Sr. UX/UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX/UI Engineer Company: Veterans United Home Loans Location: Columbia, MO Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Engineering / Design (UX/UI) Date Posted: 2025-11-07 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and development of user-centric web pages and digital applications that address complex customer and business challenges.
• Translate abstract ideas into high-fidelity prototypes and production-ready frontend code, collaborating closely with Software Engineers.
• Drive continuous improvement by gathering user feedback, conducting A/B testing, and analyzing performance metrics to iterate on existing experiences.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior engineering talent, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Sr. UX/UI Engineer," the description emphasizes a blend of design leadership, frontend development, and user-focused iteration. This role sits at the intersection of product design and engineering, requiring strong hands-on technical skills alongside strategic UX thinking. The "engineer" in the title points towards a need for robust coding proficiency, particularly in frontend technologies, which is a key differentiator from a pure UX Designer role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with design teams to transform concepts into polished designs and high-fidelity interactive prototypes, ensuring alignment with user needs and business objectives.
• Develop accessible, responsive frontends using HTML, CSS/Sass, and JavaScript, ensuring code is production-ready and adheres to best practices for maintainability and performance.
• Create and test new user experiences, implementing continuous improvements based on user feedback, analytics, and A/B testing results to optimize engagement and conversion.
• Partner with product owners and stakeholders to deeply understand project goals, contribute to product vision, and inform strategic roadmaps through a user-centered lens.
• Develop workflows, wireframes, and user-friendly solutions, presenting designs to gather feedback and refine them through an iterative process before live deployment.
• Analyze product performance by partnering with analysts and stakeholders, scrutinizing analytics and user data to identify opportunities for enhanced user experiences and business outcomes.
• Offer consultative support and mentorship to less experienced engineers, sharing expertise in UX/UI principles, frontend development, and agile methodologies.
• Contribute to a supportive and collaborative team culture by actively participating in cross-functional initiatives and assisting where needed (excluding licensed tasks).

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on the full product lifecycle, from conceptualization and design to development, testing, and iteration. The role requires not only technical execution but also strategic input into product vision and roadmap planning, underscoring the "senior" aspect of the title. The mention of "excluding licensed tasks" suggests a need for clear boundaries within the engineering team's scope of work, possibly to avoid encroaching on specialized legal or financial advisory roles within the company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in user research, interactive experience design, or a related field is valuable, demonstrating translatable skills and relevant expertise. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience designing and building websites or digital products is required, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-first solutions to complex challenges. Experience with AI and LLMs to enhance productivity is also a key requirement.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and building websites or digital products over 4+ years.
• A robust portfolio that effectively showcases thoughtful, user-first solutions to complex design and development challenges.
• Deep understanding of fundamental design principles: layout, typography, color theory, and advanced design concepts.
• Proficiency in Responsive Web Design methodologies for creating adaptable user interfaces across various devices.
• Hands-on coding proficiency in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS/Sass, with a strong commitment to accessible web development standards.
• Experience working with version control systems (e.g., Git) and content management systems (CMS).
• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Sketch, or Figma.
• Solid experience within Agile software development environments, including practical knowledge of PHP.
• Proven experience leveraging AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to improve personal and team productivity.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing or building AI-powered products and interfaces.
• Familiarity and practical experience with A/B or multivariate testing methodologies for optimizing user experiences.
• Understanding of user research methodologies and the ability to translate research findings into actionable design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a hybrid skillset, blending strong UX/UI design principles with robust frontend engineering capabilities. The inclusion of AI/LLM experience and a preference for AI product design points to the company's forward-thinking approach. The "no specific degree required" statement, coupled with the emphasis on a strong portfolio and translatable skills, indicates a focus on practical ability and demonstrated expertise over formal academic credentials. The mention of PHP alongside frontend technologies suggests a full-stack understanding or at least exposure to backend integration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a user-first design philosophy through case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your process, and the resulting user-centric solutions.
• Showcase projects that highlight the ability to solve complex challenges, detailing the strategic thinking and problem-solving methodologies employed.
• Include examples of interactive prototypes and high-fidelity designs, illustrating proficiency with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Present projects that incorporate accessible web development principles and responsive design, detailing the technical considerations and implementation.
• For Sr. level, highlight projects where you led design initiatives, mentored junior team members, or significantly influenced product direction.

Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your design and development workflow, from initial concept and wireframing through to high-fidelity prototyping and frontend implementation.
• Provide examples of how you have documented user flows, interaction designs, and technical specifications for handoff to engineering teams.
• Showcase experience with iterative design processes, including how you gather user feedback, conduct testing (e.g., A/B, usability), and implement improvements.
