Senior Manager, Design Systems Engineer - Verity Solutions, Remote

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager, Design Systems Engineer - Verity Solutions, Remote

Company: Cigna Healthcare

Location: Tennessee, United States of America (Remote)

Job Type: Full time

Category: Engineering / Design Systems

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

Experience Level: 5-10 years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and implementation of Verity Canvas, a code-canonical design system for healthcare software, focusing on Figma and React integration.

• Drive the alignment between design (Figma) and production code (React) to ensure consistency, scalability, and maintainability of the user interface.

• Champion accessibility standards and best practices throughout the design system and component library development lifecycle.

• Manage the release discipline for the @verity/ui component library, ensuring robust quality gates and efficient versioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a "founding" position, indicating a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to shape the design system from its inception. The focus on "code-canonical" implies that the production code is the source of truth, with design artifacts derived from it. The "Verity Solutions" designation suggests this is a specific initiative or product line within Cigna Healthcare.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the @verity/ui component library as a versioned package, built on accessible headless primitives and styled via design tokens.

• Build and maintain the @verity/tokens pipeline, managing the flow from DTCG design tokens through Style Dictionary, CSS custom properties, and typed output.

• Establish and enforce a code-to-Figma token workflow using Figma Variables, staging files, and rigorous review processes to prevent design drift.

• Author Code Connect mappings to ensure Figma Dev Mode and coding agents generate actual @verity/ui components, not generic markup.

• Define and implement the AI-ready system surface, including MCP context, component manifests, registries, repository guidance, and agent evaluation workflows.

• Strengthen CI quality gates to encompass accessibility, visual regression, application-level regression, linting, and code ownership.

• Manage release discipline for the design system, employing tools like Changesets, semantic versioning, API contract checks, and migration-ready codemods.

• Collaborate closely with designers and product teams to define Figma conventions, drive adoption, establish governance, and manage promotion and deprecation workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a deep technical understanding of front-end development, design systems, and tooling. The inclusion of AI-native development workflows and MCP tooling suggests a forward-looking approach to how design systems will integrate with AI-powered development tools.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum 5+ years of experience in building front-end systems, design systems, or component libraries, with a strong emphasis on React and TypeScript.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing typed component APIs and shipping a design system as a published package utilized by multiple teams.

• Hands-on experience with Figma Dev Mode, variables, and Code Connect, or equivalent design-to-code integration workflows.

• Demonstrated experience building design token pipelines using DTCG formats and tools such as Style Dictionary or Tokens Studio.

• Strong expertise in web accessibility standards (WCAG), including ARIA, keyboard interaction, focus management, and automated testing tools like axe.

• Proficiency with Storybook for component documentation and development, visual regression testing, CI/CD pipelines, modern Git workflows, and package management within monorepos. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with headless primitive libraries such as Base UI, Radix, React Aria, or Ariakit.

• Familiarity with monorepo tooling and package management systems like pnpm workspaces, Turborepo, Changesets, semver, API Extractor, or type-aware codemods.

• Exposure to AI-native development workflows, MCP tooling, coding agents, registries, or agent evaluation harnesses.

• Experience pushing design tokens from code into Figma or leveraging the Figma Variables REST API.

• Background in healthcare, regulated environments, or products where accessibility and precision are paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications highlight a blend of deep technical front-end skills, specific design system tooling knowledge, and a critical understanding of accessibility and design-to-code processes. The preferred skills indicate a strong leaning towards modern, efficient development practices and an interest in emerging AI applications in development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of well-architected, reusable React components with clear API definitions.

• Include case studies demonstrating the development and implementation of a design system or component library.

• Provide evidence of contributions to or management of design token pipelines and their integration into production code.

• Highlight projects where accessibility was a primary concern, with specific examples of implementation and testing.

• Demonstrate experience with Figma, including Dev Mode, variables, and any custom plugins or workflows related to design-to-code. Process Documentation:

• Document the workflow for creating, versioning, and releasing design system components.

• Illustrate the process for managing design tokens from source to implementation across different platforms.

