Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: AtkinsRéalis

Location: Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / GTM Operations Support

Date Posted: 2026-04-27

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Provide expert UX Design subject matter expertise, guiding the full design lifecycle from initial concept to implementation, with a strong emphasis on user-centred design (UCD) principles and accessibility standards.

• Lead and shape UX contributions to bids and proposals, developing innovative design strategies and experience visions that align with both internal and external customer demands, thereby increasing adoption of UCD capabilities.

• Manage and nurture relationships with internal and external customers, ensuring their needs are met through high-quality design outcomes and proactive communication regarding progress, risks, and dependencies.

• Conduct design assurance for new and existing experiences, journeys, and design practices to identify and mitigate usability, consistency, and overall experience risks, ensuring alignment with user needs and business objectives.

• Offer technical and team leadership, mentoring multidisciplinary teams including designers, researchers, and developers, and embedding UCD thinking across projects and teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior UX Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into aspects critical for Go-To-Market (GTM) operations and broader organizational efficiency through design. This includes proposal development, client relationship management, and embedding UCD capabilities across the organization, suggesting a strategic role that supports business development and client engagement through design excellence. The emphasis on "engineering services and nuclear organization" implies a need for design solutions that are robust, secure, and compliant, which is a key consideration for GTM strategy in highly regulated industries.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Deliver comprehensive UX design expertise across the entire product and service lifecycle, encompassing interaction design, information architecture, service design, accessibility compliance (WCAG), and design system contributions.

• Proactively shape and lead the UX design strategy for bids and proposals, creating compelling experience visions and design strategies that address customer demands and differentiate AtkinsRéalis' offerings.

• Foster and maintain strong, positive relationships with internal stakeholders and external clients, acting as a trusted advisor and ensuring design outcomes meet or exceed expectations.

• Conduct rigorous design assurance reviews for new and existing experiences, identifying usability issues, accessibility gaps, and areas for improvement to ensure alignment with user needs and business goals.

• Provide effective technical and team leadership, mentoring junior designers, researchers, and other multidisciplinary team members, fostering a collaborative environment that champions user-centred design principles.

• Contribute to increasing the awareness, engagement, and adoption of user-centred design (UCD) and UX capabilities across AtkinsRéalis, its projects, and its diverse client base.

• Manage the design process, including the creation and tracking of UX artefacts such as experience strategies, service blueprints, user journeys, and interactive prototypes, using a variety of industry-standard design tools.

• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data from user research, usability testing, and customer feedback to inform design decisions and drive iterative improvements for complex products and services.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of UX design into development workflows and successful delivery of user-centric solutions.

• Champion inclusive design practices, ensuring all designs are accessible and cater to a diverse range of users and abilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The inclusion of "bids and proposals" and "client relationships" indicates a significant Go-To-Market (GTM) component, where the UX designer's expertise directly influences business development and client acquisition. The focus on "design assurance" and "risk identification" is crucial for a company in engineering and nuclear sectors, where compliance and safety are paramount.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in creating high-quality UX artefacts, including experience strategies, service blueprints, user journeys, and interactive prototypes.

• Strong command of a range of design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure) for effective visualization and communication of design decisions.

• Deep understanding of user-centred design (UCD) principles, methodologies, and best practices across the full design lifecycle.

• Comprehensive knowledge of accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA, and inclusive design principles.

• Demonstrated ability to assess user experience and design needs across complex products and services, providing strategic guidance.

• Experience in managing and improving experience quality metrics (e.g., usability findings, customer satisfaction, behavioural insights).

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working on Government Digital Service (GDS) projects, with familiarity with Alpha and Beta assessment processes.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

• Experience in the engineering, infrastructure, or nuclear sectors, understanding the unique design challenges in these domains.

• Ability to analyze, structure, and synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions.

• Experience with mentoring and coaching junior design team members.

• Strategic enterprise and business awareness, with the ability to translate client objectives into scalable UX solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "About you" section explicitly mentions "Government Digital Service (GDS) projects" and "Alpha and Beta assessments," which are highly relevant for public sector or government-contracting roles, indicating potential for work with UK government entities. This also implies a need for rigorous documentation and adherence to specific public sector design standards and processes. The emphasis on "strategic enterprise and business awareness" suggests that candidates should be able to connect UX decisions directly to business outcomes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5-10 significant UX design projects, demonstrating a clear progression through the design lifecycle.

• Projects should highlight expertise in interaction design, information architecture, and service design, with a focus on problem-solving and user impact.

• Include examples of UX artefacts such as user journeys, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and design system components.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding and application of user-centred design principles and accessibility standards (WCAG) in practical examples.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of experience in developing and documenting design processes, including workflow design, user research protocols, and design assurance procedures.

• Examples of how you have managed the design lifecycle, from discovery and definition to design, testing, and implementation.

• Case studies demonstrating the iterative design process, including how feedback and metrics were used to refine and improve designs.

