UX/UI Designer (Design System Operations) - South Bank, QLD

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer (Design System Operations)

Company: Flight Centre

Location: South Bank, QLD, Australia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Operations / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-23

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the evolution and governance of a scalable, multi-brand design system, encompassing components, patterns, tokens, and comprehensive guidelines.

• Champion the adoption of the design system across diverse teams through strategic workshops, clear documentation, and ongoing user support.

• Collaborate closely with UX, engineering, product management, and brand stakeholders to define and execute the strategic roadmap for the design system.

• Identify and implement operational efficiencies within design system management and scaling processes, leveraging AI-powered workflows.

• Advocate for and embed best practices in design principles, tooling, and accessibility standards across all cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Design System Operations" specialist, indicating a strong focus on the operational aspects of maintaining, scaling, and driving adoption of a design system, rather than purely individual contributor design work. The emphasis on AI integration and process automation suggests a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Maintain and continuously enhance a scalable, multi-brand design system, including its component library, design tokens, and usage guidelines.

• Develop and execute strategies to drive broad adoption of the design system through engaging workshops, comprehensive documentation, and proactive support.

• Partner with UX, engineering, product, and brand teams to collaboratively shape the strategic direction and long-term vision of the design system.

• Identify, propose, and implement operational improvements and automation opportunities to streamline design system management and scaling efforts.

• Act as a strong advocate for established design principles, optimal tooling, and industry best practices across all relevant cross-functional teams.

• Automate key design system workflows, including component generation, token management, documentation updates, and asset creation processes.

• Integrate and operationalize AI-assisted design workflows, embedding AI tools into daily design system management practices to enhance efficiency and output.

• Establish and enforce responsible AI guidelines, providing coaching and support to designers on effective and ethical AI adoption.

• Champion accessibility by conducting regular audits and testing of components and tokens to ensure WCAG compliance.

• Define, monitor, and report on critical design system health metrics, such as adoption rates, component coverage, consistency scores, and accessibility compliance.

• Collaborate closely with front-end engineers to ensure the delivery of high-quality, scalable, and maintainable components that foster a positive developer experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic oversight, hands-on system maintenance, and proactive enablement of other teams. The specific mention of "automation," "AI-assisted design workflows," and "metrics" points to a role that is data-driven and focused on efficiency gains.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: An undergraduate degree in Design, Engineering with a Design focus, or a related field is required.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in design roles, with a proven track record of significant contributions to or leadership of a mature design system.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including component creation, variant management, and prototyping.

• Demonstrated experience using Storybook within a design system context for component documentation and development.

• Deep understanding of design system principles, governance models, and strategies for scalability across multiple brands.

• Hands-on experience with AI tools (e.g., Claude) integrated into design or design system workflows.

• Proven ability to leverage metrics and analytics to measure, benchmark, and improve design system performance and user adoption.

• Solid knowledge of accessibility standards, including WCAG compliance, and their application in design systems.

• A strong understanding of front-end engineering principles and how design systems translate into code.

• Experience in leading or significantly contributing to the development and maintenance of a design system. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design token management and implementation.

• Familiarity with design operations (DesignOps) methodologies and best practices.

• Experience in automating design system processes through scripting or specialized tools.

• Skills in user research and feedback collection for design system improvement.

• Experience working in a large, multi-brand organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, Storybook, AI tools, and metrics indicates a need for practical, current skills. The requirement for "leading a design system or making significant contributions" suggests that candidates with demonstrable impact and ownership will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least one comprehensive design system project, detailing its architecture, component library, and governance model.

• Provide examples of how you've driven design system adoption and supported cross-functional teams in its usage.

• Include case studies demonstrating the application of AI tools in design or design system workflows, highlighting efficiency gains or improved outcomes.

• Present metrics and analytics that illustrate the impact of design system initiatives on adoption, consistency, or accessibility.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma, including complex component structures and design token implementation. Process Documentation:

• Documented workflows for design system updates, including version control, release management, and communication strategies.

• Examples of user guides, best practice documentation, or workshop materials created to facilitate design system adoption.

• Processes for auditing and ensuring accessibility (WCAG) compliance within design system components.

• Methodologies for defining, tracking, and reporting on key design system health metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily geared towards demonstrating practical experience with design systems, their operationalization, and their impact. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their process for building, maintaining, and scaling these systems, with a focus on measurable results and efficient workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a UX/UI Designer with 3+ years of experience in a major Australian city like Brisbane, and considering the specialized nature of Design System Operations, a competitive salary range is estimated between AUD $90,000 - $130,000 per annum. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and demonstrated impact.

