UX Designer - Mission Support System

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer - Mission Support System Company: Saab Location: Linköping - Bröderna Ugglas Gata, Sweden Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Development Operations Date Posted: 2026-01-27 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is integral to the development of complex Mission Support Systems, requiring a deep understanding of user-centered design principles within a technology-intensive environment.
• The UX Designer will bridge the gap between abstract requirements and tangible user experiences, ensuring simplicity, flexibility, stability, maintainability, and reusability in system design.
• A key aspect involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including architects, developers, and product management, to translate user needs into effective and intuitive system functionalities.
• The position demands the ability to engage in both detailed, operational design decisions and high-level, strategic planning, reflecting a dynamic and multifaceted role in product evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original listing focuses on UX Design, this enhanced description frames it within an "Operations" context by emphasizing the systematic approach to product development, process refinement, and efficient system design, crucial for GTM and product operations alignment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide expert UX support and consultation to various project stakeholders, ensuring user needs are central to design decisions.
• Serve as the primary UX point of contact for multiple development teams, facilitating clear communication and unified design implementation.
• Actively participate in and contribute to cross-functional UX forums and departmental initiatives to share knowledge and best practices.
• Maintain, update, and evolve comprehensive UX guidelines to ensure consistency and quality across all product development efforts.
• Develop and refine methodologies and processes for incorporating UX considerations throughout the product development lifecycle, driving efficiency and effectiveness.
• Conduct usability testing with representative end-users to validate designs, gather feedback, and identify areas for improvement, ensuring a user-centric product.

📝 Enhancement Note: These responsibilities are expanded to highlight the process-oriented nature of UX work, emphasizing its role in optimizing the product development lifecycle and ensuring high-quality, user-centric outputs, aligning with operations best practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A system or technology-oriented university degree is desirable. Equivalent knowledge gained through other education and work experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• Proven experience working with traditional design processes, with the ability to adapt and evolve them to meet specific business and project needs.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting user studies, analyzing and defining user needs and requirements, concept development, solution design, prototyping, and conducting usability testing.
• Experience in the construction, implementation, and maintenance of complex technical systems.
• Previous experience engaging with clients and stakeholders to gather requirements and present solutions.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Principles: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with architects, developers, product managers, and other stakeholders.
• Requirement Analysis: Skill in interpreting and translating abstract and complex requirements into actionable design specifications.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes and wireframes.
• Usability Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests.
• Communication: Strong ability to present and explain technical solutions and design decisions clearly and concisely.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with programming languages such as C++, C#, Java, .Net, and SQL.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their impact on UX processes.
• Experience in maintaining and developing UX guidelines and design systems.
• Understanding of defense or security-related technology environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred skills section now includes specific programming languages mentioned in the original text, along with agile and domain-specific knowledge, enhancing the role's operational context and technical depth for relevant candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 distinct UX design projects that demonstrate a comprehensive design process from problem definition to final solution.
• For each project, clearly articulate the user problem, the design process employed, key design decisions, user testing insights, and the final outcome or impact.
• Include examples of wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and final UI designs, highlighting the evolution of the design.
• Demonstrate experience with complex technical systems, showing how UX principles were applied to enhance functionality, usability, and maintainability.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented UX processes, including user research plans, usability test reports, and design specifications.
• Illustrate your approach to developing and refining UX methodologies within a product development lifecycle, showcasing efficiency improvements.
• Include any experience in creating or contributing to design systems or style guides that ensure consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is tailored to operations candidates by emphasizing the documentation of processes, the articulation of impact, and the demonstration of systematic approaches to design, which are critical for operations roles focused on efficiency and standardization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for UX Designers with 2-5 years of experience in Sweden, the estimated annual salary range is SEK 450,000 - SEK 650,000. This range can vary based on specific skills, experience, and interview performance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement Savings Plan: Contributions towards a Swedish pension scheme.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conference attendance.
• Innovation Days: Dedicated time for personal projects and skill enhancement.
• Employee Assistance Program: Support for personal and professional well-being.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate project needs and individual work styles where possible, while ensuring operational continuity.

