UX Engineer - Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Engineer - Design Systems

Company: VIMO INC

Location: Mountain View, California, United States

Job Type: OTHER

Category: Engineering / Design Systems

Date Posted: 2026-06-05

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for establishing and maintaining the connective tissue between design and code, focusing on design systems and component libraries.

• You will be instrumental in enabling UI developers to build faster, more consistent, and accessible user experiences by creating robust infrastructure, tooling, and component libraries.

• The position requires a deep understanding of translating design language into reusable code components, design tokens, and patterns to ensure brand consistency and developer efficiency.

• You will champion accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 / Section 508) and best practices, integrating them into the core of the design system and development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Engineer - Design Systems," the core responsibilities and required skills lean heavily into front-end development with a specialized focus on design system architecture and implementation. This is not a traditional UX research or interaction design role, but rather a hybrid engineering role focused on the foundational elements of UI development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with UX/UI designers to translate design language, style guides, and mockups into functional, reusable code components, design tokens, and established patterns.

• Oversee and enforce the correct usage of design system components and patterns across the entire codebase to maintain visual and functional consistency across all VIMO products.

• Partner with front-end developers to ensure that front-end code adheres to the design system's guidelines and is optimized for responsiveness across various device sizes and resolutions.

• Implement, manage, and continuously evolve the design system within Storybook, ensuring it is configurable and adaptable for all of VIMO's products.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, tooling, and clear guidelines that empower UI developers to effectively adopt and utilize the design system and its associated UI library.

• Proactively integrate and ensure adherence to digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 / Section 508) into every component by default, conducting regular audits and testing.

• Establish and maintain efficient design-to-code workflows, including processes for translating Figma designs to code components, prototyping pipelines, and automated documentation generation.

• Contribute to the overall performance, maintainability, and consistency of front-end codebases across different engineering teams, acting as a subject matter expert.

• Actively advocate for UX best practices, accessibility, and design system adherence during code reviews, design reviews, and broader cross-functional discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive and foundational role in shaping the front-end development ecosystem. The expectation is to not just build components but to create the entire framework and support system that allows other developers to succeed, with a strong focus on scalability and maintainability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience in UX engineering or front-end development with a design systems focus are paramount. Equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience: A minimum of 4+ years of hands-on experience in UX engineering or in front-end development roles specifically focused on building and scaling design systems. This experience should highlight a deep understanding of the design-to-code lifecycle and component-based architecture.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Core Web Technologies: Expert-level command of HTML5 (semantic markup), CSS3 (including preprocessors like Sass/SCSS for maintainable styling), and modern JavaScript/TypeScript.

• React Expertise: Deep practical experience building complex user interfaces and reusable components using the React

JavaScript library.

• Design System Architecture: Extensive experience in building, scaling, and maintaining design systems, including:

  • Component Libraries: Hands-on work with Storybook for component development, documentation, and testing.
  • Design Tokens: Proven ability to manage design tokens using methodologies like CSS variables, Style Dictionary, or Tokens Studio for consistent theming and styling.
  • Package Publishing: Experience publishing and managing packages via npm and working within monorepo structures for efficient dependency management.

• Design Tool Integration: Familiarity with design tools such as Figma and Zeplin, and understanding of design handoff processes to ensure seamless translation from design to code.

• Digital Accessibility: Strong understanding and practical application of digital accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.2 and Section 508 compliance, with experience using accessibility testing tools like axe DevTools, NVDA, JAWS, and Lighthouse.

• Responsive Design: Proven ability to implement responsive design patterns and ensure applications function flawlessly across a wide range of device sizes and screen resolutions.

• Version Control & CI/CD: Proficiency with Git workflows for collaborative development, and comfort with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for efficient code promotion.

• Usability Principles: A solid grasp of fundamental usability principles and how design decisions impact the overall implementation and user experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Open-Source Contributions: Demonstrated contributions to well-known public design systems (e.g., USWDS, Material UI, Carbon, Lightning Design System) or other open-source front-end libraries.

