AX / UX Designer – Laboratory Software & AI Systems (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: AX / UX Designer – Laboratory Software & AI Systems (m/f/d)

Company: Agilent Technologies

Location: Waldbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: May 28, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-level (implied 2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and define user experiences for sophisticated laboratory software, with a specialized focus on integrating AI-driven and agent-based functionalities (AX).

• Translate complex AI potential into usable, understandable, and trustworthy product experiences that augment user tasks and workflows.

• Develop intuitive interaction models for human-agent collaboration, covering initiation, guidance, feedback, override, and failure handling within software applications.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Product Management, and AI specialists, to shape the scope and feasibility of agent-based features in early product development phases.

• Create comprehensive UX documentation, including interaction concepts, wireframes, prototypes, and detailed design specifications for software implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a UX Designer, the emphasis on AI Systems, Agentic Capabilities, and Human-Agent Interaction models positions it at the intersection of traditional UX and emerging AI product development. The "AX" in the title specifically refers to Agentic Experiences, indicating a forward-thinking approach to user interface design. This role is not a typical Revenue Operations, Sales Operations, or GTM role; it focuses on product design within a scientific and technology context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and design human-agent interaction models within laboratory software applications, ensuring seamless integration of AI capabilities.

• Develop intuitive software navigation, interaction concepts, and UI designs tailored for complex scientific workflows, balancing automation with user control.

• Generate detailed interaction concepts, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate UX/AX designs to development teams.

• Collaborate with Product Management, R&D, and AI teams during early product definition to influence the scope, constraints, and technical feasibility of agent-based features.

• Translate user needs and AI system capabilities into clear, actionable UX concepts and design specifications that guide software implementation.

• Represent the user perspective and advocate for user-centered design principles in stakeholder discussions and cross-functional team meetings.

• Continuously refine AX and UX designs through iterative testing and feedback, balancing automation, transparency, trust, and productivity.

• Partner closely with usability engineers to conduct validation studies, gather evidence, and iteratively improve user solutions.

• Contribute to the development and evolution of UX/AX methodologies, guidelines, and best practices within the Usability and Design Center (UDC).

• Support the adoption of AI-supported workflows to enhance productivity across Agilent's product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on integrating AI into user workflows, requiring a deep understanding of human-AI interaction principles beyond standard UX design. The role involves significant collaboration in early product stages, influencing product direction rather than just executing designs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Demonstrated professional experience as a UX/UI Designer for software applications, with a focus on web technologies (required) and desktop applications (preferred).

• Proven ability in interaction design, complex workflow design, AI-assisted prototyping, and concept development.

Required Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Strong, demonstrated skills in using Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in crafting intuitive and efficient user interactions for complex software.

• Workflow Design: Ability to map out and design end-to-end user workflows, especially within a laboratory or scientific context.

• AI-Driven User Experience (AX): Experience or strong understanding of designing user experiences for AI-powered features.

• Agent-Based Systems Design: Familiarity with designing interactions for systems that operate autonomously or with human oversight.

• Human-AI Interaction Models: Understanding of principles and best practices for effective collaboration between humans and AI.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate UX concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders.

• Teamwork & Proactivity: Strong team player with a proactive, solution-focused mindset and the ability to navigate complex technical environments.

• English Fluency: Fluent command of the English language is essential for effective communication in a global team.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in life science, medical, or B2B software environments.

• Experience or strong interest in automation solutions and their user experience implications.

• Familiarity with design systems and the development of scalable UX frameworks.

• Experience working within agile development processes.

• A cross-disciplinary interest or experience in hardware design, understanding its relation to software interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize practical application of design tools (Figma) and a strong theoretical foundation in interaction and workflow design, particularly within the context of AI. The preference for life science or B2B software experience suggests a need for domain understanding.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies of Complex Workflows: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your ability to design complex end-to-end workflows for software applications. Highlight the problem, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the impact achieved.

• AI/Agentic Interaction Design Examples: Include specific examples or detailed concepts of how you've designed or would design interactions with AI or agent-based systems. This should illustrate your understanding of initiation, guidance, feedback, and error handling in human-AI collaboration.

• Figma Proficiency Demonstration: Your portfolio should clearly exhibit your proficiency with Figma, showcasing high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and potentially design system components.

• Problem-Solving and Iteration: Present instances where you identified a user problem, iterated on design solutions based on feedback or testing, and arrived at an optimized user experience. Quantify improvements where possible.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Walkthrough: Clearly articulate your personal design process, from initial research and ideation through to prototyping, testing, and handover to development. This should highlight how you integrate user research and AI considerations.

