UX UI HCD Engineer - DOD Cleared

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX UI HCD Engineer - DOD Cleared

Company: Hana Technologies and Systems

Location: Mechanicsburg, PA or Washington, DC region (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) / Human-Centered Design (HCD) Operations

Date Posted: September 12, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the design and development of user-centered solutions for Department of Defense (DOD) clients, emphasizing human-centered design (HCD) principles to enhance user experience and interface effectiveness.

• Responsibilities include user research, usability testing, and analysis to drive design decisions, ensuring that digital products and systems meet the specific needs of government end-users.

• The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including software developers, product managers, and stakeholders, to translate complex requirements into intuitive and actionable user interfaces.

• A key aspect of this role involves creating and maintaining design systems and style guides, ensuring consistency and scalability across various projects and platforms within the DOD environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title includes "Engineer," the core responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a specialized role within the UX/UI and Human-Centered Design discipline, rather than a traditional software engineering position. The focus is on the design and user experience lifecycle, supported by technical understanding.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research and usability testing to gather insights and validate design concepts, ensuring solutions are intuitive and meet end-user needs.

• Develop detailed design concepts, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity user interfaces that effectively communicate user flows and interaction models.

• Collaborate closely with stakeholders, product managers, and development teams to define project requirements, scope, and design solutions that align with DOD objectives.

• Create, maintain, and evolve design systems, style guides, and design standards to ensure visual consistency, brand adherence, and efficient design implementation across projects.

• Work in tandem with software development teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing detailed specifications, design rationales, and ongoing support throughout the development lifecycle.

• Produce thorough design documentation, including user flow diagrams, interaction specifications, and design rationale reasoning, to facilitate understanding and alignment among project teams.

• Actively participate in design reviews and critiques, offering constructive feedback to peers and incorporating feedback into design iterations to elevate overall quality.

• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in UX/UI and HCD, applying this knowledge to enhance design strategies and methodologies.

• Support the integration of front-end development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) by collaborating with developers to ensure design feasibility and optimal user experience implementation.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, effectively prioritizing tasks, managing timelines, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality design artifacts in a dynamic environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive approach to design, from foundational research to collaborative implementation. The emphasis on "design documentation" and "design rationales" suggests a need for strong analytical and communication skills to justify design choices within a government contracting context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Anthropology, Computer Science, Psychology, Information Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX UI HCD engineering, with a demonstrable focus on user research, user experience design, and user interface design.

• Proven experience working on Department of Defense (DOD) contracts and familiarity with the operational environment, potentially including interactions at the Pentagon.

Required Skills:

• Active DOD security clearance at or above the Secret level is mandatory.

• Proficiency in leading design tools such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), and InVision for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design creation.

• Deep understanding of human-centered design (HCD) principles, user experience (UX) best practices, and user interface (UI) design standards.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with diverse teams and stakeholders, and clear articulation of design concepts.

• Strong problem-solving abilities to address complex design challenges and deliver practical, user-friendly solutions.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, demonstrating effective task prioritization and time management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working within Agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), facilitating iterative design and development cycles.

• Familiarity with front-end development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, enabling better collaboration with development teams and understanding of implementation constraints.

• Experience in developing and maintaining design systems and comprehensive style guides for consistent application across multiple products or platforms.

• Knowledge of accessibility guidelines and regulations (e.g., WCAG) to ensure inclusive design practices.

• Prior experience working with other government agencies and contractors, providing context for government project workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a DOD security clearance and experience with DOD contracts is a critical filter. The preferred qualifications highlight a desire for candidates who can integrate seamlessly into development workflows and contribute to broader design governance through systems and accessibility knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is required, showcasing a range of UX UI HCD engineering projects, with a clear emphasis on demonstrating a human-centered design process from research to final design.

• Portfolio pieces should highlight problem-solving methodologies, detailing the challenges faced, the user research conducted, and the design decisions made to address those challenges.

• Include examples of interactive prototypes and wireframes, demonstrating the ability to translate concepts into tangible user flows and interface designs.

• Showcase experience with design systems or style guides, illustrating an understanding of creating scalable and consistent design elements.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to document their design processes clearly, detailing the steps taken from user needs assessment and research phase through to design iteration and final output.

• Demonstrate an understanding of workflow design and optimization within the context of user experience, showing how design choices contribute to overall system efficiency.

• Provide evidence of system implementation support, illustrating how designs are handed off to development teams and how feedback loops are managed to ensure design integrity.

• Illustrate the ability to measure and analyze design performance, using data and user feedback to inform future design iterations and improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is not just a showcase of visual design but a demonstration of a systematic, research-driven approach to solving user problems. The ability to articulate this process and its outcomes is crucial, especially for roles supporting government initiatives where justification and documentation are paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry standards for a UX UI HCD Engineer with 5+ years of experience, an active DOD Secret clearance, and hybrid work arrangements in the Washington D.C. / Mechanicsburg, PA region, the estimated salary range is $90,000 - $130,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary and Benefits Package: This typically includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, and disability coverage.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and attending industry conferences to enhance skills in UX/UI, HCD, and related technologies.

