Lead UX Designer

Grainger; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 123,000 - 205,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

PTO 18 days

401(k) matching

Employee discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Maternity leave

Job summary

Grainger is seeking a Lead User Experience Designer to shape the future of Search and Guidance across Grainger.com. This highly visible role leads experience strategy and design for critical parts of the digital journey—helping customers discover products, navigate a complex assortment, and make confident purchasing decisions.

You will report to the Director, UX Design. The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of UX experience, a strong portfolio, and expertise in Figma, design systems,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of UX experience in an agile product team.
• Experience leading complex product initiatives from discovery through delivery.
• Strong knowledge of UX, interaction design, information architecture, usability and product design best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead UX strategy and design for Search and Guidance experiences on Grainger.com.
• Work with cross-functional partners in Product Management, Engineering, ML, Analytics, and Merchandising to align on experience objectives and deliver solutions.
• Translate complex customer, business, and technical requirements into elegant, scalable user experiences.
• Apply systems thinking to design connected experiences across search, guidance, and customer touchpoints.
• Conduct and incorporate customer research, behavioral analytics, session replay insights, and usability testing into design decisions.
• Deliver high-fidelity designs, prototypes, user flows, and detailed design specifications that enable implementation.
• Balance customer needs with technical and business constraints while maintaining high-quality UX.
• Contribute to Grainger’s design system and ensure accessible, scalable experiences.
• Clearly communicate design rationale and influence stakeholders during critiques.

Skills

UX design

Figma

Systems thinking

Agile

User research

Interaction design

Education

Bachelor's in UX or related

Tools

Design systems

Prototyping tools

Job description

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value‑added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose‑driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion.

Location & Work Arrangement

Hybrid – based in Lake Forest or Chicago 2 days a week.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $123,000.00 – $205,100.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 15 % or $ … based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.

Rewards and Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full‑time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• 6 % company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non‑birth parents.

Position Details

At Grainger, we are the destination for “the ones that get it done.” We are looking for a Lead User Experience Designer to shape the future of Search and Guidance across Grainger.com. This highly visible role is responsible for leading experience strategy and design for one of the most critical parts of our digital customer journey – helping customers discover products, navigate a complex assortment, and make confident purchasing decisions. The ideal candidate will combine human‑centered analytical skills, exceptional UX, UI, visual design expertise and strategic systems thinking to translate complex business and customer needs into simple, intuitive experiences. This role will be aligned to Search and Guidance for Grainger.com. You will report to the Director, UX Design.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive UX strategy and design execution for Search and Guidance experiences on Grainger.com, working across teams to design elegant, intuitive customer journeys that improve discoverability, decision‑making, and job completion.
• Work with cross‑functional partners in Product Management, Engineering, ML, Analytics, and Merchandising to align on experience objectives and deliver solutions.
• Translate complex customer, business, and technical requirements into elegant, scalable user experiences.
• Apply systems thinking to design connected experiences that span search, guidance, and an array of customer touchpoints.
• Conduct and incorporate customer research, behavioral analytics, session replay insights, and usability testing into design decisions and iterative improvements where appropriate.
• Deliver high‑fidelity designs, prototypes, user flows, and detailed design specifications that enable efficient implementation and high‑quality execution.
• Balance customer needs with technical and business constraints, designing solutions that support continuous delivery while maintaining a high‑quality user experience.
• Contribute to and evolve Grainger’s design system while ensuring experiences delight user expectations and remain scalable, accessible, and predictable.
• Clearly communicate design rationale, influence stakeholders, and facilitate productive design discussions and critiques.

Qualifications

• Formal education in User Experience Design, Human Centered Design, Design, Human‑Computer Interaction (HCI), Product Design, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of UX experience working with an agile product team; corporate B2B and search‑focused experience preferred.
• Experience leading complex, ambiguous product initiatives from discovery through delivery.
• A deep understanding of UX design, interaction design, information architecture, usability, and product design best practices.
• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including prototyping, components, variables, design systems, and developer handoff.
• Demonstrated systems thinking with the ability to design cohesive experiences across multiple products, features, and customer journeys.
• Experience working in fast‑paced, lean product environments with continuous delivery practices.
• Experience creating responsive web designs.
• Experience contributing to and working within an established design system.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) and inclusive design principles.
• Passion for learning and adopting emerging AI tools to improve both design workflows and customer experiences.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and storytelling skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional partners.
• Strong facilitation, collaboration, and relationship‑building skills.
• A proactive mindset with the ability to independently identify opportunities, prioritize work, and drive initiatives forward.
• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional craft, strategic thinking, and the ability to simplify complex customer problems while balancing user, business, and technical needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessibility

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.