UX Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer II

Company: Wenco (a Hitachi Construction Machinery subsidiary)

Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Technology / Design / Software Engineering

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Independently leads user-centered design for one or more complex software products within the mining technology sector.

• Drives product direction by applying user research, analysis, design, and evaluation methodologies to solve ambiguous and complex user problems.

• Collaborates closely with Product Managers, Engineering, and fellow UX designers to deliver innovative and effective solutions that align with business goals.

• Contributes to the development and maintenance of UX design guidelines, patterns, and the overall design system, ensuring consistency and quality across Wenco's product suite.

• Mentors junior UX designers, providing design feedback and fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX Designer II, indicating a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy, demonstrate leadership potential through mentorship, and contribute strategically to the UX discipline's standards, beyond just executing design tasks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end user-centered design process for designated Wenco products, from initial research to final design delivery.

• Conduct comprehensive UX research, selecting and applying appropriate methodologies (e.g., user interviews, surveys, design workshops) to deeply understand user needs and pain points in the mining industry.

• Develop a range of design artifacts, including personas, value streams, journey maps, storyboards, workflows, information architecture (IA), UI flows, wireframes, and low-fidelity prototypes to articulate design concepts and guide product definition.

• Lead user research initiatives, build interactive prototypes, and conduct usability testing with customers to validate design decisions and gather actionable feedback.

• Translate complex business requirements and user needs into detailed, intuitive, and accessible application design solutions.

• Create and maintain high-fidelity mock-ups and detailed design specifications for engineering implementation.

• Champion UX design principles, accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), and human factors considerations throughout the product development lifecycle, advocating for user needs even when faced with competing priorities.

• Actively contribute to and help define UX design guidelines, reusable patterns, visual styles, and the company's digital design system.

• Proactively identify and propose solutions for UX debt and systemic usability issues, rather than solely reacting to assigned tasks.

• Mentor and provide constructive design critique and feedback to junior UX designers (Designer I) and other team members.

• Represent the UX perspective in cross-functional planning sessions, roadmap discussions, and agile ceremonies.

• Balance diverse stakeholder priorities, including engineering constraints, business objectives, and user needs, with minimal direct supervision from the UX Manager.

• Ensure the timely delivery of high-quality design work that meets project timelines and quality standards.

• Represent Wenco and its products at customer sites for research, testing, and feedback sessions, as required (minimal travel).

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic thinking, and team leadership. Candidates should be prepared to showcase experience in leading projects, mentoring, and influencing product direction, not just individual design contributions. The emphasis on mining software and cloud platforms suggests a need for domain adaptability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in User Experience Research, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Experience:

• Minimum of 3+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) Design, with a proven track record of delivering successful user-centered design solutions.

• Demonstrated experience leading design work on complex products or features with minimal supervision.

• Proven experience mentoring junior designers, providing constructive feedback, and facilitating design critiques.

• Experience working within user-centric design processes and agile development environments.

• Experience with human factors, usability principles, interaction design, accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), and information architecture. Required Skills:

• User Research: Proficient in planning and executing various research methodologies (interviews, surveys, usability testing, contextual inquiry) to uncover user needs and validate designs.

• Interaction Design: Ability to design intuitive and efficient user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes for web and potentially mobile applications.

• Information Architecture (IA): Skilled in organizing and structuring content and navigation to create logical and user-friendly digital experiences.

• Usability Evaluation & Testing: Expertise in planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests to identify design flaws and iterate on solutions.

• Design Systems & Standards: Experience contributing to or utilizing design systems, understanding patterns, and ensuring cross-product consistency.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively communicate design rationale, manage expectations, and build consensus with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with cloud platforms and enterprise software, particularly within the mining or heavy industry sectors.

• Familiarity with Rich Internet Application (RIA) design principles.

• Knowledge of responsive and mobile-first design approaches.

• Experience with web accessibility design and compliance.

• Systems thinking capabilities, understanding how individual designs fit into a larger ecosystem.

