About the role Restive is one of the leading tech consultancies in Australia, working with some of the biggest brands in the country including Coles Group, JB Hi-Fi, Super Retail Group, Sportsbet, Viva Energy, Rosterfy, and more. With offices across Australia and Malaysia, we are a team of researchers, designers, business analysts, product managers, and software engineers helping build outstanding products and experiences for our clients. As we continue to grow our research and design practice, we're looking for a Principal Experience Designer based in Kuala Lumpur. This is a senior role for someone ready to lead complex engagements, guide strategic conversations, mentor fellow designers, and help shape the future of our practice in Malaysia and beyond. Reporting to our Head of Research and Experience Design, you’ll be joining a close-knit and distributed team of design consultants. You’ll be trusted to lead client engagements end to end – from initial conversations and scoping through to research, product UI design, and ongoing iteration. You’ll also play a key role in pre-sales, thought leadership, and internal practice development. No two days will look the same. One week you might be facilitating research workshops and developing a strategic roadmap for a client, and the next you might be designing UI screens in Figma, mentoring a mid-weight designer, and contributing to a pitch. Above all, you’ll be part of a team that cares deeply about doing great work together - and supporting your continued growth as a leader in the field. Tasks and responsibilities Lead end-to-end experience and product design engagements - from scoping and planning through research, strategy, design, and delivery. Build strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and guide them through ambiguity with confidence and clarity. Define and apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to meet project goals - including surveys, interviews, usability testing, analytics reviews, and observational methods. Facilitate workshops, research sessions, and co-design activities with clients and users. Translate research insights into compelling artefacts such as customer journeys, personas, reports, and UI prototypes. Design and oversee the creation of wireframes, prototypes, and final UI - ensuring outcomes are accessible, evidence-based, and aligned to project goals. Provide mentorship and feedback to other designers, helping grow design craft and confidence across the team. Collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineers, product managers, and business analysts to bring ideas to life. Contribute to pre-sales efforts including proposals, pitches, and shaping client approaches. Partner with the Head of Research and Experience Design to continuously improve our methods, tools, and ways of working. Advocate for design excellence, inclusive practices, and a test-and-learn mindset across every engagement. Requirements At least 8 years’ experience in product design, with a strong focus on research-led, human-centred design. Demonstrated ability to lead complex design projects and multidisciplinary teams across multiple phases of work. Strong facilitation and communication skills, with experience guiding client stakeholders and navigating ambiguity. Experience scoping and planning research and design work, including methodology selection and timeline estimation. A portfolio that shows breadth - from early research and discovery to final interface design and implementation. Deep experience conducting mixed-method research and synthesising findings into strategic and design outcomes. Proven experience designing digital product interfaces across a variety of platforms - including responsive web, internal tools, and native iOS and Android applications. Strong Figma skills - with the ability to maintain design systems, build prototypes, and document components. Strong knowledge of digital accessibility principles and guidelines (e.g. WCAG 2.2) A natural mentor - experienced at giving feedback, supporting career growth, and fostering a culture of collaboration. Comfortable working in distributed teams and collaborating remotely across time zones. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
