Senior Product Designer, User Experience & Design (Mobile App)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, User Experience & Design (Mobile App)

Company: Marriott

Location: Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: 6+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (with remote options for those outside commuting distance)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design of critical mobile app features for the Marriott Bonvoy App, encompassing discovery, booking, loyalty, personalization, and engagement.

• Translate complex user needs and business objectives into intuitive, elegant, and customer-centered mobile experiences.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Analytics to deliver high-quality, scalable digital solutions.

• Champion user experience best practices, accessibility, and inclusive design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Marriott's digital growth strategy, focusing specifically on enhancing the Marriott Bonvoy mobile application. The emphasis on "end-to-end design" and "problem framing through production delivery" indicates significant ownership and impact for the chosen candidate. The mention of AI-enabled tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization, design, and delivery of mobile-first user experiences for key app functionalities, including but not limited to search, booking, loyalty program interaction, and personalized content delivery.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts such as user flows, journey maps, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs, clearly communicating design rationale and solutions.

• Leverage customer research, behavioral data, analytics, and A/B testing insights to inform design decisions, validate concepts, and optimize user journeys for both customer satisfaction and business outcomes.

• Create detailed design specifications, including interaction states, edge cases, and accessibility considerations, ensuring seamless handoff to engineering teams for implementation.

• Actively contribute to and uphold Marriott’s Design System, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to established patterns, components, and brand guidelines.

• Partner with Product Managers and Engineers to define requirements, explore technical feasibility, and iterate on design solutions that meet user needs and business objectives.

• Facilitate design critiques, workshops, and cross-functional working sessions to foster alignment, gather feedback, and drive consensus on design direction.

• Provide constructive design feedback, mentorship, and coaching to fellow designers, with potential opportunities for people leadership responsibilities.

• Support quality assurance processes, including usability testing and design validation, to ensure the final product meets high standards for user experience and functionality.

• Present design concepts, rationale, trade-offs, and recommendations effectively to diverse audiences, including peers, cross-functional partners, and senior stakeholders.

• Maintain a strong understanding of current UX trends, mobile design patterns, accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), personalization techniques, and the application of AI in design, continuously seeking opportunities for product and experience enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "balancing customer needs, business objectives, platform best practices, and measurable product outcomes" is critical for any product design role impacting revenue or customer engagement. The inclusion of AI-enabled tools points to an evolving design toolkit and a need for adaptability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 6+ years of experience in User Experience (UX), Product Design, Interaction Design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record in native mobile application design.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing intuitive, elegant, and customer-centered mobile applications and responsive digital experiences for large-scale consumer products.

• Strong command of user-centered design principles, usability standards, accessibility best practices (e.g., WCAG), and inclusive design methodologies.

• Proficiency in creating comprehensive design artifacts, including user flows, journey maps, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs.

• Advanced proficiency with design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma, including experience with component-based workflows, design system utilization, and modern design handoff practices.

• Solid understanding of customer segmentation, personalization strategies, experimentation (A/B testing), and data-informed design practices.

• Ability to think holistically about user journeys and systems, translating ambiguity into clear and actionable design direction.

• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, Research, Analytics, and Content Design.

• Proven ability to work independently in ambiguous environments, drive solutions forward, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for loyalty programs, membership platforms, travel, hospitality, retail, e-commerce, marketplaces, or subscription-based services.

• Experience working with and contributing to established enterprise-level design systems.

• Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies, experimentation platforms, funnel analytics, and behavioral insights tools.

• Experience designing personalized, AI-enabled, conversational, or adaptive digital experiences.

• Familiarity with mobile platform conventions (iOS/Android), motion design principles, micro-interactions, and advanced accessibility standards.

• Experience working within Agile and SAFe development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 6+ years of experience and advanced Figma proficiency, coupled with a strong portfolio in native app design, positions this as a senior-level role. The "nice to have" skills indicate a preference for candidates with domain experience in hospitality or related consumer-facing digital products, and a proactive approach to leveraging advanced technologies like AI in design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end mobile app design projects, demonstrating your ability to solve complex user problems from initial concept to final execution.

• Detailed case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, your design process, the user research and data that informed your decisions, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, journey maps, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs, highlighting your craft and attention to detail.

• Demonstration of proficiency with design tools, particularly Figma, and experience working with or contributing to design systems.

• Evidence of applying user-centered design principles, accessibility standards, and data-informed design practices in your work. Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to problem-solving, including how you frame design challenges, conduct user research, iterate on concepts, and collaborate with stakeholders.

• Illustrate your process for creating detailed design specifications and ensuring seamless handoffs to engineering teams for accurate implementation.

• Provide examples of how you have used analytics, experimentation, or customer feedback to iterate on designs and measure their success against defined product outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just display final designs but also the strategic thinking and process behind them. Emphasis on measurable impact, data utilization, and cross-functional collaboration within case studies will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in the Bethesda, MD area with 6+ years of experience, the estimated salary range is between $100,400 and $173,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and Marriott's standing as a large, established enterprise. Benefits:

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with potential company match, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

• Travel Perks: Significant discounts at Marriott properties worldwide.