• Design critique and mentorship experience.

• Familiarity with mining operations or fleet management software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "3+ years" combined with "Demonstrated experience leading design work" and "Mentoring or providing design critique" strongly suggests this is a mid-level role (UX Designer II), not an entry-level position. Candidates should highlight instances where they've taken ownership and guided others.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a range of UX design projects, demonstrating your ability to tackle complex problems and deliver user-centered solutions.

• Projects should highlight your process from research and ideation through to final design and iteration, emphasizing problem-solving and impact.

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

• Showcase your experience in conducting user research and usability testing, including how findings informed design decisions.

• Demonstrate your understanding of information architecture, interaction design, and accessibility principles.

• Provide evidence of your contribution to or creation of design systems, patterns, or guidelines.

• Clearly articulate your role and contributions in team-based projects. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of your ability to plan and execute user research methodologies tailored to specific project needs.

• Examples of how you translate business requirements and user needs into detailed design specifications and documentation for engineering teams.

• Documentation of your approach to iterative design, including how you incorporate feedback from testing and stakeholders.

• Examples of how you contribute to or maintain design guidelines and standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Designer II role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just showcasing visual design; it must demonstrate a deep understanding of the UX process, research methodologies, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to influence product outcomes. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process and articulate the "why" behind their design decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The base salary for this role is estimated to be between $75,000 CAD and $85,000 CAD annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and dental insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., RRSP matching program).

• Paid time off, including vacation days and statutory holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.

• Potential for employee stock purchase plans or other long-term incentives (typical for Hitachi subsidiaries).

• Access to employee assistance programs.

• Opportunities for career advancement within Wenco and the broader Hitachi group. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work week is typically 40 hours.

• While the role is on-site, Wenco may offer some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team coordination and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is based on the explicit statement in the job description. Salary estimates are adjusted for the Richmond, BC, Canada location, considering cost of living and industry benchmarks for mid-level UX Designers. Benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for established technology companies, especially subsidiaries of larger corporations like Hitachi.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mining Technology / Software / Fleet Management Systems. Wenco operates within a specialized B2B industrial technology sector, providing critical software solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in surface mining operations. This context implies a focus on robust, reliable, and data-intensive applications.

Company Size: Wenco is a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), indicating it is part of a large, global conglomerate. While Wenco itself may have a moderate size, its integration into HCM suggests access to significant resources and a structured corporate environment.

Founded: Wenco was founded in 1987, providing a long history and deep expertise in its field. This tenure suggests a stable company culture with established processes and a strong understanding of its customer base.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer II will likely be part of a dedicated UX/Product Design team, reporting to a UX Manager.

• This team will collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering (software developers, QA), and potentially other stakeholders like Sales, Support, and Operations.

• The role involves cross-functional collaboration, requiring effective communication and teamwork with individuals from diverse technical and business backgrounds. Methodology:

• Wenco utilizes a user-centered design approach, emphasizing research, analysis, and iterative design based on user feedback and testing.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed for product development, requiring UX designers to integrate seamlessly into sprints and provide ongoing design support.

• Emphasis is placed on contributing to and maintaining a consistent design system and UX guidelines across products.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Wenco's position as a specialized industrial software provider and a subsidiary of Hitachi is key. This implies a professional, results-oriented culture focused on delivering high-value, complex solutions. The operations context for a UX designer here means understanding the user's workflow in a demanding industrial environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: UX Designer II represents a mid-level professional who has moved beyond entry-level tasks and is expected to take ownership of significant design responsibilities. This role requires a blend of strong individual contribution, problem-solving skills, and the ability to mentor and influence others. It's a stepping stone towards senior or lead UX designer positions.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer II will report to a UX Manager and will work collaboratively within a UX/Product Design team. They will also have significant interaction with Product Managers and Engineering teams, acting as a key liaison for user experience matters.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer II's work directly impacts the usability, efficiency, and adoption of Wenco's fleet management and mining software. By creating intuitive and effective user experiences, they enable mining operations to run more safely and productively, directly contributing to customer success and Wenco's competitive advantage in the market. They also contribute to reducing technical debt and improving overall product quality.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific UX areas such as complex enterprise software design, industrial UX, accessibility, or advanced research methodologies.

