UX Design Associate

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design Associate

Company: Kyndryl

Location: Dallas, Texas, United States / Frisco, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / AI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-10

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK (within the United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on pioneering the design of human-AI interactions, specifically for agentic AI systems, shaping the future of how users collaborate with intelligent agents.

• You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between complex artificial intelligence capabilities and intuitive user experiences, ensuring seamless collaboration and user control.

• The position requires a strong portfolio showcasing enterprise or innovation-studio projects, with a deep understanding of user-centered design principles and advanced prototyping skills.

• Candidates will engage in user research, workshop facilitation, and the design of dynamic interfaces that gracefully handle AI latency, ambiguity, and error states.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the intersection of User Experience (UX) Design and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a specific emphasis on "agentic AI" and "human-in-the-loop" (HITL) systems. This indicates a forward-thinking approach to design, moving beyond traditional UI/UX to encompass complex, dynamic interactions with autonomous systems. The "Associate" title, coupled with the 2-5 year experience range, suggests a role for a designer ready to take on significant design leadership for specific features or projects, but likely within a larger design team structure.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead user research initiatives to identify pain points and opportunities in human-AI collaboration, translating findings into actionable journey maps and user flows.

• Architect and design intentional user journeys for complex, multi-step agentic reasoning processes, making them clear and manageable for end-users.

• Develop dynamic interaction patterns and non-deterministic UIs that effectively manage AI latency, ambiguity, and error states, ensuring a seamless and controlled user experience.

• Facilitate co-creation workshops with creative technologists, AI engineers, and product managers to align user desirability with technical feasibility.

• Design and optimize critical Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) moments, ensuring transparency, trust, and effective validation within automated workflows.

• Champion ethical design principles, advocating for accessibility and inclusive intelligence across all AI-driven user experiences.

• Clearly articulate and present a point of view on how agentic AI can drive human-centered design, influencing stakeholders across the design lifecycle.

• Collaborate closely with developers and product managers to translate research insights and design concepts into deliverable products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant focus on designing for emergent AI capabilities, particularly agentic AI. This requires not just traditional UX skills but also an understanding of AI's unique challenges like latency, non-determinism, and the need for user trust. The emphasis on "architecting intentional journeys" and "designing for non-deterministic UI" points to a need for proactive, strategic design thinking rather than reactive interface creation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Degree in UX/Experience Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Psychology, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional experience in UX/Experience Design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating successful enterprise or innovation-studio projects.

• Proven ability to translate complex user needs and technical capabilities into intuitive and effective design solutions.

• Experience working within agile development environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams including product managers, engineers, and researchers. Required Skills:

• Deep understanding of user-centered design (UCD) methodologies, interaction design principles, and usability testing techniques.

• Proficiency in designing and conducting user research, including interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries.

• Expertise in creating wireframes, prototypes, and user flows using industry-standard tools such as Figma or Sketch.

• Experience facilitating co-creation sessions, design sprints, and presenting design concepts to clients and internal stakeholders.

• A clear point of view on how AI can drive human-centered design and facilitate co-creation.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience with AI, specifically agentic AI/UX, and data-driven design approaches.

• Familiarity with emerging AI assistant tools (e.g., Figma Make, MiroAI, Adobe Firefly, Lovable).

• Experience designing for Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) systems and understanding their operational nuances.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Experience working with AI engineers and creative technologists.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "strong portfolio of enterprise or innovation-studio projects" suggests that candidates should prepare to showcase work that demonstrates strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and impactful design outcomes, ideally in B2B or advanced technology contexts. Experience with specific AI tools, even if emerging, is a significant differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a robust understanding of the end-to-end design process, from discovery and research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and delivery.

• Showcase specific case studies that highlight your ability to tackle complex design challenges, particularly those involving novel technologies or enterprise-level solutions.

• Include examples of your work with AI, agentic AI, or complex systems where you had to define new interaction paradigms or user workflows.

• Clearly articulate your role, the problem you solved, your design process, the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved. Process Documentation:

• Provide detailed documentation or case study breakdowns of how you conducted user research, synthesized findings, and translated them into design artifacts.

• Illustrate your process for iterating on designs based on user feedback, usability testing, and stakeholder input.

• Demonstrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (developers, PMs, engineers) to ensure successful implementation of designs.