• Specification Standards: Provide examples of design specifications or documentation you have created for development teams, ensuring clarity on interaction logic, UI elements, and expected behavior of AI components.

• Usability Validation Evidence: Demonstrate how you incorporate usability testing and validation into your design process, including examples of how feedback influenced final designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the focus on AI and complex systems, the portfolio should not only showcase visual design but also the strategic thinking behind interaction models and workflow optimization. Demonstrating experience with AI/agentic systems is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Pension Plan: Comprehensive retirement savings plan.

• Continuous Learning and Development: Opportunities for ongoing professional growth, including access to courses, workshops, and internal training.

• Conference Access: Support for attending relevant industry conferences to stay abreast of the latest trends in UX, AI, and laboratory software.

• Sports Programs: Opportunities to participate in company-sponsored sports and wellness activities.

• Cultural Programs: Access to company-supported cultural events and initiatives.

• On-site Cafeteria: Convenient and subsidized dining options available at the Waldbronn site.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to balance remote work with on-site collaboration at the Waldbronn office.

• Competitive Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience and skills, alongside potential performance-based bonuses.

• Health and Wellness: Likely includes comprehensive health insurance and other wellness support programs, standard for large German employers.

Working Hours:

• The role is designated as Full-Time with a standard weekly schedule of 40 hours. The hybrid work model offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing remote work with mandatory on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for Germany for a mid-level UX designer with specialized AI skills. Agilent Technologies is a large, established company, so benefits are expected to be comprehensive and competitive. The hybrid model is a key perk.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Analytical Laboratory Markets. Agilent Technologies is a global leader providing instruments, software, services, and consumables for laboratories worldwide.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Agilent Technologies has over 18,000 employees globally, as per LinkedIn data). This size implies established processes, a global reach, and diverse career opportunities.

Founded: 1999 (spun off from Hewlett-Packard). This history provides a foundation of technological innovation and a strong corporate structure.

Team Structure:

• Usability and Design Center (UDC): You will be part of a globally operating team of experienced UX designers within the UDC.

• Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a UX Design Manager or Lead within the UDC, who in turn may report to a higher-level R&D or Product Development Director.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires extensive collaboration with Product Management, Software Developers, Scientists, AI Teams, and Usability Engineers across various Agilent sites worldwide.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A strong emphasis on understanding and incorporating user needs into product development, with a focus on usability and trust.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Leveraging usability evidence and performance metrics to refine and improve AX and UX designs.

• Agile Development Practices: Likely integrated into agile workflows, requiring close collaboration with development teams and adaptability to iterative development cycles.

• AI Integration Strategy: Developing methodologies for effectively integrating AI and agentic capabilities into existing and new software products.

Company Website: https://www.agilent.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Agilent's culture emphasizes customer focus, innovation, and a strong commitment to scientific advancement. The UDC operates as a specialized hub, fostering a community of design professionals within a larger R&D framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX Designer specializing in cutting-edge AI interfaces. It requires a solid foundation in UX principles and practical experience, with a strong emphasis on learning and applying new concepts related to AI and agentic systems. The scope involves defining user experiences for complex software and influencing product direction, indicating a significant level of responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a manager within the Usability and Design Center (UDC) and will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Product Management, and AI specialists. This structure allows for mentorship from senior designers and exposure to various product development stages.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, as it directly influences the usability, trustworthiness, and effectiveness of Agilent's laboratory software, particularly its AI-driven features. By ensuring intuitive human-agent interactions, the designer contributes to increased laboratory productivity, accuracy, and ultimately, scientific advancement. This role bridges the gap between advanced AI technology and practical scientific application.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI/AX Design: Deepen expertise in designing agentic experiences and human-AI interaction models, becoming a subject matter expert within Agilent and the broader industry.

• Leadership in UX/AX Methods: Contribute to the development and evolution of UX/AX methodologies, guidelines, and best practices, potentially leading initiatives or mentoring junior designers.

• Product Influence: Grow into roles with greater influence on product strategy and definition, shaping the future of Agilent's intelligent software offerings.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Expand knowledge in areas like life sciences, AI algorithms, and hardware design through collaboration and dedicated learning opportunities.

