UX Engineer 3 / Software Engineer 3

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Engineer 3 / Software Engineer 3 Company: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: UX/Product Design & Software Engineering (with a focus on Infrastructure Automation) Date Posted: November 21, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-to-Senior Level (6+ years) Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days/week in office expected)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role bridges UX Design and Software Engineering, focusing on creating intuitive and scalable user experiences for complex data center orchestration and network automation tools.
• The position requires a seasoned UX Designer with strong visual and interaction design skills to craft user-centric workflows for highly technical users.
• A significant aspect of the role involves contributing to and evolving design systems and reusable components to ensure consistency and efficiency across a suite of technical applications.
• The UX Engineer will collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Technical Architects, and Engineering, to translate intricate technical domains into user-friendly interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title includes "Software Engineer 3," the description heavily emphasizes UX/Product Design responsibilities, particularly in visual and interaction design, design systems, and user workflow optimization for technical users. The "Software Engineer" aspect likely pertains to understanding technical feasibility, collaborating with engineers, and potentially contributing to front-end development principles or frameworks, rather than core backend development. The target audience for this role is primarily a UX Designer with a strong technical aptitude and experience in complex enterprise software.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and evolve robust design systems, including reusable components and interaction patterns, to support complex orchestration and network lifecycle workflows.
• Ensure visual and interactive consistency and clarity across critical user interface elements such as topology views, configuration screens, telemetry dashboards, and troubleshooting tools.
• Actively partner with UX Research to conduct regular usability testing sessions with target users, including network engineers and operators, to gather actionable insights.
• Leverage user research findings, product strategy, and emerging industry trends (e.g., automation, network assurance, AI-assisted operations) to inform and drive design decisions.
• Balance user needs, business objectives, technical constraints, and product roadmap priorities to deliver optimal design solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Technical Architects, and Engineering teams to collaboratively define problems, establish requirements, understand constraints, and set clear success criteria for design initiatives.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders through compelling design advocacy and strategic communication, driving user experience considerations throughout the entire product lifecycle.
• Provide constructive design critique and mentorship to fellow designers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and maintaining a high standard of design quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on strategic design thinking, user advocacy, and cross-functional collaboration, typical of a mid-to-senior level UX role within a product development environment. The focus on "design systems" and "reusable components" indicates a need for scalability and efficiency in design processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a closely related technical or design field is preferred.
• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field combined with extensive experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 6+ years of professional experience in visual design and UX/product design is required.
• 4+ years of experience working within a cross-functional, technically complex organization is highly desirable, particularly with exposure to infrastructure or networking teams.
• Experience designing for complex enterprise applications, dashboards, or specialized tools within domains like networking, cloud computing, DevOps, security, or IT infrastructure is essential.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and contributing to sophisticated design systems within an iterative software development environment.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End UX Design: Proven ability to manage the entire UX design process, from problem framing and user research to wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.
• Portfolio Demonstration: A strong, comprehensive portfolio showcasing successful end-to-end UX work, including detailed case studies that illustrate your problem-solving process, workflow design, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished visual designs.
• Technical Domain Understanding: Ability to collaborate effectively with Product Managers, Technical Architects, and Engineers to grasp complex technical domains (e.g., network topologies, configuration workflows, intent-based networking, telemetry, observability) and translate them into intuitive user experiences.
• Design Tool Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools. Figma is preferred, but proficiency with Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or similar tools is also highly relevant.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Expertise: In-depth understanding and practical experience in creating, implementing, and scaling design systems.
• Visual and Interaction Design Foundations: Deep knowledge of core visual design principles, interaction design best practices, and the application of accessible design patterns.
• Technical Domain Exposure: Familiarity with technical concepts such as network topologies, configuration workflows, intent-based networking, telemetry visualization, alerting, observability, role-based access control, multi-tenancy, and large data models.
• Industry Trends: Awareness of and ability to apply insights from current industry trends like network assurance, AI-assisted operations, and advanced automation techniques.
• Broader Technical Fluency: Exposure to related technical areas including Cloud Architectures, Cross-Domain Knowledge, Design Thinking methodologies, Development Fundamentals, DevOps practices, Distributed Computing, and Microservices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Qualifications" section provides a strong indicator of the ideal candidate profile, suggesting that candidates with direct experience in networking, cloud infrastructure, or similar technical domains will have a significant advantage. The emphasis on design systems and technical domain exposure points towards a role that requires not just aesthetic design but also a deep understanding of how to create scalable, maintainable, and technically sound UX solutions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Your portfolio must showcase detailed case studies that walk through your entire design process for at least 2-3 complex projects. This should include problem definition, user research findings, ideation, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final visual designs.
• Workflow Optimization Examples: Include specific examples where your design interventions led to significant simplification or efficiency improvements in user workflows, particularly for technical or complex processes. Quantifiable results are highly valued.
• Design System Contribution: If applicable, demonstrate your experience with design systems, showcasing reusable components, style guides, or pattern libraries you have contributed to or developed. Highlight how these systems enabled consistency and scalability.
• Technical Application Focus: Prioritize projects that demonstrate experience designing for enterprise-level applications, dashboards, or complex technical tools. Examples from networking, cloud, DevOps, or infrastructure domains are particularly relevant.

