Sr/Staff Software Engineer (UX Design) (Remote - US)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr/Staff Software Engineer (UX Design)

Company: BNSF Railway

Location: Remote - US

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX Design / Product Design within Technology Division

Date Posted: 2026-06-01

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (US Contiguous 48 States)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design and delivery of user journeys for AI-native intelligent physical logistic systems, focusing on customer-centric and human-centered UX.

• Develop reusable design system components and craft performant, trustworthy, and proactive AI-driven experiences across various platforms (mobile, desktop).

• Collaborate closely with Front-end and partner teams, leveraging technical understanding of front-end stacks to ensure scalable and performant UX solutions.

• Champion best practices within the Supply Chain and Logistics industry, bringing a deep understanding of user personas and their tool expectations to shape advanced software design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within BNSF's technology division, BNSF|Tech, aiming to integrate AI and advanced UX to set new industry standards in freight rail. The Sr/Staff title suggests a senior individual contributor role with potential for technical leadership and significant project ownership within the UX design domain. The focus on AI-native and intelligent physical logistic systems indicates a forward-looking approach to UX within a complex operational environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently own the design and shipment of end-to-end user journeys for specific product areas, working closely with Front-end and partner teams.

• Translate customer and user requirements into meaningful experiences by blending cutting-edge AI capabilities with proactive and trustworthy design principles across surfaces.

• Iterate with customers and end-users to drive metrics, adoption, and continuous improvement of the user experience.

• Champion the reusability of UX patterns and design system components, connecting disparate experiences and ensuring consistency.

• Utilize a technical understanding of front-end stacks to design and advocate for performant and scalable user experiences.

• Actively work with engineering, product, and business teams using tools like Figma for mocks and prototypes.

• Bring industry best practices into the Supply Chain and Logistics sector, demonstrating a deep understanding of relevant roles, personas, and user expectations of technology tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and technical fluency. The focus on "shipping" implies a hands-on role with a clear product development lifecycle involvement. The requirement to integrate AI capabilities into "proactive and trustworthy experiences" highlights a sophisticated design challenge. Understanding Supply Chain and Logistics roles is crucial for designing effective internal and external tools.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience at the intersection of Computer Science, Interaction Design, HCI, or a related field is preferred.

• A strong foundation in Engineering or Computer Science is a plus. Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in Product Design, driving UX alongside technical teams.

• Proven capability in designing scalable UX solutions collaboratively with engineering teams.

• Career experience blending Design and Product roles, demonstrating a clear definition of "what" and a solid understanding of "how" to partner effectively with engineering teams. Required Skills:

• Product Design and UX Design methodologies.

• Experience designing AI-driven experiences and understanding their unique challenges.

• Proficiency with modern design tools, such as Figma, for creating mocks and prototypes.

• Understanding of front-end stacks and their implications for UX design.

• Knowledge of Design Systems, including championing and contributing to them.

• Familiarity with Usability Principles and techniques.

• Ability to understand and define user journeys and map customer/user needs.

• Experience with responsive design principles and platforms.

• Working understanding of design operations, persona development, and UX metrics that drive iterative adoption. Preferred Skills:

• Specific experience building technology and AI-based software experiences with engineering teams.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with engineering and product stakeholders.

• Proven bias for action, with a track record of managing multiple priorities and delivering iterative solutions in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

• Familiarity and genuine interest in Supply Chain and rail-related products and technologies.

• A curious mindset and willingness to innovate at the forefront of UX evolution in an AI-native, intelligent, multi-modal world.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr/Staff" designation implies a need for significant experience and a proven track record. The blend of UX design and technical understanding (front-end stacks, AI) is critical. The preference for candidates with experience in Supply Chain/Logistics or a strong interest in it suggests a focus on domain expertise for designing impactful solutions. The emphasis on "designing side-by-side with engineering teams" underscores the need for strong collaboration and technical empathy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end user journey design for complex products or systems.

• Demonstrate experience in designing AI-driven features or applications, highlighting how AI was integrated into the user experience.

• Provide examples of contributions to or creation of design system components, emphasizing reusability and consistency.

• Illustrate collaboration with engineering teams, detailing how technical constraints and capabilities informed design decisions.

• Include case studies that highlight problem definition, design process, iteration, and final outcomes, ideally with quantifiable results. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to understanding customer and user requirements, including research methodologies and persona development.

• Explain your process for translating technical capabilities (especially AI) into user-centric, proactive, and trustworthy experiences.

• Document your methods for iterating on designs with users and stakeholders to drive adoption and improve metrics.

• Describe how you champion and implement design system best practices across projects.

• Showcase your ability to work with front-end stacks and design performant experiences, potentially including technical considerations in your process.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Sr/Staff UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase visual design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of the design process, particularly as it relates to complex systems, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration. Case studies should clearly articulate the "why," "how," and "what" of the design solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $250,000 Annually

• L5: $150,000 - $200,000

• L6: $200,000 - $250,000

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for senior/staff level UX Design roles in the US, particularly within large, established corporations. The specific compensation and level (L5/L6) will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and the hiring location's market data. BNSF's approach to compensation indicates that individual offers are determined by a combination of factors including job-related skills, experience, education, and location.

