Lead Digital Designer

Ripple; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 132,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ripple is seeking a Lead Digital Designer to shape the future of our web ecosystem and drive scalable design across experiences, systems, and brands. You will partner with engineering, product, marketing, and agencies to deliver thoughtful, high-impact websites and digital assets.

You will lead design initiatives for homepage, product pages, and key journeys, contributing to a scalable design system while ensuring accessibility, performance, and brand consistency across the web ecosystem.

Qualifications

• At least 3+ years experience in web or digital product design.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality web design and systems thinking.
• Proven experience with design systems, component libraries, and scalable frameworks.
• Strong visual design foundation, including typography, layout, color, and hierarchy.
• Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and modern web standards.
• Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams and an understanding of front-end constraints.
• Ability to clearly communicate design decisions and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities and ambiguity.
• Experience designing for complex, multi-page websites or platforms.
• Experience in fintech, B2B, or complex product ecosystems.
• Familiarity with Storybook, design tokens, or system-driven development.
• Experience contributing to or leading large-scale website redesigns.
• Understanding of CRO, A/B testing, and data-informed design decision making.
• Experience working with motion design, interaction design, or advanced web storytelling.
• Interest in AI tools and their application in design workflows.
• Experience collaborating with or managing external agencies and partners.
• Exposure to both brand-driven and product-driven design environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of high-impact web experiences across homepage, product pages, and key user journeys.
• Help define and refine site architecture, navigation systems, and overall user experience frameworks.
• Contribute to the evolution of a scalable design system, including tokens, components, and reusable modules for CMS system.
• Partner closely with engineering to ensure design systems are translated into production-ready implementations.
• Collaborate with brand teams to develop a modern and cohesive digital aesthetic.
• Guide and collaborate with external agencies and partners on design execution.
• Support UX testing, A/B testing, and ongoing optimization efforts.
• Establish workflows and processes to improve speed, quality, and consistency across the web team.

Skills

Web design

Design systems

Component libraries

Scalable frameworks

Typography

Layout

Responsive design

UX principles

Front-end collaboration

Clear communication

Ambiguity tolerance

Website redesigns

Fintech/B2B experience

Storybook

Design tokens

Motion/interaction design

AI design tools

Agency collaboration

Brand-driven & product-driven

Tools

Storybook

Design tokens

Job description

Please note this is for Chicago, Illinois, United States; Miami, FL, United States; New York, NY, United States.

At Ripple, we’re building a world where value moves like information does today. It’s big, it’s bold, and we’re already doing it. Through our crypto solutions for financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers, we are improving the global financial system and creating greater economic fairness and opportunity for more people, in more places around the world. And we get to do the best work of our career and grow our skills surrounded by colleagues who have our backs.

If you’re ready to see your impact and unlock incredible career growth opportunities, join us, and build real world value.

THE WORK:

We’re looking for a Lead Digital Designer to help shape the future of our web ecosystem. This role goes beyond designing pages, it’s about building scalable systems, defining modern digital experiences, and driving how our brand shows up across the web.

You’ll play a key role in evolving our design foundations, contributing to a large-scale website redesign, and partnering closely with engineering, product, marketing, and agencies to deliver thoughtful, high-impact experiences.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thinks in systems, cares deeply about craft, and knows how to bring clarity to complex, cross-functional work.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Experience working with design systems and component-based design
• Ability to develop polished, modern, and high-quality digital experiences
• Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and web protocols
• Experience working across design, engineering, and product teams
• Clear communicator who can explain decisions and influence direction
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping define the path forward
• Able to zoom out to define direction, and zoom in to complete details
• Lead the design of high-impact web experiences across homepage, product pages, and key user journeys
• Contribute to the evolution of a scalable design system, including tokens, components, and reusable modules for CMS system
• Partner closely with engineering to ensure design systems are translated into high-quality, production-ready implementations
• Help define and refine site architecture, navigation systems, and overall user experience frameworks
• Collaborate with brand teams to develop a modern and cohesive digital aesthetic
• Balance brand storytelling with usability, accessibility, and performance across all web experiences
• Work cross-functionally with product, marketing, and UX teams to align on goals, priorities, and user needs
• Guide and collaborate with external agencies and partners on design execution and exploration
• Support UX testing, A/B testing, and ongoing optimization efforts to continuously improve the site experience
• Help establish workflows and processes that improve speed, quality, and consistency across the web team

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• At least 3+ years experience in web or digital product design
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality web design and systems thinking
• Proven experience working with design systems, component libraries, and scalable frameworks
• Strong visual design foundation, including typography, layout, color, and hierarchy
• Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and modern web standards
• Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams and an understanding of front-end constraints
• Ability to clearly communicate design decisions and influence cross-functional stakeholders
• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities and ambiguity
• Experience designing for complex, multi-page websites or platforms
• Experience in fintech, B2B, or complex product ecosystems
• Familiarity with tools and workflows such as Storybook, design tokens, or system-driven development
• Experience contributing to or leading large-scale website redesigns
• Understanding of CRO, A/B testing, and data-informed design decision making
• Experience working with motion design, interaction design, or advanced web storytelling
• Interest in AI tools and their application in design workflows
• Experience collaborating with or managing external agencies and partners
• Exposure to both brand-driven and product-driven design environments

For positions that will be based in NY, the annual salary range for this position is below. Actual salaries may vary based on numerous factors including, among other things, an individual applicant’s experience and qualifications for the position. This range does not include equity or additional compensation, such as bonuses or commissions.

NY Annual Base Salary Range

$132,000 — $160,000 USD

WHO WE ARE:

Do Your Best Work

• The opportunity to build in a fast-paced start-up environment with experienced industry leaders
• A learning environment where you can dive deep into the latest technologies and make an impact. A professional development budget to support other modes of learning.
• Thrive in an environment where no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, origin, or culture they identify with, every employee is a respected, valued, and empowered part of the team.
• In-office collaboration for moments that matter is important to our culture, and we give managers and teams the flexibility to decide which 10+ days a month they come in.
• Bi-weekly all-company meeting - business updates and ask me anything style discussion with our Leadership Team
• We come together for moments that matter which include team offsites, team bonding activities, happy hours and more!

Take Control of Your Finances

• Competitive salary, bonuses, and equity
• Competitive benefits that cover physical and mental healthcare, retirement, family forming, and family support
• Employee giving match

Take Care of Yourself

• R&R days so you can rest and recharge
• Generous wellness reimbursement and weekly onsite & virtual programming
• Generous vacation policy - work with your manager to take time off when you need it
• Industry-leading parental leave policies. Family planning benefits.
• Catered lunches, fully-stocked kitchens with premium snacks/beverages, and plenty of fun events

Benefits listed above are for full-time employees.

Ripple is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by local law or ordinance.