Benefits:

• Culture: Employment within a certified Great Place to Work® organization, fostering an inclusive and supportive team environment.

• Learning & Development: Individualized, ongoing learning opportunities through communities of practice, dedicated learning time, and access to LinkedIn Learning (over 24,500 courses).

• Innovation & Engineering Days: Dedicated time for innovation and engineering days to explore new concepts, technologies, and collaborate on creative projects.

• Diversity & Inclusion Programs: Participation in initiatives like the "Women in PM&E" group and a commitment to reconciliation through a Reconciliation Action Plan.

• Employee Perks: Exclusive staff discounts across over 350 Australian retailers, comprehensive travel discounts (including for family/friends), corporate health discounts with BUPA, and access to an employee share plan.

• Well-being Support: Access to mental health support and an Employee Assistance Program for staff and their families.

• Social & Events: Regular social events, awards nights, and opportunities to attend global conferences.

• Leave: Paid parental leave and volunteer leave.

• Sustainability Focus: Contribution to a company committed to environmental sustainability in tourism.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be opportunities for flexible arrangements depending on team needs and company policy, though core hours will be critical for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from general market data for UX/UI roles in Australia, adjusted for the specific responsibilities of Design System Operations and the stated experience level. The benefits package is extensive, reflecting Flight Centre's commitment to employee well-being, development, and work-life balance, as detailed in the provided text.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel & Tourism, with a significant digital presence and technology focus. Flight Centre Travel Group operates as a global travel retailer, leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and internal operations.

Company Size: Large enterprise, as indicated by the extensive benefits and global presence. Flight Centre Travel Group is a significant player in the travel industry.

Founded: Flight Centre Travel Group was founded in 1981, establishing a long history and significant market presence in the travel sector.

Team Structure:

• The role is within a team focused on Design Systems, implying a dedicated group of designers and potentially operations specialists managing this critical asset.

• This team likely collaborates closely with Product Management, Engineering, UX Research, and Brand teams across various business units within FCTG.

• Reporting structure is likely to a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Director of Product/Technology, with a matrixed relationship to various product teams for adoption support. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is emphasized, with a focus on design system health metrics and AI-assisted workflows.

• Collaboration is key, with strong partnerships expected between design, engineering, and product.

• Continuous improvement and learning are embedded through communities of practice and access to learning resources.

Company Website: flightcentre.com.au

📝 Enhancement Note: Flight Centre's long history and global reach suggest a stable yet dynamic environment. The emphasis on "Great Place to Work" certification and comprehensive benefits indicates a strong focus on employee experience and culture, which is crucial for attracting and retaining talent in specialized roles like Design System Operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level to Senior specialist in Design System Operations. It requires significant prior experience in design systems and a proactive approach to managing and scaling them. The responsibilities involve strategic input, operational excellence, and cross-functional leadership in advocacy and adoption.

Reporting Structure: While specific reporting lines are not detailed, it's typical for a Design System Operations role to report into a Design leadership function (e.g., Head of Design, Design Lead) or a Product/Technology leadership role. This individual will work collaboratively with numerous stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and Brand.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on improving the efficiency, consistency, and quality of digital product development across Flight Centre Travel Group. By maintaining a robust design system and driving its adoption, this role directly influences the speed of feature delivery, the user experience across brands, and the overall cost-effectiveness of design and development efforts. It also ensures brand consistency and accessibility compliance, mitigating risks.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in DesignOps, AI in design, accessibility, and advanced design system architecture.

• Leadership: Progress to a Design System Lead or Manager role, overseeing a team and setting the strategic direction.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into Product Management, UX Leadership, or specialized roles within Engineering focused on component libraries or platform development.

• Continuous Learning: Leverage company-provided resources like LinkedIn Learning, Innovation Days, and Engineering Days to acquire new skills and knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for specialization within the growing field of Design Operations and Design Systems. The emphasis on AI and automation suggests opportunities to become a leader in adopting cutting-edge technologies within design workflows.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a traditional office-based work environment. Flight Centre is known for fostering a collaborative and social office culture.

Office Location(s): South Bank, Queensland, Australia. This is a vibrant urban area with good accessibility to public transport and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, encouraging interaction with UX designers, engineers, product managers, and brand specialists.

• Access to necessary design tools (Figma, Storybook) and potentially AI-powered design aids will be provided.