Process Documentation:

• User Journey Mapping: Evidence of creating detailed user journey maps or process flows to understand user pain points and identify opportunities for design intervention in complex technical workflows.
• Usability Testing Reports: Examples of how you have incorporated user feedback from usability testing into iterative design improvements, including documentation of findings and subsequent design changes.
• Cross-functional Collaboration Artifacts: While not always directly displayed, be prepared to discuss how you documented and communicated design decisions, requirements, and constraints with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on complex enterprise applications and design systems, a portfolio that goes beyond surface-level visuals is crucial. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, demonstrate how they tackle complex problem spaces, and showcase their ability to contribute to scalable design solutions through design systems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated annual salary range for this position in the U.S. is $106,000 to $243,000 USD.
• This range is subject to adjustment based on geographic location, individual work experience, educational background, and specific skill set.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing of employees and their families.
• Personal & Professional Development: Investment in career growth through specific programs aimed at skill enhancement, knowledge expertise, and potential cross-divisional opportunities.
• Unconditional Inclusion: A commitment to an inclusive work environment that celebrates individual uniqueness and values diverse backgrounds, fostering flexibility and mutual support.
• Additional Benefits: While not explicitly detailed, HPE typically offers benefits such as retirement savings plans, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage, in line with industry standards.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week.
• The role is designated as Hybrid, requiring an average of 2 days per week to be worked from an HPE office. This allows for a balance between in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, indicating that compensation will be highly dependent on the candidate's qualifications and the specific location within the U.S. Given the "Mid-Senior Level" designation and the required experience, candidates should aim for the mid-to-upper end of this range if their profile strongly matches the requirements, especially with a strong portfolio and relevant technical domain experience. The hybrid work model is a key aspect of the work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Edge-to-Cloud Solutions, Data Management, Networking) Company Size: Large Enterprise (Hewlett Packard Enterprise is a global leader with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). Founded: HPE was formed in 2015, spinning off from Hewlett-Packard. The legacy and innovation history are extensive.

Team Structure:

• The UX/Product Design team is likely integrated within product development groups, working closely with Product Management and Engineering. Expect a structure that supports specialized product areas.
• Reporting structure typically involves a Design Manager or Director overseeing multiple UX professionals, with individual contributors working on specific product lines or features.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, with designers working daily with PMs, engineers, researchers, and potentially marketing and sales teams.

