UX Designer - Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer - Design Systems

Company: TOPdesk

Location: Delft, South Holland, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design & Operations (Design Systems Focus)

Date Posted: May 08, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the evolution and integration of an enterprise-wide design system, with a specific emphasis on AI tooling and token-aware surface needs.

• Drive the definition, implementation, and ongoing management of design system components, patterns, and comprehensive usage guidelines from inception to delivery.

• Proactively identify and address systemic gaps within the enterprise, translating complex insights into accessible, inclusive, and highly scalable design solutions.

• Facilitate collaborative ideation and rigorous problem-solving sessions with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow UX Designers, to foster continuous improvement.

• Ensure unwavering consistency and maximize efficiency across the design system, proposing and championing new components or strategic enhancements as required.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "UX Designer," has a strong operational component focused on the management, scaling, and strategic integration of a design system. The emphasis on AI tooling, token-based interactions, and enterprise-level solutions indicates a need for a candidate who can not only design but also operationalize design best practices within a complex software environment. This aligns with a "Design Systems Operations" or "Product Operations" function within a design context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Adapt and evolve the existing design system to seamlessly enable accurate prototyping with emerging AI tooling, ensuring forward compatibility and innovation.

• Take full ownership of design system components, patterns, and their associated usage guidelines, managing their lifecycle from initial definition through to final delivery and adoption.

• Proactively identify gaps and opportunities within the enterprise system architecture and translate these insights into practical, accessible, inclusive, and scalable design solutions for broad application.

• Develop and present interactive prototypes to effectively demonstrate, test, and communicate component behavior and system interactions to a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Facilitate productive ideation workshops and problem-solving sessions with teammates and stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment for creative solutions.

• Ensure a high degree of consistency and operational efficiency across the entire design system, proactively proposing new components or improvements to enhance usability and maintainability.

• Define and articulate the critical intersection points between design principles and code implementation, with a specific focus on AI-driven functionalities and token-aware surface requirements.

• Conduct thorough validation and refinement of design system components through continuous feedback loops, rigorous usability testing, and insightful data analysis to ensure optimal performance.

• Deliver clear, comprehensive documentation and effective handover materials to facilitate seamless and accurate developer implementation of design system elements.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow Designers to strategically shape system decisions, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps and business objectives.

• Contribute significantly to raising the overall design maturity and refining design processes across the entire organization, advocating for user-centered methodologies.

• Maintain a proactive stance on staying current with emerging trends, innovative tools, and best practices within the dynamic fields of design systems and AI tooling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic ownership and detailed execution. For an operations-focused candidate, the emphasis on "owning components, patterns, and usage guidelines," "translating insights into accessible, inclusive, and scalable solutions," and "defining how design and code intersect" points to a need for process-driven thinking and system-level management skills, crucial for operationalizing design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or vocational qualification in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related field.

Experience: 5+ years of professional UX design experience, with a significant focus on design systems.

Required Skills:

• Deep, nuanced knowledge of design systems: understanding not just their mechanics but also their strategic purpose and impact.

• Hands-on experience integrating design systems with AI tooling and token-based interaction models for modern software development.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for comprehensive component and pattern design, sophisticated prototyping, and detailed documentation creation.

• Proven experience working collaboratively across design, engineering, and accessibility disciplines to deliver cohesive product experiences.

• Confidence and capability in driving strategic design decisions within a product triad (Product Manager, Engineer, Designer).

• Strong collaborative abilities with clear, effective communication skills across Engineers, Product Managers, and other Designers.

• Passion for accessibility and inclusivity, with a demonstrable ability to solve complex system-level design challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design token management tools and methodologies.

• Familiarity with front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better inform design-code handoffs.

• Experience with user research methodologies and usability testing to validate design system components.

• Knowledge of enterprise software development environments and agile methodologies.

