User Experience und User Interface Designer (w/m/d) User Experience und User Interface Designer (w/m/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Experience und User Interface Designer (w/m/d)

Company: HENSOLDT

Location: Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Operations / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-14

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the strategic design and implementation of user interfaces and user experiences for complex software solutions within the Electronic Warfare Ground Support Solutions domain.

• Key responsibilities include the entire product development lifecycle, from concept ideation to final acceptance, ensuring alignment with user needs and corporate design standards.

• The position requires a blend of creative design skills, technical understanding of frontend development, and a strong ability to translate user requirements into intuitive and effective digital interfaces.

• This is a critical role for enhancing user adoption and efficiency of sophisticated software tools used in defense technology development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is for a UI/UX Designer, its placement within a "Ground Support Solutions" and "Electronic Warfare" context suggests a strong connection to product operations and the lifecycle management of specialized software, making it relevant for operations professionals focused on product enablement and user adoption within technical domains. The emphasis on "application-übergreifenden UI/UX Designs" and "Styleguides bis zur finalen Abnahme" points to a need for structured design operations and process adherence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and iteratively refine cross-application UI/UX designs, adhering to established standards and norms throughout the entire product development lifecycle.

• Create and maintain comprehensive style guides, ensuring consistency and quality from initial concept to final product acceptance.

• Design and produce mockups, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to effectively validate and communicate user experience concepts to stakeholders.

• Lead the conceptualization, discussion, and evaluation of new operating concepts in close collaboration with product owners and development teams.

• Implement the finalized operating concepts and resulting user interfaces, ensuring a seamless transition from design to development.

• Select, integrate, and continuously develop methodologies and tools to optimize the UI/UX design and development process.

• Strategically develop and shape display and operating concepts for applications, ensuring alignment with the company's corporate design guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities heavily emphasize process adherence (styleguides, standards, lifecycle management) and cross-functional collaboration (discussion with product owners), which are core tenets of operations roles. The focus on "methoden und tools" selection and development also points to operations-level thinking regarding process efficiency and toolchain optimization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in User Interface (UI) Design principles and best practices.

• Strong User Experience (UX) Design skills, including user research, journey mapping, and usability testing.

• Expertise in creating Wireframes, Mockups, and interactive Prototypes using industry-standard tools.

• Experience in developing and maintaining Styleguides to ensure design consistency.

• Understanding of Corporate Design principles and their application in UI/UX.

• Excellent German language proficiency (written and spoken).

• Independent, efficient, and responsible work ethic with a high degree of commitment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in Frontend Programming, specifically with frameworks like React.

• Familiarity with Electronic Warfare systems or defense technology software.

• Experience with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the explicit mention of "operations" is absent, the detailed requirements around process lifecycle management, style guide creation, prototype validation, and tool selection strongly align with the operational aspects of product design and development. The preference for frontend programming experience (React) indicates a need for designers who can bridge the gap between design and implementation, a common requirement in product operations roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a strong track record in UI/UX design for desktop and web applications.

• Demonstrated experience in the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from concept to final implementation.

• Examples of creating and maintaining detailed style guides and design systems.

• Evidence of designing and validating user experiences through mockups, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes, including user journey mapping, workflow design, and usability testing methodologies.

• Experience in contributing to and maintaining design documentation that supports product development and knowledge transfer.

• Understanding of how design processes integrate with broader product development and QA workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical application of UI/UX principles. The emphasis should be on how the candidate managed the design process, not just the final output. This includes showing how they validated designs (prototypes, user testing) and ensured consistency (style guides), which are key operational aspects of the design function.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health and Safety Programs: Reflecting HENSOLDT's commitment to employee well-being, especially in a high-tech industry.

• Company Pension Scheme: A vital benefit for long-term financial security.

• Professional Development Opportunities: Including training, workshops, and potential for attending industry conferences, crucial for staying current in UI/UX and related technologies.

• Work-Life Balance Initiatives: Potentially including flexible working hours where feasible, though the role is primarily on-site.

• Employee Assistance Programs: Support services to help employees manage personal and professional challenges.

• Modern Workplace Facilities: Access to state-of-the-art tools and a collaborative office environment.

Working Hours:

• The standard full-time workweek is typically 40 hours. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team coordination and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general market data for experienced UI/UX Designers in Germany, adjusted for location (Ulm) and industry (defense technology). Benefits are inferred from typical offerings at large, established technology companies in Germany, focusing on aspects relevant to career development and employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology and Aerospace. HENSOLDT is a leading company in the defense sector, providing advanced sensor solutions for security and reconnaissance. This industry demands high standards of reliability, precision, and innovation.

