UX Principal - AI PDLC

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Principal - AI PDLC

Company: The Home Depot

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Development

Date Posted: May 15, 2026

Experience Level: Senior Level (6-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead strategic UX activities to craft end-to-end experiences and drive the strategic direction for customer and associate segments within AI Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC).

• Champion user insights and product usability by deeply understanding customers and enhancing product functionality, providing avenues to delight customers and create innovative advantages for the company.

• Operate autonomously, proactively identifying insights and opportunities, and driving consistency and standards for UX deliverables across multiple support teams.

• Serve as a customer and user advocate, influencing business and product leadership through effective communication of a clear point of view that guides quality decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title includes "AI PDLC," the core responsibilities and skills lean heavily into broad UX leadership and strategy within a product development context. The "AI" aspect might imply a focus on AI-driven products or UX for AI tools, but the description emphasizes general UX strategy, service design, and information architecture. The role requires a strong understanding of agile methodologies and the ability to mentor junior team members.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic UX Leadership (40%): Drive the vision and purpose for user experiences by combining user research outputs with organizational objectives (OGSMs or OKRs). Align multiple experiences across products and domains by partnering with Product, Development, other UX resources, and business stakeholders.

• Delivery and Execution (40%): Model and ensure consistency of UX deliverables, including experience maps and service blueprints. Lead the synthesis of research findings and facilitation activities to drive product delivery within their designated area.

• Coaching and Mentoring (20%): Lead interview exercises to assess cultural and team fit of candidates. Coach domain resources on UX activities and mentor UX resources for career development. Assist UX Leadership in aligning resources to products based on skillset and cultural fit.

• Strategic Planning & Alignment: Lead planning and strategy activities to align design patterns and testing methods. Clearly communicate insights and opportunities, demonstrating the value of UX across experiences.

• Situational Adaptability & Change Management: Display adaptability to drive change in products to better align with user needs or organizational goals, possessing the courage and organizational savvy to implement these changes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are clearly delineated by percentage, indicating a strong focus on delivery and execution, balanced with strategic planning and team development. The "40% Delivery and Execution" and "40% Leads Planning and Strategy Activities" highlight the dual nature of this senior role: hands-on strategic contribution and proactive planning.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree program or equivalent in a field of study related to the job.

Experience: Minimum of 6 years of work experience, with 10 years preferred.

Required Skills:

• UX Strategy: Proven ability to develop and articulate comprehensive UX strategies that align with business objectives and user needs.

• Design Thinking: Expertise in applying design thinking methodologies to drive ideation, problem-solving, and user-centered solutions.

• User Research: Solid awareness and application of research best practices as the foundation for informed design decisions.

• Agile Software Development: 5+ years of experience working within agile software development teams, understanding iterative development cycles and cross-functional collaboration.

• Service Blueprinting & Experience Mapping: Demonstrated experience in creating and utilizing service blueprints and experience maps to visualize end-to-end customer journeys and service interactions.

• Information Architecture: Ability to structure and organize information logically to enhance usability and navigation.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal savvy and ability to influence and align with business leadership, product leadership, and individual contributors.

Preferred Skills:

• Coaching and Mentoring: Experience in guiding and developing junior talent and contributing to career development discussions within a UX team.

• Product Usability: Deep understanding of principles and practices for enhancing product usability and user satisfaction.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven track record of effectively collaborating with Product, Development, and business stakeholders.

• Strategic Planning: Experience in translating user insights into actionable strategies using frameworks like OGSMs or OKRs.

• Creative Direction: Ability to guide the creative vision for user experiences.

• Service Design: Experience in designing and optimizing service interactions and customer journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred skills and experience (10 years total, 1 year leadership) suggest this role is a senior-individual contributor with significant influence, capable of leading initiatives and mentoring others, but not necessarily managing a team directly. The emphasis on agile experience and cross-functional collaboration is crucial for success in a large retail organization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Artifacts: Showcase examples of strategic UX deliverables such as comprehensive experience maps, detailed service blueprints, and user journey visualizations that demonstrate an understanding of complex customer flows.

