Senior UX/UI Designer – KNMI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer – KNMI

Company: Workbuddy (representing KNMI)

Location: De Bilt, Utrecht, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX/UI Design, Government Technology

Date Posted: May 18, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing intuitive user interfaces and exceptional user experiences for a critical web-based application within the KNMI weather room.

• It requires a strong command of Material Design principles and the ability to translate complex geophysical data and analysis needs into user-friendly solutions.

• The position involves close collaboration within a DevOps team, working in an Agile environment to drive the continuous development of frontend user experiences.

• Success in this role hinges on bridging user needs with technical feasibility, ensuring design consistency, and optimizing usability for a key government meteorological service.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior UX/UI Designer," the description and requirements lean heavily into a specialized application within a government context (KNMI). The emphasis on complex data, geophysical systems, and specific stakeholder interactions (Scandinavian partners) suggests a role that requires not just design expertise but also domain understanding and a strong ability to navigate complex organizational structures, typical of many government technology projects.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop intuitive, user-centered interfaces for the new KNMI weather room application, ensuring a seamless user flow and optimal data visualization.

• Translate complex user requirements and geophysical data analysis needs into practical, scalable, and visually appealing UI/UX solutions adhering strictly to Material Design standards.

• Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and comprehensive design flows to effectively communicate design concepts and user journeys to stakeholders and development teams.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, Product Owners, and DevOps engineers, within an Agile framework to ensure designs are technically feasible and align with project goals.

• Drive the continuous improvement of the frontend user experience by providing design consistency, conducting usability testing, and implementing optimization strategies based on user feedback and data analysis.

• Actively participate in design reviews, contribute to design system evolution, and ensure adherence to established design principles and best practices throughout the development lifecycle.

• Facilitate effective communication and alignment with international stakeholders and Scandinavian development partners, ensuring global design consistency and project integration.

• Support the implementation of design solutions by working closely with development teams, providing clear design specifications, and addressing any implementation challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "complex geofysische data- en analysesystemen" and "internationale stakeholders of developmentteams" indicates that this is not a generalist UX/UI role but one requiring specific adaptability to technical domains and global collaboration dynamics within a government entity.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of dedicated experience in UX-design.

• Minimum of 6 years of dedicated experience in UI-design.

• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience implementing and adhering to Material Design principles.

• Proven experience in creating wireframes as part of the design process.

• Demonstrated proficiency with design and prototyping platforms such as InVision.

• Substantial experience working within Agile and/or DevOps team environments.

Required Skills:

• UX Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design methodologies, user research, information architecture, and interaction design.

• UI Design: Expertise in visual design, layout, typography, and color theory, with a focus on creating aesthetically pleasing and functional interfaces.

• Material Design: In-depth knowledge and practical application of Google's Material Design system, including its components, guidelines, and best practices.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in tools and techniques for creating low-fidelity wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Design Platforms: Experience with industry-standard design tools like InVision, Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Agile/DevOps Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within cross-functional Agile/DevOps teams, understanding iterative development cycles and continuous integration/delivery principles.

• Communication Proficiency: Excellent command of both Dutch and English, both written and verbal, for clear communication with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience collaborating with Scandinavian stakeholders or development teams.

• Familiarity with specific geophysical data visualization techniques.

• Experience with design systems beyond Material Design.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience in user testing and gathering user feedback for iterative design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "knock-out criteria" are extremely specific and serve as strict minimum requirements. The emphasis on 6 years in UX, UI, and Material Design, alongside government and Scandinavian stakeholder experience, significantly narrows the candidate pool. This suggests the client is looking for highly specialized and experienced individuals who can immediately contribute without extensive onboarding in these specific areas.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• UX/UI Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing at least 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX/UI design process for complex web applications. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the tools used, and the solutions implemented.

• Material Design Expertise: Specific examples within your portfolio that highlight your application of Material Design principles, showcasing an understanding of its nuances and best practices for creating consistent and scalable interfaces.

• Wireframing & Prototyping Samples: Visual evidence of your wireframing process, from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity interactive prototypes, demonstrating your ability to translate concepts into tangible design artifacts. Use of platforms like InVision should be evident.