• Commuter Benefits: Assistance with commuting costs to the office.

• Well-being & Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services.

• Family Support: Childcare discounts, adoption expense reimbursements, and paid parental leave.

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

• Financial Security: Life insurance, disability insurance (short-term and long-term), and accident insurance.

• Flexible Spending: Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for pre-tax savings.

• Professional Development: Educational assistance programs and reimbursement for relevant certifications or training.

• Time Off: Paid sick leave, paid time off (PTO), and a minimum of 9 paid holidays annually (for Washington applicants, accrual rates may vary).

Working Hours: Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature of the role allows for flexibility in scheduling, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in a major metropolitan area with significant industry experience. The extensive list of benefits offered by Marriott is a strong differentiator, particularly those relevant to work-life balance and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Hospitality. Marriott International is a global leader in the hospitality industry, operating a diverse portfolio of brands and properties worldwide. This context means the digital products must cater to a broad range of travelers and support a complex operational ecosystem.

Company Size: Marriott is a large enterprise, employing over 100,000 individuals globally. This scale implies established processes, robust infrastructure, and opportunities for impact across a vast user base, but also a need for strong navigation of corporate structures.

Founded: Marriott International was founded in 1927. This long history signifies stability, deep industry expertise, and a strong brand legacy that the digital experience must uphold and evolve.

Team Structure:

• The User Experience & Design team is likely part of a larger Digital or Technology division, focused on enhancing Marriott's digital presence. It will comprise various specializations like UX research, interaction design, visual design, content design, and potentially design operations.

• As a Senior Designer, you will likely report to a Design Lead or Director, working within a matrixed structure that includes close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Data Analysts.

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, with regular interaction with teams responsible for mobile development, web experiences, loyalty programs, marketing, and customer service to ensure a cohesive end-to-end customer journey. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Utilizing customer research, behavioral analytics, A/B testing results, and market insights to drive design decisions and measure the effectiveness of features.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Employing agile methodologies (Agile, SAFe) to manage the design and development lifecycle, focusing on iterative improvements and efficient delivery of features.

• Automation & Efficiency: Exploring and implementing AI-enabled tools and design system components to streamline design processes, accelerate ideation, and maintain consistency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Marriott's status as a hospitality giant means the design team operates at a significant scale. The integration of AI tools and a strong design system are indicative of a mature digital product organization. Understanding the nuances of the travel and loyalty landscape will be beneficial for this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a high level of individual contribution and expertise. It requires the ability to independently lead complex design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy. The role is expected to have significant autonomy and responsibility for key aspects of the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app experience.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director within the User Experience & Design team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives, forming agile pods or feature teams.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role will be on enhancing the digital customer journey, driving engagement with the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, increasing booking conversion rates, and improving overall customer satisfaction and retention through intuitive and valuable mobile experiences. This directly contributes to Marriott's broader digital growth and revenue objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to move into a Lead Designer or Design Manager role, with responsibilities for people management, team strategy, and broader design initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as personalization, AI-driven experiences, loyalty program design, or accessibility, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunities to work on different product areas within Marriott's digital portfolio or transition into Product Management roles, leveraging design expertise.

• Mentorship & Influence: Act as a key design voice, shaping design culture, mentoring junior talent, and influencing strategic product decisions across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a clear path for advancement within Marriott's design or product organizations. The emphasis on mentorship and potential people leadership suggests that Marriott invests in developing its senior talent into future leaders.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Marriott HQ in Bethesda, MD operates on a hybrid model. This means a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. For candidates within commuting distance, regular office presence is expected, while those outside commuting distance may be considered for fully remote positions.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Bethesda, Maryland. This offers access to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area's talent pool and resources. The company also has other global locations, but this specific role is tied to the Bethesda HQ or remote for eligible candidates.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-office days to be focused on collaboration, team building, and high-bandwidth interactions like workshops and design reviews.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools, including Figma, prototyping software, and potentially AI-assisted design tools. The company will provide necessary hardware and software.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with design peers, product managers, engineers, and researchers through scheduled meetings, informal check-ins, and collaborative design sessions.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work week (approximately 40 hours). The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in managing work hours and location, allowing for better work-life integration while ensuring availability for core team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is a key aspect for this role. Candidates should clarify expectations regarding in-office days if located within commuting distance. The mention of remote options for those outside commuting distance is a significant point for geographically dispersed applicants.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on experience level, relevant skills, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio to a panel of designers and potentially product managers. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key case studies, explaining your process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Focus on mobile app design and problem-solving.

• Design Challenge: A practical design exercise may be given, either as a take-home assignment or a live working session. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to articulate solutions under time constraints.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Expect questions about your experience with collaboration, handling ambiguity, mentoring others, and how you approach challenges. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method.

• Final Round: Interviews with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall alignment with Marriott's values and goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest mobile app design projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role.

