Sr. UX Product Designer - 10895

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Product Designer

Company: ICSI.

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is positioned within the Digital Customer Experience team, focusing on enhancing user experiences for customer and employee-facing applications at American Airlines.

• The Sr. UX Product Designer will collaborate within cross-functional teams, influencing product and design decisions with end-to-end ownership from inception to implementation.

• Key responsibilities include driving user experience strategy, interaction design, visual design, user research, and information architecture.

• The position offers opportunities to work in either a product-focused capacity, delivering value to product teams, or in Design Operations, focusing on scaling design standards and processes across the enterprise.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Sr. UX Product Designer," the description also mentions "Design Operations" as a potential focus area. This suggests the role may have elements of both direct product design and strategic design process improvement, requiring a candidate who can adapt to either or potentially blend both. The "CONTRACTOR" employment type and "No Benefits" note are critical for candidate expectations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Influence product and Product Owner decisions by applying UX best practices, design principles, and research insights, operating within agile methodologies.

• Collaborate closely with Engineering teams to identify and implement the most effective, expedient, and efficient solutions.

• Collect, analyze, and present user feedback, managing changes to UX deliverables throughout the design lifecycle.

• Clearly and compellingly present design work and research findings to stakeholders, utilizing storytelling and strong presentation skills.

• Provide regular status updates on progress, outstanding tasks, issues, and risks using project management tools such as Rally, Jira, or Aha!.

• Ensure effective communication with all team members to facilitate seamless project execution.

• Design the visual style, interface, and interaction flow for applications and experiences, ensuring adherence to established design standards and the patterns of a design system.

• Develop conceptual diagrams, wireframes, visual mockups, and interactive prototypes, emphasizing systems thinking and robust information architecture.

• Create comprehensive research strategies aligned with desired outcomes, developing usability test plans, scripts, and scenarios for prototypes.

• Formulate and test hypotheses iteratively throughout the design process to refine solutions.

• Employ a range of research techniques, including heuristic reviews, user interviews, remote unmoderated testing, and in-person testing, to assess design ease-of-use and comprehension.

• Lead and manage the end-to-end UX design process, from initial ideation through to final execution.

• Mentor and guide other Designers within the team, fostering professional growth and collaborative synergy.

• Ensure all designs are responsive and adaptive, catering to both desktop and mobile platforms seamlessly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic thinking, and leadership/mentorship. The emphasis on agile methodologies, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making (through research and feedback analysis) are key for operations-minded candidates.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Visual Design, Library Sciences, or a related discipline.

• Equivalent experience or training may be considered as an alternative to a formal degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a UX practitioner, with a strong background in user experience design, interaction design, or a similar role.

• Experience working closely with Engineers from project inception through implementation, particularly within an agile development environment.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating effectively across diverse disciplines, product lines, roles, and geographical/time zone boundaries.

• Proficiency in using remote unmoderated testing tools and moderated testing devices and platforms.

• Hands-on experience with responsive, adaptive, and accessible design principles and implementation.

• Experience designing for various platforms including mobile apps (iOS and Android), desktop, and web applications.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (CC).

• Understanding of front-end development languages including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• Advanced analytical skills for complex data problems and the ability to implement sustainable solutions.

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to effectively label, classify, and intelligently build flows and wireframes for complex applications.

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical users.

• In-depth understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

• Solid grasp of user-centered design principles and current trends in web and app design.

• Proficiency in using project management tools like Rally, Jira, and Aha! for progress tracking and status reporting.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with accessibility standards, specifically WCAG 2.0+ AA compliance, localization, and inclusive design practices.

• Ability to adopt, contribute to, and promote design systems, driving design standardization across the enterprise.

• Proven ability to function effectively in both Product and Design Operations environments, adapting to evolving organizational needs.

• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as generative AI and spatial computing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, and strong communication. The mention of "advanced analytical skills dealing with complex data problems" and "implementing sustainable solutions" points towards an operations-oriented mindset, even within a design role. Experience with project management tools indicates a need for process adherence and reporting.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end UX design processes for at least 2-3 significant projects, demonstrating impact and problem-solving capabilities.

• Include examples that illustrate your ability to translate user research findings and data analysis into actionable design solutions.

• Present wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final visual designs, highlighting the evolution of the design based on feedback and testing.

• Demonstrate experience with systems thinking and information architecture, particularly for complex applications.

Process Documentation:

• Provide case studies that detail your approach to user research, including methodology (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) and key insights derived.

• Document your process for developing and iterating on prototypes, including the tools used and the rationale behind design choices.

• Illustrate how you collaborated with engineering and product teams, detailing communication strategies and problem-solving during implementation.