Methodology:

• HPE emphasizes a data-driven approach to product development, leveraging insights from user research, market analysis, and product performance metrics.
• Agile and iterative development methodologies are common, requiring designers to adapt to changing requirements and provide continuous feedback throughout the product lifecycle.
• Focus on delivering scalable and efficient solutions, with an increasing emphasis on automation and AI-driven capabilities within their product offerings.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a large, established technology company, HPE likely has mature product development processes. The role's success will depend on the candidate's ability to navigate a large organization, collaborate effectively across diverse technical teams, and contribute to high-impact, complex software solutions for enterprise clients.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a Mid-to-Senior level individual contributor position within the UX Design and Product Engineering track. It is classified as TCP_03, indicating a specific internal leveling system. The responsibilities suggest a capacity for significant design ownership and influence. Reporting Structure: The UX Engineer will likely report to a UX Design Manager or Director, who oversees design operations and strategy. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for specific product initiatives. Operations Impact: The UX Engineer plays a critical role in shaping the user experience of HPE's core data center orchestration and network automation platforms. Their work directly impacts user efficiency, adoption rates, and overall customer satisfaction, which in turn influences revenue and market competitiveness for these solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific technical domains like network automation, cloud infrastructure UX, or AI-driven operational tools, becoming a go-to expert.
• Design System Leadership: Progress to leading design system initiatives, setting standards, and mentoring other designers on system adoption and contribution.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop skills in influencing product strategy and roadmap, potentially moving into senior UX roles with broader product scope or technical architecture influence.
• Management Track: With demonstrated leadership and impact, there could be opportunities to move into a UX Design Manager role, leading a team of designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The TCP_03 designation suggests a level comparable to a Senior UX Designer or UX Engineer. The role offers a strong foundation for growth within HPE's extensive technology product portfolio, particularly in areas critical to enterprise IT operations and modern infrastructure management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the Sunnyvale, California office. This suggests a collaborative office space designed for team interaction, meetings, and focused work. Office Location(s): Sunnyvale, California, is a key technology hub in Silicon Valley, offering access to a vibrant tech ecosystem. Workspace Context:

• The office environment is likely to foster collaboration, with opportunities for in-person brainstorming sessions, design critiques, and team alignment meetings.
• Access to standard office technology, including high-performance workstations, collaboration tools, and potentially specialized hardware relevant to network and data center testing.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially UX Researchers, facilitating a cohesive product development process.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with the flexibility to balance in-office and remote work days, accommodating the hybrid model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model indicates a balance between structured in-office collaboration and the flexibility of remote work. Candidates should expect a professional, technology-focused office environment in a prime Silicon Valley location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit. Be prepared to articulate your interest in HPE and the specific role.
• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A significant portion of the process will involve a deep dive into your portfolio. You may be asked to present specific case studies, explaining your design process, rationale, and impact. A take-home design challenge or an on-site/virtual whiteboard exercise focused on a relevant problem may also be part of this stage.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Expect interviews with Product Managers, Technical Architects, and Engineering Leads. These interviews will focus on your ability to understand technical constraints, collaborate effectively, and translate complex requirements into user-centric solutions.
• Final Interview: This may involve meeting with senior leadership or the hiring manager for a final assessment of your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit with the team and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills in visual design, interaction design, and problem-solving for complex technical applications. Prioritize projects that align with HPE's focus on networking, cloud, or infrastructure automation.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role and responsibilities, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), the solutions you developed, and the impact or outcomes achieved. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user efficiency, reduced error rates, increased task completion).
• Highlight Technical Acumen: Be prepared to discuss the technical challenges you encountered and how you collaborated with engineers to overcome them. Showcase your understanding of design systems and your ability to create scalable solutions.
• Tool Proficiency: Clearly state the tools you used (Figma, Sketch, etc.) and be ready to discuss your proficiency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with concepts in data center orchestration, network automation, intent-based networking, telemetry, and observability. Review HPE's product portfolio in these areas.
• Process Thinking: Practice breaking down complex technical workflows into user-centric steps. Be ready to sketch out potential UI flows and justify your design decisions based on user needs and technical feasibility.
• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would handle disagreements with stakeholders, balance competing priorities, and advocate for user needs within technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio and the ability to articulate design decisions for complex technical domains is paramount. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate not just design skills but also a deep understanding of the user and the technical context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Preferred tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is highly valued.
• Sketch: An alternative industry-standard tool; experience with it is also relevant.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator and Photoshop are essential for creating visual assets, icons, and refining graphics.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with tools like InVision, Axure, or similar for creating interactive prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, understanding how to use data from tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal product analytics platforms to inform design decisions is beneficial.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can be helpful for understanding user behavior dashboards.