• Growth Opportunities: Potential for career advancement within Hana Technologies and Systems, moving into senior design roles, team lead positions, or specialized areas.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: The hybrid model offers a balance between remote work and on-site collaboration, providing flexibility for operations professionals.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Likely includes a 401(k) plan, potentially with employer matching contributions.

• Paid Time Off: Standard vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time employment, typically around 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid nature of the role allows for flexibility in scheduling workdays between remote and on-site locations, subject to team and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation accounts for the significant requirement of an active DOD security clearance, which often commands a premium in the job market. The benefits package is typical for established government contractors and emphasizes professional growth, a key motivator for experienced operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Hana Technologies and Systems operates within the Government Services and Defense sector, providing support and innovative solutions to the Department of Defense (DOD) and other government agencies. This context implies a focus on security, compliance, and mission-critical project delivery.

Company Size:

Founded:

Team Structure:

• The UX UI HCD Engineer will likely be part of a project-specific team, potentially within a larger IT services or software development division.

• This team will include cross-functional members such as software developers, project managers, business analysts, and potentially subject matter experts from the DOD client side.

• The reporting structure will likely be to a Design Lead, Project Manager, or a Director of Operations/Engineering, with direct collaboration with various DOD stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Hana's approach to projects is likely rooted in understanding and meeting the specific requirements of government contracts, which often involves adherence to strict guidelines and standards.

• Data analysis and insights will be crucial for informing user research and design validation, ensuring that design decisions are evidence-based.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies will be employed to manage the design lifecycle efficiently, aligning with project timelines and deliverables.

Company Website:

• https://www.hanaindustries.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's NHO affiliation and long history in government contracting are key differentiators. The operations professional in this role will need to be adaptable to government project demands while leveraging the company's unique cultural values.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level within the UX/UI/HCD operations discipline. It requires a significant level of autonomy in executing design tasks, conducting research, and contributing to strategic design discussions.

Reporting Structure:

• The UX UI HCD Engineer will report to a Project Manager or a Lead Designer, depending on the project structure.

• They will work closely with development leads and product owners, fostering a collaborative environment where design input is integrated throughout the project lifecycle.

Operations Impact:

• The role has a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of critical DOD systems. By ensuring user-centered design, the engineer contributes to improved user adoption, reduced training needs, and enhanced operational performance for national security initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas of UX/UI/HCD, such as advanced interaction design, information architecture, or accessibility consulting.

• Industry Certifications & Training: Support for obtaining certifications relevant to UX/UI, HCD, or government project methodologies (e.g., Agile, specific DOD standards).

• Leadership Potential: Progression into Senior UX UI HCD Engineer roles, Design Lead positions, or management roles overseeing design teams and projects.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience in adjacent fields like product management, business analysis, or front-end development through project involvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path in this role emphasizes specialization within a niche but critical sector (DOD). Growth is likely tied to demonstrating expertise in complex government environments and taking on more responsibility for project design strategy and team leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• The position is classified as Hybrid, meaning it involves a mix of remote work and on-site presence at either the Mechanicsburg, PA or Washington, DC region offices.

Office Location(s):

• Primary office locations are expected to be near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to support collaborative design activities, likely featuring modern office amenities and access to necessary technology.

• Collaborative environments will be key, with opportunities to engage with design peers, development teams, and project stakeholders through in-person meetings, workshops, and digital collaboration tools.

• Access to operations tools and technology such as high-performance workstations, design software licenses, and secure network access will be provided.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is expected to be 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility, allowing individuals to structure their workdays and weeks to balance remote productivity with essential in-office collaboration, aligning with project needs and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a significant perk, offering work-life balance. However, proximity to one of the specified office locations and a willingness to adhere to hybrid schedules are essential for this role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, including security clearance status and general experience.

• Technical Interview / Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage where candidates present their portfolio to hiring managers and/or senior designers. Expect to walk through 1-2 key projects, detailing your process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Skills-Based Assessment: Candidates may be given a design challenge or case study to complete, simulating real-world tasks. This could involve analyzing a user problem, creating wireframes, or proposing a UI solution.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential team members and project stakeholders to gauge collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the organization and with DOD clients.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview, potentially with senior leadership, to discuss career aspirations, overall fit, and confirm all requirements.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your UX UI HCD skills and relevance to government/DOD work.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project – research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Use metrics related to user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or adoption rates.

• Tell a Story: Structure your project presentations like a narrative, outlining the problem, your approach, your contributions, and the final solution and its impact.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly those involving complex systems or user groups similar to DOD personnel.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve a hypothetical government system or a common user experience problem.

• Time Management: Practice working under timed conditions to simulate the assessment environment.

• Presentation Structure: Organize your thoughts and deliverables logically, whether it's a written response, a set of wireframes, or a presentation.

