Spring 2026 UX Intern (Bachelors) at Ansys

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Spring 2026 UX Intern (Bachelors) Company: Ansys (A Synopsys Company) Location: Canonsburg, PA 15317, United States Job Type: Intern Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: July 29, 2025 Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

This internship focuses on creating intuitive and engaging user experiences for complex Ansys software products, aligning with top-tier UX design principles and industry best practices.
The role involves a blend of user research, interface design, and iterative prototyping, requiring a strong foundation in visual design and user-centered methodologies.
Collaboration with engineering and product teams is key to translating user needs and business requirements into effective design solutions.
The intern will contribute to the entire design lifecycle, from conceptualization and wireframing to detailed mockups and user testing, emphasizing a keen eye for detail and a passion for user delight.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data classifies this as a UX role, the emphasis on "CAD/CAE" and "modeling and simulation applications" suggests potential for specialized UX within engineering software, requiring an understanding of technical workflows and user personas common in engineering and scientific fields.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Design, develop, and evaluate cutting-edge user interfaces (UIs) for Ansys products and services, ensuring a seamless and efficient user journey.
Create detailed storyboards, wireframes, and task flows to visualize user interactions and product functionality based on user needs and functional requirements.
Produce visually detailed mockups and high-fidelity prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to stakeholders and development teams.
Demonstrate fluency in visual design principles, paying meticulous attention to details such as typography, color theory, layout, and iconography.
Assess and prioritize UX-focused software problems, proposing innovative solutions that enhance usability and user satisfaction.
Iterate rapidly on designs based on feedback from mentors, peers, and user testing, showcasing adaptability and a commitment to design convergence.
Communicate design rationale, findings, and progress succinctly and professionally through various channels, including email, chat, remote meetings, and usability evaluations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are typical for a UX intern, but the context of Ansys (a simulation software company) implies that the intern will be designing interfaces for complex technical applications, which requires a deeper understanding of user workflows in engineering and scientific domains than a typical consumer-facing application might.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI) Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a closely related field.
Completion or progress towards a certificate in HCI is considered a strong advantage.

Experience:

Previous internship or project experience in UX/UI design, demonstrating practical application of design principles and methodologies.
Exposure to or experience with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) or Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) software is highly beneficial.

Required Skills:

Proficiency in design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma, for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
Strong visual design skills with a keen attention to detail, including expertise in typography and color theory.
Familiarity with creative applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe InDesign for asset creation and visual refinement.
Understanding of the software development process and the ability to collaborate effectively with software developers and product managers.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and meet project deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and user insights clearly and professionally.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with modeling and simulation applications, indicating an understanding of complex technical software environments.
Familiarity with tools and technologies used for UI implementation, such as front-end development frameworks (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) or component libraries.
Ability to smoothly iterate on designs, effectively taking direction, adapting to feedback, and refocusing efforts towards a converged design solution.
Experience conducting usability evaluations and synthesizing feedback into actionable design improvements.
A demonstrated passion for visual design and familiarity with current UI trends and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "CAD/CAE" and "modeling and simulation applications" requirements suggest that candidates with experience in designing interfaces for technical or scientific software, or those who can demonstrate a quick learning ability for such complex domains, will be highly favored.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 significant UX/UI design projects, demonstrating a range of skills from concept to final design.
Projects should clearly articulate the problem statement, user research conducted, design process, key design decisions, and final outcomes.
Emphasis on projects that highlight problem-solving abilities, user-centered design thinking, and attention to detail in visual execution.
Include examples of wireframes, user flows, mockups, and interactive prototypes created using tools like Figma.
If possible, include projects related to technical software, engineering applications, or complex data visualization.

