Lead Product Designer, Systems Frameworks (Hybrid) at Rivian in US-CA-Palo Alto

Job description

• Join us in creating the next generation of connected, software-driven vehicles. We’re looking for a systems-minded designer to lead the effort in scaling design across multiple platforms and brands. You bring order to complexity—not just by designing beautiful UIs, but by crafting robust frameworks that enable consistency, efficiency, and expression at scale. In this role, you’ll help define the structure and language of a unified digital ecosystem spanning vehicle, mobile, and web. Your work will shape the foundational systems that empower teams to build cohesive, brand-aligned experiences across the industry with increased velocity and confidence. This a hybrid role located at our design offices in Palo Alto California.

Responsibilities

• Architect Scalable Frameworks: Design and evolve UI frameworks that power digital experiences across in-vehicle infotainment, mobile companion apps, and web platforms.
• Cross-Platform Patterns: Create modular, reusable, and expressive patterns that balance technical flexibility with brand integrity across different vehicle archetypes.
• Technical & System Alignment: Partner with Product and Engineering to align visual frameworks with technical architecture, component libraries, and global product needs.
• System Documentation: Build and maintain comprehensive pattern libraries in Figma and documentation tools, supporting adoption through clear specifications, rationales, and usage guidance.
• Validation & Prototyping: Prototype and test complex systems using Figma and ProtoPie (or code) to validate interactions, adaptability, and performance across diverse surfaces.
• System Governance: Lead the establishment of design standards, versioning practices, and feedback loops to ensure the system scales without compromising quality.
• Inclusive Design: Champion accessibility, localization, and performance from the ground up, ensuring every framework meets the needs of a global, inclusive audience.
• Strategic Mentorship: Mentor peers and the L5 team by sharing advanced systems thinking, articulating complex tradeoffs, and advocating for the role of design infrastructure in product velocity.

Requirements

• Application Requirement: Include a link to your portfolio showcasing how you’ve shaped scalable design patterns, systematized complex UI challenges, and delivered cohesive experiences across platforms.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience crafting user-centered digital products, with at least 3 years dedicated to building design systems, frameworks, or driving cross-platform consistency.
• Technical Mastery: Demonstrated expert-level mastery of Figma, including advanced application of components, variants, variables, tokens, and systematic file organization.
• Systemic Thinking: A proven ability to abstract complexity into modular solutions while maintaining high visual precision and craft.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven experience working with engineers and product stakeholders to deliver performant, accessible, and production-ready UI frameworks.
• Communication: Exceptional skills in documenting system rationale and articulating complex design intent to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Preferred: Familiarity with tools like Zeroheight or Storybook, and experience working in multi-brand or white-label environments.

Skills

Required

• Expert-level mastery of Figma
• Systemic thinking
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Communication
• Prototyping (Figma, ProtoPie, or code)

Preferred

• Familiarity with Zeroheight or Storybook

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.
• The salary range for this role is $167,400 - $209,300 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.
• The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.