Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer Company: VTekis Consulting LLP Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States Job Type: Contract Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: 2025-10-24 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: On-site (with travel requirements)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and development of user-centered, high-fidelity designs for complex, custom enterprise applications, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.
• Champion the establishment and adherence to a comprehensive design system, promoting product consistency, scalability, and design efficiency across all digital touchpoints.
• Drive UX design initiatives within fast-paced Agile development environments, actively participating in and influencing core Agile methodologies to deliver iterative improvements.
• Leverage expert-level proficiency in leading design and collaboration tools, including Figma, FigJam, Jira, and Confluence, to facilitate efficient design workflows and cross-functional collaboration.
• Act as a strong advocate for design strategy, utilizing exceptional written and verbal communication skills to articulate, defend, and gain buy-in for design decisions among stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a contract position focused on enterprise-level UX design, requiring a strong emphasis on process, system consistency, and stakeholder communication within an Agile framework. The "Lead" title suggests a significant degree of autonomy and responsibility for design direction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and prototype user interfaces for complex enterprise applications, focusing on user needs and business objectives.
• Develop and maintain detailed user flows, wireframes, mockups, and high-fidelity prototypes that effectively communicate interaction and visual design.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate requirements into elegant and functional design solutions.
• Lead design reviews and workshops, providing constructive feedback and ensuring alignment with project goals and design standards.
• Contribute to the evolution and adoption of the company's design system, ensuring components and templates are well-documented, accessible, and consistently applied.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather feedback to iterate on designs and improve the overall user experience.
• Ensure all designs adhere to accessibility standards (WCAG) and promote inclusive design practices.
• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives, contributing design insights and ensuring design feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role with leadership expectations, particularly in driving design system adoption and navigating Agile workflows for complex enterprise applications. The emphasis on user-centered design and advocacy for design strategy is crucial.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centered, high-fidelity designs for complex, custom enterprise or B2B applications.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Expertise: Proven ability to conduct user research, create user personas, journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Portfolio: A robust portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centered design principles and successful execution of complex digital product designs.
• Design Systems: Extensive experience working with, contributing to, and designing components and templates within comprehensive design systems to ensure product consistency and efficiency.
• Agile Methodologies: Deep understanding and extensive practical experience working in fast-paced Agile environments, including Scrum and Kanban, and leading design within these frameworks.
• Tool Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in industry-standard design and collaboration tools, including Figma, FigJam, Jira, and Confluence. Experience with prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD, Axure) is also essential.
• Communication & Advocacy: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to articulate and confidently defend design strategy and decisions to diverse audiences.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to approach complex challenges with creative and user-focused solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Industry Familiarity: Prior experience or familiarity with the rail industry, complex operational environments, or back-end systems.
• Internal Audience Design: Experience designing processes, software, or applications specifically for internal audiences within large enterprise organizations.
• Usability Testing: Knowledge of usability testing processes and familiarity with tools such as dScout, Maze, UserTesting, or UserZoom.
• Accessibility: Strong understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and best practices for inclusive design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Expert-level proficiency" in specific tools like Figma, Jira, and Confluence is a critical requirement. The preference for rail industry or internal audience design experience suggests the projects may involve complex operational workflows or internal enterprise tools.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase at least 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX design process for complex enterprise applications. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed, design decisions, and measurable outcomes.
• User-Centered Approach: Evidence of user research, persona development, journey mapping, and how user insights directly informed design solutions.
• High-Fidelity Designs: Examples of polished, high-fidelity UI designs and interactive prototypes that demonstrate your visual design skills and attention to detail.
• Design System Contribution: If possible, include examples of contributions to or utilization of design systems, highlighting component design, pattern application, and consistency enforcement.
• Agile Workflow Integration: Demonstrate how you’ve integrated UX design into Agile sprints, showing collaboration with development teams and iterative design improvements.
• Problem-Solving Examples: Specific instances where you tackled complex user or business problems through design, with clear articulation of the challenge and solution.

Process Documentation:

• Expect to discuss your personal design process in detail, including how you approach discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Be prepared to explain how you ensure design consistency and scalability through design systems and documentation.
• Be ready to describe your experience collaborating with engineers and product managers within an Agile framework to deliver design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It needs to explicitly demonstrate experience with complex enterprise applications, a strong user-centered process, and proficiency in design systems and Agile methodologies. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of the design process are key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contract role and specific salary information is not provided, a competitive rate will be negotiated based on experience, skills, and market benchmarks for Lead UX Designers in the Washington D.C. area. Based on industry data for contract Lead UX Designers with 5-10 years of experience in this region, an estimated range of $70-$100+ per hour is reasonable.

Benefits: As a contract employee through VTekis Consulting LLP, standard benefits may include:

• Competitive hourly rate.
• Potential for contract extension based on performance and project needs.
• Access to a network of professional opportunities through VTekis.
• Adherence to EEO guidelines ensuring fair treatment and confidentiality.