• Highlight any experience you have in documenting design systems, interaction patterns, or best practices for AI-driven interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an AI UX Designer role, the portfolio needs to go beyond static screen designs. It should emphasize the process of understanding and designing for AI's unique characteristics—ambiguity, latency, learning, and human oversight. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they've approached designing for "non-deterministic UI" and "Human-in-the-Loop" scenarios, ideally with tangible examples.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The provided compensation range for this role in the U.S. is $63,360 to $137,040 per year, depending on the specific location within the U.S.

  • Base range for most locations: $63,360 - $114,120
  • California (All Other): $69,720 - $125,640
  • Washington, Washington D.C., Colorado: $63,360 - $114,120
  • Massachusetts: $63,360 - $125,640
  • California (San Francisco Bay Area) & New York City: $76,080 - $137,040

• Methodology: This range is derived directly from the provided job description, which specifies different brackets based on geographic location. The minimums are also subject to applicable state, city, or local minimum wage requirements.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.

• Disability insurance.

• Retirement benefits.

• Paid leave and paid time off.

• Eligibility for Kyndryl’s discretionary annual bonus program, based on performance.

• Potential eligibility for a sales commission plan if the role is sales commission-eligible (in lieu of bonus). Working Hours:

• Standard full-time schedule is assumed to be 40 hours per week.

• The role is described as "hybrid-friendly," suggesting flexibility in how and where work is performed, with remote work being an option within the United States.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary bands are highly location-dependent, reflecting significant cost-of-living differences across major U.S. metropolitan areas. Candidates should pay close attention to the specific range applicable to their desired work location. The inclusion of both a discretionary bonus and a potential sales commission plan indicates flexibility in compensation structure based on the role's primary function.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Services / IT Consulting / Cloud & Infrastructure Services. Kyndryl focuses on running and reimagining mission-critical technology systems for global businesses, leveraging AI-powered insights.

Company Size: Kyndryl is a large enterprise, likely employing thousands of individuals globally. (Note: Actual company size not explicitly stated in the provided text, but implied by its nature as a spin-off from IBM's managed infrastructure services).

Founded: Kyndryl was established as an independent company in November 2021, following its spin-off from IBM.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design Associate will likely be part of a broader Design or Digital Transformation team within Kyndryl, focusing on AI and emerging technologies.

• This team will collaborate closely with AI engineers, creative technologists, product managers, and client-facing teams.

• The reporting structure will likely involve a UX Design Lead or Manager, with potential dotted-line reporting to project leads. Methodology:

• Kyndryl emphasizes a data-driven approach, using AI-powered insights to enable smarter decisions and drive competitive advantage.

• The company promotes a culture of "restless learning" and "shared success," encouraging continuous improvement and collaboration.

• Design processes will likely involve a blend of agile methodologies, user-centered design, and a focus on innovation and practical application of new technologies.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's positioning as a company that "runs and reimagines mission-critical technology systems" suggests a focus on reliability, scalability, and strategic innovation for large enterprise clients. The "AI UX Designer" role is crucial for Kyndryl's strategy to infuse AI into these systems, making them more accessible and effective. The company's recent establishment as an independent entity implies a dynamic environment focused on defining its future identity and service offerings.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is an "Associate" level position, typically suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of experience. It signifies a designer who is past the entry-level stage and ready to take ownership of significant design components or features, contributing strategically to projects.

Reporting Structure: The Associate UX Designer will likely report to a Senior UX Designer, UX Lead, or Design Manager. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, AI Engineers, and Creative Technologists, forming cross-functional project teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, as it directly shapes how clients interact with and benefit from Kyndryl's advanced AI solutions. By humanizing complex intelligence and designing effective collaborative loops, this role will influence client adoption, operational efficiency, and the competitive edge Kyndryl provides.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI UX, agentic AI design, human-in-the-loop systems, and ethical AI design principles.

• Leadership Development: Progress to Senior UX Designer roles, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to design strategy.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience across various technology domains and client industries, understanding diverse business needs and technical challenges.

