UX Product Design Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Product Design Lead

Company: Citi

Location: Tampa, Florida, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: September 1, 2026

Experience Level: 7-12 years (Senior to Lead level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead design quality and craft across a designated product area, setting high standards for user experience within Citi's HR applications and systems.

• Drive the creation of intuitive, seamless, and delightful digital experiences that enhance employee workflows, from onboarding to performance management.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including research, product management, and engineering to ideate, design, and deliver user-centric solutions.

• Mentor and guide other UX Designers, fostering their professional development and ensuring a consistently high standard of design across the team.

• Champion the definition, documentation, and adoption of reusable design patterns and components to evolve Citi's Design System and shared design language.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Product Design Lead," the core responsibilities and required experience strongly indicate a senior to lead-level individual contributor role focused on design execution and team guidance, rather than direct people management of a large team. The emphasis on "design quality and craft across your product area" and "guiding and developing other designers" points towards a senior individual contributor with leadership responsibilities within design projects.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end user experience quality for specific product areas, proactively identifying and driving improvements.

• Create and manage wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs using Figma, adhering to and contributing to the established Design System.

• Ensure all designs comply with ADA/WCAG standards for accessibility, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive design practices.

• Act as a design guardian, reviewing the work of other designers, providing constructive critique, and maintaining a consistently high standard across the team.

• Define, document, and champion reusable design patterns and components, contributing to the evolution of the Design System and shared design language.

• Guide and mentor other UX Designers, helping them develop their craft, build confidence, and advance their careers.

• Confidently challenge the status quo at a senior level, advocating for user needs and encouraging product and engineering partners to address root causes of design challenges.

• Deliver high-quality design assets and clear guidance to the engineering team to ensure accurate implementation.

• Provide ongoing support to engineering through regular UX review checkpoints, verifying the quality and adherence to design specifications.

• Stay abreast of the latest UX practices, innovations, and tools, including AI-enabled design approaches, and proactively share learnings with the team.

• Lead by example, supporting, training, and developing junior and mid-level team members.

• Moderate conflicts between colleagues and/or stakeholders, guiding them towards constructive resolutions.

• Take a leading role in the wider UX community within Citi, contributing to the definition of design standards and practices.

• Ensure timely delivery of design assets, proactively identifying and managing risks to meet project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of individual design contribution, quality assurance, and team mentorship. The "lead" aspect appears to be project-based leadership and design advocacy rather than formal people management, focusing on driving design excellence within specific product domains.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (Required)

• Master's Degree (Desirable) Experience:

• 7–12 years of industry UX Design experience, with a proven track record of leading design quality across teams or products.

• Demonstrable experience delivering complex, enterprise-scale or consumer design at a senior level.

• Significant experience working with, contributing to, and helping define Design Systems and pattern libraries.

• Proven ability to guide and develop other designers through structured critique and mentorship. Required Skills:

• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and problem-solving capabilities.

• Creative flair and a highly developed eye for design quality and consistency.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to articulate design decisions clearly to senior stakeholders.

• Outstanding proficiency in professional design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or InVision.

• Deep understanding and application of accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG).

• Experience in leveraging AI-enabled design tools and workflows strategically, including generative design, AI-assisted prototyping, and intelligent design systems, with the judgment to guide teams in their responsible adoption.

• Experience working within Agile methodology.

• User research and testing methodologies. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in e-commerce, Internet, or mobile space.

• Financial services industry and commercial banking experience.

• Experience defining or contributing to experience principles or design vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 7-12 years, coupled with the emphasis on leading design quality, mentoring, and contributing to design systems, positions this role as a senior-level individual contributor or a design lead for specific product areas, rather than a people manager responsible for a large team. The "lead" title is more about design ownership and influence within their domain.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 7-12 years of industry UX Design experience with a clear focus on leading design quality and craft across product areas or teams.

• Include detailed case studies demonstrating expertise in creating complex, enterprise-scale or consumer-level digital experiences.

• Present a strong portfolio that highlights contributions to, or the definition of, Design Systems and reusable pattern libraries, showing an understanding of scalable design solutions.

• Demonstrate proficiency in using professional design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision) through the visual assets and prototypes presented.

