US Principal Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: US Principal Product Designer

Company: Praxent

Location: Remote - CO, FL, GA, MA, MD, MN, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-04-13

Experience Level: 7+ Years Experience (with 1+ year leadership)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of exceptional user experiences for a diverse portfolio of client projects, driving innovation and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Champion design thinking and best practices across client engagements, from initial discovery and research to final product design and iteration.

• Foster a collaborative environment, mentoring junior designers and effectively managing resources to achieve high-quality, impactful design outcomes.

• Actively participate in client-facing activities, including sales and discovery workshops, to define project scope, present unified visions, and build strong stakeholder relationships.

• Leverage deep expertise in UX, UI, User Research, Information Architecture, and Interaction Design to solve complex problems and create compelling, user-centered digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Principal" Product Designer, indicating a senior level of expertise and leadership. The emphasis on client-facing responsibilities, sales involvement, and mentorship suggests a blend of individual contribution, strategic thinking, and team development, common in senior design roles within consulting or agency environments. The specific inclusion of financial services as a focus area for Praxent's clients adds a critical industry context for candidates to consider.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Shape, estimate, propose, and lead product design engagements, establishing clear experience visions and adapting strategies to ensure project success and client satisfaction.

• Facilitate client and internal workshops, conduct user research, create comprehensive UX artifacts, and establish robust style guides and UI systems.

• Lead design teams through complex challenges, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, innovative, and delightful user experiences that translate into compelling case studies.

• Mentor emerging design talent, providing guidance, feedback, and support to foster their professional growth and contribution to team success.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., development, strategy) and client stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring a unified and cohesive product vision.

• Conduct user research and analysis to gain deep insights into user needs, behaviors, and pain points, translating these findings into actionable design recommendations.

• Develop and maintain design systems, style guides, and component libraries to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across multiple projects.

• Present design concepts, strategies, and outcomes to clients and internal teams with clarity, persuasion, and a strong rationale supported by research and best practices.

• Contribute to the sales process by participating in initial client meetings, understanding business needs, and proposing design solutions that align with client objectives.

• Stay abreast of the latest design trends, technologies, and best practices, applying this knowledge to elevate the quality and impact of Praxent's design offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong consultative approach, requiring the designer to not only execute design but also to influence client strategy, manage project scope, and lead teams. The emphasis on creating "compelling case studies" suggests a focus on demonstrating tangible business value and successful outcomes for clients.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in product design, with a deep specialization in User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and User Research. At least 1 year of demonstrated design leadership experience is required.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Figma: Advanced skills in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration.

• Strong Rationale & Justification: Ability and a clear desire to articulate and defend design decisions with robust reasoning, supported by user research, data, and industry best practices.

• Software Application Design: Proven experience in designing features and end-to-end user experiences for complex software applications and systems.

• Agile Project Management: Ability to effectively manage multiple competing priorities, adapt to changing project requirements, and deliver within project timelines.

• User Research Expertise: Demonstrated experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing various forms of user research (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys).

• Client Stakeholder Management: Experience working effectively with client stakeholders in an agency, consulting, or freelance capacity, including managing expectations and building trusted relationships.

• UX/UI/User Research Mastery: Deep understanding and practical application of core UX principles, UI design patterns, and user research methodologies.

• Information Architecture & Interaction Design: Solid foundation in structuring content and defining user flows and interactions.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of front-end development principles and understanding of how designs translate to code.

• Experience with visual design, branding, and establishing cohesive visual identities.

• Experience in building and maintaining design systems.

• Familiarity with the financial services industry or a strong aptitude for quickly understanding complex domains.

• Experience presenting to executive-level stakeholders.

• Facilitation skills for workshops and design sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "1+ years of design leadership" combined with "7+ years of experience" points towards a Principal level role where strategic influence and team guidance are as crucial as individual design contributions. The explicit mention of Figma as a required tool indicates its central role in the team's workflow.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7 years of product design experience, with a strong emphasis on UX, UI, and User Research.

• Demonstrations of your ability to lead design engagements, from initial client consultation and scope definition to final design delivery and impact analysis.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes or impact of your work, particularly in software applications.

• Examples of how you have justified design decisions with strong rationale, research, or best practices.

