UX/UI Intern

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Intern

Company: NetApp, Inc.

Location: San Jose, CA, United States

Job Type: INTERN

Category: UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-02-17

Experience Level: 0-2 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship focuses on shaping intuitive and modern user experiences for NetApp's Storage as a Service (STaaS) platform, specifically within the Keystone Subscription Engine.

• The role involves designing end-to-end workflows for critical customer interactions such as onboarding, billing, manageability, and service engagements.

• A key responsibility is translating complex technical functionalities into simple, user-centric solutions that enhance usability and customer satisfaction.

• The intern will collaborate closely with product managers, architects, and engineers, contributing to a consistent and high-quality user experience across NetApp's STaaS ecosystem.

• This position will leverage responsible AI tools to accelerate design processes, explore concepts, validate ideas, and improve overall design quality, aligning with an AI-forward UX culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description is for a UX/UI Intern, the output is tailored to a Revenue Operations/Sales Operations/GTM context by inferring how UX/UI principles apply to the design of operational workflows and customer-facing (or internal user-facing) systems that drive revenue, such as subscription management and billing. The focus shifts from pure visual design to the operational efficiency and user experience of revenue-generating processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and deliver end-to-end UX deliverables, including user flows, wireframes, interaction patterns, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using Figma, with a focus on operational workflows.

• Translate complex technical requirements and business logic for subscription management, billing, and service interactions into simple, elegant, user-centered designs for enterprise applications.

• Ensure consistency, usability, accessibility, and visual excellence by adhering to and contributing to established design systems, aiming for operational process standardization.

• Partner closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other UX professionals across the organization to ensure user needs are central to product development for revenue-generating platforms.

• Influence day-to-day design decisions and guide discussions to ensure user needs remain at the forefront of product development for the Keystone Subscription Engine.

• Drive alignment on design direction through clear storytelling, strong communication, and evidence-based recommendations, particularly for process optimization initiatives.

• Leverage AI tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, internal ML models, Figma Make, RPA) to accelerate prototyping, improve design quality, conduct rapid exploration, and scale impact within operational design projects.

• Quantify benefits derived from AI usage, such as reduced design cycle time for operational features, improved usability scores for subscription management, fewer customer-reported issues related to billing, or enhanced design consistency in customer-facing portals.

• Apply AI governance principles, including prompt strategy, data security, bias awareness, and validation of AI-generated outputs, to ensure responsible and effective use in operational design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities are reinterpreted through a Revenue Operations lens. Instead of focusing on general UX, the emphasis is on how UX design principles apply to the operational aspects of subscription management, billing, and customer service within a SaaS model. The mention of AI tools is framed within the context of accelerating operational design and improving the efficiency of revenue-generating processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Must be currently enrolled in an educational program through August 2026, pursuing a degree relevant to User Experience Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a related field that supports the development of user-centric operational interfaces.

Experience: While this is an internship, prior exposure to design principles, user research, and prototyping tools is beneficial. Experience with enterprise software or SaaS platforms is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in creating end-to-end UX deliverables: user flows, wireframes, interaction patterns, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Expertise in design and prototyping tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma.

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, usability, and accessibility standards.

• Ability to translate complex technical requirements and business logic into simple, intuitive user interfaces for enterprise applications.

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Experience collaborating effectively within cross-functional teams, including product managers and engineers.

• Familiarity with design systems and the ability to adhere to and contribute to them.

• Aptitude for leveraging AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Bard) for design acceleration and exploration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with enterprise software, SaaS platforms, or subscription management systems.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms and their respective design considerations.

• Exposure to user research methodologies and the ability to incorporate user feedback into designs.

• Knowledge of web and mobile application design best practices.

• Experience contributing to or maintaining design systems.

• Demonstrated ability to quantify the impact of design decisions on user experience and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required and preferred skills are framed to align with operations roles. "Enterprise applications" and "SaaS platforms" are highlighted as they are common in operations environments. The ability to translate complex requirements into simple solutions is crucial for operations roles dealing with intricate business processes. AI skills are positioned as a contemporary requirement for enhancing operational efficiency.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of design projects demonstrating end-to-end UX process, from initial concept to final mockups, specifically highlighting how user needs were identified and addressed.

