UX Designer (6 Months Fixed Term Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer (6 Months Fixed Term Contract)

Company: Dotmatics

Location: Remote - United Kingdom

Job Type: Contract, Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-08-04

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (United Kingdom)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in transforming the user experience of scientific software, impacting millions of scientists globally.

• You will be responsible for the end-to-end user experience design for key product areas within Dotmatics' comprehensive digital science platform.

• The position requires a strong understanding of translating complex scientific workflows and data models into intuitive, scalable user interfaces.

• You will leverage AI tools within the design process to enhance efficiency and explore innovative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a fixed-term contract, which is a crucial detail for candidates to consider regarding job security and benefits beyond the contract period. The focus on "Product Design centre of excellence" suggests a structured and mature design team environment. The mention of "millions of scientists" highlights the significant scale and impact of this role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and drive the user experience across designated product areas, from initial concept and user research through to delivery and iterative improvements.

• Translate intricate scientific workflows, data models, and business requirements into clear, intuitive, and scalable user experiences.

• Develop and communicate design solutions using a range of artifacts, including user journeys, wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• Integrate and leverage AI tools (e.g., Figma, Claude) to accelerate rapid prototyping, concept generation, and exploration of interaction patterns.

• Utilize user research findings and data analytics to inform design decisions, collaborating closely with UX Researchers to identify user needs and validate design solutions.

• Contribute to the evolution and extension of Dotmatics' design system, creating and maintaining reusable components and patterns to ensure consistency and accelerate development across teams.

• Collaborate deeply with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, Business Analysts, and Scientists, to ensure design intent is accurately translated into implementation.

• Present and articulate design decisions with clarity and confidence to diverse stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and the wider business.

• Actively participate in design critiques, providing and receiving thoughtful feedback to elevate the quality of design work and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Champion user-centered design principles, including accessibility standards, responsive design best practices, and data-informed decision-making throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize end-to-end ownership, a common expectation for mid-to-senior level UX Designers. The specific mention of "translating complex scientific workflows and data models" is a key differentiator for this role, requiring a candidate with the ability to grasp domain-specific challenges. The explicit requirement to "Leverage AI tools in your design workflow" is a forward-looking aspect that candidates should prepare to demonstrate.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Product Design, Graphic Design, Fine Art, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is highly valued, or equivalent practical experience. Experience:

• Minimum of 6+ years of progressive experience as a Product Designer or UX Designer.

• Proven track record of demonstrating end-to-end impact on complex product areas, supported by a strong portfolio.

• Demonstrated ability to independently own and deliver high-quality solutions within a cross-functional team environment. Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in interaction design, information architecture, and visual communication principles.

• Experience working with and contributing to established design systems and component-based design methodologies.

• High-level proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma (or equivalent industry-standard software).

• Hands-on experience utilizing AI tools to enhance design workflows, including concept generation and rapid prototyping.

• Solid understanding of user research methodologies and the ability to translate research insights into actionable design decisions.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proven capacity to simplify complex problems into elegant design solutions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a strong ability to manage stakeholder expectations and present design rationale effectively. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for scientific or technical domains, such as:

  • Scientific data management and analysis platforms.
  • Ontologies and structured data systems.
  • Registration workflows or data integrity systems.
  • Tools supporting scientific discovery or process efficiency.

• Familiarity with modern AI-assisted design and development workflows (e.g., prompt-based prototyping, integrating with APIs, MCP-style tooling).

• Experience working within Agile, Lean UX, or Design Thinking frameworks and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "6+ years" experience level suggests a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy and provide mentorship. The specific scientific domain experience is a strong plus, indicating a preference for candidates who can quickly understand and design for Dotmatics' core user base. The emphasis on AI tools is a critical modern requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design impact is mandatory.

• The portfolio should clearly articulate the candidate's role, the problem space, the design process, and the measurable outcomes of their work.

• Demonstrations of how user research and data informed design decisions should be evident.

• Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems and component libraries are highly desirable.

• Showcase of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final visual designs. Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for:

  • User research and synthesis of findings.

  • Translating complex requirements into user-centric designs.

  • Iterative design and prototyping.

  • Collaboration with engineering and product management.

  • Contribution to and maintenance of design systems.