• Detail the methodology for ensuring alignment between design specifications in Figma and the production codebase.

• Outline strategies for implementing and maintaining accessibility standards throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, demonstrating not just coding ability but also strategic thinking in system design, process management, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their portfolio with a focus on the why and how behind their design system decisions and implementations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Manager role with 5+ years of specialized experience in a high-demand area like design systems, particularly in a major healthcare organization and remote capacity, the estimated salary range in the US (Tennessee/Texas) would typically fall between $140,000 - $200,000 annually. This range is based on industry benchmarks for senior engineering roles, factoring in the specialized skill set, leadership responsibilities, and the remote work arrangement.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan with company match (e.g., 401(k)).

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Life insurance and disability coverage.

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Employee assistance program and wellness initiatives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is remote, adherence to core business hours for team collaboration and meetings is expected, with flexibility often provided for focused work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation considers the Senior Manager title, the specialized nature of Design Systems Engineering, the required experience level, and the high cost of living and demand for such skills in the US market. The remote aspect can also influence compensation. Benefits are standard for a large, established healthcare company like Cigna Healthcare.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Health Services. Cigna Healthcare operates within the complex and highly regulated healthcare industry, focusing on improving health outcomes and providing comprehensive health services. This context necessitates a strong emphasis on quality, reliability, security, and compliance.

Company Size: The Cigna Group is a large, established enterprise (likely >10,000 employees), offering stability, extensive resources, and structured career paths, but potentially also with more formal processes and a slower pace of change compared to startups.

Founded: Cigna has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the 18th century. This longevity suggests a stable, established organization with deep industry experience and a commitment to long-term growth.

Team Structure:

• The Design Systems team is likely part of a larger Engineering or Product organization, potentially reporting up through a VP of Engineering or Head of Product.

• This role is a "founding" Senior Manager, implying the team may be small initially, with the expectation to grow it. The reporting structure will be key to understanding influence and collaboration.

• Cross-functional collaboration will be critical, involving close partnerships with UI/UX Designers, Front-End Engineers, Product Managers, and potentially QA and Accessibility specialists across various product teams. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is paramount in healthcare, so expect a strong emphasis on metrics, analytics, and performance monitoring for the design system's adoption and impact.

• Workflow optimization and process improvement will be core to the role, ensuring efficiency in design and development cycles.

• Automation will be key for maintaining consistency and reducing manual effort, especially in areas like token pipelines, CI/CD, and design-to-code integrations.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The healthcare industry context is crucial. It means that decisions made by this role will have a direct impact on patient care and user experience for individuals navigating health services, amplifying the importance of accessibility, reliability, and precision.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Manager position, indicating a leadership role with significant technical depth and strategic responsibility. It sits above individual contributor roles but may be below Director or VP levels. The "founding" aspect suggests an entrepreneurial opportunity within a large organization.

Reporting Structure: The role will likely report to a Director or VP of Engineering, Product, or Design, depending on the specific organizational structure. It will have direct reports as the team grows.

Operations Impact: The design system is foundational to the entire user experience of Verity Solutions' healthcare software. A successful design system directly impacts:

• Development Velocity: Faster iteration and feature delivery by product teams.

• Product Consistency: A unified and trustworthy user experience across all Verity products.

• Brand Integrity: Ensuring a consistent visual and interactive brand identity.

• Accessibility & Compliance: Meeting critical regulatory and user needs.

• Cost Efficiency: Reducing redundant design and development efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Build and lead a team of Design Systems Engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

• Strategic Influence: Shape the long-term vision and roadmap for the design system, influencing technology choices and development processes across the organization.

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-native development, advanced accessibility, and scalable front-end architecture.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain broader exposure to product strategy and business objectives by collaborating with senior stakeholders across different departments.

• Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior engineers and designers on best practices for design systems and front-end development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique blend of individual technical contribution and leadership responsibility, especially given it's a founding position. The growth potential is significant, allowing for both technical and people leadership development within a large, impactful organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This offers flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere within the specified US regions (Tennessee, Texas).