• Showcase examples of how you have contributed to or utilized design systems and adhered to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Include examples of how you have managed feedback, iterated on designs, and presented work to stakeholders, demonstrating your communication and influence skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Sr. UX Product Designer role, especially one with potential DesignOps exposure, the portfolio should not just showcase polished final designs but also the process behind them. This includes detailing how user data was leveraged, how problems were analyzed, and how solutions were systematically developed and validated. Contributions to design systems or process improvements are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on the "Sr." title, "CONTRACTOR" employment type, and location (Fort Worth, TX), a typical W2 contract rate for a Sr. UX Product Designer with 3-5 years of experience in the airline or large enterprise technology sector would range from $60 to $85 per hour.

Benefits:

• Position Type: W2 Contract - No Benefits.

• Note: As this is a contract position, standard employee benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, retirement plans (401k), and other company-sponsored benefits are typically not included. Candidates should factor in the cost of obtaining their own benefits.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours for this role are approximately 40 hours per week.

• While primarily on-site, there may be occasional flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration requirements, though this should be confirmed with the hiring manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "W2 Contract - No Benefits" is a critical piece of information. The salary estimate provided is an hourly rate, as is standard for W2 contract roles. It's crucial for candidates to understand that they will be responsible for their own benefits and taxes (though W2 implies employer handles some tax withholding).

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Aviation Services. ICSI. is a company that partners with organizations like American Airlines, suggesting a focus on enterprise solutions, technology integration, and potentially large-scale digital transformation projects within established industries. American Airlines itself operates in the highly regulated and customer-centric aviation sector.

Company Size: While ICSI.'s exact size isn't provided, its partnership with a major corporation like American Airlines implies it operates at a significant scale, likely with dedicated teams for client projects. The "Customer Experience Organization at American Airlines" suggests a large, established corporate structure with established processes and a focus on user-centricity.

Founded: The company was founded in 2017, indicating a relatively modern company with a focus on current technologies and methodologies. American Airlines was founded in 1926, representing a long-standing company with deep industry experience.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the Digital Customer Experience team within the broader Customer Experience Organization at American Airlines.

• This is described as a multidisciplinary UX team, indicating collaboration with other UX designers, researchers, content strategists, and potentially product managers.

Methodology:

• Design work is conducted within an agile methodology, requiring adaptability and iterative development.

• Emphasis is placed on user-centered design principles, using research and feedback to drive product and design decisions.

• Systems thinking and information architecture are crucial for designing complex applications.

• Design Operations focuses on standards, processes, and scaling design across the enterprise, suggesting a structured approach to design execution.

Company Website: http://www.icsicad.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The context suggests a fast-paced, collaborative environment within a large enterprise (American Airlines). The focus on digital customer experience implies a strong emphasis on user needs and data-driven improvements. The "Design Operations" aspect hints at a desire for scalable, efficient design processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Sr. UX Product Designer" role, indicating a senior individual contributor position. It requires a strong foundation in UX principles, demonstrated ability to lead projects, and the capacity to mentor junior designers. The role involves influencing product and design decisions, suggesting a level of autonomy and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The role sits within the Digital Customer Experience team, part of the Customer Experience Organization. While the direct reporting manager isn't specified, it's likely a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Director within this organization. Collaboration will extend across product lines and functions.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts customer and employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and potentially revenue through improved user journeys on digital platforms. By influencing product and design decisions, the designer contributes to the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of critical applications. The Design Operations track focuses on scaling these impacts enterprise-wide.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, design systems, generative AI, or spatial computing.

• Leadership Development: Potential to lead larger initiatives, mentor junior designers more formally, or transition into a Lead Designer or Design Manager role.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience in different product domains within American Airlines or contributing to strategic Design Operations initiatives.

• Industry Impact: Working on high-visibility projects for a major airline, contributing to the digital transformation of a critical industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." title and mentorship responsibilities point to a role with growth potential, either in technical design leadership or process improvement. The contract nature means long-term career progression within ICSI. might be limited, but the experience gained at American Airlines is highly valuable.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site position in Fort Worth, TX. This suggests a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration, team meetings, and access to office resources are expected.

Office Location(s): Fort Worth, Texas. This location is known for its growing tech and corporate presence, offering a standard business environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes working within cross-functional teams and a multidisciplinary UX team, suggesting an open, collaborative workspace designed to foster interaction.

• Tools and Technology: Access to modern design and prototyping tools (Figma, Adobe CC), project management software (Jira, Rally), and potentially other enterprise-level systems.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other designers is expected, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, likely aligned with typical business hours in the Fort Worth area. While on-site, there might be some flexibility for critical deadlines or team events, but the primary expectation is consistent presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor. It implies a need for candidates who can commute to Fort Worth and thrive in a collaborative, in-person team setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A core part of the process will involve presenting a portfolio of past work. Candidates should be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects, explaining their role, the problem, the process, design decisions, challenges, and outcomes.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a design exercise, a whiteboarding session to solve a UX problem, or a deep dive into specific tools and methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential team members, including engineers, product managers, or other designers, to assess collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Don't just show pretty screens. Explain why you made certain design choices, what research informed them, and how you iterated.