• Detail your experience with version control systems and content management systems, demonstrating familiarity with deployment and content management workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as tangible proof of design thinking, technical execution, and problem-solving capabilities. The emphasis on "user-first solutions to complex challenges" means candidates should select portfolio pieces that clearly articulate these aspects. For a Senior role, demonstrating leadership, mentorship, and strategic influence in past projects is paramount. The inclusion of "AI and LLMs" as a requirement suggests that portfolio pieces demonstrating their application for productivity enhancement or product features would be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on location (Columbia, MO), experience level (Mid-Senior), and the specialized skillset (Sr. UX/UI Engineer with AI/LLM experience), a competitive salary range would typically fall between $90,000 - $130,000 annually. This estimate considers industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Midwest region, adjusted for the specialized technical and AI requirements.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee well-being.
• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan with potential company matching contributions, crucial for long-term financial security.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies to ensure work-life balance and employee well-being.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued learning, including access to training, conferences, certifications, and resources to stay current with UX/UI and AI technologies.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services for personal and professional challenges.
• Company Culture Perks: Access to company events, team-building activities, and a positive work environment as described in the company's values.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are expected to be approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time employment type. While the role is on-site, there may be an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines or collaborate effectively across time zones if remote team members are involved in specific projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on market data for Senior UX/UI Engineers in a mid-sized city like Columbia, MO, factoring in the advanced requirements like AI/LLM proficiency. Benefits are standard for a full-time role in the US tech/finance sector, with a focus on areas important to professional growth and well-being. The company's emphasis on "values" and "Enhance Lives Every Day" suggests benefits supporting employee well-being and community involvement might be a focus.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (specifically, Mortgage Lending for Veterans), with a strong focus on technology-driven innovation within this sector. Company Size: Veterans United Home Loans is a significant player in its industry, indicated by its status as the #1 VA lender for homebuyers and closing over 500,000 VA Loans. This suggests a large, established organization with a substantial employee base, likely numbering in the thousands. Founded: Founded in 2002, Veterans United Home Loans has grown rapidly over two decades, establishing itself as a leader. This history implies a company that values growth, innovation, and a mission-driven approach.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Engineering team is likely part of a larger technology or product development department. As a Senior Engineer, you would report to a manager or director within this structure, potentially overseeing a team of junior engineers.
• Collaboration is a core tenet; you will work closely with designers, copywriters, illustrators, photographers, product owners, stakeholders, and field experts, indicating a matrixed or project-based team environment.
• The reporting structure emphasizes teamwork and cross-functional integration, with a clear need for effective communication and alignment across diverse roles.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Iteration: The company emphasizes gathering user feedback, conducting analytics, and performing A/B testing to drive continuous improvement, suggesting a strong reliance on data to inform design and development decisions.
• Agile Development: Experience in Agile software development is explicitly required, indicating that the team likely follows iterative development cycles, sprint planning, and regular stand-ups.
• User-Centric Design: The core philosophy revolves around creating user-friendly web pages and applications that solve real customer challenges, placing the user at the forefront of all design and development efforts.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Veterans United Home Loans operates in a mission-critical industry, supporting Veterans and military families. This mission likely permeates its culture, fostering a sense of purpose and impact among employees. The company's size and market leadership suggest a stable, well-resourced organization that invests in technology and talent to maintain its competitive edge. The emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional work is typical of companies aiming for rapid innovation and customer satisfaction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX/UI Engineer, indicating a mid-to-senior level of experience. It requires not only strong individual contribution skills but also the ability to lead, mentor, and influence product direction. The focus is on delivering complex solutions, driving continuous improvement, and potentially shaping the team's technical and design methodologies.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX/UI Engineer will likely report to a UX/UI Manager, Director of Product, or Head of Engineering. They will collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Software Engineering, User Research, and Marketing. Mentorship responsibilities suggest a potential path toward team lead or management roles, depending on individual aspirations and organizational needs.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX/UI Engineer directly impacts the company's success by improving the user experience of its digital products. This translates to increased customer satisfaction, higher loan application conversion rates, reduced customer support inquiries, and enhanced brand loyalty. By building user-friendly interfaces and effective digital tools, this role is critical in achieving the company’s mission of helping Veterans and military families. The integration of AI/LLMs also positions this role at the forefront of technological innovation, driving efficiency and new product capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced UX/UI design, frontend architecture, accessible development, or emerging areas like AI/ML integration in user interfaces.
• Leadership Development: Progress into roles such as UX/UI Team Lead, Engineering Manager, or Product Design Lead, with opportunities to manage teams and strategic projects.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into related roles within Product Management, Technical Program Management, or even specialized areas of AI product development.
