Principal UX Design Systems Lead (Hybrid-San Diego, CA or Acton, MA)

Job Summary

Principal UX Design Systems Lead (Hybrid-San Diego, CA or Acton, MA)

The Principal UX Design Systems Lead is responsible for building and leading the AI-native platform that transforms how digital experiences are built at Insulet. You will be responsible for building the AI-native platform that will eventually make the traditional design handoffs obsolete.

Our Vision

We envision a future where code is the primary source of truth. In this future, all functions work natively in code for quick experimentation and production automation. This frees teams to spend time learning faster and framing problems better. Figma becomes the final step to refine craft, communication, and regulatory documentation rather than the starting point.

Why This Role Exists

If you are one-third Designer, one-third Engineer, and one-third Community Builder, this role is for you. You have spent the last few years using AI to transform how products are built rather than simply how designs are created.

We believe AI and Design Systems are a match made in heaven. Together, they eliminate repetitive work and embed quality by default. They enable teams to learn and ship faster without sacrificing experience quality, compliance, or consistency.

At Insulet, we are building more than a Design System. We are building the product development platform that will power our AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AIDLC) in a heavily regulated industry. Ultimately, this platform exists to help us deliver better products, faster and safer, for people living with diabetes.

What You'll Own

1. Build the Platform

Lead the evolution of Insulet's Global Design System.

• Evolve tokens, theming, primitives, components, templates, and patterns.
• Establish a machine-readable architecture.
• Serve as the single source of truth for humans and AI.
• Ensure true design-to-code parity.

2. Build the AI Context Layer

Define and evolve structured context that enables AI to generate assets.

• Generate design specifications and documentation.
• Create quick prototypes and production-ready code.
• Automate accessibility validation and compliance checks.
• Drive automated visual QA.
• Explore how AI automates manual work safely.

3. Build the Community

Operate a Core + Extensions federated design system model.

• Manage the Core shared, unopinionated foundation.
• Support team-owned Extensions that contribute back.
• Establish contribution models, governance, and operating rituals.
• Drive adoption via workshops, office hours, and documentation.
• Measure success by what others build because of you.

4. Build an Observable System

Define and own metrics to continuously improve the platform.

• Track component reuse and design-to-code parity.
• Monitor percentage of reusable vs. custom code.
• Measure system adherence and contribution velocity.
• Track reduction in production defects.
• Quantify AI-generated output quality.

Who You Are

• You view design systems as product development operating systems.
• You think in systems rather than individual screens.
• You believe constraints create autonomy and standardization enables innovation.
• You use automation to remove repetitive work from creative people.
• You collaborate easily across Design, Engineering, and Product.
• You see governance as an enabler rather than a gatekeeper.

Education & Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education & practical experience
• 5+ years of experience leading or building enterprise Design Systems.
• Foundations: Deep understanding of tokens, theming, component architecture, and design-to-code workflows.
• AI Integration: AI is part of your daily workflow.
• Tech Stack: Proven experience connecting AI IDEs (Cursor, Claude Code, VS Code), Design Systems, Figma, and production code.
• Industry: Experience in regulated industries is valuable but not required.

How We'll Assess Candidates

We want to see your coherent model for AI-native product development. During the interview, expect to discuss and demonstrate:

• Structuring context for reliable AI consumption.
• AI generation of specifications, documentation, or code.
• Constraining AI outputs to approved system components.
• Keeping design and production code synchronized.
• Architecting and governing a federated Design System.
• Measuring platform health, impact, and safety.

Why This Role Is Different

Most Design Systems exist to standardize interfaces. Ours exists to transform how digital experiences are built. You won't simply manage components. You will build the infrastructure that enables humans and AI to collaborate safely at enterprise scale. You will help automate the tedious tasks to deliver better experiences faster, improving the lives of people living with diabetes.

NOTE: This position is eligible for hybrid working arrangements (requires on-site work from an Insulet office). #LI-Hybrid

Additional Information:

Compensation & Benefits: For U.S.-based positions only, the annual base salary range for this role is $189,000.00 - $283,500.00 This position may also be eligible for incentive compensation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including: • Medical, dental, and vision insurance • 401(k) with company match • Paid time off (PTO) • And additional employee wellness programs Application Details: This job posting will remain open until the position is filled. To apply, please visit the Insulet Careers site and submit your application online. Actual pay depends on skills, experience, and education.