• Case studies showcasing the design of user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes for complex applications or systems, demonstrating problem-solving capabilities.

• Examples of high-fidelity mockups and visual designs that adhere to design system principles, showcasing attention to detail and aesthetic quality.

• Projects that illustrate the effective use of collaboration with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers) to achieve design goals.

Process Documentation:

• Projects should clearly document the design process undertaken, including research, ideation, iteration, and validation phases.

• Showcasing how design decisions were made based on user insights, business requirements, and technical constraints is crucial.

• Any projects involving the development or enhancement of operational workflows, subscription management interfaces, or billing systems will be highly regarded.

• Demonstrations of how AI tools were used to accelerate the design process or enhance design outcomes should be clearly articulated within project narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are adapted to emphasize process optimization and system design, which are core to operations roles. The focus shifts to demonstrating the ability to design flows for complex systems (like subscription engines) and showcasing the impact of design on operational efficiency and user experience within an enterprise context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As an internship position, compensation will be competitive and commensurate with industry standards for UX/UI Interns in the San Jose, California area. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in this region, interns can expect a salary range of approximately $25 - $45 per hour, depending on experience and academic standing.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge STaaS technology and AI tools.

• Mentorship from experienced UX designers and cross-functional teams.

• Exposure to enterprise-level product development and design processes.

• Networking opportunities within NetApp and the tech industry.

• Potential for academic credit, if applicable and arranged with the educational institution.

• Access to company resources and facilities.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, aligning with standard business operations, with potential for some flexibility depending on project needs and university schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is estimated based on typical intern compensation in the San Jose tech market for UX/UI roles. Benefits are tailored to highlight professional development and learning opportunities relevant to an intern, particularly within a tech company focused on advanced services like STaaS and AI.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Storage, Cloud Services, Software) - NetApp operates at the forefront of data management, cloud infrastructure, and storage solutions, providing a dynamic environment for innovation in enterprise technology.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (10,000+ employees) - This size indicates a well-established organization with complex processes, a global presence, and significant resources, offering opportunities for exposure to large-scale operations and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: 1992 - With a long history, NetApp has evolved significantly, demonstrating adaptability and sustained innovation in the rapidly changing tech landscape, which influences its approach to technology adoption and process development.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is likely integrated within product development groups, fostering close collaboration with product management and engineering.

• The Keystone team specifically focuses on Storage as a Service (STaaS) and operates with a product-centric approach.

• Expect a matrixed reporting structure where interns report to a UX Manager or Lead, with day-to-day guidance from senior designers.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using data, user research, and analytics to inform design decisions and measure the impact of UX improvements on user behavior and business outcomes.

• Agile Development: Likely follows agile methodologies, involving iterative design and development cycles, continuous feedback, and rapid prototyping.

• Design Thinking: Application of design thinking principles to understand user needs, define problems, ideate solutions, prototype, and test designs.

• AI Integration: Proactive integration of AI tools for design acceleration, concept exploration, and efficiency gains, guided by responsible AI principles.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is tailored to highlight aspects relevant to operations roles. The "large enterprise" size implies complex operational environments, and the "data-driven design" and "agile development" methodologies are common in operations and GTM functions. The mention of AI integration is particularly relevant to modern operations strategies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level internship position designed to provide foundational experience in UX/UI design within an enterprise technology context. It's an introductory step into understanding how user experience design contributes to the success of complex software and service platforms, particularly those with significant revenue implications.

Reporting Structure: The intern will report to a UX Manager or Lead Designer, receiving direct guidance and mentorship. They will also collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers on the Keystone team, providing exposure to how design integrates into product development lifecycles and operational strategy.

Operations Impact: While direct revenue impact is not the primary focus for an intern, the work on the Keystone Subscription Engine directly influences customer onboarding, manageability, and billing experiences. Positive UX in these areas is critical for customer retention, subscription renewals, and overall customer satisfaction, all of which are key drivers of recurring revenue. The intern's contributions, especially in simplifying complex processes, can indirectly support revenue growth by improving the customer journey.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design tools (Figma), methodologies (user flows, wireframing, prototyping), and design systems. Gain practical experience in enterprise application design and AI-assisted design.

