UX Designer, Octopus

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer, Octopus

Company: Apex Technology, Inc.

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / Operations Technology

Date Posted: 2026-08-15

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop the user experience for Octopus, Apex's proprietary operating system for spacecraft manufacturing, focusing on enhancing efficiency and usability for technicians, engineers, and operators.

• Drive the UX strategy from concept through implementation, ensuring the software aligns with the company's mission of providing humankind access to space.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, software engineers, manufacturing engineers, and leadership, to deliver a cohesive and impactful user interface.

• Optimize existing workflows within Octopus to reduce clicks, minimize errors, and improve task completion times, directly impacting manufacturing speed and output.

• Create and maintain a robust design system and UX standards for Octopus, ensuring consistency and quality across all modules and future developments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for Apex Technology's mission, as the internal operating system "Octopus" is directly tied to their ability to manufacture spacecraft at scale. The UX Designer will be instrumental in bridging the gap between complex manufacturing processes and intuitive software interfaces, a key differentiator in the aerospace industry. The emphasis on "internal enterprise tools" and "operational tools" indicates a focus on high-stakes, process-driven software where efficiency and accuracy are paramount, requiring a deep understanding of user workflows in demanding environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct user research, including contextual inquiry and shadowing on the factory floor, to deeply understand the needs and challenges of diverse user groups (technicians, engineers, planners, operators).

• Translate research findings into actionable design solutions, including wireframes, user flows, mockups, and high-fidelity prototypes for web-based applications.

• Relentlessly iterate on existing workflows within the Octopus system to minimize clicks, streamline processes, reduce error rates, and demonstrably improve task efficiency.

• Design user interfaces specifically for demanding, high-density operating environments, such as work instructions, shop-floor terminals/tablets, cleanroom applications, and data-intensive analytics dashboards.

• Define, build, and own the Octopus design system, UX standards, and guidelines, ensuring consistency and adherence across all product development efforts.

• Collaborate effectively with product managers, software engineers, manufacturing engineers, supply chain specialists, and production leadership to ensure design solutions are technically feasible and meet business objectives.

• Present design work and research insights regularly to stakeholders, partners, and senior leadership, advocating for user-centered design principles.

• Oversee the implementation of designs, reviewing builds, identifying regressions, and ensuring high standards of visual and interaction quality are maintained.

• Contribute to the overall product and design direction of Octopus, from initial concept development through to final implementation and post-launch iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to UX design, emphasizing direct engagement with the manufacturing environment and users. The requirement to "relentlessly optimize existing workflows" and "measure how designs are performing" points to a data-driven and results-oriented approach, typical in operations technology roles where quantifiable improvements are key. The ownership of the design system implies a strategic role in shaping the future of the product's user experience.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, OR a portfolio demonstrating equivalent project experience and expertise.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in designing interactive web applications, with a significant focus on enterprise, internal, or operational tools.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in User Experience (UX) design, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centric design solutions and compelling storytelling.

• Extensive experience in user research methodologies, including contextual inquiry, user shadowing, and usability testing, to derive actionable insights.

• Demonstrated ability to design for complex, high-density operating environments and enterprise-level tools where users are performing critical tasks under pressure.

• Proficiency in building and maintaining comprehensive design systems, establishing and enforcing UX standards and guidelines that are adopted by other designers and engineers.

• Strong skills in creating wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and present work effectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

• Self-motivated and able to work independently, while also being a collaborative team player driven by constructive group critique.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, iterative design process with minimal supervision. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience designing software for manufacturing environments, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), logistics, or other operations management software.

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts, such as reading component libraries, prototyping in HTML/CSS, or partnering directly with front-end engineers.

• A demonstrable interest in hardware, aerospace, or physical production environments, indicating an ability to connect with the company's core business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for experience in "enterprise, internal, or operational tools" is crucial. This differentiates the role from typical consumer-facing UX positions, demanding an understanding of workflow efficiency, data density, and the unique challenges of users performing job functions under time constraints and high stakes. The "bonus points" for manufacturing or aerospace experience suggest the company values candidates who can quickly grasp the complexities of their domain.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, with a strong emphasis on enterprise or internal tools.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, user research insights, iterative design solutions, and quantifiable outcomes (e.g., improvements in task time, error reduction, user adoption).

• Examples of designing for complex workflows, information-dense interfaces, and user environments with specific constraints (e.g., shop floor, cleanroom).

• Demonstrations of your ability to create and maintain design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and interaction patterns.

