Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab in Brighton

Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab in Brighton

Brighton Full-Time Home office (partial)
Expedia, Inc.

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative design projects that shape the future of travel using AI.
  • Company: Join Expedia Group, a global leader in travel technology.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health benefits, and travel perks.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for career growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on how millions experience travel.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in design with a focus on AI-driven solutions.

At Expedia Group, we help travelers explore the world, one journey at a time. As a global travel company powered by passionate people, trusted partnerships, and leading technology, we connect travelers, partners, and advertisers through our consumer brands, B2B network, and travel advertising business. Here, you'll do meaningful work that helps millions of people discover, book, and experience travel with more ease, confidence, and joy. Our five Behaviors--Traveler First, Think Big, Operate with Excellence, Ownership Mindset, and Succeed Together--help foster a supportive environment where people can grow their careers and have the flexibility, benefits, and support to do their best work. Join us and build for travelers everywhere.

As a part of a small incubation team, lead exploration work on the future of travel powered by AI. Expedia Group builds end-to-end experiences that millions of travelers, partners, and employees rely on every day. Within the Design team, we’re reimagining how people discover and book trips across Hotels.com, Vrbo, and Brand Expedia. We’re looking for a Principal Product Designer for incubation, helping explore the possibilities that AI opens in the space of travel and transfer that knowledge into current products. In this position, you’ll be a part of a small prototype-oriented team that helps explore different futures and initiatives to inform Expedia's key strategies. You will work autonomously and will balance strategic thinking with the ability to produce tangible artifacts and conduct evaluations as well as share learnings.

In this role, you will:

  • Lead the creation and evolution of an AI‑forward customer experience vision and strategy for the AI Incubation Lab, defining clear success metrics and connecting them to business outcomes at the organizational level.
  • Develop, formalize, and teach best‑in‑class problem framing, experimentation, and synthesis practices that combine qualitative research, quantitative data, and AI‑driven insights to uncover high‑value opportunities.
  • Architect foundational experience frameworks, interaction patterns, and enterprise‑grade design system components that support rapidly evolving AI‑driven products and proofs‑of‑concept across multiple domains.
  • Champion simple, elegant, and trustworthy experiences for AI‑enabled workflows, driving a high design quality bar through critique, mentoring, and hands‑on collaboration with cross‑functional partners.
  • Build and nurture an innovation‑oriented design culture within the Lab and partner teams, facilitating collaborative concept development, rapid prototyping, and clear communication that links vision, strategy, and execution.
  • Safely integrate and operate AI/ML‑enabled solutions that improve customer and business outcomes, designing responsibly for automation, augmentation, transparency, and human oversight in AI‑driven experiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in Design, Human‑Computer Interaction, User Experience, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience applying advanced design methods to digital products and services.
  • 10+ years of professional experience in experience design, interaction design, product design, or a closely related discipline, with visible impact at product, platform, or organizational levels.
  • Demonstrated expertise in at least two core design skills (such as interaction design, visual design, service design, or systems thinking), strong capability in at least two others, and the ability to apply this breadth across multiple product domains.
  • Proven track record defining and driving customer experience strategy, design frameworks, and success metrics for multi‑team or organization‑level initiatives, including collaboration with senior stakeholders.
  • Hands‑on experience using data, customer research, and AI‑driven systems, tools, or workflows to inform design decisions, including applying AI/ML concepts to real‑world products.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience leading the design of complex AI‑enabled or data‑rich products from early‑stage concept through scaled adoption, including framing problem spaces, validating opportunities, and iterating based on learning.
  • Demonstrated ability to architect and evolve cross‑product design systems, foundational utilities, and reusable patterns that support rapid incubation and experimentation across multiple teams or platforms.
  • Track record of shaping organizational design culture—establishing critique practices, coaching senior designers, and influencing leaders to adopt scalable, evidence‑based design processes and standards.
  • Expertise integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, experimentation, and business analytics to guide decision‑making for AI‑infused experiences, including safely integrating and operating AI/ML‑enabled solutions that improve outcomes.
  • Deep familiarity with AI‑driven systems, tools, or workflows in a design context, including leading design for human‑AI collaboration patterns (such as copilot experiences, recommendations, or generative interfaces) and advancing AI‑informed design practices within an incubation or lab environment.

Expedia Group is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to support employees and their families, including medical/dental/vision, paid time off, an Employee Assistance Program, wellness & travel reimbursement, travel discounts, and an International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) membership.

The total cash range for this position in New York is $242,000.00 to $338,500.00. Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $387,000.00, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role. The total cash range for this position in Seattle is $224,000.00 to $313,500.00. Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $358,500.00, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role. The total cash range for this position in San Francisco is $242,000.00 to $338,500.00. Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $387,000.00, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role. Starting pay for this role will vary based on multiple factors, including location, available budget, and an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience. Pay ranges may be modified in the future.

Expedia is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab in Brighton employer: Expedia, Inc.

At Expedia Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration within a vibrant work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our supportive environment, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to lead groundbreaking projects in AI-driven travel solutions. Join us in our London office and be part of a team that not only values your contributions but also empowers you to shape the future of travel for millions around the globe.

Expedia, Inc.

Contact Details:

Expedia, Inc. Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab in Brighton

Show Off Your Portfolio

In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.

Get Involved in Design Communities

Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.

Tailor Your Applications

When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Expedia, Inc. for a Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!

Leverage Social Media

Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Expedia, Inc. before they go live!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab in Brighton

Experience Design
Interaction Design
Product Design
Human-Computer Interaction
AI-Driven Insights
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Data Analysis

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Principal, Product Designer - AI Incubation Lab at Expedia, Inc., make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!

Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Expedia, Inc. does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Expedia, Inc.. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.

Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Expedia, Inc..

How to prepare for a job interview at Expedia, Inc.

Show Off Your Portfolio

When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Expedia, Inc., be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.

Prepare for Design Challenges

Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Expedia, Inc. might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!

Know the Tools of the Trade

Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Expedia, Inc.!

Show Passion for User Experience

In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Expedia, Inc. is looking for.