At a Glance
- 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 the future of design and engineering while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in owning a design system and expert-level Figma skills.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and enjoy opportunities for professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 56000 £ 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 Yorkshire employer: Rebel Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Rebel Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Systems Lead in Yorkshire
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your design systems work. Use Figma to showcase your components and patterns, and make it easy for potential employers to see what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to design systems. Think about how you’ve tackled challenges in the past and be ready to share those stories with confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Design Systems Lead in Yorkshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Design Systems: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for design systems shine through! Share specific examples of how you've created order and clarity in your previous roles. We want to see that you genuinely care about building something teams can rely on.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience with Figma and component-based architectures. We love seeing how your skills align with our needs, so don’t be shy about showcasing your expertise in these areas!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your experience and achievements. Use bullet points if it helps make your case stronger – we’re all about reducing decision fatigue!
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 shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
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 discuss specific projects where you've used Figma to create reusable components or design tokens. Bring examples of your work that highlight your ability to manage components and variants effectively.
✨Bridge Design and Engineering
This role sits at the intersection of design and engineering, so be prepared to talk about how you've collaborated with engineers in the past. Share examples of how you've ensured that design components map cleanly to coded components, demonstrating your understanding of modern frontend development.
✨Emphasise User-Centred Design
Highlight your grounding in user-centred design and evidence-based decision making. Be ready to discuss how you've designed solutions that solve real problems rather than just focusing on aesthetics. This mindset is key to showing that you can contribute meaningfully to the team.