Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Patterson Companies, Inc.

Location: St Paul, MN, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-18T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the user experience (UX) strategy and end-to-end design for the critical redesign and re-platforming of three major e-commerce websites, ensuring a cohesive and scalable user interface (UI) across digital properties.

• Develop and meticulously maintain a comprehensive, multi-site design system, encompassing reusable components, established patterns, and clear documentation to ensure design consistency and efficiency.

• Drive the full product lifecycle through the creation of wireframes, detailed user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that translate business objectives and user insights into intuitive, conversion-optimized digital experiences.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, research, and content strategy, advocating for user-centered design principles and data-informed decision-making throughout agile development sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled Senior UX Designer, the responsibilities heavily lean into Digital Product Design and UX/UI Strategy, particularly concerning e-commerce platforms and design system implementation. The emphasis on leading redesigns and platform migrations suggests a strategic and leadership component beyond typical individual contributor roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the UX strategy and design initiatives for the comprehensive redesign, re-platforming, and ongoing maintenance of three key e-commerce websites, prioritizing user experience consistency, design scalability, and industry-leading usability.

• Conceptualize and execute wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that effectively support the entire product development lifecycle, from initial concept ideation to final production deployment.

• Architect, build, and meticulously maintain a unified, multi-site design system, defining and documenting reusable UI components, interaction patterns, and style guides to ensure brand consistency and efficient design iteration.

• Actively partner with product managers, software engineers, UX researchers, and content strategists to translate complex business requirements and critical user insights into intuitive, user-friendly, and conversion-focused digital product designs.

• Champion user experience best practices and advocate for data-driven design decisions by presenting user research findings, A/B test results, and usability metrics during strategic planning, product prioritization, and agile sprint planning sessions.

• Ensure all design deliverables adhere to stringent accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), responsive design principles for seamless cross-device functionality, and performance optimization best practices to enhance user satisfaction and site efficiency.

• Provide expert UX direction, constructive feedback, and strategic guidance to design and development teams with a high degree of autonomy, proactively identifying potential design challenges, risks, and innovative solutions.

• Facilitate streamlined implementation processes by collaborating closely with front-end development teams, ensuring the fidelity of designs, the feasibility of implementation, and the overall quality of the user interface.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership in UX, hands-on design execution, and a strong focus on design systems and e-commerce platform development. The need to "advocate for UX principles" and "provide direction... without requiring daily oversight" indicates a senior-level expectation for proactive problem-solving and influence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5–8+ years of dedicated UX design experience, with a substantial portion focused on e-commerce platforms, intricate web applications, or managing complex multi-site digital ecosystems. Proven track record of leading large-scale website redesigns or significant platform migration projects.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in UX strategy development and execution for digital products.

• Proven experience in designing and implementing comprehensive design systems for complex applications.

• Proficiency in Figma and other contemporary design and prototyping tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).

• Strong command of interaction design principles, information architecture, usability heuristics, and responsive design methodologies.

• Hands-on experience building or significantly contributing to design systems and working within Content Management System (CMS) driven environments.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and gain buy-in from diverse cross-functional stakeholders and leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and drive projects forward with minimal day-to-day supervision in fast-paced, dynamic environments. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and translating research findings into actionable design improvements.

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.

• Understanding of SEO best practices as they relate to UX and content strategy.

• Experience with A/B testing and conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies within e-commerce contexts.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA or higher) and their practical application in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 5-8+ years, coupled with the need to lead large-scale redesigns and manage ambiguity, positions this role as a senior individual contributor with significant strategic impact. The emphasis on Figma and design systems points to a need for modern UX tooling and a systematic approach to design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design process for complex digital products, with a strong emphasis on e-commerce or multi-site applications.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating leadership in large-scale redesigns or platform migrations, highlighting strategic thinking, problem-solving, and iterative design approaches.

• Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, illustrating component design, pattern definition, and documentation practices.

• Prototypes and high-fidelity designs that clearly articulate user flows, interaction design, and visual aesthetics, with a focus on conversion optimization and user engagement.