• The environment likely supports a blend of focused individual work (system maintenance, documentation) and collaborative sessions (workshops, team meetings).

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is expected, likely Monday to Friday. Given the on-site requirement and the need for team collaboration, adherence to core working hours will be important. Flexibility may be available, but the primary mode of work is in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role suggests a preference for in-person collaboration and team cohesion, typical of established companies like Flight Centre. South Bank is a well-established business and cultural hub, offering a dynamic work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruitment team will assess your application against the core requirements, focusing on your experience with design systems, Figma, and relevant skills.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, understand your approach to Design System Operations, and assess your fit with the team's goals. Be prepared to articulate your philosophy on design systems, governance, and adoption.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a practical exercise, a portfolio review, or a technical discussion with peers (e.g., a senior designer or engineer) to evaluate your proficiency in Figma, Storybook, and your understanding of design system principles and accessibility.

• Stakeholder Interview(s): Meetings with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, or Brand to assess your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to advocate for the design system across different functions.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio to clearly showcase your most relevant design system projects. Use a narrative approach: problem, your solution (design system components, processes, governance), and the impact (metrics, adoption, efficiency).

• Highlight Operations: Specifically detail your role in the operations of the design system – how you managed it, scaled it, automated processes, drove adoption, and used data to improve it.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Include examples that clearly show your advanced skills in Figma. If possible, demonstrate your understanding of Storybook's role in a design system workflow.

• Showcase AI Integration: If you have experience using AI tools in design workflows, dedicate a section or case study to this, explaining the tools used, the problems solved, and the outcomes achieved.

• Quantify Results: For each project, aim to quantify the impact. Use metrics for adoption rates, reduction in design/development time, consistency improvements, or accessibility compliance achieved.

• Accessibility Focus: Explicitly call out how you ensured WCAG compliance within your design system work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Audit: You might be asked to audit a hypothetical or provided set of UI components for consistency, accessibility, and adherence to design system principles.

• Process Improvement Proposal: Prepare to propose improvements to a design system's workflow, focusing on automation, AI integration, or adoption strategies.

• Component Design/Refinement: You could be asked to design a new component or refine an existing one based on specific requirements, ensuring it aligns with existing system standards and accessibility guidelines.

• Stakeholder Alignment Scenario: Be ready to discuss how you would handle a situation where a product team is resistant to adopting the design system or has specific needs that conflict with current standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also operational acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence and collaborate across a large organization. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates operational contributions and measurable impact will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency required for component design, prototyping, and system management. This will be the primary tool for creating and maintaining design system assets.

• Storybook: Essential for documenting, testing, and showcasing design system components to developers, ensuring a smooth handover and consistent implementation.

• AI Design Tools (e.g., Claude): Experience with AI-powered tools for enhancing design workflows, such as content generation, code assistance, or pattern identification.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Design System Metrics Tools: Proficiency in defining and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) for design system health, adoption, and impact. This may involve custom dashboards or integration with existing analytics platforms.

• Accessibility Auditing Tools: Familiarity with tools and techniques for auditing WCAG compliance (e.g., browser extensions, specialized software).

CRM & Automation:

• Collaboration Platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams): For day-to-day communication and cross-functional team interaction.

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana): Likely used for tracking design system tasks, bug reporting, and feature requests.

• Version Control Systems (e.g., Git): While primarily for developers, an understanding of how design systems integrate with code repositories is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Storybook, along with AI tools, indicates a modern and efficient design technology stack. Candidates should be comfortable with these core tools and able to demonstrate how they leverage them to manage and scale a design system effectively.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for the design system's success, from development to adoption and ongoing maintenance, demonstrating accountability for its impact.

• Irreverence: A willingness to challenge the status quo and explore innovative solutions, particularly in the integration of new technologies like AI.

• Egalitarianism: Fostering a collaborative environment where all voices are heard, and contributions are valued across different disciplines and levels, promoting inclusivity.

• Customer Focus: Ensuring the design system ultimately serves the end-user by driving consistent, accessible, and high-quality digital experiences.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A commitment to building and maintaining systems that are not only effective but also efficient to manage and scalable across a large organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with engineering, product, and brand teams to ensure the design system meets diverse needs and is seamlessly integrated into development pipelines.

• Proactive Advocacy: Regularly engaging with teams through workshops, documentation, and support to promote understanding and adoption of the design system.

