📍 Job Overview
Job Title: UX-UI Designer IA F/H
Company: Thales
Location: Paris, France
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design
Date Posted: 2025-06-11T00:00:00
Experience Level: Senior (8+ years)
Remote Status: On-site
🎨 Role Summary
- Lead end-to-end UX methodology for complex digital products, specifically integrating AI solutions within the Defense & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cyber & Digital sectors.
- Conduct comprehensive UX research, including user interviews and testing, to inform user-centered design decisions and identify user needs and pain points.
- Design intuitive and effective user experiences, translating complex requirements into clear information architecture, user flows, and visually compelling interfaces.
- Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including Product Owners, Developers, and Data Scientists, in an Agile and Lean environment to deliver high-quality, user-centric products.
🖼️ Primary Responsibilities
- Drive and adapt the UX methodology iteratively, from project framing and requirements definition through design and development, ensuring alignment with Agile principles.
- Perform in-depth UX research activities, such as interviews and user testing, to gain a deep understanding of user needs, context, workflows, and pain points.
- Conceive and formalize end-to-end user experiences for complex digital products, including user journeys, task flows, information architecture, and wireframes.
- Create interactive prototypes and high-fidelity mockups using Figma and the Thales Design System (Quantum), ensuring intuitive interfaces that meet accessibility standards.
- Actively contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the Thales Design System by proposing and developing new components.
- Iterate on designs with developers from concept to implementation, ensuring design intent is accurately translated into functional products.
- Facilitate co-creation workshops and collaborate closely with stakeholders (product, tech, data, etc.) to co-build useful, usable, and desirable solutions.
- Participate in the definition and prioritization of features, translating design requirements into the product backlog for development teams.
- Effectively communicate design decisions, recommendations, and their rationale to stakeholders and team members, fostering transparency and understanding.
- Contribute to the overall UX strategy and design vision for products, ensuring consistency and coherence across the CortAIx portfolio.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While not explicitly stated, a degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX/UI Designer role. Professional certifications in UX/UI design are also valuable.
Experience: Minimum of 8 years of proven experience in UX-UI Design on complex digital products, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in research, UX design, and UI design. Experience working with AI-driven products or data visualization is a significant plus.
Required Skills:
- Extensive experience in end-to-end UX-UI Design for intricate digital products.
- Proven ability to adapt UX methodologies to varying project contexts, timelines, and stakeholder requirements.
- Exceptional analytical, synthesis, and UX structuring capabilities.
- Strong command of visual design principles, high-fidelity prototyping, and micro-interaction design.
- Proficiency in rapid sketching, iterative design processes, testing ideas, and making adjustments based on feedback.
- Expert-level mastery of Figma, including designing within and contributing to a Design System.
- Solid product culture and a keen interest in complex and technical environments.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with Product Owners, Developers, and Data Scientists in iterative and incremental Agile/Lean environments.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience designing for data visualization or AI-related products.
- Familiarity with the work of Data Scientists and key AI concepts.
- Experience in the Defense & Security, Aeronautics & Space, or Cyber & Digital sectors.
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Your portfolio must clearly illustrate your end-to-end design process for digital products, showcasing your approach to research, UX design, and UI design.
- Include detailed case studies that explain the problem, your role, the design process, challenges faced, and the impact of your design solutions.
- Present high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that demonstrate your visual design skills, attention to detail, and mastery of design tools.
- Showcase examples of designing within and contributing to a Design System, highlighting your understanding of component-based design and scalability.
Process Documentation:
- Document your research and discovery phase, including methodologies used (e.g., user interviews, surveys, competitive analysis) and key insights gathered.
- Illustrate your ideation and iteration methods, showcasing sketches, wireframes, and prototypes that demonstrate your problem-solving approach and design evolution.
- Detail your validation and testing approaches, including usability testing methodologies and how user feedback informed your design decisions.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on typical Senior UX/UI Designer salaries in the Paris area with 8+ years of experience in the technology/defense sector, a competitive range would likely be between €60,000 and €85,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Paris, the seniority of the role, and Thales's position as a large, established technology company. Exact compensation will depend on experience, specific skills, and negotiation.