Benefits:

• An industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan and a renowned Railroad Retirement program.

• Comprehensive health coverage options for employees and dependents, including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, mental health, cancer support, and a high-quality care network.

• Health Care Spending Accounts (HSA) with employer contributions.

• Life and disability insurance provided at no cost.

• Family benefits: parental leave, pediatric and family building support, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, and dependent care spending accounts with employer match.

• Access to discounts on travel, gym memberships, counseling services, and wellness programs.

• Annual bonus eligibility through the Incentive Compensation Program.

• Generous leave and time-off policies. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, likely around 40 hours per week.

• While remote, occasional travel up to 20% is required, primarily to the corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, TX, for in-person meetings. Travel expenses will be covered by BNSF.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Freight Rail Transportation / Logistics Technology. BNSF Railway is one of the largest freight transportation networks in North America, operating across 28 western states and 3 Canadian provinces. BNSF|Tech is its technology division focused on innovation and digital transformation.

Company Size: Large enterprise (implied by BNSF Railway's scale and operational footprint).

Founded: BNSF Railway has a long history, with its current formation dating back to 1995 through the merger of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Pacific. Its legacy companies date back to the 19th century. This implies a culture that values stability, safety, and long-term vision, while BNSF|Tech drives innovation.

Team Structure:

• The role is within BNSF|Tech, focusing on UX Design for AI-native systems. The team likely includes UX Designers, Product Managers, Front-end Engineers, and potentially Data Scientists or AI specialists.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a UX Design Lead or Manager, with the role being a Sr/Staff individual contributor.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core expectation, involving close partnership with engineering, product management, and business stakeholders across various supply chain and logistics operations. Methodology:

• Data-driven approach to UX design, using metrics to drive adoption and inform iterations.

• Emphasis on human-centered design principles, aiming to create intuitive and efficient user experiences.

• Integration of AI capabilities to create proactive, intelligent, and trustworthy systems.

• Agile or iterative development methodologies are likely employed, requiring close collaboration between design and engineering.

Company Website: https://jobs.bnsf.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: BNSF Railway is a critical infrastructure company, suggesting a culture that prioritizes safety, reliability, and operational excellence. BNSF|Tech aims to infuse this with technological innovation, particularly AI and advanced UX. The remote nature of the role within a large, traditional company highlights a modernizing approach to talent acquisition and work arrangements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Sr/Staff Software Engineer (UX Design) indicates a senior individual contributor role. This level typically involves leading complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product strategy from a UX perspective. It requires a high degree of autonomy and expertise.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a UX leadership structure within BNSF|Tech, likely a Director or Senior Manager of UX/Product Design. Close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads is expected.

Operations Impact: This role has a significant potential impact on operational efficiency and customer satisfaction by designing intuitive, AI-powered tools for internal users (e.g., logistics planners, operations managers) and potentially external customers. Improved UX can lead to reduced errors, faster task completion, better decision-making, and increased adoption of new technologies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven UX, multi-modal design, or specific supply chain/logistics applications.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Designer or Managerial role, overseeing design teams and strategy.

• Technical Depth: Further develop understanding of front-end technologies and AI/ML integration to become a more T-shaped professional.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in UX for the freight rail and logistics sector.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Potentially move into Product Management or other strategic roles within BNSF|Tech based on demonstrated impact and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr/Staff" title suggests a career path that rewards deep technical expertise and leadership in design. Growth opportunities are likely tied to taking on larger project scopes, mentoring, and contributing to strategic design decisions within BNSF|Tech, which is actively pursuing digital transformation and AI integration.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote within the contiguous 48 states of the US. This offers flexibility but requires self-discipline and proactive communication.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, occasional travel up to 20% is required to BNSF's corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, TX, for in-person meetings. This indicates a hybrid approach for critical collaborative sessions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Remote work necessitates reliance on digital collaboration tools and proactive engagement with team members. The occasional HQ visits provide opportunities for in-person team building and strategic alignment.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration platforms, and potentially internal BNSF systems for research and prototyping.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, design critiques, and stand-ups with cross-functional teams. The travel requirement allows for deeper interpersonal connections with key stakeholders.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time, likely 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility is inherent in a remote role, but adherence to core working hours for team collaboration and responsiveness is expected. Occasional travel is a requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote setup within a large, established company like BNSF suggests a blend of modern work flexibility with traditional corporate requirements (like occasional travel to HQ). Candidates should be comfortable with remote collaboration tools and proactive communication, while also being prepared for business travel.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Technical/Design Interview(s): Series of interviews with hiring managers, design leads, and potentially engineering/product counterparts.

  • Portfolio Review: A significant portion will involve presenting and discussing past UX design projects, focusing on problem-solving, process, and impact.
  • Design Exercises/Case Studies: Candidates may be asked to walk through a design challenge, critique an existing interface, or propose solutions to a hypothetical problem relevant to BNSF's operations.
  • Behavioral Questions: Assessing collaboration, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader in BNSF|Tech to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience with AI-driven design, complex systems, and collaboration with engineering teams. Tailor selections to BNSF's industry if possible.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), the technical considerations, and the final outcome. Use visuals effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics demonstrating the success of your designs (e.g., increased adoption, reduced error rates, improved efficiency).

