Senior Forward Deployed UX Designer (Nashville, TN)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Forward Deployed UX Designer (Nashville, TN)

Company: Philips

Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: October 1, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on leading the end-to-end user experience (UX) design for next-generation AI-enabled solutions within the Image Guided Therapy Systems (IGT-S) business unit, specifically for the Azurion Eye program.

• The Senior Forward Deployed UX Designer will be embedded directly within a partner hospital, working closely with clinicians and engineers to understand real-world clinical workflows and translate them into intuitive, user-intent-based software experiences.

• Key responsibilities include driving human-centered design methodologies, creating and validating user-centered prototypes, and contributing to the strategic vision of intelligent healthcare experiences powered by AI.

• This position demands a strong ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams, including product managers, AI engineers, and hospital stakeholders, while adhering to Philips' Design Language System and brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Forward Deployed UX Designer," the core responsibilities and focus on AI-enabled healthcare solutions, clinical workflows, and embedded hospital work suggest a strong alignment with roles in healthcare technology product development and innovation. This role requires a deep understanding of user needs within a highly regulated and complex medical environment, making it distinct from general UX design roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead human-centered design initiatives by deeply immersing in clinical environments to identify user needs, analyze complex clinical workflows, and uncover opportunities for innovation within the Azurion Eye program.

• Translate research insights and clinical workflow observations into adaptive, user-intent-based experiences for AI-enabled solutions, focusing on improving procedural efficiency and patient care.

• Develop and validate user-centered solutions through iterative prototyping, user testing, and close collaboration with clinicians, hospital IT teams, engineers, and product leaders.

• Contribute to the strategic definition and evolution of how users interact with AI-powered systems and services, ensuring clinical safety, explainability, and scalability across markets.

• Champion and apply Philips’ Design Language System and brand standards, while also contributing to its evolution based on user feedback and new technological capabilities.

• Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary "forward-deployed pod" and with global teams in Best (Netherlands) and Bangalore (India), fostering a strong design culture and providing mentorship to fellow designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "forward-deployed" and "shoulder-to-shoulder with clinicians and engineers inside a partner hospital" indicates a highly collaborative, hands-on role that requires significant on-site presence and direct user interaction. This goes beyond typical UX design responsibilities, requiring adaptability and strong interpersonal skills to navigate a clinical setting.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in User Experience (UX) Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Computer Science Engineering, Product Design, Design Research, Information Architecture, or a closely related field.

• Master's Degree in a related field is highly desirable and can leverage reduced experience requirements. Experience:

• Minimum 7+ years of professional experience in UX Design, Product Design, Information Architecture, User Research, or Usability Testing with a Bachelor's degree.

• Minimum 3+ years of professional experience with a Master's degree in a relevant field.

• Demonstrated experience leading design efforts within multidisciplinary teams, preferably in Agile/Git-enabled environments.

• Proven track record of designing complex, AI-enabled solutions, ideally within regulated environments such as healthcare. Required Skills:

• Expertise in human-centered design methodologies and user research techniques.

• Proficiency in creating and validating user-centered solutions, from concept to functional prototypes.

• Strong command of design tools, specifically Figma, and familiarity with AI-assisted design and productivity tools.

• Experience working in Agile development environments and understanding of Git-based workflows.

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively with clinicians, engineers, product teams, and hospital stakeholders.

• Ability to apply and evolve a company's Design System and Brand guidelines.

• Willingness and ability to work on-site at partner hospitals, with occasional travel to Philips locations. Preferred Skills:

• Specific experience designing for healthcare, particularly in a Cath Lab environment.

• Familiarity with AI concepts, computer vision, predictive analytics, and their application in clinical settings.

• Experience with 3D imaging, precision imaging, or radiation reduction technologies.

• Understanding of regulated medical device development processes.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for specific experience in "AI-enabled solutions in regulated environments, ideally healthcare and the cath lab" highlights the specialized nature of this role. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how their past projects have navigated similar complexities, including user research within clinical settings and the translation of complex technical capabilities into user-friendly interfaces.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the end-to-end design process, from initial research and ideation through to prototyping and validation, with a focus on clinical environments.

