UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer Company: Kainos Location: Belfast, United Kingdom Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience (UX) Design Date Posted: 2026-02-11 Experience Level: 2-5 Years (Mid-Level) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver intuitive product experiences for enterprise software and SaaS solutions, focusing on user needs and established design principles.
• Champion design thinking and advocate for user-centered design methodologies throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Contribute to a high-performing team within Kainos Smart Audit, a growing product known for outstanding customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and data science, to drive innovation in AI and intelligent automation within the Workday ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically tailored for a UX Designer with a strong background in enterprise software and SaaS products, emphasizing a needs-based design approach and a passion for digital product design. The focus on Kainos Smart Audit and its integration with Workday suggests a B2B context, requiring an understanding of complex business processes and user workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups, meticulously adhering to usability best practices and accessibility standards to ensure inclusive and efficient user experiences.
• Lead the creation and strategic application of journey maps and process maps to effectively prioritize design efforts and guide the overall design direction for product features.
• Facilitate user research initiatives and conduct usability testing sessions to gather critical insights, inform design decisions, and validate proposed concepts before development.
• Collaborate actively with the wider project team to establish and promote the value of UX design as a core discipline within product development.
• Analyze user feedback, support tickets, and usage data to identify key areas for product improvement and iterative enhancements.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and stakeholders, to define user requirements and translate them into effective, user-centric design solutions.
• Act as a strong advocate for best practices in UX and accessibility, ensuring these principles are embedded throughout the entire product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and collaborative approach to UX design, emphasizing not just the creation of design artifacts but also the strategic application of UX research and advocacy within a product development context. The mention of "AI to life within the Workday ecosystem" indicates a need for understanding complex enterprise systems and potentially emerging technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for advanced UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered. Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of proven experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a specific focus on enterprise software or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing for enterprise software or SaaS solutions, demonstrating an understanding of complex user workflows and business needs.
• Solid understanding of core UX principles, including information architecture, interaction design, and visual design principles, with the ability to apply them effectively.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in UX design, encompassing research methodologies, interaction design, and visual design, with clear examples of your contributions and impact.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms for creating wireframes, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate design rationale and present designs effectively to diverse stakeholder groups.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within Agile delivery methodologies, understanding sprints, backlog grooming, and iterative development cycles.
• Knowledge of Workday product architecture and its ecosystem, enabling a deeper understanding of the context for design decisions.
• Familiarity with IT General Controls (ITGC) principles, which can be highly relevant in enterprise software, particularly for audit and compliance solutions.
• Ability to balance business objectives with user needs, ensuring that design solutions are not only user-friendly but also align with strategic company goals and deliver measurable business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "enterprise software or SaaS solutions" and "Workday product architecture" suggests a need for candidates who can navigate complex B2B environments. The "Desirable" skills point towards a specific niche within enterprise UX, particularly concerning financial and operational software.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is essential, showcasing a range of UX design projects that highlight your process from user research and ideation through to final design implementation.
• Demonstrate expertise in creating detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups, clearly articulating the design decisions and rationale behind each.
• Include examples of journey maps, process maps, or user flow diagrams that illustrate your ability to understand and optimize complex user journeys.
• Showcase projects that address usability best practices and accessibility standards, with clear explanations of how these were incorporated and validated.

Process Documentation:

• Provide case studies that detail your UX design process for specific projects, including problem definition, research methodologies, design iterations, and final solutions.
• Clearly articulate how you used user feedback and usability testing to refine designs and achieve desired outcomes, quantifying impact where possible.
• Demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, illustrating how you translated user requirements and business objectives into tangible design artifacts.
• Highlight your proficiency with design tools, explaining how you leveraged them to create efficient workflows and deliver high-quality design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just design output but also a robust and well-articulated design process, particularly within the enterprise software domain.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a UX Designer with 2-5 years of experience in the UK, particularly in a tech hub like Belfast, the estimated salary range is £40,000 - £60,000 per annum. This can vary based on the candidate's specific skills, portfolio, and negotiation. Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive private healthcare and dental insurance plans.
• Generous pension scheme contribution.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development, including training, conferences, and certifications.
• Flexible working arrangements, subject to role requirements and team collaboration needs.
• Paid time off, including holidays and sick leave.
• Access to employee assistance programs and well-being initiatives.
• Potential for career advancement within a growing and innovative company.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 37.5 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Kainos may offer some flexibility in start and end times, subject to team coordination and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on UK market data for mid-level UX Designers in technology companies. Benefits are typical for a company of Kainos's size and industry, focusing on employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology and Services, specifically focused on digital transformation, Workday implementation, and intelligent automation solutions. Kainos operates across public and private sectors, delivering complex software solutions. Company Size: Kainos is a large enterprise, employing over 2,000 people globally. This scale offers opportunities for structured career progression, access to diverse projects, and robust internal support systems. Founded: Kainos was founded in 1989, bringing a long history of IT expertise and a proven track record in delivering software solutions. This longevity suggests stability and deep industry knowledge.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of the Kainos Smart Audit product team, which is a high-performing, cross-functional unit.
• This team likely includes Product Managers, Engineers (developers, QA), Data Scientists, and potentially other UX/UI specialists.
• Reporting structure will likely be to a UX Lead, Product Lead, or Engineering Manager, with close collaboration across all functions.