• Highlight Collaboration: Show how you partnered with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders.

• AI & Systems Expertise: Explicitly call out your experience with AI-native design and complex system design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand BNSF's Domain: Research BNSF Railway, its operations, and the challenges in the freight rail and logistics industry. Consider how AI and UX can address these.

• AI UX Principles: Refresh your knowledge on best practices for designing AI-powered interfaces, focusing on trust, transparency, and proactive assistance.

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing or contributing to a design system for AI-driven products.

• Problem-Solving Framework: Have a structured approach ready for analyzing problems and proposing design solutions, emphasizing user needs and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Sr/Staff role will be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design thinking and impact within a complex, operational context like freight rail. Demonstrating an understanding of AI integration and collaborative design practices will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (explicitly mentioned), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.

• Collaboration: Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom.

• User Research Tools: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into design improvements. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how UX design impacts customer-facing systems and internal operational tools that might integrate with or be influenced by CRM data is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a must. Experience with a broad range of design and collaboration tools is expected for a remote, senior role. The ability to leverage data for design insights is crucial for driving adoption and proving impact, especially in an AI-driven context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Safety & Reliability: Core to BNSF's mission, this translates to designing systems that are robust, error-free, and dependable.

• Customer-Centricity: A stated vision for BNSF|Tech, emphasizing understanding and meeting the needs of both internal operations and external customers.

• Innovation & Transformation: Driven by BNSF|Tech to leverage AI and advanced UX to modernize freight rail operations.

• Inclusion & Belonging: BNSF actively promotes a culture where all employees are included and have equal opportunity.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Essential for iterating on UX and proving the value of design solutions.

• Efficiency & Optimization: A natural fit for operations roles, aiming to streamline workflows and improve productivity.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is seen as a partner to engineering and product, not a silo. Close collaboration is essential.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous feedback and improvement, involving users, stakeholders, and peers.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and design patterns, especially within the design system.

• Proactive Communication: Crucial for a remote team, ensuring alignment and transparency across dispersed team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to blend the established, safety-conscious ethos of a large railway company with the innovative, agile approach of a technology division focused on AI and digital transformation. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to thrive in both environments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Domain Complexity: Navigating the intricacies of the supply chain and logistics industry to design effective solutions for highly specialized roles.

• AI Integration Nuances: Designing AI-powered experiences that are truly trustworthy, proactive, and not just novelties, especially in critical operational contexts.

• Legacy Systems & Adoption: Balancing innovation with the need to integrate with or influence existing, potentially legacy, operational systems and processes.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion, communication, and design quality in a fully remote setting, with occasional travel as a supplement.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Ensuring new UX designs enhance, rather than disrupt, critical, safety-sensitive operations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI/ML UX Specialization: Opportunities to become a leader in designing for AI-driven applications within a specific industry.

• Supply Chain/Logistics Domain Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge of this complex sector, making you a valuable asset.

• Design System Leadership: Contributing to and potentially leading the evolution of a large-scale design system.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Learning more about product management, engineering practices, and data science through close collaboration.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to resources for staying abreast of the latest UX, AI, and design trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but also represent substantial growth opportunities. Successfully navigating them will position a candidate as a highly sought-after expert in applied UX for complex operational technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed an AI-driven feature. What were the challenges, and how did you ensure it was trustworthy and proactive?" (Focus on your process, rationale, and outcomes.)

• "How would you approach designing a user experience for a logistics planner who needs to optimize routes in real-time, considering weather, traffic, and equipment availability?" (Demonstrate your problem-solving framework and domain understanding.)

• "Walk us through a complex UX project from your portfolio. Explain the problem, your role, the trade-offs you made, and the impact." (Be prepared to dive deep into your process and decision-making.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in BNSF Railway and the freight rail industry specifically?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to a culture of inclusion and innovation within BNSF|Tech?" (Align your values with theirs.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UX design, AI, and multi-modal experiences?" (Highlight your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the challenge, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Visuals: Use clean, high-quality mockups, prototypes, and diagrams. Show evolution from early concepts to final designs.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to be clear, impactful, and within the allotted timeframe.

• Engagement: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design choices, challenges, and learnings. Be open to feedback and discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a proactive, collaborative mindset, all tailored to the specific context of BNSF and the freight rail industry. Highlighting experience with AI and complex systems will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr/Staff Software Engineer (UX Design) position:

• Submit your application through the BNSF Railway careers portal via the provided job link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to highlight 2-3 projects that best align with AI-driven design, complex system design, and cross-functional collaboration. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 6+ years of experience in product design, UX leadership, and any relevant experience with AI, front-end technologies, or the supply chain/logistics industry. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on storytelling and quantifying impact. Prepare to discuss your approach to AI UX and collaborative design, and research BNSF's operations and BNSF|Tech's mission.

• Company Research: Understand BNSF Railway's position in the market, its commitment to technology and innovation, and its core values. Be ready to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture.

⚠️ 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.