What is a UX/UI Designer at National Grid?

As a UX/UI Designer at National Grid, you are at the forefront of the energy sector’s digital transformation. National Grid is responsible for delivering electricity and gas safely, reliably, and efficiently to millions of customers. In this role, your work directly impacts how both internal operators and external customers interact with critical energy infrastructure, bridging the gap between complex engineering data and intuitive digital experiences.

This position is critical because the tools you design help manage grid operations, streamline customer billing, and track renewable energy usage. You will be tackling high-scale, high-stakes problem spaces where user error or interface friction can have real-world consequences. Whether you are designing internal dashboards for grid operators or optimizing the self-service portal for residential customers, your designs must prioritize clarity, accessibility, and precision.

You can expect a role that is highly collaborative and deeply rooted in complex systems. You will work alongside engineers, product managers, and energy subject matter experts to translate dense operational requirements into seamless user journeys. This is an inspiring opportunity to use your design skills to accelerate the transition to a clean, fair, and affordable energy future while navigating the unique regulatory and technical complexities of a major utility provider.

Common Interview Questions

The questions below are representative of what candidates face during the National Grid interview process, particularly during the automated HireVue screening and subsequent behavioral rounds. Use these to practice your pacing and structure, rather than memorizing exact answers.

Behavioral and Situational (HireVue Focus)

These questions test your past behavior and how you handle workplace challenges. You will likely have 1.5 to 2 minutes to record your answer, so practice using the STAR method to stay concise.

• Tell me about a time you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you prioritize your tasks?
• Describe a situation where you received negative feedback on a design. How did you handle it?
• Give an example of a time you had to explain a complex design concept to a non-technical stakeholder.
• Tell me about a time you noticed a process could be improved and took the initiative to change it.
• Describe a moment when you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you resolve the tension?

Design Process and Strategy

These questions are typically asked during live interviews to evaluate your methodology and how you approach UX/UI challenges from start to finish.

• Walk me through your design process from receiving a brief to final handoff.
• How do you balance user needs with strict business or technical constraints?
• Tell me about a time your user research completely changed your initial design assumptions.
• How do you approach designing for a platform that has a vast amount of complex data?
• Describe your experience working within or contributing to a larger design system.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for a design role at National Grid requires a blend of traditional UX/UI portfolio readiness and the ability to perform well under structured, timed testing environments.

Cognitive and Analytical Agility – Because you will be designing for complex, data-heavy systems, interviewers need to see how quickly you process information. You will be evaluated on your ability to recognize patterns, solve logical puzzles, and think critically under time constraints. Practice logical sequence tests and spatial reasoning puzzles to demonstrate your analytical strength.

Concise Communication – National Grid places a heavy emphasis on your ability to articulate your thoughts clearly and efficiently. You will be evaluated on how well you can distill complex design decisions into brief, impactful statements. Strong candidates practice delivering structured answers within a strict one- to two-minute window.

Behavioral and Cultural Fit – Interviewers look for resilience, adaptability, and an alignment with National Grid’s core values of safety, performance, and environmental impact. You can demonstrate strength here by sharing specific examples of how you have navigated ambiguity, collaborated with cross-functional teams, and responded to critical feedback in past roles.

Design Thinking and Execution – Beyond your portfolio, evaluators want to see your underlying problem-solving framework. They assess how you balance user needs with strict technical or regulatory constraints. You can show strength by walking through your end-to-end process, from initial discovery and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and user testing.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a UX/UI Designer at National Grid is highly structured and relies heavily on automated, asynchronous screening platforms in the early stages. Unlike standard design interviews that might start with a casual recruiter call, you should expect to face a formalized online assessment early on. This initial stage is typically conducted via a platform like HireVue and does not involve speaking to a live person.

During this asynchronous phase, you will face a series of timed cognitive tests, which often include sequence and puzzle challenges designed to test your analytical thinking. Following the tests, you will be prompted with behavioral and scenario-based questions. You will need to record your answers on video, usually with a strict time limit of 1.5 to 2 minutes per response, though you are typically given one opportunity to retry your recording if you stumble.

