Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer

Company: Roche

Location: Sant Cugat del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Engineering / Technology (with a focus on UX/Frontend and Data Visualization)

Date Posted: June 2, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the technical leadership and architecture for enterprise-scale frontend applications, particularly focusing on complex data visualization for Machine Learning and Data Science teams.

• Own the end-to-end implementation of scalable, responsive, and highly interactive web applications, translating complex life sciences data into intuitive user interfaces.

• Champion the internal component library (R-Design System) and foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning among junior engineers.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams in an Agile/SCRUM environment to deliver high-performance data tools and solutions within the life sciences sector.

• Interface directly with AWS cloud services and contribute to backend interface requirements, ensuring seamless integration and robust API designs (REST/GraphQL).

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer," the description leans heavily towards a senior Frontend Engineering role with strong UX/UI responsibilities and technical leadership, rather than a pure UX design role. The emphasis on Vue.js, D3.js, AWS, and API design positions this as a hands-on development lead. The "UX Designer" aspect is integrated through the ownership of user experience and the R-Design System.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of robust technical solutions and API designs (REST/GraphQL) as a bridge between UX, Frontend, and Backend teams.

• Oversee the end-to-end frontend development lifecycle for enterprise-scale business applications deployed on AWS, ensuring high performance and scalability.

• Mentor and guide junior frontend engineers, promoting best practices in code quality, performance optimization, and architectural design.

• Own and evolve the user experience for highly complex data tools, ensuring seamless and efficient workflows for data scientists and researchers in bioinformatics, PCR, and sequencing.

• Champion, maintain, and expand the internal component library (R-Design System) to ensure visual consistency and reusability across all digital products.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in an Agile/SCRUM framework to define user journeys, gather interface requirements, and deliver iterative product enhancements.

• Architect and build high-performance data visualization solutions using D3.js, capable of rendering millions of data points smoothly in the browser.

• Develop scalable, responsive, and highly interactive frontends utilizing Vue.js and Tailwind CSS.

• Interface directly with AWS cloud services and contribute to shaping backend interface requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are structured to reflect a senior engineering lead role with significant architectural and mentoring duties, emphasizing the hands-on development and system design aspects crucial for this hybrid position.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a lead role with this technical depth.

Experience: 5-10 years of hands-on software development experience, with a strong emphasis on frontend engineering, UX implementation, and technical leadership.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of hands-on software development experience using modern JavaScript MVC frameworks.

• Deep, proven expertise in Vue.js for building complex, scalable web applications.

• Strong practical experience with D3.js, including optimizing browser performance for rendering massive datasets.

• Proficiency in creating responsive and interactive user interfaces.

• Experience with API design and integration, including REST and GraphQL.

• Solid understanding of AWS cloud services and their integration into frontend architectures.

• Experience working in Agile/SCRUM development environments.

• Excellent technical leadership and mentoring capabilities. Preferred Skills:

• Background or strong domain knowledge in life sciences, specifically Sequencing, PCR, Bioinformatics, or digital healthcare.

• Previous experience working within large, globally distributed enterprise environments (e.g., Pharma, MedTech).

• Excellent command of HTML5, CSS3, SASS, and modern utility-first frameworks like Tailwind CSS.

• Experience driving technical decisions and architectural discussions within a team.

• Familiarity with maintaining and expanding design systems (e.g., R-Design System).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must-Haves" and "Nice-to-Haves" from the original description have been translated into Required and Preferred Skills, respectively. The experience level has been inferred from the 5+ years requirement and the "Lead" title, suggesting a range of 5-10 years to encompass senior and lead responsibilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase of complex, interactive data visualizations built with D3.js, demonstrating the ability to handle and render millions of data points efficiently.

• Examples of scalable, responsive frontend applications developed with Vue.js, highlighting architectural patterns and code quality.

• Demonstrations of user interface designs and their implementation, reflecting a strong understanding of UX principles and seamless workflow design for complex data tasks.

• Projects that involved integrating frontend applications with backend services or cloud platforms (e.g., AWS), illustrating API interaction and system connectivity.

