Sr. UX Designer - Atlanta-based Candidates Only

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Designer - Atlanta-based Candidates Only

Company: We Are Rosie

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Job Type: Contract

Category: UX/UI Design & Product Experience

Date Posted: 2026-08-14

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (7+ Years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and architect user experiences for consumer-facing digital products, focusing on mobile app and web platforms.

• Drive structural thinking over purely visual design to create robust and scalable systems.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including UX researchers, product managers, engineers, and strategists.

• Translate user research findings into actionable design solutions that address complex business and user needs.

• Contribute to and maintain a design system to ensure consistency and quality across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Senior UX Designer, emphasizing structural thinking and systems design, rather than solely visual aesthetics. The focus is on a major quick-serve restaurant brand undergoing significant digital transformation initiatives, indicating a need for experienced professionals who can navigate complex projects and contribute to foundational changes in menu systems and membership programs. The contract nature with potential for annual renewal suggests a long-term engagement with a high-impact project.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive and effective user experiences for consumer-facing mobile applications and web platforms, supporting major transformation initiatives.

• Develop comprehensive wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to clearly communicate structural design solutions and user journeys.

• Conduct and leverage user research to inform design decisions, ensuring solutions are grounded in user needs and validated insights.

• Actively participate in design critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of design work.

• Present design concepts and solutions effectively to stakeholders, articulating the rationale behind design choices and their alignment with business objectives.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the company's design system, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and usability standards.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to define product roadmaps and ensure feasibility of design solutions within technical constraints.

• Balance complex business goals with user needs, advocating for user-centricity while understanding pragmatic delivery constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic role focused on the foundational architecture of digital products for a large quick-serve restaurant brand. The emphasis on "structural thinking" and "systems thinking" suggests a need for designers who can conceptualize how systems should work, not just how they should look, particularly for initiatives like voice ordering and advanced membership programs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred for senior-level UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of dedicated UX design experience is required.

• Demonstrable experience designing consumer-facing mobile applications and/or web platforms.

• Proven track record of successfully tackling ambiguous problems and defining structural solutions. Required Skills:

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and design complex systems, focusing on structural logic and interdependencies.

• UX Fundamentals: Strong proficiency in information architecture, interaction design, and user-centered design principles.

• Research Translation: Skill in translating user research insights into tangible design solutions and product features.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for working through ambiguity and defining solutions for unclear requirements.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills for effective teamwork and stakeholder engagement.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within agile development environments and adapting to iterative processes.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to or utilizing design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively communicate design rationale and manage expectations with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the quick-serve restaurant or hospitality industry.

• Familiarity with voice ordering systems or advanced loyalty/membership program design.

• Experience with complex menu database systems or digital transformation projects.

• Proficiency in advanced prototyping tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "structural thinking over purely visual design" and "systems thinking" is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to showcase projects where they have fundamentally shaped the architecture and logic of digital products, not just their aesthetics. The requirement for comfort with ambiguity and pragmatic solutions in a large corporate setting is also a key indicator of the expected working style.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least 2-3 significant projects that demonstrate strong structural and systems thinking in consumer-facing mobile or web applications.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, and the structural solutions implemented.

• Highlight how you translated complex requirements or ambiguous problems into coherent user experiences.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, and prototypes that illustrate structural design decisions.

• Demonstrate your contribution to or creation of design systems and how they ensure consistency. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to translating user research into design solutions, including specific methodologies used.

• Explain your process for collaborating with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.

• Provide examples of how you have navigated ambiguity and defined structural solutions in past projects.

• Illustrate your understanding of agile development processes and how you integrate design into sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review for this Sr. UX Designer role will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to demonstrate deep structural thinking and systems design capabilities. Candidates should prioritize projects that illustrate complex problem-solving and the creation of robust, scalable digital architectures, rather than purely visual design showcases. Clearly articulating the "how" and "why" behind structural decisions and system logic will be paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $80 - $88 per hour.

This range is based on the provided contract details and reflects the senior-level experience required (7+ years) and the specialized nature of the UX design role, particularly its focus on structural and systems thinking within a major brand transformation.

Benefits:

• Contract role with an initial 6-month term, renewable annually, offering potential for long-term engagement.

• Full-time hours (40 hrs/week) providing consistent work and income.

• Opportunity to work with a leading quick-serve restaurant brand on impactful digital transformation initiatives.

• Exposure to cutting-edge projects like voice ordering and evolving membership programs.

• Professional development through hands-on experience with complex system design.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The role is hybrid, requiring 2 specific days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in the Atlanta office, with flexibility for the remaining days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly rate of $80-$88/hr for a contract Sr. UX Designer in Atlanta aligns with industry benchmarks for highly experienced professionals working on significant digital transformation projects for established brands. The hybrid work model with specific office days is typical for roles requiring both focused individual work and collaborative in-person interaction.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Quick-Serve Restaurant (QSR) with a strong focus on hospitality and customer experience.