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

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome -> Learnings.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that align with enterprise-level design, customer experience, and potentially Design Operations (if applicable). Show experience with complex systems.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, collaboration, handling of difficult feedback, and how you approach complex problems.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Expect a problem that requires you to define user needs, ideate solutions, and sketch out key screens or user flows. Focus on your thought process.

• Whiteboarding: Be ready to articulate your thinking process verbally and visually, collaborating with the interviewer(s).

• Methodology Questions: Prepare to discuss your experience with agile, user research methods, design systems, and accessibility standards.

• Company Research: Understand American Airlines' digital presence, customer-facing apps, and potential pain points for users. Research ICSI. and their role in enterprise solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio and interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to articulate their design process and its impact, especially within a large corporate and agile framework. Demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving beyond just visual design is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD). Proficiency in at least one primary tool is essential.

• Project Management: Rally, Jira, Aha! - Experience with these tools for tracking progress, managing backlogs, and reporting status is required.

• Collaboration: Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Confluence for communication and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Less directly relevant for a UX Designer, but understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms might influence user journeys or data collection could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of project management tools like Rally, Jira, and Aha! underscores the need for operational efficiency and process adherence in this role. Familiarity with Figma and Adobe CC is standard for UX roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and addressing user needs is paramount, driving all design decisions.

• Collaboration & Communication: Open, transparent communication and strong cross-functional teamwork are essential for success in an enterprise environment.

• Agility & Adaptability: The ability to work effectively in an agile framework, adapt to changing requirements, and iterate quickly is highly valued.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing user research, analytics, and feedback to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished, and effective designs that meet business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical implementation.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the team and potentially the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a blend of user advocacy and pragmatic execution within a corporate structure. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to balance user needs with business constraints and collaborate effectively within established processes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating the diverse priorities and expectations of various stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Business, Users) within a large organization.

• Enterprise-Scale Design: Applying design principles and systems across a wide range of products and platforms, ensuring consistency and scalability.

• Agile Iteration Speed: Maintaining design quality and user focus while working within tight agile sprints and release cycles.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration (if applicable): While this role is on-site, managing communication and collaboration across different locations or time zones can be a challenge for larger companies. (Less relevant for this specific on-site role, but a general enterprise challenge.)

• Design Operations Integration: If focusing on DesignOps, the challenge lies in standardizing processes, evangelizing best practices, and gaining buy-in across multiple teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX & Design Skills: Opportunities to specialize in areas like accessibility, inclusive design, or emerging technologies.

• Design Systems Contribution: Learning to build, maintain, and evolve enterprise-level design systems.

• Product Strategy Input: Gaining deeper insight into product strategy and contributing to roadmap planning.

• Mentorship: Developing leadership and mentorship skills by guiding junior designers.

• Industry Exposure: Understanding the complexities and user needs within the aviation industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, in addition to core design competencies. Growth opportunities are geared towards both deepening design expertise and developing leadership/strategic capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a Product Owner or Engineer to adopt a UX recommendation. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on persuasion, data, and collaboration.)

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility and ensuring WCAG compliance? Can you walk me through an example?" (Demonstrate knowledge of standards and practical application.)

• "Tell me about a complex system you designed. What were the key information architecture challenges, and how did you solve them?" (Highlight systems thinking and problem-solving for intricate user flows.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for American Airlines and specifically on their Digital Customer Experience team?" (Show research into the company and alignment with their mission.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX trends and technologies, particularly those relevant to large enterprises or emerging fields like AI?" (Demonstrate continuous learning and forward-thinking.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Have 2-3 well-defined case studies ready. For each, clearly state the problem, your specific role, the process, the key design decisions, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points. Annotate key areas to draw attention to specific design solutions.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify wherever possible. Even if you don't have hard metrics, articulate the intended impact and how your design addressed the user/business problem.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, research methodologies, and the rationale behind your decisions. Be ready to defend your work constructively.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Mention how you worked with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders throughout the process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating the "why" behind design decisions, demonstrating a strong understanding of user-centered principles, and showcasing the ability to collaborate effectively within a structured, agile, and enterprise environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the ICSI. careers portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to enterprise UX design, agile methodologies, cross-functional collaboration, and proficiency in required tools (Figma, Adobe CC, Jira, Rally). Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate end-to-end UX design processes, problem-solving for complex systems, and user-centric outcomes. Ensure it clearly shows your role, process, and impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies concisely and compellingly, focusing on storytelling, process, and results. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions.

• Research the Company: Understand ICSI.'s role as a partner to American Airlines, and research American Airlines' digital customer experience. Familiarize yourself with their stated values and mission.

⚠️ 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.