At a Glance
- Tasks: Create engaging user experiences and collaborate with cross-functional teams on innovative design projects.
- Company: Join Softwire, a top-rated tech consultancy known for its supportive culture and impactful work.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, profit share, flexible working, and generous leave options.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to make a real impact in a fast-expanding team.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design while working with talented professionals in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in UX design, strong portfolio, and experience in collaborative workshops.
The predicted salary is between 58100 - 65600 £ per year.
We’re looking for someone who loves ambiguity and thrives on painting a picture of the future that helps others see what is possible. Do you like looking at a problem from every angle? Do you enjoy pulling apart the pieces of a bigger picture and putting them back together - experimenting with solutions and new concepts as you go? We’re looking for someone who loves ambiguity and thrives on painting a picture of the future that helps others see what is possible.
Someone with experience building delightful, user-friendly, engaging experiences, thinking about the whole user journey together with cross-functional teams. This role suits someone hands-on, a few years into their career, with some experience using design facilitation skills to create a safe space for great collaborative design to happen. We value colleagues who have learned as much from failures as from successes and are humble enough to share their learnings without reservations. People who think deeply and have a point of view on everything from workshops to prototypes to work-life balance but are also able to listen to and encourage others to make their own contributions.
As you grow with us, you will have real scope to shape your own role within the team. Our design team is a wonderful mix of researchers, UI, UX and service designers working together with developers to create unique experiences that solve people’s real problems. This is a fast-expanding team within a more established agency, where you’d have the rare opportunity to follow your work across both ends of the design diamond. Unlike most agencies, we don’t stop at innovation, proof-of-concept and early-stage engagements - we have the cross-functional teams to deliver the amazing experiences we conceive. We work very closely with our clients in intense, user-focused, prototype-driven sprints that grow into long-term relationships. We don’t just design. We have impact.
Experience and qualifications:
- 5+ years’ experience working as a Product, Service or UX designer within an agency, design studio, government or in-house product environment
- Knowledge of and experience of applying design thinking methodology
- A portfolio of discovery to concept prototypes
- Experience contributing to the planning and facilitation of workshops
- A strategic mindset - you see the bigger picture where others see a single feature
- Can articulate the thinking behind your design decisions, showing impact over artefacts
- Experience working within cross-functional teams
- Understanding of how to align and prioritise business need with user needs
- Awesome hands-on skills producing prototypes and design artefacts - sketches, story-boards, user journeys, system maps, blueprints, etc.
- Creativity around methodology - you know there’s no one single "right way!"
- Ability and willingness to carry out qualitative research & user testing, solo or with team
- Comfortable helping scope projects - defining artefacts and milestones
- Work as one with the team to build consensus with senior stakeholders - turning constraints into advantage
- A big plus: experience using, experimenting with or designing solutions with AI
About Softwire:
Softwire is a leading UK technology and strategy consultancy. From enterprise to government, we help visionary organisations turn strategic ambitions into results at scale. Our practices cover AI transformation, data platforms, systems engineering advanced CX and experience design. Softwire was founded on one simple idea: be the outstanding place to work for smart, passionate technologists who want to make an impact.
What We Offer:
- Base salary is based on experience in role and ranges from £58,100 - £65,600
- You can expect to receive an average of £6,500 in profit share depending on your experience and company performance
- Pension: Additional 5% of salary
- 25 days annual leave (with the option to buy 10 and sell 5)
- 3.5 days additional days off for company-wide morale activities
- AIG income protection
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity/paternity pay
- Time off for charitable activities
- Sabbatical available on request
- Payroll charity donations
- Free annual eye test
- Long service awards
- Flexible working options and patterns (Flexible Working: The role is suitable for people who want to work 4dpw) (Hybrid Working: Generally able to work at least 2dpw from home)
Here at Softwire, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team. You’ll work with the industry’s smartest people and collaborate on leading-edge projects in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, refreshingly free of bureaucracy.
UX Designer employer: Softwire
At Softwire, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel in their roles. As the Chief Infra & Security Service Desk Lead, you will benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, a supportive team environment, and the chance to make a significant impact on our IT operations and security posture. Located in a vibrant area, our office offers a dynamic atmosphere that encourages creativity and teamwork, making it an excellent place for meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UX 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 Softwire for a UX 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 Softwire before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace UX Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like UX Designer at Softwire, 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 Softwire 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 Softwire. 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 Softwire.
How to prepare for a job interview at Softwire
✨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 Softwire, 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. Softwire 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 Softwire!
✨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 Softwire is looking for.
