Principal Product Designer, Design Systems - job 1 of 2

As a Principal Product Designer, Design Systems at Zscaler, you will oversee the creation of modern and scalable UX/UI components and patterns, collaborating closely with teams across various functions. Your responsibilities include conducting user research to understand customer needs, rapid prototyping, validating your designs, and driving innovation through consistent and uniform user experiences. Additionally, you'll contribute to fostering a design-driven culture within Zscaler.

To be considered for the Principal Product Designer, Design Systems role at Zscaler, you should have 8-10 years of experience in product or UX design, specifically for enterprise SaaS products. Furthermore, you should possess 2-3 years of experience working with design systems. A bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction or a related field is also required, along with proficiency in end-to-end product design processes.

Zscaler offers a fast-paced and collaborative working environment for Principal Product Designers, where innovative ideas are welcomed, and teamwork is vital. You will be part of a dynamic team that values diverse perspectives and encourages a design-driven approach to problem-solving. This inclusive atmosphere not only amplifies creativity but also ensures that every voice is heard and valued.

Zscaler is committed to the professional development of its employees, especially in design roles like Principal Product Designer. The company offers education reimbursement, training opportunities, and a culture that promotes learning through collaboration with various experts across the organization. This ensures that you continuously grow and stay updated with industry trends.

For the Principal Product Designer, Design Systems position at Zscaler, the salary range is between $154,000 and $220,000, depending on experience and qualifications. This base pay excludes commission, bonus, and equity, reflecting the importance Zscaler places on recognizing and rewarding talent within its team.

In your response, highlight your approach to user-centered design, focusing on how you incorporate user feedback through interviews, usability tests, and wireframing. Share examples demonstrating your understanding of customer needs and how you iterate on designs based on this feedback.

Discuss a specific project where you designed a UX/UI component that directly addressed a user need or solved a problem. Emphasize the design process, your role in collaboration with cross-functional teams, and the measurable outcomes that resulted from your design.

Explain your strategy for maintaining consistency in a design system across various products. This should include documenting design guidelines, using design tools like Figma, and engaging with team members to uphold these standards during the design hand-off process.

Discuss your preferred tools for prototyping and design, such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD. Include reasons for your choice, such as usability, collaboration features, or integration capabilities, and provide examples of how these tools enhance your design workflow.

Share an approach that emphasizes the importance of constructive criticism. Illustrate how you welcome feedback from peers and stakeholders, use it to improve your design, and the ways in which you maintain a positive attitude while incorporating suggestions.

Provide a specific instance where you analyzed user data—such as usage statistics, customer feedback, or A/B testing results—to inform or refine a design decision. Explain how the data led to enhanced user experiences and any measurable improvements that followed.

Discuss your previous experience with contributing to or creating a design system, emphasizing best practices you followed, tools you utilized, and how you collaborated with other designers and developers to ensure its effectiveness and adoption.

Mention various methods you employ to stay informed about current design trends, such as attending workshops, participating in design communities, following thought leaders on social media, and continuously seeking educational resources that enhance your skills and knowledge.

Share a specific challenge you encountered, whether technical, stakeholder-related, or design-focused. Discuss the steps you took to address the issue, the collaboration involved, and the lessons learned that helped you become a better designer.

Explain your organization and prioritization techniques when handling multiple projects, perhaps by discussing methods like using task management tools, setting deadlines, and focusing on high-impact tasks. Share an example of how you balanced competing priorities effectively.