Senior UX Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Engineer

Company: Raft Company Website

Location: Remote, US

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Engineering (UX/UI, Frontend Development)

Date Posted: 2025-12-24T14:20:59

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (with onsite requirement in San Antonio, TX)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead UI/UX design initiatives for complex DevSecOps pipelines and next-generation cyber capability development tools.

• Drive user-centered design processes, including comprehensive user research and rigorous usability testing, to inform and enhance product interfaces.

• Translate intricate technical workflows and user needs into intuitive, elegant, and functional design solutions that empower technical users.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and efficiency across product development.

• Bridge the gap between design and implementation by contributing frontend development expertise, bringing designs to life with clean, efficient code.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid of Product Design and Frontend Engineering, often referred to as a UX Engineer or Design Technologist. The emphasis on "technical users," "secure environments," and "DoD software factory" indicates a focus on enterprise-level, B2B SaaS products within the government contracting sector, requiring a strong understanding of complex systems and potentially sensitive data handling. The dual skillset is crucial for rapid iteration and seamless handoff in an Agile environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end UI/UX design process for critical DevSecOps pipelines and cyber development tools, ensuring a user-centric approach from conception to implementation.

• Conduct in-depth user research, including interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries, to deeply understand the needs, behaviors, and pain points of technical users in secure environments.

• Perform usability testing on prototypes and existing interfaces, analyze feedback, and translate findings into actionable design improvements and iterative enhancements.

• Create detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts, interaction patterns, and information architecture to stakeholders and development teams.

• Build, evolve, and maintain robust and scalable design systems, component libraries, and style guides to ensure design consistency, efficiency, and maintainability across the product suite.

• Implement frontend code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, with a preference for React) to translate high-fidelity designs into functional, interactive user interfaces, ensuring pixel-perfect execution.

• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and other cross-functional stakeholders to ensure design alignment with technical constraints, mission objectives, and business requirements.

• Present design concepts, research findings, and prototypes to Government stakeholders and internal teams, effectively articulating design rationale and addressing feedback.

• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives) and meticulously document design decisions, specifications, and interaction details for seamless engineering handoff.

• Iterate rapidly on designs and implementations based on continuous user feedback, performance metrics, and evolving mission requirements, demonstrating agility and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "full-stack design" approach, where the candidate is expected to own the design from ideation through to functional implementation. The mention of "DoD software factory," "cyber capability development tools," and "secure environments" implies a need for expertise in designing for advanced technical users where efficiency, security, and clarity are paramount. The emphasis on "Agile ceremonies" and "engineering handoff" points to a fast-paced development environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UI/UX design, product design, or UX engineering roles.

• Proven track record of designing and delivering complex, enterprise-level interfaces for technical audiences or sophisticated software platforms.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design.

• Design Tools Proficiency: Mastery of industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, with the ability to create complex, interactive prototypes.

• Frontend Development Skills: Strong command of core web technologies: HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (ES6+). Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks like React is highly preferred.

• User Research & Testing: Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and analyze user research (interviews, surveys) and usability testing to gather actionable insights.

• Design Systems: Experience in building, contributing to, or maintaining design systems, style guides, and component libraries.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions, present to stakeholders, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• DevSecOps & Cyber Tools: Experience designing for developer tools, CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps ecosystems, or cybersecurity-specific applications.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile development processes and experience working within Scrum teams.

• Security & Compliance: Understanding of security constraints, data sensitivity, and UX challenges specific to classified or secure environments.

• Cloud Platform UX: Experience designing interfaces for cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure.

• CSS Frameworks & Responsiveness: Proficiency with CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap, and a strong understanding of responsive design principles.

• Version Control: Experience with Git for version control and collaborative development workflows.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with Jira and Confluence for task tracking, project management, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years" experience level combined with the complexity of the domain (DoD, cyber, DevSecOps) suggests a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy and strategic input. The "Senior" title implies leadership potential within design projects. The blend of design and development skills is critical, and candidates should be prepared to showcase projects that demonstrate this dual capability.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Process Documentation: Showcase a clear, end-to-end design process, from user research and problem definition through to final UI implementation and iteration.