• Learning & Certifications: Access to cutting-edge learning opportunities, including certifications from major tech providers like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, as well as internal coaching and hands-on project experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Associate" title combined with 2-5 years of experience suggests this is a critical growth role. Kyndryl's emphasis on learning and development, particularly with partnerships with major tech players, indicates a strong commitment to upskilling its employees in emerging technologies like AI.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Kyndryl promotes a "hybrid-friendly culture," indicating a flexible work environment that blends remote work with potential in-office collaboration. The specific office locations mentioned (Dallas, Frisco) are likely hubs where employees can connect, collaborate, and access resources.

Office Location(s):

• Dallas, Texas, United States

• Frisco, Texas, United States

• The role is remote-eligible within the United States, meaning employees can work from a remote location as long as they are based in the U.S. Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to support well-being and empower growth, with "Be Well programs" for physical, mental, financial, and social health.

• Expect access to powerful tools and resources for career charting, personalized development goals, and continuous feedback.

• Opportunities for collaboration are present both virtually and potentially in designated office spaces, fostering "empathy and shared success." Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week.

• The "hybrid-friendly" nature suggests a degree of flexibility in daily work hours, allowing for better work-life integration, especially for remote employees.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hybrid-friendly" approach, coupled with remote eligibility within the U.S., offers significant flexibility. For operations roles, this means being able to structure workdays around critical data analysis, system monitoring, or project deadlines, while still maintaining collaboration and team connectivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review applications and resumes, followed by a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications and interest.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, showcasing relevant UX design projects, with a particular focus on AI, complex systems, or enterprise solutions. Be prepared to discuss your process, role, challenges, and outcomes.

• Technical/Design Interviews: Expect interviews with design leads or senior designers to assess your understanding of UX principles, interaction design, user research methodologies, and your ability to design for AI. This may include a design exercise or case study.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with product managers, AI engineers, or other team members to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a hiring manager or senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and overall fit within Kyndryl.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on AI & Complexity: Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to design for AI, agentic systems, or other complex enterprise challenges. Highlight how you navigated ambiguity and non-determinism.

• Showcase the Process: Detail your design process for each project. Explain your research methods, how you synthesized data, your iterative design approach, and how you incorporated user feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the impact of your designs. For AI/UX roles, this could include improvements in task completion time, user satisfaction with AI interactions, or reduction in AI errors requiring human intervention.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, the constraints, your design decisions, and the final outcome, emphasizing the "why" behind your choices.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Sketch, and any AI-specific design tools mentioned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge or case study, possibly involving a hypothetical AI interaction scenario. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, user-centric thinking, and ability to articulate design rationale clearly.

• Practice explaining your thought process verbally and visually. Think about how you would present a solution for designing a "Human-in-the-Loop" workflow or managing AI latency.

• Research Kyndryl's current offerings, especially their AI initiatives, to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI and agentic systems means interviewers will be looking for more than just standard UX skills. They'll want to see how you approach designing for systems that learn, adapt, and require human oversight. The portfolio should explicitly highlight this capability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma, Sketch (or similar industry-standard tools).

• AI Design Tools (Preferred): Familiarity with emerging tools like Figma Make, MiroAI, Adobe Firefly, Lovable.

• Collaboration: Miro, Confluence, Jira (or similar project management and collaboration platforms).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for UX design, understanding how to interpret user analytics, A/B test results, and performance metrics related to AI interactions will be beneficial. Experience with tools that provide user behavior insights. CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are listed for this role, but an understanding of how UX designs integrate into broader enterprise systems and workflows may be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma or Sketch is a hard requirement. Familiarity with emerging AI-specific design tools is a strong preference and indicates the cutting-edge nature of this role. Understanding how to leverage these tools for dynamic, AI-driven interfaces will be key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Kinship & Belonging: Kyndryl emphasizes strong bonds, inclusivity, and ensuring all employees feel valued, respected, and trusted. This fosters a supportive environment for innovation.

• Purposeful Work: Doing meaningful work that powers human progress and drives advantage for clients.

• Restless Learning: A commitment to continuous learning and skill development, especially in cutting-edge technologies like AI.

• Shared Success: Collaboration and a focus on achieving collective goals, working together to deliver value for clients and the company.

• Empathy: Understanding and valuing diverse perspectives, both within the team and from clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with diverse teams (AI Engineering, Creative Technologists, Product Management) to bring AI-driven designs to life.

• Co-creation: A strong emphasis on workshops and collaborative sessions to ensure alignment and leverage collective expertise.