• Career Progression: Potential pathways include Senior UX Designer, Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or specializing in AI Ethics and Usability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for this role leans heavily into specialization within UX, particularly in the rapidly growing field of AI interaction design. The opportunity to influence product direction and contribute to cutting-edge technology makes it a compelling role for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Waldbronn, Germany, and operates under a hybrid work model. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration, with facilities supporting both individual focus and team interaction.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Agilent's site in Waldbronn, near Karlsruhe, Germany. This site houses the Usability and Design Center (UDC).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The UDC fosters a supportive and collaborative international UX team culture, emphasizing trust, psychological safety, and open feedback.

• Tools and Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma, and likely other industry-standard software for prototyping, research, and collaboration. The role involves working with sophisticated laboratory software and AI systems.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with a diverse, international team of UX designers and close collaboration with R&D, product management, and AI specialists.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model allows for flexibility, blending remote work with on-site collaboration. This structure supports focused design work at home and team-based activities, brainstorming, and stakeholder meetings at the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a significant aspect of the work environment, offering a balance between flexibility and in-person collaboration. The emphasis on a strong UX community suggests a positive and engaging team dynamic.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review applications and resumes, focusing on relevant UX experience, Figma skills, and any mention of AI/agentic systems or complex workflow design.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing their UX/UI design work. The emphasis will be on relevant case studies demonstrating complex workflow design, interaction design, and ideally, experience with AI or agent-based systems. Figma proficiency will be assessed.

• Technical Interview(s): This may involve a deeper dive into portfolio projects, problem-solving exercises, and discussions about UX/AX principles, human-AI interaction, and design methodologies. Candidates may be asked to critique existing designs or propose solutions for hypothetical scenarios.

• Design Challenge: A common step is a design challenge, either take-home or live, requiring candidates to design a specific feature or workflow, often related to AI or complex systems. This assesses practical skills and problem-solving abilities under time constraints.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussions with the hiring manager and potential team members to assess cultural fit, communication skills, collaboration style, and alignment with Agilent's values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best highlight your experience with complex workflows, interaction design, and especially any AI/agentic system design. If you don't have direct AI experience, frame projects that involved complex decision trees, automation, or intelligent systems.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your mastery of Figma, from wireframes to high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• Detail Your Process: For each case study, clearly articulate your role, the problem statement, your design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), the rationale behind your design decisions, and the outcomes or impact.

• Highlight AI/Agentic Aspects: Explicitly call out any elements of your work that relate to human-AI interaction, agent-based systems, automation, or intelligent user guidance. Explain how you approached these challenges.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved task completion time, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly understand the domain (laboratory software, AI systems) and the user needs.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a clear, structured approach to problem-solving. Outline your steps, assumptions, and how you'd gather more information.

• Design for Interaction and Workflow: Beyond just UI screens, focus on the interaction flow, user journey, and how the AI component integrates seamlessly.

• Communicate Clearly: Be prepared to articulate your design decisions, trade-offs, and rationale effectively, especially if presenting your solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is geared towards assessing not just design skills but also the ability to think critically about complex systems and emerging technologies like AI. A strong, relevant portfolio is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaborative design work. Expected proficiency is high.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to or working within established design systems for consistency and scalability.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Usability Testing Tools: Proficiency with tools for conducting user research, usability testing, and gathering feedback (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback).

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with how user behavior data (from analytics tools) informs design decisions, though direct hands-on use might be limited for this UX role.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how UX designs integrate with backend systems, data management, and potentially automated workflows within laboratory software is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a required skill, indicating its central role in the design process. The focus is on design and research tools rather than backend operations tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-First Mandate: A core principle driving all work, ensuring that user needs and satisfaction are paramount in design decisions.

• Innovation & Trusted Answers: A commitment to pushing boundaries in technology, particularly with AI, to deliver reliable and valuable solutions for customers.

• Global Expertise & Collaboration: Valuing diverse perspectives and leveraging collective knowledge across international teams to achieve superior outcomes.

• Quality & Long-Term Impact: Encouraging a sustainable pace of work focused on creating high-quality, impactful designs that stand the test of time.

• Trust & Psychological Safety: Fostering an environment where team members feel safe to express ideas, give feedback, and take risks.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active collaboration with R&D, Product Management, AI specialists, and Usability Engineers is fundamental.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging and valuing constructive feedback among team members to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A proactive approach to sharing insights, best practices, and learnings within the UX team and across departments.

