UX/UI Design Senior Specialist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Design Senior Specialist

Company: MSD

Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UI/UX Design, Product Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-16T00:00:00

Experience Level: 2-5 years (Senior Specialist)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🎨 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end user experience design process, from initial ideation and concept development through detailed design, prototyping, and rigorous user testing, ensuring a truly user-centered approach.
• Translate product vision and strategic goals into tangible, compelling, and satisfying user experiences for companion animal care and management solutions, focusing on both mobile and web applications.
• Leverage data insights, findings from extensive user research, and workflow analysis to inform and validate design decisions, creating experiences grounded in real user behavior and needs.
• Collaborate effectively with Product Managers, Developers, and cross-functional stakeholders to align design efforts with business objectives and technical constraints, facilitating seamless customer journey creation that delivers measurable business impact.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal customers and capability leads to gather and define user requirements and specifications for designing intuitive and effective user interfaces.
• Produce high-quality design deliverables including flow diagrams, detailed graphic designs, compelling storyboards, comprehensive site maps, and interactive prototypes.
• Design and iterate on experiences that significantly enhance user engagement, satisfaction, and overall desirability of digital products, services, and the brand for companion animal users.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of new and existing user behaviors to identify opportunities for improving the end-to-end user experience across various digital touchpoints.
• Plan and execute rigorous user testing sessions for applications, software, and websites, collecting and synthesizing feedback to inform design iterations and validation.
• Define clear interaction models, optimize user task flows, and document detailed UI specifications to guide development teams and ensure design consistency.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing applications through comprehensive UX analysis and usability testing, identifying areas for improvement based on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) principles.
• Effectively communicate complex design concepts, user scenarios, end-to-end experiences, interaction models, and screen designs to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Utilize a variety of design techniques and software tools to produce visually appealing and highly usable graphic and UX designs that improve product usability, accessibility, and overall desirability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies relevant to digital product development.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of proven, hands-on experience designing successful web and mobile applications. A strong portfolio showcasing a track record of designing and releasing impactful user experiences for diverse device types and contexts is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in User Experience (UX) Design principles, methodologies, and best practices, with a focus on creating intuitive, efficient, and engaging digital experiences.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting various forms of User Research, including interviews, surveys, usability testing, and synthesizing findings into actionable design insights.
• Ability to effectively utilize Data Visualization techniques to communicate insights derived from user data and analytics to inform design decisions and demonstrate impact.
• Strong skills in Measurement Analysis, using metrics and analytics tools to evaluate the performance of designs and identify areas for optimization.
• Experience in contributing to or leading aspects of Strategic Planning related to product design and user experience roadmaps.
• Capability in Content Writing as it relates to crafting effective microcopy, user interface text, and calls to action that enhance usability and clarity.
• Experience in Client Counseling, demonstrating the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders, gather requirements, and present design solutions.
• Proficiency in User Experience Evaluation methods, including heuristic evaluations, cognitive walkthroughs, and usability testing, to assess the effectiveness of existing designs.
• Strong skills in User Experience Analysis, breaking down complex user flows and interactions to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.

Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge and practical experience with front-end web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and jQuery, understanding their implications for design implementation and interaction.
• Familiarity with agile project management and collaboration tools like JIRA and Confluence, and product management tools such as Aha!.
• Previous experience using web analytics platforms, specifically Google Analytics, to track user behavior, measure design performance, and derive actionable insights.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Present a curated selection of case studies that clearly demonstrate your end-to-end design process, from initial problem definition and research through ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.
• Include projects that showcase your experience designing for both Web and Mobile platforms (Android and iOS), highlighting successful user experiences across different device types and contexts.
• Visually present your work with attention to detail, showcasing high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and final designs that reflect a strong understanding of UI design principles and visual hierarchy.
• Where applicable, include examples that demonstrate your understanding of technical constraints or your collaboration with development teams, potentially showing design handoff documentation or implemented designs.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your approach to the research and discovery phase, including methods used for gathering user insights, defining user needs, and understanding the problem space.
• Detail your process for ideation and iteration, showcasing how you explored different design solutions, created wireframes and prototypes, and incorporated feedback into your designs.
• Explain your approach to validation and testing, describing the methods used for usability testing, gathering user feedback, and iterating on designs based on test results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £40,000 - £60,000 per year (Estimated)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits, potentially including medical, dental, and vision coverage, supporting overall well-being for designers.
• Retirement savings plans or pension schemes, providing financial security for the future.
• Opportunities for professional development and training, supporting continuous learning in design methodologies, tools, and industry trends.
• Paid time off and holidays, allowing for work-life balance and creative rejuvenation.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives recognizing contributions to successful product launches and user experience improvements.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility in a hybrid work arrangement to support creative workflows and collaboration needs.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing with a strong focus on animal health and technology solutions. This involves operating within a regulated environment while fostering innovation in digital product development for veterinary professionals and pet owners.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees globally. A large, established organization offering stability and extensive resources, but potentially with more structured processes and a need for effective navigation of organizational layers for design influence.

