UX Design Intern at Leidos

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design Intern

Company: Leidos

Location: Remote/Teleworker US

Job Type: Full-time, Internship

Category: User Experience (UX) Design

Date Posted: June 13, 2025

Experience Level: Internship (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Remote

🎨 Role Summary

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and stakeholders, to gather requirements and define design goals for digital platforms within the national security and health sectors.
Contribute to all phases of the user-centered design process, from initial user research and concept ideation to detailed wireframing, interactive prototyping, and final visual design mockups.
Conduct usability testing sessions and analyze user feedback to identify areas for improvement and iterate on design solutions that enhance user satisfaction and product effectiveness.
Assist in the development and maintenance of design systems and documentation, ensuring consistency and scalability across various projects and platforms.
Stay current with emerging UX/UI design trends, methodologies, and technologies to contribute innovative ideas and best practices to the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on Leidos's industry focus (national security and health), the intern will likely work on complex, highly regulated systems, requiring a strong understanding of user needs in critical environments. The remote nature will require excellent communication and collaboration skills.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Engage with product teams and end-users to understand specific needs, workflows, and pain points within complex system environments.
Plan and execute user research activities, such as remote interviews, online surveys, and usability testing, to gather actionable insights.
Translate user research findings and business requirements into user flow diagrams, wireframes, and low-fidelity prototypes to visualize design concepts.
Develop high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes using industry-standard design tools to demonstrate proposed user interfaces and interactions.
Participate actively in design critiques, presenting work and providing constructive feedback to peers to refine design solutions.
Contribute to the creation and refinement of design system components, ensuring adherence to established brand guidelines and accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the internship level, responsibilities are focused on supporting the core design process under guidance. Emphasis is placed on foundational skills like research, wireframing, and prototyping, which are critical for entry-level UX roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field such as Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Computer Science with a design focus, Graphic Design with a UX specialization, or a related discipline. Strong academic performance in design-related coursework is beneficial.

Experience: Prior experience through academic projects, personal projects, or previous internships showcasing practical application of UX/UI design principles. A strong portfolio demonstrating understanding of the design process is essential.

Required Skills:

Demonstrated ability to conduct user research, including planning, execution, and synthesis of findings.
Proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, and information architecture diagrams.
Experience with interactive prototyping tools to create realistic user experiences for testing and demonstration.
Strong understanding of fundamental UX design principles, including usability, accessibility, and user-centered design methodologies.
Ability to effectively communicate design concepts and rationale through visual and verbal means.
Familiarity with at least one major design tool (Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma).

Preferred Skills:

Basic knowledge of front-end web development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to understand technical constraints and facilitate developer handoff.
Experience contributing to or utilizing design systems and pattern libraries.
Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working within a sprint-based environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for collaborating within a remote team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of design and technical fields in the education requirements suggests a need for candidates who can bridge the gap between design and implementation. The preferred skills highlight the value of technical understanding and agile experience in this role.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Present 2-3 strong case studies that clearly articulate the design process from problem definition to final solution.
Include diverse projects showcasing different design challenges and your approach to solving them.
Clearly outline your specific contributions to team projects.
Ensure visual design quality is high, demonstrating attention to detail and aesthetic sensibility.

Process Documentation:

Detail your approach to user research, including methodologies used and key insights gathered.
Showcase your ideation process, including sketches, brainstorming, and early design explorations.
Explain your iteration process, demonstrating how feedback and testing influenced your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an intern role, demonstrating a solid understanding of the design process through well-documented case studies is more critical than showcasing a large volume of polished work. The focus is on potential and learning capability.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $46,800.00 - $84,600.00 USD Annually. This range is based on the provided information and reflects a typical intern salary range for a large defense/technology company in the US, considering the remote nature which may influence cost of living adjustments depending on the intern's location. Actual compensation may vary based on academic standing, specific skills, and relevant experience.