  • Application of AI tools in the design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX role, the portfolio is paramount. The emphasis on "end-to-end impact" and "measurable outcomes" signals that Dotmatics is looking for designers who can demonstrate business value, not just aesthetic proficiency. The inclusion of AI tool usage in the portfolio is a modern expectation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• £30,000 - £35,000 GBP per annum (for a 6-month fixed term contract). Benefits:

• Private Medical Insurance

• Wellness Benefits (including Mental Health Apps and Fitness Perks)

• Company-paid Life Cover

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Pension/Retirement Plan Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected given the remote nature of the role and the nature of design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is explicitly stated for the 6-month contract period. It's important for candidates to understand that this is a fixed-term engagement, and compensation and benefits may differ from permanent roles. The listed benefits are comprehensive for a contract position. The salary range is benchmarked for a UX Designer role in the UK, considering the mid-senior experience level and the contract duration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software (Scientific & R&D Platforms)

Company Size: 800+ employees globally.

Founded: Dotmatics was founded with a mission to integrate scientific data and decision-making. As a Siemens company, it benefits from a larger corporate structure while maintaining its specialized focus.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team operates as a "centre of excellence," suggesting a dedicated, specialized group focused on elevating design standards and practices.

• This role involves deep collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, Business Analysts, Scientists, and UX Researchers, indicating a cross-functional, team-oriented approach to product development.

• Reporting likely involves a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, with close alignment to product leadership. Methodology:

• Dotmatics emphasizes a "Science Driven," "Customer Centric," and "Better Together" philosophy.

• The product development likely follows Agile methodologies, with an emphasis on iterative design, user feedback, and data-informed decision-making.

• The integration of AI tools points towards a forward-thinking approach to design and development processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Dotmatics positions itself as a leader in the "Lab of the Future" and the "world's largest cloud-based scientific research R&D platform." This context is crucial for a UX Designer, as it means designing for a sophisticated user base with complex needs within a highly regulated and data-intensive industry. The "Better Together" value highlights the importance of collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level, requiring significant autonomy and the ability to lead design efforts for specific product areas. It demands a strong foundation in core UX principles and the capacity to tackle complex challenges independently. Reporting Structure:

• The UX Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within the Product Design centre of excellence.

• Close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering leads is expected, forming a core product team. Operations Impact:

• The UX Designer's work directly impacts the usability and effectiveness of Dotmatics' platform, which is used by millions of scientists worldwide.

• Improved user experience can lead to increased adoption, scientific productivity, faster research outcomes, and ultimately, greater scientific innovation and commercial success for Dotmatics' customers.

• The role plays a critical part in achieving the company's objective of transforming the scientific software experience. Growth Opportunities:

• For a contract role, growth is primarily focused on skill enhancement and project impact within the 6-month term.

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in designing for scientific domains and complex data.

• Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools in a practical design setting.

• Contribute to a significant design system, enhancing skills in scalability and consistency.

• Potential for a strong reference or future opportunities if performance is exceptional and business needs align.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a fixed-term contract, the "high-impact role" and "centre of excellence" framing suggest opportunities for significant professional development and tangible achievements that can be added to a portfolio. The impact on millions of scientists underscores the potential for meaningful contributions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote (United Kingdom)

Office Location(s): Not applicable, as the role is fully remote within the United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

• As a remote role, candidates will be expected to manage their own workspace and ensure reliable internet connectivity.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, project management software).

• The environment fosters high integrity and collaboration, enabling individuals to excel regardless of location.

• Access to Dotmatics' suite of digital tools and platforms will be provided to facilitate work. Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time working hours apply, with flexibility inherent in a remote role.

• The focus is on deliverables and successful project completion rather than strict adherence to office hours.

• Collaboration with global teams may require some flexibility in scheduling meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature within the UK is a significant aspect, offering flexibility but also requiring strong self-discipline and communication skills. Candidates should be comfortable with a digitally-driven collaborative environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, approach to UX design, and understanding of the Dotmatics platform and its users. This is where your portfolio will be a key discussion point.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present a case study from your portfolio, detailing a complex problem you solved, your process, and the impact of your design. This may involve a practical design exercise or a deep dive into specific projects.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Manager, Engineer) to assess your teamwork, communication, and ability to integrate into the existing team structure.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end ownership and impact, ideally demonstrating experience with complex workflows or data.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline:

  • The Problem: What was the user or business challenge?
  • Your Role: What were your specific responsibilities?
  • The Process: Detail your steps (research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, iteration). Highlight the use of AI tools where applicable.
  • The Solution: Showcase your final designs and key features.
  • The Impact: Quantify results if possible (e.g., improved task completion time, user satisfaction scores, adoption rates).

• Demonstrate Design System Contribution: If you have experience with design systems, highlight your contributions and how you maintained consistency.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to articulate your design rationale, trade-offs made, and lessons learned for each project.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Dotmatics' product suite and the scientific domains they serve (biology, chemistry, microbiology).