Founded: Over 130 years ago. A long history indicates a strong foundation and deep industry expertise, which can provide a rich context for design projects, particularly in understanding the needs of long-standing customers in the animal health sector.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to a Centre of Excellence Lead, suggesting a structure where design expertise is centralized or managed within a dedicated unit.
• Collaboration with product managers, development teams, and a wider global design team is explicitly mentioned, indicating a matrixed or cross-functional team environment.
• Expect to work closely with other designers, potentially sharing knowledge, participating in critiques, and contributing to design system development.

Methodology:

• The emphasis on user research, user testing, and iterative design suggests an adoption of agile or lean UX methodologies.
• Expect a structured approach to the design process, moving from requirements gathering and ideation through prototyping and validation.
• Collaboration with developers implies a focus on efficient design handoff and potentially working within sprint cycles.

Company Website: https://jobs.msd.com/gb/en

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Senior Specialist. This role is positioned for an experienced individual contributor who can independently lead design initiatives, mentor less experienced designers, and significantly influence the design direction of products within their domain. It requires a blend of hands-on design skill and strategic thinking.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to a Centre of Excellence Lead indicates a path for growth within the design discipline, potentially leading to roles with broader scope, managing larger projects, or specializing further within UX/UI or related areas like design systems or research. Collaboration with a global team also offers exposure to international projects and diverse design challenges.

Design Impact: The role is described as playing a "critical role in creating satisfying and compelling experiences," transforming "vision into reality." This suggests a high degree of influence on the final product and its success in the market. The emphasis on data insights and user feedback indicates that design decisions are valued and expected to drive measurable business impact in animal care and management.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement opportunities could include progressing to a Lead Designer role with team leadership responsibilities or specializing as a Principal Designer focusing on complex design challenges or strategic initiatives within the animal health space.
• Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI design, such as interaction design, user research methodologies, accessibility, or design system management.
• Potential for cross-functional growth by collaborating closely with product management or development teams, gaining a broader understanding of the product lifecycle and contributing to areas beyond core design execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid work arrangement. This offers flexibility to balance working from home with collaborating in person at the Cambridge office.

Office Location(s): Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. A hub for innovation and technology, offering access to a vibrant professional community and potentially opportunities for industry events or meetups.

Design Workspace Context:

• Expect access to collaborative spaces within the office designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming, and design critiques with product managers, developers, and other designers.
• Availability of necessary design tools and technology to support creative workflows, prototyping, and user testing activities.
• Opportunities for informal interaction and knowledge sharing with colleagues across different disciplines, fostering a collaborative and potentially inspiring creative environment.

Work Schedule: A hybrid schedule allows for flexibility, enabling designers to manage their creative process and collaboration needs effectively. Balancing focused individual work with in-person team interaction is key in this setup.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Expect an initial screening call to assess your background and fit for the role, likely focusing on your resume and experience.
• A portfolio review will be a critical step, where you will be expected to present and walk through selected case studies, articulating your design process, decisions, and impact.
• Prepare for behavioral questions assessing your collaboration skills, ability to work in a team, communication style, and approach to handling feedback and challenges.
• A technical or design challenge might be included to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking process, and ability to execute under specific constraints. This could involve a take-home assignment or an in-person exercise.
• Final interviews may involve meeting with the hiring manager, team members, and potentially cross-functional stakeholders like product managers or engineering leads to assess team fit and collaborative potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select 3-4 strong case studies that best showcase your experience designing for both web and mobile platforms and demonstrate your end-to-end design process.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role and responsibilities, the research and discovery methods used, your iterative design process, how you incorporated feedback, and the impact of your design solutions.
• Focus on storytelling – guide reviewers through your thought process and the journey of the project, highlighting key decisions and challenges overcome.
• Ensure high-quality visuals and clear documentation of your design process, including wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and final designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is part of the process, carefully read and understand the prompt, paying attention to any specific constraints or requirements.
• Structure your response or presentation to clearly demonstrate your problem-solving approach, design thinking process, and rationale behind your design decisions.
• Be prepared to walk through your solution, explain your choices, and articulate how your design addresses the user needs and business goals outlined in the challenge.

