UX Architect

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Architect

Company: SecurityScorecard

Location: NYC Metro (Hybrid), New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: June 26, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (8+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Own and drive the information architecture (IA) and structural User Experience (UX) across SecurityScorecard's entire product surface, encompassing both new platform development and legacy areas.

• Establish and enforce cross-functional UX standards, championing a "blueprint-first" design methodology that prioritizes sound structure and IA as the foundation for exceptional aesthetics and functionality.

• Act as a quality checkpoint for prototypes and design outputs, ensuring structural integrity and adherence to best practices before work progresses to development stages.

• Build and mature the UX foundation for AI-driven product features, ensuring scalability and seamless integration with intelligent product experiences.

• Elevate the overall design practice within the organization by coaching and mentoring team members on strong structural thinking and best practices in IA.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior, horizontal contributor below the leadership tier, indicating a significant individual contributor impact with substantial influence over the product's structural integrity and the design organization's methodology. The emphasis on "blueprint-first" and "architecture-first" design thinking suggests a strategic shift within SecurityScorecard's product development process.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Information Architecture Ownership: Develop, maintain, and evolve a coherent and scalable information architecture across all product surfaces, identifying and resolving structural fractures in both new and legacy platform areas.

• Cross-Swimlane UX Standardization: Operate horizontally across all product design swimlanes to ensure consistent application of structural UX thinking and IA best practices, regardless of product area.

• Prototype Quality Assurance: Serve as the primary quality gate for prototypes, conducting thorough reviews against structural integrity, IA coherence, and blueprint-first standards to ensure confidence in forward movement.

• Blueprint-First Methodology Champion: Actively promote and uphold the "blueprint-first" design approach, ensuring low-fidelity definitions of "what" and "how" meet rigorous UX, IA, and best-practice standards before high-fidelity design commences.

• Design Practice Elevation: Coach, mentor, and model strong structural UX thinking and IA expertise, leveling up the broader design team to build robust products from the initial stages.

• AI Product UX Foundation: Collaborate closely with product and engineering teams, particularly those focused on AI initiatives, to establish a scalable, well-structured UX layer that supports advanced intelligent product experiences.

• Platform Integrity Management: Consistently uphold and maintain high standards for platform integrity across existing and future product builds, with a strategic focus on progressively bringing legacy areas up to current standards.

• Knowledge Transfer and Team Enablement: Facilitate the dissemination of UX architecture thinking and IA best practices throughout the design organization, fostering a team capable of constructing correct and scalable solutions from inception.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and strategic approach to managing product structure and design quality. The emphasis on "holding platform integrity" and "progressively bringing legacy areas up to standard" indicates a focus on long-term maintainability and technical debt reduction, crucial for a growing SaaS platform.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in User Experience, Information Architecture, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is implied through the experience requirements.

Experience: 8+ years of hands-on and/or managerial UX experience with demonstrated expertise in information architecture and structural/systems-level SaaS design.

Required Skills:

• Deep, demonstrated expertise in Information Architecture (IA) and structural/systems-level SaaS design.

• Proven track record of owning IA across complex, multi-surface products, including experience untangling fractured or legacy structures.

• Ability to set standards and influence horizontally across multiple teams without direct authority, demonstrating leadership through craft and clarity.

• Experience establishing design processes, review practices, and reusable patterns/component foundations at scale.

• Fluency in partnering with Product and Engineering on AI or platform-level initiatives, with a keen eye for building scalable UX foundations.

• Strong judgment to discern when aesthetics serve structural needs versus when they mask foundational weaknesses.

• Excellent communication, observation, and feedback-giving skills, embodying a "Leader mentality." Preferred Skills:

• Engineering experience (JSON, CSS, C++) is a plus.

• Python-ML background is considered a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience, coupled with the emphasis on influencing without direct authority and establishing processes, points to a senior individual contributor role focused on strategic impact rather than direct people management, although managerial experience is also considered. The preferred engineering skills suggest a strong technical understanding is valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable case studies showcasing ownership and evolution of complex Information Architectures across multi-surface SaaS products.

• Examples of how structural UX thinking was applied to untangle fractured or legacy systems, with clear documentation of the process and outcomes.

• Evidence of establishing design processes, review practices, or reusable component/pattern foundations at scale.

• Projects that highlight collaboration with Product and Engineering on platform-level or AI initiatives, detailing the UX foundation built.

• Examples illustrating the ability to influence design direction and uphold standards across different product teams. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of how design reviews were conducted to ensure structural integrity and adherence to IA standards.

• Examples of "blueprint-first" deliverables and how they were used to guide the design and development process.

• Case studies detailing the impact of establishing standardized design patterns or components.

