Lead UX/UI Designer

Job Role: Lead UX/UI Designer

Location: Newton, MA 02459

Pay Rate: $60/hr. on W2

Eligibility: US Citizens/ GC Holders only

Are you a bold, creative thinker who loves solving problems through innovative technology solutions? Are you passionate about customer strategy, digital design, and creating seamless experiences across platforms? We are seeking a motivated design enthusiast to join our growing team. As we transform from a traditional student loan provider into a comprehensive education services company, you'll play an essential role in designing digital experiences that support students throughout their entire education journey— from planning for college and applying for financial aid, to managing finances during school, and achieving success after graduation.

In this role, you'll be responsible for creating user-centered experiences across our consumer-facing digital touchpoints, including web, mobile, tablet, and app experiences. You'll work as part of a cross-functional team, collaborating closely with business stakeholders, content strategists, copywriters, researchers, and development teams to bring innovative solutions to life.

Work you'll do Product Design & Experience Development

• Lead design efforts on projects from concept to implementation, taking full ownership of work throughout the process
• Create user-centered experiences grounded in research insights, competitive analysis, and UX best practices
• Develop design artifacts including journey maps, wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups
• Deliver detailed design specifications and documentation for development teams
• Work closely with developers to ensure designs are implemented according to specifications
• Provide a voice for customers within the Sallie Mae team, advocating for user needs

Design System & Standards

• Contribute to and enhance our internal design system library within Figma
• Help maintain design consistency across products and experiences
• Document patterns and component guidelines for team use
• Deliver detailed design specifications and documentation for development teams
• Apply systematic thinking to complex design problems

Research & Strategy

• Conduct competitive analysis and stay updated on industry best practices
• Identify opportunities to improve customer/consumer experiences
• Support heuristic evaluations, A/B testing, and design validation
• Participate in business walkthroughs and stakeholder interviews

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with our research team to implement insights into design solutions
• Partner with content strategists and copywriters to create cohesive experiences
• Present design solutions to stakeholders and executives with clear rationale
• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Facilitate high-level strategic decisions with buy-in from multiple disciplines

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• 6 years of experience in user experience design, interaction design, UI design, and/or digital product design
• Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong portfolio demonstrating experience designing complex systems across multiple platforms
• Excellence in visual design with an understanding of design principles and accessibility standards
• Experience documenting and annotating complex interactions for development teams
• Excellent written, presentation, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and organizational levels
• Self-starter with strong project management skills who delivers work on time
• Growth mindset with a willingness to learn new tools and approaches

Nice to Have

• Experience in financial services or education technology
• Knowledge of design thinking methodologies
• Understanding of agile development processes
• Background in conversion optimization and/or e-commerce