Senior Manager, UX Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager, UX Design

Company: HP

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX Design / Information Architecture

Date Posted: May 07, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic design and architecture of AI-powered products and systems within HP's new AI innovation lab, HP IQ.

• Define intuitive information architectures, user flows, and content models to ensure seamless human-centered AI interactions.

• Drive the development of scalable design systems that prioritize personalization, accessibility, and data privacy in AI environments.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers to translate complex AI capabilities into user-friendly experiences.

• Champion the application of UX heuristics and cognitive load principles to optimize user journeys within conversational and generative AI interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Manager, indicating a need for leadership and strategic thinking beyond individual contribution. The focus on "AI innovation lab" and "startup agility with HP’s global scale" suggests a dynamic environment requiring both strategic vision and hands-on execution. The hybrid nature implies a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive information architectures for AI-driven interfaces and tools, ensuring logical structure and ease of navigation.

• Develop comprehensive sitemaps, user flows, taxonomies, metadata frameworks, and content models to support complex AI functionalities.

• Create clear guidelines for content hierarchy and interaction design across conversational interfaces and generative AI features, ensuring consistency and usability.

• Advocate for and contribute to the development of scalable design systems that support personalization, accessibility, and data privacy within AI-powered environments.

• Define and document structural standards, templates, and navigation strategies to ensure consistency and maintainability across HP's AI product portfolio.

• Analyze and refine user journey maps for complex, multi-modal AI experiences, identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure design solutions align with business objectives and technical feasibility.

• Present design concepts, rationale, and findings to stakeholders, effectively communicating complex ideas and influencing design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on information architecture (IA) and content strategy within the context of AI. This goes beyond typical UI design and requires a deep understanding of how users interact with and derive value from AI systems, particularly in areas like conversational AI and generative models.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 3+ years of progressive experience in Information Architecture, UX Design, or Interaction Design, with a proven track record of designing complex digital products.

• Demonstrated experience working within the Artificial Intelligence (AI) domain, understanding its unique design challenges and opportunities.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Information Architecture (IA) methodologies and principles.

• Expertise in UX Design and Interaction Design for digital products and systems.

• Advanced proficiency with UX design and prototyping tools such as Figma and Miro.

• Deep understanding of UX heuristics, human-centered design principles, and cognitive load principles.

• Ability to visualize and clearly communicate complex information structures through diagrams, wireframes, and prototypes.

• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to effectively present to stakeholders and guide cross-disciplinary teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with conversational UI design, voice UX, or designing for Large Language Model (LLM)-based experiences.

• Familiarity with content design principles and structured content management systems.

• Background in psychology, cognitive science, or Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).

• Experience with designing for personalization, accessibility, and data privacy in AI contexts.

• Familiarity with generative AI capabilities and their implications for user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI space" and "LLM-based experiences" indicates a niche but critical requirement. Candidates with experience in these cutting-edge areas will have a significant advantage. The request for a portfolio presentation further underscores the importance of practical application and storytelling of design processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A presentation (Keynote, PDF, or Figma preferred) featuring 1-2 detailed work examples is mandatory.

• Examples should clearly demonstrate your approach to product design decisions, from initial concept and information architecture mapping to navigating trade-offs during development.

• Showcase your ability to define the overall user experience and interaction flow for complex systems, particularly those involving AI.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of your design process, including research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing phases.

• Provide examples of how you have documented design decisions, IA frameworks, user flows, and content models.

• Illustrate your approach to collaborating with engineering and product teams throughout the design lifecycle.

• Showcase how you have contributed to or utilized design systems and style guides for consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is highly specific and geared towards assessing a candidate's practical application of IA and UX principles within complex, potentially AI-driven, product development. The emphasis on "navigating trade-offs" suggests a need for pragmatic problem-solving skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $132,000 - $187,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Long-term Disability Insurance

• Short-term Disability Insurance

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Life Insurance

• Generous Time Off Policies:

  • 4-12 weeks of fully paid parental leave (based on tenure).
  • 11 paid holidays.

Working Hours:

• Full-time position, typically around 40 hours per week. The "No shift premium" designation suggests a standard business hour schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified salary range is competitive for a Senior Manager-level UX/IA role in a high-cost-of-living area like San Francisco. The benefits package is robust, reflecting HP's commitment to employee well-being, with notable emphasis on parental leave and flexible time off.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Computer Hardware, Software, AI Innovation)

Company Size: HP is a large enterprise (over 10,000 employees), but HP IQ operates with "startup agility." This suggests a unique environment that blends the stability and resources of a large corporation with the innovative pace and autonomy of a startup.