Working Hours: This is a full-time contract role, typically expected to be around 40 hours per week. The specific daily schedule will be determined by project needs and team collaboration requirements, with flexibility often available within the confines of Agile sprint deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general market rates for contract Lead UX Designers in the specified metropolitan area with the stated experience level. Actual compensation will depend on VTekis Consulting LLP's specific client contract and the candidate's qualifications. Benefits for contract roles often differ significantly from full-time permanent positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Staff Augmentation and Recruitment Process Outsourcing. VTekis Consulting LLP focuses on providing professional services and staffing solutions across various industries by matching skilled professionals with client needs. Company Size: VTekis Consulting LLP is a private company, and specific employee numbers are not readily available but are typically indicative of a focused, service-oriented organization. Their model suggests a network of consultants and recruiters. Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company's focus on staffing and consulting implies an established presence in the professional services market.

Team Structure:

• Consultant Network: As a staffing firm, VTekis operates by placing skilled professionals (like this Lead UX Designer) with their clients. The designer will likely be integrated into the client's internal team.
• Client Integration: The UX Designer will operate within the client's product development or engineering team, collaborating with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers.
• VTekis Support: While on assignment, consultants may receive administrative and HR support from VTekis.

Methodology:

• Client-Centric Approach: VTekis' primary methodology is to understand client needs and provide tailored staffing solutions.
• Quality Placement: Emphasis is placed on finding the "perfect fit" for both the professional and the company, highlighting a commitment to thorough candidate matching.
• Professional Services Delivery: For placed consultants, the focus is on enabling them to deliver high-quality professional services to the client.

Company Website: VTekis Consulting LLP's website is not directly provided but can likely be found through a web search for "VTekis Consulting LLP".

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate will be an external contractor working for VTekis, but embedded within a client organization. Understanding the client's culture and operational environment will be crucial for success. VTekis' role is primarily administrative and placement-focused.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" position, indicating a senior-level individual contributor role with significant responsibility for design direction, process implementation, and mentorship potential within project teams. It's a crucial role in shaping the user experience of critical enterprise applications.

Reporting Structure:

• Client Reporting: The Lead UX Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Product Manager, or Engineering Lead at the client organization.
• VTekis Relationship: While on assignment, they will maintain a professional relationship with their VTekis contact for administrative and contractual matters.

Operations Impact: The Lead UX Designer has a direct and significant impact on the usability, efficiency, and adoption of enterprise applications. By creating intuitive and effective user interfaces, they can:

• Reduce training time and support costs for internal users.
• Increase productivity and task completion rates.
• Improve user satisfaction and engagement with critical business tools.
• Directly influence the successful implementation and utilization of technology solutions within the client organization.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, accessibility, or UX research methodologies through project work.
• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in the rail industry or other complex operational environments, which can open doors to specialized roles.
• Leadership Experience: Develop leadership skills by guiding design efforts, mentoring junior designers (if applicable), and influencing product strategy.
• Contract Extension/Future Placements: Successful performance can lead to contract extensions or opportunities for new placements with other clients through VTekis.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role provides an excellent opportunity for senior UX professionals to apply their skills to impactful enterprise-level projects and potentially gain specialized industry knowledge. The growth is more about deepening expertise and project impact rather than traditional hierarchical advancement within VTekis itself.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" within the Washington D.C. area, implying a traditional office environment at the client's location. Office Location(s): The primary location is Washington D.C., with requirements to travel approximately 25% via train to support local workshops and mandatory quarterly PI Planning events in the Northeast Corridor (Wilmington, DE, NYC, or Philadelphia).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Setting: Expect a dynamic office environment where collaboration with product managers, engineers, and potentially other designers is a daily occurrence.
• Tool Availability: Access to necessary design software (Figma, etc.) and collaboration platforms (Jira, Confluence) will be provided by the client.
• Team Interaction: The role involves significant interaction with cross-functional teams to understand requirements, iterate on designs, and ensure smooth implementation.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, typical for contract roles. The precise daily schedule may offer some flexibility but will need to align with Agile sprint cadences and team collaboration needs, especially for workshops and PI Planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The travel requirement is a key aspect of this on-site role, necessitating comfort with train travel and attendance at specific in-person events. This indicates a company that values face-to-face collaboration for critical planning and workshop sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter (likely from VTekis) will conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest.
2. Hiring Manager/Team Interview: You will likely speak with the hiring manager or a key member of the design/product team at the client company. This interview will focus on your experience, problem-solving skills, and understanding of UX principles.
3. Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: This is a critical stage. You will be asked to present your portfolio, walking through specific case studies. You may also be given a design challenge or exercise to complete, either on the spot or as a take-home assignment, to evaluate your design process, tool proficiency, and ability to articulate design decisions.
4. Cultural Fit/Final Interview: A final discussion, potentially with more senior stakeholders, to assess your fit with the team and company culture, and to answer any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the process you followed, the challenges you encountered, your design decisions and rationale, and the impact/outcomes achieved.
• Focus on Process: Emphasize your user-centered design methodology, how you incorporate research, testing, and iteration.
• Highlight Enterprise Experience: Showcase projects that involved complex workflows, multiple user types, or integration with backend systems.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma, FigJam, Jira, and Confluence, and how they facilitated your work.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased task completion time).
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle disagreements, your experience with design systems, and your understanding of Agile.