• Documentation of collaboration workflows with Product Management and Engineering for platform and AI feature development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on structure, IA, and process establishment, a portfolio that clearly articulates the candidate's strategic thinking, process improvement capabilities, and ability to drive consistency at scale will be crucial. Demonstrating impact through metrics related to rework reduction, faster review cycles, or improved customer experience due to IA will be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated total compensation range for this position is $250,000 - $290,000 (base plus bonus). This range is determined by factors including affordability, skills, qualifications, and experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Stock options

• Health benefits

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Parental leave

• Tuition reimbursements

• And much more!

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time employment structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate for the US market, specifically New York City, reflecting a senior-level position in a high-cost-of-living area and the tech industry. The compensation includes base salary, bonus potential, and equity, typical for senior roles in established SaaS companies. The listed benefits are comprehensive and standard for competitive tech employers.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cybersecurity Ratings. SecurityScorecard operates in the cybersecurity sector, providing a platform that rates companies' cybersecurity health based on outside-in, non-intrusive data. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, high stakes, and a critical need for reliable, actionable insights.

Company Size: SecurityScorecard has over 200+ employees globally and is funded by prominent investors, indicating a well-established, growth-stage company. The description mentions rating 1.5 million companies and serving over 1,000 enterprise customers, signifying a significant market presence.

Founded: Founded in 2013 by Dr. Alex Yampolskiy and Sam Kassoumeh, SecurityScorecard has a history of innovation and has grown significantly since its inception.

Team Structure:

• The Experience Design & Research team is described as having a "unique fabric" and being hired into "deliberately." This suggests a carefully curated team environment where cultural fit and collaborative dynamics are highly valued.

• The UX Architect role sits "just below the leadership tier," indicating a senior individual contributor position with significant influence and potential for mentorship, but likely not direct management of a large team.

• The role operates "horizontally across every product design swimlane," emphasizing cross-functional collaboration and a broad impact across different product areas and teams. Methodology:

• Blueprint-First Design: A core methodology emphasized for this role, focusing on defining the "what" and "how" in low fidelity before high-fidelity design. This approach aims to ensure structural soundness and clarity from the outset.

• Architecture-First Design Thinking: A strategic shift championed by this role, prioritizing sound structure as the basis for great aesthetics, rather than the reverse.

• Data-Driven Insights: While not explicitly detailed for UX, the company's core business relies on data analytics and security ratings, suggesting an overall company culture that values data-informed decision-making.

Company Website: https://securityscorecard.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is highlighted as being recognized for innovation and employee engagement, with awards from Inc Magazine, Crain's NY, and Fast Company. This suggests a dynamic, fast-paced, and employee-centric environment that values high performance and continuous improvement. The emphasis on "force-multiplier seat" and "making everyone better" points to a collaborative and supportive culture among senior contributors.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior UX Architect, sitting at a high individual contributor level within the product design organization. It is positioned "just below the leadership tier" and carries "genuine influence over how our product is structured and how our design org thinks." This indicates a role with significant autonomy, strategic impact, and the opportunity to shape architectural direction.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior UX Architect typically reports to a Director or VP of Design or Product. The role's horizontal nature means it will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other designers across various "swimlanes."

Operations Impact: The UX Architect's impact is directly tied to the usability, scalability, and maintainability of SecurityScorecard's platform. By ensuring a robust information architecture and sound structural UX, this role influences customer satisfaction, retention, operational efficiency (reducing rework and support tickets), and the successful integration of new technologies like AI. The role is crucial for translating complex cybersecurity data into intuitive and actionable user experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Architectural Leadership: Progress into a lead architect or principal UX architect role, potentially overseeing IA strategy for larger product portfolios or emerging technology areas.

• Design Practice Evolution: Lead initiatives to further refine and scale design processes, methodologies, and tooling across the organization.

• AI/ML Product Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for AI-driven products, becoming a key contributor to the strategic direction of intelligent features.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Continue to develop coaching skills, potentially taking on more formal mentorship roles or leading training sessions for junior and mid-level designers.

• Cross-Functional Strategic Influence: Expand influence into product strategy discussions, advising on how IA and structural UX can enable broader business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is framed as a significant opportunity for an experienced UX professional to make a broad, systemic impact on a company's product strategy and design maturity. The growth path appears to be focused on deepening architectural expertise and strategic influence rather than traditional people management, fitting the "force-multiplier" description.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates a hybrid work model, with an office located in the NYC Metro area. This suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. Employees are expected to be in the office for specific purposes, likely including team meetings, collaborative sessions, and key project milestones, while also benefiting from the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in the NYC Metro area, which includes New York City. This location offers access to a major business hub with extensive transportation networks.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional work imply a collaborative workspace where designers, product managers, and engineers regularly interact. The role's horizontal nature necessitates strong communication and partnership.