• Showcase case studies detailing your experience in translating complex user needs and clinical workflows into intuitive, AI-powered solutions.

• Include examples of user-centered prototypes, research findings, and validation results, highlighting how they informed design decisions.

• Present evidence of your ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with technical stakeholders (e.g., engineers, product managers).

• Highlight your experience with Philips' Design Language System or similar design systems, and how you applied brand guidelines. Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation or case studies that illustrate your approach to conducting user research and workflow analysis in real-world clinical settings.

• Detail your methods for iterative design and prototyping, including how you gather feedback and refine solutions based on user input.

• Showcase examples of how you have measured the impact of your design solutions, particularly in terms of user efficiency, safety, or procedural outcomes.

• Present your understanding of working within Agile development frameworks and integrating design processes with engineering sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Forward Deployed" nature of the role, a portfolio that emphasizes on-site user research, rapid prototyping in collaboration with end-users, and demonstrable impact on clinical workflows will be highly valued. The ability to showcase how design decisions were informed by direct observation and interaction within a hospital setting is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $223,000 per year

• This salary range is based on the provided transparency details for Nashville, Tennessee. The actual base pay will be determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business needs, and geographical location, ensuring internal equity. Benefits:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

• 401k retirement plan with up to a 7% company match

• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions

• Philips Stock Purchase Plan

• Education reimbursement program

• Comprehensive Philips Total Rewards benefits package Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While specific flexibility is not detailed, the role's on-site nature at a partner hospital may require adaptability to clinical schedules or urgent needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a senior-level UX design role in a major metropolitan area like Nashville, especially within the specialized field of health technology. The benefits package is robust and includes elements common to large, established corporations like Philips, offering significant long-term financial and professional development support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health Technology

Company Size: Philips is a large, global enterprise with a significant employee base. This scale offers opportunities for broad impact and access to extensive resources.

Founded: Philips has a long and rich history, founded in 1891, indicating a stable and established organization with a deep understanding of its markets.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will be part of a "forward-deployed pod" embedded within a partner hospital, working closely with hospital clinicians and IT.

• This pod will have backbone support from global design teams (Best, Netherlands and Bangalore, India), suggesting a hybrid global/local team structure.

• The role reports to the Design Director IGT Systems, placing it within a structured design leadership hierarchy.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, involving close partnerships with engineers, product managers, AI specialists, and hospital stakeholders. Methodology:

• The Azurion Eye program leverages AI, computer vision, predictive analytics, and AI-powered orchestration to enhance clinical decision-making and procedural efficiency.

• Design processes are human-centered, focusing on deep immersion in clinical environments and iterative prototyping.

• Agile development methodologies are employed, with designers working alongside engineers in Git-enabled environments.

• Philips utilizes a Design Language System to ensure consistency and brand alignment across its product portfolio.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Philips' commitment to health technology and its mission to improve lives globally provide a strong purpose-driven context for this role. The "forward-deployed" model signifies a strategic shift towards deeper customer integration, requiring designers to be adaptable and highly collaborative in diverse settings.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor

• This role is positioned at a senior level, demanding leadership in design strategy, execution, and mentorship within a specialized domain (AI in healthcare). The "Forward Deployed" aspect implies a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for driving design outcomes directly within a clinical partner environment. Reporting Structure:

• The Senior Forward Deployed UX Designer reports to the Design Director IGT Systems. This structure provides clear leadership oversight and guidance from experienced design management. Operations Impact:

• The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the development of AI-powered solutions that improve patient care, enhance procedural efficiency for clinicians, and contribute to Philips' strategic goals in the Image Guided Therapy market. By embedding designers within hospitals, Philips aims to accelerate innovation and ensure products meet critical real-world needs. Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in AI-driven healthcare solutions, human-centered design within regulated medical environments, and advanced prototyping techniques.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy through direct clinical insights. Potential for advancement to Design Lead or Manager roles within the Experience Design community.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain invaluable experience working closely with engineering, product management, clinical specialists, and hospital administrators, broadening understanding of the healthcare ecosystem.

