Lead Portal and UX Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Portal and UX Engineer

Company: SABEL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC

Location: Beavercreek, Ohio, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: UX/UI Engineering & Design (with GTM implications)

Date Posted: May 15, 2026

Experience Level: Experienced (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the architectural design and implementation of a unified, enterprise-wide web portal serving as the central hub for a major U.S. Air Force digital engineering platform.

• Architect and develop customized, persona-based workspaces to deliver tailored views and workflows for specific user roles within complex acquisition processes.

• Drive the design and automation of a self-service catalog for requesting access to software tools and platform resources, integrating with critical identity and access management systems.

• Establish and manage a robust user feedback program to translate insights into actionable improvements for the platform's user interface and interaction models, ensuring a seamless user experience.

• Ensure UI/UX designs are standardized, scalable, and deployable across different security classification levels (CUI to Secret), demonstrating strong cross-domain data consolidation capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is explicitly "Lead Portal and UX Engineer," its application within a U.S. Air Force digital engineering engagement suggests a strong connection to GTM (Go-To-Market) principles, particularly in how user adoption and engagement are driven through effective portal design and persona-based workflows. The success of this platform hinges on its ability to be adopted by up to 80,000 users, making UX critically important for user adoption and satisfaction, akin to a product's GTM success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Architect and design a unified web portal that serves as the central hub for users to access and interact with a complex suite of engineering, logistics, and program management tools, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

• Develop and implement customized, persona-based workspaces that provide tailored views and workflows for specific acquisition roles (e.g., Program Manager, Engineer, Logistics), optimizing user efficiency and data access.

• Design and oversee the automation of a self-service catalog for requesting access to software tools and platform resources, integrating seamlessly with back-end identity and access management systems to streamline provisioning.

• Establish and manage a robust user feedback program, employing qualitative and quantitative methods to gather insights and translate them into actionable improvements for the platform's user interface and interaction models.

• Ensure UI/UX designs are standardized, scalable, and can be deployed with minimal rework across different security classification levels (from CUI to Secret), maintaining consistency and security compliance.

• Collaborate with analytics teams to integrate data dashboards for license and cloud usage monitoring seamlessly into the portal experience, providing users with critical operational insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design, hands-on development, and process management. For operations professionals, the emphasis on "persona-based workspaces," "self-service catalog automation," and "integrating data dashboards" points to opportunities to apply process optimization and system integration skills in a high-impact environment. The success metrics will likely revolve around user adoption rates, task completion times, and reduction in support requests, all critical for operational efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, Design) is preferred.

Experience: 4+ years of experience in UX engineering, UI architecture, or front-end development for complex enterprise applications.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in designing user-centric interfaces for Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) or large-scale, integrated systems.

• Proven ability to design and implement persona-based dashboards and user-centric workflows that consolidate data from multiple sources.

• Strong understanding of front-end development principles and best practices for complex enterprise applications.

• Excellent spoken and written English communication skills, essential for stakeholder collaboration and requirement gathering.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with modern front-end frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.js, particularly for building custom Single Page Applications (SPAs).

• Familiarity with Department of Defense (DoD) digital engineering concepts, including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), or Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

• Experience working in hybrid cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure) and designing systems for classified environments (e.g., IL-5, IL-6).

• Knowledge of security classification management principles for government systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a Secret Security Clearance and experience with DoD environments significantly narrows the candidate pool and emphasizes the need for candidates with prior government contracting or defense sector experience. The preferred skills in modern front-end frameworks and cloud environments suggest the platform is built with current technologies, and experience in these areas will be a strong differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least 2-3 complex enterprise application or portal design projects, emphasizing user-centric design methodologies and persona-based workflows.

• Demonstrate experience in consolidating data from disparate sources into a unified, intuitive interface, highlighting the challenges and solutions implemented.

• Include examples of user feedback integration and how user insights directly informed design iterations and improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your process for user research, including methods for identifying user needs, pain points, and defining personas for complex systems.

• Outline your approach to architecting a unified web portal, including information architecture, wireframing, and prototyping phases.

• Explain your strategy for designing and implementing automated self-service catalogs and integrating them with identity and access management systems.

