Lead Design Technologist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Design Technologist

Company: CACI

Location: Ashburn, VA, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Technology / Design Operations

Date Posted: November 4, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the scaling of human-centered design principles and repeatable UX solutions across a large government contracting organization, fostering a culture of design excellence.

• Engineer and maintain enterprise-level design systems, component libraries, and design tokens, with a specific focus on integrating and optimizing AI-assisted development tools.

• Operationalize the translation of design artifacts (Figma) into production-ready front-end code, bridging the gap between design and engineering teams.

• Develop and deploy self-service applications and automated toolkits for UX quality assessments, heuristic evaluations, and Section 508 accessibility compliance checks, empowering project teams.

• Act as a subject matter expert, providing internal UX consulting, expert problem-solving for complex UI/UX challenges, and delivering hands-on technical solutions to program-specific initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly specialized, blending deep expertise in front-end development, UX design principles, and the operationalization of design systems and AI tools. It requires a candidate who can not only execute but also architect scalable solutions and evangelize best practices across a large organization. The emphasis on "repeatable UX solutions" and "scaling human-centered design" positions this as a strategic, foundational role within CACI's Agile Solution Factory (ASF) Center of Excellence (COE).

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Enterprise Solution Engineering: Architect, develop, and deploy reusable internal applications, UI templates, and frameworks that enable project teams to rapidly implement high-quality user interfaces.

• Design System Development & Maintenance: Lead the creation, management, and evolution of CACI's enterprise design system, including component libraries, design tokens, and their underlying architectural framework to ensure seamless integration with AI-driven development tools.

• Design-to-Code Automation: Establish and refine workflows for automated conversion of Figma designs, including auto-layout, components, styles, and variables, into clean, maintainable front-end code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript) using modern enterprise frameworks.

• Self-Service Tools & Governance: Design and build automated toolkits and self-service applications for critical UX functions such as heuristic evaluations, UX quality assessments, and Section 508/WCAG accessibility compliance checks, promoting consistency and adherence to standards.

• Playbook & Guidance Creation: Develop and disseminate comprehensive playbooks, best practice guides, and strategic documentation covering user research, design standards, accessibility compliance, and AI integration for UI/UX, serving as educational resources for cross-functional teams.

• Internal UX Consulting & Advisory: Provide expert guidance and consultation to program managers, technical leads, and development teams on structuring design-to-development workflows, resourcing UX/UI efforts, and planning effective UI implementation timelines.

• Programmatic Problem Solving: Engage directly with active government programs to diagnose and resolve intricate UI/UX, front-end development, and accessibility challenges, delivering targeted solutions and best practices that can be transferred and scaled.

• AI Integration & Workflow Optimization: Define and implement standard practices for leveraging generative AI and other AI-assisted tools to accelerate prototyping, synthesize user research, and enhance the overall discovery process.

• AI for UI/UX Education: Create clear, actionable playbooks and self-service documentation to guide project teams on the secure and effective use of AI for UI/UX tasks, ensuring compliance and structural integrity of generated assets.

• Personal Productivity Acceleration: Utilize generative AI internally to maximize personal efficiency in prototyping, component generation, and data synthesis, setting an example for its application.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual mandate: building foundational, scalable assets (design systems, templates, tools) and providing direct, high-impact consulting to specific programs. The emphasis on "operationalize translation workflows" and "self-service governance applications" indicates a need for process-oriented thinking and automation skills. The inclusion of AI literacy and acceleration is a forward-looking requirement, positioning this role at the intersection of design, development, and emerging technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Science, or a closely related technical or design field. Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience, with a proven track record of successfully blending front-end UI engineering with UX design strategy and design system enablement. Required Skills:

• Front-End Engineering Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency in core web technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and TypeScript. Deep experience with at least one modern enterprise JavaScript framework (React, Angular, or Vue.js) is essential for building scalable UI components and applications.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced mastery of Figma's architecture, including a thorough understanding of auto-layout, component variants, styles, variables, and collaborative features, crucial for effective design-to-code handoff.

