🚀 User Experience (UX) Manager for Commercial Space Infrastructures

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Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high‑tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators) have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of UX designers and researchers focusing on space infrastructure applications.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment, providing guidance and support for team members' professional development.
• Conduct and oversee user research activities specific to space environments, including contextual inquiries, task analyses, and user interviews with astronauts and mission control personnel.
• Analyze user behavior and feedback to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement in space operations contexts.
• Develop and implement UX design strategies tailored to the unique requirements of space infrastructure systems.
• Create and present wireframes, prototypes, and design specifications addressing life support systems, navigation tools, control interfaces, and other space applications.
• Work closely with engineers, scientists, product managers, astronauts, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of UX designs into space infrastructure development.
• Advocate for user‑centered design principles and best practices, emphasizing usability in harsh and unique space environments.
• Ensure products meet high standards for usability, accessibility, and visual design, considering constraints and challenges of space operations.
• Conduct usability testing in simulated or actual space environments and incorporate feedback into design iterations.
• Monitor and analyze UX performance metrics to measure effectiveness of designs and identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in UX design and research relevant to space infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human‑Computer Interaction (HCI), UX Design, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience (typically 5+ years) in UX design and research, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of UX design projects, preferably with experience in space, aerospace, or related industries.
• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, or similar.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and decisions to stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of user research methodologies, usability testing, and data analysis.
• Experience working in Agile or other iterative development environments.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and guidelines, with a focus on the unique constraints of space infrastructures.
• Behavioral competencies: strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail; collaborative and open‑minded with a willingness to learn and adapt; empathy for users and a passion for creating exceptional user experiences; ability to balance multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Special Considerations

• Familiarity with the unique challenges of designing for zero‑gravity or low‑gravity environments.
• Understanding of space mission protocols and regulatory standards related to space infrastructures.
• Ability to work under the pressure of tight deadlines and high‑stakes projects in a pioneering field.

The User Experience Manager for Space Infrastructures will play a pivotal role in advancing space operations by ensuring that the tools and systems used by astronauts and mission control are user‐friendly, efficient, and conducive to successful missions. If you are passionate about UX design and motivated by the challenge of pioneering new frontiers in space infrastructure, we encourage you to apply.

At Thales Alenia Space we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales Alenia Space employing around 8,900 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US, our mobility policy enables employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth #SpaceForLife. Great journeys start here, apply now!