• Feedback-Driven: An environment that encourages continuous feedback to refine designs and processes, fostering iterative improvement.

• Client-Centric: A focus on understanding and meeting client needs through innovative technology solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values of "Kinship," "Belonging," and "Empathy" suggest a culture that prioritizes psychological safety and inclusivity, which is crucial for fostering creativity and open communication, especially when tackling complex, novel design challenges in AI.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Ambiguity: Navigating the inherent uncertainties in AI development, including unpredictable outputs, evolving capabilities, and the need for graceful error handling.

• Humanizing Complex Intelligence: Translating sophisticated AI algorithms and agentic reasoning into interfaces that are intuitive, trustworthy, and easy for non-technical users to operate.

• Balancing Innovation with Feasibility: Ensuring that cutting-edge AI UX designs are not only desirable but also technically feasible and align with business objectives and client needs.

• Ethical AI & Inclusivity: Proactively addressing potential biases, ensuring accessibility, and designing AI systems that are equitable and responsible for all users.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying abreast of the fast-paced advancements in AI and UX design tools and methodologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized AI UX Training: Access to resources and training focused on the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for AI, agentic systems, and Human-in-the-Loop processes.

• Industry Certifications: Opportunities to gain certifications from leading technology providers (Microsoft, Google, Amazon) relevant to AI, cloud, and design.

• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from guidance from experienced designers and technologists within Kyndryl.

• Exposure to Enterprise-Scale Projects: Work on mission-critical systems for global clients, gaining invaluable experience in large-scale technology implementations.

• Innovation Labs/Projects: Potential involvement in internal innovation initiatives or research projects exploring the future of AI and human-computer interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the novelty and complexity of designing for AI. Growth opportunities are directly tied to developing expertise in this cutting-edge field, positioning individuals for future leadership roles in AI-driven product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a system with uncertain outcomes or latency. How did you ensure a positive user experience?" (Focus on your process for managing ambiguity, providing feedback, and maintaining user control.)

• "How would you approach designing the 'Human-in-the-Loop' interaction for an AI system that needs human validation before executing a critical task?" (Prepare to discuss transparency, trust, efficiency, and the user's cognitive load.)

• "What is your POV on how agentic AI can drive human-centered design, and how would you advocate for this perspective within a cross-functional team?" (Be ready to articulate your vision and demonstrate persuasive communication skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kyndryl and our focus on running and reimagining mission-critical technology systems?" (Research Kyndryl's services, AI initiatives, and market position.)

• "How do you embody Kyndryl's values of 'Kinship,' 'Belonging,' and 'Restless Learning' in your work?" (Prepare examples of inclusive collaboration and continuous skill development.)

• "How do you ensure your AI designs are ethical and inclusive?" (Discuss your understanding of AI bias, accessibility standards, and equitable design practices.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Relevant Case Studies: Prioritize 2-3 projects that best showcase your experience with AI, complex systems, enterprise design, or novel interaction patterns.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), The Solution, and The Impact/Outcome.

• Highlight AI-Specific Challenges: If you have direct AI experience, emphasize how you tackled challenges unique to AI (e.g., data interpretation, model explainability, non-deterministic outputs).

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to walk through interactive prototypes in Figma or Sketch, explaining your design choices and interaction logic.

• Articulate Your "Why": Clearly explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and technological constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be assessing your ability to think critically about AI's unique challenges and opportunities. Be ready to discuss your design process with a focus on how you handle uncertainty, build trust, and ensure user control in AI-driven environments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided career portal link: https://kyndryl.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/KyndrylEarlyCareers/job/USDALFRI---Dallas-Frisco-AI-HUB-FRI/UX-Design-Associate_R-66831-1

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your experience with AI, complex systems, enterprise solutions, and your end-to-end design process. Emphasize case studies that showcase problem-solving in ambiguous or novel technological spaces.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your UX design skills, years of experience, proficiency with tools like Figma/Sketch, and any specific experience with AI, agentic AI, or human-in-the-loop systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key projects. Prepare to discuss your point of view on AI-driven design and how you handle challenges related to AI's unique characteristics. Rehearse presenting your portfolio and answering strategy-based questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kyndryl's mission, services, and their strategic focus on AI. Understand their hybrid work culture and values to demonstrate alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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.