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 Operations

Date Posted: May 07, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior to Senior Level (6+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (US Contiguous 48 States)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and delivery of end-to-end user journeys for AI-native intelligent physical logistic systems, focusing on creating proactive and trustworthy customer experiences.

• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to translate cutting-edge AI capabilities into intuitive and impactful user interfaces across various platforms (mobile, desktop).

• Champion the development and reusability of design system components to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple AI-driven experiences.

• Drive user adoption and iterate on designs based on key UX metrics, customer feedback, and end-user engagement.

• Leverage a technical understanding of front-end stacks and modern design tools to create performant and scalable UX solutions within the Supply Chain and Logistics industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within BNSF's technology division, "BNSF | Tech," which focuses on innovation and transforming freight rail. The emphasis on "AI-native intelligent physical logistic systems" and "Supply Chain and Logistics roles and personas" indicates a specialized domain requiring deep understanding of industry-specific workflows and user needs. The Sr/Staff level suggests a high degree of autonomy and influence in design strategy and execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently own the design and shipment of end-to-end user journeys for designated product areas, working collaboratively with front-end development and partner teams.

• Translate customer and user requirements, alongside cutting-edge AI capabilities, into proactive and trustworthy user experiences across various surfaces (e.g., mobile, desktop).

• Iterate designs based on customer and end-user feedback to drive key performance metrics and adoption rates for new features and products.

• Champion the strategic reusability of UX patterns and design system components, proactively identifying opportunities to connect dots across different user experiences.

• Utilize a technical understanding of front-end stacks (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks) to design and advocate for performant, technically feasible user experiences.

• Actively engage with engineering, product, and business teams by creating and presenting mocks, prototypes, and leveraging tools like Figma throughout the development lifecycle.

• Bring best practices in UX design to the Supply Chain industry, demonstrating a deep understanding of Supply Chain and Logistics roles, personas, and their expectations for technology tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "shipping end-to-end user journeys" and "iterating with customers and end users to drive metrics and adoption" points to a results-oriented approach focused on tangible business impact, typical for senior operations or product-focused roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is preferred. Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in Product Design, driving UX initiatives in collaboration with technical teams.

• Proven capability in designing scalable UX solutions side-by-side with engineering teams.

• Demonstrated experience working with modern design tools, AI-driven experiences, and responsive platforms.

• Experience in design operations and understanding customer needs, with a focus on UX metrics that drive iterative adoption. Required Skills:

• Expertise in Product Design and User Experience (UX) design principles.

• Proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma).

• Strong understanding of front-end technology stacks and their implications for design.

• Experience designing AI-native experiences and understanding multimodal interactions.

• Working knowledge of usability principles, techniques, and user research methodologies.

• Ability to work independently and own design projects from conception to launch.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively with engineering and product teams. Preferred Skills:

• A strong foundation in Engineering or Computer Science, or a core UX Design background with demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with engineering.

• Career experience blending Design and Product roles, enabling clear definition of requirements and understanding of technical implementation ("how").

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

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

• Curiosity and a desire to innovate at the forefront of UX evolution in AI-native, intelligent, multi-modal worlds.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between "Basic" and "Preferred" qualifications suggests a preference for candidates with a strong technical background or hybrid design/product experience, particularly those who can bridge the gap between user needs and engineering feasibility. The emphasis on AI and Supply Chain implies a need for domain-specific interest or experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end design ownership for complex user journeys, showcasing problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, and final shipped solutions.

• Include case studies that highlight collaboration with engineering teams, technical constraints considered, and the impact of design decisions on user adoption and key metrics.

• Showcase experience with design systems, including contributions to or utilization of reusable components, and an understanding of how design systems support scalability and consistency.

• Present examples of designing for AI-driven features or intelligent systems, illustrating how user trust and proactive experiences were fostered. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how user requirements and AI capabilities were translated into design specifications and user flows.

• Illustrate the iterative design process, including how user feedback and data were used to refine designs and improve UX metrics.

• Detail the process of working with engineering teams, from design handoff to implementation support, ensuring design integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Sr/Staff level UX role, a portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase visual design but also the strategic thinking, problem-solving process, and quantifiable impact of the candidate's work. Emphasis on collaboration with engineering and understanding of technical feasibility is key for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• L5 Level: $150,000 - $200,000 per year

• L6 Level: $200,000 - $250,000 per year

• The final compensation will be determined by factors such as hiring location, job-related skills, experience, education, and relevant training. Benefits:

• Industry-leading 401(k) and Railroad Retirement program.