• Evidence of how research and testing were leveraged to inform and validate design decisions.

• Examples of how accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG) were integrated into the design process. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process followed, from initial problem definition and user research through ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final high-fidelity design.

• Detailed explanations of how design decisions were made, supported by user insights, stakeholder feedback, and adherence to design principles.

• Documentation of contributions to design systems, including how patterns were defined, reused, and maintained for consistency.

• Examples of how AI-enabled design tools were strategically integrated into workflows to enhance efficiency, creativity, or outcomes.

• Clear presentation of the final design deliverables provided to engineering, including any necessary annotations or guidance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio and walkthrough during the interview process underscores the need for candidates to visually demonstrate their design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact. The focus on "leading design quality" implies showcasing leadership in design execution and problem-solving within past projects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $125,600 - $188,400 annually (Primary Location Full Time Salary Range)

Benefits:

• Medical coverage

• Dental coverage

• Vision coverage

• 401(k) plan

• Life insurance

• Accident insurance

• Disability insurance

• Wellness programs

• Paid time off (PTO) packages, including:

  • Planned time off (vacation)
  • Unplanned time off (sick leave)
  • Paid holidays

• Discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards (for eligible employees) Working Hours:

• Full time, typically 40 hours per week.

• The role implies a hybrid work arrangement, requiring flexibility to balance on-site collaboration with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $125,600 - $188,400 is specific to the Tampa, Florida location. This range is generally competitive for a senior/lead UX Product Design role in a major financial institution in a large metropolitan area. The benefits package is comprehensive, typical for a large corporation like Citi, and includes standard health, retirement, and time-off benefits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking Technology

Company Size: Citi is a global financial services corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This large scale means operations and technology teams are highly structured, with established processes and a significant impact on global business. For operations professionals, this offers stability, access to extensive resources, and opportunities to work on complex, large-scale projects with global reach.

Founded: Citi was founded in 1812, indicating a long history of innovation and adaptation in the financial sector. This legacy suggests a culture that values stability, trust, and long-term strategic thinking, while also being forward-looking, as evidenced by their focus on modernizing HR systems and adopting new technologies like AI.

Team Structure:

• UX Team: The UX team is part of the broader "Digital Design Engineering" and "Technology" job families. It focuses on transforming HR applications and systems, aiming to create seamless employee experiences.

• Reporting Structure: This role likely reports into a Director or VP of UX Design or Digital Product Design, with direct collaboration across Product Management, Engineering, and HR stakeholders.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with research, senior stakeholders, product managers, and engineering teams. This indicates a highly matrixed environment where design success depends on strong partnerships and communication across disciplines.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on research and testing to inform and validate designs suggests a data-driven approach to product development.

• Agile Workflows: The mention of "Agile methodology" as a desirable skill points towards iterative development cycles, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• Design System Centricity: The focus on defining, documenting, and championing reusable design patterns and components highlights a commitment to consistency, efficiency, and scalability in design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi's position as a global financial institution implies a robust, structured environment. For a UX Product Design Lead, this means operating within established frameworks while having the opportunity to influence and evolve design standards. The focus on HR systems suggests a critical internal-facing role that directly impacts employee productivity and satisfaction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior to lead individual contributor level. It requires 7-12 years of experience and involves taking ownership of design quality, mentoring other designers, and contributing to strategic design initiatives like design systems. It's a step beyond a Senior UX Designer, implying leadership within a specific product domain or project.

Reporting Structure: The UX Product Design Lead will report to higher management within the UX or Digital Design organization and will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads. This structure allows for significant autonomy in design execution and strategy within their product area, while still being accountable to broader organizational goals.

Operations Impact: The impact is significant, focusing on enhancing the employee experience within HR systems. By transforming these tools, the role directly contributes to:

• Increased Employee Productivity: Intuitive and seamless tools reduce friction and time spent on administrative tasks.

• Improved Employee Satisfaction: Better designed systems lead to a more positive and less frustrating work environment.

• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes and clearer workflows can reduce errors and manual effort in HR operations.

• Talent Acquisition & Retention: A positive onboarding and employee experience can be a differentiator in attracting and retaining top talent.

