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Principal UX Designer

The Trade Desk

Los Angeles, CAOn Site

Original Job Summary

About The Role

The Trade Desk is revolutionizing global advertising with a data-driven media buying platform. As a Principal UX Designer, you will lead design for core areas of our next-generation platform, Kokai, creating intuitive, elegant experiences that simplify complex workflows.

What You’ll Do

  • Champion design excellence driven by user behavior and business outcomes.
  • Collaborate with UX leads to create simple, intuitive experiences.
  • Translate complex, data-heavy workflows into structured, light experiences.
  • Apply product sense to align design with business levers.
  • Drive consistency with a unified design system and cross-team partnerships.
  • Mentor and influence design teams through critiques and storytelling.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s in Design, HCI, Computer Science or related field; Master’s preferred.
  • 10+ years of product design/UX experience with enterprise applications.
  • 4+ years leading high-impact design initiatives.
  • Expertise in Figma and proficiency in prototyping.
  • Experience in partnering with executive stakeholders to shape product vision.
  • Advertising technology and programmatic platforms experience is a plus.

Additional Information

This role is designed for those who can turn complexity into clarity and inspire teams with design excellence. Compensation is competitive, with benefits including comprehensive healthcare, retirement plans, stock purchase opportunities, and more. The role requires a collaborative spirit as you work closely with Product, Engineering, and Research leadership.

Key skills/competency

  • User Experience
  • Product Design
  • Enterprise Applications
  • Figma
  • Prototyping
  • Design Leadership
  • Cross-functional Collaboration
  • User Research
  • Systems Thinking
  • Data-driven Design

How to Get Hired at The Trade Desk

🎯 Tips for Getting Hired

  • Customize your resume: Tailor experience to UX design leadership.
  • Showcase portfolio: Highlight enterprise-level design projects.
  • Research The Trade Desk: Understand their technology and culture.
  • Practice interview insights: Prepare examples of complex design solutions.

📝 Interview Preparation Advice

Technical Preparation

Review Figma prototyping techniques.
Study enterprise-level UX case studies.
Practice data visualization design solutions.
Understand design system implementation.

Behavioral Questions

Describe a challenging design leadership situation.
Explain collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Discuss handling conflicting design ideas.
Share feedback and mentorship experiences.