Principal Designer, Design Systems

Smartsheet is already beloved by customers around the world for empowering people to improve how they work. We are looking for someone to help usher in our next major phase of growth by elevating the experiences we deliver to our customers and building powerful new capabilities to support modern work execution. 

We are looking for a Principal Designer to join our growing Design Systems team. A Principal Design System Designer helps us see the big picture, plan for the future, and maximize the impact the Design System can have at Smartsheet. They are comfortable working at scale, leaning into ambiguity, and see collaboration as the default strategy. They understand that Design Systems are a partnership between UX and Engineering, and push to find new ways to elevate work and increase velocity. 

We are maturing our Design System to encompass more concepts than just components, and using it as a lever to improve our interaction patterns, UX principles, and end-user functionality. We work hand-in-hand with UX designers to shape the experience of Smartsheet as it’s being built, and serve as the bridge between UX and Engineering at Smartsheet. 

This role can be based remotely in the U.S. or in our Bellevue, WA headquarters and will report to the Senior Manager of Design Systems.

You will:

• Help set the vision and strategy for Design Systems at Smartsheet as we roll out updated design languages and adopt new concepts like tokenization, themes and more.
• Expand the Design System’s support systems to empower UX and Engineering partners.
• Evolve design craft by elevating the quality of our design system artifacts and processes.
• Work closely with our Design Technologist and partners in Engineering to craft solutions that can make systemic impacts across design and development.
• Advocate the Design System’s value within our UX team, Smartsheet, and the broader creative community.
• Tell great stories across mediums that articulate value, create understanding and get people excited.
• Work with UX, cross-product and cross-discipline partners. 
• Lead by example, inspiring teams through your actions to fully realize their potential.
• Bring an outside-in perspective. Offering insights, ideas, and new ways of thinking that challenge the status quo.
• Build and iterate on components and UX patterns that enrich our customers' experience with Smartsheet.
• Solve tough problems that have a direct impact on our customers, and Smartsheet.
• Support other duties as needed.

You have:

• An expert level of problem-solving, and systems thinking shown through a history of work.
• 9+ years of experience in design systems, with multiple years managing a team.
• A history of delivering team-based design solutions within Agile SAAS or enterprise environments.
• A passion for both strategy and driving sweeping initiatives while caring about the details in execution.
• An ability to break down complex problems across multiple surfaces and distill them into an actionable path forward.
• A desire to lead, mentor, and inspire others. Supporting people and teams to do their best work and achieve their goals.  
• Deep need to learn and evolve your thinking across all areas of design, product, and leadership.
• An applied sense of design craft, systems thinking and visual problem-solving.
• Organized and structured work management habits, and processes that create clarity and consistency.
• A track record in aligning and influencing cross-functional stakeholders, senior leaders, and peers towards business outcomes that reflect the needs of our customers.

Perks & Benefits:

• HSA, 100% employer-paid premiums, or buy-up medical/vision and dental coverage options for full-time employees
• Equity - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) with all offers
• Lucrative Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount)
• 401k Match to help you save for your future (50% of your contribution up to the first 6% of your eligible pay)
• Monthly stipend to support your work and productivity
• Flexible Time Away Program, plus Incidental Sick Leave
• Up to 24 weeks of Parental Leave
• Personal paid Volunteer Day to support our community
• Opportunities for professional growth and development including access to LinkedIn Learning online courses
• Company Funded Perks, including a counseling membership, local retail discounts, and your own personal Smartsheet account
• Teleworking options from any registered location in the U.S. (role specific) 
• US employees are automatically covered under Smartsheet-sponsored life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability plans
• US employees receive 12 paid holidays per year
<