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Etsy are hiring a

Product Design Manager, Design Systems

Company Description

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc. employee, whether a team member of Etsy or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

Salary Range

$174,000.00 - $226,000.00

What’s the role?

As Etsy's marketplace continues to evolve, our Design System is the critical foundation that enables our teams to build cohesive, high-quality experiences at scale. The Product Design Manager for Design Systems will lead the team responsible for evolving and maintaining this system, ensuring it empowers designers and engineers to create high-craft, cohesive, and accessible user experiences.

You'll oversee the development and evolution of our design system, establish design quality standards, and build a foundation that enables all product teams to create cohesive experiences aligned with Etsy's brand and values. This is a full-time position reporting to the Director of Product Design for User Experience Foundations. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Etsy.

For this role, we are considering candidates based in the United States. Candidates living within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office Hub or in the San Francisco Bay Area may be the first to be considered. For candidates within commutable distance, Etsy requires in-office attendance once or twice per week depending on your proximity to the office. Etsy offers different work modes to meet the variety of needs and preferences of our team.

What’s this team like at Etsy?

The Design Systems team is a core part of our design organization. You will build and nurture a team of exceptional designers who create the systems, components, and patterns that power our platform's user experience. Your work will directly contribute to Etsy's mission of Keeping Commerce Human by enabling product teams to focus on solving customer problems while maintaining the unique, human-centered experience that defines Etsy.

What does the day-to-day look like?

Vision and Strategy:

  • Partner with Product and Engineering leads to shape the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the design system.
  • Work hand in hand with the brand team to translate brand voice into actionable tools and guidance for product designers, making the Etsy marketplace feel distinctly human.
  • Define the strategy for adoption across Etsy surfaces, working directly with initiative and squad leads to craft a supported path to adoption and adherence.

Design Quality and Standards:

  • Uphold a high bar for quality, craft, and rigor on the design systems team.
  • Champion and define Etsy's design quality standards across the organization.
  • Ensure the effective utilization of the design system by advocating for customers and guiding teams to deliver holistic, on-brand experiences.
  • Lead design reviews, critiques, and ideation sessions to ensure high-quality, consistent, and well-documented components and patterns.

Culture and Advocacy:

  • Foster a culture of design excellence, craftsmanship, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Advocate for user-centered design methodologies and accessibility best practices.
  • Represent design in executive-level discussions, articulating the value and impact of design decisions.

Process and Collaboration:

  • Establish and refine processes and workflows to enhance cross-functional collaboration and design efficiency for both contributors and consumers of the design system.
  • Empower designers to craft consistent ways of working through documentation and shared process.

Team Management and Development:

  • Build, nurture, and retain a diverse team of design talent.
  • Manage, mentor, and guide a team of 5-7 product designers, creating growth opportunities and supporting their professional development.
  • Recruit, hire, and onboard outstanding design talent for the Design Systems team.

Of course, this is just a sample of the kinds of work this role will require! You should assume that your role will encompass other tasks, too, and that your job duties and responsibilities may change from time to time at Etsy's discretion, or otherwise applicable with local law.

Qualities that will help you thrive in this role are:

  • 6+ years of product design experience with a strong portfolio showcasing your work on complex digital products.
  • 2+ years of experience in a people management role, mentoring and developing designers.
  • Proven experience driving design system and platform design for complex organizations.
  • A keen eye for visual design craft and detail.
  • Experience leading design teams on consumer-facing products. Bonus if the experience touches the marketplace and e-commerce.
  • A strong understanding of user-centered design principles, accessibility best practices, and platform conventions.
  • Demonstrated ability to balance business goals, user needs, and technical constraints when making decisions.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to partner effectively with product, engineering, and research teams to influence the product roadmap.
  • History of successful strategic leadership and organizational influence.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity; you enjoy figuring out what needs to be done—and then doing it.

Additional Information

What's Next:
If you're interested in joining the team at Etsy, please share your resume with us and feel free to include a cover letter if you'd like. As we hope you've seen already, Etsy is a place that values individuality and variety. We don't want you to be like everyone else -- we want you to be like you! So tell us what you're all about.

Our Promise:
At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace furthers relevance, resilience, and longevity. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know. While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skills.