Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer / Researcher

Company: Happy Returns, a UPS Company

Location: Atlanta, GA, US

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Product Design & User Experience

Date Posted: November 4, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design and user experience research for critical customer-facing and internal applications within the e-commerce returns market.

• Drive product innovation by planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research to uncover needs and pain points across shopper, retail partner, and internal specialist user groups.

• Champion the user throughout the product lifecycle, translating research insights into actionable recommendations and collaborating with product managers and engineers to deliver iterative improvements.

• Contribute to the development and standardization of Happy Returns' design system components and internal research methodologies, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Utilize advanced UX design tools, particularly Figma, to create user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs for web and mobile platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong blend of UX design and UX research expertise, with a focus on applying research findings directly to product development. The emphasis on "end-to-end" ownership and collaboration with product and engineering suggests a highly integrated product development environment. The mention of working with "shoppers of top online retailers, store associates at leading retailers, and our own Happy Returns specialists" highlights the need for a broad understanding of diverse user needs and complex operational workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the full design lifecycle for key Happy Returns products, including shopper web flows, retail partner management applications, and warehouse specialist processing tools.

• Develop and execute comprehensive UX research plans, employing methodologies such as usability testing, user interviews, and feedback sessions to deeply understand user behaviors and identify critical pain points.

• Analyze and synthesize complex research findings into clear, prioritized recommendations that inform product strategy and drive user-centered decision-making across departments.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, customer success managers, and company leadership to iterate on product designs and ensure successful implementation aligned with user needs and business objectives.

• Contribute to the evolution of the Happy Returns design system by creating and standardizing reusable components, ensuring a cohesive and efficient user experience across all platforms.

• Refine and document internal UX research methodologies and templates to promote best practices, consistency, and scalability within the team.

• Advocate for the user by effectively communicating research insights and data-driven recommendations to stakeholders, including leadership and executive audiences.

• Maintain a high level of aesthetic quality and ensure designs adhere to established style guides and the company's design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive approach to research and design, requiring the candidate to not only execute but also to define and standardize processes. The need to work with diverse user groups (shoppers, retail associates, internal specialists) suggests a complex product suite requiring adaptability and a deep understanding of different operational contexts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for this level.

Experience: A minimum of 4+ years of professional experience in UX/UI design, product design, or UX research with a proven track record of designing and shipping interfaces.

Required Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Deep expertise in Figma, including component creation, advanced prototyping, and delivering high-fidelity designs for both web and mobile applications.

• UX Research Expertise: Proven experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative UX research, including usability testing, user interviews, and feedback analysis.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Exceptional ability to collaborate with and influence product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, using data and research findings to advocate for user needs.

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio showcasing the integration of UX research into the design process, demonstrating how research informed design decisions from concept to final product.

• Agile Environment Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to thrive and deliver effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly evolving work environment.

• Visual Design Acumen: Solid aesthetic sense with the ability to work within and contribute to established style guides and design systems.

• User-Centered Design: A fundamental understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced Research Planning: Professional experience in planning and managing multiple UX research studies concurrently, including participant recruitment strategies.

• Discovery Research: Experience conducting exploratory "discovery" interviews in ambiguous problem spaces to shape early-stage product direction.

• Executive Presentation: Proven ability to present research recommendations and findings effectively to senior leadership and executive audiences.

• Industry Experience: Background in e-commerce, retail, or logistics industries, providing context for the specific challenges and opportunities within the returns market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that "shows how research informed your design decisions, not just the final screens" is critical. This indicates a preference for candidates who can articulate their research process and its impact on design outcomes, rather than just presenting polished mockups. The "fast-paced, demanding, and rapidly changing environment" suggests a need for strong problem-solving skills and resilience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research-Informed Design: The primary focus of the portfolio should be demonstrating how UX research directly influenced design decisions, problem definition, and solution development. This includes showcasing user insights, personas, journey maps, and how they translated into design iterations.

• End-to-End Product Ownership: Examples of projects where you led the design process from initial research and ideation through to high-fidelity design and handoff to engineering.

• Figma Mastery: Showcase complex Figma projects, including well-structured component libraries, interactive prototypes, and effective design system contributions.

• Problem-Solving Case Studies: Detailed case studies of challenging UX problems you've tackled, outlining the research methods used, the insights gained, the design solutions proposed, and the measurable impact.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Evidence of how you've collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, including how you presented findings and negotiated design decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Research Methodology Standardization: Experience in defining, documenting, and standardizing UX research methodologies, templates, and best practices for a team.

• Design System Contribution: Examples of contributions to or creation of design system components, demonstrating an understanding of scalability, consistency, and maintainability.

• Agile Workflow Integration: Showcase experience working within agile development cycles, including user story mapping, sprint planning, and iterative design reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to integrate research and design. The emphasis is on process and impact, not just the final visual output. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their portfolio and articulate the "why" behind their design choices, grounded in user research.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for this Senior UX Designer / Researcher position in Atlanta, GA is between $77,712 and $145,068 USD annually. This range is determined by factors such as internal equity, geographic location, candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits:

• Medical Benefits: Comprehensive medical coverage.