• Technical Platform/Enterprise Application Focus: Present case studies that specifically highlight experience designing complex technical platforms, enterprise applications, or developer tools, demonstrating an understanding of challenging user workflows.

• System Implementation Standards: Include examples of implemented designs, showcasing the quality of frontend code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and how designs were brought to life, adhering to best practices.

• ROI Demonstration: Where possible, demonstrate the impact of your design work through metrics, user feedback improvements, or efficiency gains achieved for previous projects or clients.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide examples of how you've mapped, analyzed, and optimized complex user workflows, particularly for technical or operational processes.

• Implementation & Automation Methods: Detail your approach to translating designs into functional code and how you've collaborated with engineering teams to ensure efficient implementation, potentially leveraging design system components.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Illustrate how you use data, user feedback, and performance metrics to inform design decisions, validate solutions, and drive continuous improvement in user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Engineer role, especially in a government contracting environment, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond visual mockups to demonstrate a deep understanding of the user, the technical constraints, and the ability to execute. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process, explain their rationale, and discuss the technical implementation details of their work. Showing experience with design systems and how they facilitate efficient development is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match.

• Generous Paid Time Off: "Take as you need" Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• Paid Holidays: 11 paid holidays throughout the year.

• Professional Development: Education and training benefits to support continuous learning and skill advancement.

• Referral Program: Generous referral bonuses for candidates who successfully refer new hires.

Working Hours:

• The standard work schedule is expected to be 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment.

• The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility, with specific days in the San Antonio, TX office likely to be determined by team needs and project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior UX Engineer role in the US, especially considering the specialized skills and security clearance requirements. The benefits package is strong, with a focus on health and well-being, retirement savings, and professional growth, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The "take as you need" PTO is a modern benefit that signals a culture of trust and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Government Contracting / Defense Technology

Company Size: Small Business (implied by "non-traditional small business" and company description)

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the company emphasizes innovative, customer-obsessed approaches.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Owners, engineers, and government stakeholders, indicating a highly integrated, team-oriented structure.

• Agile Environment: Participation in Agile ceremonies suggests a structure that prioritizes iterative development, rapid feedback loops, and continuous improvement.

• Mission-Driven Focus: Raft operates with a "purposeful focus" and a commitment to "mission success," particularly for federal and public agencies, suggesting a culture driven by impact and client objectives.

Methodology:

• Customer Obsession: A core philosophy where all team members are encouraged to treat each other and clients with a customer-obsessed mindset, fostering empathy and a focus on delivering value.

• Design Thinking & Cutting-Edge Tech: Raft utilizes design thinking and a "cutting-edge tech stack" to build digital solutions.

• Distributed Data Systems & Platforms at Scale: The company's expertise lies in these complex areas, implying a culture that embraces sophisticated technical challenges.

Company Website: https://TeamRaft.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Raft positions itself as an innovative, non-traditional player in the government contracting space, focusing on modern technology stacks and agile methodologies. The emphasis on "customer obsession" and "Ubuntu: I Am, Because We Are" suggests a collaborative, people-centric culture that values diversity of thought and shared success. This is a key differentiator for candidates looking for a mission-driven environment with a strong emphasis on team cohesion.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas such as DevSecOps UX, secure system design, or advanced frontend development within specific frameworks (e.g., React).

• Leadership & Mentorship: Take on leadership roles in design projects, mentor junior designers or engineers, and contribute to the evolution of Raft's design practices and systems.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Expand knowledge into adjacent areas like product management, cybersecurity principles, or cloud architecture through project involvement and training.

• Government Sector Acumen: Develop a deeper understanding of the unique challenges, processes, and stakeholder dynamics within the U.S. defense and intelligence communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies that candidates are expected to be self-starters and capable of driving design outcomes with minimal supervision. The growth opportunities lean towards deepening specialized technical and domain expertise, as well as developing leadership skills within a mission-critical context.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid with a mandatory onsite component.

Office Location(s): San Antonio, TX (for the onsite requirement). Remote work is permitted within the US, but periodic travel to San Antonio is expected.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The San Antonio office likely serves as a hub for in-person collaboration, team building, and strategic discussions, especially for hybrid team members.

• Technology-Rich Environment: As a company focused on cutting-edge tech stacks and complex application development, expect access to modern development tools, collaboration software, and potentially specialized hardware for testing and development.