Challenge Preparation:

• If given a design challenge, focus on understanding the problem thoroughly, making clear assumptions, defining user needs, outlining your design process, and presenting a well-reasoned solution, even if it's not fully polished.
• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most crucial step. Candidates must be prepared to deeply explain their process and decisions for complex enterprise projects, showcasing their ability to work within Agile teams and leverage design systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency required for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.
• FigJam: Expected for brainstorming, whiteboarding, and collaborative sessions.
• Jira: Essential for understanding project backlogs, sprint tasks, and tracking design work within the development lifecycle.
• Confluence: Crucial for accessing project documentation, design system guidelines, and team knowledge sharing.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary responsibility for the designer, familiarity with how UX impacts analytics and reporting (e.g., user behavior tracking, conversion funnels) is advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core UX design responsibilities, but understanding how UX design might integrate with or influence CRM or automation platforms could be a plus if the applications involve such systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma, Jira, and Confluence are the non-negotiable core tools. Proficiency here is paramount, as these tools are fundamental to the day-to-day operations of design and development teams working in Agile environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and advocating for the end-user's needs and experience.
• Collaboration: A value placed on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships with product, engineering, and other stakeholders.
• Efficiency & Agility: An appreciation for streamlined processes, iterative development, and adapting quickly to changing requirements within an Agile framework.
• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, well-designed, and polished user interfaces.
• Data-Driven Decisions: An inclination to use research, testing, and analytics to inform design choices.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Design: Designers are expected to be fully integrated into the Agile development team, working alongside engineers and product managers.
• Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture of continuous feedback, with regular design reviews and open communication channels.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, design patterns, and insights across the team and potentially within the broader organization.
• Proactive Communication: A style that emphasizes clear, timely communication to manage expectations and ensure alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely reflects a typical tech-forward organization that values collaboration, agility, and user focus. The "Lead" aspect suggests an expectation for proactive contribution and potentially mentorship.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Enterprise Systems: Designing for intricate, often legacy, enterprise systems with diverse user roles and complex workflows can be challenging.
• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Navigating the balance between ideal user experience and the realities of technical implementation, budget, and timelines within an Agile context.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Gaining consensus and buy-in from various stakeholders with potentially competing priorities.
• Travel Integration: Managing the 25% travel requirement alongside core design responsibilities and maintaining productivity.
• Design System Adoption: Driving the consistent use and evolution of a design system across different projects and teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Enterprise UX: Gain in-depth experience with the unique challenges and solutions for designing complex internal or operational software.
• Industry-Specific Knowledge: Develop a nuanced understanding of the rail industry or other operational sectors, which can be a valuable specialization.
• Design Leadership Skills: Hone skills in guiding design direction, mentoring, and influencing product strategy.
• Agile UX Best Practices: Further refine expertise in integrating UX seamlessly into Agile development cycles.
• Networking: Build professional connections within the client organization and through VTekis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are standard for senior UX roles in enterprise settings, with the added layer of travel. The growth opportunities are significant for those looking to specialize in complex domains and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a complex enterprise application from scratch."
• "How do you ensure consistency and scalability in your designs, particularly when working with a design system?"
• "Walk me through a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?"
• "How do you collaborate with engineers and product managers in an Agile environment to ensure successful design implementation?"
• "How do you approach usability testing and incorporate feedback into your designs?"
• "Tell me about a challenging UX problem you solved. What was the problem, your approach, and the result?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about this specific contract opportunity with VTekis and our client?"
• "How do you see your skills and experience contributing to our team's success?"
• "What are your expectations regarding team collaboration and communication in a remote/hybrid/on-site environment?"
• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX trends and best practices?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by case study, clearly labeling the project, your role, and the timeframe.
• Storytelling: For each case study, focus on the narrative: the problem, your approach, your decisions (and why), and the impact.
• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Animated GIFs or short video clips can be very effective for demonstrating interactions.
• Process Emphasis: Clearly articulate the steps you took, from research to iteration.
• Tool Integration: Mention how tools like Figma, Jira, and Confluence were used throughout your process.
• Quantify: If possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; prepare to present your strongest 2-3 case studies in detail within the allotted interview slot.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to deeply discuss your portfolio, demonstrating not just visual design skills but a robust, user-centered process and strong communication abilities. Understanding the client's context (even if generalized) and how your skills apply is key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided SmartRecruiters link.
• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with complex enterprise applications, design systems, Agile methodologies, and proficiency in Figma, Jira, and Confluence. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily accessible (e.g., via a website link), and features strong case studies that align with the requirements. Be ready to present it confidently.
• Research VTekis Consulting LLP: Understand their business model as a staffing and consulting firm.
• Research the Client (if identifiable): If you can infer or find out the client company, research their industry (e.g., rail, transportation, logistics) and any publicly available information about their technology or user experience.
• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your experience, design philosophy, and suitability for the role in a clear and compelling manner during initial screenings and interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions for a Lead UX Designer role. All details, particularly regarding company specifics and exact compensation, should be verified directly with VTekis Consulting LLP during the application process.