Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: Hatcher

Location: Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design, Digital Experience Design

Date Posted: 2026-01-13T04:20:44

Experience Level: Senior (15+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with preferred local candidates for in-office collaboration)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and ongoing refinement of elegant, user-centered digital experiences for web interfaces, specifically supporting the Military OneSource program.

• Translate complex requirements into intuitive, accessible, and engaging content delivery platforms for military families and key stakeholders.

• Drive continuous improvement of digital products through user research, usability testing, and data analysis, ensuring evolving design solutions meet user needs.

• Champion accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and align visual design with practical, task-driven workflows to enhance platform effectiveness and user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX/UI Designer, requiring substantial experience (15+ years) and a strong portfolio. The emphasis on the Military OneSource program suggests a need for understanding government client requirements, data security, and accessibility compliance, which are critical in the public sector. The "flexible-first" culture with a preference for local candidates for in-office collaboration indicates a hybrid work model requiring a balance of independent work and team synergy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and continuously improve customer-facing interfaces, ensuring meaningful, intuitive, and engaging user experiences across digital platforms.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and subject matter experts, to translate complex requirements into clear, user-friendly design solutions for web environments and integrated systems.

• Produce and iterate upon high-quality wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that balance visual excellence with usability, performance, and accessibility standards.

• Drive continuous improvement by conducting user research, performing usability testing, interpreting web analytics, and synthesizing stakeholder feedback to evolve design solutions effectively.

• Champion and advocate for WCAG and Section 508 compliance throughout the entire design lifecycle, ensuring all digital products are accessible to all users.

• Bridge the gap between aesthetics and functionality by aligning visual design principles with practical, task-driven workflows to enhance platform effectiveness and overall user satisfaction.

• Apply and adhere to established client design systems and brand standards to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability across all digital products and client portfolios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role with significant strategic input. The emphasis on "continuous improvement," "user research," "usability testing," and "web analytics" points towards a data-driven design approach. The requirement to "apply and adhere to established client design systems" indicates a need for adaptability and precision in maintaining brand consistency, particularly important for government clients.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree required.

Experience: 15+ years of relevant UX/UI design experience.

Required Skills:

• SME-level knowledge of user-centered design principles, common UI design patterns, and best practices in UX and UI design.

• Strong proficiency in design and prototyping tools, including Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Expertise in user research methodologies and associated tools, such as Optimal Workshop or UserTesting.com.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite for documentation and collaboration.

• Exceptional observational, listening, verbal, and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to articulate complex concepts clearly.

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and collaborative skills, including experience with virtual whiteboarding tools like Miro.

• Ability to take direction, work efficiently within a team, and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

• US Citizenship required.

Preferred Skills:

• Active Secret clearance or the ability to obtain one.

• Familiarity with project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Monday.com.

• Any level of front-end development knowledge (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript).

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive experience requirement (15+ years) positions this as a lead or principal-level role. The preference for a Secret clearance and US Citizenship underscores the sensitive nature of government projects. The inclusion of both design tools (Figma, Adobe) and research tools (Optimal Workshop, UserTesting.com) indicates a need for a comprehensive design skillset. Front-end knowledge is a plus, suggesting a desire for designers who understand implementation constraints.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of user-centered design principles through case studies showcasing problem identification, user research, and iterative design solutions.

• Showcase the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive and accessible user interfaces for web-based applications.

• Include examples of wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that highlight your design process, rationale, and final outcomes.

• Present evidence of balancing aesthetic quality with functional requirements and performance considerations.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of your design process documentation, including user flows, journey maps, and information architecture diagrams.

• Illustrate how you utilize user research, usability testing, and analytics to inform design decisions and drive iterative improvements.

• Showcase experience in applying and adapting client design systems and brand standards to ensure consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is explicitly required and is crucial for demonstrating the practical application of the candidate's extensive experience. The emphasis should be on the process behind the design, not just the final visuals. Highlighting experience with government projects or large-scale digital platforms would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $135,000 - $155,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Robust healthcare coverage.

• Generous paid time off (PTO).

• Continuous learning opportunities for professional development.

• Monthly perks to enhance work-life balance.

• Home office fund to support remote work setups.

• Supportive community environment with in-office snacks and social events.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a flexible-first work culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior-level UX/UI Designer in the Bethesda, MD area, especially considering the government client focus and clearance preference. The benefits package is comprehensive, with specific mentions of a home office fund and continuous learning, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The "flexible-first" culture suggests autonomy within a hybrid structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Communications, Government Contracting, Technology Consulting.

