Human-Centered Design (HCD) Experience Architect

About the Role:

We're looking for a Human-Centered Design (HCD) Experience Architect who blends strategic vision with hands-on execution. You'll help shape where our digital experiences are headed (roadmaps, strategic research, stakeholder alignment) while also driving the practical work that makes them delightful and usable (research synthesis, usability testing, design reviews).

You'll partner closely with business stakeholders, designers and software development teams to ensure user needs, business goals, and technical realities stay aligned. Some days that looks like leading research and shaping an experience roadmap; other days it's reviewing designs, running usability tests, or synthesizing findings so teams can act.

This role is best suited for someone who's confident in their craft, curious by nature, and comfortable navigating ambiguity without needing everything perfectly defined.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Direction

• Conduct ongoing user research to inform experience priorities and product direction.
• Develop and evolve personas, journey maps, and experience frameworks that guide decision-making.
• Support experience roadmaps by connecting user insight, business value, and delivery realities.
• Partner with stakeholders to align on vision, goals, and what "good" looks like.

Execution & Delivery

• Plan and facilitate usability testing, design reviews, and feedback sessions.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research and synthesize insights into clear recommendations.
• Identify experience challenges, uncover root causes, and propose practical solutions.
• Contribute to discovery and research activities that support both near-term delivery and longer-term planning.
• Translate insights into artifacts and guidance that teams can actually use.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with business partners to understand needs, constraints, and success measures.
• Collaborate with software engineers to ensure experience intent is carried through implementation.
• Act as a connector between business, design, and development - reducing friction and increasing clarity.
• Present findings and recommendations in a way that's grounded, honest, and actionable.

Emerging Tools & Ways of Working

• Explore and pilot new tools and workflows - including AI-enabled research or design support - to improve efficiency and quality.
• Stay curious about how AI may shape future user experiences, while applying sound human judgment.

Qualifications

Experience & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in UX, Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Strategy, Business, or a related field - or equivalent professional experience demonstrating strong human-centered design practice.
• 5+ years of experience in UX, digital strategy, product design, or human-centered research roles.
• Solid grounding in Human-Centered Design principles, research methods, and experience synthesis.
• Experience supporting both strategic initiatives and hands-on delivery work.
• Comfortable working within cross-functional, delivery-oriented teams.

Tools & Ways of Working

• Working proficiency with Figma for collaborative design and design reviews.
• Familiarity with Jira (or similar tools) and working within agile, sprint-based teams.
• Working knowledge of AI-powered tools used in design, research, or synthesis - and a willingness to experiment and learn as the space evolves.

Personal Qualities

• Curious, thoughtful, and user-focused.
• Pragmatic - you know when to explore and when to move forward.
• Collaborative - you work well with both business and technical partners.
• Comfortable operating independently within a clearly defined problem space.