Design System Manager / User Experience (remote contract)

Overview

The Design Systems Manager will oversee the strategy, governance, and evolution of a multi-brand, mobile-first design system that powers digital experiences across native mobile, web, and onboard platforms. This role requires a systems-thinking leader skilled in design infrastructure, accessibility, and collaboration across product, engineering, and platform teams. The position involves both high-level strategic planning and hands-on execution, ensuring scalability, quality, and adoption across the organization.

Type: ContractSchedule: Regular business hours EST time zoneDuration: 6+ monthsPay: $55 - $60/hr, paid weekly, benefits eligibleDesign Systems Manager Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in UX/Product Design or front-end development, including 2+ years leading design systems.
• Proven success managing multi-platform design systems across mobile and web.
• Proficiency in Figma, design tokens, documentation platforms, and Git-based workflows.
• Working knowledge of SwiftUI, Jetpack Compose, and React Native.
• Strong understanding of WCAG accessibility, semantic design, and reusable component architecture.
• Experience with design system governance, adoption strategies, and success metrics.
• Familiarity with tools including Zeroheight, Storybook, GitHub, Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket.
• Exceptional collaboration, communication, and leadership skills.

Design Systems Manager Duties

• Lead and evolve a scalable, mobile-first design system and visual language across multiple brands and platforms.
• Manage and mentor a cross-functional team, including a Sr. Product Designer and Design System Engineer.
• Define system governance, contribution policies, release cycles, and documentation standards.
• Build and maintain design token architecture (color, typography, spacing, elevation) for SwiftUI, Jetpack Compose, and React Native environments.
• Maintain and expand Figma libraries, ensuring alignment with Storybook and GitHub-based codebases.
• Guarantee accessibility, performance, and platform-native consistency across all system assets.
• Oversee documentation and publication through Zeroheight, maintaining up-to-date guidance and release notes.
• Conduct training sessions, discovery workshops, and onboarding initiatives to promote adoption.
• Partner with product, engineering, and design teams to ensure cohesion and alignment across all digital experiences.
• Drive innovation and process improvement within design system workflows and tooling.

No deadline to apply.