Principal Engineer, VaiDA User Experience

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US); Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 166,640 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) and retirement benefits

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Principal User Experience Engineer to shape VaiDA, our enterprise AI platform for employees across Vertex. This role will design and build polished interfaces for sophisticated AI and multi-agent workflows used by employees across Vertex.

The ideal candidate blends frontend engineering with exceptional UX and product instincts, translating complex backend capabilities into user experiences that are clear, intuitive, and scalable for 10,000+ employees.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, HCI, Design, or Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Proven frontend engineering or UX engineering experience with complex apps.
• Experience translating data-rich workflows into intuitive UX.
• Ability to own interaction design from concept to implementation.
• Strong knowledge of usability, accessibility, and responsive design.

Responsibilities

• Design and build high-quality frontend experiences for VaiDA and related workflows.
• Lead UX engineering strategy and frontend architecture for VaiDA.
• Own interaction design and prototyping across user journeys and multi-agent experiences.
• Translate technical capabilities into clear, scalable interfaces.
• Create workflow visualizations to improve usability and confidence.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, AI, and stakeholders to define user-centered solutions.
• Develop reusable UI patterns, components, and design standards.
• Prototype and validate concepts to inform product direction.
• Advocate for usability best practices across digital products.
• Contribute to VaiDA product vision as a trusted enterprise AI experience.

Skills

Frontend engineering

UX engineering

Interaction design

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/HCI/Design/Engineering

Tools

React

Angular

TypeScript

JavaScript

HTML/CSS

Figma

Design systems

Job description

Job Description Principal Engineer, VaiDA User Experience Location: Hybrid / On-site

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. At Vertex, we combine cutting-edge science, technology, and human-centered thinking to solve complex challenges and improve lives. Our digital and AI initiatives help empower employees across the organization with scalable, intuitive tools that accelerate innovation and decision-making.

Role Summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Principal User Experience Engineer to shape the future of VaiDA, our enterprise AI platform for employees across Vertex. This role will design and build polished, seamless interfaces for sophisticated AI and multi-agent workflows used by employees across Vertex. The ideal candidate blends strong frontend engineering expertise with exceptional UX and product instincts, translating complex backend capabilities into user experiences that are clear, intuitive, and scalable for 10,000+ employees. This is a foundational role focused on ensuring VaiDA is not only powerful, but also approachable, efficient, and trusted to use.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build high-quality frontend experiences for VaiDA and related AI-driven enterprise workflows
• Lead UX engineering strategy and frontend architecture for VaiDA
• Own interaction design and prototyping for a wide spectrum of user journeys and multi-agent experiences
• Translate sophisticated technical capabilities into clear, intuitive, and scalable interfaces
• Create workflow visualizations that improve usability, clarity, and user confidence
• Partner closely with product, engineering, AI, and business stakeholders to define user-centered solutions
• Develop and refine reusable UI patterns, components, and design standards for enterprise-scale applications
• Prototype and validate concepts quickly to inform product direction and implementation
• Advocate for usability best practices and help raise the bar for design quality across digital products
• Contribute to the overall product vision for VaiDA as a trusted and engaging enterprise AI experience
• Mentor engineers and influence UX engineering best practices across teams

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience
• Proven experience in frontend engineering, product design engineering, or UX engineering roles
• Strong track record of designing and building polished, user-centered interfaces for complex applications
• Experience translating technical or data-rich workflows into clear and intuitive user experiences
• Demonstrated ability to own interaction design and prototyping from concept through implementation
• Strong understanding of usability, accessibility, and responsive design principles
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders
• Ability to balance user needs, technical constraints, and business goals in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and presentation skills

Technical Skills Required

• Modern frontend development frameworks such as React, Angular, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
• Interaction design and frontend prototyping
• Enterprise UI development and scalable design systems
• Experience with design tools such as Figma or similar prototyping platforms
• Workflow visualization and complex interface design
• Usability and human-centered design practices
• Frontend performance optimization
• Component-based architecture and reusable UI patterns
• Collaboration with backend and AI/agent-based systems
• Accessibility standards and inclusive design implementation

Preferred Skills

• Experience designing for AI-powered products, conversational interfaces, or multi-agent systems
• Experience leveraging AI-assisted tools to accelerate frontend prototyping, design exploration, or development workflows
• Familiarity with enterprise software and internal platform experiences
• Understanding of product strategy and user research methods
• Experience building interfaces for data-heavy, workflow-oriented, or highly technical applications
• Familiarity with design systems governance and frontend architecture at scale

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement and savings programs
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Professional development and career growth opportunities
• Inclusive and collaborative work environment
• Employee wellness and support programs
• The opportunity to help shape innovative AI experiences that make a meaningful impact across Vertex

Pay Range: $166,640 - $250,000

Disclosure Statement: The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law. At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Flex Designation: Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible Flex Eligibility Status: In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as: 1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select 2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility. Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]

Help Us Achieve Our Mission

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has approved medicines that treat the underlying causes of multiple chronic, life-shortening genetic diseases — cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia — and continues to advance clinical and research programs in these diseases. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including APOL1-mediated kidney disease, acute and neuropathic pain, type 1 diabetes, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency . Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's global headquarters is now located in Boston's Innovation District and its international headquarters is in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 14 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X , LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. The diversity and authenticity of our people is part of what makes Vertex unique, and we recognize that each employee brings diverse perspectives and strengths. By embracing those strengths and celebrating differences, we are fostering an inclusive culture where each of us can bring our authentic selves to work, inspire innovation together, and change people’s lives. Our vision is clear: to be the place where an authentic, diverse mix of talent want to come, to stay, and do their best work.