Design and Human Factor, UX/UI Designer

Location: Syracuse, United States of AmericaThales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Design and Human Factor, UX/UI Designer

Syracuse, NY or Arlington, VA (Hybrid)

Position Summary

The FAA’s Brand-New Air Traffic Control System and other initiatives related to Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility are fueling the growth of Thales’ Airspace Mobility Solutions team.  We are expanding our teams in Arlington, Virginia and Syracuse, New York and seek talented individuals who want to be part of these ambitious initiatives shaping the future of aviation.  We are looking for people with a passion for aviation and ready to deliver innovative solutions built to the nation’s highest safety and security standards. America’s aviation moment is now. Thales has the solutions, experience and expertise to execute now.  Come join our journey.

Thales is looking for a Design and Human Factor, UX/UI Designer, who contributes to the design and delivery of intuitive, accessible, and visually effective user experiences for products and services, focusing on shaping clear user flows, intuitive navigation, and high-quality interface designs that support usability, consistency, and a positive overall user experience.

In this position, you will work closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to conduct user research and analysis to understand user needs, behaviors, and business requirements, translate insights into practical design solutions including user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs, support iterative design and validation activities such as usability testing and design reviews, apply established design standards, guidelines, and best practices to ensure consistency across products, and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams to deliver user interfaces that are easy to use, visually clear, and aligned with both user needs and business objectives as part of an agile product development process.

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

• US - CUI Regulatory Compliance Requirement – Must be a US Person as defined in applicable law.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Contribute to design initiatives supporting critical and security-related product features, applying user-centered design principles to improve usability and user satisfaction. Conduct and support user research activities using a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods to help identify user needs, pain points, and business requirements.
• Design and document user experiences and journeys that align with brand guidelines, the Thales Design System, available data insights, and customer feedback. Create and maintain design artifacts such as wireframes, mockups, prototypes, specifications, and reusable UI components to support consistent implementation across products and channels.
• Participate in co-creation workshops and collaborative working sessions with product, engineering, and other stakeholders to gather input and refine design solutions.
• Develop functional design deliverables, including storyboards, zoning diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, and support usability testing activities in both lab-based and remote settings. Iterate on and improve user interfaces and applications by incorporating user feedback, test results, and stakeholder input to enhance navigation, clarity, and functionality.
• Explore and apply emerging design tools, technologies, and methodologies where appropriate to support improvements in interface quality and usability. Support measurement and analysis of UX/UI effectiveness by contributing to the collection and review of relevant metrics, benchmarks, and user feedback.
• Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary, agile teams, contributing to timely delivery of high-quality design solutions that meet product and user requirements. Demonstrate curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning by staying informed of current UX/UI trends, standards, and best practices in design and technology.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Product Design, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, Computer Science (with a focus on ergonomics or design), or a related field, with 5+ years of relevant professional experience; or a Master’s degree in a related discipline with 4+ years of applicable UX/UI design experience.
• Demonstrated experience in digital user experience and user interface design, contributing to the design of user-centered solutions across web, software, or product-based environments.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of UX and visual design work, including examples of user research, interaction design, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI solutions.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools, such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Penpot, and basic 3D modeling or drawing tools, as appropriate to the role.
• Experience preparing and facilitating design workshops or collaborative sessions, supporting stakeholder engagement, ideation, and alignment.
• Strong collaborative mindset, demonstrated by the ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, communicate openly, and contribute positively to a shared delivery culture. Familiarity with design systems, including contributing to, applying, and maintaining shared UI components, patterns, and standards to ensure consistency across products.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of the national airspace system and/or an understanding of unmanned aircraft systems.
• Experience working on technology-centered programs for US Federal Gov’t Agencies (with a strong preference for FAA, DoD/DoW and/or DHS). Working knowledge of aeronautical and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems and operational environments, with an understanding of relevant industry standards, safety culture, and regulatory considerations as they relate to user experience and interface design.
• Strong foundation in user-centered design methodologies, including core design practices such as sketching, modeling, prototyping, and iterative design processes, supported by practical experience with design research methods. Hands-on experience supporting experimentation, usability testing, and iteration cycles, using test results and feedback to inform design improvements. Awareness of human factors that influence user experience, such as perception, fatigue, stress, situational awareness, motivation, and individual differences, and the ability to consider these factors in design decisions.
• Understanding of established principles and standards for organizing graphical and textual content to support clarity, readability, and usability. Basic to intermediate understanding of business fundamentals, with the ability to consider data, metrics, and business context when contributing to design solutions.
• Demonstrated creativity, resourcefulness, and attention to detail, with the ability to balance aesthetic quality and functional requirements. Openness to feedback and a continuous learning mindset, actively seeking input from peers and stakeholders to improve design outcomes and personal skill development.
• Ability to communicate design concepts clearly and effectively to a range of audiences, including product managers, engineers, and non-design stakeholders. Experience contributing to product development efforts that align user needs with business processes and operational constraints. Ability to propose and explore alternative design solutions, helping identify early signals of usability issues and potential opportunities to enhance the user experience.

Special Position Requirements

• Schedule: Either 9/80A - 1st (9hrs Mon-Thu, 8hrs 2nd Fri, Start @ 09:00AM) (United States of America) or USA - 5/40 - 1st (8hrs Mon-Fri) (United States of America).
• Travel: US and to Europe periodically is preferred, approximately 10% travel anticipated annually.

If you’re excited about working with Thales, but not meeting the requirements for this position, we encourage you to join our Talent Community!

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This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with [a] criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal law, state law, and local ordinances.

We are an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales, please contact us at talentacquisition@us.thalesgroup.com.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between

Total Target Cash (TTC) 118,487.00 - 200,000.00 USD Annual

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including – but not limited to – the employee’s career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company’s annual salary budget, the customer’s program requirements, and the company’s internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law.

(For Internal candidate, if you need more information, please reach out to your HR Shared Service, 1st Point) 

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

• Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period
• Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program