• Evidence of user research methodologies applied and how those insights informed design decisions. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your process for conducting user research, from planning and recruitment to analysis and synthesis of findings.

• Detail your approach to workflow analysis and optimization, illustrating how you identify inefficiencies and design solutions to improve them.

• Provide examples of your process for developing and iterating on design systems, including documentation and governance strategies.

• Illustrate your process for collaborating with engineering and product teams, including feedback loops and implementation oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-focused UX role like this, the portfolio needs to go beyond aesthetic appeal. It must demonstrate a deep understanding of process optimization, user efficiency in demanding environments, and the ability to translate complex operational needs into intuitive software. Case studies that quantify improvements in manufacturing workflows, error reduction, or time savings will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Shared Upside: Receive equity in Apex, aligning personal success with company growth.

• Best-in-Class Healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.

• Life Insurance: $100,000 in life insurance coverage at no cost to the employee.

• Comprehensive Paid Time Off (PTO): Starting at 15 days of vacation annually, increasing to 20+ days with tenure.

• Paid Holidays: 10 paid holidays per year.

• Competitive 401(k) Plan: Company matches 100% on the first 3% of contributions and 50% on the next 2%.

• Generous Parental Leave: 8 weeks of paid parental leave.

• Childcare Reimbursement: Up to $350 per day for work-related travel childcare expenses.

• Daily Catered Lunch: Provided to fuel employees throughout the workday.

• Unlimited Snacks: Available in the office.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work week, likely around 40 hours, with an on-site requirement. The fast-paced, iterative nature of the role may necessitate flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a UX Designer role with 5+ years of experience in a high-cost-of-living area like Los Angeles, especially within the tech and aerospace sectors. The benefits package is robust, reflecting a startup environment that prioritizes employee well-being and financial security, including significant equity and comprehensive healthcare, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of "work-life integration" and a "world-class Playa Vista office" suggests a focus on creating a positive and productive on-site experience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace & Manufacturing Technology. Apex Technology is at the forefront of manufacturing spacecraft platforms (satellite buses) at scale, utilizing a proprietary blend of software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for mass production. This positions them as a key enabler for the growing commercial space industry, supporting applications from earth observation to communications.

Company Size: Apex Technology is a fast-growing startup that has raised over $500 million in funding, indicating a significant but still developing organizational structure. This size often means a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact but also rapid evolution.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the substantial funding suggests a company that has moved beyond its initial seed stages and is in a phase of scaling operations and product development.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of the software development team responsible for "Octopus," the in-house operating system. This team likely includes product managers, software engineers (front-end, back-end), and potentially QA specialists.

• There will be significant collaboration with operations teams: manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, supply chain specialists, and production leadership. The role requires integration into the daily workings of the factory floor.

• The reporting structure for the UX Designer is not specified but is likely within a product or engineering department, with direct interaction and reporting to product leadership. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes research, metrics, and iterative improvement, indicating a data-informed approach to UX strategy and product development.

• Process Optimization: A core tenet is to streamline and improve existing workflows, reflecting a focus on efficiency and operational excellence within the software.

• Agile/Iterative Development: The "fast-paced, high-intensity iterative design process" suggests an agile or similar methodology where rapid prototyping, testing, and refinement are standard.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Apex Technology operates in a cutting-edge and highly demanding industry. The culture is likely to be fast-paced, innovative, and focused on execution, given their mission to scale spacecraft manufacturing. The emphasis on "internal software" being critical to "manufacturing speed" means the operations culture is deeply intertwined with technology, and efficiency gains through UX are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level UX Designer, requiring 5+ years of experience and the ability to work independently and lead design initiatives for a critical internal system. It’s not an entry-level position but offers substantial ownership and impact.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report into a product or engineering management structure, but their day-to-day will involve significant collaboration and influence across various operational departments (manufacturing, quality, supply chain) and with senior leadership.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work on Octopus directly impacts the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of spacecraft manufacturing. By improving the user experience of the internal operating system, they contribute to reduced build times, fewer errors, and increased production throughput, which are critical operational metrics for Apex Technology. This role is pivotal in enabling the company's mission of scaling space access.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in UX for manufacturing and aerospace operations, a niche but growing field.

• Design System Leadership: Potential to grow into a lead role for the Octopus design system, influencing its evolution and potentially leading other designers in the future.

• Product Strategy Influence: As the role involves contributing to the overall product and design direction, there's a chance to influence strategic decisions beyond just UI/UX.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Developing strong relationships and influence across engineering, manufacturing, and leadership teams can open doors to broader product management or operational strategy roles.

