Sr UX Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr UX Product Designer

Company: The Walt Disney Company

Location: Glendale, CA, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience Designer / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for complex enterprise software solutions supporting filmmaking workflows.

• Partner with Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders to define product strategy and deliver user-centered solutions.

• Develop intuitive, desktop-first user experiences that simplify intricate production processes.

• Conduct user research, workflow analysis, and usability testing to inform design decisions and drive product improvements.

• Contribute to and evolve a scalable design system, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and high visual quality across a portfolio of enterprise applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within The Walt Disney Studios' Technology Design team, focusing on enterprise software for filmmaking. The "Sr UX Product Designer" title, coupled with responsibilities like leading end-to-end design, system thinking, and contributing to a design system, strongly indicates a focus on strategic product development and operational efficiency within a specialized creative technology environment. The emphasis on enterprise and desktop-first design also points towards a need for robust, scalable solutions for complex workflows, rather than consumer-facing applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the complete product design lifecycle for multiple enterprise applications, from initial discovery and user research through to final implementation and iteration.

• Collaborate intimately with Product Managers to define product roadmaps, identify user needs, and translate business objectives into actionable design strategies.

• Engage actively with Engineering teams to ensure design feasibility, provide clear specifications, and support the development process for seamless product delivery.

• Plan, execute, and analyze user research initiatives, including in-depth interviews, workflow mapping sessions, and rigorous usability testing, to gather actionable insights.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including detailed user flows, information architecture diagrams, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.

• Actively participate in the creation, maintenance, and expansion of the company’s design system, ensuring adherence to established standards for consistency, accessibility, and scalability.

• Proactively explore and integrate emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools, to enhance product capabilities and optimize design workflows.

• Present design proposals, research findings, and project outcomes with clarity and conviction to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and cross-functional teams, through compelling storytelling and data-driven rationale.

• Facilitate and lead collaborative design workshops, critique sessions, and brainstorming activities to foster innovation and cross-pollination of ideas within the design and product teams.

• Manage a portfolio of concurrent design projects, prioritizing tasks effectively, maintaining meticulous attention to detail, and ensuring high-quality execution under demanding timelines.

• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in UX design best practices, emerging AI technologies, and relevant industry trends, proactively sharing knowledge and insights with the team to foster continuous improvement.

• Identify and champion opportunities to refine existing design processes, enhance team collaboration, and elevate the overall quality and impact of the studio's technology products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "What You'll Do" section provides a detailed breakdown of responsibilities. Key operations-relevant aspects include "simplify complex enterprise workflows," "design intuitive, desktop-first experiences," and "leverage AI within enterprise products and continuously improve design workflows." This indicates a strong focus on process optimization and efficiency gains through design, aligning with core operational goals. The emphasis on "systems thinking" and "design system" also points to the need for scalable and standardized solutions, crucial for enterprise environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Visual Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5+ years of experience designing digital products, with a significant focus on enterprise or B2B software applications.

Required Skills:

• Strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design experience across complex software products.

• Proven experience designing enterprise or B2B software applications, with a deep understanding of their unique design challenges and user needs.

• Advanced proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools, such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and AI-assisted prototyping tools.

• Excellent command of interaction design, information architecture, and visual design principles.

• Solid understanding of user-centered design (UCD) methodologies and design thinking practices.

• Experience planning and conducting user research, including interviews, workflow analysis, and usability testing.

• Demonstrated experience contributing to or building scalable design systems.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse stakeholders.

• Comfort navigating ambiguity and transforming complex production workflows into intuitive, human-centered experiences.

• Ability to independently manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Self-motivated with exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail. Preferred Skills:

• Experience leveraging AI-powered design, research, and productivity tools to enhance design workflows and accelerate innovation.

• Familiarity with AI-assisted prototyping tools like Claude or Cursor.

• Experience designing for filmmaking technology or creative production workflows.

• Strong understanding of accessibility standards and best practices in design.

• Experience facilitating collaborative workshops and design critiques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "What To Bring" section clearly outlines required and preferred skills. The emphasis on "enterprise or B2B software applications" and "desktop-first experiences" is crucial for operations professionals, indicating a need to understand complex business processes and user workflows. The explicit mention of "advanced proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools, such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and AI-assisted prototyping tools" highlights the technical requirements. The preference for AI tool experience aligns with modern operational efficiency trends. The rejection of primarily marketing, campaign, brand, illustration, or industrial design experience reinforces the focus on enterprise product UX.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design experience across complex software products is mandatory.

• Demonstrate a strong track record of designing enterprise or B2B software applications, highlighting problem-solving capabilities for intricate business workflows.