If you successfully pass the automated screening, you will progress to live interviews with the design and product teams. These later stages typically involve deeper portfolio reviews, behavioral deep-dives, and discussions around your specific UX/UI methodologies. Keep in mind that scheduling between these stages can sometimes require patience, as coordination across internal teams may introduce delays.

This visual timeline outlines the progression from your initial asynchronous HireVue assessment through to the final live portfolio and behavioral rounds. Use this to structure your preparation, focusing first on cognitive tests and timed video responses before shifting your energy to deep portfolio presentations. Note that while the automated stages are standardized, the timeline for live interviews may vary depending on the specific team and location.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed in the National Grid interview process, you must be prepared for a unique blend of cognitive assessments, asynchronous communication, and core design evaluation.

Cognitive and Aptitude Testing

Because energy infrastructure involves highly complex, interconnected systems, National Grid uses cognitive testing to evaluate your baseline analytical and problem-solving skills. This area is evaluated through automated tests that you will complete independently online. Strong performance means moving through these puzzles quickly and accurately without getting stuck on a single problem.

Be ready to go over:

• Sequence Tests – Identifying the next logical step in a series of shapes, numbers, or patterns.
• Logical Reasoning – Solving puzzles that test your ability to deduce rules and apply them to new scenarios.
• Time Management – Navigating a series of rapid-fire questions where pacing is just as important as accuracy.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Spatial reasoning challenges and data interpretation from complex charts.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Given a sequence of transforming geometric shapes, select the image that logically follows."
• "Identify the missing number in a data matrix based on the underlying mathematical pattern."
• "Solve a short logic puzzle under a strict 60-second time limit."

Asynchronous Behavioral Communication

Your ability to communicate effectively is tested early via platforms like HireVue. This area matters because designers at National Grid must present their ideas clearly to non-design stakeholders, such as engineers and regulatory experts. You are evaluated on your clarity, conciseness, and on-camera presence. Strong performance looks like delivering a perfectly structured STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) response within 90 seconds.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – How you handle disagreements with stakeholders or developers.
• Adaptability – Your response to sudden changes in project scope or technical constraints.
• Impact and Results – Quantifying the success of your past design decisions.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Navigating ethical dilemmas in design or dealing with highly sensitive user data.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to persuade a stakeholder to adopt a design change they initially opposed."
• "Describe a situation where you had to complete a design project with incomplete requirements."
• "Explain a time when a project failed and what you learned from the experience."

UX/UI Craft and Problem Solving

Once you reach the live interview stages, the focus shifts to your actual design capabilities. This area is evaluated through portfolio reviews and discussions about your past projects. Strong candidates do not just show pretty interfaces; they explain the "why" behind every button, layout, and user flow, specifically highlighting how they balance user needs with business goals.

Be ready to go over:

• User Research – How you gather user insights and translate them into actionable design requirements.
• Information Architecture – Structuring complex data so it is easily digestible for the end user.
• Prototyping and Interaction – Creating high-fidelity prototypes to test and validate ideas before engineering handoff.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Designing for strict WCAG accessibility standards and creating responsive data visualization components.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through a project in your portfolio where you had to simplify a highly complex user workflow."
• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to users with varying technical literacy?"
• "Describe your handoff process to the engineering team. How do you ensure your vision is built correctly?"

Key Responsibilities

As a UX/UI Designer at National Grid, your day-to-day work will revolve around translating complex operational and customer needs into intuitive digital solutions. You will be responsible for leading the end-to-end design process, which includes conducting initial user research, developing wireframes, and delivering high-fidelity prototypes. Your deliverables will frequently serve as the blueprint for engineering teams building internal dashboards, mobile applications, and customer-facing web portals.

Collaboration is a massive part of this role. You will work in an Agile environment, partnering closely with product owners to define feature requirements and with software engineers to ensure technical feasibility. Because the energy sector is heavily regulated, you will also frequently consult with compliance and subject matter experts to ensure your designs meet all legal and safety standards.

