Job Description
Job Description and Duties
Anticipated Interview Dates: We anticipate holding virtual interviews beginning the week of October 6, 2025. We look forward to meeting with you!
Telework Information: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, with up to two days of remote work and three days or more onsite, per week.
Sponsorship This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship. CalPERS does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.
Effective July 1, 2025, The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee shall receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the 3 percent reduction in pay.
The Senior User Experience (UX) Designer role at CalPERS offers an exciting opportunity to shape human-centered digital experiences that serve millions of users. In this position, you’ll lead the design of intuitive, user-focused solutions for complex workflows, ensuring they align with CalPERS' mission and deliver real value to the people who rely on its services.
As a contributor, you’ll champion human-centered design principals, collaborate closely with stakeholders, and work alongside a fun, dynamic, and collaborative team of designers and researchers. Together, you’ll tackle complex challenges and deliver innovative, high-quality digital products in a supportive and engaging environment where creativity thrives and user empathy are at the forefront.
If you’re passionate about simplifying complexity, creating user-centered solutions, and working with a team that values collaboration and forward-thinking design, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a positive and inspiring workplace.
You will find additional information about the job in the .
Special Requirements
Statement of Qualifications
Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Applications received without an SOQ or those that do not respond to the specific questions below
will not be considered.
The SOQ must be typed, titled “Statement of Qualifications,” and each response must be numbered and list all relevant experience, education, and training, including places of employment, dates, and duties performed. The SOQ must not exceed two pages in length and must have Size 12, Arial Font.
1. Describe the most complex UX and web interface design project you’ve worked on, including your role:
- A. What were the goals of the project?
Provide an overview of the project’s objectives, including the specific user needs, business goals, and any technical or organizational requirements that needed to be addressed.
- B. How did the design solution address these goals?
Explain how your design approach aligned with the project’s goals. Highlight specific strategies, methodologies, or processes you used to create a solution that met user needs and achieved the desired outcomes.
- C. What tools did you use?
List the tools, software, or platforms you utilized throughout the project. This might include design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch), prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD), research tools (e.g., UserTesting, Optimal Workshop), or collaboration platforms (e.g., Miro, Jira).
- D. What were the most significant challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Identify the key challenges you faced during the project, such as technical constraints, stakeholder alignment, or user adoption issues. Describe the steps you took to address these challenges and ensure the project’s success. Focus on problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability.
Minimum Qualifications
All experience and education relating to the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) listed on the Classification Specification should be included in your application package to clearly demonstrate how you meet the MQs for this position. If you are using education to meet MQs, please include your transcripts with your application package. If you have a degree from outside of the United States, you must submit an evaluation of this degree to determine the US equivalency. If you need an evaluation, you can visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website to find organizations that provide these services. The Classification Specification is located on this Job Posting under "Minimum Requirements."
Please Note: You may need to pass an examination to establish list eligibility prior to a final offer of employment. To find and take an exam, visit CalHR’s CalCareers website .
Desirable Qualifications
In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
- Excellent direct experience in user experience design, usability research, and testing.
- Well-versed managing multiple projects, setting stakeholder expectations, working individually and collaborating across teams.
- Ability to present design strategy to all levels of management, including executives, peers, and external stakeholders.
- Experience in digital web accessibility as defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Benefits
CalPERS team members are eligible for a number of benefits. Health benefits and leave programs are available for most team members. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and collective bargaining agreements.
Some added benefits CalPERS offers include:
- Alternate Work Schedules
- Flexible Work Hours
- Onsite childcare facility
- Onsite fitness center
- Onsite café and nearby restaurants
- Free onsite parking available Mondays and Fridays, subject to change
- Free offsite parking available with shuttle service Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
For more details about employee benefits, visit the California Department of Human Resources website.
Additional Information
Live Scan
Candidates not currently employed at CalPERS are required to submit to a criminal history review process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting.
CalPERS Disclosure Requirements If employed, you may be subject to rules imposed by Personal Trading Regulations and Conflict of Interest Code that apply to CalPERS team members, which require disclosure of certain investment information and use of a designated trading platform for securities transactions, as well as filing a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700)
Please do not include any confidential information on any documents in your application package. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents include, but is not limited to, your social security number, date of birth, marital status, personal photos, a copy of your driver’s license, equal employment opportunity data, examination scores, and LEAP status.
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at
All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
- Statement of Qualifications - In addition to completing your online job application, you must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Please see the Special Requirements section for instructions and questions for the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ will not be considered.
Job Tags
Permanent employment, Full time, Remote work, Flexible hours, Monday to Friday,