Ui-Ux Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI/UX Designer Company: Spektrum Location: Remote (Global) Job Type: Contractor Category: Design / User Experience Date Posted: 2025-09-29 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spektrum is seeking a skilled UI/UX Designer to support product teams in delivering user-centered digital solutions for NATO and defense clients.
• This role involves applying User-Centered Design (UCD) best practices throughout the software lifecycle, from concept to implementation.
• Key responsibilities include conducting user research, creating design artifacts, and ensuring designs meet accessibility and inclusive design standards.
• The Designer will collaborate closely with Product Managers and cross-functional Agile/DevSecOps teams to align design priorities with business value and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description indicates a strong focus on supporting NATO and defense institutions, suggesting that experience with government or military projects, or at least an understanding of their unique requirements and operational contexts, will be highly valued. The duration of the contract (January 2026 – December 2030) implies a long-term engagement requiring sustained dedication and adaptability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• User-Centered Design (UCD) Implementation: Apply UCD best practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle, ensuring a user-first approach to all design initiatives.
• User Research and Validation: Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather insights and validate design assumptions and requirements.
• Design Artifact Creation: Develop a range of design deliverables, including sketches, user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to communicate design concepts and functionality.
• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Ensure all design work strictly adheres to accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and incorporates inclusive design principles to cater to a diverse user base.
• Agile Collaboration: Actively participate in cross-functional Agile/DevSecOps teams, contributing to backlog refinement, prioritization, stand-ups, demos, and retrospectives to ensure design alignment with development sprints.
• Stakeholder Communication: Effectively present and communicate design decisions, rationale, and user insights to product teams, stakeholders, and senior leadership to gain buy-in and inform strategic direction.
• Developer Support: Provide clear design clarifications and guidance to development teams during the implementation phase to ensure accurate translation of user expectations into the final product.
• Feedback Integration: Establish and maintain feedback loops with customers and end-users, applying the Build–Measure–Learn cycle to guide iterative product development and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "operational needs" and "military relevance" in the company description suggests that the UI/UX Designer will need to understand and translate complex operational requirements into intuitive and effective user interfaces, particularly within defense and government contexts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Human Factors, Human-Centered Design/Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in designing innovative digital products and systems, ideally within a NATO or National defense institution.
• Proven UI/UX industry experience across complex web and/or mobile application design projects, encompassing user flows, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes.
• Substantial experience in conducting user research, usability testing, and applying user-centered design methods (including interviews, usability studies, and feedback integration).
• Proven track record of collaborating effectively within Agile/DevSecOps environments, including active participation in backlog refinement with Product Managers, stand-ups, demos, and retrospectives.
• Experience producing a comprehensive range of design deliverables such as wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Extensive practical application of accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and inclusive design principles.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design (UCD): Deep understanding and practical application of UCD methodologies and principles.
• Agile/DevSecOps Collaboration: Experience working within cross-functional agile teams, participating in ceremonies and backlog refinement.
• Design Tool Proficiency: Mastery of modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, or InVision.
• User Research & Usability Testing: Expertise in planning and executing user research and usability studies.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Ability to create detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
• Accessibility Standards: Strong knowledge and practical application of WCAG and Section 508 guidelines.
• Communication & Facilitation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and decisions clearly to diverse audiences.
• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with Product Managers, developers, and senior leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for NATO or national defense institutions.
• Certification in UI/UX, Human-Centered Design, or a related field.
• Familiarity with the specific operational requirements and constraints of defense and government sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a university degree in HCI or a related field, coupled with 5-10 years of experience and a portfolio, indicates this is a mid-to-senior level role with significant expectations for autonomy and expertise in user research and design strategy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Solutions: A portfolio showcasing a range of past design projects, clearly illustrating the solutions developed.
• Methodology Documentation: Detailed explanations of the design methodology employed for each project, highlighting the process from problem identification to final design.
• Deliverable Examples: Inclusion of key design artifacts such as user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes that demonstrate design thinking and execution.
• User Research Integration: Evidence of how user research findings were incorporated into the design process and influenced design decisions, with measurable outcomes where possible.
• Accessibility Compliance: Examples of designs that adhere to accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508), demonstrating an understanding of inclusive design practices.