• Operations Tools and Technology: While specific tools aren't listed here, a UX Architect would typically utilize design and prototyping software (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), IA tools (e.g., Miro, specialized IA software), and collaboration platforms. Access to and proficiency with these tools are essential.

• Operations Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the broader Experience Design & Research team, Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other stakeholders like Marketing or Sales, to ensure alignment and effective product development.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing individuals to balance in-office days with remote work, catering to the demands of deep work and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a major metro area like NYC suggests a professional environment that balances the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility modern professionals expect. It's an environment that likely fosters strong inter-team communication and a focus on shared goals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience in information architecture, structural UX, and SaaS design.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present a curated selection of their work, focusing on case studies that demonstrate their expertise in IA, process improvement, and influencing design direction. Expect in-depth questions about their strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and role in past projects.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to work effectively across disciplines.

• Design Leadership Interview: Discussion with senior design leadership to evaluate leadership potential, cultural fit, and alignment with the team's values and methodologies, particularly the "blueprint-first" approach.

• Potential Take-Home Challenge: A small, focused exercise related to IA or structural design may be assigned to evaluate practical application of skills.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight IA Ownership: Showcase projects where you had explicit ownership of information architecture and structural design for complex products.

• Demonstrate Process Improvement: Detail how you identified and resolved structural issues, improved design processes, or established new standards (e.g., blueprint-first, reusable patterns). Quantify impact where possible (e.g., reduction in rework, faster cycles).

• Showcase Horizontal Influence: Provide examples of how you influenced design decisions across multiple teams or product areas, even without direct authority.

• Focus on "Blueprint-First" Application: If possible, include examples of low-fidelity blueprints, IA diagrams, or process flows that demonstrate this methodology.

• Explain Your Role Clearly: Be specific about your contributions and the strategic thinking behind your decisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• IA Fundamentals: Be prepared to discuss core IA principles, card sorting, tree testing, and site mapping.

• Structural Design Thinking: Practice articulating how you approach designing scalable, maintainable, and intuitive product structures.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Prepare to discuss how you collaborate with Product and Engineering, addressing potential conflicts and ensuring alignment.

• AI UX Considerations: Think about how IA and structural design can support AI-driven features and user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "blueprint-first" and "architecture-first" suggests interviewers will be keen on understanding how candidates translate strategy into tangible structural designs and how they instill these practices in others. Demonstrating a clear, repeatable process for IA audits and improvements will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, prototyping, and detailed design).

• Information Architecture Tools: Miro, Whimsical, Lucidchart, or specialized IA software for diagramming, sitemaps, user flows, and card sorting exercises.

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams for daily communication and virtual meetings.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello (or similar) for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel (or similar) for understanding user behavior and product usage patterns, which can inform IA decisions.

• User Feedback Tools: SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Hotjar for gathering qualitative feedback on usability and navigation.

• NPS Tracking: Tools or processes for measuring and tracking Net Promoter Score, a key metric mentioned in the role's success criteria.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managed by a UX Architect, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms might interact with the product's user interface or data flow could be beneficial. Potential Technical Skills (Preferred):

• JSON, CSS, C++: Understanding these web technologies can provide valuable context for front-end implementation and structural constraints.

• Python: Particularly relevant if involved in AI/ML initiatives or data analysis related to UX performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with industry-standard UX/UI design and IA tools is essential. The role's success relies on translating structural decisions into tangible design artifacts and collaborating effectively with engineering, making an understanding of web technologies and AI product development a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Craft: A deep commitment to doing the best work, setting a high structural bar, and ensuring foundational elements are right. This aligns with the "architecture-first" and "blueprint-first" methodologies.

• Growth Mindset: Continuous learning, seeking and incorporating feedback, and fostering an environment where others can also grow and improve.

• People-Centricity: Caring about colleagues, committing to elevating the entire team, and acting as a "force-multiplier" rather than a solo "rockstar."

• Humility in Leadership: Leading with security and experience, which enables coaching, listening, and influencing rather than dictating. This fosters trust and collaboration.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While not explicitly stated for UX, the company's core business is built on data, suggesting an overarching value of using insights to drive improvements.

Collaboration Style:

• Horizontal Collaboration: Working across various product "swimlanes" and collaborating closely with Product Management and Engineering is paramount.

