Mid-weight UX/UI Designer (SCATS) - Temporary opportunity for 24 months

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Mid-weight UX/UI Designer (SCATS) - Temporary Opportunity

Company: Transport for NSW

Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

Job Type: Temporary (24 months)

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design

Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role offers a unique opportunity to work on SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System), a world-leading intelligent traffic management platform used globally.

• You will be instrumental in creating innovative, user-centered products and solutions that enhance the workflow of traffic engineers and road transport authorities.

• Collaboration will be key, working alongside Product Managers, Product Owners, Business Analysts, Software Engineers, and a dedicated UX/UI team to understand user needs and deliver impactful designs.

• The position focuses on applying UX/UI design principles to complex problems within the transportation sector, aiming to improve traffic flow and system efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is specifically for a temporary, 24-month contract, which is a critical detail for candidates evaluating long-term career alignment. The focus on SCATS, a global traffic management system, indicates a specialized and impactful domain within the public sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research to deeply understand the needs, pain points, and workflows of traffic engineers and end-users.

• Analyze existing user flows and map out new, optimized user journeys for the SCATS platform to enhance usability and efficiency.

• Gather and define detailed user requirements, translating them into clear and actionable design specifications.

• Design wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.

• Develop and refine UI designs, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience across the platform.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Business Analysts, and Software Engineers, throughout the design and development lifecycle.

• Conduct usability testing to validate design decisions and iterate on solutions based on user feedback.

• Present design concepts, research findings, and solutions effectively to senior stakeholders and the wider project team.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of design systems to ensure consistency and scalability of UI elements.

• Support the continuous improvement of the SCATS platform by identifying opportunities for design innovation and efficiency gains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities emphasize a full-cycle UX/UI design process, from initial research and requirements gathering to prototyping, testing, and stakeholder presentation. The specific context of traffic management adds a layer of complexity and a unique user base to consider.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 3+ years of professional experience in UX Design, UI Design, Product Design, or a similar role.

• Demonstrated experience in delivering user-centered design solutions for web or mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• User Research: Strong ability to plan, conduct, and analyze user research to derive actionable insights.

• User Flow Mapping: Expertise in mapping complex user journeys and identifying areas for optimization.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• UI Design Principles: Solid understanding of visual design principles, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Requirements Gathering: Skill in eliciting and documenting user and business requirements.

• Usability Testing: Experience in planning and executing usability tests to validate designs.

• Stakeholder Presentation: Ability to articulate design rationale and present solutions effectively to diverse audiences, including senior management.

• User-Centred Design (UCD): Deep commitment to and practical application of UCD methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Experience working with Figma, including its design system capabilities.

• Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively within diverse, cross-functional teams.

• Interactive Prototyping: Advanced skills in creating dynamic and realistic interactive prototypes.

• Design Systems: Experience in building or contributing to design systems for consistency and scalability.

• Traffic Management Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with traffic engineering concepts or intelligent transportation systems is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "preferred but not essential" skills, particularly Figma and collaboration, are highly relevant for modern design roles and suggest that candidates with this experience will have a stronger profile. The explicit mention of stepping up into a mid-weight role indicates a willingness to consider candidates with strong potential.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects demonstrating your UX/UI design process from conception to completion.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process followed, key decisions made, and the final outcome.

• Highlight your ability to translate user research insights into tangible design solutions.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.

Process Documentation:

• Your portfolio should reflect a structured design process, including:
  • Discovery & Research: Evidence of user research methodologies, persona development, or competitive analysis.
  • Ideation & Design: Examples of wireframing, user journey mapping, and prototyping.
  • Validation & Iteration: Demonstration of usability testing, A/B testing (if applicable), and how feedback influenced design changes.
  • Final Delivery: Polished UI designs and any design system components.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for UX/UI roles. The emphasis should be on showcasing the process and impact, not just the final visuals. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their decisions and rationale in detail.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Options: Potential for flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work.

• Professional Development: Opportunity to work on a globally recognized platform (SCATS), offering significant learning and skill development in traffic management systems.

• Team Collaboration: Exposure to a multidisciplinary team of experienced designers, product managers, and engineers.

• Public Sector Experience: Gain valuable experience within a major government transport authority.

