Senior Director Engineering - User Experience (UX)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Director Engineering - User Experience (UX)

Company: Honeywell

Location: Atlanta, GA, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Engineering Leadership / Product Strategy

Date Posted: August 17, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead a global transformation of User Experience (UX) across Honeywell's Building Automation digital and physical solutions portfolio.

• Elevate UX from interface design to a research-driven, outcome-focused discipline that directly influences product strategy and customer value.

• Drive the upskilling of the UX team in Generative AI (Gen AI) and AI/ML capabilities to innovate user interactions with complex systems.

• Foster an innovative, user-centered design environment that advocates for end-user co-creation and deep collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity focused on strategic UX transformation within a large, established industrial technology company. The emphasis on Gen AI and AI/ML indicates a forward-looking approach to UX, requiring leadership that can integrate cutting-edge technologies into user-centric product development. The "Senior Director Engineering" title suggests a significant scope of responsibility, likely encompassing team management, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership within the engineering and product organizations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the strategic vision and execution for UX across Honeywell's Building Automation portfolio, encompassing software, hardware, and integrated physical solutions.

• Redefine and mature UX methodologies, shifting focus towards research-driven insights and measurable business outcomes that enhance customer value and product effectiveness.

• Champion and implement advanced UX practices, including the integration of Generative AI and AI/ML, to create intuitive and powerful user experiences for complex industrial systems.

• Lead, mentor, and scale a global UX team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and user advocacy through professional development and upskilling initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with executive leadership, product management, engineering, and other stakeholders to align UX strategy with overarching business objectives and product roadmaps.

• Drive a co-creation approach with end-users, ensuring that product development is deeply informed by real-world workflows, needs, and feedback.

• Define and track key UX performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of UX initiatives on customer satisfaction, product adoption, and business success.

• Influence product strategy by translating complex user needs and market trends into actionable design recommendations and innovative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team development, and hands-on influence over product direction. The focus on "digital and physical solutions" indicates a broad scope, and the emphasis on "research-driven, outcome-focused discipline" points to a need for data-informed decision-making and measurable impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Psychology, Design, Engineering, or a related field.

• Postgraduate degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant discipline is highly preferred. Experience:

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, research, or a related field, with a significant portion in leadership roles.

• Proven track record of leading and transforming UX functions within large, complex organizations, ideally in industrial technology, enterprise software, or building automation sectors.

• Extensive experience in driving digital transformation initiatives and integrating advanced technologies like AI/ML into product development lifecycles.

• Demonstrated success in building, mentoring, and scaling high-performing UX teams across diverse geographic locations. Required Skills:

• Strategic UX Leadership: Ability to define and execute a long-term UX vision that aligns with business goals, influencing product strategy and driving significant organizational change.

• User Research & Behavioral Science: Deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies, behavioral science principles, and translating insights into actionable design strategies.

• AI/ML Integration: Strong understanding of Generative AI and AI/ML concepts and their application to enhance user experiences in complex systems.

• Systems Thinking: Proficiency in understanding and designing for complex, interconnected systems, including software, hardware, and real-world workflows.

• Executive Communication & Stakeholder Influence: Exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas, present compelling case studies, and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization, including C-suite executives.

• Team Scaling & Development: Proven experience in growing and developing UX talent, fostering a collaborative and innovative team culture.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with platform-based ecosystems and developing cohesive user experiences across multiple products and services.

• Familiarity with cloud-based enterprise SaaS platforms and industrial technology environments.

• Deep understanding of customer journeys and how to optimize them for enterprise clients.

• Experience in matrixed organizational structures, navigating complex stakeholder landscapes.

• Knowledge of Honeywell Forge or similar industrial IoT/digital transformation platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of deep UX expertise, strategic leadership, and a forward-thinking approach to technology integration. The "10+" years of experience, coupled with leadership and transformation responsibilities, positions this as a senior-level role demanding significant strategic impact and team development capabilities. The inclusion of "Behavioral Science" and "Systems Thinking" highlights a sophisticated approach to understanding user needs and product ecosystems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing strategic UX leadership, demonstrating how you have transformed UX functions and driven significant business outcomes.

• Detailed case studies illustrating your approach to research-driven product strategy, with clear articulation of user problems, design solutions, and measurable results.

• Examples of leading complex digital transformation initiatives, highlighting your role in shaping product roadmaps and influencing cross-functional teams.

• Documentation of your experience in scaling and developing UX teams, including examples of mentorship, talent development programs, and fostering innovative design cultures.

• Evidence of successfully integrating emerging technologies, such as Gen AI and AI/ML, into user-centric product development processes. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your methodology for establishing and optimizing research-driven UX processes within an organization.

• Provide examples of how you have defined and implemented workflows for user research, ideation, prototyping, and user testing at scale.

