Sr. Director, Product Design

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

3d • $165,600 - $331,200

About The Position

Xbox Design is a growth and investment area within XBOX. The team is raising the bar on design quality across the XBOX ecosystem, from hardware to software to services. This is a unique opportunity to shape the player experience for one of the world's most recognized gaming brands, working alongside a passionate, world-class team committed to craft, innovation, and inclusivity. You will join a leadership team that values operational discipline, tight communication loops, and protecting craft time for deep design work. Every design ships with leadership review and a commitment to quality that players can feel. Xbox Design is looking for a Sr. Director, Product Design to lead and shape the product design vision across key Xbox experiences. Reporting to the CVP, Design, this role will drive design strategy, build and scale high-performing teams, and elevate the quality bar for player-facing products across the Xbox ecosystem. This candidate brings deep experience leading product design at scale in a platform or developer tools environment, with a track record of shipping world-class digital products and building inclusive design cultures. This is a strategic leadership role with significant organizational scope and direct impact on how millions of players experience Xbox.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 7+ years experience working in product or service design OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 9+ years experience working in product or service design OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading product design for developer tools, platforms, or AI-powered products (e.g., GitHub Copilot, developer ecosystems, creative tools).
• Familiarity with gaming, entertainment, or consumer subscription ecosystems.
• Experience driving design transformation during periods of organizational growth or change.
• Track record of building design culture and elevating design influence within engineering-led organizations.
• International or distributed team leadership experience.
• 15+ years of experience in product design, UX design, or a related discipline, with 5+ years in a senior design leadership role (Director or above).
• Demonstrated track record of leading and shipping product design at scale for consumer or platform products used by millions.
• Experience building and managing multi-layered design organizations (30+ people), including hiring and developing design managers.
• High-quality portfolio of work demonstrating design excellence across digital products, platforms, or developer tools.
• Deep fluency in user research, design systems, interaction design, visual design, and accessibility.
• Proven ability to influence at the executive level and drive alignment across engineering, product, and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the product design vision and strategy for major Xbox product areas, ensuring alignment with broader Gaming and Microsoft goals.
• Set the design quality bar across your portfolio, establishing design principles, systems, and review processes that scale.
• Lead end-to-end design from concept through launch, balancing craft quality with execution velocity.
• Champion player-centered design thinking, ensuring all products are grounded in research, accessibility, and real-world player needs.
• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing product design organization, including hiring, developing, and retaining top design talent.
• Create an inclusive, collaborative team culture where designers do their best work and grow their careers.
• Coach and develop design managers and senior individual contributors, fostering a pipeline of future design leaders.
• Drive organizational health, performance management, and succession planning within your teams.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Product Management, Research, and Brand to deliver cohesive, high-quality player experiences.
• Represent design at the executive level, contributing to strategic planning, product roadmaps, and investment decisions.
• Collaborate across Microsoft Gaming and the broader Microsoft design community to share best practices and drive consistency.
• Engage with external partners and industry peers to stay at the forefront of product design innovation.
• Participate in the Design Leadership Team rhythm of business, including Workshop Wednesdays (weekly design reviews), DLT standups, and cross-functional forums.
• Oversee resource allocation, vendor management, and budget planning for design investments within your portfolio.
• Drive measurable improvements in product quality, player satisfaction, and team velocity through design.

Benefits

• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director