Benefits:
- Attractive Compensation Package: Includes a competitive base salary and potentially performance-based bonuses or other incentives.
- Continuous Skill Development: Access to training programs, internal academies, and communities to foster ongoing learning and skill enhancement in design methodologies, tools, and emerging technologies like AI.
- Inclusive Environment: A workplace culture that values diversity, well-being, and work-life balance, promoting a supportive atmosphere for creative professionals.
- Recognized Societal and Environmental Commitment: Opportunity to contribute to projects with a positive impact on safety, environment, and inclusivity, aligning design work with broader ethical considerations.
Working Hours: Full-time position with standard working hours, likely involving some flexibility to accommodate collaboration across different time zones or project needs within an Agile framework.
🎯Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Thales operates across critical high-technology sectors: Defense & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cyber & Digital. The AI innovation center (CortAIx) focuses on applying AI to complex industrial challenges within these domains, offering designers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge applications with significant real-world impact.
Company Size: Thales is a global leader with nearly 81,000 employees in 68 countries. This large scale provides stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for collaboration on large-scale, complex projects.
Founded: Thales has a long history in technology and defense. While the exact founding date isn't provided, its established presence indicates a mature organization with deep technical expertise.
Team Structure:
- The UX Design discipline is composed of passionate designers with diverse backgrounds, working directly within delivery teams.
- They collaborate closely with Product Owners, Developers, and Data Scientists, suggesting a cross-functional team structure.
- There is an emphasis on sharing, continuous learning, and collective improvement within the design discipline.
Methodology:
- The team utilizes iterative and incremental approaches, likely following Agile and Lean principles.
- They conduct UX research activities such as interviews and user testing to inform design.
- Co-creation workshops are facilitated to collaborate on solutions with stakeholders.
Company Website: https://thales.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers/job/Paris/UX-UI-Designer-IA--F-H_R0289264-1
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level UX-UI Designer role. Senior designers are expected to work autonomously, lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers (though not explicitly stated, it's common at this level), and significantly contribute to the design strategy and vision.
Reporting Structure: The role is within the CortAIx AI innovation center and part of the Data Engineering team. You will likely report to a Design Manager or a lead within the AI domain, working closely with Product Owners and technical leads.
Design Impact: As a Senior Designer within the AI innovation center, your work will directly influence the usability and effectiveness of cutting-edge AI solutions used in critical applications, impacting decision-making in defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity.
Growth Opportunities:
- Opportunity to deepen expertise in designing for AI and complex data applications, a highly sought-after specialization in the design field.
- Potential for leadership growth within the design team or specialization in areas like design systems, research, or a specific industry domain.
- Continuous learning opportunities through internal programs, workshops, and exposure to advanced technologies.
🌐 Work Environment
Studio Type: The role is listed as on-site at the CortAIx Factory in Issy, near Paris. This suggests a dedicated office or lab space focused on AI innovation.
Office Location(s): CortAIx Factory, Issy (near Paris), France. Paris is a major European hub, offering a vibrant professional and cultural environment.
Design Workspace Context:
- Working on-site likely involves a collaborative workspace designed to facilitate interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Tech, Data Scientists).
- Access to necessary design tools, technology, and potentially specialized labs or environments for testing complex systems.
- Opportunities for spontaneous collaboration, whiteboarding, and in-person workshops with team members.
Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site schedule. While some flexibility may be possible depending on team norms, the primary work location is the CortAIx Factory.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Initial screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio to assess experience and alignment with requirements. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible and highlights relevant work.
- Portfolio review/presentation: You will likely be asked to walk through selected case studies from your portfolio, explaining your process, decisions, and impact. Be prepared to discuss the challenges of designing for complex systems or AI.
- Technical/Skills interview: Questions related to your UX/UI skills, methodologies, tool proficiency (especially Figma and Design Systems), and experience with iterative development.
- Team/Cultural fit interview: Discussions with potential team members and managers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, leadership potential, and fit within the team and company culture.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Select case studies that best demonstrate your experience with complex digital products, data visualization, or AI interfaces, if possible.
- Clearly articulate your design process, from research and problem definition to ideation, iteration, and final solution, focusing on the "why" behind your decisions.
- Highlight your contribution to Design Systems and your ability to work within and evolve established design frameworks.