• Accessibility Standards: Solid understanding and practical application of digital accessibility standards, specifically Section 508 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to ensure inclusive design solutions.

• User-Centered Design Principles: Strong grasp of fundamental UX design principles, user research methodologies, persona development, journey mapping, heuristic evaluation techniques, and interaction design.

• AI Tool Integration & Literacy: Practical, hands-on experience leveraging generative AI tools to accelerate development workflows, prototyping, and content creation, with the ability to educate and guide others on their effective and secure use.

• Exceptional Communication & Presentation: Outstanding presentation, verbal, and written communication skills. Must be comfortable leading initial product discovery sessions, advocating for UX capabilities, and providing real-time UX guidance directly to program stakeholders and leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with back-end technologies such as Node.js or Python.

• A robust portfolio showcasing past projects that demonstrate strong UX engineering, design system contributions, or front-end development skills.

• Previous experience in establishing, contributing to, or scaling a UX Center of Excellence (COE).

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and DevSecOps best practices.

• Deep, specialized knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices.

• Prior experience working on Government or defense-related projects.

• Demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain Government Clearances.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" section emphasizes a blend of deep technical front-end development capabilities with strategic UX design thinking and practical AI application. The specific mention of Figma architecture and Section 508/WCAG indicates a need for detail-oriented execution. The "Desired Skills" provide a roadmap for candidates looking to differentiate themselves, particularly with government clearance experience and a strong portfolio.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Design System Contribution: Showcase examples of involvement in building, maintaining, or scaling design systems, including contributions to component libraries, design tokens, or architectural frameworks. Highlight how these efforts promoted reusability and consistency.

• Showcase Design-to-Code Implementation: Present case studies or code samples that illustrate the successful translation of complex Figma designs into functional, production-ready front-end code. Quantify efficiency gains or quality improvements achieved through this process.

• Illustrate Self-Service Tool Development: Include examples of tools, scripts, or applications developed to automate UX processes, such as accessibility checks, heuristic evaluations, or compliance reporting. Detail the problem solved and the impact of the solution.

• Highlight AI-Assisted Workflow Integration: Provide evidence of using generative AI or other AI tools to accelerate design, prototyping, or development workflows. Explain the specific tools used, the process implemented, and the measurable outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Ability to document and visualize end-to-end design-to-development workflows, identifying bottlenecks and proposing optimized, scalable solutions.

• System Implementation & Standards: Experience in defining and documenting standards for design system implementation, component usage, and code quality to ensure consistency across diverse projects.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Capability to define metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of design systems, automated tools, and AI integrations, and to analyze performance data to drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on "scaling repeatable UX solutions," a portfolio that demonstrates not just individual skill but also the ability to create reusable assets and processes is critical. The emphasis on "design-to-code," "self-service governance," and "AI workflows" means candidates should be prepared to show tangible examples of how they've operationalized design and development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The proposed salary range for this position is $94,400 - $198,200 USD per year. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee and family well-being.

• Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on promoting physical and mental health.

• Financial Security: Robust retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k matching) and other financial planning resources.

• Family Support: Benefits that cater to the needs of employees and their families, potentially including parental leave or family care resources.

• Continuing Education: Access to extensive learning resources, training programs, and opportunities for professional development to support career advancement.

• Flexible Time Off: A unique flexible time off benefit, offering autonomy and work-life balance.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically 40 hours per week. The specific daily schedule may offer some flexibility, aligning with the company's emphasis on work-life balance and employee autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Lead Design Technologist role, particularly within the government contracting sector and considering the specified experience level (5-10 years). The range reflects the blend of advanced technical skills, design expertise, and leadership/strategy required. The benefits package appears comprehensive, with a notable mention of "flexible time off," which is an attractive perk for operations and technical roles seeking work-life integration. The salary estimate is based on the provided explicit range, adjusted for the specified experience level and location.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology / Government Contracting. CACI provides IT solutions and services to defense, intelligence, and federal civilian agencies, focusing on mission-critical national security needs.