• Evidence of applying usability heuristics, accessibility standards, and responsive design principles in practical design solutions. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of the UX design process, including user research synthesis, ideation techniques, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing methodologies.

• Workflow diagrams illustrating complex user journeys and system interactions within e-commerce environments.

• Case studies that clearly outline the problem, the design process undertaken, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, especially one involving large-scale redesigns and design system development, a portfolio is critical. It should not only display visual design skills but also strategic thinking, process documentation, and quantifiable results. The emphasis on "cohesive, scalable design system" and "multi-site" suggests that portfolio pieces demonstrating system thinking will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $96,500.00 - $128,700.00 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Integrated Wellness Program designed to support employee health and well-being.

• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a company match to support long-term financial goals.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual for work-life balance.

• Paid holidays and floating holidays to observe personal and cultural occasions.

• Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to encourage community engagement.

• Educational Assistance Program to support professional development and continued learning.

• Full Paid Parental and Adoption Leave to support new families.

• LifeWorks Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing confidential support services.

• Patterson Perks Program offering various employee discounts and benefits.

Working Hours: The role is listed as Full-time, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week. Specific working hours may be flexible within the on-site framework, allowing for effective collaboration with teams across different time zones if applicable, but core hours will likely be aligned with St. Paul, MN business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Senior UX Designer role in the St. Paul, MN area, reflecting the required experience and responsibilities. The extensive benefits package indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and professional growth, which is attractive to experienced professionals. The "on-site" classification suggests a standard work week with expectations for in-office presence.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare, Dental, and Medical Supplies Distribution. Patterson Companies, Inc. operates within the critical sector of healthcare supply chain, providing essential products and services to dental and medical professionals. This industry context implies a focus on reliability, compliance, and customer-centric solutions.

Company Size: Patterson Companies is a large, established organization. While the exact employee count isn't provided in the input, their presence suggests a structured corporate environment with multiple departments and established processes.

Founded: Patterson Companies was founded in 1912, indicating a long history and deep roots in its industry. This longevity suggests stability, a strong market presence, and an established corporate culture that likely values experience and proven methodologies.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will likely be part of a broader Digital Product or Technology team, potentially within a Marketing or IT department.

• This team will collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing or Sales Operations to drive the redesign of e-commerce platforms.

• Reporting structure likely involves a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Director of Product, with the Senior UX Designer expected to work with significant autonomy. Methodology:

• Given the large-scale redesign and re-platforming, the team will likely employ Agile methodologies (Scrum or Kanban) for iterative development and continuous feedback loops.

• A strong emphasis will be placed on data-informed decision-making, utilizing analytics, user research, and A/B testing to guide design and product strategy.

• The development of a cohesive design system indicates a commitment to scalable, efficient, and consistent design practices across multiple digital touchpoints.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Patterson Companies' long history and industry place it in a category of established, stable organizations. The UX role will be crucial in modernizing their digital presence, particularly their e-commerce sites. The company culture, described as "people-first, always advancing, and results-driven," suggests a balance between employee support and performance expectations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior," indicating a high level of expertise and responsibility. A Senior UX Designer is expected to lead complex projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute significantly to strategic design decisions. They are often seen as subject matter experts within their domain.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Director of UX, or a Head of Digital Product. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other cross-functional stakeholders. While they will have direction, they are expected to operate with considerable independence, driving projects forward.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer will have a direct and significant impact on Patterson's revenue by improving the user experience of their three major e-commerce sites. This includes enhancing conversion rates, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, reducing support costs through intuitive design, and ensuring a scalable platform that supports future business growth. Their work on the design system will also streamline future product development and ensure brand consistency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Opportunity to lead design efforts on major initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially transition into a Lead UX Designer or Design Manager role.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in e-commerce UX, design systems, and platform migrations, becoming a go-to expert in these areas.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of product management, engineering workflows, and business strategy within the healthcare distribution sector.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through projects, internal training, and potentially external conferences or certifications related to UX, design systems, and e-commerce best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies that candidates should be prepared to discuss leadership, strategic contributions, and mentorship. The impact on revenue through e-commerce optimization is a key area to highlight, especially in interview discussions. Growth opportunities suggest a path towards leadership or deep specialization within Patterson's digital product teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests opportunities for in-person collaboration, spontaneous discussions, and direct mentorship.