Company Size: A "leading chain quick-serve restaurant brand" implies a large, established organization with significant operational scale and a substantial customer base. This size often means complex internal structures and a need for designers who can navigate corporate environments.

Founded: The company's emphasis on "creating category-leading customer experiences" and "hospitality built into their brand" suggests a company culture deeply rooted in customer satisfaction and service excellence. The ongoing transformation initiatives indicate a forward-thinking and adaptable organization.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of a larger digital product team, working alongside UX researchers, product managers, engineers, and strategists.

• This role is not intended to be a solo expert position but rather a collaborative seat within a cross-functional team.

• The designer will likely report to a UX Lead or Director of Product Design, with direct collaboration with Product Managers for specific initiatives (Menu Transformation or Membership Program Evolution). Methodology:

• The company is undergoing "major transformation initiatives," indicating a focus on strategic, large-scale projects.

• Agile methodologies are in use, requiring designers to work iteratively and adapt to changing requirements.

• A strong emphasis is placed on translating research into design, suggesting a data-informed product development process.

• The culture values a "team-first mindset" and a "low-ego approach to feedback," promoting collaboration and shared ownership.

Company Website: We Are Rosie (as the hiring partner) - www.wearerosie.com (for the hiring agency); the client company's website is not explicitly provided but is a "leading chain quick-serve restaurant brand."

📝 Enhancement Note: While We Are Rosie is the agency facilitating the hire, the actual client is a prominent QSR brand. This context is crucial for understanding the scale, complexity, and user base the designer will be serving. The company's focus on hospitality and customer experience will heavily influence design decisions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior UX Designer. This level signifies a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and responsibility. The role requires not just design execution but also strategic input, problem definition, and leadership in design thinking. It's a critical individual contributor role with significant influence on product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Sr. UX Designer will report to a design leadership figure (e.g., UX Lead, Director of Design) and will work closely with Product Managers on specific project teams. Collaboration will be extensive with engineering and UX research.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and substantial impact on customer acquisition, retention, and overall brand perception through the design of consumer-facing digital products. By improving the menu transformation and membership program, the designer will contribute to increased customer engagement, sales, and loyalty, directly influencing the company's revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in consumer-facing digital product design, particularly within the QSR or hospitality sector, and gain specialized knowledge in areas like menu systems or loyalty programs.

• Leadership: Develop skills in leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers (if applicable in the future), and influencing product strategy through design.

• Transformation Experience: Gain invaluable experience managing and contributing to large-scale digital transformation projects within a major brand, which is highly marketable.

• Contract to Full-Time Potential: While a contract role, successful performance and project needs could potentially lead to further contract extensions or even full-time opportunities within the client company or through We Are Rosie.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." designation and the nature of the projects (major transformation) suggest significant growth potential. Candidates can expect to expand their portfolio with high-impact work and gain experience in strategic design leadership, even within a contract role. The focus on systems thinking also offers an opportunity to develop highly sought-after skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This means a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): Atlanta, GA. The role requires Tuesdays and Thursdays to be spent in the office, suggesting a central office location within Atlanta.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model with designated office days fosters in-person collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and fellow designers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software and collaboration platforms will be expected. The company's transformation initiatives may also involve new tools or systems.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid setup allows for both focused individual work remotely and dynamic team interactions and brainstorming sessions in the office.

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), with a hybrid arrangement. The specific in-office days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. This schedule allows for flexibility while ensuring dedicated time for in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model with specific in-office days is designed to balance the benefits of remote flexibility with the necessity of in-person collaboration for complex design work and team alignment. Candidates should be comfortable with this structure and prepared for the specific requirements of Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Atlanta office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely conducted by We Are Rosie to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A crucial stage where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on structural design and systems thinking. A design challenge, potentially involving a specific problem related to menu transformation or membership programs, may be administered to assess problem-solving skills and design approach in real-time.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and strategic alignment.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss contract terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Structural Thinking: Prioritize projects where you significantly influenced the architecture, information flow, and underlying logic of a digital product. Use case studies to explain how you designed the system, not just what it looks like.

• Showcase Ambiguity Navigation: Select projects that started with unclear requirements or complex problems and detail your process for defining the scope and developing solutions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs, even if it's performance data from a previous role or projections based on your design.

• Explain Collaboration: Be ready to discuss your role within cross-functional teams and how you effectively collaborated with PMs, engineers, and researchers.

• Tailor to QSR: If possible, include examples or discuss how your design principles would apply to the quick-serve restaurant industry, focusing on user efficiency, menu clarity, and loyalty program engagement.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research the quick-serve restaurant industry, common user pain points, and current trends (e.g., mobile ordering, personalization, loyalty programs, voice ordering).

