UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: KLA

Location: Newport, Wales, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-15

Experience Level: 2-5 Years (Based on AI analysis of experience requirements)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop intuitive user interfaces and workflows for technical users, enhancing the efficiency of engineering and operations teams within the semiconductor industry.

• Contribute to the full UX lifecycle, from initial problem framing and user research to high-fidelity design, prototyping, and seamless handoff to development teams.

• Drive user-centered design principles and methodologies to create user-friendly and effective digital products and internal tools.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, to ensure design feasibility and alignment with strategic project goals.

• Maintain and contribute to design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices across various product interfaces and technical applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is situated within KLA's Central Engineering Group, specifically supporting the SPTS division, which designs wafer processing solutions for the semiconductor industry. This context implies a need for designing interfaces for complex, data-heavy technical products. The AI-derived experience level of "2-5 years" suggests this is an intermediate role, not entry-level nor senior management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries, to deeply understand the needs and pain points of technical users.

• Perform usability testing on prototypes and existing interfaces to identify areas for improvement and validate design decisions.

• Translate research findings and user needs into detailed wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system, including style guides, component libraries, and pattern documentation, to ensure a consistent and scalable user experience.

• Collaborate with product managers to define project scope, requirements, and success metrics for UX/UI initiatives.

• Partner with software engineers throughout the development lifecycle to ensure accurate implementation of designs and to provide necessary design specifications and assets.

• Advocate for user-centered design principles and best practices, educating stakeholders on the value of UX/UI in product development.

• Stay current with industry trends, emerging design tools, and innovative UX/UI patterns, particularly those relevant to technical and enterprise software.

• Contribute to the accessibility and localization efforts for designed interfaces, ensuring products are usable by a diverse global audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on research and analysis, which is critical for designing complex technical systems. The mention of "data-heavy or technical products" and "comfort with tables, filters, states, and validation" suggests a focus on functional interfaces rather than purely aesthetic ones, requiring a deep understanding of information architecture and interaction design for sophisticated applications.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Ideally hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Design (B. Design), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field. Experience:

• Proven experience in product/UX design, with a portfolio showcasing shipped work in complex or multi-step applications.

• Experience working with data-heavy or technical products, demonstrating comfort with managing and presenting complex information through tables, filters, states, and validation mechanisms. Required Skills:

• Interaction Design: Expertise in designing intuitive and efficient user interactions for complex systems.

• Prototyping: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes using tools like Figma/FigJam.

• UI Craft: Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

• User Research: Experience conducting user research methodologies to gather actionable insights.

• Usability Testing: Ability to plan, execute, and synthesize findings from usability studies.

• Wireframing: Skill in creating low-fidelity wireframes to map out user flows and screen layouts.

• Figma/FigJam Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in using Figma and FigJam for design and collaboration.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present design rationale and collaborate effectively within a team.

• Portfolio: A compelling portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end problem-solving capabilities and your specific contributions within a team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to the development and maintenance of design systems and component libraries.

• Accessibility: Familiarity with designing for accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Localization: Understanding of localization considerations in user interface design.

• Design Tokens: Exposure to design tokens for managing design system consistency.

• Technical Product Design: Experience designing for enterprise software, scientific instruments, or complex technical applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating "end-to-end problem solving" and "contribution within a team" is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design process, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the impact of their work, particularly in a collaborative setting. The preference for experience in "data-heavy or technical products" signals a need for designers who can handle complexity and present information clearly.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Problem Solving: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 projects that demonstrate your ability to take a design challenge from initial research and concept development through to final implementation and iteration.

• Team Collaboration Evidence: Clearly articulate your role and contributions within each project, highlighting how you collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other designers. Include examples of how you received and incorporated feedback.

• User-Centricity: Demonstrate a clear user-centered approach in your case studies, explaining how user research and testing informed your design decisions and led to improved user outcomes.

• Technical/Data-Heavy Application Focus: Prioritize projects that involved designing for complex systems, data visualization, intricate workflows, or technical interfaces, showcasing your ability to handle intricate requirements.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Articulation: Be prepared to verbally walk through your design process for key projects, detailing your methodology for problem framing, research, ideation, prototyping, and validation.

• Decision Rationale: Clearly explain the rationale behind key design decisions, referencing user data, usability testing feedback, or business requirements as justification.

• Tool Proficiency Showcase: Highlight your proficiency with design tools such as Figma and FigJam, demonstrating how you leverage their features for efficient workflow and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component for this role. Candidates should curate their portfolio to specifically address the needs of designing for technical users and complex systems. It should not just be a collection of visually appealing designs, but a narrative that showcases problem-solving skills, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the UX/UI process within a technical context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The salary for this UX/UI Designer role in Newport, United Kingdom, is estimated to be between £45,000 and £65,000 per annum. This range accounts for the specified experience level (2-5 years), the specialized nature of UX/UI design for technical products, and the cost of living in the Newport region. Individual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and interview performance.

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days per year, plus bank holidays, providing ample time for rest and personal pursuits.

• Contributory Pension Scheme: A robust pension plan to support long-term financial security.

