Principal Designer, Design System

Join the EDC Team At EDC, we support Canadian businesses to succeed globally. We provide the financial tools and expertise they need to explore new markets, reduce risks, all towards the goal of making Canada and the world better through trade. Application Deadline November 28, 2025 Position Principal Designer, Design System (24 months) Employment Type Contract Compensation Details UX / UI Designer: Salaries typically range from $109,810 to $146,413 annually, based on qualifications and experiences. Location Export Development Canada operates in a hybrid work environment, currently requiring employees to work in the office 2 days per week (subject to change). This role can be performed from EDC’s headquarters in Ottawa or any of the 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: EDC offers a competitive compensation & benefits package, work-life balance, & the opportunity to help make Canada and the world better through trade. Work-Life Balance: EDC offers a competitive compensation package & work-life balance. We have hybrid work options, 3 to 4 weeks paid vacation, a corporate closure period, summer early Friday’s & no meeting Fridays. Professional Development: Take advantage of our continuous learning opportunities, including training programs, workshops and language training. Inclusive Culture: Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace that champions employment equity & values diversity of ideas, strengths, & backgrounds to succeed. Wellness Programs: Access to wellness initiatives, mental health support, and fitness programs to keep you healthy and happy. Community Engagement: Participate in volunteer opportunities and give back to the community through our various 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 is a senior individual contributor role, working hands‑on within the Design Operations team and collaborating with cross‑functional product design and development teams to scale quality, consistent, and accessible experiences. You’ll also play a key role in establishing governance practices that enable fast, effective, and reusable design and development at scale through common design tools and frameworks that ensures human‑centred design, and a customer‑centric approach to delivery. What You Will Be Doing 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, working collaboratively across product delivery teams. Governance and collaboration: Establish clear guidelines, documentation, processes and workflows for design system adoption. Facilitate component review workshops and promote best practices. Establish baseline measures for success including key results and key performance indicators. Cross‑functional partnership: Work closely with digital product teams to ensure design system components are compatible across tech stacks (e.g., 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. Collaborate with accessibility specialists to validate accessible design and code. Enable and mentor: Support onboarding and training for designers and developers. Act as a mentor, promoting quality design and user‑centered thinking. Foster shared understanding through clear communication and champion adoption of change across teams. 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 ensure the design system remains relevant, well‑maintained, and continuously evaluated for improvement. What We Are Looking For 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 user needs through active listening and thoughtful inquiry. 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 preference will be given to a candidate who is able to work legally in Canada at the time of application (Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents). Candidates must meet the requisite government security screening requirements. The position is open to those who meet all of the essential requirements stated above 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, succeed, and be their truest selves. 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. We thank all applicants' interest in a career at EDC; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that 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 that any accommodations provided are tailored to support your needs. Our aim is to ensure you have a comfortable and positive experience throughout the recruitment process, so please do not hesitate to contact us directly for any accommodation requests at We are here to support you every step of the way. Posting Date Nov 14, 2025, 7:07:16 AM Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada by 2x Get notified about new Principal Designer jobs in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. Apply today Want to learn more about EDC? Check our website here #J-18808-Ljbffr