Founded: HP was founded in 1939, providing a long history of innovation and market presence. HP IQ is a new initiative, indicating a forward-looking strategy to embrace emerging technologies.

Team Structure:

• The role is within HP IQ, HP's AI innovation lab, suggesting a dedicated team focused on cutting-edge AI development.

• Collaboration will be with cross-functional teams including Product Managers, Engineers, and Designers, indicating a matrixed or project-based team structure.

Methodology:

• The team operates with "startup agility," implying agile methodologies, rapid iteration, and a focus on quick feedback loops.

• A "human-centric mindset" is core to HP IQ's mission, emphasizing user needs and empathy in design and development.

• The integration of AI advancements across HP's portfolio suggests a strategic, portfolio-wide approach to innovation.

Company Website: https://www.hp.com/ (HP corporate site); HP IQ likely has internal or specific project-related web presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual nature of HP IQ – startup agility within a large enterprise – is a key cultural aspect. Candidates should be comfortable with both structured processes and rapid, experimental approaches. The "human-centric" and "AI innovation" focus are central to the team's mission.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Manager, UX Design / Information Architecture. This level implies significant responsibility for strategic direction, team leadership (potentially), and the successful execution of complex design initiatives within the AI domain. It sits above individual contributor roles and below Director-level positions.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Manager likely reports to a Director or VP within HP IQ. The role involves close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering leadership, indicating a peer-level interaction with these functions.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the usability, scalability, and user adoption of HP's AI-powered products and systems. By shaping intuitive user experiences and robust information architectures, the Senior Manager contributes significantly to HP IQ's mission of redefining how the world works, creates, and collaborates, ultimately influencing customer satisfaction, product success, and HP's competitive position in the AI market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to lead and mentor design teams or specialized UX/IA functions within HP IQ as the lab grows.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven UX, conversational design, generative AI interfaces, and complex information architecture.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the overarching AI strategy and product roadmap at HP IQ.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunities to work on diverse AI projects spanning various HP product lines.

• Advancement: Clear path towards Director-level roles within design leadership at HP IQ or other HP divisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Manager" title suggests a trajectory towards leadership. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in mentoring, strategic planning, and driving design initiatives that have broad impact. The role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI interaction design within a major tech company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, balancing remote work with in-office collaboration. The specific office location is San Francisco, CA.

Office Location(s): 969 Folsom Street (SFO01), San Francisco, California, United States. This is a prime location in San Francisco, likely offering a modern workspace conducive to collaboration and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional teams suggest a workspace designed for interaction, brainstorming, and team meetings.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard UX design tools (Figma, Miro) and potentially advanced AI development platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for spontaneous discussions, formal design reviews, and team-building activities with colleagues from diverse backgrounds within HP IQ.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time business hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with the flexibility inherent in a hybrid work arrangement. The role requires active participation in team activities and stakeholder engagements, which may occasionally extend beyond standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature implies a need for strong self-management and communication skills. Candidates should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic office and remote setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will likely review applications and resumes for minimum qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion with the Hiring Manager focusing on experience, leadership potential, and understanding of AI UX/IA.

• Portfolio Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their curated work samples, detailing their design process, rationale, and impact. This is where IA methodologies, AI experience, and ability to articulate complex decisions will be assessed.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow Designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Director or VP) for final evaluation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on AI Context: Clearly articulate how your IA and UX skills were applied to AI-specific challenges (e.g., conversational design, data interpretation, generative outputs).

• Showcase Process: Detail your thought process, from understanding user needs and AI capabilities to developing information architectures and interaction flows. Use sitemaps, user flows, and content models as visual aids.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, discuss the outcomes of your design decisions – how did they improve user efficiency, satisfaction, or product adoption?

• Address Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss difficult design decisions, compromises made, and how you navigated them.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight examples that best demonstrate proficiency in IA, conversational UI, and human-centered AI design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Information Architecture Exercise: Be ready for a potential exercise or deep dive into designing an IA for a hypothetical AI product or feature.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to discuss how you would approach specific design challenges related to AI, such as managing user expectations for generative AI, designing for privacy, or ensuring accessibility.