• Showcase your ability to simplify complex processes into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces, with clear examples of workflow analysis and optimization.

• Include case studies that illustrate your contribution to or creation of scalable design systems, emphasizing consistency, accessibility, and maintainability.

• Present examples of user research, including planning, execution, and how insights were translated into concrete design decisions and product improvements.

• Highlight your proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools (Figma, Adobe CC, AI-assisted tools), demonstrating your ability to create detailed wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Provide evidence of your storytelling and presentation skills through compelling narratives that explain your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly document the "discovery" phase, including problem definition, user research methods employed, and key findings.

• Detail the design process, including ideation, user flow mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and the iterative refinement based on feedback and testing.

• Clearly articulate the rationale behind design decisions, linking them to user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, with an emphasis on efficiency and workflow simplification.

• Showcase the implementation of design systems or contributions to existing ones, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user efficiency, task completion rates, error reduction, or stakeholder satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Application Requirements" section explicitly states "CV and portfolio are required." It further specifies that portfolios should demonstrate "end-to-end product design across complex software products" and "experience designing enterprise, desktop-first web applications." The emphasis on "Visual Design Craft" also implies a need for polished, well-documented case studies that showcase attention to detail in typography, layout, hierarchy, and interaction design. The mention of AI-assisted prototyping as a plus suggests that portfolio examples demonstrating its use would be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $159,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Medical insurance

• Financial benefits

• Bonus potential

• Long-term incentive units

• Comprehensive benefits package dependent on level and position offered.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard for full-time roles)

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $129,300.00 - $159,000.00 for a Sr UX Product Designer in Glendale, CA, is aligned with industry benchmarks for experienced professionals in high-cost-of-living areas and within a major entertainment/technology company. This range reflects a senior-level position requiring specialized skills and significant experience. The mention of "bonus and/or long-term incentive units" suggests a total compensation package that extends beyond base salary, common for senior roles in large corporations. The inclusion of "Medical insurance" and "Financial benefits" are standard but important components of a comprehensive benefits package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Entertainment, Media, Technology, Software Development

Company Size: Large Enterprise (The Walt Disney Company is a global conglomerate with tens of thousands of employees)

Founded: 1923, providing a rich history and established brand presence.

Team Structure:

• The Studio Technology Design team is a specialized group within The Walt Disney Studios' broader technology division.

• It comprises Product Designers and Visual Designers, indicating a focus on both user experience strategy and aesthetic execution.

• This team partners closely with filmmakers, artists, production teams, and technologists, suggesting a highly collaborative and cross-functional environment.

• The reporting structure likely places this team under a Design Lead or Director of Product Design, with close ties to Product Management and Engineering leadership. Methodology:

• Emphasis on user-centered design (UCD) principles and design thinking practices.

• Strong focus on systems thinking and the development of scalable design systems.

• Integration of emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance both product functionality and design workflows.

• Commitment to design craft, storytelling, and creating intuitive, polished, and inspiring enterprise software.

• Data-driven decision-making informed by user research and usability testing.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The Walt Disney Company's industry is vast, but this role is specifically within "The Walt Disney Studios" and "Studio Technology Design team," focusing on enterprise software for filmmaking. This context is critical – it means operations here are about enabling creative production at scale. The company's size and history imply robust processes, potential for complex stakeholder management, and a culture that values innovation within a structured framework. The "Ops & Insights" primary business category and "User Experience Designer" primary job category confirm the role's operational and design focus.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level implies significant autonomy, leadership on projects, mentorship capabilities, and a strategic influence on product direction and design system evolution. It sits above mid-level designers and typically reports to a Design Manager or Director.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Studio Technology Design team, likely under a Design Lead or Director. Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Engineers, and various filmmaking stakeholders, indicating a matrixed operational environment.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the efficiency, creativity, and output of filmmaking processes across The Walt Disney Studios. By designing intuitive enterprise software, this role contributes to streamlined workflows, reduced production friction, and ultimately, the successful creation of films. This has a direct operational impact on project timelines, resource allocation, and creative quality.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in enterprise UX, design systems, and AI-assisted design workflows. Opportunity to lead design initiatives for critical studio technology.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design critiques, and contribute to strategic product planning. Growth into a Design Lead or Manager role is a possible trajectory.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deep insights into the filmmaking pipeline and collaborate with a wide array of creative and technical professionals, broadening understanding of operational complexities in a unique industry.

• Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in specific areas of filmmaking technology design or in the application of AI within enterprise creative tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr" in Sr UX Product Designer signifies a senior individual contributor role with potential leadership responsibilities. The emphasis on "end-to-end product design," "leading projects," and "influencing product direction" points to significant operational impact. The growth opportunities are framed around deepening specialized operations-related design skills, potential leadership in design processes, and gaining cross-functional operational understanding within the unique filmmaking context.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with a requirement to be on-site 3-4 days per week in the Glendale, CA office. This indicates a blend of focused individual work and collaborative team interaction.

Office Location(s): Glendale, CA, USA. This location places the designer within a key hub for The Walt Disney Studios' operations and creative technology development.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative environment fostering partnerships with Product Managers, Engineers, and creative professionals.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and potentially AI-assisted prototyping tools.

• Opportunities for in-person design critiques, workshops, and brainstorming sessions to drive innovation.

• A workspace designed to support both focused individual design work and dynamic team collaboration, essential for complex enterprise software development.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with the flexibility inherent in a hybrid model for managing personal and professional time effectively, while ensuring key in-person collaboration days are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Additional Information" section specifies a "hybrid work model" requiring "on-site 3–4 days per week" in Glendale, CA. This directly informs the work environment description, emphasizing the blend of in-office collaboration and remote focused work. The context of supporting filmmaking technology suggests a dynamic, potentially fast-paced environment where collaboration is key to managing complex, multi-stage production workflows.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with enterprise/B2B design requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies that demonstrate end-to-end product design, systems thinking, and problem-solving for complex workflows. Expect to discuss your design process, rationale, user research, and the impact of your work.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to translate complex needs into design solutions.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: Potential for a design exercise or workshop to evaluate problem-solving skills, design craft, and approach to a specific workflow challenge. This may involve ideation, wireframing, or presenting design concepts.

• Leadership Interview: Final interview with senior design leadership to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and potential for contribution to the team and design system.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your experience in enterprise/B2B software design, complex workflow simplification, and end-to-end product ownership. Prioritize projects that showcase systems thinking and design system contributions.

• Tell a Compelling Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges encountered, your solutions, and the measurable impact or learnings. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Operations Relevance: Emphasize how your designs improved efficiency, reduced errors, simplified complex processes, or enabled better collaboration within the workflows you addressed. Quantify impact where possible.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Clearly demonstrate your expertise with required tools (Figma, Adobe CC) and any experience with AI-assisted tools.

• Address Ambiguity: Be prepared to discuss how you approach ambiguous problems and translate vague requirements into clear design solutions.

• Visual Craft Matters: Ensure your portfolio presentation is polished, well-organized, and visually appealing, reflecting your attention to detail and design quality.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly research The Walt Disney Studios' operations and the types of enterprise software they might use for filmmaking.

• Focus on Process: Be prepared to articulate your approach to problem-solving, user research, and design iterations within the given timeframe.

• Think Systemically: Consider how your solution might scale or integrate with existing systems or the design language.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process and design decisions concisely and confidently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Application Requirements" section mandates a portfolio and CV. The emphasis throughout the job description on "end-to-end product design," "complex software products," "enterprise or B2B software applications," and "desktop-first experiences" dictates the focus for portfolio review and interview preparation. The mention of AI-assisted tools as a plus suggests that candidates who can demonstrate their use in their portfolio or during interviews will have an advantage. The "Why Join Us" section highlights shaping the future of enterprise design and designing at scale, which should be reflected in how candidates present their work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (advanced proficiency required), Adobe Creative Cloud (advanced proficiency required).

• AI-Assisted Prototyping: Tools like Claude, Cursor, or similar are preferred/a plus, indicating an interest in leveraging AI for design exploration, prototyping, and iteration.

• Collaboration & Communication: Standard enterprise tools for communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence) are expected.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for the designer, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or custom internal tools) to inform design decisions is beneficial.

• Familiarity with tools that support user research analysis and usability testing reporting. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly within the scope of this designer role, but an understanding of how enterprise software integrates with broader business systems, potentially including CRM or workflow automation platforms, can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "What To Bring" section explicitly mandates "advanced proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools, such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and AI-assisted prototyping tools." This is a critical requirement for any applicant. The preference for AI tools also highlights a forward-looking aspect of the team's technology stack and operational approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Craft & Excellence: A deep commitment to creating polished, intuitive, and high-quality user experiences that rival the creativity of the films themselves.

• Systems Thinking: Valuing a holistic approach to design, focusing on creating scalable, consistent, and maintainable solutions through robust design systems.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships with Product Managers, Engineers, filmmakers, and artists to ensure designs meet diverse needs and are effectively implemented.

