UX Lead / Senior Product Designer, Model & Simulation

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Lead / Senior Product Designer, Model & Simulation

Company: Code Metal

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/Product Design (Mission-Critical Software)

Date Posted: 2026-06-03

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Flexible)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design experience for mission-critical platforms, focusing on geospatial, simulation, and mission-data workflows.

• Translate complex, domain-specific requirements from operators, engineers, and mission planners into clear, performant, and intuitive user interfaces.

• Function as a peer to the Product Manager, influencing product direction and not just executing on visual design.

• Conduct in-depth user research with hard-to-reach domain experts to uncover critical workflow needs and pain points.

• Own and maintain the company's design system, ensuring consistency and implementability for the frontend engineering team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a UX Lead/Senior Product Designer within a highly specialized, mission-critical software company. The emphasis on "Model & Simulation," "geospatial data," and "mission-critical industries" (defense, aerospace) indicates a need for a designer capable of handling complex information architecture, high-stakes decision-making interfaces, and potentially operating under strict security protocols. The role requires a blend of strategic product thinking, deep user empathy, and strong technical collaboration skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire UX lifecycle for a complex, data-dense geospatial and simulation platform, from initial concept and user research through to production-ready design specifications.

• Conduct in-depth user research with domain experts, including operators, analysts, and mission planners, to deeply understand their mental models, workflow requirements, and latent pain points.

• Translate highly technical and domain-specific requirements into clear and effective interaction patterns, information architectures, and user workflows.

• Develop and iterate on prototypes (ranging from low to high fidelity) in close collaboration with the Product Manager, facilitating rapid concept testing and validation.

• Own, evolve, and maintain the design system, defining and enforcing consistent, implementable UI standards for the frontend engineering team.

• Partner closely with frontend engineers to ensure accurate execution of design intent, participating in implementation reviews and proactively identifying fidelity gaps.

• Facilitate design reviews and research readout sessions with diverse stakeholders, including technical teams, product leadership, and external customer teams.

• Manage and mentor junior UI/UX Designers and Researchers as the team expands, establishing quality benchmarks and best practices for design processes.

• Actively contribute to product strategy by integrating user insights into roadmap discussions and advocating for user-centered decisions.

• Document design decisions, rationale, and user research findings to foster cross-functional alignment and build institutional knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level individual contributor role with leadership potential. The emphasis on "end-to-end UX," "user research with domain experts," and "owning the design system" points to a need for a self-starter with significant autonomy. The requirement to "translate highly technical, domain-specific requirements" and "partner closely with frontend engineers" underscores the importance of strong technical communication and collaboration skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, UX Design, Interaction Design, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles in complex software environments.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX design, product design, or human factors engineering, with a strong track record of delivering complex digital products.

Required Skills:

• Strong user research methodologies: Proficiency in conducting interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing, and synthesizing findings into actionable design strategies.

• Demonstrated experience designing data-dense or geospatial interfaces: Proven ability to create intuitive UIs for complex information environments such as maps, operational dashboards, or advanced data visualization tools.

• Figma proficiency: Expertise in using Figma for design, prototyping, component libraries, and comprehensive design system management.

• Ambiguity tolerance: Ability to thrive in complex, domain-heavy environments where users may struggle to articulate needs, converting incomplete requirements into clear design hypotheses.

• Excellent communication and facilitation: Skill in leading design reviews and research readouts effectively with engineers, product managers, and customer stakeholders.

• Peer collaboration with Product Managers: Experience working as a strategic partner with Product Managers, contributing to product vision and strategy.

• Strong written communication: Ability to clearly document design rationale, research findings, and workflow logic for technical and non-technical audiences.

• High autonomy: Comfort operating independently in a fast-paced, evolving environment with dynamic requirements.

• U.S. Security Clearance Eligibility: Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance. Preferred Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in UX/Product Design or Human Factors Engineering.

• Experience designing for defense, aerospace, government, or other mission-critical software sectors.

• Familiarity with military operator workflows, mission planning interfaces, or command-and-control (C2) systems.

• Experience designing within classified environments (e.g., SCIFs, air-gapped networks) with an understanding of associated constraints.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards, particularly for operational or low-light environments.