• Practice System Design: Be prepared to sketch out user flows and information architectures for hypothetical scenarios related to menu changes or membership benefits.

• Focus on Pragmatism: Given the mention of "pragmatic or 'good enough' solutions," demonstrate an understanding of balancing ideal design with real-world constraints (time, engineering resources).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to demonstrate "structural thinking" and "systems design." Candidates should prepare their portfolios and any design challenges with this specific emphasis in mind, showcasing their strategic contribution to product architecture rather than just visual execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard UX design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is essential for wireframing, prototyping, and creating user flows.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with advanced prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) for creating interactive and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for communication, project management, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, an understanding of how user behavior data (e.g., from Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) informs design decisions is crucial. The designer will need to collaborate with teams that use these tools. CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how UX design integrates with CRM systems and marketing automation platforms to create seamless customer journeys, particularly relevant for the membership program evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific tool requirements are not explicitly listed, but proficiency in leading UX/UI design and prototyping software (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision) is a given for a senior role. The emphasis on systems thinking implies an understanding of how different technological components integrate, even if the designer isn't directly building them.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the customer, central to hospitality brands.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A "team-first mindset" and a "low-ego approach" are paramount, requiring designers to work harmoniously with diverse teams.

• Innovation & Transformation: Embracing change and actively contributing to significant digital evolution.

• Pragmatism: Balancing ideal solutions with practical constraints for timely delivery.

• Structural Integrity: Valuing well-designed, robust systems as much as appealing interfaces.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, and Strategists, requiring clear communication and shared ownership.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback in design critiques and team discussions is essential.

• Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share insights, best practices, and contribute to a collective understanding of user needs and design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture heavily emphasizes collaboration, a team-first approach, and a pragmatic, low-ego attitude. Candidates who thrive in highly collaborative, cross-functional environments and can contribute positively to team dynamics will be a strong fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Tackling complex, ill-defined problems within a large organizational transformation.

• Balancing Constraints: Designing for ideal user experiences while adhering to business goals, timelines, and engineering limitations.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and seamless integration of design solutions across multiple departments (product, engineering, marketing, operations).

• Transformation Pace: Adapting to the fast-paced nature of major transformation initiatives and potentially shifting priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into QSR/Hospitality UX: Gain specialized knowledge and experience in a dynamic consumer-facing industry.

• Complex System Design: Develop advanced skills in architecting large-scale digital systems for menu management and loyalty programs.

• Strategic Impact: Contribute directly to significant business transformation, enhancing your portfolio with high-impact project experience.

• Agile & Hybrid Work Mastery: Refine skills in working effectively within agile frameworks and hybrid team structures.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to work on foundational digital changes for a major brand. The challenges are directly tied to the growth potential, offering a chance to develop highly valuable skills in systems design and strategic product development within a complex organizational setting.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a complex system with ambiguous requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your structured thinking and problem-definition process.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints, especially when they conflict?" (Prepare examples demonstrating pragmatic decision-making.)

• "Walk us through your process for translating user research into actionable design solutions for a consumer-facing product." (Highlight your research-to-design pipeline.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for a quick-serve restaurant brand undergoing digital transformation?" (Show research into the industry and the company's initiatives.)

• "How do you approach feedback in design critiques, especially when it challenges your initial ideas?" (Emphasize your collaborative, low-ego approach.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment with designated in-office days." (Confirm comfort with the Atlanta-based, hybrid requirement.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation around 2-3 key projects that best showcase your structural and systems thinking. For each, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the structural solutions you implemented, and the outcome.

• Visuals: Use wireframes, user flows, and prototypes to illustrate your design decisions. Explain the why behind your structural choices.

• Narrative: Tell a story about how you tackled complex challenges and delivered value. Focus on your thought process and problem-solving skills, not just the final UI.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you worked with product managers, engineers, and researchers on these projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for evidence of strong systems thinking, the ability to navigate ambiguity, and a collaborative, team-oriented approach. Practice articulating your design process with a focus on structural and architectural decisions, and be ready to discuss how your work contributes to business goals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided job portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating strong structural thinking, systems design, and problem-solving for complex, ambiguous challenges in consumer-facing applications. Prioritize case studies that detail your process from research to structural solution.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight 7+ years of UX design experience, specifically mentioning "structural thinking," "systems design," "information architecture," "interaction design," and experience with "mobile app" and "web design." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and strategic thinking, focusing on how you build robust systems. Prepare to discuss your experience with agile methodologies and hybrid work environments. Rehearse presenting your portfolio with a focus on structural contributions.

• Company Research: Research the quick-serve restaurant industry and common user pain points. Understand the importance of customer experience and hospitality in this sector, and consider how your design skills can address the company's stated transformation goals (menu, membership).

⚠️ 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.