Office Location(s): St. Paul, MN - Corporate Office. This location in a major metropolitan area likely offers good accessibility and a professional corporate setting.

Workspace Context:

• The St. Paul corporate office likely provides a professional and collaborative workspace conducive to design work.

• Expect access to standard office technology, meeting rooms for collaborative sessions, and potentially specialized design software and hardware.

• The environment will foster interaction with diverse teams, including product, engineering, marketing, and other design professionals, supporting the need for cross-functional communication and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: As a full-time, on-site role, the work schedule will likely adhere to standard business hours, typically Monday through Friday. While flexibility may exist within the workday, employees are expected to be present in the office. This structure supports synchronous collaboration and team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an on-site role, candidates should consider how they thrive in a collaborative office setting and their ability to engage with colleagues in person. The corporate office environment implies a professional atmosphere where structured teamwork and adherence to company policies are important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager (e.g., Design Manager, Director) to delve deeper into experience, leadership capabilities, and understanding of UX strategy.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A critical stage where the candidate presents their portfolio, walking through key projects. This may be accompanied by a design challenge or case study presentation to assess problem-solving skills, design process, and strategic thinking.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders such as Product Managers, Engineering Leads, or other designers to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate with existing teams.

• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with a higher-level executive or senior leader to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure portfolio presentations around clear narratives: the problem, your role and process, the solution, and the measurable impact. For this role, focus on e-commerce challenges, redesigns, and design system contributions.

• Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, emphasize your thought process, research, iteration, and how you arrived at the final design. Demonstrate how you handle constraints and feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains from design systems) to demonstrate the business value of your work.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects most relevant to e-commerce, large-scale redesigns, and design system development. Showcase your expertise with Figma and your ability to work autonomously.

• Address Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders, especially regarding design system implementation and maintenance.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect a design challenge that may involve problem-solving for an e-commerce scenario, improving an existing user flow, or outlining a strategy for a design system component.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying choices based on user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Be ready to discuss trade-offs, potential risks, and alternative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a cornerstone of UX hiring. For this Senior role, candidates must be prepared to discuss strategic impact, leadership, and the full lifecycle of complex projects, particularly those involving e-commerce redesigns and design systems. The emphasis on autonomy and cross-functional collaboration means interviewers will probe for evidence of these skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as required. Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration is essential. This includes understanding its features for design systems, component libraries, and auto-layout.

• Contemporary Design/Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other industry-standard tools like Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, or similar is beneficial.

• CMS (Content Management System): Experience working within or designing for CMS-driven environments is required. This implies an understanding of how content is managed and how designs need to be flexible to accommodate content variations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, a Senior UX Designer should be comfortable with or have experience using analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design changes.

• Familiarity with A/B testing tools and methodologies for data-informed design optimization is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core UX design responsibilities, but an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce, if used by Patterson) and marketing automation tools interact with customer-facing e-commerce platforms could provide valuable context for designing integrated user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on Figma and design systems indicates that candidates must be proficient in modern UX tooling and possess a systematic approach to design. Understanding CMS environments is crucial for designing within content-driven platforms. Familiarity with analytics and A/B testing tools will help in demonstrating the impact of UX work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People-First: Patterson emphasizes a "people-first" culture, suggesting a focus on employee well-being, supportive relationships, and a positive work environment. For a UX designer, this translates to understanding user needs empathetically and designing solutions that genuinely help people.

• Always Advancing: This value implies a commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and staying current with industry trends. For UX, it means embracing new design methodologies, tools, and technologies, and proactively seeking opportunities to enhance digital products.

• Results-Driven: A focus on achieving tangible outcomes. UX designers are expected to contribute to business goals, such as increasing conversions, improving user satisfaction, and driving efficiency through their designs.