• Familiarity with frontend engineering concepts (e.g., React, component libraries) to facilitate effective communication with engineers.

• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or Top Secret).

• Experience in building or scaling a design system from its inception to a mature production state.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of deep UX craft, strategic product thinking, and specialized domain knowledge. The eligibility for a security clearance is a critical filter. The distinction between required and preferred qualifications suggests a strong preference for candidates with direct experience in mission-critical or defense-related software.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX ownership on complex projects, ideally involving data-dense or geospatial applications.

• Problem Definition: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed in each case study.

• User Research Integration: Provide evidence of user research methodologies employed (e.g., interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing) and how insights directly informed design decisions.

• Design Process & Artifacts: Include examples of user flows, information architecture, wireframes, interactive prototypes (link or video demonstration), and final UI designs.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, demonstrate experience with or contribution to design systems, including examples of reusable components and style guides.

• Collaboration Evidence: Highlight instances of collaboration with Product Managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, showcasing communication and teamwork.

• Metrics & Impact: Quantify the impact of your design solutions where possible (e.g., improved task completion time, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Mapping: Ability to document complex user workflows and identify areas for optimization and simplification.

• Design System Documentation: Experience in documenting design principles, UI patterns, and component usage guidelines for a design system.

• Research Synthesis: Skills in synthesizing qualitative and quantitative research findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX/Product Designer role, especially in a complex domain, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just showcase visual design but a robust understanding of the design process, user-centered methodologies, and the ability to translate intricate requirements into functional and usable interfaces. Emphasis on data-dense or geospatial examples is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/Product Designers in Boston, MA, with 5-10 years of experience, and considering the specialized nature of mission-critical software and the need for security clearance eligibility, the estimated salary range is $150,000 - $200,000 per year. This range can fluctuate based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final security clearance level obtained.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Care Plan: 100% premium coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement Savings: 401k plan with a generous 5% company matching contribution.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Uncapped vacation policy, supplemented by sick leave and company-observed public holidays.

• Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid or remote work options available, offering flexibility to balance work and personal life.

• Relocation Assistance: Support provided for qualifying employees relocating to the Boston area.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a flexible hybrid or remote arrangement supporting efficient workflow and data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on market data for similar roles in the Boston area, factoring in the seniority and specialized requirements. The company explicitly states they "strive to be at the upper end of the salary range." The benefits package is highly competitive, particularly the 100% premium coverage for healthcare.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Defense Technology, Aerospace, Semiconductor. Code Metal operates at the cutting edge, translating complex algorithms into deployable silicon for mission-critical applications. This means a focus on precision, reliability, and high performance.

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized (Estimated 50-200 employees based on typical startup growth phases and Ashby data). This size suggests a dynamic environment where individual contributions have a significant impact, and cross-functional collaboration is often direct and agile.

Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly provided, the company's focus on advanced technology and its presence on Ashby suggest a relatively modern, likely venture-backed or well-funded startup.

Team Structure:

• The UX/Product Design team is likely small and growing, with the UX Lead expected to build and potentially manage future hires.

• This role functions as a peer to the Product Manager, indicating a collaborative product development structure.

• Close partnership with a dedicated frontend engineering team is essential for design implementation.

• Cross-functional collaboration will extend to algorithm engineers, potentially hardware engineers, and customer-facing teams (sales, support) for research and feedback. Methodology:

• Data-driven product development: Emphasis on user research, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Agile and iterative design process: Moving quickly from concept to tested artifacts, with continuous feedback loops.

• Design system-centric approach: Prioritizing consistency, scalability, and efficient implementation through a robust design system.

• Focus on translating complex technical concepts into user-friendly interfaces.

Company Website: https://www.codemetal.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: Code Metal is positioned in a highly specialized and demanding sector. The culture likely values technical rigor, problem-solving, and direct impact. The "mission-critical" aspect implies a culture that prioritizes reliability and accuracy, which will translate into design expectations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) with a clear leadership track. As the "UX Lead," the individual is expected to set the design vision, mentor others, and potentially build out a design function. The role requires a blend of deep craft expertise and strategic product influence.