• Feedback Integration: Establishing clear channels for feedback from designers and developers, and actively using this input to iterate and improve the design system.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a culture of learning by sharing best practices, insights, and learnings related to design systems and design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Flight Centre's core values (Irreverence, Ownership, Egalitarianism) are presented as guiding principles. For this role, understanding how these values translate into design system operations—e.g., taking ownership of system health, irreverently exploring new tools like AI, and fostering egalitarian collaboration across teams—will be important for cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Driving Adoption at Scale: Convincing and enabling numerous teams across a large organization to consistently adopt and utilize the design system can be a significant challenge, requiring strong influence and enablement strategies.

• Balancing Multi-Brand Needs: Ensuring the design system effectively serves multiple distinct brands within Flight Centre, requiring flexibility and careful management of customization versus standardization.

• Integrating Evolving Technologies: Staying ahead of the curve with new tools and methodologies, particularly in AI-assisted design and automation, and successfully integrating them into existing workflows.

• Maintaining System Health: Continuously monitoring and updating components, tokens, and documentation to ensure accuracy, relevance, and adherence to evolving standards (e.g., accessibility).

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Aligning the roadmap and capabilities of the design system with the diverse and sometimes competing needs of various product teams and business units.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Architecture: Deepen expertise in creating highly scalable, maintainable, and performant design systems.

• AI in DesignOps: Become a leader in leveraging AI for automation, content generation, and workflow optimization within design systems.

• Accessibility Expertise: Develop advanced skills in accessibility auditing, compliance, and inclusive design practices within a large-scale system.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence: Enhance skills in stakeholder management, communication, and driving organizational change through effective advocacy.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead initiatives, and potentially move into leadership roles within the design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to managing design systems in large enterprises. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering pathways to become a recognized expert in DesignOps and a leader in leveraging cutting-edge technologies for design efficiency.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you successfully drove adoption of a design system across multiple teams. What were your key strategies and what was the impact?" (Focus on influence, enablement, and measurable results.)

• "How would you approach balancing the needs of multiple brands within a single design system? What governance mechanisms would you put in place?" (Assess understanding of multi-brand strategy and operational control.)

• "Imagine we want to integrate an AI tool like Claude into our design system workflow. What would be your process for evaluating, piloting, and implementing it?" (Evaluate strategic thinking, risk assessment, and adoption planning for new technologies.)

• "What metrics do you consider most critical for measuring the health and success of a design system? How would you track and report on them?" (Test analytical skills and understanding of DesignOps KPIs.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Flight Centre values 'Irreverence, Ownership, and Egalitarianism.' How do you see these values applying to your role in Design System Operations?" (Assess cultural alignment and understanding of company ethos.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in design systems, UX/UI, and AI technology?" (Gauge commitment to continuous learning.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with engineering and product management teams when working on a design system." (Evaluate cross-functional collaboration style.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation around a clear story: the problem you solved, your approach using design systems and operational strategies, the tools you used (Figma, Storybook, AI), and the quantifiable outcomes.

• Focus on Operations: Emphasize the operational aspects of your design system work – how you managed, maintained, scaled, automated, and drove adoption. This is what differentiates this role.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use clear visuals of components, documentation, and dashboards. Demonstrate your proficiency in Figma and explain how you used Storybook effectively.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Be ready to discuss the ROI of your design system work with specific numbers (e.g., "reduced design time by 20%", "increased component reuse by 35%", "achieved 98% WCAG AA compliance").

• AI Integration Clarity: Clearly articulate the specific AI tools used, the problems they solved, and the tangible benefits achieved in your design system workflows.

• Interactive Elements: Be prepared for questions about specific components, your decision-making process, and how you would handle hypothetical challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to probe for practical experience, strategic thinking, operational expertise, and cultural fit. A candidate's ability to articulate their impact through quantifiable results and demonstrate a deep understanding of design system operations, including AI integration, will be key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer (Design System Operations) position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Flight Centre careers page.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your experience with design systems, Figma, Storybook, AI tools, accessibility, and any experience in driving adoption or operational improvements. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 key design system projects that best showcase your operational contributions, ability to scale systems, and impact. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your skills in Figma and any AI tool integrations. Prepare to walk through your portfolio and discuss your process and results.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Be ready to discuss how you would approach common design system challenges, such as driving adoption, managing multi-brand systems, or integrating new technologies.

• Research Flight Centre: Familiarize yourself with Flight Centre's brands, their digital presence, and their stated company values to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest. Understand their commitment to being a "Great Place to Work."

⚠️ 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.

---