Lead UX/UI Designer

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

Lead UX/UI Designer - Sallie Mae

What You'll Contribute

Are you a bold, creative thinker who loves solving problems through innovative technology solutions? Are you passionate about customer strategy, digital design, and creating seamless experiences across platforms? We are seeking a motivated design enthusiast to join our growing team at Sallie Mae.

As we transform from a traditional student loan provider into a comprehensive education services company, you'll play an essential role in designing digital experiences that support students throughout their entire education journey— from planning for college and applying for financial aid, to managing finances during school, and achieving success after graduation.
 

In this role, you'll be responsible for creating user-centered experiences across our consumer-facing digital touchpoints, including web, mobile, tablet, and app experiences. You'll work as part of a cross-functional team, collaborating closely with business stakeholders, content strategists, copywriters, researchers, and development teams to bring innovative solutions to life.

What You'll Do

Product Design & Experience Development

• Lead design efforts on projects from concept to implementation, taking full ownership of work throughout the process

• Create user-centered experiences grounded in research insights, competitive analysis, and UX best practices

• Develop design artifacts including journey maps, wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups

• Deliver detailed design specifications and documentation for development teams

• Work closely with developers to ensure designs are implemented according to specifications

• Provide a voice for customers within the Sallie Mae team, advocating for user needs

Design System & Standards

• Contribute to and enhance our internal design system library within Figma

• Help maintain design consistency across products and experiences

• Document patterns and component guidelines for team use

• Deliver detailed design specifications and documentation for development teams

• Apply systematic thinking to complex design problems

Research & Strategy

• Conduct competitive analysis and stay updated on industry best practices

• Identify opportunities to improve customer/consumer experiences

• Support heuristic evaluations, A/B testing, and design validation

• Participate in business walkthroughs and stakeholder interviews

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with our research team to implement insights into design solutions

• Partner with content strategists and copywriters to create cohesive experiences

• Present design solutions to stakeholders and executives with clear rationale

• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences

• Facilitate high-level strategic decisions with buy-in from multiple disciplines

The above inform