** This is a HYBRID position open to authorized candidates who can be in Vienna, VA at least once/week.**
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Design Systems Lead to join our client’s UX team. In this Contract role, you will oversee the migration of the current design systems from Adobe XD to Figma. You will play a critical role in ensuring a smooth transition, maintaining design consistency, and optimizing the usability of the design system. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in design systems, expertise in Figma, and exceptional communication and collaboration skills.
What You Will Do:
Design System Migration
- Lead the end-to-end migration of existing design systems from Adobe XD to Figma.
- Audit the current design system to identify components, patterns, and assets to migrate.
- Ensure design consistency and maintain the integrity of components during the migration process.
System Optimization
- Refactor and optimize components and patterns for better usability and scalability in Figma.
- Implement naming conventions, organizational structures, and libraries for efficient design asset management.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure design tokens and specifications align with development requirements.
Collaboration and Communication
- Partner with UX/UI designers, developers, and product teams to gather requirements and prioritize design system updates.
- Provide training and resources to enable teams to effectively use the new Figma-based design system.
- Act as the primary point of contact for design system-related queries and support.
Quality Assurance
- Conduct regular reviews and updates to ensure the design system adheres to accessibility standards and best practices.
- Perform testing and troubleshooting to identify and resolve issues during and after the migration.
Advocacy and Leadership
- Advocate for the adoption and consistent usage of the design system across all teams.
- Stay informed about design system trends, tools, and best practices to continuously improve the system.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation within the design team.
What You Will Bring
Experience
- 5+ years of experience in UX/UI design, with at least 2 years managing or contributing to design systems.
- Proven experience with Figma and Adobe XD, including advanced proficiency in Figma's component libraries, design tokens, and prototyping features.
Skills
- Strong understanding of design principles, accessibility standards, and best practices.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills, with a track record of leading cross- functional initiatives.
- Ability to document processes, create guides, and communicate technical concepts to non- technical stakeholders.
Soft Skills
- Exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with version control and design-to-development handoff tools like Zeplin or Figma Inspect.
- Experience with design tokens.
- Experience working in agile or product development environments.
- Experience in front-end development or familiarity with HTML, CSS a plus but not required,
The target hiring compensation range for this role is $72 to $80. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.
About Aquent Talent:
Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.