• Fixed-Term Contract: Clear contract duration of 24 months, providing defined project scope and timeline.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 35-40 hours per week. The role is described as flexible hybrid, with specific office days (typically Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and the remainder able to be worked remotely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is an estimate for a contract role in Sydney. Actual compensation will be based on the government award structure and candidate experience. The benefits highlight the unique nature of working on a critical public infrastructure platform.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government & Public Sector, Transportation, Technology. Transport for NSW is responsible for the planning, direction, construction, and operation of the state's transport system.

Company Size: Transport for NSW is a large government agency with a significant number of employees, indicating a structured environment with established processes.

Founded: Transport for NSW was established as a statutory authority in July 2011, consolidating various transport agencies. This suggests a relatively modern organizational structure within a long-standing public service framework.

Team Structure:

• You will report to the Senior Manager (User Experience), indicating a clear reporting line within the UX/UI design function.

• The role is part of an existing team of seasoned UX and UI designers.

• You will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Software Engineers, reflecting a typical agile or product development team structure.

Methodology:

• The role emphasizes user-centered design principles and practices.

• Collaboration and iterative development are implied through cross-functional team involvement.

• Data-driven decision-making is encouraged, leveraging user research and analytics.

• The SCATS platform itself is a testament to sophisticated system design and integration.

Company Website: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a government agency like Transport for NSW often means adherence to specific public sector protocols and procurement processes, which can differ from private sector environments. The culture likely values stability, process, and public service impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Mid-weight" UX/UI Designer role. It signifies a professional who can independently manage design tasks, contribute significantly to project outcomes, and mentor junior designers (though direct mentorship might be limited in a 24-month contract). They are expected to take ownership of design problems and drive solutions with minimal supervision.

Reporting Structure: You will report to the Senior Manager (User Experience). This provides a clear hierarchical structure for feedback, performance reviews, and career guidance. Collaboration will extend horizontally to Product Owners, Product Managers, and Engineering teams.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of traffic management operations globally through the SCATS platform. Your designs will influence how traffic engineers manage complex systems, potentially leading to improved traffic flow, reduced congestion, and enhanced public safety. This is a high-impact role within critical public infrastructure.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design for complex, mission-critical systems within the transportation and smart city domain.

• Platform Mastery: Become an expert in the SCATS platform, a globally recognized piece of technology.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain extensive experience working with diverse roles (Product, Engineering, Analysis) in a large government organization.

• Contract Extension/Future Roles: While temporary, successful performance could lead to extensions or opportunities within Transport for NSW or related government projects.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Develop a strong portfolio with a significant, globally used product, which is highly valuable for future career moves.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is an excellent stepping stone for UX/UI designers looking to gain experience in specialized, impactful domains like intelligent transportation systems within a public sector context. The temporary nature necessitates a focus on immediate contribution and skill development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work arrangement with a mix of remote work and in-office presence.

Office Location(s): Two days per week will be based at Transport for NSW offices on Pitt Street, Sydney CBD (typically Tuesdays and Wednesdays). This central location offers accessibility and opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The Sydney CBD office likely provides a professional workspace conducive to collaboration, with meeting rooms and shared areas for team interactions.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software and IT infrastructure will be provided. The role explicitly mentions Figma as a preferred tool, indicating its use within the team.

• Team Interaction: Dedicated in-office days facilitate face-to-face interaction with colleagues, fostering stronger team cohesion and efficient problem-solving.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, with flexibility in remote work days. The hybrid model aims to balance focused individual work with essential team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to offer flexibility while ensuring team cohesion and productivity. Candidates should be comfortable working independently from home and engaging actively during office-based collaboration days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Screening: Review of CV and portfolio against the stated requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Likely with Kevin Doran, focusing on your experience, design philosophy, and understanding of UX/UI principles. Be prepared to discuss your motivations for this specific role.

• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: You may be asked to present specific projects from your portfolio, explaining your process and rationale. A design challenge focused on a relevant problem might also be part of the process.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with other team members (UX/UI designers, Product Managers, etc.) to assess cultural fit, collaboration skills, and technical proficiency.

• Reference Checks: Standard procedure for government roles.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process: Clearly articulate your UX/UI design process for each project. Show your thinking, not just the final output.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or specific examples to demonstrate the impact of your designs. For SCATS, this might involve efficiency gains for engineers or improved data accuracy.