• Specialization: Develop a niche expertise in specific medical procedures (e.g., stroke care) or AI applications within healthcare.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique career path for UX designers looking to specialize in health tech and AI. The "forward-deployed" model provides unparalleled exposure to clinical realities, fostering rapid skill development and the ability to make a tangible impact on patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site (Embedded within a partner hospital)

• The primary work environment will be within a strategic partner hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. This means working directly alongside clinicians and healthcare professionals in their operational setting. Office Location(s):

• Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Specific location is within a partner hospital facility, requiring on-site presence. Occasional travel to Philips locations in Best, Netherlands, and Bangalore, India, may be required. Workspace Context:

• The workspace is dynamic and clinical, requiring adaptability to hospital routines and protocols.

• Collaboration will be frequent and direct with hospital staff and the embedded Philips "pod" team.

• Access to Philips' standard design tools (Figma, AI-assisted tools) will be available, alongside the opportunity to understand and potentially influence the technology used within the hospital.

• The environment demands a professional demeanor and adherence to hospital policies regarding patient privacy and facility access. Work Schedule:

• While standard full-time hours are typical, the nature of working within a hospital might necessitate flexibility to accommodate clinical schedules or urgent project needs. The role is classified as "office role," but this refers to being stationed at the partner hospital rather than a traditional Philips office.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is distinctly different from a typical office-based UX position. The "embedded" nature requires candidates to be comfortable and effective working within a high-stakes clinical environment, adapting to its unique demands and culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Design Director IGT Systems to delve into your experience, design philosophy, and suitability for the "forward-deployed" model.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to present a portfolio piece or complete a design challenge that simulates the type of problem-solving required in a clinical setting, focusing on AI-enabled solutions and user workflow translation.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with cross-functional team members (engineers, product managers) and potentially hospital stakeholders to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, possibly with senior leadership, to confirm suitability and discuss compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Showcase projects that demonstrate tangible results, especially in improving user efficiency, safety, or clinical outcomes. Quantify impact where possible.

• Clinical Context Emphasis: Highlight projects where you worked directly with users in complex environments, detailing your research methods and how you translated insights into design.

• AI & Complex Systems: Present examples of designing for AI-enabled features or complex technical systems, explaining your approach to making them understandable and usable.

• Collaboration & Communication: Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and communicate design rationale clearly to diverse stakeholders.

• Process Visualization: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, using visuals to illustrate key stages from research to final design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Thinking: Be prepared for scenarios that test your ability to quickly understand a clinical problem and propose UX solutions within constraints.

• AI Integration: Practice articulating how AI features can be integrated seamlessly and ethically into existing clinical workflows.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Think about how you would gain buy-in from clinicians, engineers, and hospital administrators for your design proposals.

• Philips' Design System: Familiarize yourself with Philips' Design Language System and consider how your designs would align with it.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Forward Deployed" aspect means your portfolio should strongly emphasize hands-on user research, rapid prototyping, and direct collaboration within real-world settings. Case studies detailing your experience in translating complex clinical needs into functional, user-centric solutions for AI-driven products will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design. Expected proficiency.

• AI-Assisted Design & Productivity Tools: Familiarity with tools that leverage AI for design tasks and workflow enhancement.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Standard productivity tools for documentation and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for the designer, understanding how user data and analytics inform design decisions is beneficial. Experience with user analytics platforms could be an advantage. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX role, but an understanding of how user data is managed and how systems interact within a healthcare context is valuable. Development Environment:

• Agile Development: Experience working within Agile frameworks is required.

• Git: Familiarity with Git-based workflows for version control and collaboration with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a baseline requirement. The mention of AI-assisted design tools suggests Philips is investing in cutting-edge design technologies, and candidates comfortable with such tools will likely be well-received. Experience with Agile and Git is critical for seamless integration with engineering teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered Innovation: A core value at Philips, emphasizing the creation of solutions that genuinely improve people's lives through deep user understanding.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While a design role, insights from data and user feedback are crucial for iterative improvement and proving design impact.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Essential for success in the "forward-deployed" model and within Philips' matrixed organization.

