Design Systems Lead (Product Designer)

Optomi, in partnership with a premier client in the telecommunications industry, is seeking a Design Systems Lead to shape the future of design infrastructure and scalability across a global enterprise.

This is a unique opportunity to define scalable processes, drive innovation, and create a universal design system that supports responsive web and native iOS experiences. The ideal candidate will bring both strategic and hands-on expertise in consolidating, governing, and evolving enterprise-level design systems.

You’ll help build a universal, enterprise-wide design system serving internal applications such as fleet management, procurement, and other core digital experiences. The system will unify web and iOS foundations, leveraging both brand-specific design languages and Apple guidelines. The team is highly collaborative, with strong design and development support already in place, seeking a systems-minded leader to guide governance, version control, and long-term scalability.

What You Will Do

• Create a centralized Design System supporting responsive web and iOS, including foundational elements, components, style guides, and usage guidelines.
• Partner closely with in-house design, research, and product teams to consolidate existing systems, ensuring consistency and best practices across applications and teams.
• Conduct audits of current enterprise applications, identify gaps and improvement areas, and lead end-to-end design system evolution.
• Define and document component usage guidelines to ensure discoverability and ease of implementation.
• Establish and manage a Governance Process, including intake and review workflows for new or updated components.
• Set the long-term vision for the design system, prioritizing scalability, accessibility, and readiness for future technologies (including AI).
• Develop processes and libraries that support growth across multiple business units, devices, and digital products.
• Ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 and modern accessibility standards.
• Partner with development teams to ensure seamless integration and deployment of design system components.
• Act as an internal researcher, identifying design trends and exploring future system capabilities.

The Right Candidate Will Have

• Proven experience leading and governing enterprise-scale design systems.
• Deep expertise in establishing contribution and review models to ensure high-quality, scalable component libraries.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on documentation and auditing capabilities.
• Demonstrated success scaling design systems across multiple teams or business units.
• Expert knowledge of Figma and familiarity with supporting tools such as ZeroHeight, Storybook, and Showcase.
• Collaborative experience with cross-functional partners across design, product, and engineering.
• Interest in exploring emerging design technologies, including AI-driven tools and automation.
• Adaptability and curiosity — able to navigate ambiguity and help define evolving design processes.
• A strong portfolio showcasing design system work, including documentation, component libraries, usage guidelines, and governance examples.