Lead Product Designer - Design System Frameworks

Rivian; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 167,400 - 209,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision

Coverage start day 1

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a senior designer to define the structure and language of Rivian’s digital ecosystem across vehicle, mobile, and web. You will create robust design systems and scalable UI frameworks that ensure brand‑aligned experiences across platforms.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Design Systems, Product, and Engineering to deliver production‑ready UI with accessibility and performance in mind. Strong portfolio and Figma mastery required.

Qualifications

• Please include a link to your portfolio (credentials required).
• 10+ years of experience crafting user-centered digital products, including 2–3 years building design systems, frameworks, or driving cross-platform consistency.
• A portfolio demonstrates how you’ve shaped scalable design patterns across platforms and brands.
• Demonstrated mastery of Figma with components, variants, tokens, and systematic file organization for system design.
• A balance of systemic thinking and visual precision—able to abstract complexity into modular solutions.
• Strong communication and documentation skills to articulate design intent and implementation guidance.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve scalable UI frameworks powering Rivian’s digital experiences across in-vehicle, mobile, and web platforms.
• Create cross-platform patterns and systems that are modular, reusable, and aligned with brand integrity.
• Collaborate with Design Systems, Product, and Engineering to align visual frameworks with architecture and product needs.
• Build and document patterns in Figma and Zeroheight, with clear specs and usage guidance.
• Prototype and test systems using Figma, ProtoPie, or code to validate interactions across surfaces.
• Contribute to design system governance and establish standards for scale and quality.
• Champion accessibility, localization, and performance for a global audience.
• Mentor peers and advocate for design infrastructure in product velocity.

Skills

Figma mastery

Design systems

Cross-platform consistency

Documentation

Prototype testing

Storybook familiarity

ProtoPie

Tools

Zeroheight

Storybook

ProtoPie

Job description

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions‑free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

Join us in creating the next generation of connected, software‑driven vehicles that transform mobility. We’re looking for a systems‑minded designer with a passion for scaling design across 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 Rivian’s digital ecosystem across vehicle, mobile, and web. Your work will shape the foundational systems that empower teams to build cohesive, brand‑aligned experiences—faster and with more confidence.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve scalable UI frameworks that power Rivian’s digital experiences across in‑vehicle, mobile, and web platforms.
• Create cross‑platform patterns and systems that are modular, reusable, and expressive—balancing flexibility with brand integrity.
• Collaborate with Design Systems, Product, and Engineering to align visual frameworks with technical architecture, component libraries, and product needs.
• Build and document patterns in Figma and Zeroheight, supporting adoption through clear specs, rationales, and usage guidance.
• Prototype and test systems using Figma, ProtoPie, or code to validate interactions, adaptability, and performance across surfaces and brands.
• Contribute to design system governance, helping establish standards, versioning practices, and feedback loops that support scale and quality.
• Champion accessibility, localization, and performance from the ground up—ensuring every framework meets the needs of a global, inclusive audience.
• Mentor and inspire peers by sharing systems thinking, articulating tradeoffs, and advocating for the role of design infrastructure in product velocity and craft.

Qualifications

• Application Requirement: Please include a link to your portfolio (with credentials). Applications without portfolios and log‑in credentials will not be reviewed.
• 10+ years of experience crafting user‑centered digital products, including 2–3 years dedicated to building design systems, frameworks, or driving cross‑platform consistency (or equivalent relevant experience).
• A portfolio that demonstrates how you’ve shaped scalable design patterns, systematized complex UI challenges, and delivered cohesive experiences across platforms and brands.
• Demonstrated mastery of Figma, encompassing advanced application of components, variants, tokens, and systematic file organization for system design.
• A balance of systemic thinking and visual precision—you can abstract complexity into modular solutions without losing sight of craft and clarity.
• Strong communication and documentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate design intent, system rationale, and implementation guidance to cross‑functional teams.
• Proven experience working with engineers and design systems peers to deliver performant, accessible, and production‑ready UI.
• Preferred: Familiarity with tools like Zeroheight or Storybook, and/or experience working in cross‑functional or cross‑platform environments.

Pay Disclosure

Palo Alto‑Based Applicants: $167,400 – $209,300 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary

• Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental, and vision insurance packages for full‑time and part‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26.
• Full‑time employment coverage is effective on the first day of employment.
• Part‑time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].