Design Systems Lead

The Design Systems Lead is responsible for building, scaling, and governing Taco Bell’s design system as a core product ecosystem, not just a UI toolkit, and drives impact across the business through consistency, scalability, and cross‑platform cohesion. With this role, the opportunities are endless: shaping a living enterprise design platform that powers mobile apps, web platforms, kiosk experiences, internal tools, and future digital products.

The Design Systems Lead will report to the Senior UX Manager / Creative Director and lead the strategic evolution and operational execution of Taco Bell’s design system platform.

About the Job:

The Design Systems Lead is responsible for building, scaling, and governing Taco Bell’s design system as a core product ecosystem, not just a UI toolkit, and drives impact across the business through consistency, scalability, and cross-platform cohesion. With this role, the opportunities are endless: shaping a living enterprise design platform that powers mobile apps, web platforms, kiosk experiences, internal tools, and future digital products.

The Design Systems Lead will report to the Senior UX Manager / Creative Director and lead the strategic evolution and operational execution of Taco Bell’s design system platform.

The Day-to-Day:

• Lead the architecture, evolution, and governance of Taco Bell’s design system across foundations, tokens, components, patterns, modules, and documentation
• Manage cross-functional relationships with Engineering, Product, Merchandising, Marketing, Brand, and Platform teams
• Drive system consistency across mobile, web, kiosk, internal tools, and future platforms
• Partner closely with engineering teams to align design intent with technical implementation
• Define contribution models, lifecycle management, versioning, and system scalability standards
• Lead enablement, adoption, education, and system rollout across the organization

Is This You?

• 8+ years of experience in design, with deep specialization in design systems
• Proven experience building and scaling enterprise design systems
• Expert proficiency in Figma, design tokens, component libraries, and system architecture
• Deep understanding of multi-surface platforms (mobile, web, kiosk, internal tools)
• Strong experience partnering directly with engineering teams on system implementation
• Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels within complex organizations

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Hybrid work schedule and year-round flex day Friday (Remote/hybrid expectations will be discussed during the kickoff meeting with your Talent Advisor & HRBP)
• Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons
• Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building)
• Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, carwash
• Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
• Tuition reimbursement and education benefits
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
• Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name

Taco Bell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Taco Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.

Salary Range: $121,600 - $150,045 + eligible bonus

• Job Identification 4856
• Posting Date 03/03/2026, 03:30 PM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations Irvine, CA, United States (Hybrid)