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Thales are hiring a

UX Designer

Location: Ottawa, Canada

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrows possible.

For decades, Ottawa has been a global technology leader. Today, Canadas capital holds one of the brightest and most diverse technological ecosystems in North America. Voted as Canadas best place to live 2017 by Macleans, Ottawa offers a low cost of living with a high quality of life. The Thales Ottawa office has been a major supplier and long-term trusted partner to DND, enabling the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard to achieve mission success.

This is for a Hybrid role in Ottawa, ON. Note that role can be hired in Halifax, NS (east coast) and Victoria/Vancouver, BC (west coast).

Position Summary

We have a current vacancy for a UX Designer to join our Team in Ottawa, ON. Thales Canada, Defence & Security is engaged in supporting the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) through its In-Service Support (ISS) Programs. Between the AOPS & JSS In-Service Support (AJISS) and Minor Warships & Auxiliary Vessels (MWAV) programs, Thales Canada provides support to over 70% of the RCN fleet. Thales Canada is leveraging cutting edge solutions to deliver preventative and corrective maintenance, Integrated Logistics Support (ILS), Program Management, Engineering and Lifecycle Material Management (LCMM), and new capabilities to numerous platforms.

Thales Canada is looking for a UX Designer to assist in the ongoing modernization and digitization efforts in our naval in-service support programs. The UX Designer will be responsible for turning complex operational requirements into clear, safe, and effective user interfaces that help naval crews and shore-based operators to operate, fight, maintain, and train more efficiently. The role combines user-centred design methods with a deep understanding of operational constraints to create interfaces and interactions that support mission success in demanding environments.

Regulatory Compliance Requirements:

  • Canada
  • Access to Trade Controlled Hardware, Software, Technical Information
  • Controlled Goods Program Clearance
  • Security Clearance

Describe Specific need:

  • Requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the Canadian Export Control List, the ITAR or the EAR and COMSEC
  • Requires a positive Controlled Goods assessment as you will have direct access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program
  • Required to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance at the NATO Secret Level

Key Areas of Responsibility

UX Concept & Interaction Design

  • Define information architecture, navigation structures and interaction patterns for complex multi function consoles, command centres, and support tools.
  • Design low to high fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes and storyboards for operational and maintenance interfaces.
  • Ensure designs support situational awareness, quick decision making, and minimisation of operator workload and error.
  • Collaborate with Human Factors / Ergonomics experts to apply relevant standards and usability principles.

Prototyping, Testing & Validation

  • Build interactive prototypes (from clickable mock ups to high fidelity simulations) for user evaluation in labs or realistic environments.
  • Plan and conduct usability tests and validation sessions with end users (including scenario based and time critical tasks).
  • Analyse feedback and test results, iterating the design to balance usability, safety and performance.
  • Support formal verification & validation campaigns and acceptance reviews with the customer.

Collaboration with Engineering & Product Teams

  • Work closely with system engineers, software developers, product owners and ILS teams to ensure feasible and implementable designs.
  • Translate operational and system requirements into UX/UI specifications, wireframes, and detailed design documentation.
  • Provide UX guidance during implementation, participate in design reviews, and support clarification of interaction behaviours.
  • Contribute to bid and proposal activities by supporting UX concepts, mock ups and demonstrations.

Compliance, Safety & Security

  • Apply human factors standards and guidelines relevant to defence/naval HMIs (e.g., MIL STD, STANAGs, IEC/ISO usability standards where applicable).
  • Consider safety critical and security constraints in UX decisions (e.g., confirmation flows, role based access, classification handling).
  • Participate in risk analyses related to human machine interaction and ensure mitigations are reflected in UX design.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

  • Stay informed on UX best practices, design tools, and emerging trends (e.g., AR/VR for training, large display walls, touch vs. hardware controls).
  • Promote user centred design within the project and contribute to internal UX methods, toolkits and design patterns.
  • Identify opportunities to improve crew workload, training time, and mission effectiveness through better UX.

Basic Qualifications

Skills and Abilities:

  • 3–6 years of experience as a UX Designer / Interaction Designer on complex software systems.
  • Proven experience as a UX Designer, Interaction Designer or similar role on complex software systems (ideally safety or mission critical).
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating user research, UX concepting, interaction design and usability testing.
  • Proficiency with UX / UI tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, or similar).
  • Solid understanding of information architecture, interaction patterns, usability heuristics and accessibility principles.

Education:

  • Degree in UX Design, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Industrial Design, Cognitive Psychology, or related field; or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in defence/naval or other safety critical sectors is an advantage.

Physical Demands

  • Predominantly office work but will be required to occasionally work in a lab and dockyards and onboard Naval ships
  • May be required to undertake inspections on Naval ships which may involve involving bending and twisting, and working aloft

Special Position Requirements

Schedule: 40 hours per week
Physical Environment: Hybrid position – a mix of working from home and onsite (Some on-site work required in the lab).
Travel: Possibility of travel to east or west coast sites for technical support / installation onboard ships in dock

What We Offer

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 24 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

  • Company paid Extended Health, Dental, HSA, Life, AD&D, Short-term Disability, Cancer Care Program, travel insurance, Employee Assistance Plan and Well-Being program.
  • Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP, DCPP, TFSA) with a company contribution and a match to a DCPP, with no vesting period.
  • Company paid holidays, vacation days, and paid sick leave.
  • Voluntary Life, AD&D, Critical Illness, Long-Term Disability.
  • Employee Discounts on home, auto, and gym membership.

Why Join Us?

Say HI and learn more about working at Thales.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between Total Target Cash (TTC) 100,979.20 – 126,224.00 CAD Annual. This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many.

Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicants status protected by local, state, or federal law. Thales is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the interview process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview.

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software or technical information controlled under the Canadian Export Control List, the Canadian Controlled Goods Program, the Canadian Industrial Security Program, the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be eligible or able to obtain authorization for such access including eligibility to the Canadian Controlled Goods Program and able to obtain a Canadian NATO Secret clearance.