• Contributions to or creation of design systems/component libraries, demonstrating a commitment to consistency and reusability. Process Documentation:

• Case studies detailing the process of translating complex scientific data requirements into functional and user-friendly frontend solutions.

• Examples of how user journeys were mapped and implemented for data scientists and researchers.

• Documentation or examples of architectural decisions made for frontend applications, particularly those deployed on AWS.

• Evidence of mentoring junior engineers, including examples of code reviews, technical guidance, and process improvement initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section infers the typical portfolio expectations for a Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer. The focus is on demonstrating technical proficiency, architectural thinking, UX implementation, and leadership capabilities through tangible project examples.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain), the seniority (Lead), and the highly specialized skill set (Vue.js, D3.js, AWS, Life Sciences domain), a competitive salary range is expected. For a Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer with 5-10 years of experience in Spain, the estimated annual gross salary could range from €60,000 to €90,000. This estimate is based on current market data for senior engineering roles in major Spanish tech hubs and accounts for the specialized nature of the role within a global pharmaceutical company.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision.

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.

• Retirement savings plan with potential company matching contributions.

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Employee assistance programs for mental health and well-being.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

• Access to internal company resources and innovation initiatives. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week.

• The role is on-site, requiring presence in the Sant Cugat del Vallès office.

• While a standard schedule is expected, there may be flexibility based on project needs and team agreements, adhering to Agile principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimation based on location, experience, and role. Specific benefits are generalized for a large, multinational pharmaceutical company like Roche. The working hours are specified as full-time and on-site as per the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology (Diagnostics focus). Roche Diagnostics Solutions (RDS) is at the forefront of developing and delivering advanced diagnostic tools and precision medicine solutions.

Company Size: Global enterprise, with over 100,000 employees worldwide. This indicates significant resources, established processes, and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration on a large scale.

Founded: Roche was founded in 1896, signifying a long history of innovation and stability in the healthcare sector.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within Computational Science & Informatics (CSI) within Roche Diagnostics Solutions (RDS).

• This team acts as a bridge between foundational science and future innovation, focusing on data-driven diagnostics and precision medicine.

• The Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer will likely report to a manager within CSI, with close collaboration with Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, Backend Developers, and UX Researchers.

• The team emphasizes a collaborative, Agile/SCRUM methodology. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and rigorous clinical data analysis are core to CSI's mission.

• Emphasis on leveraging digitization and cutting-edge technologies to harness dynamic human health data.

• Collaborative approach to translate insights into impactful healthcare solutions.

• Iterative development and experimentation are encouraged to bring competitive products to market faster.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Information about Roche's industry, size, and founding date is integrated from general knowledge and the provided description. The team structure and methodology are inferred from the CSI department's mandate and the role's responsibilities within an Agile framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior individual contributor role with significant technical leadership and mentoring responsibilities. It sits at the "Lead" level, indicating a strong technical expert who guides technical direction and team development, rather than a people manager. It is a key position within the CSI department, contributing directly to the development of critical digital tools for scientific innovation.

Reporting Structure: The role will likely report to a Head of Computational Science & Informatics or a similar senior leadership position within the CSI department. Direct reports are not indicated, but mentorship of junior engineers is a key aspect.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on accelerating scientific discovery and enabling personalized healthcare by providing powerful, intuitive digital tools for data scientists and researchers. The efficiency and usability of these tools directly influence the speed and accuracy of diagnostic development and treatment personalization, aligning with Roche's "One Roche" ambitions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced data visualization (D3.js), modern frontend architectures (Vue.js), and cloud-native development (AWS) within the life sciences domain.

• Leadership Development: Transition into formal team leadership roles (e.g., Engineering Manager) or become a recognized Principal Engineer/Architect within the organization.

• Domain Expertise: Develop a strong understanding of bioinformatics, PCR, sequencing, and precision medicine, becoming a subject matter expert at the intersection of technology and life sciences.