• Experience in mentoring junior designers or contributing to design system governance frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "5+ years of professional UX design experience" and a "Degree or vocational qualification in design, HCI, or a related field" sets a baseline. The emphasis on "Deep knowledge of design systems," "Hands-on experience integrating design systems with AI tooling," and a "Portfolio showing end-to-end design system work at meaningful scale" are critical differentiators for operations-minded candidates who can demonstrate systemic thinking and implementation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end design system work, demonstrating impact at a meaningful scale within an enterprise context.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your approach to solving it using design system principles, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Examples of component and pattern design, including detailed usage guidelines and adherence to accessibility standards.

• Demonstrations of how design system elements were integrated with AI tooling or token-based systems.

Process Documentation:

• Documentation of processes for defining, building, and maintaining design system components and patterns.

• Examples of how user feedback, usability testing, and data analysis were incorporated into the design system iteration process.

• Clear articulation of the process for translating enterprise system gaps into actionable design system solutions.

• Documentation of the handoff process to development teams, ensuring clarity and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-focused role, the portfolio is paramount. It must go beyond individual UI designs to demonstrate an understanding of system-level processes, governance, scaling, and integration. The request for "end-to-end design system work at meaningful scale" and "integration with AI tooling" suggests a need to showcase operational impact and technical understanding.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: EUR 4,500 - EUR 5,500 per month.

Benefits:

• Personal Development: 10% of your gross full-time salary and 10% of your contractual working time allocated for personal development initiatives.

• Volunteer Work: Opportunity to use 2.5% of your working time for volunteer work.

• Work Environment: Be recognized as working at one of the best employers in the Netherlands.

• Company Growth: Contribute to an international, growing software company.

• Diversity & Inclusion: A company culture that prioritizes diversity, inclusivity, and social responsibility.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time). Flexibility in how this time is allocated for personal development is a key benefit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of EUR 4,500 - EUR 5,500 per month for Delft, Netherlands, for a UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience, particularly with specialized design system and AI tooling skills, appears to be at the mid-to-lower end of market rates for senior-level roles in Western Europe. A candidate might consider negotiating upwards based on the specialized skill set and the requirement for significant experience. The "10 to Grow" program, offering 10% of salary and time for personal development, is a significant and unique benefit that should be highlighted as a key differentiator.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software (Service Management)

Company Size: 700 employees internationally, with a significant presence in 8 countries.

Founded: TOPdesk was founded in 1993, bringing over 30 years of experience in service management solutions.

Team Structure:

• You will join a multidisciplinary product enablement team, emphasizing close collaboration.

• Colleagues are based internationally (Netherlands, Germany, Hungary), requiring strong remote collaboration skills.

• You will report to a UX Manager and regularly engage with the dedicated Design System team and other key stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on user-centric thinking and design maturity across the organization.

• Collaborative ideation and problem-solving are core to the team's approach.

• Focus on translating complex system insights into accessible and scalable solutions.

• Commitment to continuous learning and staying abreast of emerging trends in design systems and AI tooling.

Company Website: TOPdesk.com

📝 Enhancement Note: TOPdesk's long history in service management software suggests a mature product and a need for robust, scalable design systems. The international team structure highlights the importance of clear communication protocols and asynchronous collaboration skills. The company's stated value of being "one of the best employers in the Netherlands" and its focus on diversity and inclusion are strong cultural indicators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer with a specialized focus on Design Systems. It requires significant autonomy and the ability to drive strategic decisions within a product triad and influence broader design practices across the organization. The "ownership" of components and patterns, along with the task of integrating new technologies like AI, suggests a lead or senior individual contributor role.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a UX Manager, indicating a clear line of management and mentorship. Regular engagement with the Design System team and other stakeholders implies a networked approach to collaboration and decision-making, common in larger or more established product organizations.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on the efficiency and consistency of the design and development process for TOPdesk's service management software. By owning and evolving the design system, especially with AI integration, the designer directly influences:

• Development Speed: Standardized components and clear guidelines reduce development time and rework.

• Product Consistency: Ensures a cohesive user experience across all TOPdesk products and features.