• Process Optimization Case Studies: Present case studies detailing how you have applied UX principles to solve significant user or customer problems, highlighting the process from insight generation to solution implementation and impact.

• System Integration & User Flow Design: Include examples of how you've designed user flows or information architecture for complex systems, demonstrating an ability to integrate UX considerations into the product development life cycle.

• Impact & ROI Demonstration: Provide evidence of how your UX contributions have driven measurable business value, such as increased customer satisfaction, improved product adoption, or enhanced operational efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you have mapped, analyzed, and optimized user workflows and service interactions to improve efficiency and user experience.

• Implementation & Automation Methods: Documentation or case studies illustrating how UX strategies have been implemented within development cycles, potentially including insights into how UX considerations inform automation or system enhancements.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Evidence of how UX success is measured, including key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement, satisfaction, and task completion rates, and how these metrics inform iterative improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Principal" title and focus on strategy, the portfolio should emphasize strategic thinking, process design, and measurable impact. Case studies demonstrating leadership in complex problem-solving and cross-functional alignment are essential. The role involves driving UX practice, so demonstrating how you've influenced and standardized processes is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Principal UX role in Atlanta, GA, with 6-10 years of experience and a focus on AI/Product Development, the estimated salary range is $130,000 - $180,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX professionals in major metropolitan areas, considering the specific responsibilities of strategy, leadership, and execution within a large retail corporation like The Home Depot.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with company matching contributions to help employees plan for their future.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay, providing work-life balance.

• Employee Discount: A significant discount on The Home Depot products, a valuable perk for employees.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, including training, workshops, and access to industry conferences, supporting career growth.

• Parental Leave: Paid leave for new parents to support family bonding.

Working Hours: Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week. While the role operates autonomously, core business hours for collaboration with product and development teams are expected. Some flexibility may be available, but the on-site requirement suggests adherence to typical office operating times.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Principal UX role in a major US city with a company of The Home Depot's size and industry. Benefits are standard for large corporations and are assumed to be competitive. The "less than 10% travel" indicates a primary focus on the Atlanta location.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Home Improvement). The Home Depot operates in a highly competitive retail environment, necessitating continuous innovation in customer experience to maintain market leadership. This impacts UX roles by requiring a focus on delivering seamless, intuitive, and engaging customer journeys across digital and physical touchpoints.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (The Home Depot is one of the largest retailers globally). This means UX professionals will work within a structured environment, collaborating with numerous departments and stakeholders, and adhering to established processes and brand guidelines. It also implies access to significant resources and a broad impact potential.

Founded: 1978. With a long history, The Home Depot has a well-established brand and operational framework, but also embraces innovation to stay relevant. This blend of tradition and forward-thinking is likely reflected in its culture.

Team Structure:

• UX Team: This role is part of a broader User Experience team, likely comprising researchers, designers, strategists, and information architects.

• Reporting: Reports to a User Experience Sr. Principal, Sr. Manager, or Director, indicating a senior individual contributor path rather than direct management.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Works closely with Product Management, Development (Engineering), Business Stakeholders, and other UX resources across multiple product teams within a customer/associate experience segment.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Operates within agile software development teams, emphasizing iterative design and development cycles.

• Design Thinking & User-Centricity: Core methodologies for problem-solving and solution creation, with a strong emphasis on user research as the foundation.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizes user research outputs, combined with business objectives (OGSMs/OKRs), to drive strategic decisions and product alignment.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The retail industry context is crucial. UX roles at The Home Depot are expected to drive innovation and enhance customer experience in a competitive market, impacting both online and in-store interactions. The "AI PDLC" implies a forward-looking approach to integrating AI into product development and customer solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Principal-level UX role, signifying a senior individual contributor with significant expertise and influence. It sits at the top of the individual contributor track, focusing on complex problem-solving, strategic direction, and mentoring, rather than direct people management.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Senior Manager or Director within the User Experience organization. This structure allows for high-level guidance and strategic alignment while providing autonomy in daily execution and problem-solving.