Methodology:

• Kainos emphasizes an Agile delivery methodology, meaning the team will work in iterative cycles, focusing on rapid development and continuous feedback.
• Design Thinking principles are core to their approach, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of problem-solving and product development.
• Data-driven decision-making is encouraged, leveraging analytics and user feedback to guide product strategy and design improvements.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Kainos's culture is described as "people-first," emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and employee growth. The specific mention of "Smart Audit" and its AI capabilities within the Workday ecosystem indicates a forward-thinking and technically advanced team environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX Designer (2-5 years experience). It requires a strong foundation in UX principles and practical experience, with the expectation of independent contribution and problem-solving. The role involves translating user needs into tangible design solutions and advocating for UX best practices. Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a UX Lead or a Product Manager within the Kainos Smart Audit team. They will work closely with engineers, product owners, and potentially other designers, fostering a collaborative team dynamic. Operations Impact: The UX Designer's impact is critical for the success of Kainos Smart Audit. By delivering intuitive and user-friendly product experiences, they directly influence customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and the overall market competitiveness of the product. Their work ensures that complex AI and Workday-integrated solutions are accessible and valuable to enterprise users.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in enterprise UX, AI-driven product design, or specific Workday ecosystem integrations.
• Leadership: Progress to a Senior UX Designer role, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to design strategy.
• Skill Development: Opportunities for training in advanced UX research methods, new design tools, accessibility standards, and potentially product management principles.
• Cross-functional Experience: Gain exposure to product strategy, engineering best practices, and data science methodologies, broadening overall understanding of product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a UX Designer at Kainos, particularly within a product team like Smart Audit, offers a clear trajectory from mid-level to senior roles, with ample opportunity for skill diversification and specialization in a high-demand area of enterprise technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment within Kainos's Belfast location. This setup facilitates in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and immediate access to resources. Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is Belfast, United Kingdom. Other potential locations listed include Derry-Londonderry and Birmingham, suggesting that while Belfast is the core focus, flexibility or relocation possibilities might exist, or other teams are based there.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be collaborative, with open-plan areas designed to foster interaction among team members.
• Access to necessary design tools and technology will be provided, including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders will be frequent, supporting a dynamic and integrated workflow.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 37.5 per week, typical for full-time employment. While on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start and end times to accommodate personal needs, provided team collaboration and project timelines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often beneficial for design-centric roles requiring spontaneous brainstorming and detailed feedback sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.
• Technical Interview/Portfolio Review: A session with hiring managers and/or senior UX team members to deeply review your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects, explaining your role, process, challenges, and outcomes.
• Skills Assessment/Challenge: You may be given a design challenge (e.g., a small UX problem to solve or critique) to complete within a set timeframe, testing your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to articulate your approach.
• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Conversations with potential team members to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Kainos's values.
• Final Interview: Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader to confirm suitability and discuss the role in more detail.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects, focusing on enterprise software or SaaS if possible.
• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), The Solution, and The Impact/Results. Use visuals generously.
• Highlight Your Process: Emphasize your UX thinking – how you approached the problem, what research you conducted, how you iterated based on feedback, and why you made specific design decisions.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).
• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your contributions, challenges faced, and how you collaborated with others.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, first ensure you fully understand the problem and any constraints. Ask clarifying questions.
• Think Aloud: Articulate your thought process as you work. Explain your assumptions, the methods you're considering, and your reasoning.
• Focus on Process: Even if you don't complete a perfect design, demonstrating a sound UX process, critical thinking, and effective communication is key.
• Consider Edge Cases: Briefly mention potential edge cases or future considerations for your design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge highlights the practical, skills-based nature of this UX role. Candidates should prepare to deeply articulate their design process and its impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency with tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is explicitly required for creating wireframes, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes.
• Collaboration & Workflow: Familiarity with tools that support team collaboration and workflow management within an Agile environment (e.g., Jira, Confluence) would be beneficial.
• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback) is advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary requirement for UX, an understanding of how to interpret user analytics data from tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude can inform design decisions.
• Familiarity with dashboarding tools for visualizing user behavior and feedback trends is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Knowledge of systems like Workday is a desirable advantage, indicating an understanding of enterprise software environments.