• Process Evolution: A willingness to collaboratively develop and refine UX/AX methods and guidelines to enhance team capabilities and adoption of new technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is built on a foundation of scientific rigor, customer focus, and collaborative innovation, with a strong emphasis on creating a supportive and high-performing team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Trust in AI: A primary challenge will be designing AI and agent-based systems that users can understand, trust, and effectively control, especially in critical laboratory environments.

• Integrating AI into Complex Workflows: Seamlessly incorporating AI capabilities without disrupting established, complex laboratory workflows requires a delicate balance of innovation and user habit.

• Balancing Automation and User Control: Determining the optimal level of automation versus user agency to maximize productivity without sacrificing user confidence or control.

• Navigating Technical Complexity: Understanding and effectively translating advanced AI concepts and laboratory software functionalities into intuitive user experiences.

• Global Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively collaborating with diverse teams across different time zones and cultural backgrounds.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI/AX: Extensive opportunities to learn about and specialize in the rapidly evolving field of AI-driven user experiences and agentic design.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant conferences (e.g., UX, AI, Human-Computer Interaction) and pursuing certifications to enhance expertise.

• Mentorship: Access to experienced UX designers and AI specialists within Agilent for guidance and skill development.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Opportunities to learn about life sciences, diagnostics, and analytical instrumentation, broadening your understanding of the application domain.

• Leadership Development: Pathways to take on more responsibility, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into management or lead design roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative nature of the role, particularly in the domain of AI and its application. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to specialize in this cutting-edge area of UX design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• AI Integration Strategy: "How would you approach designing the user experience for an AI agent that assists scientists with complex data analysis in a laboratory setting? What are the key considerations for trust, transparency, and user control?" Prepare to discuss your process for defining human-agent interaction models.

• Workflow Optimization: "Describe a time you designed a complex user workflow. What were the challenges, and how did you ensure efficiency and usability? How would you apply this approach to a laboratory software workflow involving AI-driven suggestions?" Be ready to present a relevant case study from your portfolio.

• Problem-Solving with AI: "Imagine a scenario where an AI feature in our software provides incorrect or misleading information. How would you design the user interface to handle such failures gracefully and allow users to easily override or correct the AI's output?" Focus on error handling, feedback mechanisms, and user agency.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Agilent's Mission: "How do you see your role as a UX Designer contributing to Agilent's mission of providing trusted answers in the life sciences and diagnostics markets?" Research Agilent's products and their impact on scientific research and healthcare.

• Team Collaboration: "This role involves close collaboration with R&D, product management, and AI teams. How do you typically collaborate with these different functions, and what is your approach to managing stakeholder feedback?" Prepare examples of your cross-functional collaboration style.

• Measuring UX Impact: "How do you measure the success and impact of your UX designs, especially when integrating new technologies like AI?" Be prepared to discuss metrics and methodologies for evaluating user experience and AI effectiveness.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative. For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the creative solutions you developed, and the tangible outcomes.

• Focus on Process and Rationale: Don't just show final screens. Explain why you made certain design decisions, especially concerning AI integration, interaction models, and workflow optimization.

• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be ready to walk through key parts of your Figma prototypes or designs, highlighting specific features and techniques you used.

• Highlight AI/Agentic Elements: Explicitly point out and discuss any aspects of your work that relate to AI, automation, or intelligent systems, even if the project wasn't solely AI-focused. Explain your approach to these complex interactions.

• Engage and Discuss: Be prepared for questions about your design choices, your problem-solving approach, and how you handle feedback or challenges. Treat it as a collaborative discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing practical design skills, a structured problem-solving approach, and a thoughtful understanding of human-AI interaction principles. The portfolio is key, so practice presenting it effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this AX / UX Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Apply directly through the Agilent Technologies careers portal. Ensure your resume is up-to-date and highlights relevant experience.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest UX case studies. Prioritize those demonstrating complex workflow design, interaction design, and any experience with AI/agentic systems or automation. Ensure your Figma proficiency is evident.

• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "Interaction Design," "Figma," "AI-driven user experience," "agent-based systems," and "workflow design." Highlight achievements with quantifiable results where possible.

• Prepare for Interviews: Research Agilent Technologies, its products, and its mission. Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and how you approach challenges related to AI and complex systems. Prepare to present your portfolio with a strong narrative.

• Understand the Hybrid Model: Be ready to discuss your experience and preferences regarding hybrid work environments and how you ensure productivity and collaboration in such a setup.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. While every effort has been made to provide a comprehensive overview, candidates are strongly advised to verify all details, particularly regarding specific responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits, directly with Agilent Technologies during the application and interview process.