- Showcase your visual design skills through high-fidelity mockups and prototypes, ensuring they are polished and professional.
Challenge Preparation:
- Be prepared to discuss how you approach complex design problems, simplify intricate information, and design for technical users.
- Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, explaining your decisions to both design and non-design audiences.
- Consider how you would approach a hypothetical design challenge related to AI or data visualization, focusing on your process and user-centered thinking.
ATS Keywords: UX Design, UI Design, Product Design, User Experience, User Interface, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data Visualization, Complex Systems, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Agile, Lean UX, Design Thinking, User Research, Usability Testing, Interviews, Prototyping, Wireframing, Mockups, Figma, Design System, Quantum Design System, Information Architecture, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Micro-interactions, Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Communication, Leadership, Problem Solving, Iterative Design, Incremental Development, Case Studies, Portfolio, Accessibility, French, English.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
- Figma: Essential tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design, with a focus on collaborative features and working within Design Systems.
- Quantum Design System: Thales's internal Design System. Proficiency in using and contributing to this system is a key requirement, demonstrating understanding of scalable and consistent design practices.
Collaboration & Handoff:
- Tools for collaboration with Product Owners, Developers, and Data Scientists within an Agile workflow (specific tools like Jira, Confluence, etc., are likely used but not explicitly mentioned).
- Handoff tools or methods to ensure smooth transition of designs to development teams, including specifications and asset management.
Research & Testing:
- Tools and methods for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and gathering user feedback (specific tools not mentioned, but experience with common platforms is valuable).
👥 Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- Passion, benevolence, and open-mindedness within the design discipline, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Commitment to designing coherent, accessible, useful, and enjoyable experiences that create value for users and clients, emphasizing a user-centered approach.
- Cultivation of a culture of sharing, continuous learning, and collective improvement through dedicated exchange, inspiration, and skill-building activities.
Collaboration Style:
- Close collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product, Tech, Data Scientists) in an iterative and incremental manner.
- Facilitating co-creation workshops to involve stakeholders in the design process.
- Emphasis on sharing ideas, providing and receiving feedback, and contributing to a product culture centered on the user.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- Designing intuitive interfaces for complex AI and data-heavy applications used in critical operational environments, requiring a strong understanding of user workflows and decision-making processes.
- Simplifying and structuring complex technical information and AI outputs to be understandable and actionable for diverse user groups.
- Working within a large, established organization like Thales, which may involve navigating complex processes and stakeholder landscapes.
- Staying informed and adapting to the rapidly evolving field of AI and its applications in the defense, aerospace, and digital sectors.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in designing for AI and complex systems within high-stakes environments.
- Access to internal training programs and communities focused on design, technology, and industry-specific knowledge.
- Potential to contribute to the evolution of the Design System and influence design practices within the organization.
💡 Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end design process for a complex project from your portfolio, detailing your research methods, ideation process, and how you validated your designs.
- Explain how you adapt your design process when working with technical teams (developers, data scientists) in an Agile environment.
- Describe your experience in designing for data visualization or AI interfaces, highlighting the unique challenges and how you addressed them.
Company Culture Questions:
- Research Thales's values and recent projects in AI and digital technologies. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and interests align with their mission, particularly in the CortAIx innovation center.
- Ask questions about the design team structure, collaboration practices, and how design is integrated into the product development lifecycle within the AI teams.
- Inquire about the challenges and opportunities of designing for the specific industries Thales operates in (defense, aerospace, etc.).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure your portfolio presentation as compelling case studies that tell a story, focusing on the problem, your role, your process, and the impact of your design.
- For projects involving complex data or AI, clearly explain how you approached simplifying the information and designing for usability.
- Be ready to discuss your contributions to Design Systems and how you ensure design consistency and scalability.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this design position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in UX/UI design for complex digital products, particularly any experience with AI, data visualization, or technical domains.
- Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date, easily accessible, and features case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process and ability to handle complex design challenges.
- Prepare for interviews by practicing describing your design process and articulating your design decisions, focusing on how you approach complex problems and collaborate with technical teams.
- Research Thales and the CortAIx innovation center to understand their work in AI and digital technologies, and be ready to discuss your interest and how your skills align.