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Design Systems Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

You'll define how our design system leverages AI for implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement, positioning BetterUp at the forefront of AI-augmented product design. What You'll Do * Own ...

The role is dedicated to building the design system, creating new UI flows, and translating designs into code that serves 100,000+ weekly active users worldwide. Responsibilities * Redesign mobile ...

Director, Product Design

Austin, TX · On-site

$184K - $225K/yr

This role requires a blend of product design leadership, systems thinking, and technical fluency - and a clear understanding of how modern AI-enabled products are developed and delivered. You are a ...

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Design Systems information

See Austin, TX salary details

$49.1K

$117.5K

$172K

How much do design systems jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for design systems in Austin, TX is $117,547.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,100.00 and $135,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design systems specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Systems Specialist, you need expertise in UI/UX principles, front-end development, and a strong understanding of design patterns, usually supported by a background in design or computer science. Familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, Storybook, and version control systems is essential to build and maintain scalable design systems. Strong communication, collaboration, and attention to detail set outstanding professionals apart in this field. These skills and qualities ensure cohesive user experiences, efficient workflows, and consistent brand implementation across digital products.

What is the difference between Design Systems vs UX Designer?

AspectDesign SystemsUX Designer
Primary FocusCreating and maintaining a cohesive set of design standards, components, and guidelines for productsResearching, designing, and improving user experiences through wireframes, prototypes, and user testing
Skills & CredentialsDesign principles, UI components, branding, collaboration skillsUser research, interaction design, visual design, usability testing
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with product teams, developers, and UI designersWorks closely with users, product managers, and developers
Industry UsageCommon in organizations with large product ecosystems and multiple teamsFound across tech, e-commerce, and service industries focusing on user experience

While Design Systems focus on establishing consistent design standards and reusable components, UX Designers concentrate on understanding user needs and crafting intuitive experiences. Both roles collaborate closely to ensure products are visually cohesive and user-friendly, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

How does a design systems role typically collaborate with cross-functional teams, and what challenges might arise?

Professionals working in Design Systems frequently collaborate with product managers, engineers, and UX/UI designers to ensure consistency and efficiency across digital products. A key challenge is balancing the need for standardization with the creative needs of individual teams, which often requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Regular meetings, documentation, and design reviews are common practices to foster alignment and address feedback. Navigating differing priorities and integrating updates into an established system are also typical hurdles, making adaptability and problem-solving essential in this role.

What is a design system?

Design systems are comprehensive collections of guidelines, reusable components, and standards that help teams create consistent, cohesive, and efficient user interfaces across products. They typically include visual style guides, UI components, usage documentation, and coding resources to streamline design and development processes. By using a design system, organizations can ensure brand consistency, improve collaboration between designers and developers, and accelerate product development.
What are popular job titles related to Design Systems jobs in Austin, TX? For Design Systems jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Design Systems jobs? Cities near Austin, TX with the most Design Systems job openings:
Infographic showing various Design Systems job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,547 per year, or $56.5 per hour.

Staff Product Designer, Design Systems

BetterUp

Austin, TX • On-site

$198K - $276K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

Let's face it, a company whose mission is human transformation better have some fresh thinking about the employer/employee relationship.
We do. We can't cram it all in here, but you'll start noticing it from the first interview.
Even our candidate experience is different. And when you get an offer from us (and accept it), you get way more than a paycheck. You get a personal BetterUp Coach, a development plan, a trained and coached manager, the most amazing team you've ever met (yes, each with their own personal BetterUp Coach), and most importantly, work that matters.
This makes for a remarkably focused and fulfilling work experience. Frankly, it's not for everyone. But for people with fire in their belly, it's a game-changing, career-defining, soul-lifting move.
Join us and we promise you the most intense and fulfilling years of your career, doing life-changing work in a fun, inventive, soulful culture.
If that sounds exciting-and the job description below feels like a fit-we really should start talking.
About the Team & Your Impact
BetterUp is looking for a Staff Product Designer, Design Systems to own, evolve, and scale our design system across web and mobile platforms. This role sits at the intersection of craft, systems thinking, and AI-powered design-ensuring our product experiences are consistent, accessible, and built for velocity. You'll define how our design system leverages AI for implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement, positioning BetterUp at the forefront of AI-augmented product design.
What You'll Do
  • Own the end-to-end strategy, architecture, and evolution of BetterUp's design system, ensuring it scales across web and mobile product surfaces
  • Define and drive AI-powered workflows for design system implementation-including AI-assisted component generation, code translation, and automated quality checks
  • Establish and maintain a comprehensive component library with clear documentation, usage guidelines, and contribution standards that enable product teams to move faster
  • Partner closely with Engineering, Product, and Brand to ensure the design system reflects both technical feasibility and brand integrity
  • Lead the evaluation and integration of cutting-edge AI design tools (e.g., Figma AI, generative design plugins, code-to-design bridges) into the design system workflow
  • Build governance frameworks and best practices for responsible, consistent use of AI in design processes across the organization
  • Mentor and coach designers across the organization on design systems thinking, AI-augmented workflows, and craft excellence
  • Anticipate industry shifts in design tooling and AI capabilities, positioning BetterUp to adopt them ahead of competitors
  • Drive measurable improvements in design-to-development handoff speed, component reuse rates, and cross-platform consistency
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to Design and Product leadership on design system strategy, AI capabilities, and long-term technical direction