• Documentation of contributions to or creation of design systems, illustrating component libraries, guidelines, and their application.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, especially one involving bids and client engagements, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase design craft but also the strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and ability to articulate design value to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Demonstrating experience with GDS processes or similar rigorous governmental design frameworks would be a significant advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive salaries and comprehensive employee rewards.

• Health and wellbeing support, including potential health insurance and wellness programs.

• Financial planning assistance and benefits.

• Extensive training and professional development opportunities to enhance UX skills and career growth.

• Hybrid working culture offering flexibility and a balance between office collaboration and remote work.

• Flexible holiday allowances to support work-life balance.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While a hybrid model is in place, specific daily hours may offer some flexibility, subject to team and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided information indicates a hybrid work model, suggesting a balance between in-office and remote work. The salary estimate is based on UK market rates for a senior-level UX professional in a large engineering and services organization, considering the provided experience level. The benefits listed are typical for established companies in the UK, with a strong emphasis on professional development and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering Services, Nuclear, Infrastructure, Consulting. AtkinsRéalis operates across multiple sectors, providing complex engineering solutions and services. This diverse industry exposure means the UX team likely supports a wide range of projects, from public infrastructure to critical energy systems.

Company Size: Large enterprise (likely 10,000+ employees globally, based on typical industry players). This size suggests a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact within specialized teams.

Founded: The company has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the early 20th century, evolving through various mergers and acquisitions. This implies a stable, established organization with a deep heritage in engineering and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is likely part of a broader digital, technology, or innovation department, possibly supporting multiple business units or project portfolios.

• Reporting structure would typically involve a lead UX designer or a UX manager, with senior designers often leading specific projects or initiatives.

Methodology:

• A strong emphasis on user-centred design (UCD) and human-centred design principles is core to the role.

• Data analysis and insights are critical for informing design decisions, likely involving qualitative user research and quantitative analytics.

• Workflow planning and optimization are key to ensuring efficient project delivery and integration of UX into development pipelines.

• Automation and efficiency practices may be explored where applicable to streamline design processes or improve user experiences through integrated systems.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: AtkinsRéalis's background in engineering and nuclear sectors suggests a culture that values technical rigor, safety, and long-term strategic thinking. The UX team's role will be to balance these critical requirements with user needs and modern digital experience expectations. The company's global presence implies potential for diverse project types and international collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior individual contributor or a potential team lead within the UX discipline. It requires a blend of deep design expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence across multidisciplinary teams and client engagements. The scope extends beyond pure design execution to include business development support (bids/proposals) and client relationship management.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a UX Design Lead, Head of Design, or a Director of Digital/Technology. They will work closely with project managers and stakeholders across various business units.

Operations Impact: The UX designer's impact is crucial for AtkinsRéalis's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by:

• Enhancing the user experience of client-facing proposals and presentations, directly influencing bid success.

• Improving the usability and effectiveness of digital products and services offered to clients, leading to increased customer satisfaction and retention.

• Driving the adoption of user-centred design practices, which can lead to more efficient project delivery and reduced rework.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas such as service design, design systems, accessibility, or UX research leadership.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or Principal UX Designer role, managing teams and strategic design initiatives.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience across different industry sectors (e.g., nuclear, transport, built environment) and engaging with complex engineering challenges.

• Mentorship & Training: Access to formal training programs, industry conferences, and mentorship opportunities to stay current with UX trends and develop leadership skills.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing strong client-facing skills and becoming a trusted advisor on user experience strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a path towards leadership, either through managing projects, leading initiatives, or eventually managing people. The unique aspect of this role is its direct contribution to GTM activities like bids, which is a significant growth area for UX professionals looking to impact business strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is based in Cheltenham, UK, and operates on a hybrid model. This indicates a modern office environment designed to support collaboration, with dedicated spaces for individual work, team meetings, and client presentations.

Office Location(s): Cheltenham, United Kingdom. Specific details regarding office amenities, accessibility, and transport links would be available upon request or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-office days for team sync-ups, workshops, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional collaboration with engineers, project managers, and client teams.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping software, collaboration platforms, and potentially specialized tools relevant to engineering and GTM processes.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact with a diverse range of professionals, fostering knowledge sharing and a collective approach to problem-solving. The emphasis on UCD means the team likely fosters an environment where user feedback and insights are actively discussed and integrated.

Work Schedule: A hybrid work schedule is standard, allowing for a mix of remote and in-office work. Standard working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week, with potential for some flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and team needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility while maintaining the benefits of in-person collaboration essential for complex design work and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and conduct a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their role, design process, and the impact of their work. This is a critical stage to evaluate design thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Technical/Skills Interview: A more in-depth discussion focusing on UX methodologies, tools, accessibility standards (WCAG), UCD principles, and experience with GDS or similar frameworks.

