User Interface Designer III

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Data Science and AI Section performs scientific investigations, advanced technology research, engineering developments, and system implementations encompassing data analytics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered systems to support NASA’s space exploration missions.

The Human-Centered Design Group within this section designs user interfaces, workflows, and processes for the ground systems used by mission operations engineers to design NASA missions or command NASA spacecraft, and by scientists to understand remote sensing data and plan scientific campaigns.

The Data Science and AI section at JPL is looking for a Human-Centered Designer /User Experience Designer III to join the Human-Centered Design Group. As a member of this group, you will have an opportunity to be involved with a highly diverse engineering and science team, designing Web, AR, and VR applications for mission design and operations.

Tasks include but are not limited to:

• Requirements discovery, refinement and validation
• Uncovering, identifying and communicating new use cases for the technologies
• Designing interactions and interfaces for software
• Designing processes and procedures for human workflows
• Providing support and onboarding new users
• Demonstrating the product to new teams and driving adoption through constant improvement.
• Information architecture, service design and operations testing
• Educating partners on the appropriate uses of AI and data science for their context.
• Change management planning and processes, to help expert users adopt new ways of operating seamlessly.
• Designing and implementing clear training programs and content
• Designing and implementing internal communications products to explain complex concepts to specialized audiences

The User Interface Designer will be solely responsible for:

• Discovering and defining the real problem to be solved, on behalf of the mission or project
• Designing research studies, both short and long, to answer key questions
• Developing research materials (scripts, low fidelity prototypes, etc)
• Conducting research, alone or with help, on existing tools, workflows, behaviors, features and needs analysis.
• Identifying unmet user needs and development opportunities
• Helping the team prioritize and define the development roadmap
• Writing and presenting findings to team
• Design, prototyping, validating and refinement of the solutions identified as having merit.

Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, or a related discipline with a minimum of 6 years of related work experience; or a Master’s degree in a similar discipline with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience; or a PhD in a similar discipline with a minimum of 2 years of related work experience.

• Demonstrated understanding of UX research methods, including for augmented reality and virtual reality
• An understanding of Web, AR and VR design best practices
• Understanding of AI ethical implications, uses, technologies and potential
• A portfolio of design projects showing a strong human-centered approach and based on research.
• Experience organizing and moderating both individual research sessions and group research.
• Have a strong grasp of research methods and data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Storyboarding, wireframing, mockup and prototyping skills.
• Understanding of Agile Scrum practices and philosophies
• Software development skills for prototyping and front end production purposes
• Experience creating AI-driven science interpretation applications, agents or technologies
• Experience designing training programs or content, and understanding of didactic methodologies
• A strong portfolio demonstrating ability to solve wicked problems using design methodology and communicate complex information in clean, simple ways.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers-literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission-your opportunity-is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.