• Automated Design Token Pipelines: Experience integrating design token management and generation into CI/CD workflows for automated updates and consistency.

• Component Testing Frameworks: Familiarity with testing frameworks specifically for UI components, such as Storybook's test runners, Jest, or Cypress, to ensure component reliability.

• AI-Assisted Design-to-Code Tools: Exposure to or experience with emerging AI-powered tools that assist in generating code from designs (e.g., v0.dev, Locofy, Anima, Cursor).

• Regulated/Civic-Tech Environments: Experience working within regulated industries or civic-tech environments, understanding the unique compliance and development requirements of federal/state applications and related frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "4+ years" benchmark for required experience, combined with the detailed technical requirements, suggests this role is for a mid-level to senior engineer who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and expertise in design systems. The preferred qualifications signal a desire for candidates who are proactive in the broader design systems community and potentially have experience with complex, regulated software environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase at least one in-depth case study detailing the architecture, implementation, and impact of a design system you've significantly contributed to or led.

• Component Library Examples: Provide examples of reusable UI components you've built, ideally from Storybook or a similar component development environment, demonstrating best practices in code structure, documentation, and accessibility.

• Design Token Implementation: Illustrate how you've implemented and managed design tokens, perhaps through code snippets or documentation explaining the strategy for theming and style consistency.

• Accessibility Integration Proof: Include examples or documentation demonstrating how accessibility standards were integrated into components and workflows, potentially referencing testing methodologies or results.

• Workflow Automation Samples: Present examples of design-to-code workflows you've established, including toolchain configurations (e.g., Figma to code, Storybook documentation automation).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Detail your approach to designing and optimizing workflows for design system adoption, component development, and developer onboarding.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase your experience in implementing and automating design system processes, from initial setup to ongoing maintenance and versioning.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Explain how you measure the success and impact of a design system, focusing on metrics related to developer efficiency, UI consistency, and accessibility compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just list technologies but demonstrate a deep understanding of the process of building and scaling design systems. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their contributions, explain design decisions, and quantify the impact of their work on development efficiency and product quality.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The "All In" salary range for this position is between $110,000 and $160,000 per year. This range is competitive for a UX Engineer specializing in Design Systems in the Mountain View, California area, reflecting the required experience and technical expertise. Factors such as the candidate's specific skills, depth of experience, performance in interviews, and location within the region may influence the final offer.

Benefits: VIMO INC offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and financial security:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance coverage.

• Financial Planning: Access to Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare expenses, and a 401k retirement savings plan.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and 13 paid holidays annually.

• Professional Development: Support for continuous learning through Education Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement programs.

• Employee Perks: Discounts for gym memberships and assistance with commuting/travel expenses.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this role are approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment in the tech industry. While the role is on-site, VIMO may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, subject to team and project needs, to accommodate essential tasks and maintain productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated. The mention of "All In" suggests it may encompass base salary and potentially other forms of compensation, though typically it refers to base salary in such listings. The benefits package is robust and competitive for the tech industry. The "40 hours per week" is standard, but the note about potential flexibility is a positive indicator for work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: VIMO INC operates at the intersection of Technology, Government & Public Sector, and SaaS, with a focus on transforming government IT infrastructure and modernizing safety net programs. Their innovative approach to health insurance shopping and enrollment, leveraging SaaS and AI, positions them as a leader in a critical and evolving sector. This context implies a mission-driven environment with a focus on impactful solutions.

Company Size: VIMO INC is described as having a "can do" place where people work together. While specific numbers aren't provided in the raw data, the description suggests a mid-sized to growing organization where individual contributions are visible and collaboration is key. This often means more opportunity for direct impact and less bureaucratic overhead compared to very large enterprises.

Founded: VIMO was founded with the ambition to be the "Expedia" of health insurance and has since expanded into transforming government IT infrastructure. This history indicates a company with a proven track record of innovation and adaptability, evolving from a consumer-facing platform to a B2B/B2G SaaS provider.