Reporting Structure: The UX Lead/Senior Product Designer will likely report directly to a Head of Product, VP of Product, or potentially a CTO, given the product-centric nature and the peer relationship with the Product Manager.

Operations Impact: The UX Lead's impact is direct and critical. By translating complex technical requirements into usable interfaces for operators, analysts, and engineers, they directly influence the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of mission-critical operations. Poor UX in this domain can have severe consequences, making the designer's role pivotal to the product's success and adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Building & Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale the UX/Product Design team, defining its structure, processes, and culture.

• Strategic Product Influence: Deep involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and shaping the future direction of a cutting-edge platform.

• Domain Expertise: Develop deep expertise in the complex domains of geospatial data, simulation, and mission-critical software, becoming a go-to authority.

• Technical Collaboration: Enhance collaboration skills with highly technical engineering teams (algorithm, software, hardware).

• Design System Ownership: Gain significant experience in developing, scaling, and maintaining a comprehensive design system for a sophisticated product.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career growth beyond standard senior design positions. The "Lead" title, coupled with the potential for team building and strategic influence in a high-impact industry, makes it attractive for ambitious designers looking for leadership challenges.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Code Metal offers a flexible hybrid or remote work arrangement. This suggests a modern workplace that prioritizes work-life balance and employee autonomy.

Office Location(s): The primary advertised location is Boston, Massachusetts. While remote work is supported, the hybrid option implies opportunities for in-person collaboration at a Boston-based office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages collaboration, likely through scheduled team days or project-specific meetups. The role demands close interaction with Product Management and Engineering.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma) and potentially specialized simulation or geospatial software for research and validation. The company likely invests in robust technology infrastructure to support its advanced product.

• Operations Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with operations teams (users) will be necessary for research and feedback, requiring the ability to engage effectively with diverse technical backgrounds.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid/remote arrangement. This flexibility is crucial for deep work often required in design and research, allowing individuals to optimize their focus time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on flexibility (hybrid/remote) is a key differentiator. For roles involving complex design and research, the ability to structure one's workday for optimal focus is highly valued. The Boston location places the company within a strong tech and aerospace/defense ecosystem.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager (likely Head of Product or similar) to delve deeper into experience, design philosophy, and role expectations.

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A more in-depth session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on relevant case studies. This may be followed by a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise focused on problem-solving within the company's domain.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Lead Engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate into the team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., CTO, CEO) for final assessment of strategic alignment and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select case studies that best demonstrate experience with data-dense, complex, or geospatial interfaces. Highlight projects where you led the UX process.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study to clearly outline the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, iteration), key decisions, challenges, and outcomes.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows, research synthesis artifacts. If possible, provide a link to an interactive prototype.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design solutions.

• Address Ambiguity: Be prepared to discuss how you approach ambiguous requirements and domain-heavy problems, as this is a key requirement.

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you partnered with PMs and engineers, and how you handled feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Domain Research: Familiarize yourself with Code Metal's industry (defense tech, simulation, geospatial) and the types of problems they solve. Understand the critical nature of their software.

• Problem-Solving Approach: Prepare to articulate your thought process for tackling a complex design problem, emphasizing user-centered methodologies and pragmatic solutions.

• System Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you approach designing for complex systems and managing information architecture.

• Design System Awareness: Understand the principles of design systems and how they facilitate efficient and consistent product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application of UX skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative ability within a specialized technical domain. The portfolio review is critical, and candidates should tailor their presentations to highlight relevant experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is explicitly required.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities are key; additional specialized tools might be used for advanced interaction design or user testing.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and potentially session recording (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the UX role, familiarity with how analytics (e.g., product analytics tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or custom dashboards) inform design decisions is beneficial. The UX Lead will need to understand how users interact with the platform post-launch. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core UX responsibilities, but understanding how user feedback is collected and managed (potentially through CRM or ticketing systems) is helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma highlights its importance. Candidates should be ready to discuss their expertise with this tool, including its advanced features for design systems and collaboration. Familiarity with the broader product development tech stack is advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of operators, analysts, and engineers in mission-critical environments.

• Technical Excellence: Pursuing high standards in design and engineering, reflecting the precision required in defense and aerospace applications.