• Tailor to SCATS: If possible, include projects that demonstrate experience with complex systems, data visualization, or B2B/enterprise software. Mention your understanding of user-centered design for operational tools.

• Showcase Collaboration: If you have examples of working in cross-functional teams or presenting to stakeholders, highlight these.

• Technical Skills: Explicitly mention your proficiency with tools like Figma, wireframing software, and prototyping tools.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research SCATS and intelligent traffic management systems. Think about the challenges traffic engineers face.

• User Empathy: Prepare to demonstrate empathy for the end-users (traffic engineers) and their daily tasks.

• Problem-Solving: Practice breaking down complex problems and proposing user-centric solutions.

• Presentation Skills: Rehearse presenting your work clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about your design decisions and trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess both technical design skills and the ability to integrate into a public sector, collaborative environment. A well-prepared portfolio and clear communication are crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a preferred tool for UI design and prototyping. Experience with Figma's design system features is highly beneficial.

• Wireframing/Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP, or similar is expected.

• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this UX/UI role, as the focus is on the SCATS platform itself, not a CRM system.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma proficiency is a strong indicator of the current design stack at Transport for NSW for this project. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and their ability to adapt to new software if required.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and serving the needs of end-users (traffic engineers).

• Innovation: Driving creative solutions to complex problems in traffic management.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within multidisciplinary teams to achieve common goals.

• Efficiency: Designing systems and workflows that improve operational efficiency.

• Public Service: Commitment to delivering value and improving public infrastructure and services.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Engineers, participating actively in all stages of the product development lifecycle.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture that encourages feedback exchange and iterative design improvements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Openness to sharing insights and learning from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and fellow designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of agile product development practices within the structured environment of a government agency. Expect a focus on process, documentation, and stakeholder alignment, alongside creative problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Domain Complexity: Understanding the intricacies of intelligent traffic management systems and the needs of traffic engineers can be challenging.

• Global Scale: Designing for a platform used in over 200 cities worldwide requires consideration for diverse operational contexts and user needs.

• Legacy Systems Integration: Potentially working with or influencing systems that have been in place for some time, requiring careful integration strategies.

• Stakeholder Management: Balancing the needs and expectations of various stakeholders, including government officials and international transport authorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and traffic management technologies.

• Global Platform Exposure: Work on a product with international reach and impact.

• Public Sector Design: Develop skills and understanding of design within a government context, including procurement, accessibility standards, and policy considerations.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunity to refine skills in complex system design, data visualization for operational dashboards, and user research for specialized professional users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working on large-scale, critical infrastructure projects. The growth opportunities are significant for those interested in specialized B2B/enterprise design within the public sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex problem you solved using UX/UI design. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on demonstrating your structured approach, user empathy, and impact.)

• "How do you approach gathering requirements for a new feature or product, especially when user access is limited?" (Highlight methods like SME interviews, competitor analysis, and user journey mapping.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working on the SCATS platform and for Transport for NSW?" (Showcase your understanding of the impact and your specific interest in transportation/public sector tech.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?" (Provide examples of your communication, feedback, and teamwork skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, narrate the journey from problem to solution, highlighting your role and key decisions.

• Focus on Process: Show your sketches, wireframes, user flows, and explain why you made certain design choices.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use metrics or concrete examples to illustrate the success of your designs. For SCATS, focus on efficiency, clarity, or improved operational outcomes for traffic engineers.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your preferred tools (especially Figma), design systems, and how you approach technical constraints.

• Showcase Empathy: Clearly articulate how you understood and addressed the needs of the target users.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating your design process, demonstrating user empathy, and understanding the unique context of designing for a critical public infrastructure system like SCATS.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Transport for NSW jobs portal via the provided URL.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects that demonstrate your UX/UI process, user research capabilities, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design skills. Prioritize projects that showcase complex problem-solving or experience with enterprise/B2B applications if available.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "UI Design," "User Research," "Figma," "Wireframing," "Usability Testing," "Stakeholder Presentation," and "User-Centered Design." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Prepare a concise presentation of 1-2 key portfolio projects, focusing on process and impact.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Transport for NSW's mission, values, and the SCATS platform's significance. Understand the challenges and opportunities within public sector technology and intelligent transportation systems.

⚠️ 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.