• Mentorship and Coaching: A key aspect of the role involves elevating the team through guidance and sharing expertise, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Process-Oriented: Emphasis on establishing and refining design processes, review practices, and reusable patterns to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture that actively seeks, gives, and incorporates feedback to drive better outcomes and personal/team growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a mature, collaborative, and high-performance culture. The ideal candidate is not just technically proficient but also a strong team player and mentor who contributes positively to the overall design organization's maturity and effectiveness.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Shifting Design Paradigm: Transitioning the organization from an "aesthetic-first" to an "architecture-first" mindset requires strategic communication, persistent advocacy, and demonstrable success in initial projects.

• Untangling Legacy Structures: Addressing and modernizing IA in existing, potentially complex legacy systems demands careful planning, risk assessment, and phased implementation to avoid disruption.

• Influencing Without Direct Authority: Effectively driving standards and architectural consistency across multiple product teams requires strong influence, persuasion, and relationship-building skills.

• Balancing Breadth and Depth: Maintaining IA integrity across an entire product surface while also diving deep into specific architectural challenges, especially for nascent AI features.

• Scaling Design Processes: Establishing robust, scalable design processes and component libraries that can support a growing product and engineering organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic IA Leadership: Opportunity to define and lead the information architecture strategy for a significant SaaS platform, directly impacting user experience and business outcomes.

• AI Product Design Expertise: Deepen specialized knowledge in designing user experiences for cutting-edge AI and machine learning features.

• Process Innovation: Lead initiatives to refine and innovate design methodologies, potentially influencing how product development is approached organization-wide.

• Cross-Functional Strategic Partnership: Develop stronger partnerships with Product and Engineering leadership, contributing to broader product strategy discussions.

• Mentorship and Team Development: Hone leadership and coaching skills by mentoring other designers and contributing to the growth of the design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant challenges related to organizational change management and strategic execution, balanced by substantial growth opportunities in specialized and strategic areas of UX and product development. Success will require a combination of technical expertise and strong interpersonal and influencing skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to untangle a complex or fractured information architecture. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on IA audit, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How would you champion a 'blueprint-first' design methodology across multiple product teams with varying levels of adoption?" (Focus on change management, communication, and process advocacy.)

• "How do you ensure structural integrity and consistency in UX design across a broad product surface, especially when dealing with legacy components?" (Focus on standardization, governance, and long-term vision.)

• "What are the key IA considerations when designing the UX foundation for AI-powered features?" (Focus on scalability, data interaction, and user trust in AI.)

• "Describe your approach to influencing Product and Engineering teams on architectural decisions when you don't have direct authority." (Focus on collaboration, data-backed arguments, and relationship building.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about SecurityScorecard's mission and its role in the cybersecurity industry?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you see your role as a 'force-multiplier' within a design team?" (Focus on mentorship, collaboration, and elevating others.)

• "How do you approach giving and receiving feedback, especially in a collaborative, high-performance environment?" (Showcase growth mindset and humility.)

• "What does 'leading with humility' mean to you in a senior individual contributor role?" (Connect to experience, mentorship, and collaborative influence.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation around 2-3 key case studies that best demonstrate your IA ownership, structural design expertise, and process improvement capabilities.

• Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach (especially how you applied IA principles), your specific contributions, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visuals: Use clear IA diagrams, sitemaps, user flows, and low-fidelity blueprints to illustrate your thinking. Show how structure translates into user experience.

• Metrics: Quantify impact whenever possible (e.g., reduction in user errors, faster task completion, improved NPS, reduced rework).

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize aspects of your work that align with SecurityScorecard's focus on IA, structural design, blueprint-first methodology, and AI product foundations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for a potential exercise that involves analyzing a given product feature or workflow for structural soundness, identifying IA issues, and proposing improvements using a blueprint-first approach. Practice sketching out IA diagrams and user flows quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will likely probe deeply into your strategic thinking regarding information architecture and your ability to drive systemic change within a design organization. Be prepared to articulate your process, your influence strategies, and the tangible impact of your work on product structure and user experience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Architect position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature case studies demonstrating your expertise in information architecture, structural UX design, and experience with complex SaaS products. Highlight instances where you've untangled legacy systems or established new design processes.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 8+ years of relevant experience, emphasizing achievements related to IA ownership, cross-functional influence, and process establishment. Use keywords like "Information Architecture," "Structural UX Design," "SaaS," "Blueprint-First," and "Cross-functional Leadership."

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research SecurityScorecard, its mission, and its product. Prepare to articulate your understanding of the role's strategic importance, particularly regarding "architecture-first" and "blueprint-first" methodologies. Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on process, strategy, and impact.

• Company Research: Understand SecurityScorecard's position in the cybersecurity ratings market, its company culture (innovation, employee engagement), and its recent achievements. Be ready to discuss why you are a good cultural fit and how you can contribute as a "force-multiplier."

⚠️ 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.