• Cash Health Plan: Assistance with healthcare costs, offering flexibility and peace of mind.

• Cycle to Work Scheme: Encourages sustainable commuting and promotes employee well-being.

• Global Bonus Plan: Opportunity for performance-based financial rewards.

• Share Scheme: Potential to benefit from the company's growth and success.

• Rewards Scheme: Recognition and incentives for contributions.

• Life Assurance: Provides financial security for beneficiaries.

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. Specific daily start and end times may be flexible, subject to team coordination and operational needs, especially given the on-site work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical UX/UI Designer roles in the UK with 2-5 years of experience, adjusted for the specific location (Newport) and the specialized industry (semiconductor/high-tech manufacturing). Benefits are comprehensive, reflecting KLA's commitment to employee well-being and long-term engagement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing and Services. KLA provides advanced process control and process-enabling solutions critical for manufacturing wafers, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards, and flat panel displays. The SPTS division specializes in wafer processing solutions.

Company Size: KLA is a large, established global corporation, indicated by its extensive presence and structured hiring processes. This size suggests opportunities for career advancement and exposure to diverse projects, but also a structured, process-driven environment.

Founded: KLA was founded in 1997, indicating a company with a significant history and established market presence in the technology sector.

Team Structure:

• Central Engineering Group: The role is within this group, suggesting a focus on internal tools, platforms, and engineering support functions rather than direct product design for external customers.

• SPTS Division Support: The work will directly support KLA's SPTS division, which deals with advanced etch and deposition process technologies. This means the UX/UI work will be for engineers and operators working with sophisticated manufacturing equipment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role explicitly requires close collaboration with product managers and engineers, indicating a matrixed team environment where designers work alongside technical experts.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: The company emphasizes a user-centered approach, valuing research and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Data-Driven Insights: Expect to leverage data from user research, usability studies, and potentially product usage analytics to drive design improvements.

• Continuous Learning & Iteration: The company culture fosters continuous learning and provides mentorship, suggesting an environment where iterative design and skill development are encouraged.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: KLA's position in the semiconductor industry means the user base for this role's designs will be highly technical. Understanding the complexities of semiconductor manufacturing processes and the needs of engineers and operators in such environments will be key to success. The company's global presence implies a need for designs that are internationally relevant and adhere to global standards.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate UX/UI Designer. It requires a solid foundation in UX/UI principles and practical experience in shipping complex applications, but not necessarily the strategic leadership or extensive experience expected of a Senior or Lead UX Designer. The focus is on execution and contribution within a defined design process.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Central Engineering Group, likely to a UX/UI Lead or Manager within that group. Collaboration will extend to product management and engineering teams, forming project-specific work groups.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant as it directly influences the efficiency and effectiveness of engineering and operations teams. By simplifying complex processes and creating intuitive interfaces, the designer contributes to reduced training times, fewer errors, improved productivity, and ultimately, better operational outcomes for KLA and its customers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas like interaction design for complex systems, data visualization, or design system management.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain valuable experience working closely with highly technical engineering teams, deepening understanding of the semiconductor manufacturing domain.

• Mentorship: Benefit from mentorship from experienced designers and engineers within the Central Engineering Group.

• Design System Contribution: Play a key role in evolving KLA's internal design systems, which can be a significant career differentiator.

• Potential for Advancement: With demonstrated success and growth, career progression could lead to Senior UX/UI Designer, Lead Designer, or UX Manager roles within KLA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Central Engineering Group" context is key here. This role is about improving internal tools and platforms that support KLA's core engineering and manufacturing operations. Growth will likely come from tackling increasingly complex engineering challenges through design, and potentially leading initiatives within the design system or specific tool development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site" in Newport, United Kingdom. This suggests a traditional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work. KLA's commitment to an inclusive environment likely means a well-equipped and professional workspace.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Newport, Wales. Specific details about the office amenities and accessibility would be available during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment will likely facilitate in-person collaboration with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers, enabling spontaneous brainstorming and detailed design reviews.

• Tools and Technology: Access to standard office technology and design software (Figma, FigJam) will be provided. The nature of the work implies the need for robust computing resources to handle design software and potentially large datasets for analysis.

• Operations Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the engineering and operations teams that will use the designed interfaces will be integral to the role, fostering a direct link between design work and operational impact.

Work Schedule:

• The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, KLA may offer some degree of flexibility regarding daily start and end times, subject to team coordination and operational requirements. This flexibility would be discussed during the hiring process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being on-site in Newport is a key aspect. This implies a structured work environment where face-to-face collaboration is prioritized. Candidates should consider how they thrive in such settings and how they would leverage in-person interactions to enhance their design process and team integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: This is a critical stage. Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discussing 1-2 key projects in detail. Expect questions about your design process, problem-solving approach, contributions to team projects, and how you handle technical constraints or complex data. Proficiency in Figma/FigJam will be assessed.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or a lead designer from the Central Engineering Group to delve deeper into your experience, skills, and how you align with the team's needs and KLA's culture.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: You may meet with product managers and/or engineers to assess your collaboration skills and ability to work effectively with technical stakeholders.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader, followed by an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your experience with complex, data-heavy applications and your end-to-end design process.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you encountered, your design solutions, and the impact/outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly detail how you worked with engineers, product managers, and other team members. Provide examples of constructive feedback received and incorporated.