• Leadership Development: Progress to a Senior UX Designer role, taking on more complex projects, leading design initiatives, and having a greater impact on product strategy. Opportunities for formal leadership roles (e.g., Lead UX Designer, UX Manager) may arise within Wenco or Hitachi.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper insights into product management, software engineering, and the specific operational challenges of the mining industry, broadening professional understanding.

• Mentorship: Continue to develop mentorship skills by guiding junior designers, potentially leading to formal training or team lead responsibilities.

• Domain Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in mining technology and fleet management systems, a valuable niche in the industrial software market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "II" in UX Designer II signifies a level of autonomy and mentorship that prepares individuals for senior roles. Growth opportunities should reflect progression within the UX discipline and potential for broader influence within the product development lifecycle and the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as on-site, indicating a traditional office-based work environment at Wenco's Richmond, BC location. This setting is conducive to in-person collaboration, spontaneous brainstorming, and team building.

Office Location(s): Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. This location offers access to a vibrant tech community and is part of the larger Metro Vancouver area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace designed to foster collaboration, with shared common areas, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan or shared office setups that encourage interaction with colleagues.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office equipment, high-performance workstations, and the necessary software licenses for design, prototyping, and collaboration tools (e.g., Figma, Jira, Confluence).

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for face-to-face interaction with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers, facilitating quick feedback loops and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected. While the role is on-site, Wenco may offer some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team coordination and operational needs, allowing for better work-life integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration and team synergy, which is common in companies that value close-knit product development teams, especially in specialized industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, salary expectations, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the UX Manager to delve into experience, role expectations, and team dynamics.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A key stage where candidates present their portfolio, discussing their process, decision-making, and impact. This may be accompanied by a design challenge (take-home or live) to assess practical skills and problem-solving abilities relevant to Wenco's products.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineering leads to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and ability to work with technical teams.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or Director to confirm overall fit and alignment with company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the decisions you made, and the outcomes achieved. Quantify impact where possible.

• Showcase Your Process: Go beyond final visuals. Include sketches, wireframes, user flows, research findings, and usability test results to demonstrate your thinking.

• Tailor to Wenco: Understand Wenco's products (fleet management, mining software) and highlight projects that demonstrate relevant experience or transferable skills.

• Highlight Mentorship: If you have experience mentoring, be prepared to share examples of how you guided junior designers and contributed to their growth.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design rationale, how you handle feedback, manage conflicting priorities, and collaborate with engineers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Wenco's products and the mining industry to grasp the user context and operational challenges.

• Focus on Process: If given a take-home challenge, prioritize a structured, user-centered approach over just delivering a polished final design.

• Time Management: If it's a live challenge, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely under time pressure.

• Articulate Assumptions: Be prepared to state any assumptions you make and how they influence your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge is standard for UX roles. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design output but the strategic thinking and problem-solving process behind it, with a focus on enterprise or complex application design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, Hotjar, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Slack.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a UX tool, familiarity with how product analytics (e.g., Amplitude, Google Analytics, Pendo) are used to inform design decisions is beneficial.