Company Size: Small to Medium Business (SMB). Hatcher is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Women's Business Enterprise (WBE).

Founded: 25 years ago, indicating established expertise and longevity.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will join a collaborative, high-performing team that contributes to mission-driven government clients and a diverse portfolio of other clients.

• This role likely involves close collaboration with project managers, content strategists, developers, and client stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Hatcher positions itself as "catalysts for change, solution engineers, and champions of your mission," suggesting a proactive, problem-solving approach.

• The company focuses on creating award-winning marketing and communications campaigns, implying a strong emphasis on creativity, strategy, and impact.

• Their methodology involves immersing themselves in client worlds to tailor solutions and elevate creative potential, prioritizing authentic and trustworthy partnerships.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Hatcher's identity as a WOSB/WBE and its 25-year history are key differentiators. Their mission-driven focus, particularly with government clients like Military OneSource, suggests a culture that values purpose and impact. The blend of marketing/communications expertise with technology/design capabilities indicates a multidisciplinary environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior UX/UI Designer. This level implies significant autonomy, leadership potential in design thinking, and the ability to mentor junior designers. The role is expected to be a key contributor to strategic design decisions and client-facing solutions.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Designer typically reports to a Design Lead, Director of Design, or a Project Manager, with close collaboration across project teams.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts user satisfaction, content accessibility, and the effectiveness of digital platforms, particularly for a critical program like Military OneSource. Successful UX/UI design contributes to higher engagement, better information dissemination, and improved user outcomes, aligning directly with client mission objectives and Hatcher's commitment to creating positive change.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in government client design requirements, accessibility standards, or specific UX/UI methodologies relevant to mission-driven organizations.

• Leadership: Potential to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the evolution of Hatcher's design practices and service offerings.

• Client Portfolio Expansion: Exposure to a diverse range of clients and projects across Hatcher's four sectors (education, environment, public health, community and opportunity), offering broad industry experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with 15+ years of experience, suggests a role that goes beyond execution to include strategic input and potential mentorship. Growth opportunities are likely tied to Hatcher's expanding client base and the increasing demand for sophisticated digital experiences, especially in the government and public sector domains.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hatcher operates a "flexible-first" work culture, indicating a hybrid model. While remote work is common, there's a strong preference for candidates within commuting distance of Bethesda, MD, to facilitate weekly in-person collaboration and team building. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Bethesda, Maryland, United States. This location places the office in a hub with significant government contracting and technology presence.

Workspace Context:

• The environment likely fosters collaboration, with virtual whiteboarding tools (Miro) and in-office team gatherings.

• Access to necessary design tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) and project management software (Jira, Confluence, Monday.com) is expected.

• Opportunities for interaction with diverse teams (content, development, project management) are integral to the workflow.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with the flexibility to manage tasks and collaborate effectively within the hybrid model. This schedule needs to accommodate both independent design work and scheduled team meetings or in-person sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model with a preference for local candidates is a key aspect. It signals a company that values both flexibility and in-person synergy. Candidates should be prepared for a blend of remote autonomy and scheduled team engagement, likely involving regular trips to the Bethesda office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio link to assess experience, skill alignment, and design quality.

• Technical Interview: Discussion of UX/UI principles, design process, tool proficiency, and problem-solving approaches. This may include a portfolio walkthrough.

• Case Study/Design Challenge: Potential for a practical design exercise or presentation of a past project to evaluate design thinking, execution, and communication skills.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with team members and potentially hiring managers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Hatcher's values.

• Final Interview: With senior leadership, focusing on strategic contributions, client management, and overall impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role (web interfaces, user-centered design, accessibility, government/complex requirements).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), your design decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing methodologies. Demonstrate how you incorporated feedback and iterated on designs.

• Showcase Accessibility: Include specific examples of how you addressed WCAG and Section 508 compliance in your designs.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used for each project (Figma, Adobe Suite, etc.).

• Clarity and Visuals: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Use high-quality mockups and prototypes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to common UX/UI challenges, such as designing for complex data, improving user onboarding, or enhancing accessibility.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, especially when presenting case studies.

• Research Hatcher's work and their client portfolio to understand their approach and identify potential areas for discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio link emphasizes its importance. Candidates should prepare to deeply discuss their portfolio projects, focusing on the "how" and "why" behind their design decisions, with a particular emphasis on user-centricity and accessibility, given the government client context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mockups. Proficiency is key for team collaboration and efficient workflow.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Likely includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for graphic design, image editing, and motion graphics relevant to UI elements.

User Research & Testing Tools:

• Optimal Workshop: For information architecture, card sorting, and tree testing to understand user mental models.

