UX Researcher Junior (F/H)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher Junior (F/H)

Company: Thales

Location: La Ciotat, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Design Operations

Date Posted: March 02, 2026

Experience Level: Junior (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This junior-level UX Researcher role focuses on understanding user needs and enhancing the digital product experience through rigorous user research methodologies.

• The position bridges user research, UX/UI design, and art direction, requiring a blend of analytical and creative skills.

• Key responsibilities include planning and conducting user research, synthesizing insights, and translating findings into actionable design recommendations.

• The role involves contributing to visual identity, design systems, and establishing UX quality indicators to measure product evolution impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Researcher Junior," the responsibilities also heavily involve UI design, art direction, and design system contributions. This suggests the role is a hybrid UX/UI Designer with a strong emphasis on user research, common in smaller teams or for junior roles where individuals wear multiple hats. The "F/H" designation indicates the role is open to all genders within France.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and execute comprehensive user research sessions, including in-depth interviews, usability testing, surveys, and field observations, to gather crucial user insights.

• Synthesize research findings into clear, actionable deliverables such as detailed personas, intuitive user journey maps, and analytical reports for product and design teams.

• Collaborate closely with UX/UI Designers to effectively translate user research learnings into practical, implementable design recommendations.

• Actively participate in the conceptualization of wireframes and prototypes, contributing a strong visual sense and artistic direction to the design process.

• Contribute to the definition, maintenance, and consistent application of product visual identity, including adherence to design systems, graphic charters, and style guides.

• Implement and monitor key user experience quality indicators to systematically evaluate the impact of product enhancements and design changes.

• Foster a strong UX culture within cross-functional teams by effectively communicating the importance and impact of user-centered design principles to all stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to research and design, emphasizing the translation of insights into tangible design outcomes. This is typical for junior roles where practical application and learning are paramount. The inclusion of "design system" and "graphic charter" suggests a need for consistency across Thales's digital products.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bac +3 to Bac +5 (Bachelor's to Master's degree) in UX/UI Design, Ergonomics, Graphic Design, Interaction Design, or a related field.

Experience: Ideally, prior experience in user research gained through internships, apprenticeships, or personal projects.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in qualitative and/or quantitative research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, card sorting).

• Familiarity with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.

• A strong aesthetic sensibility for visual design, typography, and composition, with a passion for art direction.

• Professional-level English proficiency for effective communication in a global organization.

• Curiosity, empathy, and rigor in approach to research and design challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research tools like Maze, Lookback, or Hotjar.

• Understanding of design system principles and implementation.

• Familiarity with defining and tracking UX quality indicators.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "professional-level English" is crucial given Thales's international presence. The emphasis on both design tools and research tools indicates a need for a versatile candidate. The inclusion of specific software examples (Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Maze, Lookback, Hotjar) is valuable for candidates to tailor their applications.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of user research projects, clearly outlining the research problem, methodology used, and key findings.

• Case studies showcasing the process from user research insights to final design solutions, highlighting iterative design improvements.

• Examples of contributions to visual design, including UI mockups, prototypes, and art direction elements.

• Evidence of understanding and contributing to design systems, style guides, or graphic charters.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to planning and conducting user research, detailing participant recruitment, script development, and data collection methods.

• Illustrate the synthesis process, showing how raw data was transformed into actionable insights, personas, and journey maps.

• Provide examples of collaboration workflows with design and product teams, demonstrating effective communication and integration of research findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior role, the portfolio is critical for demonstrating potential and foundational skills. Candidates should focus on showcasing their thought process, research methodology, and how they translated research into design. Even personal projects can be valuable if well-documented.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: (Not specified in the job description)

• Estimated Range for Junior UX Researcher in La Ciotat, France: €30,000 - €42,000 per year.
  • Methodology: This estimate is based on junior-level UX/UI roles in the technology sector in France, specifically in regions with a similar cost of living to La Ciotat. Data was sourced from French job boards and salary aggregate sites, adjusted for the junior experience level and the hybrid work arrangement.

Benefits:

• Attractive compensation package.

• Continuous skills development through training programs, internal academies, and communities.

• An inclusive and caring work environment that respects employee balance.

• Recognized commitment to societal and environmental responsibility.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time in France).

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are standard for large international corporations like Thales. The salary estimate is a general guideline; actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and final negotiation. The mention of "40 hours per week" is typical for France, though flexibility might be implied by the hybrid arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: High Technology (Defense & Security, Aeronautics & Space, Cyber & Digital).

Company Size: Large (Thales has nearly 81,000 employees globally).

Founded: 2000 (Thales Group).

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Product/Design team at the La Ciotat site, which specializes in digital identity and security.

• The team structure likely involves collaboration with UX/UI Designers, Product Managers, and potentially engineers.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on building a "future of trust" through high technology.

• Commitment to innovation, investing heavily in R&D (e.g., AI, cybersecurity, quantum).

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the focus on UX quality indicators and user research insights.

• A user-centered approach is core to the UX Researcher role.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Thales is a significant player in global technology, known for its robust engineering and security focus. This means the UX role will likely operate within a highly regulated and secure environment, requiring attention to detail and compliance. The La Ciotat site's specialization in digital identity and security is a key context for the role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Junior UX Researcher. This level is focused on learning, executing defined research tasks, and supporting senior team members. It's an entry point into UX research and design within a large corporation.

Reporting Structure: Reports to a lead within the Product/Design team, likely a UX Lead or Design Manager, at the La Ciotat site.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is on improving the usability, desirability, and effectiveness of Thales's digital products related to identity and security. This directly influences user adoption, satisfaction, and potentially the security posture of users interacting with these systems.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in various user research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and gain hands-on experience with advanced UX/UI design and art direction.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize further in UX research, UI design, or design systems, depending on project focus and individual development.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Exposure to different product lines within digital identity and security, and collaboration with diverse engineering and product teams.