• Demonstrate your approach to measuring the impact of UX initiatives through clear metrics and reporting frameworks, linking UX efforts directly to business objectives like customer satisfaction and product adoption.

• Illustrate your experience in developing and advocating for design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency and efficiency across a product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Director role, the portfolio should focus on strategic impact and leadership rather than just individual design work. It needs to demonstrate the ability to drive organizational change, influence product strategy, and build/manage high-performing teams, with a clear emphasis on measurable business outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the Senior Director level, the extensive experience required (10+ years), and the location in Atlanta, GA, a competitive compensation package is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles at large technology companies, the estimated base salary range for a Senior Director of UX Engineering in Atlanta, GA, would typically fall between $200,000 - $280,000 per year. This range can fluctuate based on specific experience, qualifications, and the overall compensation structure of Honeywell. Total compensation may also include significant bonuses, stock options, and other long-term incentives.

Benefits:

Honeywell offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families, including:

• Health & Wellness: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• Financial Security: Life Insurance, 401(k) with company match.

• Work-Life Balance: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Parental Leave.

• Professional Development: Educational Assistance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week.

• Given the hybrid work arrangement, employees are expected to be present in the Atlanta office for a minimum of 3 days per week, with flexibility for remote work on other days.

• Leadership roles at this level often require flexibility and availability beyond standard hours to manage global teams, critical projects, and executive interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for senior engineering leadership roles in major US metropolitan areas, considering the specific industry and experience level. Benefits are listed as provided in the input data and are typical for large, established corporations. The working hours reflect a standard full-time commitment with hybrid flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Diversified Technology & Manufacturing (Aerospace, Building Automation, Energy, Industrial Automation). Honeywell is a Fortune 500 company with a long history of innovation, focusing on making the world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

Company Size: Honeywell is a large multinational corporation with approximately 100,000 employees globally. This scale offers extensive resources, diverse opportunities, and a structured environment for operations and engineering professionals.

Founded: Founded in 1906, Honeywell has a rich legacy of technological advancement and a strong market presence across multiple critical sectors.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is likely part of the broader Engineering or Product Development organization within the Building Automation business segment.

• This role reports to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Building Automation, indicating direct executive oversight and strategic alignment with the technology vision.

• The UX team will collaborate extensively with product managers, software engineers, hardware engineers, researchers, marketing, and sales teams across global operations. Methodology:

• Honeywell emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging insights from customer interactions, market trends, and internal performance metrics to guide product development and strategy.

• The company promotes an agile and iterative development process, encouraging experimentation and continuous improvement.

• A strong focus on innovation and leveraging new technologies, such as AI/ML and cloud platforms, is central to their operational methodology.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Honeywell's significant scale, diversified portfolio, and commitment to innovation. As a Senior Director of UX, you'll be operating within a large, established enterprise, which means navigating complex organizational structures while having access to substantial resources and a broad impact potential. The reporting structure to the CTO underscores the strategic importance of this UX leadership role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Director Engineering role, representing a significant leadership position within the UX and broader engineering functions. It signifies a strategic, high-impact role responsible for shaping the user experience direction for a major business segment's global product portfolio. The scope includes team leadership, strategic planning, cross-functional influence, and direct contribution to product strategy and company-wide technology initiatives.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Building Automation. This direct line to executive leadership provides a clear channel for strategic input and influence, as well as high visibility for the UX function. It suggests that UX is viewed as a critical driver of business value and product differentiation.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial, directly influencing the usability, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction of Honeywell's Building Automation products. By transforming UX into a research-driven, outcome-focused discipline, this leader will drive increased product adoption, customer loyalty, and ultimately, revenue growth. Their work in integrating Gen AI and AI/ML will position Honeywell at the forefront of innovation in industrial technology UX, creating competitive advantages.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand leadership scope to encompass broader product development strategy, innovation initiatives, or even lead other engineering disciplines within Building Automation or across different Honeywell business units.

• Technological Specialization: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in the application of Gen AI and AI/ML for UX in industrial settings, potentially leading internal R&D efforts or speaking engagements in the field.

• Executive Advancement: A successful tenure in this role could pave the way for executive positions such as VP of Engineering, Chief Experience Officer, or other senior leadership roles within Honeywell or other major technology organizations.

• Mentorship & Influence: Opportunity to mentor a global team of UX professionals, shaping the next generation of UX leaders and significantly influencing the company's user-centered design maturity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis positions the role as a critical stepping stone for significant career advancement, emphasizing its strategic importance and the potential for broad impact and future leadership opportunities within a Fortune 500 company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Atlanta, GA, with a hybrid work schedule, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in the office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team activities.