• Comprehensive health care options: Medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, mental health, cancer support, and high-quality care network options for employees and dependents.

• Health Care Spending Account (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 account with employer match.

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

• Annual bonus eligibility through the Incentive Compensation Program.

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

• Standard full-time work hours, typically 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility is expected to accommodate project needs and cross-functional collaboration, especially given the remote nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided with specific levels (L5/L6), indicating clear career progression within the role. The benefits package is extensive, reflecting BNSF's commitment to employee well-being and long-term financial security, particularly notable with the inclusion of the Railroad Retirement program.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Freight Rail Transportation

Company Size: Large Enterprise (BNSF is one of the largest U.S. railroads)

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but BNSF has a long history in freight transportation.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "BNSF | Tech" division, focusing on innovation and digital transformation.

• The UX Design team likely operates within a product development structure, collaborating closely with engineering, product management, and business stakeholders.

• Expect a matrixed environment where designers work on specific product initiatives, reporting to design leadership while partnering with project-specific teams. Methodology:

• BNSF | Tech aims to be customer-centric, data-driven, and human-centered in its approach to technology.

• Emphasis on integrating AI to elevate customer-facing and internal products.

• Agile or hybrid methodologies are likely employed for software development and design processes, enabling iterative development and continuous improvement.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: BNSF's core business is freight rail, a critical component of the national infrastructure. The "BNSF | Tech" division is focused on modernizing this industry through technology, with a strong emphasis on AI and user-centric design. This suggests a culture that values innovation, safety, and efficiency, within a traditional industry undergoing digital transformation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Sr/Staff Software Engineer (UX Design)," corresponding to L5/L6 levels. This signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy, responsibility for complex projects, and potential mentorship opportunities.

Reporting Structure:

• The role reports within the BNSF | Tech division, likely to a Director or Senior Manager of UX Design or Product Development.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other cross-functional teams involved in product development. Operations Impact:

• UX design at BNSF | Tech directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of both internal operations and external customer interactions.

• By creating intuitive and AI-powered tools, this role contributes to optimizing logistics, improving service delivery, enhancing safety, and driving customer satisfaction, ultimately influencing BNSF's competitive advantage and operational excellence. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, supply chain logistics UX, or contribute to the evolution of BNSF's design system.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Designer role, managing projects or mentoring junior designers, or explore product management paths.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities in emerging AI technologies, advanced UX research methods, and industry-specific design challenges.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Potential to move into product strategy, program management, or other technology leadership roles within BNSF.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Sr/Staff designation implies a high level of technical expertise and strategic contribution. Growth opportunities are likely focused on deepening UX specialization, expanding influence across more complex product areas, or moving into leadership roles within the growing BNSF | Tech organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote (US Contiguous 48 States). Occasional travel to corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, TX (up to 20%) for in-person meetings.

Office Location(s): While remote, the company headquarters is in Fort Worth, TX. Employees can work from anywhere within the contiguous 48 states.

Workspace Context:

• The remote nature encourages autonomy and requires strong self-management skills.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, Jira), necessitating effective virtual communication.

• Access to necessary technology and a conducive remote work environment is expected of the employee.

• Opportunities for in-person collaboration arise during required travel to the corporate headquarters. Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time (40 hours/week) with flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaboration needs.

• The role requires availability during core business hours for effective team interaction, particularly with colleagues across different US time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first approach is a significant aspect of this role, requiring candidates to be self-motivated and proficient in asynchronous and virtual collaboration. The travel requirement is moderate (up to 20%) and focused on key strategic meetings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, technical skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. May include behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Presentation of a portfolio showcasing relevant work and potentially a live or take-home design challenge to assess problem-solving skills, design process, and technical proficiency.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (engineers, other designers, product managers) to evaluate collaboration style and team fit.

• Final Round: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic thinking and overall impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your experience with AI-driven design, complex user journeys, and collaboration with engineering.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration), the technical considerations, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you partnered with engineering and product teams, managed feedback, and navigated technical constraints. Show examples of design handoffs and ongoing collaboration.

• Showcase Design Systems: If applicable, demonstrate your understanding and contribution to design systems, explaining how they ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to illustrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased adoption, improved task completion rates, reduced errors).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research BNSF's business, the freight rail industry, and common challenges in supply chain logistics. Understand the potential users of BNSF's technology.