Company Size: HENSOLDT is a significant employer, likely falling into the large enterprise category (over 1000 employees), with a global presence. This size implies structured processes, a formal organizational hierarchy, and opportunities for specialized roles.

Founded: HENSOLDT has a long history, tracing its origins back to the 19th century, indicating stability, established expertise, and a deep-rooted culture of technological advancement.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Electronic Warfare Ground Support Solutions" division, suggesting a specialized team focused on a specific product line or technology area.

• The team likely consists of engineers, software developers, product managers, and potentially other design specialists, fostering a collaborative, technically-driven environment.

Methodology:

• The team likely employs a mix of agile and traditional development methodologies, common in complex engineering projects, with a strong emphasis on quality assurance and adherence to industry standards.

• Data analysis and user feedback are integral to refining software and ensuring it meets stringent defense requirements.

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical for managing the product development lifecycle efficiently, especially in a regulated industry.

Company Website: www.hensoldt.net

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry (defense) and size (large enterprise) are critical context. This implies a highly structured environment, rigorous processes, and a focus on reliability and security, all of which influence how design operations are conducted and how UI/UX designers are expected to contribute.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Designer (2-5 years of experience), acting as a key contributor within the design function. It requires autonomy in executing design tasks and contributing to process improvements.

Reporting Structure: The UI/UX Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Product Management Lead, or a Head of Engineering within the Electronic Warfare Ground Support Solutions division. Collaboration will be extensive with product owners, software developers, and potentially quality assurance teams.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of critical software tools used in defense applications. By creating intuitive interfaces, the designer contributes to reduced training times, fewer user errors, and increased productivity for end-users, thereby enhancing the overall operational capability of the solutions provided.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in UI/UX for complex, high-stakes software environments, potentially focusing on specific areas like data visualization or human-machine interfaces within defense systems.

• Lead Designer/Architect Role: Progress to leading design projects, defining design strategy for new product lines, or architecting comprehensive design systems.

• Product Operations Integration: Transition into roles that bridge design and product management, focusing on the operational aspects of product lifecycle, user feedback loops, and go-to-market readiness from a user perspective.

• Cross-functional Movement: Opportunities to move into product management, project management, or specialized roles within R&D, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path in a large defense tech company often involves specialization and deeper integration into product lifecycle operations rather than a rapid jump to management. This role offers a solid foundation for understanding the operational demands of designing for critical systems.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: HENSOLDT likely provides modern, professional office spaces designed for collaboration and focused work. The Ulm location is a significant hub, suggesting well-equipped facilities.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Ulm, Germany. This is a well-established industrial and technology center, offering good infrastructure and accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be designed to foster collaboration among engineers, developers, and designers, with dedicated meeting rooms and open-plan areas.

• Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and potentially specialized development tools will be provided.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with cross-functional teams will be abundant, facilitating a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, primarily on-site. While core working hours will apply, there may be some flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and personal needs, typical in professional environments. Adherence to project timelines and deliverables will be paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement is critical. This role thrives on in-person collaboration, whiteboard sessions, and direct interaction with development teams, which are essential for efficient design operations in a complex technical environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess fundamental qualifications and design experience.

• Technical Interview: Discussion of your UI/UX design process, methodologies, and experience with specific tools. Expect questions about your approach to user research, prototyping, and style guide development.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you present 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, detailing your role, the problem, your process, and the outcomes. This is crucial for demonstrating your operational approach to design.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Assessment of cultural fit, teamwork capabilities, and understanding of the role's responsibilities within the HENSOLDT context. You may also discuss your experience with frontend technologies like React.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss alignment with company goals and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Don't just show pretty screens. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions, detailing your user research, ideation, and validation steps.

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase instances where you worked effectively with developers, product managers, or other stakeholders.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved usability scores, reduced error rates, increased efficiency) to show operational value.

• Tailor to Defense: If you have relevant experience in complex or regulated industries, emphasize it. Show an understanding of the need for precision, clarity, and robustness in design.

• Include Style Guides/Design Systems: If you have experience creating or contributing to these, they are highly valued as they represent structured design operations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design exercise or case study. This might involve analyzing a given problem, sketching initial concepts, or discussing how you would approach a specific design challenge relevant to HENSOLDT's products.

