At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of AI-driven travel experiences and innovate for the future of travel.
- Company: Join Expedia Group, a leader in global travel technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work locations, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team fostering innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of travel with cutting-edge AI solutions and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in experience design with a strong focus on AI integration.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Expedia Group brands power global travel for everyone, everywhere. We design cutting‑edge tech to make travel smoother and more memorable, and we create groundbreaking solutions for our partners. Our diverse, vibrant, and welcoming community is essential in driving our success.
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.
Accommodation requests: If you need assistance with any part of the application or recruiting process due to a disability, or other physical or mental health conditions, please reach out to our Recruiting Accommodations Team through the Accommodation Request. 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. This employer participates in E‑Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s I‑9 to confirm work authorization.
Principal, Experience Designer - AI Incubation Lab in City of Westminster employer: Expedia, Inc.
Expedia Group is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Principal Experience Designer in the AI Incubation Lab, you will have the opportunity to lead groundbreaking projects that shape the future of travel, while benefiting from competitive compensation, professional growth opportunities, and a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal, Experience Designer - AI Incubation Lab in City of Westminster
✨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, Experience 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, Experience Designer - AI Incubation Lab in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Principal, Experience 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.