UX Designer - Intermediate

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer - Intermediate

Company: Solace Corporation

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-17

Experience Level: Intermediate (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user experience (UX) design initiatives within a B2B SaaS environment, focusing on creating seamless and comprehensive product experiences across a technical domain.

• Collaborate closely with Product and Development teams throughout the discovery and implementation phases to define user needs, develop innovative features, and ensure high-quality user journeys.

• Lead the design process for a specific product area, from ideation and workshop facilitation to prototyping and validation, ensuring alignment with broader product ecosystem goals.

• Contribute to the growth and evolution of Solace's design practice by sharing insights, participating in design system development, and potentially influencing Design Operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a UX Designer with intermediate experience, emphasizing B2B SaaS and a technical domain. The description highlights the need for a generalist who can lead a product area, indicating significant autonomy and responsibility within the design team. The mention of AI-driven experiences suggests a forward-thinking approach to design challenges.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead user research activities, including planning and moderating discovery workshops, user interviews, and usability sessions to deeply understand user journeys, pain points, and needs within a B2B SaaS context.

• Develop and iterate on low and high-fidelity mock-ups and prototypes to effectively communicate design solutions and gather feedback from cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Collaborate with Product Managers to define product strategy and roadmap by contributing user-centric insights and design perspectives during the discovery process.

• Support Development teams during the implementation phase by providing clear design specifications, assets, and ongoing guidance to ensure accurate execution and a cohesive user experience.

• Contribute to the evolution and maintenance of design systems and design standards, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the product ecosystem.

• Design simple, high-quality, end-to-end solutions within a complex and highly technical domain, considering the interconnectedness of features within the broader platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are structured around the full design lifecycle, from discovery and ideation to implementation support and design system stewardship. The emphasis on leading a product area and contributing to design practice growth suggests a role with leadership potential and significant scope for impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for UX design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• Professional experience as a UX Designer, with a focus on B2B SaaS platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to create comprehensive and seamless user experiences across product platforms.

• Experience designing for complex, highly technical domains.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma.

• Strong understanding of design thinking methodologies and workshop facilitation.

• Experience in planning and moderating user research activities (interviews, usability sessions, validation).

• Ability to communicate design rationale in a structured and collaborative manner.

• Understanding of how to design for systems and broader ecosystems to ensure user continuity.

Preferred Skills:

• Curiosity and/or experience designing for AI-driven experiences.

• Understanding of front-end development concepts, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to facilitate collaboration with developers.

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment supporting multiple development teams simultaneously.

• Familiarity with Design Operations principles and practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly delineate between essential B2B SaaS UX design skills and preferred areas like AI design and front-end development knowledge. Proficiency in specific tools like Figma, Confluence, and Jira is a strong indicator of the expected technical toolkit.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of UX design projects showcasing your ability to tackle complex B2B SaaS challenges.

• Demonstrations of your end-to-end design process, from initial user research and ideation to final design solutions and implementation support.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design approach, the solutions developed, and the impact achieved (quantifiable metrics are highly encouraged).

• Examples of how you have considered and designed for broader product ecosystems and integrated experiences.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of your experience in planning and facilitating design thinking workshops and user research activities.

• Examples of how you've communicated design rationale effectively to cross-functional teams.

• Documentation showcasing your contribution to or stewardship of design systems and design processes.

• Case studies that highlight your experience in supporting development implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it will be the primary means to assess the candidate's ability to navigate complex B2B SaaS environments and demonstrate their design process and impact. The emphasis on process documentation and system thinking is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $120,000 CAD annually.

Benefits:

• Hybrid-first work model, offering flexibility and balance.

• Comprehensive training programs designed for professional development.

• Opportunities for career growth and advancement within the organization.

• Access to a collaborative and intelligent team environment.

• A values-driven company culture that prioritizes craftsmanship, trust, courage, freedom, momentum, humility, and human experience.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with an emphasis on work-life balance. The hybrid model suggests flexibility in structuring the work week. The listed working hours are 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is specific to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is estimated in CAD. The benefits are highlighted as key selling points, with a particular focus on flexibility, learning, and growth, aligning with the company's culture. The provided working hours are 40 hours per week.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology, specifically Event-Driven Architecture and Middleware. Solace provides solutions for companies to connect and integrate assets, enabling trends like AI, Cloud, and IoT.