• Structure Your Case Studies: Clearly outline the problem, your role and responsibilities, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions and rationale, challenges faced, and measurable outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Mobile & UX Expertise: Emphasize your understanding of mobile-first design principles, native app conventions, user flows, interaction design, and how you've solved user pain points.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflow in Figma, your experience with design systems, and how you ensure design quality and efficient handoffs.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data, metrics, or user feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Marriott's brand, the Bonvoy app, and the hospitality industry to inform your approach.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a clear, user-centered design process. It's often more important to show how you think and solve problems than to arrive at a perfect final solution.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss the trade-offs you made and why, especially in relation to user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your work and solutions concisely and confidently, anticipating questions from the interviewers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical skills and the ability to articulate design thinking. A strong portfolio that showcases mobile app design expertise and a clear, data-informed process will be critical. Familiarity with Marriott's brand and digital offerings will also be advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a core requirement for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Experience with component libraries and design system integration within Figma is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: In-depth experience with Figma's prototyping capabilities or other industry-standard tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) for creating interactive user flows and user testing.

• Design System Tools: Familiarity with using and contributing to established enterprise design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across digital products.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to interpret user behavior, track key metrics, and inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to understand and interpret data presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) or reports to identify trends and opportunities.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design impacts CRM data and customer journeys is beneficial. Experience with Salesforce or similar platforms from a user perspective can be helpful.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Working knowledge of AI tools for research synthesis, ideation, content generation, and prototyping, with an understanding of responsible use, privacy, and quality control.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a primary tool, indicating its central role in the design workflow. The mention of AI-assisted design tools suggests Marriott is exploring or implementing these technologies, requiring designers to be adaptable and open to new workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the customer, ensuring that design decisions prioritize user needs and deliver exceptional experiences.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong relationships with Product, Engineering, Research, and other cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals and deliver cohesive products.

• Data-Informed Innovation: Leveraging data, insights, and experimentation to guide design strategy, validate hypotheses, and drive continuous improvement.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A dedication to high standards of design execution, attention to detail, accessibility, and creating polished, intuitive interfaces.

• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: An ongoing drive to stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies (like AI), and best practices to enhance skills and product innovation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The team operates in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment, working closely with Product Management and Engineering to translate requirements into feasible and impactful solutions.

• Process Review & Feedback: An open culture for design reviews, critiques, and feedback exchange, encouraging constructive dialogue to elevate the quality of work.

• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that encourage sharing learnings, best practices, and design patterns across the team and broader organization to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Marriott's emphasis on "Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you" suggests a culture that values personal growth, purpose-driven work, and strong team cohesion, all within a framework of delivering excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Designing for a global brand with millions of users and a vast array of services presents significant challenges in balancing diverse user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints.

• Balancing Innovation with Legacy Systems: Integrating new features and modern design approaches while working within an established enterprise structure and potentially legacy systems requires strategic navigation and thoughtful execution.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across multiple product teams, engineering disciplines, and business units requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying abreast of rapid advancements in mobile technology, AI, and user expectations, and effectively integrating them into the design strategy for the Marriott Bonvoy app.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in mobile UX/UI design, design systems, accessibility, personalization, and AI-assisted design through hands-on project work and internal training.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for participation in industry conferences, workshops, and webinars to stay current with UX trends and best practices.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Access to mentorship from experienced design leaders and opportunities to develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading project teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant challenges due to Marriott's scale, but these are balanced by robust growth opportunities, particularly in leadership and specialized design areas. The integration of AI is presented as both a challenge and a learning opportunity.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex mobile app feature you designed from concept to launch. What was the problem, your process, your key design decisions, and the measurable impact?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and data-driven outcomes.)

• "How do you balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints when designing a new feature? Provide an example." (Demonstrate strategic thinking and trade-off management.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive? Walk us through your process and any specific standards you follow." (Highlight your commitment to accessibility and inclusive design principles.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about designing for the hospitality industry and specifically for Marriott?" (Show your understanding of the brand and the travel domain.)

• "How would you contribute to Marriott's design culture and collaborate with cross-functional teams like Product and Engineering?" (Emphasize teamwork, communication, and your understanding of collaborative workflows.)

• "How do you stay current with UX trends and emerging technologies like AI in design? How might you apply them to the Marriott Bonvoy app?" (Demonstrate curiosity, continuous learning, and strategic application of new tools.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the challenges, your solutions, and the results.

• Visuals & Prototypes: Use high-quality visuals, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to showcase your design craft and the user experience you created.

• Data & Rationale: Be prepared to discuss the data and user insights that informed your decisions and explain the rationale behind your design choices, including any trade-offs made.

• Figma & Design Systems: Be ready to speak to your proficiency in Figma and your experience with design systems, component usage, and design handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the mobile design process, user advocacy, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to integrate into a large, collaborative enterprise environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 6+ years of experience in UX/Product Design, specifically emphasizing native mobile app design projects, your proficiency in Figma, and experience with design systems and user research. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest mobile app design case studies that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, user-centered design, and measurable impact. Ensure clear articulation of your process and rationale.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies clearly and concisely, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and the user impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and design systems.

• Research Marriott & the Bonvoy App: Familiarize yourself with Marriott's brands, the Marriott Bonvoy app's current features, and the hospitality industry to better understand the context and challenges of this role.

⚠️ 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.