Team Structure:

• The UX Engineering team, focused on Design Systems, is likely a specialized unit within a larger engineering or product development department.

• It will involve close collaboration with UI/UX Designers, Front-end Developers, and potentially Product Managers.

• The reporting structure is not explicitly detailed but would typically be under a Head of Engineering, Director of Product, or a dedicated Design Systems Lead. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: VIMO leverages SaaS and AI technology, suggesting a data-informed approach to product development and problem-solving.

• Agile Development: Given the tech industry context and focus on iterative improvement, agile methodologies are likely employed for software development and design system evolution.

• User-Centricity: Although this role is focused on the engineering side of design systems, the company's mission to improve government services implies a strong underlying commitment to user experience and accessibility.

Company Website: https://www.getinsured.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's evolution from a health insurance marketplace to a government IT transformer highlights a mature and adaptable business model. The "can do" and "everyone has a voice" culture suggests a collaborative and empowering environment, which is attractive for engineers who want to make a tangible impact. The domain_derived "getinsured.com" strongly suggests this is the public-facing entity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-to-Senior UX Engineer with a specialization in Design Systems. It requires significant practical experience (4+ years) and the ability to independently build, maintain, and scale complex systems. The individual will be expected to act as a subject matter expert, guiding best practices and influencing front-end development across product teams.

Reporting Structure: The UX Engineer will likely report to a Lead UX Engineer, a Design Systems Manager, or a Director of Engineering/Product. They will work closely with a dedicated team of UI/UX Designers and collaborate extensively with various front-end development teams across different product lines.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is foundational and far-reaching. By creating a robust, accessible, and scalable design system, the UX Engineer directly influences:

• Development Velocity: Enabling faster iteration and feature delivery for product teams.

• Product Consistency: Ensuring a unified and predictable user experience across all VIMO's diverse government program platforms.

• Scalability: Providing a solid foundation for future product growth and expansion into new government sectors.

• Accessibility Compliance: Reducing legal and ethical risks by embedding accessibility from the ground up, ensuring equitable access to vital government services.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in front-end architecture, design systems, accessibility, and potentially emerging technologies like AI-assisted coding tools.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunity to lead design system initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and establish best practices for the entire engineering organization.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain exposure to various product teams and stakeholders, enhancing communication and strategic influence across the company.

• Potential for Team Lead: As the design system matures and VIMO potentially grows, there could be opportunities to lead a dedicated design systems team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a specialized engineering role with significant strategic importance. The growth path is primarily focused on deepening technical expertise and leadership within the design systems domain, rather than a broad shift into pure product management or general software engineering management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as On-site in Mountain View, California. This suggests a traditional office environment designed for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The office is located at 1305 Terra Bella Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043, situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, offering proximity to other tech companies and a vibrant ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect an office environment that facilitates teamwork, likely including meeting rooms, breakout areas, and shared workspaces designed for cross-functional interaction between engineers, designers, and product teams.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard office technology, high-performance workstations, and the necessary software licenses for design and development tools (e.g., Figma, Storybook, IDEs).

• Team Interaction: The on-site nature encourages spontaneous discussions, pair programming, and direct feedback loops, which are highly beneficial for design system development and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically 40 hours per week. While on-site, VIMO emphasizes a culture where hard work is imbued with purpose and can be fun. This suggests a dynamic workplace that values productivity and collaboration, potentially with some flexibility in daily hours if approved by management and consistent with project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Mountain View indicates a company that values in-person collaboration, which can be particularly beneficial for design system work where constant communication between designers and engineers is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process for a UX Engineer role with a design systems focus typically involves several stages designed to assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Technical Interview(s) (Design Systems Focus): Expect deep dives into your experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript, React, and specifically your work on design systems. You'll be asked about component architecture, token management, accessibility implementation, and your experience with tools like Storybook.