• Financial Benefits: Likely includes retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k) and potential for stock options or other financial incentives, given the UPS affiliation.

• Other Benefits: This may encompass dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and employee assistance programs.

• Bonus Potential: The position may be eligible for a performance-based bonus.

Working Hours: The role is structured around a standard 40-hour work week, typical for full-time salaried positions. While specific flexibility is not detailed, a 40-hour expectation suggests a standard business schedule, with potential for occasional overtime during peak project periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is an estimate based on market data for Senior UX Designers/Researchers in a major metropolitan area like Atlanta, considering the experience level and the company's affiliation with UPS. The benefits package is expected to be robust given the company's size and affiliation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce Logistics and Technology. Happy Returns operates within the rapidly growing returns management sector, a critical but often overlooked aspect of e-commerce. As a UPS Company, it benefits from the infrastructure and reputation of a global logistics leader while maintaining a tech-driven, innovative startup culture.

Company Size: Happy Returns is a rapidly growing company, implying a dynamic and evolving work environment. Being part of UPS, a very large corporation, offers a unique blend of startup agility with the stability and resources of a major enterprise.

Founded: Founded in 2015, Happy Returns has established itself as a leader in returns solutions and was acquired by UPS in 2022, further solidifying its market position and growth trajectory.

Team Structure:

• Product & Engineering Focus: The role is within a small, high-impact team of engineers and product managers, indicating a collaborative and agile product development environment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The Senior UX Designer/Researcher will work closely with stakeholders across various departments, including product management, engineering, customer success, and leadership, highlighting a matrixed and collaborative organizational structure.

• Specialized Expertise: The team likely comprises individuals with deep expertise in their respective fields, fostering a culture of learning and knowledge sharing.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: The core methodology revolves around understanding and addressing user needs through research and design.

• Iterative Development: Product improvements are driven by iterative cycles of research, design, development, and feedback.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Research findings and user data are used to inform product strategy and prioritize improvements.

• Design System Adoption: Emphasis on standardized design components and processes to ensure consistency and efficiency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of a startup culture with the backing of UPS suggests a unique environment that offers both innovation and stability. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration implies a need for strong interpersonal and communication skills, alongside technical expertise.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer / Researcher, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role. It requires a significant degree of autonomy, leadership in research and design initiatives, and the ability to mentor or guide more junior team members implicitly.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a product team structure, likely working closely with a Product Manager and Engineering Lead. The specific reporting manager would typically be a Head of Product, Director of Design, or similar leadership role within the product organization.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer/Researcher has a direct and significant impact on the company's success by shaping user experiences for shoppers, retail partners, and internal operations specialists. By improving the usability and efficiency of returns processes, the role directly contributes to customer satisfaction, operational cost savings for retailers, and the overall scalability and profitability of Happy Returns' business. Enhancing the return experience is crucial for customer retention and brand loyalty in e-commerce.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing a larger design team and strategy as the company scales.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX research or design, particularly within the e-commerce and logistics sectors.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Potential to move into product management or other strategic roles within the product organization, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and product development.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and researchers, contributing to the growth of the design function within Happy Returns.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping industry standards in returns UX through innovative solutions and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies leadership in execution and thought leadership within the design and research domains. Growth potential is significant given the company's rapid expansion and the strategic importance of user experience in the competitive e-commerce returns market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is advertised as "On-site," indicating a preference for or requirement of working from the company's physical office location. This fosters in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): The primary location specified is Atlanta, GA. This suggests the candidate will be part of the operations and product hub in this region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The description emphasizes working within a small team of engineers and product managers, suggesting an open and collaborative workspace designed to facilitate frequent communication and brainstorming.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and research tools, particularly Figma, and potentially other collaboration and project management software.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for direct interaction with designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied. While on-site, the environment likely supports focused work periods punctuated by collaborative sessions and team meetings, typical of product development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement suggests that physical presence is valued for team collaboration and synergy, which is common in product development environments where rapid iteration and spontaneous problem-solving are key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Screening: Initial review of resumes and portfolios for required qualifications and experience.

2. Hiring Manager/Recruiter Screen: A preliminary conversation to assess cultural fit, motivation, and high-level qualifications.

3. Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discussing key projects, research methodologies, and design decisions. This may be followed by a design or research-focused exercise/challenge.

4. Team Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (Engineers, Product Managers) to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and problem-solving approach.

5. Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, impact potential, and alignment with company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations around compelling narratives for each project. Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research process, design solutions, and the outcome/impact.

• Highlight Research Integration: Explicitly demonstrate how user research informed your design decisions at each stage. Use visuals like user journey maps, personas, and research synthesis reports.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, component library management, and prototyping techniques.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Be Ready for a Challenge: Prepare for a practical design or research exercise that simulates real-world problems the team faces. Focus on your thought process, methodology, and communication.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Happy Returns, its mission, its customers (shoppers, retailers, specialists), and its competitive landscape.

