We are seeking a thoughtful and proactive User Experience (UX) Designer to join EMBL-EBI’s Digital Experience (DX) team at EMBL-EBI on a fixed-term maternity cover contract. 

In this role, you will help us explore and apply emerging technologies and design digital solutions that enhance how users discover, access and interact with EMBL-EBI’s information and services. 

Working as part of the DX team, you will contribute across the design lifecycle, from research and discovery to prototyping, delivery and continuous improvement. You will connect user needs with practical solutions and support the team in shaping intuitive, accessible and engaging digital experiences. 

By shaping connected, accessible services around users’ needs, the DX team helps bring EMBL-EBI’s mission to life: making life science data freely available and helping scientific discovery move forward.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Planning and conducting user interviews, usability tests, workshops and feedback sessions.
• Turning qualitative and quantitative evidence into clear insights and priorities.
• Creating user flows, information architectures, wireframes, prototypes and accessible interface designs.
• Simplify complex workflows and data-rich experiences without losing essential detail.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams throughout discovery and delivery stages.
• Contributing to design systems, reusable patterns and clear UX documentation.
• Championing accessibility, inclusive design and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Using AI and other emerging tools thoughtfully within the design process to support exploration, prototyping and iteration, while critically evaluating their outputs, limitations and impact on users.

You will bring:

• Professional experience in UX or product design, ideally in a scientific, technical or data-intensive environment.
• A portfolio demonstrating user research, interaction design, prototyping and delivered outcomes.
• Experience of planning, conducting and synthesising user research and usability testing.
• Strong skills in Figma or comparable design and prototyping tools.
• Practical knowledge of accessibility and WCAG standards.
• The ability to communicate design decisions clearly and work effectively with technical and non-technical colleagues.
• A collaborative, organised and adaptable approach; you will be confident to approach learning new and unfamiliar concepts

You may also have:

• An interest in, or experience with, responsible AI-enabled design and research methods.
• Experience contributing to design systems, reusable components or shared UX standards.
• Experience designing data-rich products or services for specialist and international audiences.
• Knowledge of analytics, front-end technologies or Agile and Lean UX practices.

What success looks like:

Success means delivering clear research insights, tested designs and accessible interfaces that teams can confidently build. You will strengthen collaboration between UX and engineering, improve consistency across the digital portfolio and help create trustworthy services that embrace the possibilities of an AI-enabled future while remaining grounded in real user needs.

Contract length: 12-month fixed-term Staff Member contract to cover maternity leave. As a result, preference will be given to candidates who are available to start in December 2026 or January 2027. 

Please note that, due to the duration of the appointment, relocation support is not available for this position. 

Salary: Grade 5 - Monthly salary from £3,452.05 after tax, plus generous benefits and financial allowances based on individual circumstances. Excluding 12.99% personal pension and insurance contributions.

Next steps: This vacancy has a scheduled closing date of Wednesday, 11th November, and we welcome your application as soon as possible.

Please submit the up-to-date CV and supporting cover letter outlining your transferable skills and experience and motivation for applying.

* We plan to advertise the role for up to four weeks, with a scheduled closing date of Wednesday, 11th November. However, if we receive a strong field of applications within the first two weeks, we may close the vacancy earlier. The advert will remain open for a minimum of two weeks, making Wednesday, 28th October the earliest possible closing date. We therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. * 

Where Can I Find Out More?

• EMBL-EBI’s ITS Digital Experience Team
• Geetika Malhotra
  

Why join us

Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
 

Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.  Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns 
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (conditions apply)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
• Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here. 

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.  
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date