Principal UX Designer (AJC)

This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for elevating design quality across the AJC product ecosystem. The role does not have any direct reports. The Principal Designer will partner closely with Product, Engineering, Editorial, and Creative Marketing to create thoughtful, user-centered experiences that strengthen audience engagement and drive business outcomes.

The Principal Designer will contribute directly to design work across multiple initiatives while also setting design standards and managing our external design partner.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring our digital experiences are distinctive, intuitive, and aligned with AJC's strategy as we continue transforming into a modern digital-first media company.

At The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), our mission is to be the most essential and engaging source of news for the people of Atlanta, Georgia and the South. As we transition from a historic daily newspaper to a dynamic modern media company, we are seeking a talented Principal UX Designerto join our team. The AJC believes that when you cover the South, you uncover the nation. It's a belief that's produced award-winning journalism, elevated our community, and captured the substance and soul of our hometown., Design Leadership & Craft Excellence

• Serve as the most senior individual contributor in product design, helping elevate design quality across AJC products.
• Lead complex and high-impact design initiatives from concept through delivery.
• Establish and maintain high standards for interaction design, visual design, and product usability.
• Define and evolve design patterns, components, and start a design system used across AJC products.

Hands-On Product Design

• Produce high-quality wireframes, prototypes, and production-ready designs.
• Partner with product managers and engineers to shape product requirements and user flows.
• Participate directly in discovery, ideation, and iteration cycles for key product initiatives.
• Translate complex product requirements into clear and intuitive user experiences.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product, Engineering, Editorial, Creative Marketing, and Data teams to shape product strategy and roadmap priorities.
• Ensure design decisions balance user needs, editorial goals, and business outcomes.
• Advocate for user-centered thinking across product development processes.

Agency & Vendor Management

• Manage relationship with external design agency.
• Ensure agency work meets internal standards for quality and consistency.
• Provide direction, feedback, and design oversight for agency deliverables.

Design Culture

• Promote best practices in UX, product thinking, and design collaboration.
• Contribute to a strong culture of experimentation, iteration, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with our Editorial and Creative Marketing design teams.

Do you have experience in UX prototyping?, Do you have a Master's degree?, * Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years experience related experience OR Master's Degree with 8+ years OR 22 years of related experience

• Required: Proven track record designing consumer digital products (both web and mobile experience).

• Strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design work and problem solving.

• Experience working closely with product managers and engineers in agile teams.

• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment around design solutions.

• Experience using modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma).

• Strong communication skills and ability to clearly articulate design rationale.

• Must live within a commutable distance to Atlanta midtown office, Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.

4.14.1 out of 5 stars Atlanta, GA $163,400 - $272,300 a year - Full-time, Pulled from the full job description

• Military leave
• Paid time off
• Paid jury duty
• Bereavement leave
• Volunteer time off
• Paid holidays, Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $163,400.00 - $272,300.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program., The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.