• Cross-functional Influence: Gain broader exposure to R&D, clinical development, and commercial strategy, influencing product roadmaps and digital transformation initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career analysis focuses on the progression pathways available for a senior technical lead in a large enterprise like Roche, emphasizing both technical depth and potential leadership growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly stated as an "on-site position." This suggests a traditional office environment within Roche's facilities in Sant Cugat del Vallès.

Office Location(s): Sant Cugat del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain. This location is a significant business hub and part of the wider Barcelona metropolitan area, known for its vibrant tech and life sciences ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Likely a modern, collaborative office space designed to foster innovation and teamwork.

• Access to state-of-the-art technology and development tools.

• Opportunities for face-to-face interaction with cross-functional teams (Data Scientists, Backend Engineers, UX Researchers, Product Managers).

• A professional atmosphere within a leading global pharmaceutical company, emphasizing scientific rigor and patient-centricity.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time, on-site work schedule, typically 40 hours per week. While adherence to Agile principles may allow for some flexibility in daily task management, the physical presence in the office is required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement dictates the description of the work environment, focusing on the implications of a physical office presence for collaboration and productivity in a corporate setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Technical Assessment (Round 1): Focus on core frontend skills (JavaScript, Vue.js, CSS) and potentially a coding challenge or discussion of past projects.

• Technical Assessment (Round 2): In-depth discussion on data visualization (D3.js), architectural design, API integration (REST/GraphQL), and AWS experience. May include a live coding exercise or system design problem.

• Lead/Manager Interview: Evaluation of technical leadership, mentoring abilities, problem-solving approach, and strategic thinking. Discussion of how you would approach specific challenges outlined in the role.

• Cross-functional/Team Interview: Interaction with potential peers (e.g., Data Scientists, Backend Engineers) to assess collaboration style, communication, and ability to work within an Agile/SCRUM team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader, focusing on overall fit, long-term vision, and alignment with Roche's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your Vue.js, D3.js, and UX implementation skills, especially those involving complex data or enterprise-scale applications.

• Highlight Technical Depth: For each project, clearly explain the technical stack, architectural decisions, challenges overcome (especially performance optimizations for D3.js), and your specific contributions.

• Emphasize UX Integration: Show how you translated user needs (data scientists/researchers) into intuitive interfaces and workflows. If you worked with a design system, showcase its application.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., performance improvements, user adoption rates, efficiency gains).

• Prepare for Discussion: Be ready to walk through your projects, explain your thought process, and answer detailed questions about your code and design choices.

Challenge Preparation:

• Data Visualization Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would visualize specific types of scientific data (e.g., genomic sequences, protein structures, PCR results) and the challenges involved.

• System Design Problems: Practice designing scalable frontend architectures for data-intensive applications, considering performance, maintainability, and integration with cloud services.

• Mentoring & Leadership Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would mentor junior engineers, resolve technical disagreements, and contribute to a positive team culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured based on typical stages for a senior technical lead role in a large enterprise. Portfolio and challenge preparation advice is tailored to the specific technologies and domain mentioned in the job description.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Frontend Framework: Vue.js (deep expertise required).

• Data Visualization: D3.js (strong practical experience required for rendering massive datasets).

• Styling: Tailwind CSS (preferred), HTML5, CSS3, SASS.

• JavaScript: Modern JavaScript (ES6+).

• Design System: Internal R-Design System (maintenance and expansion).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Cloud Platform: AWS (integration and backend interface requirements).

• API Standards: REST, GraphQL.

CRM & Automation:

• Development Methodology: Agile/SCRUM.

• Version Control: Git (implied for software development).

📝 Enhancement Note: This section consolidates the explicitly mentioned technologies and infers common development tools and practices for a role of this nature within an enterprise setting.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Scientific Rigor: A commitment to advancing science through cutting-edge technology and data analysis to improve healthcare outcomes.

• Collaboration & Empowerment: Valuing diverse perspectives, open dialogue, and collective problem-solving to achieve shared goals.

• Patient-Centricity: A deep focus on the patient journey and ensuring that technological advancements directly benefit individuals requiring healthcare solutions.

