Drive design of user interfaces for aviation systems, collaborate with cross-functional teams, conduct user research, and ensure compliance with aviation standards.
About You:
You are a skilled UI/UX designer with experience designing displays in aviation, aerospace, or other safety-critical industry. You have a passion for designing displays that support operators of safety-critical systems in which an increasing number of traditionally-manual tasks are being automated. You are comfortable with and competent at working with a team of senior and junior engineers, can make and justify key decisions to the rest of the team and to stakeholders, and want to drive a team’s technical direction in close collaboration with the technical leads and engineering manager.
The Role:
- Drive the design of usable, intuitive user interfaces that enable pilots to interact with Merlin’s autonomous flight technologies.
- Conduct user research with Merlin’s pilots and potential end-users of Merlin’s systems to gather insights and validate design concepts.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (including engineers, pilots, and software developers) to design and implement user interfaces for avionics and flight control systems.
- Ensure interface designs meet aviation standards (e.g., ARINC 661, DO-178C, FAA and EASA guidelines).
- Integrate advanced design methodologies with tools such as GLStudio, Qt, Figma, or other UI development platforms.
- Explore emerging technologies (e.g., augmented reality, AI, and voice control) for application in aviation systems.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in human factors, interaction design, industrial design, computer science, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in UI/UX design, preferable in aviation, aerospace, or other safety-critical industries.
- Demonstrated track record developing usable and intuitive user interfaces that enhance user situational awareness, reduce workload, and mitigate errors.
- Proficiency in user interface development tools like GLStudio, Qt, or other real-time graphical user interface platforms.
- Experience using prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
- Familiarity with human factors principles and usability testing processes.
- Familiarity with aviation industry standards (e.g., ARINC 661, DO-178C, FAA and EASA guidelines).
- Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to convey design concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Nice to Haves:
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in human factors, interaction design, industrial design, computer science, or a related field.
- Experience using GLStudio to develop user interfaces.
- Experience with avionics systems integration and software development.
- Experience certifying pilot-vehicle interfaces on military and/or civil aircraft.
- Experience with flight testing on crewed or uncrewed aircraft.
- Familiarity with DoD and commercial open architectures such as A-GRA, OMS, FACE, and IMA.
Logistics:
- 20-30% of travel required to support team meetings, design activities, and flight testing
Top Skills
Adobe Xd
Figma
Glstudio
Qt
Sketch
Similar Jobs
Edtech
The Senior Product Designer will lead design for major product areas, create prototypes, conduct user research, and collaborate across teams to optimize product experiences and drive initiatives at Maven.
Top Skills:
CSSHTMLUiUx
Cloud • Productivity • Social Impact • Software • Analytics
As a Senior Product Designer, you'll lead the design process for core products, collaborating with cross-functional teams to create user-centered designs, conduct research, and ensure accessibility while mentoring junior designers.
Top Skills:
CSSFigmaHTMLJavaScript
Software • Web3
The Senior Design Engineer at StackBlitz will improve UI/UX, drive frontend architectural excellence, mentor team members, and implement best practices in design and development.
Top Skills:
Adobe XdCSSFigmaHTMLReactRemixSketchTailwindTypescriptWeb ComponentsWeb WorkersWebassembly
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