• Excellence and Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and safe solutions, particularly important in the healthcare domain.

• Integrity and Transparency: Upholding ethical standards in design and business practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded & Integrated: The "forward-deployed" model necessitates a highly integrated and collaborative style, working side-by-side with clinicians and engineers.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong emphasis on partnering with diverse roles (product, engineering, clinical) to achieve shared goals.

• Feedback-Oriented: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in design and product development.

• Global Connectivity: Ability to collaborate effectively with remote teams across different time zones and cultures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "forward-deployed" suggests a culture that values direct customer engagement and real-world problem-solving. Designers are expected to be proactive, adaptable, and highly collaborative, acting as a bridge between clinical needs and technological solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Clinical Environments: Adapting to the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of a hospital, including understanding clinical protocols, patient privacy, and regulatory compliance.

• Translating Complex AI: Effectively designing user interfaces for sophisticated AI-driven features in a way that is understandable, trustworthy, and clinically safe for healthcare professionals.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Synthesizing diverse user requirements from clinicians with the technical capabilities and limitations of AI systems and Philips' Design Language.

• Embedded Role Dynamics: Successfully integrating into a partner hospital's culture while representing Philips and driving design initiatives effectively.

• Global Collaboration: Managing design efforts and communication across different geographical locations and time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI Healthcare UX: Become an expert in designing for AI applications within the medical field, a rapidly growing and critical area.

• Clinical Workflow Mastery: Develop deep expertise in specific clinical workflows (e.g., Cath Lab procedures, stroke care) and how technology can optimize them.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, and influence strategic product direction.

• Industry Exposure: Gain insights into the latest advancements in medical imaging, AI, and healthcare technology through direct engagement with cutting-edge solutions and clinical partners.

• Cross-Disciplinary Growth: Enhance skills in areas like user research, interaction design, information architecture, and product strategy by working closely with diverse teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in this role are significant but also present substantial growth opportunities. Designers who thrive in complex, user-centric environments and are passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes will find this role exceptionally rewarding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Describe a time you had to design for a complex, regulated environment (e.g., healthcare, finance). How did you approach user research and ensure compliance?

• How would you approach designing an AI-driven feature for a clinician that needs to provide real-time diagnostic support during a critical procedure? What are the key considerations for trust and explainability?

• Walk us through a project where you had to translate a challenging user workflow into an intuitive digital experience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?

• How do you balance applying a company's Design System with the need to innovate and meet specific user requirements in a new product context? Company & Culture Questions:

• What interests you about Philips' mission and its focus on health technology?

• How do you see your role as a "Forward Deployed" designer contributing to Philips' strategy in the Image Guided Therapy Systems market?

• Describe your ideal collaboration style when working with engineers and product managers on complex projects.

• How would you adapt to working within a partner hospital environment, and what steps would you take to build trust with clinical staff? Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, and the impact of your solution.

• Highlight Research & Insights: Emphasize your user research methodology and how specific insights directly informed your design decisions.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, prototypes, final designs) effectively to illustrate your design evolution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics demonstrating the success of your designs (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, user satisfaction scores).

• Address AI/Complexity: If applicable, clearly explain your approach to designing for AI features or complex technical systems, focusing on user understanding and trust.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI in design, your comfort level with clinical settings, and your ability to collaborate closely with technical and medical professionals. Demonstrating a strong understanding of user-centered design principles applied to complex, regulated industries will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Forward Deployed UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Philips careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects involving complex systems, AI, healthcare, or regulated environments. Showcase your user research process and demonstrable impact on user workflows.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific skills (Figma, AI-assisted tools, Agile, Git), and leadership in design projects. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and experience with challenging projects. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Philips' mission, values, the Azurion Eye program, and their Design Language System to demonstrate genuine interest and 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.