Process Documentation:

For each portfolio project, provide a concise overview of the design process followed, including:
- User research methodologies employed (e.g., user interviews, surveys, persona development).
- Information architecture and user flow design.
- Wireframing and prototyping stages, detailing tool usage and iterations.
- Visual design execution, including typography, color palettes, and iconography.
- User testing and feedback incorporation.
Document how design decisions were made and how they addressed specific user needs or business goals.
Showcase an ability to collaborate within a team environment, if applicable, detailing the intern's role and contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the technical nature of Ansys products, portfolios that demonstrate an ability to structure complex information, design for clarity in technical contexts, and show an understanding of engineering workflows will be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

As an intern position, compensation will be competitive and commensurate with academic level and relevant experience. While specific figures are not provided, industry standards for UX Interns in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area (where Canonsburg is located) typically range from $20-$30 per hour for Bachelor's students, depending on the company's size, prestige, and the intern's demonstrated skills.

Benefits:

While detailed benefits for interns are typically communicated during the offer stage, common offerings for interns at technology companies like Ansys (Synopsys) may include:
- Paid internship: Competitive hourly wage.
- Professional development opportunities: Mentorship from experienced UX designers and engineers.
- Networking opportunities: Exposure to industry professionals and company culture.
- Potential for future employment: Strong performance may lead to opportunities for full-time roles post-graduation.
- Access to company facilities and resources.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time internship hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, to allow for meaningful project contribution and immersion in the team environment. Flexibility may be available based on project needs and academic schedules, to be discussed with the hiring manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company states, "Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process," indicating that specific compensation details will be discussed later. The hourly rate estimate is based on general industry benchmarks for similar roles in the specified region.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

Software, Engineering Simulation, Semiconductor Design, Electronic Design Automation (EDA). Ansys, now part of Synopsys, is a leader in providing simulation and analysis software that empowers engineers and designers across a vast array of industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy. This context means the UX team operates within a technically sophisticated environment where user needs are often driven by complex engineering workflows.

Company Size:

Synopsys (Ansys' parent company) is a large, publicly traded technology company, generally employing over 20,000 people globally. Ansys itself was a significant entity prior to the acquisition. This implies a structured corporate environment with established processes, ample resources, and opportunities for exposure to a wide range of technologies and business functions.

Founded:

Ansys was founded in 1970. Synopsys was founded in 1986. The acquisition of Ansys by Synopsys was completed in 2024. This long history indicates a company with deep roots in engineering and a proven track record of innovation in simulation and design technology.

Team Structure:

The UX team likely operates within the broader product development or engineering organization. It may consist of dedicated UX researchers, UX designers, UI designers, and usability specialists.
The intern will likely report to a UX Lead or a Senior UX Designer who will provide guidance and mentorship.
Collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Software Engineers, Testers, and potentially Marketing or Technical Documentation teams to ensure a cohesive product experience.

Methodology:

Ansys/Synopsys likely employs a mix of agile and user-centered design methodologies.
Emphasis is placed on data-driven design decisions, informed by user research, analytics, and usability testing.
Process optimization and efficiency are paramount, given the nature of engineering simulation software where productivity gains for users are critical.
Design thinking principles are likely integrated into the product development lifecycle.

Company Website:

📝 Enhancement Note: The integration of Ansys into Synopsys means the intern will be part of a larger, more diversified technology ecosystem. Understanding Synopsys' broader mission in silicon-to-systems innovation will provide valuable context for the internship.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

This is an entry-level internship position designed for students gaining foundational experience in UX/UI design within a professional setting. It serves as a stepping stone for individuals aspiring to careers in UX/UI design, product design, or related fields within the technology sector. The scope is focused on learning and contributing to specific design tasks under supervision.

Reporting Structure:

The intern will report to a designated mentor, likely a Senior UX Designer or UX Manager, who will provide project assignments, feedback, and guidance.
The mentor will oversee the intern's work, ensuring alignment with project goals and company standards.
Regular check-ins and reviews will be part of the reporting structure, facilitating learning and progress tracking.

Operations Impact:

While an intern's direct impact may be on specific features or components of Ansys' software, their work contributes to the overall user experience, which is crucial for customer adoption, satisfaction, and retention.
Effective UX design in complex engineering software can lead to increased user productivity, reduced training times, and a stronger competitive position for Ansys' products in the market.
The intern's fresh perspective can also influence design thinking and innovation within the team.