Process Documentation:

• User Journey Mapping: Ability to create detailed user journey maps that identify pain points and opportunities for design intervention.
• Agile Workflow Integration: Documentation of how design processes are integrated within Agile/DevSecOps workflows, including contributions to sprint planning and backlog refinement.
• Iterative Design Cycles: Examples of how the Build–Measure–Learn cycle was applied to refine designs based on user feedback and performance data.
• Design System Contribution (if applicable): Experience in contributing to or utilizing design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating "past design solutions and methodology" suggests that candidates should be prepared to walk through their design process, explain their reasoning, and articulate the impact of their work, rather than just presenting final visuals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the fully remote nature, global distribution, contract duration of over 4 years, and the specialized nature of supporting NATO defense projects, a competitive hourly or daily rate is expected.
• For a mid-senior level UI/UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a remote capacity, typical rates can range from $50 - $90 USD per hour, or equivalent in other major currencies, depending on specific experience, the complexity of projects, and the candidate's location and market rates.
• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for contract UI/UX designers in remote roles, considering the specialized sector (defense/government) which often commands a premium for the required expertise and security awareness. It also factors in the long-term contract duration.

Benefits:

• Remote Work Flexibility: Full remote work arrangement, allowing for global location flexibility.
• Long-Term Contract: A significant contract duration from January 2026 through December 2030.
• Professional Development: Opportunities to work on high-impact, mission-critical projects for prominent international organizations.
• Exposure to Defense Sector: Gaining specialized experience within the NATO and defense industry.
• Potential for Project Extensions: While not guaranteed, long-term contracts often present opportunities for extensions based on performance and project needs.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, estimated at 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be offered, but core hours will likely align with team collaboration needs and project deadlines.
• Candidates should be prepared to coordinate across different time zones given the global remote nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contractor role with a specific duration, benefits typically associated with full-time employment (e.g., health insurance, retirement plans) are less common unless negotiated separately or provided by a third-party staffing agency. The primary "benefits" are the rate, flexibility, and project experience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace & Defense, Government Services, Technology Consulting. Spektrum provides specialized services to apex purchasers like NATO, UN, and national defense entities, focusing on professional services and defense sales expertise. Company Size: Spektrum operates within a niche sector, likely employing a focused team of subject matter experts. While exact numbers aren't provided, their focus on specialized services suggests a lean, expert-driven organization rather than a large conglomerate. Founded: Information on Spektrum's founding year is not provided, but their established presence in supporting major defense organizations implies a history of successful project delivery and client relationships.

Team Structure:

• Project-Based Teams: The role is embedded within project-specific teams supporting client initiatives, such as the Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS) program for NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Designers will work within matrixed, cross-functional teams that include Product Managers, developers, and potentially subject matter experts from various defense domains.
• Reporting Dynamics: While reporting directly to a hiring manager or project lead, the day-to-day collaboration will be highly matrixed within Agile/DevSecOps teams.

Methodology:

• Agile/DevSecOps: The teams operate under Agile and DevSecOps methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, continuous integration, and rapid feedback loops.
• User-Centered Design (UCD) Focus: UCD is a core methodology for this role, ensuring that user needs and operational requirements are central to the design process.
• Data-Driven Iteration: The Build–Measure–Learn cycle highlights a commitment to using data and user feedback to drive product improvements.