Benefits:

Potential access to Health and Wellness Programs tailored for interns.
Income Protection benefits may be available depending on the duration and nature of the internship.
Paid Leave benefits may include sick leave or holiday pay based on company policy and local regulations.
Opportunities to learn about Retirement benefits and financial planning through company resources.

Working Hours: Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week). As a remote role, there may be some flexibility in daily scheduling, but alignment with core team hours will be important for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, which is common for large organizations with varying intern pay structures based on factors like year in school, specific program, and location. Benefits listed are standard for a large company and are presented with potential applicability for an intern.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Defense and Space Manufacturing, with significant work in National Security and Health sectors. This context implies a focus on designing highly reliable, secure, and often complex systems for critical applications.

Company Size: Large (10,001+ employees, ~48,000 globally). Working at a large organization like Leidos means exposure to established processes, diverse teams, and potentially large-scale projects. The design team will likely be part of a larger organizational structure.

Founded: 1969. Leidos has a long history in government and defense contracting, which influences its culture of precision, security, and structured processes.

Team Structure:

Designers likely work within project-specific teams, collaborating closely with engineers, product managers, and subject matter experts.
The design team may have a centralized structure or be embedded within different business units.
Reporting structure will likely be to a Senior UX Designer or Design Lead.

Methodology:

Given the industry, projects likely follow structured methodologies, potentially incorporating elements of Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches.
User research will be critical, likely involving working with specific user groups in sensitive environments.
Design processes will emphasize thorough documentation, testing, and adherence to security and compliance standards.

Company Website: https://www.leidos.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos's focus on national security and health implies a design culture where usability and reliability are paramount, often within constraints imposed by security protocols and regulatory requirements. The large company size suggests structured design processes and potential for working on impactful, large-scale projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Entry-Level Internship. This role is designed for students seeking practical experience in a professional design environment, focusing on developing foundational UX skills and understanding industry workflows.

Reporting Structure: Reports to an experienced UX Designer or Design Lead who will provide guidance, mentorship, and feedback on design work.

Design Impact: Contribute to the design of critical systems used in national security and health, directly impacting user efficiency and effectiveness in high-stakes environments. While an intern, work will contribute to real-world projects.

Growth Opportunities:

Gain hands-on experience working on real-world design challenges within a large, established organization.
Develop core UX skills such as user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing under professional guidance.
Opportunity to learn about design processes and methodologies used in a structured, enterprise environment.
Potential for a return internship or full-time offer upon graduation based on performance and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are centered around foundational skill development and exposure to a professional design environment, which is appropriate for an internship role. The potential for a return offer is a significant incentive for high-performing interns.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Primarily Remote/Teleworker. This role is fully remote, requiring the ability to work effectively and collaborate with a distributed team.

Office Location(s): While this role is remote, Leidos has numerous office locations across the US and globally. The headquarters is in Reston, Virginia.

Design Workspace Context:

Requires a dedicated and quiet workspace with reliable internet access for virtual meetings and focused design work.
Collaboration will rely heavily on digital tools such as video conferencing, collaborative design software, and project management platforms.
Opportunities for interaction with the design team and other stakeholders will be primarily virtual.

Work Schedule: Full-time, generally adhering to standard business hours in a US time zone, likely aligning with the core hours of the design team and project stakeholders for collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature heavily influences the work environment description, emphasizing the need for effective remote work setups and reliance on digital collaboration tools. Candidates should highlight their experience and comfort with remote work in their application.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening call with an HR representative or recruiter to discuss basic qualifications and interest.
Interview with a UX Designer or Design Lead to discuss your portfolio, design process, and relevant experience. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 portfolio projects in detail, explaining your role, challenges, and solutions.
Potential follow-up interviews with other team members or stakeholders to assess collaboration skills and cultural fit.
A design exercise or challenge may be required to evaluate problem-solving skills and practical application of design principles.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Structure case studies clearly: Problem, Role, Process, Solution, Impact.
Focus on demonstrating your user-centered design process, not just final deliverables.
Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "Improved task completion rate by X%").