• Describe how you collaborate with development teams and stakeholders to ensure UI/UX designs are effectively translated into functional features and meet security standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, a portfolio demonstrating process optimization and system integration is key. This role requires not just design skills but also the ability to design processes for user access, feedback, and data consolidation. The portfolio should highlight the candidate's ability to translate complex requirements into efficient, user-friendly operational workflows within a secure environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Lead UX Engineers with 4+ years of experience, a Secret Clearance, and experience in complex enterprise/government systems in the Beavercreek, OH area, the estimated salary range is $100,000 - $140,000 per year. This range can vary based on specific contract alignment, skills, education, and direct experience with DoD platforms.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare coverage

• Financial Assistance programs (for illness, injury, disability, loss of work, or death)

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

• Retirement Plans (e.g., 401(k))

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Paid Holidays

• Education and Training Program Reimbursement

Working Hours: Standard full-time engagement, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility for specific tasks or project needs, subject to management approval and operational requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from reputable compensation platforms (e.g., Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, Salary.com) for similar roles in the Beavercreek, OH region, factoring in the required Secret Security Clearance and the "Lead" designation. The extensive benefits package is typical for government contractors and aims to provide a robust support system for employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), specializing in Digital Engineering and Federal Government Contracting. Sabel Systems operates within the DoD sector, providing innovative solutions to the U.S. Air Force.

Company Size: Small Business agility with large business opportunities, indicated by the company's philosophy and partnerships with prime contractors. This implies a more personal, people-first culture where individual contributions are highly visible.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's focus on modern ICT solutions and partnerships suggests a dynamic, forward-thinking organization.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a dynamic and highly motivated team focused on delivering quality and secure solutions rapidly.

• This specific engagement supports a major U.S. Air Force digital engineering initiative, implying close collaboration with government stakeholders and potentially other contractors (e.g., Siemens, Booz Allen, McKinsey).

Methodology:

• Agile & People-First: The company emphasizes "small business agility and people first culture," suggesting a work environment that values rapid iteration, direct communication, and employee well-being.

• Quality & Speed: The team's goal is to "Get quality and secure solutions in the customers hands as soon as possible," indicating a focus on efficient development cycles and robust quality assurance.

• Data-Driven Insights: Collaboration with analytics teams suggests a data-informed approach to platform development and performance monitoring.

Company Website: sabelsystems.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture description highlights a blend of small-business agility and large-business impact, a common and attractive model in government contracting. For operations professionals, understanding this culture is key to navigating stakeholder relationships and project execution, where efficiency and rapid delivery are paramount.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" position, signifying a senior individual contributor role with significant responsibility for architectural design, technical direction, and potentially mentoring junior team members. It represents a critical junction for professionals aiming to deepen their expertise in UX/UI for complex government systems or transition into technical leadership.

Reporting Structure: The role will report to a Program Manager or a Director of Engineering within the Sabel Systems team, with direct interaction and reporting lines to U.S. Air Force government stakeholders. The emphasis is on direct collaboration with government stakeholders and functional user groups.

Operations Impact: The work directly impacts the operational efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. Air Force personnel by providing a unified, intuitive platform for critical engineering and acquisition processes. Successful UX design will lead to increased user adoption, reduced training overhead, improved data accuracy, and faster decision-making, directly contributing to mission success and operational readiness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced UX/UI design for defense-sector platforms, including multi-classification environments and hybrid cloud architectures.

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to influence technical direction, lead design initiatives, and potentially grow into a management role overseeing UX/UI teams or specific platform components.

• Skill Expansion: Gain exposure to DoD digital engineering, PLM, ALM, MBSE concepts, and hybrid cloud technologies (AWS, Azure) through hands-on project work.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to high-profile government projects that offer significant career advancement and visibility within the defense contracting industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a unique opportunity to apply user-centric design principles to enhance mission-critical government operations. The growth path emphasizes both technical depth in specialized domains and leadership potential, aligning with career aspirations for impactful roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is based at the "Beavercreek Office," indicating a physical workspace within a dedicated office environment.

Office Location(s): 2290 Lakeview Drive Suite D, Beavercreek, OH 45431. This location is within the greater Dayton, Ohio area, known for its significant presence of aerospace and defense industry contractors, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with government stakeholders, functional user groups, and internal engineering teams, suggesting an environment that fosters open communication and teamwork.

• Technology-Rich: Access to modern development tools and potentially secure government-provided systems will be part of the daily work.

• Security-Conscious: The work environment will adhere to strict security protocols due to the nature of government contracting and classified information.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, likely with standard business hours, but the fast-paced nature of government projects may require occasional flexibility to meet deadlines or address urgent operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Beavercreek, OH, is significant, given the region's strong ties to the aerospace and defense sector. This offers operations professionals opportunities to work on impactful projects within a specialized industry hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter review of applications and resumes, focusing on required qualifications like experience, security clearance, and relevant skills.

• Technical Interview: In-depth discussion with hiring managers and/or senior technical team members to assess UX/UI expertise, architectural thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Expect detailed questions about your design process and past projects.

• Portfolio Review: Presentation of your portfolio, walking through key projects, design choices, and outcomes. Be prepared to discuss your role, challenges, and the impact of your work.

• Stakeholder/Government Interview: Potential interviews with U.S. Air Force stakeholders to assess communication skills, understanding of defense sector needs, and cultural fit.