Company Size: Solace Corporation is a medium-sized enterprise, likely employing between 200-500 individuals based on typical BambooHR ATS data for companies of this nature. This size suggests a balance between established processes and the agility to innovate and grow.

Founded: Founded prior to 2026, Solace has a history of providing critical infrastructure technology to major global companies. This suggests a mature and stable organization with a proven track record in a highly technical market.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team is described as small and passionate, fostering collaboration and growth.

• This role will lead a specific product area, necessitating close collaboration with dedicated Product Managers and Development teams.

Methodology:

• Solace leverages event-driven architecture as its core technology.

• The design team focuses on enhancing user experience through design thinking, user research, and prototyping.

• The company embraces modern technological trends like AI, Cloud, and IoT, suggesting an innovative and forward-thinking approach to product development.

Company Website: https://solace.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Solace operates in a critical, high-tech infrastructure space. The company culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and a strong focus on customer success, as evidenced by their "world-class customer lineup." The small but growing design team implies opportunities for influence and direct impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an "Intermediate" UX Designer, typically indicating 2-5 years of professional experience. It involves leading design for a specific product area, suggesting a step up from junior roles and the expectation of autonomy and ownership. The role also offers opportunities to contribute to the broader design practice, hinting at a potential path towards senior or lead design positions.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, an intermediate UX Designer often reports to a Design Manager or Lead Designer, who oversees the overall design strategy and team development. Collaboration will be heavily cross-functional with Product and Engineering leads.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's impact is crucial for Solace's B2B SaaS products. By creating intuitive and efficient user experiences, they directly contribute to:

• Increased customer adoption and satisfaction.

• Reduced training and support costs for complex technical products.

• Enhanced productivity for users managing event-driven architectures.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in B2B SaaS UX, AI-driven design, or contribute to Design Operations.

• Leadership Development: As a lead for a product area, gain experience in mentoring junior designers and influencing product strategy.

• Technical Acumen: Enhance understanding of event-driven architecture and related technical domains through close collaboration with engineering.

• Design Practice Evolution: Play an active role in shaping design processes, tools, and standards within Solace.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear growth trajectory from an intermediate level, with opportunities to gain leadership experience and specialize in high-demand areas like AI design and Design Ops within a technically sophisticated B2B environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Solace offers a "Hybrid-first" work environment. This means that while the company is not fully remote, it prioritizes flexibility and provides options for employees to work from the office and remotely. The Ottawa office serves as a hub for collaboration and in-person work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (K2K 3K1). This location is accessible for local residents and serves as the anchor for hybrid work arrangements.

Workspace Context:

• The Ottawa office is likely equipped to support collaborative work, with meeting rooms and spaces conducive to design thinking workshops and team discussions.

• Employees are expected to have access to necessary tools and technology for both in-office and remote work, including design software and communication platforms.

• The hybrid model encourages intentional in-office days for team synchronization, brainstorming, and building rapport, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model. This allows for a balance between focused individual work and collaborative team activities, accommodating different work styles and personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid-first approach is a significant aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility. The Ottawa office location is central, and the workspace is designed to foster both individual focus and collaborative interaction, crucial for a design role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Resume Screening: Initial review using AI tools to assess alignment with job description keywords (education, experience, skills), followed by human review.

• Initial Interview: A conversation with a member of the recruitment team to discuss your background, interest in Solace, and basic qualifications.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: This stage will likely involve a presentation of your portfolio, showcasing relevant B2B SaaS projects. You may be asked to walk through a specific case study, detailing your process, problem-solving, and impact. A practical design exercise or case study may also be assigned.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the Design Manager or key team members to assess your technical skills, design approach, collaboration style, and cultural fit. This may include scenario-based questions related to design challenges within Solace's domain.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a conversation with senior leadership or a final check-in before an offer is extended.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on B2B SaaS: Highlight projects similar to Solace's domain, demonstrating your understanding of complex user flows, technical environments, and enterprise needs.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project – from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics demonstrating the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction).

• System Thinking: Emphasize how your designs integrate into a larger product ecosystem and contribute to a cohesive user experience.

• Communicate Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain the "why" behind your design decisions, demonstrating critical thinking and a structured approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Solace's products and the event-driven architecture domain.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing for a highly technical B2B audience.

• Practice articulating your design process and decision-making clearly and concisely.

• Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and how you ensure consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes both AI screening and human evaluation, with a strong focus on portfolio presentation. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate their B2B SaaS design expertise, process, and impact, with particular attention to system thinking and technical domain understanding.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping. Proficiency is a must.

