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Sakana AI is seeking a senior UI/UX designer to lead the user experience design for defense and intelligence solutions serving Japan's Ministry of Defense, Self-Defense Forces, and related government agencies. This role bridges cutting-edge AI research with real-world operational needs in command and control, information analysis, and cognitive operations.
The core mission is to translate Sakana AI's AI technology into forms that are genuinely usable in the field. Users are active-duty personnel, analysts, and officials who must make critical decisions under severe constraints: information security requirements, closed-network environments, limited bandwidth (DDIL environments), and time pressure. Unlike standard SaaS design, this work requires deep understanding that AI outputs carry uncertainty—users must understand, trust, question, and intervene in AI recommendations, with human oversight as the foundation.
You will design across diverse clients (web browsers, Android devices, edge devices), offline and low-bandwidth scenarios, and challenging use environments (outdoors, night operations, mobile). The role demands both practical usability and extensibility.
You will be embedded in the Applied Team's defense division, working directly with Forward Deployed Engineers, Software Engineers, Applied Research Engineers, Project Managers, and Defense Domain Experts. Responsibilities span the full product lifecycle: conducting field visits to ministries, bases, and garrisons; user interviews and task observation; design and prototyping; building and maintaining design systems; implementation review; and post-launch iteration. You will travel as needed to government facilities and operational sites.
This is a full-time role based in Japan requiring business-level Japanese proficiency (reading, writing, and spoken discussion). Interviews are conducted in Japanese. Due to the nature of defense and intelligence work, Japanese citizenship is required, and you must meet information security and security clearance (suitability assessment) standards.
Consultancy arrangements (24+ hours/week) are also negotiable.
QUALIFICATIONS (Must-have):
- 5+ years of hands-on UI/UX design experience in web and business applications
- Demonstrated experience conducting user research (interviews, task observation, workshop design) and improving experiences based on qualitative and quantitative data
- Proficiency with Figma, Claude Design, and similar tools for interface design, prototyping, and design system creation/maintenance
- Experience collaborating with project managers and engineers on specification definition and design discussions
- Strong presentation and communication skills; ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively to customers (military personnel, officials, stakeholders)
- Proven experience designing complex, information-dense B2B systems (business applications, SaaS, dashboards, monitoring/operations tools)
- Ability to understand business processes structurally, define goals in ambiguous situations, extract and decompose problems, and drive team decision-making (0→1 execution capability)
- Proficiency using AI tools (Claude Design, Figma Make, Claude Code) to autonomously maximize quality and speed of deliverables
- Business-level Japanese proficiency (reading, writing, and discussion; customer-facing work required)
- Genuine interest in the defense and intelligence domain with willingness to continuously learn
- High awareness of information security; willingness to cooperate with suitability assessments and security clearance processes
QUALIFICATIONS (Nice-to-have):
- Design experience with AI/LLM-powered business support products or proof-of-concept projects
- Experience designing interactions that account for AI non-determinism, uncertainty, explainability, and user oversight
- UI design experience in high-stakes domains (command and control systems, information analysis tools, NOC/SOC, aviation, maritime, medical) where errors have serious consequences
- Prior work experience with Japan's Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces or defense contractors/system integrators
- Experience visualizing maps, geospatial data, time-series data, or sensor data
- Design experience for offline, low-bandwidth, or closed-network environments
- Design experience beyond web (mobile apps, embedded systems, automotive, wearables)
- Understanding of frontend implementation (React, Next.js, TypeScript) or rapid prototyping via vibe coding
- Experience launching 0→1 products or implementing consistent design across multiple products
- Product leadership experience in agile/lean UX environments
- Experience creating government-facing documentation (proposals, specifications, screen definitions)
- Business-level English proficiency (advantageous for Research team collaboration)
