About this role
We’re building the UK’s next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience. We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision-making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments. Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 200 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering businesses. About the role Rowden’s products work in environments that push technology to its limits: degraded connectivity, high-stakes decisions, complex operational contexts. Designing for that isn’t like designing a consumer app. The problem spaces are genuinely difficult, the users have demanding jobs, and the margin for poor design is low. We’re looking for a UX Designer who thrives in that kind of complexity. Someone who can take a loosely-defined, ambiguous problem, build a clear understanding of what’s actually going on, and turn it into a well-reasoned design approach that holds up under scrutiny. This is a high-autonomy role. You’ll work closely with product and engineering, with real influence over how problems are defined, not just how solutions are shaped. You’ll work directly with front-end engineers during implementation, conduct your own user research, and take genuine ownership of the quality of what ships. Priorities shift and delivery cycles move quickly. That’s part of how Rowden works, and the right person will find that energising. Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance. More information about security clearance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels Owning end-to-end UX design: from early problem framing and research through to implementation, with real accountability for the quality of what ships. Making sense of complex, ambiguous problem spaces, building structured understanding, identifying options, and communicating clear recommendations with honest trade-offs. Producing design artefacts at the right fidelity for the moment: flows, wireframes, prototypes, whatever moves the work forward most effectively. Planning and conducting user research, including interviews, surveys, and moderated usability testing, and translating findings into concrete design decisions and product direction. Working directly with front-end engineers during delivery: refining designs in context, resolving edge cases, and ensuring what gets built matches intent. Designing with accessibility in mind, applying relevant standards (WCAG) so products work for users with diverse needs and abilities. Contributing to a coherent product experience across the platform, establishing scalable patterns where appropriate. Communicating design thinking clearly across the business, to engineers, product stakeholders, and senior leadership alike. Representing the user throughout the organisation and contributing to the development of the wider product and design team.