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- Tasks: Lead the creation and maintenance of a design system that enhances product development.
- Company: Dynamic tech company in Sheffield with a hybrid working model.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £70,000 and flexible work arrangements.
- Why this job: Shape impactful design systems that empower teams and drive innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in design systems, expert Figma skills, and collaboration with engineers.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to user-centred design and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Sheffield
Working Model: Hybrid - 2 days a week in the office
Salary: Up to £70,000 Dependent on experience
Build the system that powers everything else. This role is for someone who loves creating order, clarity, and momentum at scale. As a Design Systems Lead, you'll take ownership of an established (or evolving) design system and shape it into something teams genuinely rely on. Your work will sit at the intersection of design and engineering, creating the foundations that help products ship faster, stay consistent, and scale with confidence. This is a high-impact individual contributor role where your decisions will influence how designers design and how engineers build.
What you'll be doing:
- Designing, building, and maintaining a design system that spans both design and code
- Creating reusable components, patterns, and guidelines in Figma
- Defining and managing design tokens (colour, spacing, typography, motion)
- Working closely with engineers to ensure design components map cleanly to coded components
- Setting clear standards for accessibility, responsiveness, and theming
- Producing clear documentation so teams know when and how to use the system
- Reducing UI and design decision fatigue so teams can move faster
- Evolving the system as the product, team, and complexity grow
What we're looking for:
- You don't need to have done everything, but you must have real experience owning a design system.
- Proven experience designing, scaling, or maintaining a design system in a product environment
- Expert-level Figma skills (components, variants, variables)
- Strong understanding of modern frontend development and component-based architectures (e.g. React)
- Experience partnering closely with engineers on shared component models
- A product-led mindset - you design to solve real problems, not just to make things look good
- Comfort working in complex, data-heavy products
- A solid grounding in user-centred design and evidence-based decision making
Nice to have (but not essential):
- Hands-on experience contributing to or implementing a coded design system
- Familiarity with tools like Storybook, Tailwind, or token-based theming
- Background in B2B, industrial, or technically complex products
We welcome diverse applicants and are dedicated to treating all applicants with dignity and respect, regardless of background.
Design Systems Lead in Sheffield employer: Rebel Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Rebel Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Systems Lead in Sheffield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the design and engineering circles, especially those who work with design systems. A casual chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your experience with design systems. Include case studies that demonstrate how you’ve made an impact in previous roles – this is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of design tokens and component-based architectures. Be ready to discuss how you’ve collaborated with engineers in the past – they’ll want to see that you can bridge the gap between design and code.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Systems Lead in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Design Systems: When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for design systems! Share specific examples of how you've created order and clarity in your previous roles. We want to know what makes you tick and how you can bring that energy to our team.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points or short paragraphs to highlight your experience with Figma and component-based architectures. We appreciate clarity, so make it easy for us to see your skills at a glance!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Design Systems Lead role. Reference the job description and align your experiences with the responsibilities and requirements listed. This shows us that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about StudySmarter and what we stand for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rebel Recruitment
✨Know Your Design System Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the design system you'll be discussing. Familiarise yourself with its components, patterns, and guidelines. Be ready to share your experiences in owning or evolving a design system, as this will show your passion and expertise.
✨Showcase Your Figma Skills
Since expert-level Figma skills are crucial for this role, prepare to demonstrate your proficiency. Bring examples of reusable components or design tokens you've created. If possible, walk through a project where you used Figma to solve a design challenge, highlighting your thought process.
✨Bridge the Gap Between Design and Engineering
This role sits at the intersection of design and engineering, so be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated with engineers in the past. Share specific examples of how you ensured design components mapped cleanly to coded components, and how you tackled any challenges that arose during the process.
✨Emphasise User-Centred Design
Highlight your grounding in user-centred design and evidence-based decision making. Be ready to discuss how you've approached design problems with a product-led mindset, focusing on solving real issues rather than just aesthetics. This will demonstrate your ability to create impactful solutions.
