Design System Architect Level 3
3 days ago
Cincinnati
We are seeking a Design System Architect to build, scale, and maintain a unified system of reusable UI components that empower product teams to deliver consistent, accessible, and high-quality experiences across platforms. About the Role This role blends visual design excellence, system-level thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate is a hands-on systems designer who can translate complex interaction patterns into scalable libraries, ensuring the design system evolves alongside user needs, technology advancements, and brand direction. Responsibilities Core Responsibilities • Build & Maintain Design System Libraries, • Maintain and evolve design system libraries across Web, iOS, Android, and foundational design layers., • Oversee and manage a system of 100+ UI components, including variants and interaction states that require updates and refinements., • Evaluate and intake new component requests, collaborating with product designers and engineers to ensure alignment with visual language and usability standards., • Extrapolate component proposals to include all states, grid layouts, and accessibility requirements., • Partner closely with developers to ensure components are implemented with design parity, performance, and accessibility in mind., • Component Documentation, • Create and maintain clear, accessible documentation that serves as the single source of truth for KDS (or organization-specific) components., • Explain complex component logic and interaction models in an approachable way for designers and developers of all experience levels., • Continuously iterate documentation based on component updates, team feedback, and evolving standards., • Collaborate with engineering partners to align design documentation with development frameworks and naming conventions., • Modernization & System Evolution, • Modernize and optimize design libraries using advanced Figma capabilities (e.g., component properties, design tokens, variables, and auto-layout)., • Develop and maintain design tokens to support rapid updates, theming, and scalable design changes across platforms., • Reconfigure libraries to align with next-generation design system structures and emerging UX/UI patterns., • Support and govern community libraries, extension kits, and shared resources to foster adoption and consistency across teams. Qualifications • Design System Architecture: Proven experience building and maintaining large-scale, reusable UI component libraries for multiple platforms (Web, iOS, Android)., • Design Tool Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Figma, including component creation, variant management, and advanced auto-layout techniques., • Scalable System Design: Strong understanding of system architecture, modular design patterns, and scalable content structures., • Accessibility & Inclusivity: Deep understanding of WCAG standards, accessibility principles, and inclusive design practices., • Component Design & Documentation: Ability to extrapolate and document component states, variations, and usage patterns with clarity and precision., • Visual Design Consistency: Commitment to maintaining brand alignment and visual cohesion across all digital experiences., • Interaction Design Understanding: Awareness of user flows and how components fit into broader interaction systems., • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Skilled in communicating and collaborating with developers, product designers, accessibility experts, and stakeholders., • Continuous Improvement Mindset: Ability to adapt to evolving tools, technologies, and organizational needs while maintaining system integrity., • Soft Skills: Strong communication, documentation, and influencing skills — capable of driving consensus and championing design best practices. Preferred Skills • 5+ years of experience in UX/UI design, design systems, or digital product design., • Previous experience contributing to or leading enterprise-level design systems.