CRM & Automation:

• While this role is primarily design-focused, understanding the context of enterprise CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation platforms used in IT operations can provide valuable perspective.

Other Relevant Technologies:

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks like React) can aid collaboration with engineers.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) for design assets or design system components may be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools are design-specific, with Figma being the highlighted preference. However, understanding the broader technology landscape, including concepts related to front-end development and IT automation, will be critical for effective collaboration and design relevance.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Agility: A drive to find new and better ways to accelerate technological advancements and adapt to market changes.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in making bold moves together, fostering an environment where diverse backgrounds are valued and contribute to collective success.
• Customer Focus: A commitment to understanding and serving customer needs by delivering solutions that help them thrive in a complex world.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: An emphasis on using data and insights to inform design choices and product strategy.
• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on designing solutions that are not only intuitive but also scalable and efficient for enterprise-level deployment and management.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Management and Engineering, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical implementation.
• Open Communication & Feedback: An environment that encourages open dialogue, constructive critique, and the sharing of ideas to foster continuous improvement.
• Inclusive Environment: A culture that actively embraces diverse perspectives and ensures everyone feels valued and has the flexibility to manage work and personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: HPE emphasizes a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity. Candidates should align with these values, demonstrating an ability to work effectively in a large, global organization and contribute to a positive, productive team dynamic.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing intuitive experiences for highly technical users within complex domains like network topology management, multi-vendor configurations, and intent-based networking requires deep understanding and user empathy.
• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating intricate technical requirements and constraints into user-friendly designs while meeting business objectives.
• Driving Design Adoption: Influencing cross-functional stakeholders and advocating for UX best practices within a large engineering-centric organization.
• Evolving Technologies: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in automation, AI, and cloud technologies to ensure designs remain relevant and forward-thinking.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Enterprise Tech: Gain in-depth knowledge of data center infrastructure, networking, and cloud technologies through hands-on design work.
• Design System Mastery: Further develop expertise in building and scaling sophisticated design systems for enterprise software.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant UX and technology conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications to enhance skills.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Access to mentorship programs and potential pathways to leadership roles within HPE's design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant intellectual challenges in understanding and designing for complex technical environments. Success will require continuous learning and adaptation, with ample opportunities for professional growth within HPE's extensive technology landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly technical user audience with complex workflows. How did you approach understanding their needs and translating them into an intuitive interface?" (Prepare a case study from your portfolio.)
• "How would you balance competing priorities between user needs, technical feasibility, and product roadmap deadlines on a project like this?" (Focus on your prioritization and negotiation skills.)
• "Walk us through your process for developing or contributing to a design system. What were the key challenges and how did you ensure adoption and scalability?" (Highlight your experience with design systems.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about HPE and our work in data center orchestration and network automation?" (Research HPE's products and strategic direction in this area.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers who may have different priorities or perspectives?" (Emphasize your communication and influencing skills.)
• "How do you ensure accessibility and inclusivity are integrated into your design process?" (Align with HPE's stated values.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects, dedicating ample time to each. For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, process, solution, and impact.
• Focus on "Why" and "How": Don't just show the final screens. Explain the rationale behind your design decisions, the user research that informed them, and the iterative process you followed.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical challenges, and collaboration experiences. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and alternative solutions.
• Demonstrate Technical Aptitude: When discussing your work, use appropriate terminology related to networking, cloud, or automation, showing you understand the domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to present their portfolio not just as a showcase of visual work, but as evidence of their strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and ability to drive impactful design solutions within complex technical environments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Hewlett Packard Enterprise careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience in visual design, interaction design, design systems, and experience with complex enterprise applications, particularly in technical domains like networking or infrastructure.
• Resume Optimization: Clearly list relevant skills, tools (especially Figma), and years of experience. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on outcomes related to user efficiency, workflow simplification, or design system impact.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and case studies, focusing on the "why" and "how" behind your decisions. Be ready to discuss technical challenges and your collaborative approach.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HPE's mission, values, and specific product offerings in data center orchestration and network automation to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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.