Company Size: Large enterprise (likely 10,000+ employees, based on typical government contractors of this scale). This size implies structured processes, potential for internal mobility, and a broad range of projects and clients.

Founded: 1962. CACI has a long history, suggesting stability, established methodologies, and a deep understanding of the government sector.

Team Structure:

• Agile Solution Factory (ASF) Center of Excellence (COE): This role operates within a COE, indicating a focus on establishing and scaling best practices, reusable assets, and expertise across the organization. COEs typically foster innovation, standardization, and knowledge sharing.

• User Experience Factory: The role is specifically housed within the "User Experience Factory," highlighting a dedicated focus on embedding and elevating UX capabilities.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role is inherently collaborative, requiring close interaction with program managers, technical leads, front-end engineers, UX designers, and potentially AI specialists and government clients.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: The core philosophy driving the approach to user experience and solution development.

• Agile Development: The role supports and integrates with Agile Solution Factory principles, implying iterative development, rapid prototyping, and flexible adaptation.

• Design Systems & Repeatable Solutions: A key methodology for scaling design and development efficiency and consistency.

• AI Acceleration: Integrating modern AI tools and techniques to enhance productivity and innovation in design and development processes.

Company Website: caci.com

📝 Enhancement Note: CACI's positioning as a major government contractor means its culture likely emphasizes mission focus, security, integrity, and a structured approach to problem-solving. The COE and "User Experience Factory" structure suggests a strategic investment in UX and technology innovation, aiming to provide cutting-edge solutions to government clients. This environment offers opportunities to work on impactful projects with a focus on operational excellence and scalability.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead. This signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant responsibility for architectural decisions, strategy implementation, and mentorship. It implies a move beyond task execution to defining and enabling processes for others.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Director or Senior Manager within the Agile Solution Factory (ASF) or User Experience Factory, with direct interaction and influence over various program teams.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the efficiency, quality, and user experience of solutions delivered to government clients. By scaling design systems and automating processes, the Lead Design Technologist can significantly reduce development time, improve product usability, and ensure compliance, directly contributing to mission success and client satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced front-end architectures, AI integration for design/development, or specific accessibility compliance domains.

• Leadership & Management: Progress into management roles overseeing UX/UI COE functions, leading larger teams, or driving strategic initiatives across multiple directorates.

• Architectural Design: Evolve into a principal architect role, defining the technical and design strategy for CACI's digital solutions and platforms.

• Cross-Functional Impact: Expand influence by driving design and technology adoption across a wider range of CACI's business units and client engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title suggests this is a pivotal role for advancing CACI's design and development capabilities. Growth opportunities are likely to involve increased strategic influence, technical depth, or leadership responsibilities within the COE structure. Candidates should consider how their career aspirations align with enabling scalable solutions and driving technological innovation within a large, mission-oriented organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. This role is based in Ashburn, VA, indicating a requirement for regular presence in a CACI office location.

Office Location(s): Ashburn, VA, United States. This location is part of the broader Northern Virginia tech corridor, offering proximity to government agencies and other tech companies.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role operates within a COE and UX Factory, implying a highly collaborative setting with frequent interaction with peers, program teams, and leadership.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to modern development and design tools, including Figma, enterprise frameworks, and potentially advanced AI platforms, will be integral to the role.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for hands-on problem-solving, knowledge sharing, and mentoring within the UXF and ASF teams, as well as direct engagement with client-facing program teams.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for some flexibility given the company's emphasis on work-life balance. However, the on-site requirement means consistent office presence is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement for this role suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, team building, and direct engagement, which can be beneficial for complex technical and design initiatives. The Ashburn location places the candidate within a significant hub for government contracting and technology.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills in front-end development, UX design, and experience with design systems/AI.

