Design Strategist

EPAM is seeking a Design Strategist to join our growing practice. In this client-facing, strategy-forward role, you will dig into complex business and consumer challenges, lead research programs, uncover meaningful insights, and translate them into compelling ideas and actionable solutions. You will collaborate across a multidisciplinary team — including experience designers, engineers, and data scientists — to develop offerings that are consumer-driven, financially viable, and technically feasible.

We are looking for a strategic advisor who moves fluidly from insight to implementation, owning the desired experience intent and orchestrating delivery in partnership with developers, solution architects, and designers. A portfolio demonstrating your work is required.

Req.#1055241890

Responsibilities

• Lead or serve as a key contributor across all phases of strategy projects — from client alignment and context-setting through insight development, opportunity identification, and go-to-market support
• Drive research workstreams end-to-end, including crafting research plans, conducting qualitative and quantitative consumer/user research, and synthesizing findings into meaningful, non-obvious insights
• Develop visual frameworks, opportunity maps, and strategic narratives to clearly articulate pain points, whitespace, and ideas to both internal teams and client stakeholders
• Generate and validate ideas for new products, services, and experiences using quantitative and qualitative approaches that balance consumer desirability, business viability, and technical feasibility
• Act as a strategic advisor during implementation — owning the intended experience vision and collaborating with developers, solution architects, and designers to ensure strategic intent is delivered
• Run client workshops, contribute meaningfully in client meetings, and create compelling, polished presentations tailored to executive and cross-functional audiences
• Work cross-functionally within a multidisciplinary team, balancing independent ownership of workstreams with close collaboration across design, engineering, data, and business strategy disciplines
• Actively engage with and apply AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance research, ideation, and strategy development processes

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leading user research programs and translating findings into actionable insights
• Strong command of design thinking methods, ideation and brainstorming techniques, sketching, prototyping, and concept visualization
• BA/BS or post-graduate degree in a design or creative field (e.g., design, art), a behavioral field (e.g., anthropology, psychology), or an analytical field (e.g., engineering, business, economics)
• Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills; comfortable presenting to and facilitating workshops with senior stakeholders
• Openness and enthusiasm toward AI tools and experimentation; prior experience using AI in a research, strategy, or content context is a plus
• Willingness to travel approximately once per month, primarily domestic US (occasional international travel may be required)

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (Subsidized)
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (Company Provided)
• Life and AD&D Insurance (Company Provided)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Unlimited access to LinkedIn learning solutions
• Matched 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off – the employee will be eligible to accrue 15-25 paid days, depending on specific level and tenure with EPAM (accrual eligibility may change over time)
• Paid Holidays - nine (9) total per year
• Legal Plan and Identity Theft Protection
• Accident Insurance
• Employee Discounts
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• If otherwise eligible, participation in the discretionary annual bonus program
• If otherwise eligible and hired into a qualifying level, participation in the discretionary Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program