Operations Impact: The UX Principal is instrumental in shaping the product development life cycle, particularly for AI-related initiatives. Their impact is measured by the quality of end-to-end experiences designed, the strategic direction set for customer/associate segments, and the successful integration of user insights into product roadmaps. This role directly influences customer satisfaction, product adoption, and the company's competitive advantage in retail innovation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven UX, service design, or complex enterprise-level product strategy.

• Leadership Development: Transition into management roles (e.g., UX Manager) or take on more extensive program leadership responsibilities within UX.

• Cross-Domain Influence: Expand influence across different customer or associate segments, driving UX best practices and strategic alignment enterprise-wide.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Continue to develop talent within the UX organization, shaping the next generation of UX professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title is a key indicator of seniority and expected impact. The growth opportunities highlight a clear path for further career advancement within The Home Depot's UX organization, either through deeper specialization or by moving into formal leadership positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the "STORE SUPPORT CENTER, ATLANTA - 9090," which is The Home Depot's corporate headquarters. This suggests a professional office environment designed for collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): Primarily located in Atlanta, Georgia. The description mentions "STORE SUPPORT CENTER," indicating a central hub for corporate operations and strategic initiatives.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace fostering collaboration with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other UX designers. The emphasis on cross-functional teams suggests an open and interactive office setup.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard UX design and research tools, as well as enterprise-level collaboration platforms.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with team members and stakeholders, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The position is full-time, with a typical 40-hour work week. While autonomy is encouraged, the on-site requirement and the need for collaboration with agile teams suggest a structured work schedule, with potential for some flexibility. The role requires being present to engage with teams and leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "STORE SUPPORT CENTER" location implies a corporate environment with access to resources and a focus on strategic initiatives. The on-site nature is important for fostering in-person collaboration, which is often crucial for senior-level strategic roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the direct manager (Sr. Principal, Sr. Manager, or Director) to dive deeper into experience, strategic thinking, and leadership potential.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their work, showcasing strategic artifacts, process improvements, and measurable impact. This will likely involve presenting case studies of complex UX challenges they've solved.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Management, Development leads, and potentially other UX team members to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to align with diverse stakeholders.

• Final Round/Executive Interview: Potentially with a higher-level leader to assess overall strategic fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Focus: Highlight projects where you've driven UX strategy, not just execution. Emphasize how your work aligned with business goals (OGSMs/OKRs) and solved significant user problems.

• Process & Methodology: Clearly articulate your approach, including design thinking, user research methods, and how you've leveraged frameworks like service blueprints or experience maps.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Showcase how your UX contributions led to tangible business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, improved satisfaction, reduced support costs).

• Leadership & Mentorship: Include examples of how you've mentored junior designers, influenced cross-functional teams, or led initiatives.

• Tailor to AI PDLC: If possible, include or highlight projects related to AI, machine learning, or complex product development lifecycles to demonstrate relevance to the "AI PDLC" aspect of the title.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you need to define UX strategy for a new AI-driven product or feature.

• Process Alignment: Expect questions on how you would align UX efforts with agile development processes and enterprise-level objectives.

• Stakeholder Influence: Prepare to discuss how you would gain buy-in from leadership and influence product roadmaps.

• Problem-Solving: Be ready to walk through a complex UX problem from discovery to solution, detailing your thought process and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for a Principal UX role. Candidates must demonstrate not only design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to drive measurable business impact. The "AI PDLC" aspect suggests a need to show familiarity with product development cycles and potentially AI-specific UX considerations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma (highly likely given modern enterprise adoption), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Prototyping Tools: Tools like Figma, InVision, Axure RP for creating interactive prototypes to test user flows and concepts.

• Information Architecture & Diagramming Tools: Miro, Mural, Lucidchart for creating experience maps, service blueprints, flowcharts, and facilitating workshops.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• User Feedback & Survey Tools: Platforms like Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or internal tools for gathering qualitative and quantitative user feedback.