• Focus on Process: For any challenge, emphasize your approach to understanding the problem, gathering information (even if simulated), exploring solutions, and iterating.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss design trade-offs and justify your decisions based on user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your work and ideas concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that "shows how research informed your design decisions" is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to deep-dive into their research process and the impact it had on the final design. The interview process is likely structured to assess both technical UX skills and collaborative capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly mentioned as a required tool for UI design, prototyping, and building components. Proficiency is essential.

• UX Research Tools: While not specified, typical tools may include platforms for usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), survey creation (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and potentially qualitative data analysis software.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities are key, but familiarity with other tools like InVision or Adobe XD might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude would be valuable for understanding user behavior and measuring the impact of designs.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, the ability to interpret data presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Looker) would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) may be helpful for understanding customer data and workflows, especially concerning retail partners.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello is common for collaborating with engineering teams and tracking project progress.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is Figma. However, a broader understanding of the product development toolchain, including research platforms and analytics, will be highly beneficial for a Senior UX role focused on data-informed design and measurable impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of shoppers, retailers, and internal specialists.

• Innovation: A drive to create novel solutions that improve the returns experience and set industry standards.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of teamwork and cross-functional partnership to achieve shared goals.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on delivering tangible results that enhance customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and business growth.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change and thriving in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Product Teams: The team likely operates with a high degree of integration between design, product, and engineering, fostering open communication and shared ownership.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions are grounded in user research findings, analytics, and performance metrics to ensure objective decision-making.

• Constructive Feedback: An environment where feedback is actively sought, given, and received constructively to drive continuous improvement.

• Proactive Engagement: Encouraging team members to proactively identify opportunities, raise concerns, and contribute ideas beyond their immediate scope.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, innovation, and collaborative execution, aligning with a growing tech company that aims to disrupt an established industry. The emphasis on "impact-driven" suggests a results-oriented culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse User Needs: Designing for three distinct user groups (shoppers, retail associates, warehouse specialists) with potentially conflicting needs and priorities.

• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting quickly to evolving business requirements, scaling processes, and integrating new features in a fast-paced startup setting.

• Standardization vs. Innovation: Balancing the need to standardize design and research processes with the imperative to innovate and find new solutions.

• Data Interpretation in Ambiguity: Synthesizing often incomplete or ambiguous research data into clear, actionable design directions.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for user-centered design principles across various departments and leadership levels.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening E-commerce & Logistics Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in the nuances of online retail, reverse logistics, and supply chain operations.

• Advanced UX Research Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement more sophisticated research methodologies for complex problem spaces.

• Design System Leadership: Potential to take a leading role in evolving and expanding the company's design system.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Developing leadership skills through guiding and mentoring junior team members.

• Industry Exposure: Learning from and contributing to best practices within the broader e-commerce and customer experience landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexity of the role and the environment. The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly for someone looking to make a significant impact and grow within a rapidly expanding company backed by a major corporation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used UX research to significantly influence a product decision. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your research process, synthesis, and communication of findings.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our returns processing application, considering the needs of warehouse specialists?" (Demonstrate your problem-solving framework, user empathy, and iterative design approach.)

• "Walk me through a complex UX project from your portfolio. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Be prepared to deep-dive into your process, research, and design rationale.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Happy Returns and our mission?" (Showcase your understanding of the company's business and your alignment with its goals.)

• "How do you handle disagreements with product managers or engineers regarding design decisions?" (Highlight your collaborative approach, data-driven advocacy, and ability to find common ground.)

• "Describe your experience contributing to or building design systems." (Focus on your understanding of scalability, consistency, and component-based design.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your role and the project's goals. Then, detail the problem, your research methodology, key insights, design iterations, and the final solution. Conclude with the impact and lessons learned.

• Emphasize the "Why": For every design decision, clearly articulate the user research or data that supported it.

• Showcase Figma Workflows: Be ready to discuss your Figma setup, component usage, and prototyping techniques.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time, allowing for Q&A.

• Prepare for a Design/Research Exercise: Anticipate a practical challenge that tests your ability to think critically, apply UX principles, and communicate your approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating the integration of research into design. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, defend their decisions with evidence, and showcase their ability to collaborate effectively within a product team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer / Researcher position:

• Submit your application: Use the provided link on the ADP portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects where UX research directly informed design decisions. Highlight your Figma skills and any contributions to design systems or research methodologies. Prepare a concise narrative for each project.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your 4+ years of relevant experience, specific UX research methodologies employed, Figma proficiency, and cross-functional collaboration successes. Use keywords from the job description.

• Research Happy Returns: Understand their mission, products, target users (shoppers, retailers, specialists), and recent company news (e.g., UPS acquisition). This will help you tailor your responses during interviews.

• Prepare for a Design/Research Challenge: Familiarize yourself with common UX design and research exercises. Practice articulating your thought process and methodology under timed conditions.

⚠️ 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.