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced professionals within Warner Bros. Discovery and the broader tech/media industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant and require a strategic, problem-solving approach, which is a hallmark of successful operations professionals. Framing your experience around overcoming similar challenges, particularly those involving process improvement, technology adoption, and stakeholder management, will be highly relevant. The growth opportunities highlight a commitment to continuous learning and development in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design System Philosophy: "Describe your approach to building and evolving a scalable design system. What are the key principles you prioritize?" (Focus on modularity, consistency, documentation, and maintainability.)

• AI Integration Strategy: "How would you propose integrating AI tools like Cursor or generative AI into our design system workflows? What are the potential benefits and risks?" (Discuss specific use cases like token generation, component scaffolding, and prompt engineering, while addressing quality and bias.)

• Bridging Design & Engineering: "How do you ensure consistency between design artifacts in Figma and production code? Describe a time you encountered a significant discrepancy and how you resolved it." (Highlight your technical skills and collaborative approach.)

• Problem Solving: "Describe a complex technical challenge you faced while working on a design system or front-end project. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Use the STAR method and focus on your analytical and problem-solving process.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working at CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery, specifically in this role?" (Research CNN's recent digital initiatives, design challenges, and WBD's broader mission.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with cross-functional teams, especially Engineering and Product?" (Emphasize your communication style, ability to understand different perspectives, and focus on shared goals.)

• "How do you stay updated on emerging technologies like AI and their application in design and development?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by project, clearly stating the problem, your specific contributions, the technologies used, and the impact (quantifiable if possible).

• AI/Automation Focus: Dedicate a section or prominently feature projects where you've used AI tools, scripting, or automation to improve efficiency or solve problems. Clearly explain the "before" and "after" state.

• Design System Depth: Show the architecture, component examples, token structure, and documentation of design systems you've managed.

• Technical Clarity: Be prepared to discuss code snippets, Figma component structure, and your front-end development choices.

• Storytelling: Frame your experience as a narrative of problem-solving and impact, demonstrating your strategic thinking and technical execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates, highlighting how your portfolio projects demonstrate efficiency gains, process improvements, and measurable outcomes will be highly effective. Emphasizing your understanding of how design systems contribute to broader business goals (speed to market, brand consistency, user engagement) will also be crucial. Prepare to discuss your experience with AI tools and automation in detail, as this is a key differentiator for this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Technologist position:

• Submit your application through the Warner Bros. Discovery careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to specifically highlight your experience with design systems, Figma expertise, front-end development skills, and any demonstrable experience or understanding of integrating AI into design/development workflows.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of relevant experience and incorporates keywords from the job description, such as "Design Systems," "Figma," "HTML," "CSS," "JavaScript," "AI Integration," "Generative AI," "Prompt Design," and "WCAG."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method, focusing on projects that showcase your problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and ability to drive efficiency and innovation. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss your approach to AI integration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Warner Bros. Discovery and CNN, understanding their mission, recent projects, and the role of design and technology in their operations. Familiarize yourself with their guiding principles.

⚠️ 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.