• Performance Monitoring: Understanding how to interpret data from A/B testing tools or product analytics platforms to measure UX impact.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how UX impacts CRM usage (e.g., for customer service or sales tools) may be beneficial. Familiarity with Salesforce or similar enterprise CRM systems.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello are essential for working within agile development teams and documenting UX processes and findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly list tools, it's safe to assume The Home Depot utilizes enterprise-grade solutions. Figma is the dominant tool in many large companies for collaborative design. Jira and Confluence are standard for agile teams. Familiarity with analytics and feedback tools is crucial for demonstrating impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of The Home Depot's customers, driving user-centric design decisions.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to solve complex problems, particularly relevant given the "AI PDLC" focus.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals and deliver cohesive experiences.

• Data-Driven Approach: Using research and analytics to inform strategy and measure the effectiveness of UX initiatives.

• Accountability & Execution: Taking ownership of deliverables and driving projects to successful completion with high quality.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product Management, Engineering, and Business teams to ensure UX is integrated throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where feedback is shared constructively, and diverse perspectives are valued.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and lessons learned across the UX team and broader organization.

• Agile Mindset: Embracing iterative development, adaptability, and continuous improvement in collaboration with agile teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The competencies listed (Decision Quality, Collaborates, Drives Engagement, Ensures Accountability, Plans and Aligns, Develops Talent, Manages Conflict) directly reflect the company's values and desired collaboration style for its employees, especially at a senior level.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Driving AI Integration: Navigating the complexities of integrating AI into products and user experiences, ensuring ethical considerations, user trust, and clear value proposition. This involves understanding AI capabilities and limitations from a UX perspective.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Strategy: Effectively advocating for user needs while aligning with ambitious business objectives and retail operational constraints.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent UX vision and execution across multiple product teams and diverse stakeholder groups within a large enterprise.

• Measuring Impact of Strategic UX: Quantifying the value and ROI of high-level UX strategy and design thinking initiatives, especially in areas like AI which can be nascent.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI UX Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in designing for AI-powered features, understanding user interaction patterns with intelligent systems, and ethical AI considerations.

• Enterprise-Level Strategy: Gaining experience in shaping UX strategy for a large, complex organization with diverse customer segments and product portfolios.

• Leadership Skills: Developing skills in coaching, mentoring, and influencing without direct authority, preparing for potential future leadership roles.

• Industry Exposure: Access to internal and external training, conferences, and workshops relevant to cutting-edge UX practices and retail innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the strategic and forward-thinking nature of the role, particularly with the AI component. Growth opportunities are aligned with developing expertise in emerging areas and advancing within a large corporate structure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a UX strategy for a complex product or service. How did you align it with business objectives (e.g., OGSMs/OKRs) and user needs?" (Focus on strategic thinking, alignment, and process.)

• "How would you approach designing the user experience for an AI-powered feature in a retail context? What are the key considerations?" (Tests understanding of AI UX, user trust, and retail application.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about The Home Depot's approach to UX and innovation, particularly in relation to AI?" (Shows research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you handle disagreements with product managers or engineers regarding UX decisions?" (Evaluates collaboration, conflict management, and advocacy skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives. Start with the problem, explain your role and process, detail your solutions, and conclude with the measurable impact.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your strategic artifacts (maps, blueprints) are clear, well-annotated, and easy to understand. Highlight key insights and decisions.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, present data that demonstrates the positive outcomes of your UX work. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss qualitative feedback or projected benefits.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Emphasize why you made certain design decisions, linking them back to user research and business goals. Show your thought process.

• Address AI Aspect: If you have relevant experience, explicitly connect your portfolio pieces to AI, product development lifecycles, or complex system design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to articulate their strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and ability to drive impact within a large, complex organization. Demonstrating an understanding of AI's role in UX and retail is a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through The Home Depot careers portal via the provided link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best showcase your strategic UX leadership, problem-solving abilities, and experience with complex product development or AI-related initiatives. Ensure your portfolio includes examples of strategic artifacts like experience maps or service blueprints and clearly articulates the business impact.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Strategy," "Design Thinking," "Agile," "Service Blueprinting," "AI PDLC," and "stakeholder management." Quantify your achievements with specific numbers and results.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies. Focus on clear storytelling, articulating your strategic approach, and demonstrating measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your process and decision-making for each project.

• Research The Home Depot: Understand the company's current initiatives, its position in the retail market, and any known efforts in AI or digital transformation. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.