• Brush up on your knowledge of UI design patterns, usability heuristics, and potentially frontend concepts (like React components) if mentioned as a preference.

• Be ready to articulate your understanding of HENSOLDT's business and the importance of user experience in the defense technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potential design challenges underscores the practical, output-oriented nature of this role. Operations professionals understand the importance of demonstrating tangible results and process adherence, and this interview process will likely mirror that.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UI/UX Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP, or similar for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools that allow for interactive prototyping and user flow simulation.

• Style Guide/Design System Tools: Familiarity with tools or methods for creating and maintaining design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for a designer, understanding how user analytics (e.g., from tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or internal product analytics platforms) inform design decisions is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable for the core UI/UX design tasks, but understanding how design elements integrate into broader product development workflows, potentially managed through project management tools (like Jira, Asana) or version control systems (like Git for code-related assets), is important.

• Familiarity with frontend code repositories if contributing design assets that are directly used by developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "Frontend-Programmierung (z.B. React)" as a desired skill suggests that familiarity with tools and workflows that support this, such as version control (Git) and potentially component-based design systems, would be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence and Precision: Reflecting the high-stakes nature of defense technology, where accuracy and reliability are paramount.

• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new technologies and methodologies to enhance product capabilities and user experience.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Emphasizing cross-functional cooperation to achieve complex project goals.

• Integrity and Responsibility: Upholding ethical standards and taking ownership of design outcomes.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of end-users, even in specialized technical domains.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships with product management, engineering, and QA teams to ensure design solutions are technically feasible and meet product requirements.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular design reviews and feedback sessions to refine concepts and ensure alignment throughout the development process.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture of sharing best practices, design patterns, and insights to foster collective learning and elevate design quality across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values in a defense tech company like HENSOLDT will heavily lean towards reliability, precision, and a structured approach. Designers are expected to contribute to this by ensuring their work is robust, well-documented, and aligned with stringent industry standards.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for Electronic Warfare systems requires understanding intricate technical requirements and user workflows, which can be challenging to grasp initially.

• Balancing Innovation with Standards: Integrating cutting-edge design trends while adhering to strict military/defense standards and corporate guidelines.

• Cross-functional Communication: Effectively translating user needs and design rationale to diverse technical teams with different communication styles and priorities.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying current with evolving UI/UX best practices and frontend technologies (like React) relevant to the development of sophisticated software.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UI/UX Training: Access to advanced courses and certifications in areas like interaction design for complex systems, data visualization, or human-machine interface design.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend relevant design and technology conferences to gain insights into emerging trends and network with peers.

• Internal Mentorship: Learning from experienced designers and engineers within HENSOLDT, gaining deep domain knowledge and insights into best practices for defense technology development.

• Exposure to New Technologies: Working with modern development stacks and contributing to innovative projects that push technological boundaries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are directly tied to the operational environment of a defense contractor – complexity, stringent requirements, and the need for robust, reliable solutions. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening expertise within this specialized domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UI/UX project you managed from concept to implementation. What were the key operational challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, collaboration, and problem-solving).

• "How do you ensure your designs align with both user needs and strict corporate/industry standards? Provide an example." (Highlight your approach to balancing user-centricity with operational constraints).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about HENSOLDT and our role in the defense industry? Why are you interested in designing for this sector?" (Show research and genuine interest).

• "How do you approach collaboration with software developers, especially when discussing technical feasibility or implementing complex designs?" (Prepare examples of effective cross-functional teamwork).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview, then dive into a specific project. Clearly state the problem, your role, the process, your key contributions, and the outcomes/impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototype walkthroughs. Explain the rationale behind key design decisions.

• Operational Focus: Emphasize how you managed the design process, handled feedback, collaborated with teams, and ensured the design met functional and quality requirements.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also an understanding of the operational aspects of design within a structured, technically demanding environment. Emphasize process, collaboration, and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Experience und User Interface Designer position:

• Submit your application exclusively through the HENSOLDT career portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your end-to-end UI/UX design process, from initial concept and wireframing to final mockups and prototype validation. Highlight any experience with style guides or design systems.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your experience in UI/UX design for desktop and web applications, mentioning specific tools and methodologies. Highlight your German language proficiency and any relevant frontend programming experience (e.g., React).

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, teamwork approach, and understanding of HENSOLDT's industry. Prepare to present your portfolio with a focus on process and impact.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HENSOLDT's products, mission, and values, particularly in the defense technology sector, to demonstrate your interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.