You will drive initiatives that modernize legacy systems, replacing outdated, manual processes with streamlined digital interfaces. Whether you are improving the billing experience for millions of households or designing a real-time outage tracking map for field workers, your work will require a deep empathy for the user and a rigorous attention to detail.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be a competitive candidate for the UX/UI Designer role at National Grid, you need a strong mix of technical design proficiency, cognitive agility, and excellent stakeholder management skills.

• Must-have skills – Proficiency in industry-standard design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite). Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, wireframing, and rapid prototyping. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to explain design rationale concisely.
• Experience level – Typically, candidates need 3+ years of experience in UX/UI design, ideally with a background in designing for enterprise software, complex data systems, or highly regulated industries (like finance, healthcare, or utilities).
• Soft skills – High adaptability, strong time-management, and the ability to remain composed under pressure (as tested in the automated screening). You must be a proactive collaborator who can influence without authority.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience with front-end coding languages (HTML, CSS, basic JavaScript) to facilitate better communication with developers. Familiarity with WCAG accessibility guidelines and experience building or maintaining design systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does the HireVue interview take, and what should I expect? The HireVue process usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. It is divided into cognitive/puzzle tests followed by timed video recording questions. You will typically be given around 1.5 to 2 minutes to answer each video question, with one chance to retry your recording if needed.

Q: What happens if I mess up my first video recording? National Grid usually configures the HireVue system to allow one retry per behavioral question. If you lose your train of thought, stop the recording, take a deep breath, and use your single retry to deliver a more structured answer.

Q: Is it normal to experience delays or ghosting during the process? Unfortunately, some candidates have reported scheduling delays or lapses in communication between the automated screening and live interview stages. If you are told you will progress but do not receive a schedule, it is perfectly acceptable to follow up proactively with your recruiter.

Q: Do I need to know a lot about the energy sector to be hired? While deep industry knowledge is not strictly required, demonstrating an interest in energy transition, grid modernization, and sustainability will strongly differentiate you. Focus on showing how your design skills can simplify complex, data-heavy environments.

Q: What should I wear for the automated video interview? Treat the automated video recording exactly like a live interview. Dress in professional, business-casual attire, ensure your background is clean and well-lit, and look directly into the camera to simulate eye contact.

Other General Tips

• Master the 90-Second Rule: Because the automated platform strictly limits your response time, practice answering behavioral questions with a stopwatch. Get straight to the point—spend 15 seconds on the situation, 15 on the task, 45 on your action, and 15 on the result.
• Prepare for Puzzles: Do not let the cognitive tests catch you off guard. Spend a few days leading up to the interview practicing abstract reasoning, sequence identification, and logical puzzle tests online to warm up your brain.
• Look at the Camera, Not the Screen: During your HireVue recordings, it is tempting to watch yourself on the monitor. Looking directly into the webcam lens creates the illusion of eye contact and makes you appear much more confident and engaging to the reviewers.
• Showcase Process Over Pixels: When you reach the portfolio review stage, remember that National Grid values problem-solving over pure aesthetics. Spend the majority of your time explaining the constraints you faced, the research you conducted, and the iterations you went through.

Summary & Next Steps

Securing a UX/UI Designer role at National Grid is an incredible opportunity to apply your design skills to one of the most critical industries in the world. You will be tackling complex, meaningful challenges that directly impact how energy is managed, distributed, and consumed. By preparing for the unique aspects of their interview process—specifically the timed cognitive assessments and asynchronous video screenings—you will set yourself apart from the competition.

This salary data provides a baseline for what you can expect regarding compensation for design roles at National Grid. Use this information to benchmark your expectations and prepare for negotiation, keeping in mind that total compensation may vary based on your specific location, experience level, and internal team budget.

Focus your immediate preparation on mastering concise, structured communication and warming up your analytical skills for the initial testing phase. Remember that your ability to remain calm under time pressure is just as important as your design portfolio. For more insights, practice questions, and peer experiences, continue exploring resources on Dataford. You have the skills and the drive to succeed—now it is time to execute with confidence.