• Technical & Design Assessment: This may involve a technical interview focusing on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, framework knowledge, Figma proficiency, and accessibility standards. A portfolio review will likely be a key component, where you'll present case studies of your work.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions assessing your experience with leading initiatives, problem-solving complex UI/UX challenges, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and communicating with stakeholders. Expect scenario-based questions related to scaling design or integrating new technologies.

• COE/Strategy Discussion: Interviews focused on your understanding of Centers of Excellence, design system strategy, and how you would approach building and scaling repeatable UX solutions within CACI's context. Your ability to articulate AI integration strategies will also be assessed.

• Final Round: Likely with senior leadership to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies. For each, articulate the problem, your role, the solutions implemented (design, code, process), the tools used (especially Figma, frameworks, AI), and the measurable outcomes/impact.

• Showcase Design-to-Code: Explicitly demonstrate your ability to translate Figma designs into functional code. Include code snippets or links to repositories where appropriate. Highlight the process and any automation involved.

• Highlight Scalability & Reusability: Emphasize projects where you built reusable components, design systems, or automated workflows. Explain how your work enabled others or scaled efficiently.

• Demonstrate AI Application: Include examples of how you've used AI to accelerate your design or development process. Be specific about the tools and the results.

• Accessibility Focus: Ensure examples clearly show your understanding and implementation of Section 508/WCAG standards.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical challenge to design or scale a specific component or aspect of a design system.

• Code Review/Problem Solving: You might be asked to review a piece of code for quality, efficiency, or accessibility, or solve a specific front-end challenge.

• Process Improvement: Consider how you would approach building a playbook or self-service tool for a specific UX process (e.g., heuristic evaluation).

• AI Integration Strategy: Be ready to discuss how you would integrate AI tools into existing design/development workflows for a government client, considering security and compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, assessing both technical depth and strategic thinking. A strong, well-curated portfolio that directly addresses the "scaling repeatable solutions" and "AI integration" aspects of the role will be crucial for advancing. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, impact, and strategic vision.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: As the primary design tool, deep mastery is expected for design architecture, component creation, variables, and design-to-code workflows.

• Front-End Frameworks: Expertise in at least one of React, Angular, or Vue.js for building scalable and maintainable UI applications and components.

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript: Core web development languages essential for front-end engineering.

• Generative AI Tools: Practical experience with tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, GitHub Copilot, or similar AI assistants for prototyping, code generation, content creation, and data synthesis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Accessibility Testing Tools: Familiarity with tools for auditing Section 508/WCAG compliance (e.g., axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse).

• Design System Analytics: Potential use of tools to track component usage and adoption within the enterprise.

CRM & Automation:

• Version Control Systems: Proficiency with Git and platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket for code management and collaboration.

• CI/CD Tools: Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) for automated testing and deployment, particularly in the context of front-end development.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with Agile project management software such as Jira, Confluence, or similar platforms for workflow tracking and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on the modern front-end development ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on Figma for design handoff and AI tools for workflow acceleration. Proficiency in these areas is critical for success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission Focus: A strong commitment to supporting CACI's mission of delivering critical IT solutions to national security clients. Operations and design efforts are geared towards enabling mission success.

• Integrity & Character: Upholding high ethical standards in all work, crucial in the government contracting environment.

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Encouraged to find new and better ways to solve problems, particularly through scaling design and leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

• Collaboration & Trust: Fostering an environment where team members can rely on each other, share knowledge openly, and work together effectively across diverse teams and programs.

• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to enhancing processes, tools, and skills to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in design and development.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative approach, working closely with program managers, developers, UX researchers, and potentially client stakeholders to integrate design and development efforts seamlessly.

• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on documenting best practices, creating playbooks, and sharing expertise to empower other teams, especially within the COE structure.

