Product Design Lead

Sidley Austin LLP; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Benefits package

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP is seeking a Product Design Lead (UX Lead) to drive the product vision across multiple platforms, balancing user needs with business goals. This role requires strategic thinking with hands‑on UX design, and an AI‑first mindset.

You will mentor a team of designers, collaborate with product managers and engineers, and champion accessibility and inclusive design while advancing UX metrics and best practices across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a design-related field.
• Minimum 3 years in a leadership role driving UX vision.
• Strong portfolio showing research, UX/UI, prototyping across web and mobile.
• Experience with AI-enabled design tools and prototyping.
• Solid understanding of front-end technologies for collaboration.
• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects with deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the UX vision across multiple products and platforms.
• Lead the design process from research through final visual design.
• Incorporate AI-assisted design tools to accelerate workflows.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and validation methods.
• Collaborate with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to define requirements.
• Create and maintain UX design standards and a scalable design system.
• Provide hands-on design leadership while balancing strategic thinking.
• Advocate for accessibility, usability, and inclusive design practices.
• Mentor UX designers and provide feedback to the team.
• Monitor UX metrics and refine practices based on data.
• Stay current on UX and AI trends to evolve practices.
• Present design solutions to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

UX leadership

User research

UX/UI design

Prototyping

AI-assisted design

Front-end basics (HTML/CSS/JS)

Accessibility (WCAG)

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Mentoring / leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Design / HCI / Psychology / related field

3+ years in a leadership role

Tools

Claude / AI prototyping tools

HTML

CSS

JavaScript

Google Analytics

Hotjar

Job description

The Product Design Lead (UX Lead) will oversee and drive the product vision and strategy across a suite of products and platforms, ensuring they align with both user needs and business goals. This role requires a strategic thinker with hands‑on UX design skills, a deep understanding of user‑centered design principle and an AI‑first mindset. The incumbent will work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams, balancing business needs, creative direction with practical implementation to deliver seamless, accessible, and innovative user experiences. The UX Lead will guide best practices and fostering a collaborative, feedback‑driven environment.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Define, communicate, and execute the UX vision and strategy across multiple products and platforms, aligning with business goals and user needs.
• Lead the design process from concept to execution, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and final visual design.
• Incorporate AI‑assisted design and research tools (e.g., generative prototyping, automated user journey mapping, AI‑powered analytics) to accelerate and enhance the UX design process.
• Conduct and oversee user research, usability testing, and other validation methods to inform design decisions and prioritize features.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to define product requirements and ensure design consistency.
• Create and maintain UX design standards, guidelines, and patterns to promote a cohesive and scalable design system.
• Provide hands‑on design leadership, balancing high‑level strategic thinking with the ability to execute detailed design tasks.
• Act as a user advocate, championing accessibility, usability, and best practices in user experience design across the organization.
• Mentor and support a team of UX designers, providing guidance and feedback.
• Monitor and report on key UX metrics, using data to continually refine design practices and inform future design decisions.
• Stay up‑to‑date on industry trends, new tools, and UX methodologies to ensure design practices evolve with the market.
• Present design solutions and advocate for UX improvements to senior leadership and stakeholders, effectively communicating the impact on business goals.
• Lead collaborative design sessions and workshops to foster alignment and generate innovative ideas within cross‑functional teams.
• Ensure the integration of accessibility and inclusivity best practices into the UX process to reach diverse audiences and meet regulatory standards.
• Stay current on the intersection of UX and AI innovation, bringing forward new ideas on how AI can improve both internal workflows and external‑facing user experiences

Required

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human‑Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 3 years in a leadership role, driving user experience vision.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in user research, UX/UI design, prototyping, and interaction design across web and mobile applications.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to use AI to produce design work—including hands‑on experience with, or genuine eagerness to learn, AI‑and code‑based prototyping tools such as Claude Code, Claude, or similar.
• Solid understanding of front‑end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to collaborate effectively with development teams.
• Demonstrated experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and incorporating inclusive design principles.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts to non‑design audiences.
• Proven track record of managing multiple projects with competing deadlines, adapting to evolving priorities and shifting timelines.
• Knowledge of AI‑driven design and research platforms

Preferred

• Experience in the professional services industry (e.g., legal, financial, accounting, consulting).
• Certification in UX design or design thinking methodologies.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and experience working in a Scrum environment.
• Knowledge of user behavior analytics and UX metrics tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or similar.

Other Skills And Abilities

• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Good judgment.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others.
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion in all interactions.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or in the future.

The Target Salary Range For This Role Is

$120,000 - $161,000 if located in Illinois or Texas

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [e-mail] (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.