• Coding Challenge/Take-Home Project: You may be given a small project to build a component or a small part of a system that demonstrates your coding proficiency, adherence to standards, and understanding of design system principles.

• Design Review/Collaboration Exercise: A session where you discuss your portfolio, present a case study, or collaborate with a designer on a small task to evaluate your ability to translate design into code and communicate effectively.

• Behavioral Interview: Questions will assess your problem-solving approach, teamwork, communication style, and alignment with VIMO's values (e.g., "can do" attitude, respect, fun with purpose).

• Final Round: Often includes meeting with senior leadership or key stakeholders to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Design System Work: Prioritize projects where you built or significantly contributed to a design system. Clearly articulate your role, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the impact (e.g., increased developer efficiency, improved consistency).

• Demonstrate Code Quality: Ensure your code examples are clean, well-documented, and follow best practices. Highlight your use of semantic HTML, responsive design, and accessibility features.

• Explain Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design-to-code workflow, including how you use tools like Figma, Storybook, and version control.

• Quantify Your Impact: Use metrics whenever possible. For example, "Reduced component development time by X%", "Achieved Y% WCAG 2.2 AA compliance across Z components."

• Highlight Accessibility: Dedicate a section or specific examples to showcase your understanding and implementation of accessibility standards.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Fundamentals: Review core concepts of design systems, including tokens, components, patterns, and documentation best practices.

• React Component Development: Refresh your knowledge of React hooks, state management, context API, and best practices for building reusable components.

• Accessibility Testing: Familiarize yourself with common accessibility testing tools and techniques.

• Storybook Best Practices: Understand how to effectively use Storybook for development, documentation, and testing.

• Company Mission & Values: Research VIMO's work in transforming government IT and their stated values to tailor your responses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio and specific technical skills like Storybook and accessibility indicates that candidates should be ready for a rigorous technical assessment. Demonstrating a clear process and quantifiable results will be key to standing out.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• React: The core JavaScript library for building user interfaces and components. Proficiency is essential.

• TypeScript: Expected for building robust and maintainable front-end codebases, offering static typing benefits.

• HTML5 & CSS3 (Sass/SCSS): Fundamental for structuring content and styling applications, with preprocessors for efficient CSS management.

• Storybook: A critical tool for developing, documenting, and testing UI components in isolation. Expertise in configuring and utilizing Storybook is a must.

• Git: Standard version control system for collaborative development, including branching, merging, and pull request workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Accessibility Testing Tools: axe DevTools, NVDA, JAWS, Lighthouse are mentioned for ensuring WCAG 2.2 / Section 508 compliance.

• Performance Monitoring Tools: Lighthouse (also for performance audits) and potentially other browser developer tools for analyzing front-end performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Design Tools: Figma (primary) and Zeplin for design handoff and collaboration.

• Package Management: npm for publishing and managing component libraries and dependencies.

• Monorepos: Experience with monorepo structures (e.g., using Lerna, Yarn Workspaces, Nx) is beneficial for managing multiple packages within a single repository.

• CI/CD: Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for automated testing, building, and deployment of components and applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on modern front-end development practices and specialized tools for design systems. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency not just in using these tools but in understanding how they integrate to form a cohesive design-to-code pipeline.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: VIMO INC emphasizes a culture that is both productive and enjoyable. The core values translate into practical expectations for team members:

• Purposeful Work: A belief that hard work, when aligned with a meaningful mission (like transforming government services), is rewarding and can be fun.

• Collaborative Spirit: A "can do" attitude where team members actively support each other, roll up their sleeves, and work together to achieve common goals.

• Inclusivity & Respect: An environment where everyone's voice is heard, ideas are valued, and all team members are treated with respect.

• Community Building: Fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendship among colleagues.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close working relationships with designers, product managers, and fellow engineers. The on-site environment supports seamless communication.

• Open Feedback Culture: The emphasis on "everyone has a voice" suggests an environment where constructive feedback is encouraged and exchanged openly during design and code reviews.

