Principal Design Engineer - AI Prototyping

Join a pioneering organization at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to shaping world-class digital and physical experiences that empower individuals and push the boundaries of performance. This leader in their field is seeking visionary talent to drive the future of user experience through cutting-edge AI and design. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a profound impact on how elite research translates into intuitive, impactful products that reach a global audience, and Aquent is proud to partner in finding the right talent for this transformative role.

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary individual to step into a pivotal role, bridging the critical intersection of design, artificial intelligence, and software engineering. This is a hands-on, Individual Contributor position where you won't just strategize; you'll build, innovate, and directly influence how groundbreaking research translates into intuitive, impactful experiences. You will be instrumental in driving UX strategy and innovation across both consumer-facing products and essential internal research tools, shaping the future of digital and physical interactions.

What You'll Do

• Lead the end-to-end UX strategy for multiple consumer-facing digital experiences and internal research tools, elevating design innovation across the ecosystem.
• Develop and implement AI-driven design solutions to streamline research workflows, enhance data integration, and transform complex data into intuitive interfaces.
• Lead rapid prototyping initiatives, building both low- and high-fidelity code-based prototypes to validate design concepts, speed up iteration cycles, and raise product quality.
• Define long-term UX roadmaps and establish standardized design frameworks, ensuring consistency and efficiency across all tools and platforms.
• Guide cross-functional teams of researchers, data scientists, engineers, and product leaders to translate user-centered design into impactful, business-aligned product solutions.
• Mentor and onboard designers, facilitate workshops on design thinking and AI-assisted design, and champion a culture of design excellence across internal and external partner networks.

What You'll Bring

• Experience: 8+ years of experience in UX/UI design, product design, or design engineering, with a strong track record of shipping complex consumer and internal digital products.
• AI & Data Experience: Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or data-driven workflows into product design and user interfaces.
• Strategic & Systems Thinking: Proven ability to define UX roadmaps, construct design systems, and bring architectural clarity to complex tool ecosystems.
• Leadership Mindset: Comfortable operating as a senior, hands-on Individual Contributor with the presence and influence to align cross-functional stakeholders, mentor peers, and lead workshops.
• Domain Passion: Passion for sports science, athletic performance, hardware/software integration, or emerging technology in research environments.

Bonus Points

• Technical & Coding Skills: Strong hands-on coding capabilities (e.g., JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Python, HTML/CSS, or web graphics frameworks) to build functional, interactive, and data-driven prototypes.