• UserTesting.com (or similar platforms): For remote usability testing, user feedback, and performance analysis.

Collaboration & Project Management Tools:

• Miro: For virtual whiteboarding, brainstorming, user journey mapping, and collaborative design sessions.

• Jira: For issue tracking, project management, and workflow management, common in agile development environments.

• Confluence: For documentation, knowledge sharing, and project planning.

• Monday.com: Another project management tool that may be used for workflow visualization and team coordination.

Web Analytics & Other Tools:

• Web Analytics Tools: Familiarity with interpreting data from tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to inform design decisions.

• Microsoft Office Suite: For general documentation, presentations, and reporting.

Preferred (Front-End Knowledge):

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript: Basic understanding is a plus, indicating an awareness of front-end implementation constraints and capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tool stack is comprehensive, covering the full spectrum from ideation and design to research, collaboration, and project management. Proficiency in Figma and a strong understanding of user research platforms are paramount. Familiarity with project management tools like Jira and Confluence is also highly beneficial, especially when working with development teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to supporting clients' missions and creating positive impact, particularly evident with government clients like Military OneSource.

• User-Centricity: Placing the user at the heart of all design decisions, ensuring intuitive, accessible, and effective experiences.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Innovation: Striving for award-winning creative solutions and continuously seeking better ways to serve clients and audiences.

• Authenticity & Trust: Building genuine partnerships with clients and stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration: Working closely with project managers, content strategists, developers, and clients to ensure cohesive product development.

• Data-informed decision-making: Utilizing user research, analytics, and feedback to guide design iterations and strategy.

• Agile approach: Likely involves iterative design cycles and close alignment with development sprints.

• Open communication: Encouraging discussion and feedback through virtual whiteboarding and team meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Hatcher's values of being "catalysts for change" and "champions of your mission" suggest a culture that is purpose-driven and client-focused. The emphasis on collaboration and user-centricity aligns well with typical UX/UI team dynamics.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Client Needs with User Experience: Navigating potentially complex or restrictive client requirements (especially government) while ensuring a superior user experience.

• Maintaining Accessibility Standards: Consistently applying WCAG and Section 508 compliance across diverse projects, which can be technically challenging.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with new design tools, methodologies, and front-end capabilities.

• Managing Multiple Projects: Effectively prioritizing and managing workload across a diverse portfolio of clients with varying deadlines.

• Hybrid Collaboration: Optimizing collaboration and communication within a hybrid work model, ensuring alignment and team cohesion.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities to gain deeper expertise in government contracting design requirements, advanced accessibility, or specific UX methodologies.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to events that focus on UX/UI design, digital strategy, and government technology.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from senior designers and project leads within Hatcher.

• Cross-Sector Exposure: Gaining experience across Hatcher's diverse client sectors, broadening industry knowledge and design versatility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior designers in agency or consulting environments, especially those working with government clients. The growth opportunities are tied to both personal skill development and the diverse project landscape at Hatcher.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX challenge you faced on a government project and how you navigated it. What was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, process, and results).

• "How do you ensure accessibility (WCAG/Section 508) is integrated throughout your design process, not just an add-on?" (Demonstrate practical application of standards).

• "Walk us through a project in your portfolio. What was the user problem, your approach, and the impact of your design?" (Prepare a detailed case study presentation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Hatcher and our mission-driven approach?" (Research Hatcher's website, values, and client work).

• "How do you approach collaboration within a hybrid team environment?" (Discuss your experience with remote collaboration tools and in-person synergy).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX/UI trends and best practices?" (Highlight continuous learning habits).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, your design decisions (with rationale), and the measurable results.

• Visualize Your Process: Use visual aids like flowcharts, wireframes, and mockups to illustrate your design journey.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, task completion times).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, research methodologies, and trade-offs.

• Practice Conciseness: Aim to present each project within a reasonable timeframe (e.g., 5-10 minutes) to allow for discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centered design, a robust process, strong communication skills, and an ability to adapt to client-specific needs, particularly within the government sector. The portfolio is the central piece of evidence, so candidates must be ready to discuss it in detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position at Hatcher:

• Submit your application through the provided link on recruiting.paylocity.com.

• Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and prominently feature a link to your online portfolio.

• Tailor your resume to highlight your 15+ years of UX/UI experience, specific tool proficiencies (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, research tools), and any experience with government clients or accessibility standards.

• Prepare to walk through 2-3 key projects from your portfolio during interviews, focusing on your process, rationale, and outcomes.

• Research Hatcher's mission, values, and recent work to articulate your interest and cultural fit during the interview process.

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

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