• Stakeholder/Team Interview: Meeting with potential team members and key stakeholders (e.g., project managers, business leads) to assess collaboration style, cultural fit, and ability to work within a multidisciplinary environment.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and overall fit for the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase a breadth of skills (interaction, IA, service design, accessibility) and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Detail your UCD methodology, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration steps. Explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Demonstrate GDS/Accessibility: If applicable, explicitly call out experience with GDS principles, WCAG compliance, or inclusive design practices.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction scores, time saved for users) to demonstrate the value of your design work.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to answer questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, your collaboration style, and your understanding of business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design exercise, which could be a problem-solving task, a critique of an existing experience, or a mini-design challenge related to AtkinsRéalis's domain.

• Focus on articulating your thought process clearly and demonstrating your ability to apply UCD principles under time constraints.

• If asked to present on a specific topic, ensure you can articulate complex ideas concisely and engagingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potential design challenges highlights the practical, hands-on nature of this role and the company's need to see demonstrated UX expertise. Preparing specific case studies that align with AtkinsRéalis's industry (engineering, infrastructure, nuclear) would be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP (expected proficiency in at least one, ideally multiple).

• User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, Qualtrics).

• Collaboration & Communication: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, Confluence.

• Design Systems: Familiarity with creating, maintaining, and utilizing design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behaviour and inform design.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for UX, understanding how UX integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation workflows can be beneficial for end-to-end service design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard UX design and prototyping tools is non-negotiable. Experience with collaboration platforms and understanding how UX data feeds into business intelligence and CRM systems is increasingly important for demonstrating holistic impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A deep commitment to understanding and representing the needs and perspectives of users in all design decisions.

• Excellence & Rigor: A dedication to high-quality design outcomes, technical accuracy, and adherence to standards, especially critical in engineering and nuclear sectors.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all voices are heard, and teamwork is paramount for achieving complex goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new ideas, challenge existing approaches, and continuously refine processes and solutions based on feedback and data.

• Integrity & Responsibility: Upholding ethical design practices and taking responsibility for the impact of design decisions on users and stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively collaborating with engineers, project managers, business analysts, and client teams to ensure design is integrated seamlessly into project lifecycles.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback and open communication within the design team and with other departments to drive iterative improvements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to elevate the overall design maturity of the organization.

• Problem-Solving Focused: A pragmatic and solution-oriented approach to tackling complex challenges, working collaboratively to find the most effective and user-centric solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values will likely reflect AtkinsRéalis's broader corporate values, emphasizing technical excellence, safety, sustainability, and client focus, alongside a strong commitment to user advocacy and collaborative innovation within the UX team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: In a large engineering firm, balancing user desires with stringent technical requirements, safety regulations, and complex business objectives can be challenging.

• Driving UCD Adoption: Advocating for and embedding user-centred design principles across a large, potentially traditional organization requires persistent effort, strong communication, and demonstrable value.

• Complexity of Projects: Working on large-scale, complex projects in sectors like nuclear or infrastructure demands a high level of strategic thinking and the ability to design for intricate systems.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Technologies: The rapid evolution of digital technologies requires continuous learning and adaptation of design practices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to advanced training in areas like service design, UX strategy, accessibility auditing, or specific industry-related design challenges.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend leading UX and design conferences and pursue relevant professional certifications.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal mentorship opportunities with senior designers and leaders within AtkinsRéalis.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working on a wide array of projects across different sectors offers invaluable learning experiences and broadens expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be translating advanced UX principles into practical, compliant, and impactful solutions within the context of a large engineering organization. Growth will come from mastering these complexities and demonstrating leadership in driving design maturity.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user need that conflicted with a business or technical requirement. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your negotiation, data-driven argumentation, and problem-solving skills.)

• "How would you approach designing a user experience for a complex, highly regulated system, such as within the nuclear industry or for critical infrastructure?" (Highlight your understanding of UCD, risk assessment, and compliance.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about AtkinsRéalis and our work in the engineering and infrastructure sectors? How do you see UX contributing to our mission?" (Research the company's major projects and values.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers, project managers, and other non-design stakeholders?" (Emphasize your communication, empathy, and teamwork skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• "For your most impactful project, walk us through the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the measurable results. What was the biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?" (Structure your narrative logically, focusing on impact and your specific contributions.)

• "How do you incorporate user feedback and data into your design iterations?" (Provide specific examples of how data and feedback influenced your design decisions.)

• "Show us an example of a design system component you've worked with or created, and explain its purpose and how it ensures consistency." (Demonstrate your understanding of scalable design solutions.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing not just design craft, but strategic thinking, GTM awareness, and the ability to operate effectively within a large, technical organization. Be ready to discuss how UX directly supports business objectives and client delivery.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the AtkinsRéalis careers portal link provided.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in UX design, user-centred design, accessibility (WCAG), GDS projects (if applicable), and any relevant industry experience (engineering, infrastructure). Quantify achievements with metrics.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases your best work, and clearly articulates your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your solutions. Prepare specific case studies for presentation.

• Research AtkinsRéalis: Familiarize yourself with the company's mission, values, key projects, and the industries they serve. Understand how UX can contribute to their strategic goals, especially in bids and client engagements.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough and be prepared to answer common UX interview questions, including strategy, collaboration, and technical queries.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.