Growth Opportunities:

Skill Development: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design tools (especially Figma), visual design principles, prototyping techniques, and user research methodologies.
Industry Exposure: Gain hands-on experience in the engineering simulation and EDA software industry, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for technical users.
Networking: Build professional connections with experienced designers, engineers, and product managers, which can be invaluable for future career opportunities.
Career Path: Successful interns may be considered for future internship opportunities or full-time entry-level positions within Ansys/Synopsys, potentially in roles such as Junior UX Designer, UI Designer, or Product Designer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The internship is positioned as a learning and development opportunity. For a successful intern, the growth path would involve taking on more complex design tasks, potentially leading to a junior-level position after graduation, where they can further specialize in areas like technical UX or simulation software design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

The role is based on-site in Canonsburg, PA, indicating a traditional office environment. This setting is conducive to direct collaboration, mentorship, and full immersion in the company's culture and workflow.

Office Location(s):

The primary office location is Canonsburg, PA 15317. This area is part of the greater Pittsburgh region, known for its growing technology and engineering sectors.

Workspace Context:

The intern will likely have access to a workstation equipped with the necessary hardware and software for UX design tasks, including powerful computers and industry-standard design tools.
The workspace is expected to foster collaboration, with opportunities to interact with team members in person, participate in brainstorming sessions, and engage in design critiques.
Ansys/Synopsys likely provides a professional and supportive work environment that encourages learning and innovation.

Work Schedule:

The internship generally follows standard business hours, typically 40 hours per week. Specific daily schedules can be discussed with the hiring manager to accommodate project needs and the intern's academic commitments, if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is beneficial for interns who thrive on in-person collaboration and direct mentorship, providing a more immersive learning experience compared to a remote setup.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A review of applications, resumes, and portfolios to assess qualifications and suitability for the role.
Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: An initial conversation to discuss background, interest in the role, and basic qualifications.
Technical/Design Interview: This is a crucial stage where candidates will likely present their portfolio, discuss their design process, and answer questions related to UX principles, visual design, and problem-solving. They may be asked to walk through specific projects and explain their decision-making.
Team/Hiring Manager Interviews: Further interviews with potential team members and the hiring manager to assess cultural fit, communication skills, and potential for contribution.
Potential Design Challenge: In some cases, candidates might be given a small design exercise or case study to complete within a given timeframe to evaluate their practical skills and approach.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Selectively: Focus on your strongest and most relevant projects. Quality over quantity is key.
Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, your solutions, and the outcomes. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.
Highlight Process: Demonstrate your thinking process, not just the final polished designs. Show your iterations, challenges, and how you overcame them.
Showcase Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your skills with Figma, including wireframes, interactive prototypes, and design systems.
Tailor to Ansys: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to highlight any experience or interest in technical software, complex systems, or engineering-related design challenges.
Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and your understanding of user-centered design.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Ansys' product suite and the types of users who utilize their simulation software. Research common UX challenges in complex technical applications.
Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to articulate how you would approach a given design problem, breaking it down into manageable steps and considering various user needs.
Communicate Clearly: Practice explaining your design process and rationale concisely and professionally, as if presenting to a team of engineers or product managers.
Focus on Fundamentals: Revisit core UX principles, visual design best practices, and the usability heuristics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for a UX role. Candidates should invest significant time in preparing a compelling and well-structured portfolio that directly addresses the requirements and context of Ansys' engineering software.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required skill. This will be the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design. Proficiency in its collaboration features, component libraries, and prototyping capabilities is essential.
Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are listed as tools where familiarity is expected for visual asset creation and refinement.

Analytics & Reporting:

While not explicitly mentioned for the intern role, Ansys likely uses various analytics tools to track user behavior within their software. Understanding how to interpret user data or contribute to its collection for design insights would be a valuable asset.

CRM & Automation:

Not directly relevant to the UX Intern role, but understanding that Ansys uses CRM systems for customer management and potentially marketing automation tools for outreach is part of the broader business context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma is paramount. Candidates should ensure their portfolio projects are either created in Figma or can be effectively presented to showcase Figma proficiency. Familiarity with the Adobe Suite is a strong secondary requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs in the design process.
Innovation: Driving new ideas and solutions to enhance user experiences and product capabilities.
Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.
Excellence: Striving for high quality in design execution and user outcomes.
Problem-Solving: Approaching challenges with analytical thinking and creative solutions.
Attention to Detail: Meticulousness in visual design and user flow implementation.