• Startup Growth Trajectory: As a well-funded startup, Apex is likely to expand its teams, creating opportunities for advancement into senior designer, UX lead, or even management positions as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are strong for someone who excels in this role. The combination of specialized domain knowledge (aerospace manufacturing UX) and the ownership of a critical internal system provides a unique career path. The ability to demonstrate tangible improvements in operational efficiency through design will be a significant factor in career progression within Apex.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description mentions a "World-class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in-person collaboration." This suggests a modern, well-equipped office space designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): Playa Vista, Los Angeles, California. This area is known as a hub for tech companies, offering a vibrant ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is designed for in-person collaboration, implying a culture where team interaction and spontaneous discussions are encouraged.

• Tools & Technology: The role requires proficiency in design tools, and the company likely provides a modern tech stack, including the necessary hardware for design work. The mention of "your dream desk setup" indicates a commitment to providing productive workspaces.

• Operations Integration: A key aspect of the workspace context is the requirement to spend time on the "factory floor" and alongside "engineering teams." This means the UX Designer will frequently be in manufacturing environments, observing real-world processes and interacting directly with users in their work settings.

Work Schedule: While a standard full-time schedule is implied, the nature of working on internal tools for a manufacturing company in a fast-paced startup environment suggests potential for flexibility but also a need for responsiveness. The emphasis on iterative design and on-site presence means a predictable schedule within the office is expected, with occasional needs to align with production schedules or engineering sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an on-site role in a "world-class office" with "in-person collaboration" and proximity to the "factory floor" highlights that this is not a remote-first position. The workspace is designed to facilitate deep integration with the physical manufacturing operations, which is crucial for understanding and designing effective operational software.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will present their portfolio, focusing on case studies demonstrating their UX process, problem-solving skills, and impact on enterprise/operational tools. A design challenge may be administered, either take-home or in-session, focusing on a realistic scenario related to manufacturing workflows or operational efficiency.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with product managers, software engineers, and potentially manufacturing/operations stakeholders to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and understanding of the domain.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager to discuss role expectations, career growth, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process and Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your research methodology, design decisions, and the measurable outcomes of your work. Quantify improvements where possible (e.g., reduction in task time, error rates).

• Showcase Enterprise/Operational Tool Experience: Highlight projects involving internal systems, manufacturing software, or complex workflows. Explain the unique challenges of designing for users performing job functions under pressure.

• Demonstrate Design System Proficiency: Include examples of design systems you've built or contributed to, showing your approach to consistency, scalability, and documentation.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills and user-centric approach. Tailor your presentation to resonate with a company focused on manufacturing efficiency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Apex Technology's business, the aerospace manufacturing industry, and common operational challenges in production environments (MES, ERP, shop floor execution).

• Focus on Efficiency and Usability: For any design challenge, prioritize solutions that reduce clicks, improve clarity, minimize errors, and align with how users actually perform their tasks on the factory floor or in planning roles.

• Be Prepared to Justify Decisions: Be ready to explain the rationale behind your design choices, referencing user research, design principles, and potential operational impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh the candidate's ability to demonstrate practical UX skills applied to complex operational problems. The portfolio review is critical, and candidates should prepare to discuss their process for understanding and improving user workflows in demanding, efficiency-driven environments. The "design challenge" is likely to be practical, assessing how well a candidate can apply their skills to a problem relevant to Apex's core business.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for wireframing, UI design, and prototyping. Figma is particularly common in collaborative environments.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for usability testing, session recording, and survey distribution (e.g., UserTesting.com, Hotjar, SurveyMonkey).

• Design System Management: Familiarity with platforms or methodologies for creating and maintaining design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or custom documentation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly designing analytics tools, understanding how users interact with dashboards and data visualizations is key. Familiarity with how data is tracked and reported within enterprise systems would be beneficial.

• Experience with tools like Amplitude or Mixpanel for understanding user behavior within applications could be an advantage. CRM & Automation:

• While the primary focus is an internal OS, understanding how enterprise software integrates with or complements CRM and other business systems (like ERP) would be valuable.

• Awareness of workflow automation principles and how UX design can support automated processes is relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description implies a need for strong proficiency in standard UX design and prototyping tools. The emphasis on "design systems" suggests tools and processes that support component-based design and maintainability. While specific operations tools like MES or ERP are mentioned as "bonus points," the core requirement is for strong UX fundamentals applicable to enterprise software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency and Speed: A core value is likely centered around maximizing manufacturing speed and efficiency, with UX playing a direct role in achieving this through optimized workflows.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Decisions are informed by research, metrics, and performance data, ensuring that design choices lead to measurable improvements.