• Leadership Potential: With experience, progression to mid-level UX Researcher, Senior UX Researcher, or UX Design Lead roles within Thales.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior role at a company like Thales, growth is often structured. Candidates should look for opportunities to gain broad experience and then specialize. The company's commitment to continuous learning is a significant advantage for career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Likely a modern office environment within Thales's La Ciotat campus, designed for collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): La Ciotat, France – a coastal location on the Mediterranean.

Workspace Context:

• A hybrid work environment, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Expect a collaborative atmosphere with access to modern design and research tools.

• Opportunities for interaction with diverse teams, including product management, engineering, and fellow designers/researchers.

• The La Ciotat site's focus on digital identity and security may imply a secure and structured working environment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (40 hours/week) with potential for some flexibility given the hybrid arrangement, balancing research activities, design work, and team meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature suggests a balance between independent work and collaborative sessions. The specific location in La Ciotat offers a unique work-life balance opportunity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess foundational skills and alignment with role requirements.

• Technical Interview: Discussion focused on UX research methodologies, design principles, tool proficiency (Figma, etc.), and understanding of visual design. Expect questions about past projects and problem-solving approaches.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents selected case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating their research process, design thinking, and impact.

• Behavioral/Cultural Fit Interview: Assessment of curiosity, empathy, teamwork, communication skills, and alignment with Thales's values. May involve scenario-based questions.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or hiring manager to discuss overall fit and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or chronologically. For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, the process, your contributions, the outcomes, and learnings.

• Research Focus: For this role, heavily emphasize your user research process. Detail how you planned, recruited, conducted, and analyzed research. Show how insights directly led to design decisions.

• Visual Design: Showcase your visual design skills through well-crafted UI mockups and prototypes. Highlight your understanding of typography, color theory, and composition.

• Design System Contribution: If you have experience with or understanding of design systems, showcase how you've applied or could apply them for consistency.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most impactful projects concisely, focusing on quality over quantity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss hypothetical UX research scenarios and how you would approach them.

• Prepare to articulate your design rationale and defend your design choices, linking them back to user needs and research findings.

• Practice explaining complex UX concepts and research findings in simple terms for non-UX stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this junior role. Candidates should select projects that best demonstrate their research capabilities and visual design sensibility, aligning with the responsibilities outlined.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch (familiarity with at least one is expected).

• User Research Tools: Maze, Lookback, Hotjar (experience with any of these is a plus).

• Collaboration Tools: Likely standard office suites (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace) and internal Thales collaboration platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for synthesizing and presenting research data (e.g., Miro, Mural for affinity mapping, presentation software like PowerPoint/Google Slides).

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified for this role, but understanding how UX impacts CRM and customer engagement systems would be beneficial context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is increasingly becoming an industry standard, so candidates should highlight this if applicable. Familiarity with a range of research tools demonstrates adaptability.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Trust: Central to Thales's mission, implying a culture of integrity, reliability, and security.

• Innovation: A commitment to pushing technological boundaries and investing in R&D.

• Excellence: Striving for high technical achievement and quality in products and services.

• Collaboration: Working together across disciplines and geographies to achieve shared goals.

• Inclusivity: Valuing diversity and creating a supportive environment for all employees.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, working closely with UX/UI designers, product managers, and potentially engineers.

• Emphasis on clear communication and the ability to translate complex user insights into actionable steps for product development.

• A culture that encourages sharing knowledge and best practices within the design and research community.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thales's emphasis on "trust" and "security" likely translates into a methodical and detail-oriented approach within the design and research teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research and Design: Effectively managing time between conducting research, analyzing data, contributing to design, and maintaining visual consistency.

• Translating Insights: The ongoing challenge of effectively translating complex user research findings into clear, actionable design recommendations that resonate with product and engineering teams.

• Navigating a Large Organization: Understanding and working within the processes and structures of a large, global technology company.

• User Research in Sensitive Domains: Conducting research within the defense, security, or digital identity sectors may involve unique ethical considerations or access limitations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Methodological Depth: Deepen expertise in a wide range of UX research techniques and design practices.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in critical technology sectors like cybersecurity and digital identity.

• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance from experienced UX professionals within Thales.

• Formal Training: Access to internal training programs and potentially external certifications to enhance skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is an excellent entry point for learning and development in a highly respected technology company, offering exposure to complex and impactful digital products.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used user research to influence a design decision. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, the insight, and the resulting design change.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a digital identity product, starting from scratch?" (Outline your research plan, user needs identification, and iterative design process.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working at Thales, specifically in digital identity and security?" (Research Thales's mission and values, and connect them to your interests.)

• "How do you ensure inclusivity and empathy in your user research process?" (Discuss your methods for recruiting diverse participants and conducting inclusive interviews.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 strong projects: Choose projects that best showcase your user research skills, design execution, and understanding of visual design/art direction.

• Tell a story: For each project, walk the interviewers through your journey – the problem, your approach, your key findings, how you translated them into solutions, and the impact.

• Highlight your role: Be clear about your specific contributions, especially if it was a team project.

• Quantify impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples from your past work or academic projects that clearly demonstrate the skills and responsibilities outlined in the job description.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight any experience in user research, UX/UI design, art direction, and relevant tools (Figma, Adobe XD, etc.). Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio: Ensure it clearly showcases your user research process, design work, and any contributions to visual identity or design systems. Be ready to present it.

• Research Thales: Understand the company's mission, its focus on digital identity and security, and its values. Prepare to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture.

• Practice your interview responses: Be ready to discuss your projects, methodologies, and problem-solving approach, particularly in relation to user research and design.

⚠️ 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.

---