Office Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia, United States. This location likely offers access to a vibrant tech talent pool and a central hub for Honeywell's operations in the region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment will likely feature meeting rooms, huddle spaces, and open areas designed to facilitate brainstorming, cross-functional team discussions, and design reviews.

• Technology Enablement: Expect access to state-of-the-art UX tools, design software, collaboration platforms, and potentially specialized hardware for testing physical product interactions.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages in-person interaction with team members and stakeholders on designated office days, fostering stronger relationships and more dynamic collaboration. The remote days allow for focused work and flexibility.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work week is approximately 40 hours, but as a Senior Director, flexibility is expected to meet business needs, manage global teams, and engage with executive leadership. The hybrid model provides a structured balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment emphasizes a balance between structured office presence for collaboration and the flexibility of remote work, typical for senior hybrid roles in large corporations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

The interview process for a Senior Director role at Honeywell will likely be rigorous and multi-faceted, designed to assess strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, technical expertise, and cultural fit.

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or a direct report to discuss strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and high-level experience.

• Panel Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders, including peers in engineering, product management, and potentially executive leaders from other business units. These will focus on cross-functional collaboration, strategic influence, and problem-solving.

• Portfolio Review/Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing strategic UX transformations, leadership achievements, and measurable impact. This is crucial for demonstrating practical application of their expertise.

• Behavioral and Situational Assessments: Questions designed to evaluate leadership style, conflict resolution, team management, and how candidates handle complex challenges.

• Final Executive Interview: A potential final interview with a more senior executive to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment with Honeywell's broader goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Strategy & Impact: For this senior role, emphasize strategic initiatives and their quantifiable business outcomes (e.g., increased customer satisfaction, improved product adoption, revenue impact, cost savings).

• Showcase Transformation: Highlight instances where you led significant UX transformations, including upskilling teams, adopting new methodologies, or integrating advanced technologies.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Include examples of team building, talent development, and how you fostered a user-centered culture.

• Present Case Studies Clearly: Structure case studies to clearly define the problem, your strategic approach, the solutions implemented (including design and research rationale), and the measurable results.

• Address AI/ML Integration: If possible, include examples of how you've leveraged or planned to leverage AI/ML in UX, even if theoretical, to showcase forward-thinking.

• Tailor to Honeywell: Research Honeywell's Building Automation products and challenges. Frame your experience and portfolio examples to demonstrate how you can address their specific needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for strategic case studies related to transforming UX in an industrial technology context, particularly concerning complex systems and the integration of AI/ML.

• Anticipate questions about scaling global teams, managing diverse stakeholders, and driving adoption of UX best practices within a large enterprise.

• Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and how you foster innovation and user-centricity.

• Prepare to discuss how you would measure the success of UX initiatives and their contribution to business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process details are tailored for a senior leadership role, emphasizing strategic thinking, portfolio demonstration of impact, and executive-level communication.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, XD), Axure RP. Proficiency in advanced prototyping tools is expected.

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics (for surveys), Dovetail (for research synthesis). Experience with tools for remote moderated and unmoderated research.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Slack. Essential for managing projects, workflows, and cross-functional communication.

• Design Systems: Familiarity with building and maintaining robust design systems and component libraries for consistency across platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web & Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude. Ability to interpret data to understand user behavior and identify areas for UX improvement.

• BI & Dashboarding: Tableau, Power BI, Looker. For creating and presenting data-driven insights to stakeholders.

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO. For conducting experiments to validate design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Salesforce (familiarity with how UX impacts CRM usage and data capture).

• Workflow Automation: Understanding of how UX design can integrate with or be enhanced by automation tools to streamline user processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack reflects tools commonly used by leading UX teams in enterprise environments, with an emphasis on collaboration, research, design, and analytics. For a Senior Director, the expectation is not just proficiency but strategic understanding of how these tools enable UX transformation and business impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and advocating for the end-user in all design and product decisions, ensuring solutions are intuitive, effective, and valuable.

• Innovation & Continuous Learning: A drive to explore new technologies (like Gen AI, AI/ML), methodologies, and design approaches, fostering an environment where experimentation and learning are encouraged.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on user research, analytics, and performance metrics to inform strategy, validate design choices, and measure impact.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: A belief in the power of diverse perspectives and cross-functional teamwork to create the best possible outcomes, fostering an inclusive environment where all team members feel empowered to contribute.

• Excellence & Accountability: A commitment to delivering high-quality work, taking ownership of outcomes, and striving for continuous improvement in processes and products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactively engaging with product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and research teams to ensure UX is embedded throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Partnership Approach: Working as a strategic partner with business leaders to align UX initiatives with overarching business goals and drive mutual success.