• Continuous Learning: Leverage company-provided resources for professional development, attending industry conferences, and obtaining certifications relevant to UX, UI, and AI technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." designation implies a significant level of autonomy and influence. Growth opportunities are likely tied to both deepening technical expertise and developing leadership capabilities. The company's mission-driven nature may also offer opportunities for individuals who want to see their work have a tangible positive impact on a specific demographic. The emphasis on AI suggests a growth path for those interested in this cutting-edge field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The "On-site" designation for the remote status indicates a traditional office-based work environment. Veterans United Home Loans emphasizes in-person collaboration and team culture, suggesting a dynamic and interactive workspace. Office Location(s): The primary location is Columbia, MO. The company's significant growth and national presence as the #1 VA lender suggest they may have multiple office locations, but this specific role is based in Columbia.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration suggests an office designed to foster interaction, potentially with open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and collaborative zones.
• Technology-Rich Environment: As a technology-focused role, expect access to modern workstations, high-speed internet, and all necessary software and hardware for design, development, and communication.
• Team Interaction: The role requires daily interaction with designers, engineers, product managers, and stakeholders, promoting a vibrant and communicative team atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week is typical for a full-time, on-site role. While adherence to a schedule is expected, a "results-driven" environment might occasionally require flexibility to meet critical deadlines, though the emphasis on "Have Fun" and "Enhance Lives" suggests a balanced approach to work-life integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in Columbia, MO, offers the benefits of a stable, established company with a strong community presence. The environment is likely geared towards fostering collaboration and team cohesion, which can be advantageous for junior members seeking mentorship and for seniors looking to lead and influence. The company's stated values suggest a positive and supportive atmosphere.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and company mission.
• Technical/Portfolio Review: Expect a deep dive into your portfolio. This may involve presenting specific projects, discussing your design process, problem-solving approach, and technical implementation details (HTML, CSS, JS, AI/LLM usage). Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your design decisions and demonstrate how you've solved complex user challenges.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the direct hiring manager to discuss team dynamics, specific project responsibilities, leadership expectations, and your career aspirations within the company.
• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: You may meet with potential peers or stakeholders from other departments (e.g., Product, Software Engineering) to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit within the broader organization.
• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader, followed by an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in UX/UI design, frontend development, problem-solving, and ideally, AI/LLM application.
• Structure for Clarity: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design and development process, the technologies used (including HTML, CSS, JS, AI/LLMs), key challenges overcome, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight User-Centricity: Emphasize how your designs directly addressed user needs and business goals, and how you incorporated user feedback and data (analytics, A/B tests) into your process.
• Showcase Technical Prowess: Be ready to discuss the technical aspects of your work, including your proficiency in HTML, CSS/Sass, JavaScript, and any experience with PHP, CMS, or version control.
• Articulate AI/LLM Contributions: If applicable, clearly explain how you used AI/LLMs to enhance productivity or contributed to AI-powered product features.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This often involves a prompt to design a feature or solve a specific user problem within a given timeframe. Focus on your process, user empathy, and clear articulation of solutions.
• Coding Challenge: A frontend coding challenge (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is highly probable, testing your ability to translate designs into functional, accessible, and responsive code.
• Behavioral Questions: Prepare for questions about teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, handling conflict, and your motivation for joining Veterans United Home Loans. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio and practical skills. A strong portfolio is not just a collection of work but a narrative showcasing problem-solving abilities and technical execution. The emphasis on AI/LLMs means candidates should be ready to demonstrate tangible applications of these technologies in their past work or conceptualize how they could be applied. For a Senior role, expect questions probing leadership, mentorship, and strategic thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, or Figma. Proficiency in at least one is essential.
• Frontend Development Technologies: HTML5, CSS3/Sass, JavaScript (ES6+).
• Version Control: Git (and platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with various CMS platforms.
• AI/LLM Tools: Experience using AI and LLMs for productivity enhancement.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics or similar tools for tracking user behavior and site performance.
• A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with A/B or multivariate testing platforms to optimize user interfaces and experiences.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly listed for this role, understanding how UX/UI designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce, if used) and marketing automation platforms can be a plus, especially for understanding the broader business context.
• PHP: Mentioned as required, indicating potential backend integration or a need to understand server-side logic that impacts the frontend.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong command of modern frontend development tools and practices, coupled with a strategic understanding of design software and AI technologies. The emphasis on "accessible web development" and "Responsive Web Design" indicates a need for robust coding standards. Experience with PHP suggests the team might work closely with backend developers who use this language, or that some frontend engineers are expected to have a broader understanding of the tech stack.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Be Passionate and Have Fun: This suggests an environment where energy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude are encouraged, making work enjoyable.