• Collaboration & Communication: Fostering open dialogue and teamwork across disciplines to solve complex problems effectively.

• Impact & Ownership: Taking responsibility for driving meaningful outcomes and contributing directly to the company's mission.

• Adaptability & Agility: Thriving in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements and embracing continuous learning.

Collaboration Style:

• Peer-to-Peer Partnership: Working as an equal with Product Management to shape product strategy and direction.

• Close Engineering Integration: Maintaining a tight feedback loop with frontend engineers to ensure design fidelity and feasibility.

• Cross-Functional Empathy: Understanding and respecting the perspectives of domain experts, algorithm engineers, and other technical stakeholders.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Using research findings and data to guide discussions and justify design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture likely values pragmatism, technical depth, and a results-oriented approach, reflecting the high-stakes nature of their industry. The UX Lead will be instrumental in embedding user-centricity within this technically focused environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Ambiguity & Domain Complexity: Translating highly technical, often poorly articulated requirements from specialized users into intuitive interfaces.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Finding elegant design solutions that meet user demands while adhering to strict technical limitations and performance requirements.

• User Access: Gaining access to and effectively researching with hard-to-reach domain experts (e.g., military operators) who may have limited availability or operate under strict protocols.

• Security Clearance Requirements: Navigating the process of obtaining and maintaining a U.S. security clearance, which can impact workflows and collaboration.

• Building a Design Function: Establishing and scaling UX processes, standards, and potentially a team from an early stage.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in geospatial visualization, simulation environments, and mission-critical software applications.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in mentoring designers, establishing design processes, and influencing product strategy.

• Advanced UX Craft: Hone skills in complex information architecture, data visualization, and designing for high-stakes decision-making.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Expand understanding of algorithm development, embedded systems, and hardware constraints through close collaboration.

• Contribution to Cutting-Edge Technology: Work on products that have direct impact on national security and critical infrastructure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but come with substantial rewards in terms of professional development and impact. Candidates should be prepared to address these head-on, viewing them as opportunities for growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly technical or domain-specific user group. How did you approach understanding their needs and translating them into design?" (Focus on research methods, empathy, and translation skills).

• "How would you approach building a design system for a platform that integrates geospatial data, simulation, and real-time operational feeds?" (Focus on scalability, component strategy, and documentation).

• "Imagine a scenario where user requirements conflict with technical feasibility. How do you navigate this situation to find an optimal solution?" (Focus on collaboration, negotiation, and pragmatic problem-solving).

• "Walk us through a complex project from your portfolio where you led the end-to-end UX process. What were the key challenges, your approach, and the outcomes?" (Focus on structured storytelling, process demonstration, and impact). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about Code Metal's mission and the defense/aerospace technology sector?" (Research company values, mission, and recent news).

• "How do you see yourself contributing to a culture that values technical excellence and user-centricity?" (Align your values with the company's likely culture).

• "How do you prefer to collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers?" (Highlight your peer-level collaboration and integration skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Prioritize Relevance: Select 2-3 case studies that most closely align with designing complex data-dense or geospatial interfaces.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate: Problem -> Your Role -> Research & Discovery -> Design Process & Iterations -> Solution -> Outcome & Impact.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Pixels: Emphasize your thinking, decision-making, and how research informed your design choices. Include artifacts like user flows, wireframes, and key research insights.

• Demonstrate Figma Expertise: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma for prototyping, design systems, and collaboration.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, present metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, trade-offs, and challenges encountered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the design process, strong research capabilities, the ability to handle complexity, and effective collaboration. Tailoring the portfolio presentation to the specific needs of a mission-critical software company is key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Lead / Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating experience with data-dense, geospatial, or complex operational interfaces. Tailor your selected projects to highlight your ability to handle ambiguity and technical complexity.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize keywords related to UX leadership, product design, user research, design systems, Figma, geospatial/simulation UX, and any relevant industry experience (defense, aerospace). Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, research methodologies, and problem-solving approach. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio with a clear narrative.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Code Metal's mission, technology, and industry. Understand the critical nature of their software and the user base they serve to better align your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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. The requirement for security clearance eligibility is a critical factor for this role.