• Focus on Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design choices, backing them up with research, user testing, or business objectives.

• Showcase Figma/FigJam Use: Demonstrate how you effectively use these tools for prototyping, collaboration, and creating design system components.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This will likely involve a problem statement related to a technical interface or workflow.

• Focus on Process: For any design challenge, emphasize your thought process, how you would approach research, ideation, and potential solutions, even if you can't complete a full high-fidelity design within the given time.

• Technical Considerations: If presented with a technical problem, demonstrate an understanding of how technical constraints might influence design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process thoroughly and demonstrate how they translate complex user needs into functional, user-friendly interfaces for technical applications. Highlighting collaboration and problem-solving within a team context will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma/FigJam: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaborative ideation. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to or working within established design systems and component libraries.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial, though Figma is the primary focus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).

• Data Analysis (Basic): Ability to interpret qualitative data from user research and usability testing. Understanding of how to link design decisions to potential operational impact metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not primary for this UX/UI role, understanding how user interfaces integrate with backend systems, databases, and potentially CRM or workflow automation platforms can be advantageous for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma/FigJam as required skills means candidates must be highly proficient. The role also implies an understanding of how design systems function and the importance of accessibility and localization, suggesting a need for awareness of broader design best practices beyond just visual design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of technical users, ensuring that designs are intuitive and efficient.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong working relationships across product, engineering, and other design teams to achieve common goals.

• Excellence & Innovation: Striving for high-quality design solutions that push the boundaries of user experience within technical domains.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research, testing, and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of always seeking ways to enhance user experience, processes, and personal skills.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively participating in cross-functional team meetings, contributing design perspectives to product strategy and technical discussions.

• Constructive Feedback: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes to drive collective improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design knowledge, best practices, and insights with colleagues to foster a learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: KLA's emphasis on "problem-solvers" and "expert teams" suggests a culture that values technical acumen and collaborative problem-solving. For a UX/UI designer, this means being able to engage with complex technical challenges and contribute design solutions that are both user-friendly and technically sound.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Technical Users: Translating highly complex technical processes and data into intuitive and efficient user interfaces requires deep understanding and empathy for a specialized user base.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Navigating the trade-offs between ideal user experience and the technical feasibility or existing architecture of complex systems.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across various internal tools and platforms, especially as the product suite evolves.

• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the effectiveness of design improvements in terms of operational efficiency, error reduction, and user satisfaction for technical users.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Specialization: Opportunities to focus on specific areas like interaction design for complex systems, data visualization, or enterprise UX.

• Domain Expertise Development: Gaining in-depth knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes and the specific needs of engineers and operators.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to guidance from senior designers and engineers within KLA.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for attending relevant UX/UI conferences or training sessions to stay abreast of the latest trends and techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be understanding the intricate workflows and data requirements of semiconductor engineers and operators. Successful candidates will demonstrate an aptitude for learning complex domains and translating that knowledge into user-centered design solutions that directly enhance operational efficiency.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process Deep Dive: Be prepared to walk through your entire design process for 1-2 key portfolio projects. Focus on how you identified the problem, conducted research, ideated solutions, prototyped, tested, and iterated. Explain why you made specific choices.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Discuss how you've collaborated with engineers and product managers on complex projects. How do you handle disagreements or conflicting requirements? How do you ensure designs are implemented accurately?

• Problem-Solving Approach: Present a hypothetical scenario or a past challenge where you had to design for a complex, data-heavy interface. How would you break down the problem? What are your initial steps?

Company & Culture Questions:

• KLA's Business: Research KLA Corporation, its mission, and the role of the SPTS division. Understand the semiconductor industry context.

• Team Fit: Reflect on how your collaborative style and values align with KLA's emphasis on problem-solving and continuous learning.

• Impact Focus: Be ready to discuss how you measure the success of your designs and how you link UX/UI improvements to business or operational outcomes.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Problem, Your Role, Process, Solution, Impact, Learnings.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (screenshots, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points.

• Concise Narration: Focus on the most critical aspects of each project. Avoid getting bogged down in minor details.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the positive impact of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges, and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will heavily weigh your ability to articulate your design process and demonstrate how you solve problems for technical users. Be ready to discuss your specific contributions to team projects and how you've handled complex requirements and cross-functional collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio clearly highlights projects involving complex systems, data-heavy applications, and your end-to-end design process. Tailor your project selection and descriptions to align with KLA's focus on technical users.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize keywords such as UX/UI Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Figma, User Research, Usability Testing, Design Systems, and any experience with technical or data-intensive products. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and collaborative contributions. Prepare answers for common UX/UI interview questions and role-specific scenarios.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research KLA Corporation, its products, the semiconductor industry, and the SPTS division to understand the context of the role 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.