• Scalability: A well-defined design system supports the growth and expansion of the product suite.

• User Experience Quality: Promotes accessibility, inclusivity, and usability by embedding best practices into the system.

• Innovation Adoption: Facilitates the integration of new technologies like AI by providing a structured framework.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design System Lead or Manager role, overseeing the entire system's strategy and roadmap.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, token engineering, or advanced accessibility within design systems.

• Cross-functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic partnerships with Product Management and Engineering, potentially moving into Product Operations or a similar strategic role.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall design team's skill development.

• Global Impact: Contribute to a product used by thousands of customers worldwide, with potential for international project involvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for specialization within design systems, a highly in-demand area. The operational aspects of managing and scaling a system, coupled with the integration of emerging tech, provide a strong foundation for career growth into strategic design operations or product management roles. The "10 to Grow" program directly supports skill development and career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site," indicating a preference for in-office collaboration. TOPdesk is described as an international software company with offices in multiple countries.

Office Location(s): Delft, Netherlands. Other potential office locations mentioned for the company are Kaiserslautern (Germany) and Budapest (Hungary), though this specific role is for Delft.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: You'll be part of a multidisciplinary product enablement team, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and other UX Designers. This suggests an open and communicative workspace designed to foster teamwork.

• International Team: While on-site in Delft, you'll collaborate with colleagues across different countries, necessitating strong digital communication tools and practices.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, and potentially advanced AI prototyping tools, will be available to support your work.

• Design System Focus: The workspace will likely support deep work on system-level design, with resources and collaboration spaces geared towards component definition and guideline creation.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (40 hours per week). The "10 to Grow" program offers significant flexibility within this framework, allowing for dedicated personal development time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement in Delft suggests a company that values in-person collaboration for complex design system work. The international nature of the team implies that while the core role is on-site, effective remote collaboration skills will still be essential for daily interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a role of this nature at a company like TOPdesk would likely involve:

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

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on design systems, AI integration, Figma skills, and problem-solving approaches. This may involve a presentation of your work.

• Team/Manager Interview: Meeting with the UX Manager and potentially other members of the product enablement team to assess collaboration style, strategic thinking, and fit within the team dynamics.

• Case Study/Design Exercise (Optional): A short design challenge related to design systems or component problem-solving, possibly to be completed prior to or during an interview.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager or department head.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design System Impact: Clearly demonstrate how your design system work has improved processes, efficiency, consistency, and scalability for an organization. Use metrics where possible.

• Showcase AI Integration: Provide specific examples of how you've integrated or adapted design systems to work with AI tooling, or how you envision doing so. Explain the technical considerations.

• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to walk through complex Figma files, showcasing your component structure, pattern organization, prototyping capabilities, and documentation within the tool.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Emphasize your commitment and practical application of accessibility and inclusivity principles within your design system work.

• Problem-Solving Narrative: For each case study, articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the design decisions made, and the resulting outcomes. Focus on the "why" behind your choices.

• Collaboration Evidence: Include examples of how you've worked with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders, demonstrating clear communication and effective handoffs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach identifying gaps in an existing enterprise system or how you would advocate for new components.

• AI & Tokens: Think about the implications of AI on design systems and how token-based design can facilitate this.

• Scalability & Governance: Consider how to ensure a design system remains scalable and manageable as a product suite grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "Portfolio showing end-to-end design system work at meaningful scale" is a critical signal. Candidates should prepare a portfolio that not only showcases design skills but also demonstrates operational understanding of how design systems function within a larger organization, including their development, maintenance, and integration with other technologies like AI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for component and pattern design, prototyping, and documentation. Advanced proficiency is expected.

• Design System Management Tools: While not explicitly named, tools for managing design tokens, component libraries, and documentation platforms are likely in use or desired.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities are key, but familiarity with others for specific demo needs might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Usability Testing Platforms: Tools used for conducting and analyzing usability tests to gather feedback on design system components.

