At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative interfaces for mission-critical software in defence tech.
- Company: Join Arondite, a cutting-edge startup backed by top investors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, health insurance, and free meals.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security with your design skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in UI design, user interviews, and enterprise software.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About Arondite
Arondite enables organisations to wield autonomy, data and AI at scale. We equip operators with the foundational software to orchestrate their mix of platforms and capabilities, and then take mission-critical decisions faster than their adversaries. We exist to ensure the UK and its allies out-think, out-pace and out-adapt those who seek to threaten our values and way of life. Our technology is designed for deployment in the world’s most austere environments, and is relied upon by the world’s most demanding operators. We deploy alongside them, bringing our technical expertise wherever it is needed.
You will join Arondite at a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. We are ambitious, building for the long-term and backed by globally renowned investors including Index Ventures (Anthropic, Wiz, Figma, Revolut). Our company is being built by exceptional engineers - people who find high-impact and technically challenging work engaging and exciting, and who consistently deliver outsized impact. You will collaborate with other brilliant minds to solve some of the world’s hardest and most important problems.
You will have ownership and autonomy from Day One. There is no corporate ladder at Arondite. From your first day, you will directly influence the design, functionality, and direction of Arondite’s product offering. We hire the best people and give them extremely high levels of autonomy; the sky is the limit for an individual with the right ambition.
If you are motivated by our mission and if you want to be part of a growing team of outstanding people, then we want to hear from you.
About the role
Unlike most defence tech, design is a first-class citizen at Arondite. To accomplish our vision, we believe it's crucial our software is unmistakable in mission-critical scenarios, governed by careful design decisions and rigorous safeguarding along the way. As the third design member, you’ll have a direct impact on the future of human-machine teaming in this industry, alongside strong influence on the product vision, visual direction, and design culture at Arondite.
You’ll be working on our flagship product, Cobalt. Cobalt is an operating system for connected defence. It provides users with a wide range of capabilities, from geospatial terrain analysis and annotation to complex mission planning, where users have to coordinate the actions of humans and autonomous devices working in the same environment. The work you’ll be doing here will be in entirely new and unexplored problem spaces.
Your work will have direct relevance to mission-critical environments and to the national security priorities of the UK and NATO. You will be expected to move quickly, think rigorously, and collaborate closely with users and internal teams to ensure Arondite builds software that solves the right problems in the right way.
About you
- Experience: We don’t have a strict YOE requirement. Instead, we’re looking for somebody who can demonstrate they’ve shipped world-class interfaces which have solved real user problems, whether that’s by working in big tech or from launching your own side project.
- How you work: You’re a designer who uses AI to move beyond a Figma handoff. You’re comfortable jumping into the frontend to tweak and polish the final 10%. You have an eye for craft. You understand how to create a high-quality, lovable product while balancing speed. You'll have the courage to ask questions, experiment, and advocate for what you feel is right for the user.
- How you work with others: You can voice a design perspective with high conviction but open-mindedness. You’re an empathetic, collaborative teammate who can provide and take constructive feedback with no ego. You’re comfortable working in fast-moving environments where priorities may change and engineering ships quickly.
What you’ll do
- Ship the best design work of your career, raising the bar for visual design and craft in a way that showcases Arondite as a leader in the space.
- Design tailored interfaces that provide the correct level of technical clarity for different user personas and stakeholders.
- Carefully curate the product’s architecture and general user experience as Cobalt grows.
- Understand and empathise with our users to create a solution that best solves the problems they face. This may mean having to define and communicate the ‘new’ way of doing things.
- Develop an AI-native design process that produces the right artefacts at the right time: from running in-person workshops to prototyping with Cursor & Claude Code.
Requirements
- You should have:
- Experience conducting user interviews
- Experience of handling and contributing to a design system
- Experience designing enterprise-grade software for both desktop and mobile environments
- Skill in UI prototyping tools such as Figma and/or Adobe XD
- Ideally, you would also have:
- Experience designing geospatial applications for both desktop and mobile applications
- Understanding of interfaces for controlling robotic systems
- Familiarity with HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Typescript
- Ability to create or modify designs in frontend frameworks such as React
Note: We want Arondite to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We don't expect everyone to have experience across each of these areas. Please apply even if you only partially fulfil this list.
Application process
- Stage 1: Application and Portfolio. Fill in the application form and respond to each of the questions. We value thoughtful, considered responses - it really helps us understand more about you before we meet you. As part of this, please share a link to your portfolio - if there is a password then please share this as well.
- Stage 2: Initial Phone Screen (30min)
- Stage 3: Portfolio Review and Problem Solving Exercise (2hr) If selected, you will then be invited for an interview at our office in Farringdon, London. The first half will be a case study review where we'll walk through some of your past work. The second half is a problem solving exercise to help us understand your design process. For the problem solving exercise, there's no need to prepare anything. You will also have the opportunity to meet more of the team when you visit.
- Stage 4: Final Interview (30min) You will speak with one of our Founders who can answer any questions you might have about the company and discuss more about your motivations for joining a fast growing defence technology startup.
- Stage 5: Offer.
Office vs hybrid working
We are focused on building a positive, collaborative engineering-driven culture. As a result, we believe in making the office a friendly, comfortable and fun place to be and we try to work from the office where possible. Of course, there are times when it makes sense for you to work from home. You may also need to travel to visit customers, depending on your role. But in general you should only apply to join Arondite if you're excited to come into the office and work in person by default. For most of us, this usually means at least 3 days a week.
Benefits
- Highly competitive base salary
- Generous equity in EMI Options in a well-funded and growing startup
- 7% employer pension contribution
- Free meals in the office every day
- Private health and dental insurance, with opt-in cover for dependents
- Cycle to work scheme
- Relocation support
- Visa sponsorship for extremely strong candidates
- Access to any resources, equipment and training that you need to do your job in a world-class way
- The opportunity to work with and learn from exceptional colleagues with excellent academic experience and deep industry knowledge
Product Designer employer: Arondite
Arondite is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where engineers are empowered with high levels of autonomy from Day One. Located in the UK, we offer competitive salaries, generous equity options, and comprehensive benefits including private health insurance and a supportive environment for personal development. Join us to tackle meaningful challenges alongside brilliant minds, while enjoying a vibrant office atmosphere and opportunities for growth in a mission-driven company.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Designer
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Arondite for a Product Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Arondite before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Product Designer at Arondite, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Arondite does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Arondite. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Arondite.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arondite
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Arondite, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Arondite might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Arondite!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Arondite is looking for.