• User Focus: Despite the technical and operational context, a strong emphasis is placed on understanding and serving the needs of the end-users (technicians, engineers, operators).

• Collaboration and Communication: Success hinges on effective teamwork and clear communication across diverse, cross-functional teams, including those on the factory floor.

• Innovation and Problem-Solving: A culture that encourages creative solutions to complex challenges, particularly in pushing the boundaries of spacecraft manufacturing.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The UX Designer will be deeply integrated with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams, requiring a collaborative approach that bridges different disciplines.

• Process Improvement Culture: Expect a culture that is open to feedback and actively seeks ways to improve processes, both in manufacturing and in software development.

• Knowledge Sharing: The role involves sharing design insights and standards across teams, fostering a collective understanding and ownership of the product's user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Apex likely blends the intensity of a fast-paced startup with the rigor of aerospace manufacturing. The values will reflect a strong drive for results, precision, and innovation, with a practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving. Collaboration will be key, requiring the UX designer to be adept at working with diverse stakeholders.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for High-Stakes Environments: Creating intuitive interfaces for users who are under time pressure and whose errors can have significant consequences requires meticulous design and deep user understanding.

• Balancing Information Density and Usability: Operational tools often need to present a large amount of complex information clearly and efficiently, a constant design challenge.

• Integrating with Physical Processes: Translating complex physical manufacturing workflows into digital interfaces requires a nuanced understanding of both the digital and physical realms.

• Maintaining Consistency Across a Growing System: As Octopus expands, ensuring a coherent and consistent user experience across all modules will be an ongoing challenge.

• Driving Adoption of New Designs: Gaining buy-in and ensuring successful adoption of UX improvements from users accustomed to existing workflows can be challenging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Expertise: Develop deep expertise in UX for manufacturing, supply chain, and aerospace operations – a growing and valuable niche.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to lead the development and evolution of a critical design system for a complex enterprise application.

• Industry Exposure: Gain firsthand experience and knowledge of the aerospace and spacecraft manufacturing industry.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhance skills in stakeholder management, product strategy, and technical collaboration through close work with engineering and operations teams.

• Mentorship and Growth: Potential for mentorship from experienced leaders within a rapidly scaling startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for UX roles in complex operational environments. Success will depend on the candidate's ability to adapt, learn quickly, and apply creative problem-solving skills to these unique scenarios. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to build a career in specialized operational technology UX.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a user performing a critical job function under tight time constraints. What was the challenge, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on process, user empathy, and measurable impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a complex manufacturing execution system (MES) to improve efficiency for assembly technicians?" (Assess understanding of operational workflows, efficiency drivers, and user-centered design.)

• "Walk us through your process for creating and advocating for a design system. How do you ensure it's adopted and maintained?" (Evaluate design system expertise, collaboration, and governance skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Apex Technology's mission and the aerospace industry?" (Assess genuine interest and alignment with company goals.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and non-design stakeholders, especially those on the factory floor?" (Evaluate communication, empathy, and cross-functional collaboration skills.)

• "How do you measure the success of your UX designs, particularly in an operational context?" (Gauge understanding of metrics, ROI, and impact assessment.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a strong overview of Apex's mission and the role of Octopus. Frame your portfolio presentations around solving operational challenges.

• Deep Dive into 1-2 Key Projects: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience with enterprise tools, workflow optimization, and user research. For each, clearly articulate the problem, your process, your design decisions, and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight Design System Work: Dedicate time to showcase your capabilities in building and managing design systems, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Prepare to discuss how your designs integrate with technical constraints and how you collaborate with developers.

• Showcase Understanding of the Domain: Weave in your understanding of manufacturing processes and the specific needs of users in operational roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating practical application of UX principles within an operational context. Candidates should be ready to discuss specific methodologies, quantify impact, and articulate how their design thinking directly contributes to business and operational goals, particularly in manufacturing efficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations UX position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience with enterprise software, operational tools, workflow optimization, user research, and design system development. Use keywords from the job description to align your experience with the role's requirements.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select case studies that best showcase your ability to design for complex workflows, improve efficiency, and work with demanding user groups. Quantify your achievements whenever possible and ensure your design process is clearly articulated.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, process, and outcomes. Be ready to discuss your design system experience and your approach to user research in operational settings.

• Research Apex Technology: Understand their mission, products, and the challenges of scaling spacecraft manufacturing. This will help you tailor your application and interview responses to demonstrate a genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ 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.