• Industry Exposure: Learn about Storage as a Service (STaaS), subscription models, and the enterprise cloud infrastructure market. Understand the interplay between UX, product management, engineering, and business operations.

• Networking: Build professional relationships with experienced designers, product managers, and engineers at a leading technology company.

• Potential for Future Opportunities: Successful interns may be considered for future internships or entry-level positions within NetApp's design or product teams, potentially leading to roles in UX, product management, or even product operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section is reframed to connect UX/UI work to revenue-generating aspects of the business, such as customer retention and subscription renewals, which are core to revenue operations. Growth opportunities are presented with a focus on skill acquisition relevant to both design and operational understanding.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site internship position. The work environment will likely be a corporate office setting within NetApp's San Jose campus, designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): San Jose, CA (95128). This location is in the heart of Silicon Valley, offering a vibrant ecosystem of technology companies and talent.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office will feature various collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan areas designed to encourage interaction and teamwork among interns and full-time employees.

• Technology Access: Interns will be provided with the necessary hardware, software (including Figma and potentially AI tools), and network access to perform their design tasks effectively.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional syncs will provide ample opportunities for interaction with peers, mentors, and senior team members, fostering a supportive learning environment.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is expected to be full-time (40 hours per week) during standard business hours, typical for an internship. There may be some flexibility to accommodate academic schedules, subject to approval and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description emphasizes the collaborative aspects and technological resources available, which are crucial for operations roles that often rely on shared tools and team synergy. The on-site nature is highlighted as it implies a certain level of in-person collaboration and integration with the company's operational infrastructure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Initial review of resumes and portfolios to assess qualifications and alignment with the internship requirements.

• Recruiter Screen: A brief call with a recruiter to discuss your background, interest in the role, and general fit.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: This will likely involve a deeper discussion about your experience, design process, and problem-solving skills. You may be asked behavioral questions and questions about your understanding of UX principles.

• Portfolio Presentation: A key part of the interview will be presenting selected projects from your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through your design process, rationale, and outcomes for 2-3 relevant projects.

• Technical/Design Exercise (Potential): You might be given a small design challenge or asked to critique an existing interface to assess your design thinking and problem-solving abilities in real-time.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview, potentially with senior leadership, to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UX/UI skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of user-centered design. Prioritize projects that demonstrate end-to-end process or complex problem-solving.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), your design decisions, and the final outcome or learnings.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your design methodology, tool usage (especially Figma), and how you collaborated with others. Show your thought process, not just the final polished visuals.

• Demonstrate Impact: If possible, quantify the impact of your designs (e.g., improved usability, efficiency gains, positive user feedback). For this role, examples related to complex workflows or system interactions are highly relevant.

• AI Integration: If you used AI tools in your projects, be prepared to discuss how you leveraged them responsibly and how they contributed to the efficiency or quality of your design work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the problem statement and any constraints.

• Think Aloud: When working on a challenge, articulate your thought process clearly. This helps interviewers understand your problem-solving approach.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate how you would approach the problem systematically, even if you can't complete a full design in the allotted time.

• Prioritize: Identify the most critical aspects of the challenge and focus your efforts there.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is tailored to provide actionable advice for preparing for a UX/UI internship interview, emphasizing portfolio presentation and potential design challenges, which are common in design roles. The advice on AI integration is a contemporary addition.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mockups. Proficiency is essential.

• AI Design Tools: Experience or familiarity with tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, Figma Make, or other internal ML models for accelerating design work, idea generation, and content creation.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding the role of CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation platforms in customer management and business processes can provide context for designing user interfaces that interact with these systems. Familiarity with enterprise software concepts is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools section focuses on design software like Figma and emerging AI tools, which are directly relevant to the UX/UI intern role. The mention of CRM and automation tools is included to connect the UX/UI work to the broader operational technology landscape.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of customers, ensuring that all designs are intuitive, efficient, and valuable.

• Innovation: Encouraging exploration of new ideas, technologies (like AI), and design approaches to solve complex problems and push the boundaries of user experience.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and open communication, working effectively across diverse teams (product, engineering, research) to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence: Striving for high quality in all aspects of design, from detailed execution to strategic thinking, and continuously seeking to improve processes and outcomes.

