Designer / Design Engineer

As a Design Engineer at Nominal, your primary responsibilities include developing mission-critical features that simplify complex data visualization and crafting intuitive user interactions. You will work closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to translate user needs into functional designs, implement responsive UI components, and iterate based on customer feedback to drive high-quality design solutions. Your role will also involve contributing strategically to the product's design direction as you influence the future of our platform.

To qualify for the Design Engineer position at Nominal, you should have at least 3 years of experience in a related role, complemented by a strong portfolio demonstrating your design and development expertise. Proficiency in tools like Figma and modern frontend technologies such as React and TypeScript is essential. Familiarity with Tailwind CSS or similar frameworks, API integration, and a flexible approach to solving design problems in technical environments are also key qualifications for this role.

The Design Engineer at Nominal plays a crucial role in product development by transforming complex design requirements into functional and user-friendly interfaces. You will be responsible for creating workflows that facilitate data analysis, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that user needs are effectively translated into practical design solutions that enhance the overall platform usability.

As a Design Engineer at Nominal, you should be well-versed in Figma for design purposes and proficient in frontend technologies, especially React and TypeScript. Understanding CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS and being familiar with integrating APIs (RESTful and/or tRPC) into your designs is vital. Additionally, knowledge of advanced technologies such as WebGL can be a plus for handling graphic rendering efficiently.

The culture at Nominal is built on collaboration, innovation, and a passion for technology. As a Design Engineer, you will find yourself among talented individuals from renowned organizations who prioritize teamwork and creative problem-solving. We foster an inclusive environment where feedback is embraced, encouraging continuous improvement and making it an exciting place for growth and sharing ideas.

When explaining your design process, detail how you begin with user research to inform your design decisions, followed by sketching wireframes and developing prototypes. Emphasize how you incorporate feedback from stakeholders and users throughout the process and iterate on your designs to ensure they effectively meet user needs.

Discuss your approach to actively seeking feedback, keeping an open mind to suggestions while being able to critically analyze whether the feedback aligns with the overall design vision. Providing examples of how you have implemented changes based on feedback while maintaining the integrity of your design can showcase your adaptability and focus on user experience.

Mention your experience with tools like Figma for design work and collaboration. You could also discuss how you utilize prototyping tools such as InVision or Axure for user testing and iteration. Show how these tools have enabled you to streamline your design process and improve communication with your team.

Define your commitment to designing accessible interfaces by understanding key accessibility standards and guidelines (like WCAG) and incorporating practices such as color contrast checks, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility into your design workflow.

Use this opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills by presenting a specific project where you faced challenges—be it time constraints, technical limitations, or conflicting stakeholder needs. Outline your thought process, the steps you took to address the challenges, and the value added by your solutions.

Explain your routine for exploring design trends, such as reading industry blogs, attending webinars, and participating in design communities. Emphasize how staying informed helps you incorporate fresh ideas into your projects and adapt to evolving user needs and expectations.

Detail your proficiency with frontend technologies, mentioning specific frameworks like React and tools like TypeScript. Share examples of projects where you've leveraged these technologies to enhance user experiences and how they play a role in your overall design strategy.

Discuss your methods for conducting user research and utilizing data analytics to inform your designs. Explain how you create user personas and journey maps to visualize user interactions, ensuring their needs remain at the forefront of your design process.

Stress the importance of collaboration in achieving successful design outcomes. Highlight your experience working with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to create cohesive designs, and explain how good communication fuels creativity and innovation within a project.

Share your passion for technology and how Nominal’s mission aligns with your career goals. Explain what excites you about working in the aerospace and defense industries and how your skills as a Design Engineer can contribute to Nominal's innovative solutions.