Lead Designer

Lead design efforts on projects from concept to implementation, taking full ownership of work throughout the process. Create user-centered experiences grounded in research insights, competitive analysis, and UX best practices. Develop design artifacts including journey maps, wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups. Deliver detailed design specifications and documentation for development teams. Work closely with developers to ensure designs are implemented according to specifications.

Provide a voice for customers within the Sallie Mae team, advocating for user needs. Contribute to and enhance our internal design system library within Figma. Help maintain design consistency across products and experiences. Document patterns and component guidelines for team use. Apply systematic thinking to complex design problems. Conduct competitive analysis and stay updated on industry best practices. Identify opportunities to improve customer/consumer experiences.

Support heuristic evaluations, A/B testing, and design validation. Participate in business walkthroughs and stakeholder interviews. Collaborate with our research team to implement insights into design solutions. Partner with content strategists and copywriters to create cohesive experiences. Present design solutions to stakeholders and executives with clear rationale. Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. Facilitate high-level strategic decisions with buy-in from multiple disciplines.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• 6+ years of experience in user experience design, interaction design, UI design, and/or digital product design
• Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong portfolio demonstrating experience designing complex systems across multiple platforms
• Excellence in visual design with an understanding of design principles and accessibility standards
• Experience documenting and annotating complex interactions for development teams
• Excellent written, presentation, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and organizational levels
• Self-starter with strong project management skills who delivers work on time
• Growth mindset with a willingness to learn new tools and approaches

• Lead design efforts on projects from concept to implementation, taking full ownership of work throughout the process
• Create user-centered experiences grounded in research insights, competitive analysis, and UX best practices
• Develop design artifacts including journey maps, wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups
• Deliver detailed design specifications and documentation for development teams
• Work closely with developers to ensure designs are implemented according to specifications
• Provide a voice for customers within the Sallie Mae team, advocating for user needs
• Contribute to and enhance our internal design system library within Figma
• Help maintain design consistency across products and experiences
• Document patterns and component guidelines for team use
• Apply systematic thinking to complex design problems
• Conduct competitive analysis and stay updated on industry best practices
• Identify opportunities to improve customer/consumer experiences
• Support heuristic evaluations, A/B testing, and design validation
• Participate in business walkthroughs and stakeholder interviews
• Collaborate with our research team to implement insights into design solutions
• Partner with content strategists and copywriters to create cohesive experiences
• Present design solutions to stakeholders and executives with clear rationale
• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Facilitate high-level strategic decisions with buy-in from multiple disciplines

Salary Type
:
Hourly
Salary Min
: $55
Salary Max
: $82
Currency Type
: USD