• Stakeholder Communication: Focus on how you would communicate your design rationale and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including government clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should treat it as a presentation of their design expertise and problem-solving capabilities, with a clear emphasis on process and measurable outcomes relevant to government projects.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision are essential for creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups. Proficiency in at least one of these is expected.

• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or even structured interview/survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey) may be used for user research and usability testing.

• Design Systems Management: Experience with tools or methodologies for creating and managing design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) might be beneficial for understanding user behavior post-launch.

CRM & Automation:

• Generally not directly used by UX/UI designers, but understanding how CRM or automation platforms impact user journeys and data collection could be advantageous.

• Familiarity with collaboration and project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello is highly likely for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements revolve around design and prototyping software. Familiarity with the broader tech stack, especially project management and collaboration tools, will enable smoother integration into development workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Quality: As a company with Native Hawaiian roots and a long history in government contracting, Hana likely emphasizes high ethical standards and a commitment to delivering quality work.

• Commitment to Excellence: A drive to perform at a high level and exceed expectations, particularly in mission-critical DOD projects.

• Sense of Community & Family Values: These cultural underpinnings may foster a supportive and collaborative team environment where individuals feel valued and connected.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Operations professionals are expected to base design decisions on user research, testing, and analytics, rather than solely on intuition.

• Efficiency and Process Optimization: A focus on streamlining workflows and improving the effectiveness of design processes and project delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role demands close collaboration with developers, product managers, and DOD clients, requiring effective communication and a shared understanding of project goals.

• Process Review and Feedback: An open culture for design reviews, critiques, and knowledge sharing to continuously improve design quality and team skills.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, research findings, and design techniques among team members to foster collective growth.

• Adaptability: Willingness to adapt to evolving project requirements, government regulations, and technological advancements within the defense sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values are important. Candidates should consider how their personal work style and values align with these principles, especially the emphasis on integrity, community, and excellence within a government contracting context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Government Requirements: Understanding and adhering to the specific regulations, security protocols, and procurement processes inherent in DOD projects.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Designing effective solutions that meet user needs while also being feasible within technical limitations and project budgets.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with the rapid pace of technological change and integrating new tools and methodologies into the design process.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively communicating design decisions and managing expectations across diverse groups of stakeholders, including technical teams and government clients.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepening expertise in areas like interaction design, user research methodologies, accessibility standards, or specific government-related design challenges.

• Industry Conference & Certification Participation: Opportunities to attend relevant UX/UI conferences, workshops, and pursue certifications that enhance professional credibility and knowledge.

• Mentorship and Leadership Development: Access to mentorship from senior designers or leaders within the company, and pathways to develop leadership skills for managing projects or teams.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working on a variety of DOD initiatives can broaden experience and understanding of different operational domains and user groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are typical for government contractors, requiring resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. The growth opportunities are substantial for those who excel in this specialized environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Operations Strategy: "How would you approach designing a new interface for a legacy DOD system, considering user adoption and potential resistance to change?" Focus on your research methodology, phased implementation strategy, and change management considerations.

• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a time you had to present a controversial design decision to a client or team. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" Prepare a concise STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) answer highlighting your communication and persuasion skills.

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine you've identified a critical usability issue in a live system. What steps would you take to diagnose, propose, and implement a solution?" Emphasize your systematic approach, data-driven analysis, and collaboration with development.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Operations Culture: "What do you know about Hana Technologies and Systems and our work with the DOD? How do you see your skills contributing to our mission?" Research the company's website, values, and recent projects. Connect your experience to their specific needs.

• Operations Team Dynamics: "How do you typically collaborate with developers and product managers? What makes a successful cross-functional partnership in your experience?" Prepare examples of positive collaborative experiences and how you contribute to team success.

• Operations Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your UX/UI designs? Can you provide an example of how you used data to improve a design?" Be ready to discuss key UX metrics and provide a specific case study showcasing your analytical approach.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role and contributions, the process followed, the solutions implemented, and the measurable results or impact.

• Highlight Key Deliverables: Showcase your wireframes, prototypes, user journey maps, and final UI designs, explaining the rationale behind each.

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss the tools you used and your comfort level with them.

• Showcase Adaptability: Include projects that demonstrate your ability to work within constraints, adapt to feedback, and deliver high-quality results under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thorough preparation for the portfolio review and ability to articulate your design process with specific examples are crucial. Tailoring your answers to the DOD context and Hana's company values will significantly enhance your candidacy.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the recruiting platform: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/3571636

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight experience relevant to DOD contracts, human-centered design, and user research. Select portfolio pieces that best showcase your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly state your active DOD security clearance status and quantify your achievements using metrics related to UX/UI design effectiveness and process improvements. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on clearly articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Prepare STAR method answers for behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Hana Technologies and Systems, understanding their mission, values, and work within the DOD sector. Be prepared to discuss how your contributions align with their objectives.

⚠️ 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.