Job Description

Be Part of What's Next

Help shape the systems behind some of the most influential editorial experiences in media. As Principal Product Designer – Design Systems & Editorial Platforms, you will define the foundations, patterns, and AI-enabled workflows that empower teams across Hearst Magazines to create smarter, more scalable, and more compelling audience experiences.

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?)

Hearst Magazines is one of the world’s largest publishers, with a portfolio of more than 30 iconic brands in the U.S. and global markets, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s BAZAAR, Popular Mechanics, Town & Country, and Oprah Daily. Our teams create trusted, engaging content and experiences that reach millions of consumers across print, digital, social, video, and emerging platforms.

Key Responsibilities (What You Are Doing)

Editorial Experience & Design Systems

• Design and refine scalable editorial experiences across web, mobile, and emerging platforms
• Evolve Hearst's design system — patterns, components, tokens, and interaction paradigms — balancing consistency with brand expression
• Keep Figma libraries and front-end implementations in sync
• Define content presentation standards: typography, layout grids, multimedia integration, and responsive behaviors
• Establish documentation and governance practices that drive confident adoption
• Treat the design system as a living product, continuously refined through usage and feedback

AI Enablement

• Prototype AI-supported workflows for design systems and editorial tools
• Identify opportunities for AI to automate repetitive work, improve accessibility testing, enhance localization, and support intelligent pattern reuse
• Build toward an AI-ready architecture — structured components, metadata, and tokens that scale
• Partner with Engineering to evaluate and integrate emerging tools thoughtfully

Collaboration & Influence

• Work closely with engineers as a design thought partner from problem definition through implementation
• Partner with Editorial, Product, Commerce, and Ad teams to translate needs into scalable system solutions
• Influence product roadmaps through systems-level insight
• Mentor designers and elevate systems thinking across the organization

Accessibility & Quality

• Embed WCAG 2.0 A/AA accessibility into system foundations from the start
• Support research and usability testing to ensure systems perform in real-world editorial contexts
• Define and track metrics for system adoption, editorial efficiency, and audience experience quality

Qualifications (What We’re Looking For)

Experience

• 8+ years in product design, UX engineering, or design systems roles
• Significant experience designing scalable consumer-facing editorial or content experiences
• Proven ability to evolve design systems across multiple brands or teams
• Demonstrated cross-functional influence and shipped systems-level outcomes
• Experience experimenting with or implementing AI in design or development workflows

Design & Technical Fluency

• Expert interaction design, information architecture, typography, and UI craft
• Advanced Figma expertise: libraries, Variables, tokens, branching, governance, plugins
• Strong working knowledge of HTML, CSS, React/TypeScript, and responsive patterns
• Ability to prototype or contribute front-end code when helpful

Mindset

• Systems thinker who builds foundations that enable others across products, brands, and markets
• Audience-focused and editorially fluent
• Collaborative, low-ego, and comfortable navigating ambiguity
• Curious about emerging tools and pragmatic about applying them
• Committed to inclusive, accessible design

• Hybrid: 4 days onsite in our New York City office.

Our Ideal Candidate

• Thinks in foundations, not features
• Builds infrastructure that enables creativity across brands
• Balances craft with operational scalability
• Treats AI as augmentation, not replacement
• Leads through clarity, influence, and partnership

To Apply

Submit your resume and a portfolio that demonstrates design systems work at scale, editorial or content-driven experiences, and shipped outcomes with measurable impact. Examples of AI integration or cross-functional collaboration are a plus.

Benefits (What We Offer)

• Work with the Best: Collaborate with top-tier professionals across media, advertising, tech, fashion, lifestyle, and publishing, shaping the future of these dynamic industries.
• Grow Your Skills: Unlock your potential with access to innovative training programs, immersive workshops, and exclusive industry events.
• Work-Life Harmony: Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid work, empowering you to balance professional success with personal priorities.
• Foster Connection & Belonging: Join our Employee Resource Groups and help create a welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered.
• Wellness First: Prioritize your well-being with a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance from Day 1.
• Plan for Your Financial Future: Enjoy competitive financial perks, including a 401(k) plan with a generous company match.

Compensation & EEO

The base salary for this role is $165,000 to $190,000. The actual base pay offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include internal equity, candidate experience, education, specialty, and training. This role may also be eligible for additional compensation and benefits.

Hearst Magazines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.