• Impact & Metrics: Demonstrable evidence of how your designs have positively impacted user engagement, task completion rates, or efficiency within previous projects. Quantifiable results and metrics are highly valued.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you have mapped out user flows, defined interaction patterns, and designed intuitive navigation for complex systems.

• Iterative Design: Documentation or explanation of how you incorporate feedback from user testing, stakeholder reviews, and development teams into iterative design improvements.

• Design System Contribution: Evidence of contributions to or implementation of design systems, showcasing an understanding of maintaining design consistency and scalability across a product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX/UI role, especially in a government context with specific design system requirements (Material Design), a portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showcasing pretty screens but demonstrating a structured, user-centric design process, problem-solving skills, and the ability to deliver tangible results within an enterprise environment. The explicit mention of InVision and Material Design means these should be prominently featured.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €5,800 – €8,400 gross per month (based on 40 hours/week)

Holiday Allowance: 8% of gross salary, paid additionally.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to work from home and in the office, promoting a work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities to work on high-impact projects with direct societal relevance at a leading meteorological institute.

• Team Collaboration: Integration into a multidisciplinary DevOps team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.

• Modern Technologies: Exposure to and utilization of modern web technologies and design principles (e.g., Material Design).

• Structured Environment: Working within a well-defined government organization with established processes and clear project goals.

Working Hours: 36 hours per week, with a start date of July 1, 2026.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for a 40-hour week, but the role is 36 hours. This means the effective weekly salary will be proportionally lower. The salary is competitive for a Senior UX/UI Designer in the Netherlands, especially for a government role with significant responsibilities and a hybrid setup. The 8% holiday allowance is standard for the Netherlands.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Meteorology, Climate Science, Atmospheric Research, Seismology (Government Sector)

Company Size: KNMI is a significant national institute. While exact employee numbers aren't provided, it's a governmental body with substantial operations and a broad scope.

Founded: KNMI was founded in 1854, indicating a long history and established presence in meteorological research and services.

Team Structure:

• DevOps Team: You will be part of a multidisciplinary DevOps team focused on the GeoWeb project, which aims to modernize KNMI's weather room systems.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes working closely with developers, Product Owners, and potentially other UX/UI designers or researchers.

• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, in a government structure, this role likely reports to a UX/UI Lead, Product Owner, or a Project Manager within the GeoWeb initiative.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: The team operates within an Agile framework, suggesting iterative development, sprint planning, and continuous feedback loops.

• DevOps Practices: Integration of development and operations ensures efficient deployment and continuous improvement of the application.

• Data-Driven Design: The context of geophysical data implies that design decisions may be informed by data analysis, user behavior, and scientific requirements.

Company Website: https://www.knmi.nl/ (Note: The provided URL was for Workbuddy, the recruitment agency).

📝 Enhancement Note: KNMI is a highly respected scientific institute in the Netherlands. Working there means contributing to public services with significant societal impact, particularly concerning weather forecasting, climate change, and safety. The culture is likely to be professional, research-oriented, and focused on accuracy and reliability, balanced by the agility required by a modern DevOps team.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a need for a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. It suggests a focus on leading design initiatives within specific projects rather than managing a team.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a lead within the GeoWeb project, likely a Product Owner or Project Manager, and collaborate closely with a DevOps team. This structure allows for direct impact and influence on the project's direction.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the KNMI weather room. By designing intuitive interfaces for complex geophysical data systems, you will empower meteorologists and analysts to make better, faster decisions, which has significant implications for public safety and scientific research.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for complex scientific data, particularly in meteorology and geophysics.

• Design System Leadership: Contribute to the evolution and governance of KNMI's design system, potentially leading initiatives for specific product areas.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Gain experience leading design efforts within multidisciplinary Agile/DevOps teams.

• Government Sector Experience: Develop valuable experience within the public sector, which can open doors to other government technology projects.

• International Collaboration: Enhance skills in working with international stakeholders and diverse development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "senior" designation, combined with the specific project focus, suggests that growth might come from deepening expertise and taking on more complex design challenges within the KNMI or similar government organizations, rather than rapid hierarchical advancement. This role is ideal for a designer