📝 Enhancement Note: A specific salary range for Sweden has been estimated and justified, providing crucial financial context. Benefits are detailed with a focus on aspects relevant to long-term career and well-being, including professional development opportunities aligning with an operations-focused career path.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense and Security. Saab is a global leader in this sector, developing advanced systems for national security and public safety. This context implies a focus on high-stakes, mission-critical products where reliability, security, and user effectiveness are paramount. Company Size: Approximately 26,100 employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with structured processes and opportunities for diverse career paths, yet potentially with established operational frameworks. Founded: Saab was founded in 1937, signifying a long history of innovation and a deep understanding of its industry, contributing to a culture that values experience and long-term vision.

Team Structure:

• The UX team likely operates within or closely collaborates with R&D, engineering, and product management departments.
• Reporting structures may vary, but a UX Designer typically reports to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or a Product Development Manager.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with UX designers working daily with software architects, developers, product owners, and system engineers.

Methodology:

• Design and development are likely guided by a combination of traditional and agile methodologies, with a strong emphasis on quality attributes like simplicity, flexibility, and maintainability.
• Data analysis from user studies and testing is critical for informing design decisions and validating solutions.
• Workflow planning and optimization are essential to ensure efficient product development cycles for complex systems.
• Automation and efficiency practices are likely integrated into development and design processes to manage complexity and ensure scalability.

Company Website: https://www.saab.com/about

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is fleshed out with specific industry implications for operations roles, highlighting how Saab's mission-critical focus translates into specific demands on product development and UX processes, emphasizing reliability and security.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX Designer, typically requiring 2-5 years of dedicated experience. It involves taking ownership of specific design tasks, contributing to broader design strategies, and mentoring junior designers. The focus is on executing design processes effectively and contributing to the operational efficiency of product development.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a manager or lead within the product development or engineering division. They will work closely with development teams, product managers, and potentially other UX designers in different product areas, fostering a collaborative and integrated operational environment.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work directly impacts the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of Mission Support Systems. By ensuring intuitive interfaces and efficient workflows, they contribute to operational readiness, reduced training times, and improved decision-making for end-users. This role is key to translating technical capabilities into operational advantages for customers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize in specific areas of UX, such as user research, interaction design, or information architecture within complex systems.
• Leadership Track: Potential to move into Senior UX Designer roles, leading design initiatives, managing design teams, or becoming a UX Lead.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to various technologies and development processes within Saab, offering chances to broaden skills into product management or system architecture.
• Continuous Learning: Participation in Saab's Learning & Innovation Days and potential for industry certifications or advanced training in UX and related fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on the career trajectory within an operations-centric view, highlighting how UX skills contribute to broader operational goals and how growth opportunities align with specialization and leadership within product development operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at Saab's Linköping facility. This implies a professional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work, typical of technology and engineering companies.

Office Location(s): Linköping - Bröderna Ugglas Gata, Sweden. This location is a key hub for Saab's operations and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to foster collaboration, with opportunities for in-person interaction with development teams, architects, and product management.
• Access to necessary design tools, software, and potentially specialized hardware for testing will be provided to support UX design workflows.
• Regular team meetings, design reviews, and brainstorming sessions will be integral to the daily work, promoting a dynamic and interactive operational setting.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, there may be some flexibility, but the nature of defense systems development often requires adherence to project timelines and collaborative work sessions, ensuring operational alignment and timely delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is emphasized, and the workspace context is described in terms of its operational benefits for collaboration and access to resources, crucial for effective UX design within a structured environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and relevant experience.
• Technical Interview: Discussion focused on UX principles, design processes, and technical system understanding. You may be asked to walk through your portfolio and explain design decisions.
• Case Study/Challenge: A practical exercise or case study to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply UX principles to a specific scenario.
• Team/Manager Interview: An opportunity to discuss team dynamics, cultural fit, and your approach to collaboration within an operational setting.
• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process: Clearly demonstrate your design process, from research and ideation to prototyping and testing. Highlight how you derived solutions from user needs and constraints.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that illustrate the impact of your UX work (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, positive user feedback).
• Tailor to Saab: Highlight projects that involve complex systems, technical challenges, or domains similar to defense and security, if applicable.
• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and clearly explains your role and contributions in each project.
• Technical Context: Be prepared to discuss how you've integrated UX with traditional development practices and technical requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Saab's mission and products, particularly in the defense and security sector.
• Practice articulating your design rationale, focusing on how your solutions address user needs and operational requirements.
• Prepare to discuss how you handle abstract requirements and quality attributes like simplicity, flexibility, and maintainability.
• Be ready to discuss your experience with C++, C#, Java, .Net, and SQL if you have it, and how UX can complement these technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for preparing a portfolio and navigating interviews, specifically tailored to showcase operations-relevant skills such as process demonstration, impact quantification, and handling technical constraints.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP, or similar for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design.
• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).
• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Trello, or Asana for task management and project tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how to interpret user testing data and analytics reports to inform design decisions is crucial.
• Familiarity with tools that can help track user behavior and system performance related to UX.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core UX role, but understanding how CRM systems and automation tools might interact with user-facing applications can be beneficial for context.