• Evidence of your ability to collaborate with client stakeholders and contribute to project success in an agency or freelance setting.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to defining project success and adapting strategies based on client needs and project evolution.

• Illustrate your methods for facilitating workshops, conducting user research, and creating comprehensive UX artifacts.

• Provide examples of how you have established style guides, UI systems, or design systems.

• Detail your process for leading teams through design challenges and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

• Demonstrate your approach to mentoring emerging talent and contributing to team cohesion.

• Explain how you integrate user needs and business objectives to create innovative and delightful experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical. It should not only display high-quality design work but also evidence of strategic thinking, leadership, client management, and a deep understanding of the design process from a consultative perspective. The emphasis on "compelling case studies" means demonstrating ROI and business impact is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,000 - $156,000 USD per year.

Explanation: This range is provided by the employer and is determined by factors such as location, experience level, and specific skills. The specified range aligns with senior-level Product Designer roles in the US market, particularly for remote positions that span multiple states with varying cost-of-living indexes.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health insurance options for employees and potentially their dependents.

• Wellness Days: Paid days off specifically designated for employee well-being, separate from PTO.

• Disability Insurance: Protection against loss of income due to illness or injury.

• Wellness Program: Initiatives and resources designed to support employee health and well-being.

• IRA Retirement Matching: Employer contribution to employee retirement savings accounts (IRA) up to 3% annually, a valuable benefit for long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous PTO starting at 15 days per year, with increases based on tenure, providing ample opportunity for rest and rejuvenation.

• US Holidays: 9 paid holidays observed throughout the year.

• Office Closure: The office is closed for the last week of the year, providing an extended holiday break.

• Paid Parental Leave: Support for new parents during their leave.

• Company Culture Recognition: Praxent has received recognition for its quality workplace from publications like Texas Monthly, Clutch, and Comparably, indicating a positive and supportive work environment.

Working Hours: A standard 40-hour work week is promoted, emphasizing a healthy work-life balance and encouraging employees to avoid excessive overtime.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Principal Product Designer in the US. The benefits package is robust, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance, employee well-being, and long-term financial security through retirement matching and generous PTO. The mention of company culture recognition adds significant value for potential candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Praxent operates within the Technology sector, specifically focusing on digital product development and design services, often serving clients in the financial services industry. This context means an environment driven by innovation, client needs, and the rapid evolution of digital platforms.

Company Size: 170+ employees. This size indicates a mid-sized organization that is likely established enough to offer stability and structured processes, yet agile enough to maintain a collaborative and less bureaucratic culture. For operations professionals, this means opportunities for broader impact and potential for cross-functional interaction.

Founded: Praxent has been in business for over 20 years, indicating a stable and experienced company with a proven track record in its industry. This longevity suggests a resilient business model and a commitment to long-term client relationships and employee development.

Team Structure:

• The design team is described as covering a broad spectrum of practice areas including discovery, user research, information architecture, interaction design, product design, and occasional brand/visual design. This indicates a specialized but comprehensive design department.

• As a Principal Designer, you'll likely be part of a senior design cohort, working alongside other senior practitioners and reporting to a design lead or director.

Methodology:

• Praxent emphasizes a client-centric approach, focusing on understanding business objectives and user needs to deliver innovative solutions.

• The company values mentorship and fostering emerging talent, suggesting a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

• Design decisions are expected to be data-driven and supported by strong rationale, research, and best practices, indicating a methodical and evidence-based approach to design problems.

• The focus on creating "compelling case studies" implies a strong emphasis on measuring and demonstrating the impact and ROI of design work.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Praxent's long history and mid-size suggest a company that balances growth with a stable, supportive culture. The emphasis on diverse practice areas within design implies a rich learning environment for designers. The focus on financial services clients adds a layer of complexity and potential specialization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level (Principal) individual contributor and leader within the design function. It requires not only deep expertise in design execution but also the ability to shape strategy, lead projects, mentor others, and influence client relationships. It's a role that bridges advanced craft with strategic business impact.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Principal Product Designer typically reports to a Director of Design, VP of Design, or a senior leadership role overseeing design operations. They will, in turn, mentor and guide junior to mid-level designers on their projects.