• Mission-Focused Atmosphere: The work environment is geared towards supporting high-visibility government projects, suggesting a professional, results-oriented atmosphere where attention to detail and mission impact are highly valued.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, typically 40 hours per week.

• While the core hours are standard, the Agile methodology and the nature of government projects may necessitate flexibility to meet deadlines or respond to urgent mission requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role requires candidates to be comfortable with both remote work and periodic in-office collaboration in San Antonio. This balance aims to leverage the benefits of remote flexibility while maintaining the advantages of face-to-face interaction for critical team synchronization and relationship building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's technical and design requirements.

• Technical/Design Interview: A deep dive into your UX/UI design process, frontend development skills, and experience with relevant tools and methodologies. Expect to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where you'll present a selected case study from your portfolio, demonstrating your problem-solving approach, design rationale, and technical execution.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (engineers, product managers) and possibly government stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and communication effectiveness.

• Final Interview/Offer: A conclusive discussion with leadership to finalize the decision and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your UX engineering capabilities, particularly those involving complex technical platforms, enterprise applications, or DevSecOps tools.

• Highlight the Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your user research findings, design decisions, and the iterative process you followed.

• Showcase Code & Implementation: Include examples of your frontend code implementation, demonstrating your ability to bring designs to life with clean, efficient HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (preferably React). If possible, show live demos or well-documented prototypes.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics, user feedback, or testimonials to demonstrate the positive impact of your work on user experience, efficiency, or business goals.

• Address Security Context: If you have experience with secure environments or government projects, be prepared to discuss how you navigated those constraints without revealing sensitive information.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: You may be given a small design challenge or a problem-solving scenario related to a DevSecOps workflow or a technical tool interface. Focus on your approach, user-centricity, and how you'd integrate frontend development considerations.

• Technical Q&A: Be ready to answer questions about your frontend development skills, JavaScript concepts, CSS best practices, and your experience with React.

• Presentation Practice: Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and effective storytelling. Practice articulating technical details and design rationale under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a strong portfolio that demonstrates both design thinking and frontend execution capabilities. Candidates should be prepared to discuss technical implementation details and showcase projects that align with the specific domain of cyber development and DevSecOps. The ability to communicate complex technical and design concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (proficiency in at least one is essential).

• Frontend Development: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+).

• JavaScript Frameworks: React (highly preferred), Vue.js, or Angular.

• Design Systems: Experience building or working with component-based design systems.

• CSS Frameworks: Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap (preferred).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Feedback Tools: Platforms for collecting and analyzing user feedback (e.g., surveys, in-app feedback widgets).

• Product Analytics: Tools for tracking user behavior and product adoption (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude - specific tools may vary).

CRM & Automation:

• Version Control: Git (essential for collaborative development).

• Project Management & Documentation: Jira, Confluence (highly desired for Agile workflows and documentation).

• Cloud Platforms (Design Context): Familiarity with UI/UX considerations for AWS or Azure interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes modern web development practices. Proficiency in Figma and React is particularly important. Experience with Git, Jira, and Confluence is also a strong indicator of a candidate's ability to integrate into an Agile development team. The mention of cloud platforms suggests the need for an understanding of designing interfaces for scalable, cloud-native applications.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A paramount value, driving all interactions and deliverables to ensure client needs and mission success are prioritized. This translates to a focus on user empathy, problem-solving for the user, and delivering high-quality, impactful solutions.

• Ubuntu: I Am, Because We Are: This philosophy emphasizes collective success, mutual support, and celebrating diversity. For operations professionals, it means fostering a collaborative environment where team members elevate each other, share knowledge, and work synergically.

• Radical Transparency & Mission Focus: Raft aims to bridge the gap between humans and data through transparency and a deep commitment to the mission. This value encourages open communication, clear articulation of goals, and a shared understanding of how individual contributions drive larger objectives.

• Innovation & Out-of-Box Thinking: The company actively seeks to innovate and solve complex problems, encouraging creative solutions and a willingness to challenge conventional approaches. This fosters an environment where experimentation and novel ideas are valued.