Development Environment Familiarity:

• Experience or familiarity with development environments and languages such as C++, C#, Java, .Net, and SQL is a significant plus, as it aids in understanding technical constraints and collaborating effectively with developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section lists specific tools and technologies, including programming languages, that are crucial for a UX Designer working in a technical development environment, emphasizing the operational aspect of tool proficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the end-user, ensuring that all designs are intuitive, effective, and meet critical operational needs.
• Innovation: Encouraging creativity, exploration of new ideas, and challenging existing paradigms, particularly during dedicated innovation days.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and the collective effort to achieve complex technical and design goals.
• Quality & Reliability: Upholding high standards for design quality, system stability, and maintainability, reflecting the critical nature of defense systems.
• Efficiency: Striving for streamlined processes and effective solutions that optimize development cycles and user workflows.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working seamlessly with engineers, product managers, and architects to ensure design solutions are technically feasible and strategically aligned.
• Constructive Feedback: Engaging in open and honest feedback sessions during design reviews and team discussions to continuously improve designs and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in UX forums and team meetings to share insights, best practices, and lessons learned, fostering a collective growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are framed to highlight how they translate into operational behaviors and expectations for a UX Designer, emphasizing collaboration, quality, and efficiency within Saab's specific context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Abstract Requirements: Effectively interpreting and designing for complex, often abstract, requirements with high quality attributes (simplicity, flexibility, stability).
• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Integrating user-centered design with the stringent technical specifications and security requirements of defense systems.
• Cross-Team Coordination: Managing UX efforts across multiple development teams and ensuring consistency in design and user experience.
• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying current with advancements in UX design tools, methodologies, and relevant technologies within the defense sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific UX disciplines, such as advanced interaction design, UX research methodologies, or inclusive design.
• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant industry events and pursuing professional certifications to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Mentorship Programs: Access to experienced designers and technical leads for guidance and career development within Saab.
• Innovation Days: Dedicated time to explore new technologies, experiment with innovative design approaches, and contribute to future product concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges and growth avenues, framing them from an operations perspective where problem-solving, continuous improvement, and skill development are key to navigating complex project environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate abstract or complex requirements into a user-friendly design. What was your process, and what were the key challenges?"
• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and security requirements in product development? Provide an example."
• "Walk us through your process for conducting user studies and usability testing for a complex technical system. How did you use the findings to improve the design?"
• "How do you ensure consistency in UX across multiple development teams working on different components of a larger system?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Saab, specifically within the defense and security sector?"
• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially when working with engineers and product managers?"
• "Describe your understanding of Saab's commitment to innovation and how you envision yourself contributing to our Learning & Innovation Days."
• "How do you approach maintaining and updating UX guidelines within a large organization?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project in your portfolio, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, your design decisions, and the outcome/impact.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your systematic approach to UX – research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Showcase Technical Acumen: If you have experience with C++, C#, Java, .Net, or SQL, be prepared to discuss how your UX thinking integrates with or informs these technologies.
• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs and their contribution to operational goals or user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are designed to probe the candidate's operational thinking, problem-solving skills within technical constraints, and ability to articulate their impact, aligning with the requirements of a role in product development operations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Saab careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights projects demonstrating experience with complex systems, abstract requirements, and a robust, documented design process. Tailor your case studies to reflect an understanding of the defense and security context.
• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with user studies, prototyping, usability testing, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords such as "UX Design," "User-Centered Design," "Product Development," "System Design," and "Agile" where applicable.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design rationale, focusing on how your solutions drive usability, efficiency, and meet critical operational needs. Be ready to discuss your understanding of quality attributes like simplicity, flexibility, and maintainability.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Saab's mission, values, and product portfolio, particularly their Mission Support Systems. Understand their commitment to innovation and how their work contributes to national security.

⚠️ 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.