• Curiosity & Innovation: Embracing new technologies (especially AI) and design methodologies to continuously improve products and processes, pushing the boundaries of enterprise software.

• Problem-Solving: A drive to simplify complex workflows and solve challenging production problems through thoughtful, human-centered design.

• Storytelling: Belief in the power of clear, compelling communication to articulate design rationale, user insights, and project outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional partnerships across Product, Engineering, and creative/production teams.

• Open to constructive feedback through design critiques and workshops, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Proactive communication and stakeholder management are key to navigating complex projects and diverse perspectives.

• A shared responsibility for the success of the product, moving beyond individual tasks to collective ownership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "About the Role & Team" and "Why Join Us" sections provide strong indicators of the team's culture and values. The emphasis on "design craft," "systems thinking," "storytelling," and leveraging "emerging technologies, including AI" points to a sophisticated and forward-thinking design practice. The collaborative nature is highlighted by partnerships with "filmmakers, artists, production teams, and technologists," indicating a culture that values diverse input and cross-functional synergy to achieve ambitious goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: Translating highly intricate and specialized filmmaking workflows into intuitive, user-friendly enterprise software presents a significant design challenge.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating diverse requirements from various user groups (filmmakers, artists, production managers, technologists) and aligning them with business goals and technical constraints.

• Design System Evolution: Continuously evolving and scaling a comprehensive design system to support a growing portfolio of enterprise applications while maintaining consistency and accessibility.

• Adoption of New Technologies: Effectively integrating AI and other emerging technologies into both the products and the design process itself, requiring continuous learning and adaptation.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and clear communication across deeply technical engineering teams and highly creative production teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Enterprise UX Expertise: Gain unparalleled experience in designing complex, desktop-first enterprise applications within a unique industry context.

• Master Design Systems at Scale: Contribute to and learn from a large-scale design system used across multiple critical applications.

• Explore AI in Design: Opportunities to research, prototype, and implement AI-driven features and workflows, becoming a leader in this emerging area.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Potential to mentor junior designers and take on leadership roles in design projects and initiatives.

• Industry Immersion: Gain profound insights into the cutting edge of filmmaking technology and production workflows, understanding how technology directly fuels creative storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Summary" and "What You'll Do" sections highlight the challenges of simplifying complex workflows and leveraging AI. The "Why Join Us" section frames these challenges as opportunities for growth and impact. The learning opportunities are derived from the role's focus on enterprise design, design systems, AI integration, and the unique context of the film industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you simplified a complex enterprise workflow through design. What was your process, what were the challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for our filmmaking tools that leverages AI? What ethical considerations would you keep in mind?" (Assess AI understanding, innovation, and responsible design.)

• "Walk us through your process for contributing to or building a design system. How do you ensure scalability, consistency, and adoption?" (Evaluate systems thinking and practical application of design systems.)

• "Tell us about a project where you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements. How did you manage communication and arrive at a solution?" (Gauge stakeholder management and negotiation skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing enterprise software specifically for the film industry, and for The Walt Disney Studios in particular?" (Assess motivation and understanding of the company's mission.)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with our values of craft, systems thinking, and innovation?" (Evaluate cultural fit and alignment with stated values.)

• "How do you stay updated on emerging design trends and technologies like AI, and how do you bring that knowledge back to your team?" (Gauge continuous learning and proactivity.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure each case study with a clear beginning (problem/context), middle (your process/solutions), and end (impact/learnings).

• Emphasize Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially if it was a collaborative project.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your design decisions and process.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., efficiency gains, error reduction, user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the value of your work.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design choices, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Address AI Use: If you have experience with AI in design, highlight it with specific examples of how it enhanced your workflow or design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation is tailored to the explicit requirements and implied responsibilities of the Sr UX Product Designer role. Questions focus on enterprise design, complex workflows, design systems, AI integration, and stakeholder management, all critical for this position within The Walt Disney Studios. Portfolio presentation advice emphasizes showcasing the end-to-end process and quantifiable impact, as per the job description's requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr UX Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Disney Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your experience with enterprise/B2B software, complex workflow simplification, and end-to-end product design. Emphasize projects showcasing systems thinking and AI tool usage if applicable.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of relevant experience, highlighting skills in Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, user research, design systems, and your success in designing for complex software. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for your selected portfolio case studies. Prepare answers for strategy questions related to enterprise design, AI in design, and design systems.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with The Walt Disney Studios' mission, its role in filmmaking technology, and the importance of enterprise software in creative production. Understand how your role contributes to "fueling boundless storytelling."

⚠️ 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.