Lead Product Designer - Design Systems
Lead Product Designer - Design Systems

Lead Product Designer - Design Systems

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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RedCat Digital

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design system for a major media platform, impacting millions of users.
  • Company: Join a leading UK media and entertainment business with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on accessibility and user experience.
  • Why this job: Be a changemaker in design, driving real impact and transformation.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in large-scale design systems and expert-level Figma skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

I'm working with a major UK media and entertainment business on a Lead Product Designer hire to own their design system. The system sits underneath their flagship website and consumer app, used by millions of customers. The role owns where the system goes next, who's in the team, and how it gets adopted across the wider organisation. You will be part of a wider mission of building a world-class design function, and you’ll be in at the start!

This isn't a "build it and they will come" job. The honest brief from the hiring manager: they're not looking for someone who delivers a beautiful Figma library, hands over a set of recommendations, and walks off. They want a builder. A changemaker. Someone who has pushed a system through governance, fought for adoption with product and engineering, and can point to the actual outcomes - faster ship cycles, fewer one-off components, better accessibility, real engineering hours saved, a measurable lift in consistency or speed. If your strongest answer to "what changed because of your work?" is a list of recommendations, this won't be the one.

What you'll own:

  • The strategic direction of the system - architecture, scalability, contribution model, the lot.
  • Token libraries covering spacing, colour, type and structure that work cleanly across responsive web and native.
  • Component engineering in partnership with frontend so Figma and production code stay in parity, not drift apart.
  • Governance, version control and review cycles that protect quality without strangling contribution.
  • WCAG 2.2 baked into every pattern, motion principle and component, not bolted on at the end.
  • A small team of product designers - 1:1s, development plans, growth in tokenisation, accessibility and documentation.
  • The conversation with senior stakeholders about why design system maturity is a business lever, not a design vanity project.

What the client is looking for:

  • Proven delivery of large-scale design systems across responsive web and native applications.
  • Expert-level Figma: component libraries, token structures, conditional prototyping.
  • A real partnership with engineers on component implementation and governance pipelines.
  • Comfortable with usability research (Usertesting, Stravito) and behavioural analytics (Adobe Analytics, Contentsquare).
  • WCAG 2.2 second nature.
  • The communication and storytelling chops to stand up in front of senior stakeholders and tell the story of what you've built and what it actually changed.

Where the client is open:

Backgrounds, we’re open, interested in seeing talent from other large brands, across any sector – it’s the impact you’ve had we’re looking to evidence. Scale-ups, Government can do great work if you can evidence cutting through and making change land. SaaS counts if you can evidence actual UI and system change rather than "I wasn't allowed to touch it." Agency or consultancy counts if you've moved client-side and made something stick. The bar is the impact, not the logo on the CV.

The setup:

Customer Experience function inside a major UK media and entertainment business, supporting CX strategy and design quality across the portfolio. The role will be based in West London - 3 days on-site, 2 from home.

Get in touch:

For more information please share your CV!

Lead Product Designer - Design Systems employer: RedCat Digital

Join a leading UK media and entertainment business that champions innovation and creativity in design. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to shape a world-class design system while collaborating with a passionate team in a hybrid work environment. Enjoy a culture that values impactful contributions, where your work directly influences millions of users and drives meaningful change across the organisation.
RedCat Digital

Contact Detail:

RedCat Digital Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Product Designer - Design Systems

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend design meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your work! Create a portfolio that not only highlights your best designs but also tells the story of your impact. Include case studies that demonstrate how your design systems improved processes or user experiences.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling skills. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've driven change and adoption in previous roles. Remember, they want to hear about the outcomes, not just the tasks!

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our mission of building a world-class design function.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Designer - Design Systems

Design System Ownership
Figma Expertise
Component Libraries
Token Structures
Conditional Prototyping
Usability Research
Behavioural Analytics
WCAG 2.2 Compliance
Stakeholder Communication
Governance and Version Control
Collaboration with Engineers
Accessibility Documentation
Strategic Direction Planning
Responsive Web Design

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Impact: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight the real impact you've had in your previous roles. We want to see how your work has led to tangible outcomes, not just a list of tasks you completed.

Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s a builder and a changemaker, so don’t be afraid to share your unique approach to design systems and how you’ve tackled challenges in the past.

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role. Focus on your experience with design systems, Figma, and collaboration with engineers. We want to see that you understand what it takes to drive adoption and governance in a design system.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get the best chance to showcase your skills and experiences directly to us!

How to prepare for a job interview at RedCat Digital

✨Know Your Design System Inside Out

Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand design systems and their impact on product development. Be ready to discuss your previous experiences in detail, especially how you've driven adoption and governance in past roles.

✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills

This role requires a strong partnership with engineers and stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement design systems and achieve measurable outcomes.

✨Prepare for Storytelling

You’ll need to communicate the value of your work effectively. Think about how you can tell compelling stories about your past projects, focusing on the changes your design systems brought to the table, such as improved efficiency or user experience.

✨Demonstrate Your Technical Proficiency

Be ready to discuss your expertise in tools like Figma and your understanding of WCAG 2.2 standards. Consider bringing a portfolio that highlights your component libraries and any usability research you've conducted to back up your claims.

Lead Product Designer - Design Systems
RedCat Digital
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