Operations Impact: The Principal Product Designer has a direct and significant impact on Praxent's revenue and client success by leading the delivery of high-value design solutions. Their ability to win new business through sales involvement, retain clients through exceptional service, and build Praxent's reputation through compelling case studies is crucial. They also impact internal operations by mentoring talent and improving design processes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to further hone leadership skills by managing larger teams, leading more complex engagements, or taking on strategic initiatives for the design department.

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas of design (e.g., design systems, UX research methodologies, specific industry domains like FinTech) or expand into broader product strategy roles.

• Mentorship & Training: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior designers, contributing to the growth of the design team and developing coaching abilities.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing stronger client-facing skills, potentially leading to roles with more direct client strategy ownership or business development responsibilities.

• Internal Process Improvement: Contributing to the refinement of Praxent's design processes, tools, and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title signifies a career path that moves beyond pure execution into strategic leadership and influence. Growth opportunities are likely focused on expanding leadership scope, deepening strategic impact, and potentially mentoring and developing the broader design organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning employees do not have a permanent corporate office workplace and work from a physical location of their choice. This offers maximum flexibility.

Office Location(s): Employees may live and work in the following US states: Texas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, and Tennessee. This broad geographic distribution necessitates strong remote collaboration tools and practices.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Autonomy: Employees are trusted to manage their work environment and schedule, provided they can meet project demands and collaborate effectively. This requires self-discipline and strong time management skills.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Expect heavy reliance on digital tools for communication, collaboration, and design work (e.g., Figma, Slack, video conferencing).

• Cross-Functional Interaction: While remote, there's a strong emphasis on collaboration with various disciplines (design, development, strategy) and client stakeholders, requiring proactive communication and engagement.

• Company Culture Support: Despite being remote, Praxent aims to foster a supportive environment through recognized culture initiatives and management support.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is promoted, emphasizing work-life balance. This structure allows for focused work periods and flexibility, but requires clear communication regarding availability for client meetings and team collaborations across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role is a key aspect of the work environment. It demands exceptional self-management, communication skills, and proficiency with remote collaboration technologies. The specified states indicate the company's operational footprint and potential time zone considerations for team syncs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, focusing on your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with core requirements (experience, leadership, Figma proficiency).

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: You will likely present your portfolio, walking through selected case studies. Be prepared to discuss your design process, rationale, challenges, and the impact of your work. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your strategic thinking and communication skills.

• Skills-Based Assessments: This may include a design challenge or a technical assessment to evaluate your practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency with tools like Figma.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with design leadership, potential peers, and possibly cross-functional team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and leadership potential.

• Final Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your Principal-level expertise, leadership, and impact. Prioritize projects that align with Praxent's work in financial services or complex software applications if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process you followed, key decisions and their rationale, and the measurable outcomes or business impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly demonstrate instances where you led design efforts, mentored others, influenced stakeholders, or shaped project strategy.

• Showcase Process & Rationale: Don't just show final screens; detail your research, ideation, testing, and iteration processes. Be ready to defend your design choices with logic and evidence.

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

• Prepare for Figma: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow and any advanced techniques you employ.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, carefully read and understand the problem statement, constraints, and objectives. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Think Strategically: Approach the challenge by first defining the problem, identifying user needs, and outlining your design approach before diving into execution.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively across research, ideation, design, and preparation for presentation.

• Present Your Thought Process: Be prepared to articulate your thinking, assumptions, and trade-offs made during the challenge. Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess both design craft and strategic leadership. A well-prepared portfolio that clearly articulates impact and leadership is paramount. The emphasis on "rationale" and "user research" suggests a rigorous, evidence-based design evaluation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory proficiency for UI design, prototyping, collaboration, and potentially design system management.

• User Research Tools: Experience with platforms for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, SurveyMonkey).

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping or animation tools can be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Reporting & Dashboarding: Ability to interpret data and present findings, potentially using tools like Tableau, Looker, or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets for analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can provide context for client needs.

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) is also expected for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central design tool. Proficiency in user research and analytics platforms is essential for demonstrating impact and informing design decisions. Understanding the broader technology ecosystem that designs integrate into is also valuable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity & Impact: A core value is delivering exceptional value and measurable impact for clients, often in the financial services sector. This means prioritizing client success and business outcomes.