Office Location(s): While remote, the role is tied to specific US states for employment purposes, primarily Tennessee and potentially Texas. This may involve state-specific regulations and tax implications.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment will be digital, relying heavily on collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, Teams, and project management software.

• Access to robust development tools, cloud environments, and design software (Figma) will be essential.

• The remote nature requires strong self-discipline, effective time management, and proactive communication to maintain team cohesion and productivity.

• Opportunities for virtual team-building activities and knowledge-sharing sessions will be important for fostering a connected remote culture.

Work Schedule: While remote, the role requires alignment with core business hours for effective collaboration with teams across different time zones within the US. Expect standard 40-hour work weeks, with the potential for occasional extended hours during critical release cycles or project milestones. The emphasis will be on output and impact rather than strict hour-by-hour tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a remote role, the candidate's ability to self-manage, communicate effectively across digital channels, and maintain strong relationships with distributed teams will be key to success. The requirement for specific US states for employment suggests potential tax and legal considerations for the candidate.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on alignment with the core requirements.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect in-depth discussions about your front-end development experience, specifically with React, TypeScript, and design systems. This may include coding challenges or live coding exercises focused on component development, API design, or accessibility implementation.

• Design Systems Deep Dive: Interviews will focus on your experience building and maintaining design systems, including design token pipelines, Figma integration, and component library management. Be prepared to discuss your philosophy and approach to design system architecture.

• Manager/Leadership Interview: Assess your leadership potential, strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and ability to manage a team and influence stakeholders. This may involve behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, explaining your contributions, design decisions, and the impact of your work.

• Final Round: Potentially with senior leadership to assess overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on projects that most closely align with the job description, particularly those involving React, TypeScript, design systems, and accessibility.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your approach, the tools you used, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your understanding of design token pipelines, Figma-to-code workflows, accessibility testing, and release management.

• Showcase Technical Prowess: Include well-documented code examples, live demos where possible, and clear explanations of your technical architecture.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify achievements whenever possible (e.g., "reduced UI development time by X%", "improved accessibility score by Y%").

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, and how you handle challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• System Design: Be ready to discuss how you would architect a design system for a large healthcare application, considering scalability, accessibility, and AI integration.

• Component Development: Practice building a complex, accessible React component with proper state management, props, and testing.

• Tokenization: Prepare to explain how you would set up a design token pipeline using tools like Style Dictionary and ensure consistency across platforms.

• Accessibility Audit: Be ready to discuss how you would audit a component for accessibility issues and implement fixes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "code-canonical" system and AI-native workflows suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who can think critically about the future of design systems and their integration with advanced development tools. A strong portfolio showcasing practical application of these concepts will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• React: The core JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Proficiency in modern React features (Hooks, Context API) is essential.

• TypeScript: For building type-safe React components and ensuring code quality.

• Figma: The primary design tool. Experience with Dev Mode, Variables, and potentially plugins is critical.

• Storybook: For developing, documenting, and testing UI components in isolation.

• Git: Essential for version control and collaborative development workflows.

• Package Managers: npm, Yarn, or preferably pnpm for managing dependencies in monorepos.

Analytics & Reporting:

• CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or similar for automated builds, testing, and deployments.

• Testing Frameworks: Jest, React Testing Library for unit and integration testing; Cypress or Playwright for end-to-end and visual regression testing.

• Accessibility Testing Tools: axe, Lighthouse, WAVE, and manual testing techniques.

CRM & Automation:

• Design Token Tools: Style Dictionary, Tokens Studio, or similar for processing design tokens.

• Monorepo Tools: Turborepo, Lerna, Nx for managing multiple packages within a single repository.

• Versioning & Release Tools: Changesets, npm versioning, semver for managing package releases.

• Potential AI/ML Tooling: Awareness of MCP tooling, coding agents, and related workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on modern front-end development practices and the specific tooling required for robust design system engineering. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with each of these technologies and how they integrate them to build scalable and maintainable UI systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Precision & Reliability: In healthcare, errors can have significant consequences. Expect a culture that values meticulousness, accuracy, and robust testing to ensure the reliability of all components.