• AI & UX Focus: Be prepared to discuss how AI can enhance user experiences, focusing on trust, proactivity, and user control.

• Technical Acumen: Be ready to discuss front-end considerations, design system principles, and how you translate technical requirements into user-friendly designs.

• Problem-Solving: Practice breaking down complex problems, generating multiple solutions, and justifying your design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI-native design and supply chain logistics suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who can think strategically about how technology impacts complex operational environments and user workflows. A strong portfolio that demonstrates this capability is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello.

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) for understanding user behavior and tracking UX metrics.

• Familiarity with data visualization tools for reporting insights to stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX design integrates with customer-facing systems and operational workflows is beneficial.

• Awareness of automation principles and how UX can streamline processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a must. The role also requires an understanding of front-end technologies and the ability to work within a structured development environment, likely involving agile project management tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Safety & Reliability: Core to BNSF's mission; this translates to designing robust, dependable, and secure systems.

• Customer-Centricity: Focus on understanding and meeting the needs of both internal operational users and external customers.

• Innovation: Driving transformation through technology, particularly AI, to set new standards.

• Efficiency & Optimization: Leveraging design to streamline complex logistics and operational processes.

• Inclusion & Belonging: Commitment to a diverse and supportive work environment where all employees can thrive.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, requiring strong partnerships across UX, Engineering, Product Management, and business stakeholders.

• Emphasis on iterative feedback loops, open communication, and cross-functional problem-solving.

• A proactive approach to sharing knowledge and best practices, especially regarding design systems and AI-driven UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: BNSF's culture likely blends the legacy of a critical infrastructure company with the forward-looking ambition of its technology division. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of operational realities while embracing technological advancement and collaborative teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging AI Innovation with Operational Reality: Translating cutting-edge AI capabilities into practical, trustworthy, and user-friendly experiences for a diverse user base within a complex industry.

• Designing for Legacy Systems: Integrating modern UX with existing or evolving operational systems, requiring thoughtful design and implementation strategies.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and effective collaboration across multiple departments with potentially different priorities and technical understandings.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a fully remote environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & ML Design: Deepen expertise in designing for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, exploring ethical considerations and user trust.

• Supply Chain Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of logistics, supply chain operations, and the unique challenges faced by users in this sector.

• Design System Evolution: Contribute to and learn from the development of a large-scale design system for enterprise applications.

• Leadership Skills: Develop mentorship capabilities and potentially lead design initiatives or small teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core challenge lies in applying advanced UX and AI principles to a traditionally specialized industry. Growth opportunities are geared towards becoming a subject matter expert in AI-driven UX for logistics and potentially moving into leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed an end-to-end user journey for a complex product. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a case study focusing on problem definition, user research, iteration, and impact.)

• "How do you approach designing for AI-native experiences to build user trust and ensure proactive interactions?" (Focus on principles like transparency, control, and explainability.)

• "Tell me about a time you collaborated closely with engineers. How did you handle technical constraints or disagreements?" (Highlight your ability to balance design vision with technical feasibility and find collaborative solutions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about BNSF and the freight rail industry?" (Research BNSF's mission, values, and digital transformation efforts.)

• "How do you see AI impacting the future of logistics and supply chain operations?" (Connect your UX perspective to industry trends.)

• "How do you contribute to an inclusive and collaborative team environment, especially in a remote setting?" (Emphasize your communication, empathy, and teamwork skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design thinking, research methods, and iterative approach. Show, don't just tell.

• Quantify Results: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Highlight AI/Technical Integration: Specifically address how you incorporated AI principles and collaborated with engineering.

• Be Concise: Aim for a clear, impactful presentation within the allotted time. Be prepared for deep dives into specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of how UX design, particularly with AI, can drive value in operational and logistics contexts. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is crucial for demonstrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

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

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

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in product design, AI-driven user experiences, complex journey mapping, and collaboration with engineering teams. Select case studies that best align with the job description's emphasis on AI, logistics, and end-to-end ownership.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of experience, specific achievements using quantifiable results, and proficiency with key tools and methodologies mentioned (e.g., Figma, design systems, AI UX).

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and experience with AI and technical collaboration. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio confidently.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with BNSF's mission, the freight rail industry, and BNSF | Tech's focus on innovation and AI. Understand the company's commitment to safety, inclusion, and operational excellence.

⚠️ 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.