• Confluence: Likely used for documentation, design specifications, and knowledge sharing.

• Jira: Essential for project management, task tracking, and collaboration with development teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, experience with analytics tools for user behavior tracking (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) would be beneficial for understanding user interactions and validating design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the UX role, but understanding how design impacts the customer journey within a CRM context could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack revolves around essential design and project management tools: Figma, Confluence, and Jira. Understanding how these tools integrate into a broader product development workflow is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality design and attention to detail in all aspects of the user experience.

• Trust: Building and maintaining trust with users through reliable and intuitive product design, and fostering trust within the team through open communication.

• Courage: Willingness to challenge the status quo, propose innovative solutions, and advocate for user needs even in a highly technical environment.

• Freedom: Autonomy in design execution, ability to explore creative solutions, and flexibility in work arrangements (hybrid model).

• Momentum: Driving projects forward efficiently, embracing iterative design processes, and contributing to the continuous improvement of products and practices.

• Humility: Openness to feedback, a willingness to learn from others, and acknowledging that design is a collaborative effort.

• Human Experience: Placing the user at the center of all design decisions, aiming to create positive and meaningful interactions with Solace's technology.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with Product Managers and Developers, valuing their input and ensuring design aligns with business goals and technical feasibility.

• Iterative Feedback: Actively seeking and providing constructive feedback throughout the design process, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to the team's collective knowledge through discussions, documentation, and potentially design critiques.

• Empathetic Communication: Clearly articulating design rationale and user needs to diverse stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Solace's values are deeply embedded in their culture, emphasizing excellence, integrity, and a human-centric approach. The collaboration style is designed to be synergistic, ensuring that design efforts are well-integrated and impactful.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a Highly Technical Domain: Translating complex event-driven architecture concepts into user-friendly interfaces requires deep understanding and creative problem-solving.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Effectively advocating for user experience while respecting the intricacies and limitations of the underlying technology.

• Evolving Design Practice: Contributing to the growth and maturity of a small design team, which may involve establishing new processes and standards.

• Fostering AI Design Integration: Exploring and implementing AI-driven design elements and processes in a way that genuinely enhances user experience and team efficiency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Event-Driven Architecture: Gaining specialized knowledge in a niche but critical technology area, enhancing your value in the market.

• AI in Design: Developing expertise in leveraging AI for design research, ideation, and workflow optimization.

• Design Systems & Design Ops: Gaining practical experience in building and maintaining scalable design systems and contributing to Design Operations.

• Leadership Skills: Opportunities to lead design initiatives and influence product direction will hone leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex design challenges in a specialized technical field, fostering significant professional growth and skill development in high-demand areas like AI and Design Ops.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a solution for a highly technical B2B audience. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them?" (Focus on your process, user research, and ability to translate complexity).

• "How would you approach defining user needs for a new feature within an existing product ecosystem, ensuring seamless integration?" (Highlight your discovery process, collaboration with Product, and system thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Solace and our focus on event-driven architecture?" (Research Solace's mission, technology, and customer base).

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially in a hybrid setting?" (Share examples of your communication, feedback, and teamwork skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 key B2B SaaS projects. For each, clearly outline: Problem, Your Role, Process, Solution, and Results/Impact.

• Storytelling: Weave a narrative around each project, explaining the context, the challenges you faced, and how your design decisions led to the outcome.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mock-ups, wireframes, and prototypes to illustrate your design thinking. Show the evolution of your ideas.

• Metrics: If available, present quantitative data that demonstrates the positive impact of your work.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; practice your presentation to ensure it’s engaging and within the allotted timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of B2B SaaS UX, a systematic design process, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a technical environment. Quantifiable results and clear communication of design rationale are key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Solace Corporation careers portal via the provided BambooHR link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your experience in B2B SaaS design, showcasing projects that demonstrate your ability to handle complex technical domains and design for integrated product ecosystems. Prepare a concise walkthrough of 1-2 key projects.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with Figma, Confluence, Jira, design thinking, user research, and B2B SaaS UX. Quantify achievements where possible and use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for your portfolio projects. Prepare to discuss your experience with AI-driven design and how you approach collaboration in a hybrid environment.

• Company Research: Gain a solid understanding of Solace's products, their event-driven architecture technology, their customer base, and their stated company values to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural 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.