• Understanding of how data is collected and reported within enterprise software is also a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not typically a direct responsibility for a UX Designer, but understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or automation platforms might integrate with or be used by users of Wenco's software could provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description doesn't explicitly list tools, but the responsibilities imply proficiency with standard UX design and research software. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with these tools and their ability to adapt to new ones.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A core value is championing the user, ensuring that designs meet their needs and provide an excellent experience, even when it requires pushing back on less user-centric solutions.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering) and within the UX team, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

• Excellence & Quality: Commitment to delivering high-quality design work that is robust, reliable, and meets the rigorous demands of industrial software applications.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of learning and growth, both for individual designers and for the UX discipline as a whole, through feedback, mentorship, and staying current with best practices.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the development of innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and safety in mining operations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: UX designers are integrated early and often into the product development process, working closely with Product Managers to define requirements and with Engineers to ensure accurate implementation.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture where design work is regularly reviewed by peers and stakeholders, with constructive feedback exchanged to improve outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, research findings, and design patterns within the UX team and across the wider organization to build collective knowledge and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely reflects a blend of a professional, results-driven industrial technology company and a design-forward team that values user experience and collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Domains: Understanding the intricate workflows and specific needs of the mining industry and translating them into intuitive software interfaces.

• Balancing Competing Priorities: Effectively managing and prioritizing demands from various stakeholders (e.g., engineering constraints, business goals, user needs) with reduced direct guidance.

• Influencing Product Direction: Proactively advocating for UX best practices and user needs to shape product strategy and roadmap decisions.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across multiple products and features as the software suite evolves.

• Adapting to Evolving Technology: Staying current with advancements in UX design, cloud platforms, and relevant technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Training: Opportunities to attend workshops, conferences, or pursue certifications in areas like enterprise UX, industrial design, accessibility, or advanced research techniques.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal opportunities to be mentored by senior designers or to mentor junior team members, developing leadership and coaching skills.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining deeper knowledge of product management, software development lifecycles, and the business aspects of the mining industry.

• Design System Contribution: Playing a key role in evolving and expanding Wenco's design system, a significant contribution to the UX practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a mid-level UX role in a complex B2B environment, requiring strong problem-solving and influencing skills. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for specialization and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex product or feature you independently led the design for. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your process, problem-solving, and autonomy.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints? Provide an example." (Demonstrate your pragmatic approach and negotiation skills.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to advocate for a UX decision that was unpopular with stakeholders. What was the outcome?" (Showcase your influence and communication skills.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers? Share an example of how you've helped someone grow." (Highlight your leadership and team-building potential.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive?" (Address your understanding of accessibility standards and their importance.)

• "Describe your process for conducting user research for a new feature. What methods would you choose and why?" (Detail your research planning and methodology.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Wenco and the mining industry? What interests you about this specific role?" (Research Wenco's products, mission, and the challenges of industrial UX.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX trends and technologies?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.)

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers." (Align your collaboration style with the company's likely needs.)

• "How do you handle constructive criticism on your designs?" (Demonstrate openness to feedback and iterative improvement.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each project as a narrative with a clear beginning (problem), middle (your process and solutions), and end (impact/outcome).

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data to illustrate the success of your designs (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "increased user satisfaction scores by Y%", "decreased support tickets related to feature Z by W%").

• Walk Through Your Process: Don't just show final screens. Explain the research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing phases.

• Highlight Your Role: Be crystal clear about your specific contributions, especially in team projects.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, the trade-offs you made, and why you chose specific solutions.

• Focus on Problem-Solving: Emphasize how you identified and solved user problems, not just how you made things look good.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and a clear understanding of the UX process within a B2B enterprise software context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Dayforce hiring portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in enterprise software design, user-centered methodologies, user research, and any experience relevant to industrial or complex systems. Use keywords from the job description, such as "user research," "interaction design," "information architecture," and "stakeholder management."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end UX process, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver impactful solutions. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines your role, process, and the outcomes achieved for each project. Be ready to present this virtually or in person.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Be ready to tackle a design problem that likely involves understanding user needs within a specific context (potentially related to mining operations) and presenting your proposed solution, justifying your design decisions.

• Research Wenco: Understand Wenco's mission, products (fleet management systems for mining), and their position within Hitachi Construction Machinery. Familiarize yourself with their website and any available product information to grasp their user base and industry challenges.

⚠️ 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.