• Efficiency & Excellence: While not explicitly stated as a core value, the nature of government contracting and complex application development implies a strong emphasis on efficiency, precision, and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Hyper-Collaborative: Raft fosters a team environment where members bring unique perspectives and contribute to value creation collectively. This means active participation, open dialogue, and a willingness to engage with diverse viewpoints.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close working relationships with engineers, product managers, and government stakeholders. The UX Engineer will be a key liaison between design and development, ensuring seamless integration of user experience into the product lifecycle.

• Process-Oriented Feedback: The Agile framework encourages regular feedback exchanges during ceremonies, promoting continuous improvement and shared ownership of processes and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is built around strong ethical principles, a deep commitment to mission, and a collaborative, people-first approach. Candidates who thrive in environments that value teamwork, transparency, and continuous learning will find Raft appealing. The emphasis on "Ubuntu" suggests a culture that actively supports employee well-being and professional growth.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Technical & Secure Users: Creating intuitive interfaces for sophisticated technical users within secure, potentially classified, environments presents unique challenges in balancing functionality, security, and user experience.

• Translating Complex Workflows: Simplifying intricate DevSecOps pipelines and cyber development processes into user-friendly designs requires deep analytical thinking and creative problem-solving.

• Bridging Design & Development Gaps: Effectively translating high-fidelity designs into functional frontend code and vice-versa requires constant communication and a deep understanding of both disciplines.

• Rapid Iteration in Agile Environments: Adapting quickly to evolving mission requirements and user feedback in a fast-paced Agile setting demands flexibility and efficient workflow management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of DevSecOps, cybersecurity development tools, and the U.S. defense/intelligence sectors.

• Advanced Frontend Techniques: Deepen skills in modern JavaScript frameworks like React, explore new CSS methodologies, and stay abreast of frontend performance optimization.

• Design System Mastery: Contribute to and lead the development of sophisticated design systems that drive efficiency and consistency across multiple products.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Grow into a senior individual contributor role with opportunities to mentor junior team members and lead design initiatives.

• Industry Certifications & Training: Access to education and training benefits can support acquiring relevant certifications or attending industry conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to the niche but highly impactful work Raft undertakes. These challenges also serve as significant growth opportunities for candidates looking to specialize in high-demand areas within the tech and government sectors.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Rationale: Be prepared to walk through a portfolio project, explaining your thought process, user research methodology, design decisions, and how you addressed specific challenges. Focus on why you made certain choices.

• Technical Implementation: Discuss your frontend development experience, specifically how you translate designs into code. Be ready to explain your approach to React components, CSS architecture, and ensuring design fidelity.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would approach designing for a complex technical workflow (e.g., a CI/CD pipeline) or improving the usability of an existing enterprise tool. Demonstrate your user-centric problem-solving skills.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Customer Obsession: Think about how you embody a customer-obsessed mindset in your work and how you'd apply it to Raft's mission and internal collaborations.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders, especially in an Agile environment.

• Mission Alignment: Research Raft's work and express your genuine interest in contributing to their mission within the government/defense sector.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, outline the problem, your role, the solution (design and technical implementation), and the outcome/impact.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the benefits your design and development work brought to users and the project. Use quantifiable results where possible.

• Demonstrate Technical Skill: Be prepared to discuss the code, frameworks, and tools you used. If possible, have live demos or interactive prototypes ready.

• Tailor to Raft: Emphasize projects that align with Raft's focus on technical platforms, enterprise applications, and potentially DevSecOps or cybersecurity tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess a candidate's ability to think critically, execute technically, and collaborate effectively within a mission-driven, government-focused organization. A strong understanding of both design principles and frontend development, coupled with excellent communication skills, is essential for success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your UX engineering capabilities, especially those involving complex technical platforms or enterprise applications. Highlight your end-to-end process from research to frontend implementation.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Engineer," "Product Design," "Frontend Development," "React," "DevSecOps," and "Design Systems." Quantify your achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on articulating your design rationale, technical execution, and how you embody Raft's values of customer obsession and collaboration. Prepare for technical questions on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Raft's mission, vision, and core values. Understand their work in distributed data systems and platforms at scale, and be prepared to discuss your interest in contributing to U.S. public sector modernization.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, particularly regarding specific security clearance requirements and the hybrid work arrangement, should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions. The clearance requirement is a critical component for this role.