• Understanding how UX integrates with broader CRM and automation workflows within enterprise solutions is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is proficiency in industry-standard UX design tools. Experience with Workday is a significant plus, indicating a preference for candidates who can quickly adapt to the specific product ecosystem.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to explore new technologies (like AI) and methodologies to improve product experiences and create cutting-edge solutions.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and the ability to work effectively across disciplines (product, engineering, data science).
• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding user needs and delivering solutions that provide significant value and achieve high customer satisfaction.
• Excellence: Striving for high quality in design, execution, and process, with a focus on usability, accessibility, and business impact.
• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design and development, particularly relevant when dealing with enterprise data and AI.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with product managers to define requirements, engineers to implement designs, and data scientists to leverage insights.
• Iterative Feedback: A culture that encourages regular feedback loops, design critiques, and iterative improvements based on testing and user input.
• Knowledge Sharing: A proactive environment where team members share best practices, learnings, and insights to collectively elevate the team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kainos promotes a "people-first" culture that values diversity, growth, and impact. For this UX role, the emphasis will be on collaborative problem-solving and a user-centric approach within a technically advanced product team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complex Requirements: Designing for enterprise software often involves juggling intricate business logic, diverse user roles, and stringent compliance requirements, which can be challenging to simplify into intuitive interfaces.
• Integrating AI Features: Effectively designing user experiences for AI-driven features requires careful consideration of transparency, explainability, and user trust, which are emerging areas in UX.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for UX principles across different departments (engineering, product, sales) can require persistent advocacy and strong communication.
• Keeping Pace with Technology: The rapid evolution of AI, Workday integrations, and design tools necessitates continuous learning and adaptation to stay at the forefront of the field.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to internal and external training programs focused on advanced UX methodologies, AI in design, Workday ecosystem specifics, and accessibility standards.
• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend leading UX and technology conferences to gain insights into industry trends and network with peers.
• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior UX professionals within Kainos or to mentor junior designers, fostering leadership skills.
• Project Diversity: Exposure to a range of projects within the Smart Audit product line, allowing for the development of a broad skill set and deep domain expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex design problems in emerging tech areas like AI within a well-established enterprise context, fostering significant professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex enterprise software problem you solved using UX design. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving approach, methodology, and quantifiable impact.)
• "How do you incorporate user feedback and usability testing into your design process, especially when dealing with technical constraints or competing business priorities?" (Highlight your iterative process and ability to balance user needs with business goals.)
• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for our Smart Audit product? What ethical considerations would you prioritize?" (Demonstrate your understanding of AI UX principles and your design thinking for new technologies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Kainos, and specifically on the Smart Audit product?" (Research Kainos's mission, values, and the Smart Audit product's market position. Align your motivations with their goals.)
• "How do you handle disagreements or differing opinions with product managers or engineers regarding design decisions?" (Showcase your collaborative approach, communication skills, and ability to find common ground.)
• "How do you measure the success of your UX designs beyond just user satisfaction?" (Discuss metrics related to efficiency, task completion, adoption, and business impact.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your journey to the solution, and the impact.
• Focus on "Why": Clearly articulate the reasoning behind your design choices. Don't just show what you did, explain why you did it.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows) effectively to illustrate your points.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Respect the interviewer's time. Practice your presentation to be clear, confident, and within the allotted time.
• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your portfolio projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating a robust UX process, demonstrating impact through case studies, and aligning personal motivations with Kainos's specific product and company objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Kainos careers portal via the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your submitted portfolio to highlight projects most relevant to enterprise software and SaaS, showcasing your design process, research skills, and proficiency with relevant tools like Figma or Sketch.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific UX skills (wireframing, prototyping, user research, accessibility), and achievements using keywords found in the job description (e.g., "enterprise software," "SaaS," "design thinking," "Agile").
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on explaining your design rationale, the challenges you overcame, and the measurable impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with tools and your understanding of user-centered design principles.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Kainos, its "Smart Audit" product, and its commitment to AI and Workday integrations. Understand their company values and culture to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit during interviews.

⚠️ 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.