• Responsibility: Adhering to ethical design practices, including AI governance, data security, and accessibility standards, to ensure fair and inclusive user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Actively engaging with product managers, engineers, and researchers to ensure designs are technically feasible, meet business objectives, and align with user needs.

• Feedback-Driven: Embracing design critiques and feedback as opportunities for growth and iteration, fostering an environment where constructive criticism is welcomed.

• Knowledge Sharing: Participating in team discussions, sharing insights, and contributing to a collective understanding of design best practices and user insights.

• Agile & Iterative: Working in iterative cycles, adapting to changing requirements, and continuously refining designs based on feedback and testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are framed to reflect a professional, collaborative, and innovative environment, common in tech companies. The emphasis on customer-centricity, innovation, and collaboration is particularly relevant to operations roles that require strong interpersonal skills and a focus on delivering value.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating user desires into designs that are feasible within the technical architecture of NetApp's STaaS platform and enterprise systems.

• Designing for Enterprise Complexity: Creating intuitive interfaces for complex enterprise applications that cater to a diverse user base with varying technical expertise and job functions.

• Integrating AI Responsibly: Navigating the ethical considerations and practical application of AI tools in the design process, ensuring responsible use and validation of AI-generated outputs.

• Working with Distributed Teams: Collaborating effectively with product managers, engineers, and researchers who may be located in different time zones or geographic locations.

• Adhering to Design Systems: Maintaining consistency and quality by adhering to established design systems while also identifying opportunities for their improvement.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Design Tools: Gaining advanced proficiency in Figma and exploring other industry-standard design and prototyping tools.

• Understanding Enterprise SaaS: Developing a deep understanding of Storage as a Service (STaaS), subscription models, and the intricacies of enterprise software user experiences.

• AI in Design: Learning practical applications of AI in design workflows, including prompt engineering for design tasks and understanding AI governance principles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhancing collaboration and communication skills by working closely with product management, engineering, and research teams.

• Internship Program: Participating in structured internship activities, workshops, and networking events designed to foster professional growth and career exploration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are presented to highlight the learning potential of the internship. The focus on enterprise SaaS, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration is particularly relevant to aspiring operations professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you had to design for a complex user flow. How did you approach it?" (Prepare a case study from your portfolio that highlights your process for simplifying complexity).

• "How do you ensure your designs are user-centered and meet business objectives?" (Discuss your approach to user research, requirements gathering, and stakeholder alignment).

• "Describe your experience with Figma. What are its key strengths for prototyping and collaboration?" (Be ready to discuss specific features and how you've used them).

• "How would you approach using AI tools to accelerate your design process for a task like creating initial wireframes?" (Discuss your understanding of AI capabilities, prompt strategy, and the importance of validation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in NetApp and this specific UX/UI internship?" (Research NetApp's products, mission, and culture. Connect your interests to their work, especially STaaS and AI initiatives).

• "How do you handle constructive criticism on your designs?" (Share an example of receiving feedback and how you incorporated it to improve your work).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, the process, your design decisions, and the outcome/learnings.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your problem-solving approach and how you arrived at your solutions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with others and incorporated their feedback.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is focused on typical UX/UI interview questions, with an emphasis on portfolio presentation and understanding the company's context, including its use of AI and enterprise products.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX/UI internship:

• Submit your application through the NetApp careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your ability to design user flows for complex systems, simplify intricate processes, and collaborate effectively. Prioritize examples showcasing your use of Figma and any experience with enterprise applications or AI tools.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your relevant skills, educational background, and any prior design experience. Use keywords such as "UX/UI Design," "Figma," "Wireframing," "Prototyping," "User Flows," "Enterprise Applications," and "AI Tools."

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling and clearly explaining your design process and rationale. Prepare to discuss your approach to user-centered design and how you handle feedback.

• Company Research: Gain a solid understanding of NetApp's business, particularly its Storage as a Service (STaaS) offerings and its strategic focus on AI. Understand how UX contributes to customer experience and operational efficiency in such a context.

⚠️ 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.