Sr Design Program Manager, Design Systems

Job Description

W2 Engagement: the rate reflects a W2 engagement

Paypal Hubs preferred: NYC, SF Bay Area/San Jose, Austin, Chicago

We are seeking a Sr. Design Program Manager for the Design Systems team to build for the future by creating an ecosystem and central design system that drives growth across the company. You will collaborate closely with design, product, marketing, engineering, research, and business teams to ensure that innovative thinking is aligned with company goals and contribute to long-term growth. You will manage the operational execution of high-impact design projects and ensure continuous optimization of design processes, with a focus on experimentation and scalability.

Your Day to Day:

• Lead and manage the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the design system across multiple product teams, ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, engineering, product) to integrate and align the design system with overall product strategies and user needs.
• Define and drive the design system roadmap, prioritizing features, updates, and technical improvements to support product evolution.
• Establish governance processes and guidelines to maintain the integrity of the design system, ensuring adoption and adherence across teams.
• Advocate for the design system, providing training, documentation, and ongoing support to empower teams and ensure successful utilization.
• Facilitate smooth engineering handoffs by ensuring design specifications, assets, and documentation are clear, accessible, and actionable for development teams.
• Qualifications
• Experience working with product teams or programs from roadmapping through delivery.
• Proven expertise in collaborating with senior leadership, UX/UI designers, engineers, and product teams to deliver high-quality design systems that align with business and user goals.
• Extensive experience in program management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum) with a deep understanding of design tools (Figma, Sketch, etc.) and version control systems (GitHub, Abstract).
• In-depth knowledge of design system terminology and concepts, including design tokens, components, patterns, and atomic design principles, with the ability to drive their practical implementation and scalability.

What You Need to Bring:

• A successful candidate should have at least 10+ years of experience as a producer, project manager, or program manager with
• Experience working with product teams or programs from roadmapping through delivery.
• Proven expertise in collaborating with senior leadership, UX/UI designers, engineers, and product teams to deliver high-quality design systems that align with business and user goals.
• Extensive experience in program management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum) with a deep understanding of design tools (Figma, Sketch, etc.) and version control systems (GitHub, Abstract).
• In-depth knowledge of design system terminology and concepts, including design tokens, components, patterns, and atomic design principles, with the ability to drive their practical implementation and scalability.
• Expert in applying user-entered design methodologies, design thinking, and inclusive design best practices to product development.
• Proactive approach to work, comfortable in ambiguity with an ability to get work organized and completed.
• Experience with design tools and project management software (e.g., Asana, Figma, Jira).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinker with a focus on growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment.
• Experience working in FinTech and/or Design Systems or a similar industry is an advantage.