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Director / Principal Motion Designer

Expedia · San Francisco, CA, USA ·

Pay:
$224,000-$224,000/yr
Job type:
Full Time

Expedia

is seeking a

Director / Principal Motion Designer

(onsite) in

San Francisco, CA , with additional locations including

Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, or Austin . In this role, you will help define Expedia Design’s motion language, raise the standard for product and brand motion, and partner across product, engineering, brand, and marketing to ensure motion craft ships with clear intent and high-quality implementation.
You will lead motion craft end-to-end, shaping principles, patterns, and specifications that make experiences feel

delightful, clear, and unmistakably Expedia . This position emphasizes both leadership and hands‑on contribution, including motion systems, engineering‑ready specs, prototypes, and editorial storytelling work.
What you’ll do

Establish

motion principles, patterns, and guidelines

to ensure products feel cohesive and unmistakably Expedia
Build motion into the

design system

so teams can apply it consistently and at scale
Craft polished product details, including

transitions, micro-interactions, state changes , and loading and success moments
Prototype and validate motion ideas while advocating for animation that supports

usability

as well as craft
Write

clear, implementable motion specs

for engineers across

iOS, Android, and web

(timing, easing, springs, choreography, triggers)
Partner with engineering on implementation and review builds to align shipped experiences with design intent
Stay current on motion implementation approaches across tech stacks (for example: native animation frameworks,

Lottie ,

Rive , and

CSS/JS animation ) and advise on the right approach per use case
Design, build, or direct

sizzle reels ,

product launch videos , and other promotional storytelling pieces
Create concepts, storyboards, and narratives, guiding production whether you execute directly or direct internal teams and external partners
Act as the go‑to motion expert across Expedia Design, setting quality standards and providing thoughtful, constructive critique
Mentor designers and partners to grow organizational motion capability
Influence stakeholders across product leadership, brand, and marketing on

why motion matters

and how to apply it effectively
What you bring

Deep expertise in UI motion design , backed by a portfolio demonstrating polished, purposeful product animation
Proven ability to create

engineering‑ready motion specs

and hand off across

iOS, Android, and web
Strong working knowledge of how motion is implemented in code across multiple tech stacks and their practical constraints
Mastery of industry motion and prototyping tools such as

After Effects ,

Figma ,

Principle ,

Rive , and

Lottie

workflows (or equivalent)
Demonstrated ability to design, build, or direct editorial motion work including brand films, sizzle videos, and promotional content
Strong storytelling and art direction with excellent timing, rhythm, and craft instincts
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including senior‑level influence across cross‑functional partners
Experience raising the craft bar through mentorship, standards, or leadership
Bachelor’s degree

in Design, Motion, HCI, User Experience, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
5–10+ years

of experience in product design or related disciplines, including leadership of large‑scale teams
Tools and technologies

After Effects, Figma, Principle, Rive, Lottie, CSS/JS animation
iOS, Android, web, native animation frameworks
Cinema 4D, Blender, AI/ML, AI‑driven systems
Benefits

Medical/dental/vision coverage
Paid time off
Employee Assistance Program
Wellness & travel reimbursement
Travel discounts
International Airlines Travel Agent (IATAN) membership
Success looks like

Expedia products have a

recognizable, cohesive, delightful motion identity
Engineers receive

clear specs

and ship motion aligned with design intent
Brand and campaign storytelling is strengthened through compelling motion work
Motion craft and capability grow across the design organization
Salary range:

USD 224,000 - 387,000 per year.

Location:

San Francisco, CA (onsite). Additional locations: Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, or Austin.

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