Company Website: spektrumrc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on high-level government and defense clients suggests a culture that values professionalism, discretion, and a deep understanding of complex requirements. The remote nature of the role implies a need for strong self-management and communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior Level UI/UX Designer, requiring 5-10 years of experience. It involves significant autonomy in design execution and a strong influence on product direction through user advocacy. Reporting Structure: The designer will report into project leadership within Spektrum, while collaborating closely with Product Managers and development teams on client-facing projects, likely within NATO's ACT structure. Operations Impact: The UI/UX Designer's impact is critical in ensuring that complex defense and government systems are intuitive, efficient, and effective for end-users. This directly influences the operational readiness and success of NATO missions and capabilities supported by the software.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in Defense UX: Deep dive into the unique challenges and best practices of UX design within the defense and government sectors, a highly specialized and in-demand niche.
• Leadership in Design Projects: Opportunity to lead design initiatives on complex, long-term projects, potentially mentoring junior designers or taking on more strategic design leadership roles.
• Broader NATO/Defense Exposure: Gain extensive experience working with major international defense organizations, expanding professional networks and understanding of global defense frameworks.
• Skill Enhancement: Continuous learning through exposure to advanced defense technologies, evolving UX methodologies, and diverse user groups within military and governmental contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The long contract duration offers stability and the chance to see projects through from inception to deployment and iteration, providing valuable experience in managing the full product lifecycle within a demanding sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role is not tied to a physical office location, offering maximum flexibility. Office Location(s): Global. Candidates can work from any location, provided they meet any potential local legal or tax requirements for remote contracting. Workspace Context:

• Independent Work: The primary work environment will be a home office or personal workspace, requiring self-discipline and effective time management.
• Digital Collaboration Tools: Reliance on digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Jira, Confluence) for team communication, project management, and design reviews.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: Regular interaction with distributed, cross-functional teams, necessitating strong virtual communication and collaboration skills.
• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools, as specified in the requirements.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, estimated at 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to project deadlines and availability for key team meetings (stand-ups, reviews) will be crucial.
• Candidates should be prepared for potential time zone differences when collaborating with team members and stakeholders across different regions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature requires candidates to be proactive in communication and collaboration, ensuring they are visible and engaged within their distributed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with role requirements.
• Technical Interview: Discussion focused on UI/UX principles, design methodology, and problem-solving approaches. May involve a live design exercise or case study walkthrough.
• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, detailing specific projects, their role, design process, and outcomes.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential team members (e.g., Product Managers, lead developers) and/or client representatives to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss long-term project alignment and strategic fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Relevant Experience: Prioritize projects that demonstrate experience with complex systems, government/defense sectors, or similar challenging environments.
• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project. Explain the problem, your approach, the tools used, user research conducted, design iterations, and the final solution.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved usability scores, increased task completion rates, positive user feedback).
• Emphasize Collaboration: Show examples of how you collaborated with Product Managers, developers, and stakeholders.
• Accessibility Focus: Specifically call out how you incorporated accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and inclusive design principles.
• Tailor to NATO Context: If possible, draw parallels between your past projects and the operational needs of defense organizations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking Exercises: Be prepared for hypothetical scenarios where you'll need to outline a design approach for a new feature or problem.
• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would handle design challenges, conflicting requirements, or user feedback that contradicts your initial designs.
• Communication Practice: Rehearse articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a non-design audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the context of supporting NATO, candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach designing for complex, potentially sensitive, and highly regulated environments, where usability and security are paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency required in modern tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, or InVision. Candidates should be comfortable using at least one of these extensively for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Familiarity with platforms like Jira, Confluence, Slack, or Microsoft Teams for agile workflow management, communication, and documentation is essential.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary responsibility, an understanding of how design choices impact user behavior metrics and the ability to interpret data from analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hotjar, Pendo) would be beneficial for user research and iteration.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UI/UX role, but an understanding of how user interfaces integrate with backend systems and data management processes is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of specific design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, InVision) indicates that candidates should have hands-on experience with these platforms. Highlighting proficiency in these tools on a resume and in the portfolio is crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: A commitment to deeply understanding and advocating for the end-user throughout the design process.
• Excellence in Design: Striving for high-quality, innovative, and effective design solutions that meet user needs and business objectives.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Valuing open communication, mutual respect, and shared problem-solving within cross-functional teams.
• Adaptability and Iteration: Embracing agile principles, being open to feedback, and continuously iterating on designs to improve outcomes.
• Professionalism and Integrity: Upholding high standards of professional conduct, especially when working with sensitive client information and critical defense systems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers, developers, and potentially military/defense subject matter experts.
• Open Feedback Exchange: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on designs and processes to foster continuous improvement.
• Agile Participation: Active engagement in team ceremonies (stand-ups, retrospectives, sprint reviews) to ensure seamless integration of design work into the development pipeline.
• Remote Communication: Emphasis on clear, concise, and proactive communication through digital channels to bridge geographical distances.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's work with defense organizations implies a culture that values precision, reliability, and a strong sense of purpose in contributing to critical missions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complex Requirements: Designing intuitive interfaces for complex defense systems with stringent operational requirements and potentially diverse user technical proficiencies.
• Balancing User Needs with Constraints: Reconciling user desires with technical limitations, security protocols, and specific NATO/defense mandates.
• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining effective communication and collaboration across distributed teams and potentially disparate time zones.
• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with advancements in UX design trends, tools, and technologies within the defense sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Domain Knowledge: Gaining in-depth expertise in UX for defense, government, and international organizations.
• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunity to hone skills in areas like complex workflow design, data visualization for operational dashboards, and human factors engineering.
• Exposure to High-Impact Projects: Contributing to systems that directly support international security and defense capabilities.
• Professional Networking: Building connections within the NATO and defense technology ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The long-term contract provides an excellent opportunity to deeply understand the nuances of designing for the defense sector, potentially leading to further specialized opportunities within Spektrum or the broader industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process for Complex Systems: "Describe your process for designing a user interface for a complex system with multiple user roles and stringent operational requirements, similar to those found in defense." Focus on how you gather requirements, conduct research, iterate, and validate designs.
• Accessibility Implementation: "How do you ensure your designs meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards, and what specific steps do you take to advocate for accessibility within a development team?" Be ready to provide examples of accessibility considerations you've made.
• Agile UX Collaboration: "How do you integrate your UX work into an Agile/DevSecOps workflow? How do you collaborate with Product Managers and developers during backlog refinement and sprint cycles?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding NATO/Defense Context: "What interests you about designing for NATO or similar defense organizations, and what do you see as the unique challenges and opportunities in this space?" Research NATO's mission and ACT's role.
• Remote Collaboration: "How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration with a remote, cross-functional team?" Discuss your preferred tools and strategies for staying connected.
• User Advocacy: "How do you balance user needs with business requirements or client constraints, particularly in a context where operational effectiveness is paramount?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Walkthrough: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your skills. For each, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, the solutions, and the outcomes.
• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: Emphasize your thought process, user research findings, and how you iterated on designs.
• Quantify Results: If possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that highlight the impact of your design work.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Show examples of your work in tools like Figma or Sketch, and explain how you leverage their features.
• Address Accessibility: Specifically point out instances where you applied accessibility principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should research Spektrum's work with defense clients and NATO's Allied Command Transformation (ACT) to tailor their responses and portfolio examples to demonstrate an understanding of the specific domain and its requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI/UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date.
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating experience with complex applications, user-centered design methodologies, and accessibility standards. Prioritize any defense, government, or highly regulated industry experience.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "User-Centered Design," "Agile," "Usability Testing," "Wireframes," "Prototypes," "Accessibility Standards (WCAG, Section 508)," and specific design tools (Figma, Sketch, etc.). Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, user research findings, and collaboration experiences. Prepare to walk through your portfolio in detail, focusing on your problem-solving approach and the impact of your designs.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Spektrum's services, their work with defense organizations, and NATO's Allied Command Transformation (ACT) to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during interviews.

⚠️ 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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