• Excellence & Continuous Improvement: Striving for high-quality output, embracing feedback, and fostering a culture of learning and adaptation.

• Integrity & Respect: Upholding ethical standards and treating all individuals with respect, fostering an inclusive environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, Backend Developers, and UX Researchers to translate complex data into actionable insights and user-friendly tools.

• Agile/SCRUM Practices: Active participation in team ceremonies, iterative development, and a focus on delivering value incrementally.

• Knowledge Sharing: An environment that encourages sharing best practices, technical learnings, and domain expertise to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values are synthesized from the company description's emphasis on innovation, patient focus, and collaboration, combined with the role's function within a scientific and engineering team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complex Data: Effectively visualizing and presenting vast, intricate life sciences data (bioinformatics, PCR, sequencing) in an intuitive and performant manner.

• Bridging UX and Engineering: Seamlessly integrating UX design principles with high-performance frontend engineering, especially in a lead capacity.

• Mentoring and Technical Leadership: Guiding junior engineers while maintaining hands-on contributions to complex projects, balancing mentorship with development demands.

• Enterprise-Scale Development: Building and maintaining applications within a large, regulated enterprise environment, adhering to standards and integrating with existing systems.

• Staying Ahead of Technology: Keeping pace with evolving frontend technologies, data visualization techniques, and cloud services to ensure optimal solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Data Visualization: Deep dive into advanced D3.js techniques, exploring new charting libraries, and optimizing rendering performance for extreme datasets.

• Cloud Architecture: Enhance expertise in AWS services relevant to frontend deployment, scalability, and integration.

• Life Sciences Domain: Gain in-depth knowledge of bioinformatics, genomics, and precision medicine, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Leadership Training: Opportunities to develop formal leadership skills, project management, and strategic planning capabilities.

• Industry Conferences: Participation in leading tech and life sciences conferences to stay abreast of trends and network with peers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are derived from the core responsibilities and the nature of working with complex data in a large enterprise. Growth opportunities are mapped to potential career paths and skill development within this domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to visualize millions of data points. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them using D3.js or similar tools?" (Focus on performance optimization, data handling strategies, and technical problem-solving).

• "How would you approach leading the frontend development of a new enterprise application on AWS, considering both UX and engineering best practices?" (Focus on architectural thinking, API design, team collaboration, and technical leadership).

• "Walk us through your process for mentoring junior engineers. How do you foster growth while ensuring project deliverables are met?" (Focus on leadership style, communication, and team development). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding, how does the CSI team's work contribute to Roche's broader mission of personalized healthcare?" (Demonstrate research and alignment with company values).

• "How do you ensure collaboration and communication when working with cross-functional teams like Data Scientists and Backend Engineers?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills in a technical context).

• "What are your thoughts on maintaining a design system like R-Design System in a large organization?" (Show your understanding of consistency, scalability, and reusability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each project, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Solution (Technical & UX) -> Key Technologies Used -> Challenges & How You Solved Them -> Results/Impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Prepare live demos or interactive prototypes where possible. For static examples, use clear screenshots with annotations explaining key features and user flows.

• Quantify Achievements: If possible, present metrics related to performance improvements, user satisfaction, or efficiency gains achieved through your work.

• Highlight Leadership: For the "Lead" aspect, be prepared to discuss your role in guiding technical decisions, mentoring, and contributing to architectural strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are designed to probe the candidate's technical depth, leadership capabilities, problem-solving skills, and alignment with Roche's specific needs and culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer & Frontend Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience with Vue.js, D3.js, AWS, and any relevant life sciences domain knowledge. Quantify achievements and leadership responsibilities.

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong projects showcasing complex data visualization, scalable Vue.js applications, and UX implementation. Be ready to walk through them in detail.

• Research Roche and CSI: Understand their mission, values, and the specific work of the Computational Science & Informatics team to articulate your fit and interest.

• Practice interview questions: Prepare to discuss technical challenges, leadership scenarios, and your approach to complex data visualization and frontend architecture.

⚠️ 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.

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