• User-Centricity & Empathy: A strong focus on the end-user, particularly patients and healthcare professionals, driving decisions that prioritize ease of use, clarity, and accessibility.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to share knowledge and best practices across design and engineering teams are vital for a successful design system.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to stay ahead of industry trends, adopt new technologies (like AI-native tools), and constantly refine processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking pride in one's work, owning the success of the design system, and being accountable for its impact on the organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with design, product, and engineering teams to ensure the design system meets diverse needs and is adopted effectively.

• Feedback-Driven: Establishing mechanisms for receiving and acting on feedback from component consumers to iteratively improve the system.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing best practices, documentation, and training materials to empower other teams to leverage the design system effectively.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing agile methodologies to deliver value incrementally and adapt to changing requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in healthcare will deeply influence its culture. Expect a strong ethical compass, a focus on positive impact, and a commitment to quality that permeates all levels of the organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adoption & Governance: Ensuring widespread adoption of the design system across multiple product teams and maintaining consistent governance as the organization scales.

• Balancing Innovation & Stability: Integrating new technologies and features (like AI-native workflows) while maintaining the stability and backward compatibility of the core design system.

• Bridging Design & Code Gaps: Continuously refining the processes and tooling to minimize discrepancies between design specifications and implemented components, especially with evolving Figma capabilities.

• Healthcare Specifics: Navigating the unique requirements of the healthcare industry, including stringent accessibility mandates, data privacy concerns, and the need for extreme reliability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI-Native Development: Gaining hands-on experience with emerging AI tools and workflows for software development and design systems.

• Advanced Accessibility: Deepening expertise in complex accessibility scenarios and assistive technologies relevant to healthcare.

• Scalable Architecture: Learning to design and implement design systems that can support a large and growing enterprise product suite.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone management skills, strategic planning, and cross-functional influence.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential support for attending relevant design systems, front-end, or accessibility conferences and obtaining certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the forefront of design systems evolution, particularly with the AI integration aspect. The challenges are significant but offer substantial opportunities for professional growth and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a 'code-canonical' design system from scratch for a large enterprise like Cigna Healthcare?"

• "Describe your process for ensuring that production code and Figma designs remain perfectly aligned, especially when dealing with rapid iteration."

• "What strategies would you implement to drive adoption of the Verity Canvas design system across diverse product teams, and how would you handle resistance?"

• "How do you see AI-native development workflows impacting design systems, and what steps would you take to integrate them into Verity Canvas?"

• "Given the healthcare context, what are the most critical accessibility considerations for a design system, and how would you enforce them?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Cigna Healthcare and the Verity Solutions initiative?"

• "How do you see your leadership style contributing to building a new design systems team?"

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with designers and engineers who had conflicting priorities. How did you resolve it?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in front-end development, design systems, and accessibility?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of the project and its goals, followed by your specific contributions, technical details, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business value and user benefits of your work. Use metrics where possible.

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your thought process for design token pipelines, component architecture, accessibility implementation, and Figma integration.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed technical questions about your code, architecture, and tooling choices.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight instances where you worked effectively with designers, product managers, and other engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss not just what you did, but why you did it, and how it aligns with Cigna's mission and the specific needs of a healthcare technology product. Demonstrating a proactive and strategic mindset will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Manager, Design Systems Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the Cigna Healthcare careers portal via the provided URL.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with React, TypeScript, design systems, Figma, accessibility, and any experience with design token pipelines or AI-native development workflows. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your strongest projects that demonstrate your expertise in building and managing reusable component libraries and design systems. Be ready to present specific case studies detailing your process, challenges, and impact.

• Research Cigna Healthcare: Understand their mission, values, and the healthcare industry context. Familiarize yourself with their existing digital products if possible.

• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common technical, behavioral, and strategic questions, focusing on demonstrating your leadership potential and deep technical expertise in design systems.

⚠️ 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.