• Collaboration: As highlighted in the responsibilities, strong collaboration with cross-functional teams is key. This means valuing diverse perspectives and working effectively with product, engineering, and business stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role demands close collaboration with Product Managers for requirements and strategy, Engineering for feasibility and implementation, and Researchers for user insights. This requires strong communication and the ability to bridge different disciplines.

• Design System Advocacy: A collaborative approach to building and maintaining the design system, involving input from various design and development teams to ensure its utility and adoption.

• Feedback Exchange: An open environment for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs, prototypes, and strategic approaches to ensure the best possible outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values provide a clear framework for how the UX team is expected to operate. Candidates should align their responses and portfolio examples with these values, demonstrating how they contribute to a people-first, advancing, and results-driven environment through strong collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Redesign Complexity: Managing the end-to-end redesign of three major e-commerce sites simultaneously presents a significant challenge in terms of scope, coordination, and maintaining consistency across platforms.

• Platform Migration: Transitioning to a new platform and CMS requires careful planning, user testing, and ensuring a seamless experience for both internal users and external customers during and after the migration.

• Design System Adoption: Ensuring widespread adoption and consistent use of the developed design system across multiple teams and projects can be challenging, requiring ongoing advocacy, training, and support.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively balancing the needs of various stakeholders (users, business, engineering, marketing) while advocating for user-centered design principles in a large corporate environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• E-commerce Expertise: Deepen specialized knowledge in e-commerce UX best practices, conversion rate optimization, and online retail user journeys.

• Design System Leadership: Gain advanced experience in architecting, implementing, and governing large-scale design systems, potentially leading to future leadership roles in design operations or platform design.

• Platform Technology: Develop a deeper understanding of modern web technologies, CMS capabilities, and the technical implications of UX design decisions.

• Cross-functional Acumen: Enhance business acumen by working closely with product, marketing, and sales teams, understanding their operational needs and how UX contributes to broader business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach complex challenges like large-scale redesigns and design system implementation. Highlighting how they leverage these challenges as growth opportunities will demonstrate their proactive and development-oriented mindset.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for leading the UX strategy for a large-scale e-commerce redesign. How would you approach balancing the needs of three distinct sites within a unified design system?"

• "How do you advocate for user-centered design and data-informed decisions when faced with competing business priorities or technical constraints? Provide an example."

• "Walk us through a complex UX problem you solved in a previous role, detailing your approach, the trade-offs you considered, and the resulting impact." Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Patterson Companies, how do you see your role contributing to our 'people-first, always advancing, and results-driven' culture?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration dynamic with product managers and engineers, especially when working on a new platform or with a design system."

• "How do you measure the success of your UX designs, particularly in an e-commerce context where conversion is key?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Selection: Choose 2-3 projects that best exemplify your experience in e-commerce, large-scale redesigns, and/or design system development.

• Narrative Arc: For each project, clearly articulate:

  • The business problem and user need.
  • Your specific role and responsibilities.
  • Your design process (research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing).
  • Key design decisions and the rationale behind them.
  • The challenges faced and how you overcame them.
  • The final solution and its measurable impact (e.g., KPIs, metrics).

• Design System Focus: If presenting a design system project, explain its structure, the components created, how it was documented, and how you ensured adoption.

• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflows in Figma, including component libraries, auto-layout, and collaborative features.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, technical feasibility, accessibility, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of the UX process specifically within the context of e-commerce and large-scale digital transformation. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of problem-solving are paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://pattersoncompanies.wd501.myworkdayjobs.com/PDCO/job/St-Paul-MN/Senior-UX-Designer_R110094

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight e-commerce projects, large-scale redesigns, and any experience with design systems or platform migrations. Ensure it clearly showcases your UX process, problem-solving skills, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords from the job description, such as "UX Strategy," "E-commerce," "Figma," "Design Systems," "Large-scale Redesigns," and "Platform Migration." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio projects using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration, handling ambiguity, and contributing to a results-driven culture.

• Company Research: Deepen your understanding of Patterson Companies, its industry (healthcare/dental distribution), its products, and its stated values. Consider how your UX expertise can specifically benefit their e-commerce strategy and digital transformation goals.

⚠️ 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.

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