• Feedback Exchange: An open environment for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs, code, processes, and strategies to drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: CACI's stated values emphasize integrity, mission, and a culture of trust and growth. For a Lead Design Technologist, this translates to a role where technical excellence is applied towards significant national objectives, within a structured yet innovative environment that values collaboration and continuous learning.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Systems Across Diverse Programs: Ensuring consistent adoption and effective utilization of design systems and repeatable solutions across a wide array of government projects with varying technical maturity and requirements.

• Bridging the Design-to-Code Gap: Operationalizing efficient and accurate translation of complex designs into functional code, especially when dealing with legacy systems or unique client constraints.

• Integrating AI Securely & Effectively: Navigating the complexities of integrating generative AI tools into government environments, ensuring data security, compliance, and genuine value addition rather than just novelty.

• Evangelizing UX Best Practices: Educating and influencing non-design/non-technical stakeholders and project teams on the value and implementation of human-centered design, accessibility, and modern development practices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen AI Expertise: Explore advanced applications of AI in design, development, and workflow automation, potentially leading to specialized roles or certifications.

• Advance Design System Architecture: Gain experience in architecting highly scalable and complex design systems that cater to enterprise-level needs.

• Government Sector Expertise: Develop a deeper understanding of government contracting nuances, security protocols, and client-specific operational requirements.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior team members, lead project initiatives, and potentially transition into management roles within the COE.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a role focused on scaling and innovation within a large, mission-critical organization. Overcoming these will require strong technical acumen, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering paths for both deep technical specialization and broader leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to building and scaling a design system for an enterprise organization, particularly within a government contracting context. How would you ensure adoption and maintain consistency across diverse programs?"

  • Preparation: Focus on modularity, governance, documentation, training, and phased rollout strategies. Highlight how you'd tailor this for government clients considering security and compliance.

• "How have you operationalized the translation of design artifacts into front-end code? Walk us through a specific process you've implemented, including the tools and methodologies used, and any automation you incorporated."

  • Preparation: Be ready to detail your Figma-to-code workflows, discussing component mapping, style guides, and potential use of plugins or custom scripts. Quantify efficiency gains.

• "Discuss your experience with generative AI in design and development. How have you leveraged it, and what are the key considerations for its secure and effective use in a government environment?"

  • Preparation: Provide concrete examples of AI use (e.g., rapid prototyping, code suggestions, content generation). Address security, compliance, data privacy, and bias mitigation strategies for government clients.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about CACI and this specific role within the Agile Solution Factory COE?"

  • Preparation: Research CACI's mission, recent projects, and their commitment to innovation. Connect your skills and aspirations to their goals and the role's mandate to scale design.

• "How do you approach collaborating with non-designers and technical teams to champion UX best practices and ensure successful implementation of design solutions?"

  • Preparation: Emphasize empathy, clear communication, tailored messaging, and demonstrating tangible value (e.g., efficiency, reduced rework).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: For each project, tell a compelling story: the challenge, your solution (design and code), the process (especially design-to-code and AI), and the impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Demonstrate live code examples or interactive prototypes where possible. For design systems, show component libraries and examples of their application.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics whenever possible (e.g., reduction in development time, improvement in accessibility scores, increase in design consistency).

• Address Role Specifics: Explicitly connect your portfolio pieces to the requirements of this Lead Design Technologist role – scaling, repeatability, design-to-code, AI integration, and government context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely probe your ability to think strategically about scaling design operations, your technical depth in front-end and design systems, and your practical application of AI. Preparing case studies that directly map to these areas will be essential.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the CACI careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly related to front-end engineering, UX design strategy, design systems, Figma mastery, accessibility (Section 508/WCAG), and generative AI. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating design system contributions, successful design-to-code implementations, any self-service tools developed, and examples of AI tool usage. Make sure it's easily accessible and navigable.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your experience and approach to the strategic responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly regarding scaling design and integrating AI, during interviews.

• Research CACI: Understand CACI's mission, values, and recent work in government IT solutions to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.