• Data Analysis Tools: Potentially tools for analyzing user behavior data or system adoption metrics to inform design system improvements.

CRM & Automation:

• Collaboration & Communication Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for cross-functional team communication.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking design system tasks and sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a core requirement. The role's focus on AI tooling and token-based interactions suggests an interest in modern design technology stacks. A candidate with experience integrating design systems with code or understanding of how design systems feed into development pipelines will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental value, ensuring all design decisions prioritize the end-user experience.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnership, especially within the product triad and with the broader design and engineering teams.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A drive to create systems that are not only effective but also efficient to maintain and scale across a growing product suite.

• Innovation: Encouragement to explore and integrate new technologies like AI into design workflows and systems.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: A commitment to designing for all users, ensuring products are usable by everyone.

• Proactiveness: A culture that values individuals who come with solutions and plans, rather than just identifying problems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers are essential, forming the core of the product triad.

• Design System Governance: Collaboration with the dedicated Design System team to ensure alignment and best practices are followed.

• Stakeholder Communication: Regular engagement with various stakeholders to present designs, gather feedback, and drive decisions.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that likely encourages sharing best practices, learnings, and new insights within the design team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on proactiveness, user-centricity, and cross-functional collaboration aligns well with robust operations teams that value efficiency, clear communication, and a shared commitment to product excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Integrating AI Tooling: Navigating the complexities of integrating emerging AI technologies into a mature design system, ensuring both technical feasibility and user experience quality.

• Scaling Enterprise Systems: Managing and evolving a design system that supports a broad range of products and features within a large enterprise, ensuring consistency and maintainability.

• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Working effectively with international teams across different time zones and cultural nuances to maintain cohesive design efforts.

• Balancing Innovation and Stability: Finding the right balance between adopting new technologies and maintaining the stability and reliability of the existing design system.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Specialization: Opportunity to become a leading expert in design systems, AI integration in design, and token-based design methodologies.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in driving strategic design decisions and influencing product roadmaps through system-level thinking.

• Mentorship: Gain experience mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth of the design team.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend conferences or pursue certifications related to design systems, UX, and emerging technologies.

• "10 to Grow" Program: Direct access to 10% of salary and working time for personal development, allowing for bespoke learning paths.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in evolving tech environments. The growth opportunities, particularly the "10 to Grow" program, offer significant avenues for professional development and specialization, which is attractive for ambitious operations professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to integrate a new technology (like AI tooling) into an existing design system. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and technical integration).

• "How do you ensure accessibility and inclusivity are not just considered but deeply embedded within a design system's components and patterns?" (Highlight your systematic approach to inclusive design).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about TOPdesk and our approach to service management software?" (Research TOPdesk's mission, values, and products).

• "How do you see your role contributing to our company culture of diversity, inclusivity, and social responsibility?" (Align your values with theirs).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact.

• Focus on Design Systems at Scale: Emphasize projects where you managed or significantly contributed to a design system used by multiple teams or products. Highlight the operational aspects.

• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be prepared to navigate your Figma files, explaining your component structure, variants, auto-layout usage, and documentation practices.

• Explain AI Integration: Clearly articulate your understanding and experience with integrating AI or token-based design into systems.

• Highlight KPIs: Wherever possible, use quantitative data (e.g., reduction in design/dev time, increase in consistency scores, adoption rates) to showcase the ROI of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent but also operational acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex systems. The portfolio is the key tool to prove these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer - Design Systems position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your end-to-end design system experience, particularly those involving enterprise scale, AI tooling integration, or complex pattern design. Ensure each project has a clear narrative explaining the problem, your process, the solution, and the impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of UX experience, specifically mentioning your expertise in design systems, Figma, AI tooling, accessibility, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your design system methodology, problem-solving approach, and the operational impact of your work. Be ready to articulate your experience with AI and token-based design.

• Research TOPdesk: Understand TOPdesk's service management software, their company values, and their market position. Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest and understanding of their business and product challenges.

⚠️ 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.