Collaboration Style:

The team likely operates with a collaborative and iterative approach, valuing open communication and constructive feedback.
Interns are expected to actively participate in design discussions, share their work, and incorporate feedback from mentors and peers.
Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and product management is a key aspect, requiring clear communication and a shared understanding of project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's culture, as part of Synopsys, is likely to be professional, technically driven, and focused on delivering high-quality engineering solutions. An intern should aim to demonstrate adaptability, a proactive learning attitude, and a willingness to contribute to a team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Designing for Complexity: Ansys software is used for complex engineering simulations, meaning the UX intern will need to design interfaces that are both powerful and intuitive for technically savvy users, often handling large amounts of data and intricate workflows.
Rapid Learning Curve: Quickly grasping the nuances of engineering simulation software and user needs within this domain will be a key challenge.
Iterative Design Process: Effectively incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders and iterating on designs to meet evolving requirements.
Balancing User Needs and Technical Constraints: Finding optimal solutions that satisfy user requirements while adhering to technical limitations and development timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Mentorship: Direct guidance from experienced UX professionals at a leading simulation software company.
Tool Proficiency: Mastering industry-standard tools like Figma and gaining exposure to others within the design and engineering workflow.
Industry Insight: Understanding the product development lifecycle and user experience challenges specific to the engineering simulation and EDA industries.
Portfolio Enhancement: Building a strong portfolio with real-world project experience that can significantly boost future career prospects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be translating complex engineering functionalities into user-friendly interfaces. Success will depend on the intern's ability to learn quickly, adapt to feedback, and apply design principles effectively within a specialized technical context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

Design Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process for a chosen portfolio project. Explain your steps from understanding the problem to delivering the final design.
Figma Skills: Expect questions about your proficiency with Figma, specific features you use, and how you leverage it for prototyping and collaboration.
Visual Design Principles: Be ready to discuss your understanding of typography, color theory, layout, and how you apply these in your designs.
Problem-Solving: You might be given a hypothetical design problem related to engineering software and asked how you would approach it. Think about user research, ideation, and iterative design.
Collaboration: Describe how you work with others, handle feedback, and communicate your design decisions to non-designers.

Company & Culture Questions:

Ansys/Synopsys Knowledge: Show you've researched the company. Understand what Ansys does and its role within Synopsys. Mentioning their impact on engineering innovation would be beneficial.
Motivation: Clearly articulate why you are interested in this specific UX internship at Ansys and what you hope to learn.
Team Fit: Discuss how your working style and values align with a collaborative, technically focused team environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure: Organize your presentation logically, guiding the interviewer through each project. Start with context, then your process, your role, key decisions, and finally the outcomes.
Visuals: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, flows, prototypes) to support your narrative. Ensure they are clear and easy to understand.
Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Present your most impactful work clearly and efficiently.
Engagement: Engage with your audience. Make eye contact, speak clearly, and be prepared to answer questions throughout or at the end of your presentation.
Figma Demo: If possible, consider a brief live demo or a walkthrough of an interactive Figma prototype to showcase your skills dynamically.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will heavily focus on your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design thinking process. Practice presenting your work aloud, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and demonstrating a strong understanding of user-centered design principles within a technical context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

Submit your application through the provided career portal link on the Ansys/Synopsys website.
Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date, easily accessible (via a link on your resume or application), and showcases your best UX/UI design projects, with a strong emphasis on Figma proficiency and visual design skills.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant coursework, projects, skills (especially Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, visual design, and any CAD/CAE exposure), and any previous internship or work experience. Quantify achievements where possible.
Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your design process, present your portfolio confidently, and articulate your understanding of UX principles and their application in complex software environments. Practice answering common UX interview questions.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ansys' products, the acquisition by Synopsys, and the general landscape of engineering simulation software to demonstrate genuine interest and contextual understanding.

⚠️ 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.

Spring 2026 UX Intern (Bachelors)