• Practice articulating your design process and decisions concisely and confidently.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for complex scientific data and workflows.

• Consider how you would leverage AI tools to solve design problems efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and case studies is standard for UX roles. The specific mention of "translating complex scientific workflows and data models" means candidates should be ready to discuss how they handle such complexity. The integration of AI tools into the process should be a talking point.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (required), or equivalent (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD).

• AI Design Tools: Claude, or similar AI assistants for concept generation, content creation, and rapid prototyping.

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace.

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools used by cross-functional teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how to interpret user behavior data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) will be beneficial for informing design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core UX design role, but familiarity with how CRM systems and automation tools impact user workflows could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a required tool. The inclusion of AI tools like Claude is a key differentiator and a specific requirement. Candidates should be comfortable with a digital-first, cloud-based toolset.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Science Driven: A deep commitment to scientific advancement and innovation, understanding the needs of scientists.

• Customer Centric: Prioritizing the user experience and ensuring products meet the needs of scientists effectively.

• Better Together: Emphasizing collaboration, teamwork, and mutual support across all departments and functions.

• High Integrity & Collaboration: Fostering an environment of trust, transparency, and open communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Scientists.

• Design critiques are an integral part of the process, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Openness to feedback and a constructive approach to challenging design decisions are expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values ("Science Driven," "Customer Centric," "Better Together") provide a clear framework for understanding team dynamics and expected behaviors. A UX Designer in this environment should be adept at cross-functional communication and advocating for the user while respecting scientific context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Scientific Complexity: The primary challenge will be understanding and simplifying highly technical scientific workflows and data structures for intuitive user interfaces.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Designing effective solutions within the technical limitations of software development and the specific requirements of scientific users.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and maintaining a robust design system that scales across a large, evolving platform.

• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring effective communication and collaboration with distributed teams without the benefit of in-person interaction.

• AI Integration: Effectively integrating AI tools into the design workflow to enhance efficiency and innovation, while maintaining design quality and ethical considerations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of scientific research processes in biology, chemistry, and microbiology.

• AI in Design: Gain practical experience and expertise in applying AI tools to UX design challenges.

• Design System Contribution: Enhance skills in creating scalable and maintainable design system components.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Improve ability to work effectively with diverse technical and scientific roles.

• Impactful Projects: Contribute to a platform used by millions, providing a significant portfolio piece.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the unique domain of scientific software. The growth opportunities focus on practical skill development relevant to modern UX practices and the specific industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated a complex technical or scientific workflow into a user-friendly design. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?"

• "How do you approach designing for a user base that has highly specialized technical knowledge, like scientists?"

• "Walk us through your process for contributing to or evolving a design system. What are the key considerations for scalability and consistency?"

• "How have you used AI tools in your design process to accelerate your work or explore new ideas? Can you provide an example?"

• "Describe a challenging stakeholder interaction you've had and how you managed it to achieve a successful design outcome." Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Dotmatics and our mission to transform scientific research?"

• "How do you embody our values of 'Science Driven,' 'Customer Centric,' and 'Better Together' in your work?"

• "How do you ensure user-centered design practices, including accessibility, are integrated into your workflow?"

• "What are your expectations for collaboration within a remote, cross-functional team?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the "why" and "what" of your projects – the problems solved and the results achieved.

• Explain Your Process: Clearly articulate your decision-making rationale at each stage, especially how research and data informed your choices.

• Showcase Deliverables: Present wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final designs clearly.

• Highlight Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with PMs, engineers, and users.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: If applicable, show how AI tools were used to enhance your process or outcomes.

• Keep it Concise: Aim for a clear, structured presentation that respects the interviewers' time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will likely probe the candidate's ability to handle complexity, their understanding of scientific users, their experience with design systems and AI tools, and their collaborative approach. Portfolio presentation is key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Dotmatics careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate end-to-end product design ownership, complex problem-solving, and ideally, experience with technical domains or data-heavy applications. Highlight your use of AI tools.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in interaction design, information architecture, design systems, and proficiency with Figma. Quantify achievements where possible, especially regarding impact on user experience or product metrics.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your process, rationale, and the outcomes. Prepare to discuss your approach to user research, design system thinking, and collaboration in a remote setting.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Dotmatics' products, their mission, and their stated company values to articulate your interest and cultural fit effectively. Understand the scientific domains they serve.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions. The role is a 6-month fixed-term contract.