ATS Keywords: User Experience Design, UX Design, UI Design, User Interface Design, Digital Design, Product Design, Mobile Design, Web Design, User Research, Usability Testing, Prototyping, Wireframing, Interaction Design, Information Architecture, Design Thinking, Agile, Lean UX, Data Visualization, Measurement Analysis, Strategic Planning, User Flows, Storyboarding, Site Maps, Graphic Design, HCI, Human-Computer Interaction, User-Centered Design, Design Systems, Accessibility, Collaboration, Communication, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, InVision, Zeplin, HTML, CSS, jQuery, JIRA, Confluence, Aha!, Google Analytics.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• While specific tools are not listed as required, industry standards for UX/UI design are expected. Proficiency in tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping is likely necessary.
• Experience with prototyping tools such as InVision, Principle, or Framer to create interactive prototypes for user testing and stakeholder presentations.
• Familiarity with tools for creating flow diagrams and site maps, potentially integrated within design software or using dedicated diagramming tools.
• Experience working with and contributing to Design Systems or component libraries is highly beneficial for ensuring consistency across products.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools like Zeplin, Abstract, or Figma's collaboration features for seamless design handoff to developers, providing specifications, assets, and documentation.
• Communication and collaboration platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for daily interaction with the team and stakeholders.
• Project management tools like JIRA and Confluence (mentioned as preferred) for tracking tasks, managing workflows, and documenting project details.

Research & Testing:

• Tools for conducting remote or in-person usability testing, such as UserTesting.com, Lookback, or similar platforms.
• Survey tools like SurveyMonkey or Typeform for gathering quantitative user feedback.
• Analytics platforms like Google Analytics (mentioned as preferred) for tracking user behavior and measuring the impact of design changes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• A strong emphasis on creating "satisfying and compelling experiences for product end users" suggests a commitment to user-centered design and prioritizing the needs and goals of the audience, particularly in the context of companion animal care.
• The focus on using "data, insights from user research, workflow analysis" indicates a culture that values evidence-based design decisions and a data-informed approach to improving user experiences.
• The expectation to "lead the design process from ideation... to user testing" implies a culture that empowers designers to take ownership of their work and drive projects forward with a focus on validation and iteration.
• Collaboration with product managers and developers to "create great customer journeys that deliver business impact" suggests a culture that values cross-functional teamwork and aligning design efforts with broader business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a collaborative environment where working closely with product managers, developers, and other designers is essential.
• Regular communication and sharing of design work for feedback and critique are likely part of the workflow.
• Cross-functional collaboration will involve understanding technical constraints, contributing to product strategy, and ensuring smooth design handoff.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Designing for the specific and potentially unique needs of users in the companion animal health sector, which may involve understanding the workflows of veterinarians, pet owners, and other stakeholders.
• Navigating the complexities of designing for both web and mobile platforms while ensuring a consistent and seamless cross-platform user experience.
• Working within a large, established pharmaceutical company, which may involve adhering to specific processes, regulations, or legacy systems while driving innovation in digital products.
• Balancing user needs and design best practices with business objectives and technical constraints in a dynamic product development environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX/UI design within a specialized industry (animal health), gaining valuable domain knowledge.
• Exposure to a global design team and collaboration with diverse colleagues can provide opportunities for learning new approaches and perspectives.
• Working on a variety of mobile and web applications offers continuous learning in platform-specific design patterns and best practices.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your preferred design process from start to finish. Use examples from your portfolio to illustrate each stage, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Articulate how you approach understanding user needs and translating them into design solutions. Be ready to discuss specific user research methods you have used and the insights gained.
• Explain your approach to working with product managers and developers throughout the design process, including how you handle feedback, manage design handoff, and ensure design implementation aligns with your vision.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research MSD's values and mission, particularly as they relate to animal health and technology. Be ready to discuss why you are interested in working for a company in this specific industry.
• Consider how your collaboration style and design philosophy align with a team that emphasizes data-driven design, user research, and cross-functional teamwork.
• Prepare questions for the interviewers about the design team structure, collaboration patterns, design challenges they are currently facing, and opportunities for professional growth within the organization.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Practice walking through your selected case studies concisely and compellingly. Focus on the problem, your process, key decisions, and the impact of your design work.
• Be ready to discuss both your successes and challenges encountered during projects, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
• Tailor your presentation to the audience – emphasize aspects most relevant to the interviewers' roles (e.g., research and user needs for product managers, technical considerations for developers).

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Customize your design portfolio to highlight case studies relevant to web and mobile application design, ideally including projects that demonstrate your end-to-end process and impact. Ensure case studies are well-documented and visually appealing.
• Optimize your resume and cover letter by incorporating relevant design keywords from the ATS Keywords list provided, tailoring your experience to the specific requirements and responsibilities outlined in the job description.
• Prepare for interviews by practicing walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your design process and rationale. Anticipate questions about your collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and experience with user research and testing.
• Conduct thorough research on MSD, its work in animal health, and its digital product initiatives to demonstrate your interest and understanding of the company and the specific domain of this role.