• Knowledge Sharing: Team members are likely encouraged to share learnings, best practices, and insights, especially concerning the design system and front-end development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of a fast-paced tech environment with a strong emphasis on teamwork, individual contribution, and a positive, supportive atmosphere. This is particularly important for roles like UX Engineer where collaboration is paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Systems: As VIMO transforms government IT infrastructure and expands its product offerings, scaling the design system to meet diverse needs while maintaining consistency and performance will be a significant challenge.

• Cross-Team Adoption: Encouraging and ensuring consistent adoption of the design system across multiple product teams, each with potentially different priorities and existing codebases, requires strong advocacy and support.

• Balancing Innovation and Stability: Integrating new technologies or design patterns while ensuring the stability and accessibility of existing components and workflows.

• Accessibility Compliance in Complex Systems: Continuously meeting and exceeding accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 / Section 508) across a broad range of government-facing applications can be complex due to regulatory requirements and legacy systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Architecture: Opportunities to explore and implement advanced patterns for design system management, theming, and internationalization.

• Accessibility Mastery: Deepen expertise in accessibility, potentially becoming a go-to expert within the company for compliance and best practices.

• Emerging Technologies: Exposure to and experimentation with AI-assisted design-to-code tools and other cutting-edge front-end technologies.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior engineers, lead design system initiatives, and contribute to shaping the company's front-end development strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are rooted in the complexities of scaling a design system in a growing organization with diverse product needs, particularly within the government sector. The growth opportunities are aligned with deepening technical expertise and leadership within this specialized domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design System Strategy: "How would you approach building a design system from scratch for a company with multiple product lines? What are the key considerations for scalability and adoption?" (Prepare to discuss phases, token strategies, component governance, and rollout plans.)

• Accessibility Integration: "Describe your process for ensuring WCAG 2.2 AA compliance in a React component library. What tools do you use, and how do you handle accessibility testing across different teams?" (Be ready to detail testing methodologies, semantic HTML usage, ARIA attributes, and remediation strategies.)

• Collaboration & Advocacy: "How do you handle disagreements with designers or developers regarding design system implementation? How do you advocate for best practices when faced with technical debt or tight deadlines?" (Focus on communication strategies, compromise, and data-driven arguments.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "Why are you interested in VIMO's mission to transform government IT infrastructure?" (Connect your passion for impactful technology and user experience to VIMO's work.)

• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal team environment. How do you contribute to a positive and productive workplace culture?" (Reference VIMO's values like collaboration, respect, and fun with purpose.)

• Problem Solving: "Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge in building a design system. How did you overcome it?" (Use the STAR method to detail the Situation, Task, Action, and Result, highlighting your problem-solving skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations around compelling narratives. For each project, clearly define the problem, your solution (detailing your specific contributions to the design system), and the measurable outcome.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive deep into code examples, explain architectural decisions, and discuss the trade-offs you made.

• Focus on Process & Impact: Emphasize how you built things and the impact your work had on development efficiency, product quality, and user experience.

• Accessibility Demonstration: Clearly showcase your commitment to accessibility, perhaps by demonstrating a component's accessibility features or discussing your testing process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical proficiency but also strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and a genuine understanding of VIMO's mission and values. The portfolio is a critical tool for showcasing practical application of these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Engineer - Design Systems position:

• Submit your application through the provided Paycom link, ensuring all fields are completed accurately.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your most relevant design system experience, focusing on projects involving React, Storybook, design tokens, and accessibility. Include specific case studies that demonstrate your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiency in HTML, CSS (Sass/SCSS), JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Storybook, and accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 / Section 508). Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Reduced component development time by 20%").

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with design system architecture, component development, and accessibility. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail and answer behavioral questions related to collaboration and problem-solving.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research VIMO's mission, products, and company values. Understand their work in transforming government IT and how your role contributes to their overall goals.

⚠️ 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.