principal designer, Digital UX & Design

Now Brewing – principal designer, Digital UX & Design! #ToBeAPartner

From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but that also brought a feeling of connection. We are known for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and are guided by their service to others.

At Starbucks, we believe that great design fuels meaningful connections—between customers, partners, and our brand. As part of the UX & Design team within our Digital organization, the principal designer will spearhead initiatives by conceptualizing, designing, and delivering world-class experiences across mobile, web, and in-store platforms.   

As a principal designer, your work and leadership will directly influence how millions of customers and baristas engage with Starbucks every day—from ordering their daily iced latte with cold foam to earning and redeeming Stars. You will be tackling our biggest digital product opportunities and create Starbucks experiences—tomorrow and well into the future. Beyond guiding the craft, you’ll set the tone for design excellence, raising the bar for quality and vision across the team. You will champion an innovation mindset, imagining what’s next while grounding ideas in thoughtful, accessible, and beautiful digital experiences. Working in close collaboration with teams and stakeholders, you’ll balance form and function while shaping a future that inspires customers and baristas alike.

As a principal designer, you will…

• Design and deploy experiences for our customers through the Starbucks App, drive-thru, in café, and many other touch-points in their digital ecosystem.
• Create innovative digital tools that are used by baristas and partners behind the counter every day.
• Collaborate deeply with Product Management and Engineering from discovery to delivery.
• Clearly articulate and advocate for experience vision and design solutions through compelling storytelling to diverse teams, leaders, and stakeholders across the organization.
• Define and evolve UX vision and experience strategies for complex ecosystems.
• Operate at a systems level; setting direction, influencing product strategy, and raising the bar for experience quality across teams and platforms.
• Influence product and business strategy through human-centered design principles, insights, and collaborative action.
• Balance customer needs, partner needs, and business priorities.
• Translate ambiguity into clear experience direction, narratives, and principles.
• Mentor other designers on the team, elevating design thinking and craft.
• Lead the evolution of our design system, ensuring it scales with the product ecosystem.
  
  

We’d Love To Hear From People With

• 7+ years in professional design experience.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating product innovation, design strategy, design craft, and impact.
• A deep love for innovation and “what’s next.”
• Proven success designing for complex systems or platforms in large organizations.
• Deep expertise in interaction design, systems thinking, and experience architecture.
• Hands-on expertise of Figma and other design and prototyping tools.
• Ability to advocate and explain concepts and design rationale clearly—visually, verbally, and in writing to align teams and our organization.
• Strong prototyping skills.
• A passion for coffee and human connection.
  
  

Please include a link to your portfolio with your application.

As a Starbucks partner, you (and your family) will have access to medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits. Partners have access to short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, paid vacation from date of hire*, sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year. Starbucks also offers eligible partners participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, a discounted company stock program (S.I.P.), Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock), incentivized emergency savings, and financial well-being tools. Additionally, Starbucks offers 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, student loan management resources, and access to other educational opportunities. You will also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement. Starbucks will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, and in accordance with its plans and policies. This list is subject to change depending on collective bargaining in locations where partners have a certified bargaining representative. For additional information regarding partner perks and more detailed information about benefits, go to starbucksbenefits.com.

• If you are working in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND or RI, you will accrue vacation up to a maximum of 120 hours (190 in CA) for roles below director and 200 hours (316 in CA) for roles at director or above. For roles in other states, you will be granted vacation time starting at 120 hours annually for roles below director and 200 hours annually for roles director and above.
  
  

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At Starbucks, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

We believe we do our best work when we're together, which is why we're onsite four days a week.

Join us and inspire with every cup. Apply today!

Starbucks Coffee Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.

Starbucks Coffee Company is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at applicantaccommodation or 1(888) 611-2258.