• Deliver Results with Integrity: A core value emphasizing accountability, ethical conduct, and a focus on achieving business objectives with honesty.
• Enhance Lives Every Day: This mission-driven value underscores the company's purpose of helping Veterans and military families, promoting a sense of fulfillment and social impact.
• Customer Service Focus: The company prioritizes exceptional customer service, implying that user experience and client satisfaction are paramount in all aspects of work.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals contribute collectively to success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect to work closely with diverse teams, requiring strong communication, empathy, and the ability to align different perspectives towards common goals.
• Iterative Feedback Loops: The culture likely embraces continuous feedback, where designs and solutions are shared early and often, allowing for agile refinement based on input from peers, stakeholders, and users.
• Knowledge Sharing: A collaborative environment often encourages the sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings, particularly in areas like advanced design principles, frontend development techniques, and the application of AI/LLMs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are deeply ingrained and mission-focused, creating an environment that is both purpose-driven and enjoyable. The emphasis on "Enhance Lives Every Day" is a powerful motivator for employees who want their work to have a meaningful impact. This culture likely fosters strong team cohesion and a commitment to excellence, driven by a shared purpose.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively synthesizing diverse stakeholder requirements and user feedback into cohesive, impactful designs and functional products.
• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously learning and integrating rapidly evolving technologies, particularly in AI/LLMs and frontend development, to maintain a competitive edge.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes and ensuring buy-in and effective collaboration across different departments with potentially competing priorities.
• Mentoring and Leadership: Successfully guiding and developing less experienced engineers while managing personal project contributions and meeting senior-level expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI/ML Integration: Dive deeper into the application of AI and LLMs in user interface design and product development, potentially leading to specialized roles.
• Advanced Frontend Architecture: Develop expertise in complex frontend frameworks, performance optimization, and scalable UI solutions.
• Leadership Pathways: Grow into team lead or management positions, honing skills in project management, people management, and strategic planning.
• Industry Exposure: Participate in industry conferences, workshops, and training programs focused on UX/UI design, frontend development, and AI innovations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role in a dynamic tech environment, requiring strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. The growth opportunities are well-aligned with the role's requirements and the company's forward-looking approach, particularly in the AI domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting requirements from different stakeholders for a digital product. How did you resolve it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and user-centric decision-making.)
• "Walk us through a complex UX/UI challenge you faced and how you used your technical skills (HTML, CSS, JS) and design principles to solve it. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Be ready to present a portfolio case study in detail.)
• "How have you leveraged AI or LLMs to improve your productivity or enhance a product's user experience? Provide specific examples." (Demonstrate practical application of AI/LLM skills.)
• "Imagine you're tasked with designing a new feature for our VA loan application process that leverages AI. What would be your initial approach, and what considerations would you prioritize?" (Showcase strategic thinking and problem-solving relevant to the company's mission.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Veterans United Home Loans' mission to help Veterans and military families?" (Connect your personal values or aspirations to the company's purpose.)
• "How do you embody our values of 'Be Passionate and Have Fun,' 'Deliver Results with Integrity,' and 'Enhance Lives Every Day' in your work?" (Provide specific examples of how you've lived these values.)
• "Describe your experience working in Agile environments. How do you contribute to a collaborative team dynamic?" (Highlight your teamwork and agile process understanding.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (including research, ideation, design, development, and testing), the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact.
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced bounce rates, increased user satisfaction scores).
• Showcase Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the specific HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and any AI/LLM implementations in your projects. Explain technical decisions and trade-offs.
• Highlight Leadership/Mentorship: For senior roles, emphasize instances where you led initiatives, mentored junior team members, or influenced product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a holistic understanding of UX/UI principles, strong technical execution, and a genuine alignment with the company's mission and values. The interview process will likely assess not just skills but also how you think, collaborate, and contribute to a positive, results-oriented team culture. Be ready to articulate your thought process clearly and concisely.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. UX/UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Veterans United Home Loans careers site.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 key projects that best showcase your UX/UI design, frontend development (HTML, CSS, JS), problem-solving, and AI/LLM application skills. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your process, the solution, and measurable outcomes.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 4+ years of experience in designing and building digital products, emphasizing proficiency in required technologies like HTML, JavaScript, CSS/Sass, and experience with Agile, AI/LLMs, and relevant design tools. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling, articulating your user-centric approach, and detailing technical implementations. Be ready to discuss how you've used AI/LLMs.
• Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Veterans United Home Loans' mission, values, and their position as a leading VA lender. Understand how your role contributes to their overarching goals and how you align with their culture.

⚠️ 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.