• Adoption of New Technologies: Leading the adoption of AI-enabled design tools can drive innovation and efficiency across the design function.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Potential to grow into a formal design management role, leading a larger team or a broader product portfolio.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like enterprise HR systems, AI in design, or advanced design system management.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across different business units or technology domains within Citi.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop leadership skills by formally mentoring junior designers and contributing to training programs.

• Strategic Design Initiatives: Lead initiatives to define new design principles, methodologies, or the future vision of UX at Citi.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth from a senior individual contributor to a leadership position, either through people management or by taking on more strategic, influential design roles within the organization. The emphasis on AI and design systems also provides opportunities for specialization in cutting-edge areas.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This typically involves a mix of working from home and in a designated Citi office location. The specific office is located at 3800 Citigroup Center Drive, Building G, Tampa.

Office Location(s):

• Primary Location: Tampa, Florida, United States

• This suggests a dedicated office space for employees to collaborate, conduct meetings, and potentially focus on tasks requiring in-person interaction. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model, combined with the emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, suggests an environment designed for both independent work and team interaction. This includes meeting rooms, potentially open-plan areas for team discussions, and spaces for focused work.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, along with Citi's internal systems and potentially AI-powered design assistance tools. A robust IT infrastructure is expected to support remote and in-office work.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person and virtual collaboration with UX designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers. This fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and feedback.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, typically 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid arrangement offers some flexibility in balancing work location, but core working hours will be expected to align with team collaboration needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role at a large financial institution like Citi implies a structured yet flexible approach to work. Employees are expected to be in the office for key collaborative activities and team building, while also having the autonomy to manage their remote workdays effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and portfolio through the provided link.

• Initial Screening: Recruiters or hiring managers will review applications and portfolios for essential qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Walkthrough: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio and walk through specific case studies during an interview. This is a critical stage to assess design thinking, process, and impact.

• Design Exercises/Challenges: Likely includes a design exercise or a more in-depth case study presentation focusing on problem-solving, strategic thinking, and design execution relevant to Citi's HR systems.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, fellow UX Designers, and potentially senior leadership to assess collaboration skills, communication, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss overall fit, vision, and strategic contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your experience leading design quality, mentoring, and working with enterprise-scale systems or complex user flows.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved. Quantify results wherever possible.

• Highlight Leadership: Showcase instances where you led design efforts, mentored junior designers, influenced stakeholders, or contributed to design systems/pattern libraries.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Visually showcase your skills in Figma and other relevant tools. Clearly explain how you used them to bring your designs to life.

• Address AI Integration: If applicable, detail how you've strategically used AI-enabled design tools and what the outcomes were.

• Accessibility Emphasis: Ensure at least one project clearly demonstrates your understanding and application of ADA/WCAG standards.

• Storytelling: Structure your walkthroughs as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving approach and design thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Citi's HR systems and general employee experience challenges in large financial institutions.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to tackle hypothetical design problems related to employee onboarding, benefits management, performance reviews, or internal HR tools.

• Articulate Your Thinking: Practice explaining your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying them with user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for or contributing to a large-scale design system.

• Stakeholder Management: Think about how you would communicate with and influence diverse stakeholders (Product, Engineering, HR, senior leadership).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of a portfolio walkthrough during the interview process is a strong indicator that candidates will be evaluated on their ability to articulate their design process, decision-making, and impact through real-world examples. This is a critical step for senior design roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Expertise in Figma, including its collaboration features and component management, is essential.

• Sketch: While Figma is highlighted, experience with Sketch may also be valuable given its prevalence in the design industry.

• Adobe XD: Another potential tool in the design suite, though Figma is emphasized.

• InVision: Likely used for prototyping and collaboration, especially for sharing interactive mockups.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and gathering qualitative feedback.

• Analytics Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, experience with tools that track user behavior and system adoption (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal HR system analytics) would be beneficial for understanding design impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: For presenting research findings and design impact metrics to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• HR Systems: Deep understanding of enterprise-scale HR platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM) is implied, as the role focuses on improving their UX.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks and collaborating within Agile workflows.