• Innovation & Excellence: Praxent encourages pushing boundaries and striving for design excellence, creating innovative solutions that impress clients and stand out.

• Collaboration & Mentorship: There's a strong emphasis on teamwork, knowledge sharing, and supporting the growth of colleagues, particularly through mentorship of junior talent.

• Autonomy & Trust: Employees are empowered to work autonomously, with management providing support and freedom rather than micromanagement, fostering a culture of trust and responsibility.

• Work-Life Balance: A commitment to promoting a healthy work-life balance, encouraging a 40-hour work week and respecting personal time.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with development teams, product strategists, and client stakeholders. Designs must be feasible and aligned with business goals.

• Open Communication: A culture where ideas are welcomed, feedback is constructive, and communication channels are open, especially in a remote environment.

• Process-Oriented: A methodical approach to design, valuing strong rationale, research, and best practices as the foundation for decision-making.

• Respectful & Kind: Praxent emphasizes treating colleagues with respect and kindness, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment where "it's just business" is not an acceptable excuse for poor behavior.

📝 Enhancement Note: Praxent's culture appears to be a blend of high-performance client service, a strong commitment to design quality and innovation, and a supportive, people-first approach to employee well-being and development. The emphasis on respect and kindness is a significant cultural indicator.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Client Demands with Design Excellence: Navigating client expectations, tight deadlines, and budget constraints while maintaining high design quality and innovation.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring seamless communication and collaboration across distributed teams and time zones, requiring proactive engagement and strong digital communication skills.

• Mentoring and Leadership: Effectively guiding and developing junior designers while managing your own demanding workload and client commitments.

• Adapting to Diverse Projects: Quickly understanding and designing for a wide variety of clients and industries (especially within financial services) that may have complex requirements.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and quantifying the business value and impact of design work to clients, moving beyond aesthetics to demonstrable results.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Leadership: Opportunities to lead larger teams, manage more strategic accounts, and influence the direction of Praxent's design practice.

• Industry Specialization: Deepening expertise in financial services design, or exploring other industry verticals Praxent serves.

• Skill Enhancement: Access to training, workshops, and conferences to stay current with emerging design trends, tools, and methodologies.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders or to mentor others, fostering continuous learning and professional development.

• Process Improvement Contribution: Engaging in initiatives to refine Praxent's design processes, tools, and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of senior roles in a client-facing design agency, requiring strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. The growth opportunities are geared towards expanding leadership influence and deepening expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting client needs with user best practices. How did you navigate this situation and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your rationale, communication, and compromise skills.)

• "How do you approach defining the scope and estimating effort for a new product design engagement?" (Demonstrate your understanding of project planning, client consultation, and proposal development.)

• "Walk us through a complex UX challenge you solved. What was your process, what were the key decisions, and what impact did your solution have?" (Be ready to present a detailed case study from your portfolio.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Praxent's work, particularly in the financial services sector?" (Research Praxent's website, case studies, and values.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers, and what is your philosophy on fostering team growth?" (Highlight your leadership and collaborative spirit.)

• "Given our remote-first culture, how do you ensure effective collaboration and communication with your team and stakeholders?" (Emphasize your remote work strategies and communication tools.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose 3-5 projects that best represent your Principal-level capabilities, leadership, and impact. Prioritize those with clear problem/solution narratives and quantifiable results.

• Structure Your Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the problem, your process, the solutions you designed, the rationale behind key decisions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Point out specific instances where you led a team, mentored a colleague, influenced strategy, or managed client relationships.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your process, your rationale, and trade-offs made. They will likely probe into the "why" behind your decisions.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows well, stays within time limits, and effectively communicates your value proposition.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill, but also strategic thinking, leadership, client management, and the ability to articulate business value. Be prepared to deeply discuss your portfolio projects and your approach to problem-solving and team development.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the application form via the provided link (job-boards.greenhouse.io).

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 7+ years of product design experience, with specific emphasis on UX, UI, User Research, and any design leadership roles. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most impactful projects that showcase your Principal-level expertise, leadership, and ability to deliver measurable results. Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your process, your solutions, and the business impact.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling, articulating your rationale, and demonstrating your leadership and client management skills. Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow and design system experience.

• Research Praxent: Familiarize yourself with Praxent's services, client base (especially in financial services), company culture, and values. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.