• Stakeholder Management: Think about how you would communicate complex IA/UX concepts to non-design stakeholders (e.g., engineers, business leaders).

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is a cornerstone of this hiring process. Candidates must be able to "tell the story" of their design process and its impact, particularly within the AI domain. Understanding HP IQ's mission and the challenges of designing for AI will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma (essential), Miro (essential).

• Information Architecture Tools: Tools for creating sitemaps, user flows, taxonomies (e.g., Axure, Sketch, or even advanced features within Figma/Miro).

• Presentation Software: Keynote, PDF.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with user analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Pendo) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, an understanding of how user data is managed and how AI interacts with customer profiles may be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Miro is explicitly required. Beyond these, demonstrating familiarity with a broader range of IA and UX tooling, as well as an understanding of how design impacts data and analytics, will strengthen an application.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centricity: A core value driving the design of all HP IQ products, ensuring solutions are intuitive and beneficial to users.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new ideas, rapid iteration, and adapting quickly to technological advancements, especially in AI.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across disciplines (product, engineering, design) to achieve shared goals.

• Impact: Focusing on building solutions that make a tangible difference in how people work, create, and collaborate.

• Data-Driven Design: Using insights from user research and analytics to inform design decisions and measure success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with product managers to define requirements and engineers to ensure feasibility and implementation.

• Design Critiques: A culture that values constructive feedback through design reviews and critiques to elevate the quality of work.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, research findings, and design patterns within the team and across HP.

• Agile Teamwork: Working within agile sprints, participating in stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "human-centricity" and "startup agility" within HP IQ suggests a culture that is both user-focused and fast-paced. Candidates who thrive in environments that encourage experimentation and user advocacy will likely find this a good fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Emerging AI: Navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, including generative models and LLMs, requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Creating groundbreaking AI experiences while ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and maintainable across HP's vast product ecosystem.

• User Trust and Privacy: Designing AI interactions that users can trust, particularly concerning data usage and privacy in AI-driven systems.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across diverse teams and product lines within a large organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & ML Exposure: Direct involvement with cutting-edge AI technologies and research teams.

• Specialized Training: Opportunities for training in advanced UX/IA methodologies, conversational design, and AI ethics.

• Industry Conferences: Potential to attend and present at leading UX, IA, and AI conferences.

• Mentorship: Access to senior design leaders and AI experts within HP.

• Leadership Skill Development: Formal and informal opportunities to hone management and strategic leadership skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is at the forefront of AI innovation, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for professional growth. Candidates should be prepared to tackle ambiguity and contribute to shaping best practices in a nascent field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you design the information architecture for a generative AI tool that helps users brainstorm marketing copy?"

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with technical constraints in an AI product. What was your approach?"

• "How do you ensure accessibility and data privacy are integrated into AI-driven user experiences from the ground up?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about HP IQ's mission to reinvent work through AI?"

• "How do you approach collaboration in a hybrid work environment, especially with engineering and product teams?"

• "Describe your understanding of the balance between startup agility and enterprise scale, as practiced at HP IQ."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of HP IQ and the role's context. Then, dive into each case study, clearly outlining the problem, your role, your process (IA, user flows, content models), key design decisions, challenges, and outcomes.

• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals (sitemaps, user flows, wireframes, mockups) to illustrate your points. Annotate them to explain specific design choices.

• Storytelling: Frame your work as a narrative. Explain the "why" behind your decisions, not just the "what."

• AI Focus: Explicitly connect your design choices to the AI capabilities and user needs you were addressing. Discuss how your IA supported the AI's functionality.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your trade-offs, alternative solutions, and how you'd adapt your designs for different AI applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared for deep dives into your portfolio and specific scenarios related to AI design. Demonstrating a strong IA foundation and the ability to articulate complex design decisions with clarity and strategic rationale will be key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Manager, UX Design position:

• Submit your application through the HP Careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight specific experience in Information Architecture, UX Design, and crucially, your work within the AI space. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 strong examples that best showcase your IA and UX design process for complex digital products, ideally with an AI component. Ensure your presentation is polished, clear, and tells a compelling story.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, articulating your design decisions, challenges, and the impact of your work. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your IA methodologies and AI design experience.

• Research HP IQ: Understand HP IQ's mission, values, and the types of AI innovations they are pursuing. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.