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the problem deeply before jumping to solutions.
Articulate your thought process clearly, explaining your design decisions and rationale.
Consider constraints and potential limitations relevant to Leidos's industry (e.g., security, accessibility).

ATS Keywords: User Experience Design, UX Research, UI Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Design Systems, Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Interaction Design, Information Architecture, User Flows, Design Thinking, Agile, Collaboration, Communication, Problem-Solving, Human-Computer Interaction, User Interface, Visual Design, Case Studies, Portfolio, Remote Work, Internship.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes portfolio review and potentially a design challenge, which are standard for design roles, especially internships. Candidates should focus on clearly articulating their process and problem-solving approach.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD: Proficiency in at least one of these industry-standard UI/UX design and prototyping tools is required. Experience with component libraries and auto layout features is beneficial.
Miro or Mural: Online whiteboarding tools for collaborative brainstorming, user flow mapping, and affinity diagramming in a remote setting.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Confluence or SharePoint: Documentation platforms for maintaining design specifications, research findings, and design system guidelines.
Jira or Azure DevOps: Project management tools used for tracking design tasks, collaborating with development teams, and managing workflows.

Research & Testing:

Zoom or Microsoft Teams: Platforms for conducting remote user interviews and usability testing sessions.
Usability Testing Platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback): Tools for conducting moderated or unmoderated remote usability studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed reflect standard industry practice for UX design, with an emphasis on tools that support remote collaboration and documentation, which is critical for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

User-Centered Approach: Prioritizing the needs and goals of end-users, particularly in the context of critical missions and complex systems.
Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams (engineering, product management, subject matter experts) to achieve shared goals.
Quality and Reliability: Designing systems that are not only usable but also robust, secure, and dependable, reflecting the high-stakes nature of Leidos's work.
Continuous Improvement: Embracing feedback, iterating on designs, and staying current with best practices in the field.

Collaboration Style:

Emphasis on clear and timely communication within a remote team environment.
Regular virtual meetings and design critiques to share progress and receive feedback.
Utilizing collaborative design tools and documentation platforms to ensure transparency and shared understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The design values are inferred from Leidos's industry and mission, emphasizing user focus, collaboration, and the high standards required for defense and health systems.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Designing for complex, highly regulated systems with specific security and compliance requirements.
Working with diverse user groups who may have specialized needs and workflows in critical environments.
Adapting design processes and collaboration methods to a fully remote work environment.
Balancing user needs with technical constraints and business objectives in a large enterprise setting.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunity to learn about designing for specific domains within national security and health.
Exposure to enterprise-level design processes and methodologies.
Mentorship from experienced UX professionals working on complex projects.
Potential to contribute to projects with significant real-world impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to working in a highly regulated industry like defense and health, requiring interns to be adaptable and learn quickly about domain-specific constraints. The growth opportunities highlight the unique learning environment offered by a large company in these sectors.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to describe your approach to a typical design project, from understanding the problem to delivering a solution. Use examples from your portfolio.
Discuss how you gather and synthesize user research findings to inform your design decisions.
Explain your process for creating wireframes and prototypes and how you use them for testing and communication.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Leidos's mission and values and be prepared to discuss how your skills and interests align with their work, particularly in national security or health.
Ask questions about the design team structure, collaboration practices, and how design fits into the overall product development process.
Discuss your experience and comfort level with remote work and how you stay connected and collaborate effectively in a virtual environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Select 2-3 of your strongest and most relevant case studies to present.
Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, and your design process.
Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions and how they address user needs and project goals.
Be prepared to discuss challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both design process proficiency and the ability to adapt to Leidos's specific industry and remote work culture. Highlighting relevant projects or coursework related to complex systems or regulated environments would be beneficial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link.
Tailor your resume to highlight relevant coursework, projects, and skills using keywords from the job description.
Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and easily accessible, featuring detailed case studies that showcase your design process.
Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your problem-solving approach and contributions.
Research Leidos and their work in national security and health to demonstrate your interest and understanding of their mission.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

UX Design Intern