• Design System Management Tools: Platforms for managing design tokens, components, and documentation (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or integrated Figma features).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and Design Systems points to a modern, component-driven design workflow. The mention of AI-enabled design tools suggests an openness to incorporating cutting-edge technologies into the design process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value driving the creation of intuitive and delightful employee experiences, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of all design decisions.

• Design Excellence: A commitment to high standards of quality, consistency, and craft in all design outputs, as demonstrated through the review process and Design System.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships with research, product management, and engineering to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging the adoption of new tools and methodologies, including AI, and a proactive approach to identifying and driving enhancements.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Designing for all users, ensuring compliance with ADA/WCAG standards and promoting equitable experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with product managers, engineers, and researchers, participating in ideation sessions, design reviews, and development sprints.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: An environment where feedback is openly given and received, fostering continuous learning and improvement among designers.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings from AI tools, and insights from user research to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

• Advocacy: Designers are encouraged to champion user needs and design best practices, even when challenging established norms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi's culture, as reflected in this role, emphasizes a blend of established corporate values (like integrity and user-centricity) with a drive for innovation and modern design practices, particularly in leveraging technology like AI and robust design systems.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Designing for enterprise-scale HR systems used by a global workforce presents significant challenges in terms of user diversity, technical constraints, and integration with various platforms.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively navigating and prioritizing the diverse needs and expectations of HR stakeholders, product managers, engineers, and end-users.

• Driving Adoption of New Practices: Championing and integrating new design methodologies, tools (like AI), and design system updates within a large, established organization.

• Maintaining Design Quality: Ensuring consistent high quality and adherence to standards across multiple product areas and designers, especially in a hybrid work environment.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the impact of UX improvements on employee productivity, satisfaction, and operational efficiency within HR processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in complex enterprise UX, design systems, and user research methodologies.

• AI in Design: Hands-on experience and leadership in adopting and leveraging AI-enabled design tools and workflows.

• Leadership Development: Training and mentorship in leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product strategy.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining experience within the financial services sector, understanding its unique design challenges and opportunities.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Developing a strong understanding of product management, engineering, and HR operations through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in large, established companies, particularly in regulated industries like finance. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering avenues for both technical specialization and leadership development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led design quality for a complex product area. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your role in setting standards, reviewing work, and driving improvements.)

• "How have you leveraged AI-enabled design tools in your workflow? Provide an example of a specific tool and its impact." (Be ready to discuss generative design, AI-assisted prototyping, or intelligent design systems.)

• "Walk us through your process for contributing to or defining a design system. What are the key considerations for enterprise-scale adoption?" (Highlight your understanding of scalability, governance, and component management.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints when designing for enterprise systems?" (Demonstrate your problem-solving approach and ability to find optimal solutions.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to mentor or guide another designer. What approach did you take, and what was the result?" (Showcase your leadership and coaching abilities.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Citi's approach to employee experience and HR technology?" (Research their recent initiatives or public statements on HR transformation.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to Citi's overall mission and values?" (Connect your passion for user-centric design to Citi's broader objectives.)

• "How would you approach fostering a collaborative design culture within a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss strategies for communication, feedback, and team building.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure each case study as a story: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the impact.

• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your design process and final deliverables.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Focus on Leadership: Explicitly call out instances where you took a leading role, mentored others, or influenced decisions.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your walkthroughs to ensure they are impactful and within the allocated timeframe.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, demonstrate interactive prototypes to showcase the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating leadership in design, strategic application of tools like AI and design systems, and the ability to articulate complex design processes and outcomes clearly.

---

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Product Design Lead position:

• Submit your application through the Citi careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 7-12 years of UX design experience, focusing on leadership in design quality, enterprise-scale projects, design system contributions, and mentorship. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies that showcase your leadership in design, problem-solving for complex systems, use of Figma, and experience with design systems and accessibility. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, solutions, and measurable impact.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design process, justifying your decisions, and quantifying your impact. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI-enabled design tools and accessibility standards.

• Research Citi: Understand Citi's mission, values, and their focus on employee experience and HR technology. Prepare to discuss how your skills align with their organizational goals and culture.

⚠️ 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.