About Us:

Collaborative autonomy is how self-tasking teams of machines will solve hard human problems, and HavocAI is an unquestioned leader in collaborative autonomy. We set the standard for autonomous surface vessels for a wide range of defense and commercial maritime missions. Success requires us to grow quickly, and we’re looking for teammates who are passionate about solving hard problems, about pushing the envelope, and about preventing conflict and saving lives. Ambition is welcome to apply within.

About the Role:

We are seeking a UX Tech Lead with 7+ years of experience designing and building sophisticated, data-driven user interfaces for complex systems.

In this role, you will serve as the technical and execution lead for the UX team, which includes UX Engineers and QA Engineers. You will own frontend architecture, implementation standards, and delivery quality while ensuring complex functionality is delivered through intuitive, performant, and reliable user experiences.

You will lead the development of highly interactive, workflow-heavy applications, including map-based and data-analysis interfaces. This role sits at the intersection of UX design, frontend engineering, and quality, ensuring complex operational systems are both powerful and usable.

The ideal candidate has a strong UI engineering background, excels at building complex workflows and data visualizations, and has experience leading distributed teams across time zones.

Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Team Ownership

• Serve as the technical lead for the UX team, defining frontend architecture, engineering standards, and best practices.

• Lead planning and execution of UX initiatives in alignment with product and engineering goals.

• Mentor UX and QA engineers through code reviews, design reviews, and technical guidance.

• Coordinate effectively with international teams to ensure consistent standards and predictable delivery.

UX Engineering & Frontend Architecture

• Design and implement high-performance user interfaces supporting complex workflows and operational decision making.

• Architect scalable frontend systems using React and modern UI frameworks.

• Define frontend data architecture, including state management and integration with backend and real-time systems.

• Build and maintain reusable component libraries and design systems.

Data Visualization & Interaction Design

• Develop rich, interactive data visualizations and map-based interfaces for large-scale datasets.

• Optimize rendering performance for data-intensive applications.

• Translate complex domain data into clear, intuitive user interactions for expert users.

Quality, Accessibility & Performance

• Partner with QA engineers to define testing strategies and maintain high UI reliability.

• Ensure accessibility, responsiveness, and cross-browser compatibility.

• Drive frontend performance monitoring and optimization.

• Establish and maintain strong UX quality standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with product managers, designers, backend engineers, and platform teams.

• Bridge UX design intent with engineering implementation while maintaining performance and scalability.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in frontend development or UX engineering.

• Proven experience acting as a technical lead for frontend or UX teams.

• Strong expertise in React and modern frontend ecosystems.

• Experience building complex workflows and data-driven interfaces.

• Deep understanding of state management, frontend architecture, and data visualization.

• Experience with map-based or geospatial systems (Mapbox, Leaflet, OpenLayers, etc.).

• Strong understanding of modern UX principles and accessibility standards.

• Experience working with distributed or international engineering teams.

• Excellent problem solving and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience with WebGL or advanced visualization frameworks (Three.js, deck.gl).

• Experience building data analysis platforms, operational dashboards, or decision systems.

• Proficiency with TypeScript and strongly typed UI development.

• Experience with automated UI testing, CI/CD pipelines, and frontend monitoring.

• Experience with 3D geospatial data, GIS systems, or real-time visualization.

• Familiarity with WebAssembly or advanced frontend performance optimization techniques.

Success After 12 Months

A successful candidate will:

• Establish scalable frontend architecture and engineering standards for the UX platform.

• Deliver high-performance, map-based and data-analysis interfaces used in real operational workflows.

• Build and evolve a robust design system and reusable component library.

• Improve UI reliability, testing coverage, and performance monitoring.

• Successfully lead and coordinate distributed UX and QA teams across time zones.

• Deliver intuitive interfaces that support complex operational decision making at scale.

Benefits:

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families

• Life Insurance (Employer Paid)

• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)

• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum

• Equity Package

• Work / Home Office Stipend

• Global Entry

• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave

• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Our Values:

• Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.

• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.

• Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.

• Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.

• Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.

• Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.