What You'll Bring
  • Extraordinary visual design taste-a rigorous, opinionated eye for typography, color, spacing, and detail that sets the quality bar for every surface of the product.
  • 7+ years of product design experience, with at least 3 years focused on design systems at scale
  • Deep expertise in building and scaling design systems across web and mobile platforms, including token architectures, component APIs, and documentation frameworks
  • Demonstrated experience integrating AI tools into design and development workflows (e.g., AI-assisted prototyping, generative design, automated component generation)
  • Expert-level proficiency with Figma (including Figma Variables, Auto Layout, and component architecture), with experience evaluating and adopting emerging AI-powered design tools
  • Strong understanding of front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, React or similar frameworks) and how design systems bridge design and engineering
  • Track record of leading cross-functional initiatives that span multiple teams and disciplines
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence VP-level leaders and gain buy-in for strategic design system investments
  • Portfolio demonstrating systems-level thinking, craft excellence, and impact at scale

You'll Thrive Here If You
  • Experience building AI-native design system tooling or contributing to open-source design systems
  • Background in accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices baked into system-level components
  • Experience with design-to-code automation tools and workflows
  • Familiarity with coaching, HR tech, or enterprise SaaS product domains
  • External thought leadership through speaking, writing, or open-source contributions in the design systems space

AI at BetterUp
Our team thrives at the intersection of human expertise and AI capability. As an AI-forward company, adaptation and continuous learning are part of our daily work. We're looking for teammates who are excited to evolve alongside technology - people who experiment boldly, share their discoveries openly, and help define best practices for AI-augmented work. These professionals thoughtfully integrate AI into their work to deliver exceptional results while maintaining the human judgment and creativity that drives real innovation. During our interview process, you'll have opportunities to showcase how you harness AI to learn, iterate, and amplify your impact.
As a Staff Product Designer, you'll:
  • See around corners, spotting shifts in AI technology, market dynamics, or customer needs before they land. Bring forward data-backed proposals that reimagine how design work gets done, then mobilize multiple functions to pilot, measure, and scale the highest-impact AI solutions-retiring legacy processes once evidence is clear.
  • Anticipate industry-shifting AI capabilities in design tooling and position BetterUp to leverage them ahead of competitors
  • Drive technical vision for how AI will reshape design system capabilities and product development practices over 3-5 year horizons
  • Build AI research and experimentation programs within design that discover breakthrough applications before they become industry standard.

During our interview process, you'll have opportunities to showcase how you harness AI to learn, iterate, and amplify your impact. We encourage all candidates to share examples of how they've used AI tools in their work-whether Figma plugins, generative design tools, or AI-powered user research analysis.
Benefits:
At BetterUp, we are committed to living out our mission every day and that starts with providing benefits that allow our employees to care for themselves, support their families, and give back to their community.
  • Access to BetterUp coaching; one for you and one for a friend or family member
  • A competitive compensation plan with opportunity for advancement
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Flexible paid time off
  • Per year:
    • All federal/statutory holidays observed
    • 4 BetterUp Inner Workdays (https://www.betterup.co/inner-work)
    • 5 Volunteer Days to give back
    • Learning and Development stipend
    • Company wide Summer & Winter breaks
  • Year-round charitable contribution of your choice on behalf of BetterUp
  • 401(k) self contribution

We are dedicated to building diverse teams that fuel an authentic workplace and sense of belonging for each and every employee. We know applying for a job can be intimidating, please don't hesitate to reach out - we encourage everyone interested in joining us to apply.
BetterUp Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, BetterUp Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
At BetterUp, we compensate our employees fairly for their work. Base salary is determined by job-related experience, education/training, residence location, as well as market indicators. The range below is representative of base salary only and does not include equity, sales bonus plans (when applicable) and benefits. This range may be modified in the future.
The base salary range for this role is as follows:
New York City and San Francisco: $220,000 - $276,000
Austin and Arlington: $198,000 - $248,000
Protecting your privacy and treating your personal information with care is very important to us, and central to the entire BetterUp family. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your personal information will be processed in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. If you have any questions about the privacy of your personal information or your rights with regards to your personal information, please reach out to support@betterup.co