• Open Communication & Feedback: Establishing clear communication channels and fostering a culture of constructive feedback, both within the UX team and with external partners.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to elevate the collective understanding and application of UX principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are framed around modern UX leadership principles, emphasizing user advocacy, innovation, data, and strong collaboration, which are critical for driving transformation in a large organization like Honeywell.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Organizational Inertia: Navigating a large, established company to drive significant change in UX strategy and methodologies can be challenging. Overcoming existing processes and mindsets will require strong leadership and persuasive communication.

• Integrating Advanced Tech: Effectively integrating Gen AI and AI/ML into UX workflows and products requires careful planning, ethical considerations, and continuous adaptation as the technologies evolve.

• Balancing Global Needs: Ensuring UX solutions are effective and resonant across diverse global markets and user segments within the Building Automation portfolio.

• Measuring ROI: Quantifying the direct business impact and ROI of UX initiatives can be complex, requiring sophisticated analytics and strong stakeholder buy-in.

• Talent Development: Continuously upskilling a global UX team to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and user expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI/ML for UX: Deep dive into cutting-edge applications of AI/ML for generative design, predictive user behavior analysis, and personalized user experiences.

• Strategic Leadership Training: Access to Honeywell's leadership development programs, focusing on executive communication, strategic planning, and organizational change management.

• Industry Conferences & Networking: Opportunities to attend leading UX, AI, and industrial technology conferences to stay abreast of trends and network with industry leaders.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by or mentor other senior leaders within Honeywell, gaining insights into different facets of the business and technology.

• Cross-Business Unit Exposure: Possibility to gain experience or contribute to UX initiatives in other Honeywell business segments, broadening expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are designed to reflect the realities of a senior leadership role in a large, innovative company, highlighting both the hurdles and the significant potential for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a significant UX transformation within a large organization. What were the key challenges, your strategic approach, and the measurable outcomes?" (Focus on your process for driving change, influencing stakeholders, and quantifying impact.)

• "How would you approach integrating Generative AI and AI/ML into the UX design process for complex industrial systems like those at Honeywell? What are the potential benefits and risks?" (Demonstrate your understanding of emerging tech and strategic application.)

• "Imagine our Building Automation products are experiencing low adoption rates in a key emerging market. Outline your process for diagnosing the UX issues and developing a strategy to address them." (Showcase your problem-solving methodology, research skills, and strategic thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Honeywell's Building Automation business and our strategic priorities? How do you see UX contributing to these?" (Research the company's recent news, product lines, and strategic goals.)

• "How would you foster a user-centered design culture within engineering teams that may not have a strong UX background?" (Discuss your approach to evangelizing UX and building collaborative relationships.)

• "How do you measure the success of UX initiatives, and what KPIs are most important to you as a Senior Director?" (Be ready to discuss metrics that tie UX to business value, such as conversion rates, task completion, NPS, and customer lifetime value.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Begin with your overarching UX philosophy and leadership approach. Then, present 2-3 key case studies that best demonstrate your strategic impact, leadership in transformation, and success with complex projects (ideally related to enterprise software, industrial tech, or AI/ML).

• Quantify Everything: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic solution, the specific UX methodologies and tools used, and most importantly, the quantifiable business results achieved. Use data and metrics to support your claims.

• Highlight Leadership: For each project, explain your role as a leader – how you guided the team, influenced stakeholders, and drove consensus.

• Address AI/ML: If you have relevant examples, be prepared to discuss how you've incorporated or would incorporate AI/ML. If not, discuss your understanding and vision for its application in UX.

• Engage and Discuss: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process, rationale, and how your experience translates to Honeywell's specific context.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to analyze a given business scenario and propose UX strategies to solve it, focusing on data-driven approaches and measurable outcomes.

• Prepare to discuss how you would prioritize UX efforts across a diverse product portfolio with competing demands.

• Practice articulating your vision for the future of UX in industrial technology and how Honeywell can lead in this space.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored for a senior leadership role, focusing on strategic impact, leadership presence, and the ability to articulate a vision, particularly concerning advanced technologies like AI/ML.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Director Engineering - User Experience (UX) position at Honeywell:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the Honeywell careers portal (linked via the provided URL) and submit your resume and any requested supporting documents.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 10+ years of experience in UX leadership, digital transformation, team scaling, and experience with AI/ML or advanced technologies. Use keywords from the job description and focus on quantifiable achievements.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Prepare a strategic portfolio that emphasizes your leadership in UX transformation, impact on product strategy, and measurable business results. Select 2-3 compelling case studies that align with Honeywell's industry and challenges.

• Prepare for Executive Interviews: Anticipate in-depth discussions about your strategic vision, leadership style, and experience with complex projects. Practice articulating your approach to driving organizational change and fostering innovation.

• Research Honeywell: Thoroughly research Honeywell's Building Automation segment, its products, strategic goals, and recent initiatives. Understand their market position and challenges to tailor your responses effectively.

⚠️ 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.