Principal Designer, Design System

Position Details Title: Principal Designer, Design System (24 months) Employment Type: Contract Contract Length: 24 months Application Deadline: November 28, 2025 Compensation UX / UI Designer 19: Salaries typically range from $109,810 to $146,413 annually, based on qualifications and experiences. Location & Work Environment Hybrid work environment: employees required to work in office 2 days per week (subject to change). Can be performed from EDC’s headquarters in Ottawa or any regional hubs and offices in Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal, Brossard, Laval, Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, Quebec City, Edmonton, Windsor, Kitchener, Winnipeg, Regina or Moncton. About EDC At Export Development Canada (EDC), we empower Canadian businesses to succeed globally. As a financial Crown corporation, we offer innovative financial solutions and expert insights to help businesses explore new markets, mitigate risks, and achieve growth. Why Join EDC? Comprehensive benefits package, work‑life balance, and opportunity to help make Canada and the world better through trade. Work‑life balance: hybrid options, 3 to 4 weeks paid vacation, corporate closure period, summer early Friday’s & no meeting Fridays. Professional development: continuous learning opportunities, training programs, workshops and language training. Inclusive culture: diverse and inclusive workplace championing employment equity & values diversity of ideas, strengths & backgrounds. Wellness programs: wellness initiatives, mental health support and fitness programs. Community engagement: volunteer opportunities and give back through social responsibility programs. Team Overview As a key member of the Customer Experience Centre of Excellence (CX COE), the Principal Designer, Design System plays a pivotal role in the evolution of a global design system. You’ll lead the creation and evolution of EDC’s global design system, consolidating multiple custom design kits into a unified library. This senior individual contributor role works hands‑on within the Design Operations team and collaborates with cross‑functional product design and development teams to scale quality, consistent, and accessible experiences. Responsibilities Build and manage the design system: create and maintain a scalable, component‑based design library (primarily in Figma), ensuring consistency, accessibility, and brand alignment across platforms. Governance and collaboration: establish clear guidelines, documentation, processes and workflows for design system adoption; facilitate component review workshops and promote best practices. Cross‑functional partnership: work closely with digital product teams to ensure design system components are compatible across tech stacks (React, Angular) and align with development standards. Champion accessibility and inclusion: ensure all components meet WCAG 2.2 AA and CAN/ASC EN 301 549 standards. Enable and mentor: support onboarding and training for designers and developers; act as a mentor, promoting quality design and user‑centered thinking. Advocate and evangelize: drive adoption of the design system across teams, foster a culture of collaboration, and facilitate co‑creation workshops. Industry trends and best practices: monitor evolving design trends and emerging best practices to keep the design system relevant and continuously evaluated for improvement. Qualifications 7+ years in UX/UI design, with at least 2 years managing or contributing to a design system. Deep proficiency with Figma and experience building scalable design libraries. Solid understanding of front‑end technologies (HTML, CSS, design tokens, React/Angular). Experience collaborating across diverse teams and product environments. Excellent facilitation, collaboration, and communication skills. Experience in B2B or enterprise environments with accessibility and compliance requirements. Ability to lead through ambiguity. Strong systems‑thinking and strategic mindset. Empathetic and curious mindset, driven to understand team dynamics and users through active listening. What Will Make You Stand Out Knowledge of analytics and UX metrics. Familiarity with Figma plugins, REST APIs, and developer handoff workflows. Experience with tools like Storybook, Zeroheight, or Tokens Studio. Accessibility or UX design certification (e.g., CPACC, WAS). Bilingual in English and French. Eligibility EDC is committed to Fair Employment Practices and will prefer candidates who are able to work legally in Canada at the time of application (Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents). Must meet required government security screening requirements. Position is open to those who meet all essential requirements and whose applications are received by the closing date. EDC's Commitment to Employment Equity Export Development Canada (EDC) is dedicated to fostering employment equity and building a diverse workforce. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment that respects people from all cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. At EDC, we nurture a culture of inclusion and belonging where everyone has equal opportunity to grow, develop, and succeed. We actively encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all the requirements. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Qualified candidates may be considered for similar roles at this level within EDC. EDC recognizes that disclosing the need for accommodations can be a personal matter. Please know that as an organization, we are committed to maintaining confidentiality and ensuring any accommodations are tailored to support your needs. If you require accommodations, contact Application Ready to make a difference? Submit your application by November 28, 2025. Apply today Learn more about EDC on our website: #J-18808-Ljbffr