• Final Offer: Based on overall assessment across all interview stages.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize Relevance: Showcase projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex enterprise systems, persona-based design, and data consolidation, ideally with government or large-scale application examples.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Process & Methodology: Explain how you approach design challenges, from initial research and wireframing to prototyping and user testing. Emphasize your understanding of user-centric design principles.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, provide metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs, such as increased user adoption, improved task completion rates, or reduced error rates.

• Be Ready for Technical Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss specific tools, frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js), and design patterns you've used.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for scenario-based questions asking how you would approach specific design challenges related to user onboarding, data visualization, or workflow optimization for a large user base.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, as you may need to present solutions or critique existing designs.

• Familiarize yourself with common DoD digital engineering concepts and terminology if possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential stakeholder interviews highlights the importance of clear communication and demonstrable impact. Operations professionals should prepare to showcase how their process design and system integration skills contribute to user adoption and operational efficiency, using concrete examples from their experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Front-End Frameworks: React, Angular, or Vue.js are preferred for building custom Single Page Applications (SPAs). Proficiency in at least one is highly beneficial.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Expect to utilize industry-standard tools for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence) will be integral.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Dashboard Integration: Experience integrating data visualization components into user interfaces for monitoring license and cloud usage. Familiarity with tools that support this (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, custom charting libraries) would be advantageous.

• User Analytics: Understanding of how to interpret user behavior data to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Identity and Access Management (IAM) Systems: Experience or understanding of how user access is managed and how self-service portals integrate with these systems is crucial for the access request catalog.

• Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Concepts: Familiarity with the architectural principles of PaaS environments will inform portal design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, understanding how these tools facilitate process automation, data flow, and user management is key. The ability to integrate analytics dashboards into the portal is a direct link to operational performance monitoring and reporting.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Bias for Action: A proactive approach to problem-solving and driving progress, moving with speed to deliver impact. For operations, this means identifying and implementing solutions efficiently.

• Integrity: Upholding high ethical standards, transparency, and earning trust through reliable work and honest communication.

• Delivery Excellence: A customer-obsessed and mission-focused mindset, prioritizing quality and innovation to exceed expectations. This translates to delivering robust, user-friendly platforms that directly support the mission.

• People First: A culture that values its employees, fostering growth, well-being, and a supportive work environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close collaboration with government stakeholders, functional user groups, developers, and potentially prime contractors is essential.

• Feedback-Driven: An openness to feedback and a continuous improvement loop, actively seeking user input to refine the platform.

• Agile & Iterative: Working within an agile framework to deliver solutions incrementally and adapt to evolving requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are critical for understanding how decisions are made and how teams operate. For operations roles, demonstrating alignment with these values—particularly "Bias for Action" and "Delivery Excellence"—is crucial for success in a fast-paced government contracting environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scalability for 80,000 Users: Designing and implementing a portal that can effectively serve a massive user base with diverse needs and access requirements.

• Consolidating Disparate Data: Architecting a seamless user experience from complex, cross-domain data sources, requiring careful information architecture and UI design.

• Standardization Across Classification Levels: Ensuring UI/UX consistency and deployability across different security classifications (CUI to Secret) presents unique technical and procedural hurdles.

• Integrating with Legacy & Modern Systems: Balancing the integration of new features with existing or legacy systems within a large government IT ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Design: Mastering the design of complex, secure, and scalable enterprise portals for defense applications.

• DoD Digital Engineering Ecosystem: Gaining in-depth knowledge of concepts like PLM, ALM, MBSE, and their integration into user platforms.

• Hybrid Cloud & Security Architectures: Working with AWS/Azure and understanding the nuances of designing for classified environments (IL-5, IL-6).

• Leadership in Technical Projects: Opportunity to lead design initiatives, influence technical strategy, and mentor junior engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations professionals can leverage these challenges as opportunities to demonstrate their problem-solving skills and adaptability. For instance, approaching the "Consolidating Disparate Data" challenge with a focus on workflow optimization and data governance can highlight relevant operational expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a unified portal from scratch for a large, diverse user base. What are the key considerations for information architecture, user segmentation, and accessibility?"

• "How would you approach designing persona-based workspaces for different acquisition roles (e.g., Program Manager, Engineer, Logistics) to consolidate complex data and streamline workflows?"

• "Walk us through a time you had to integrate a self-service catalog for tool access with an identity and access management system. What were the main challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Sabel Systems and this specific role supporting the U.S. Air Force digital engineering initiative?"

• "How do your personal work values align with Sabel Systems' core values of Bias for Action, Integrity, and Delivery Excellence?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each project as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the impact. Use visual aids effectively.

• Focus on Process: Clearly explain your design methodology, research techniques, and decision-making process.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. If direct metrics aren't available, explain the intended operational benefits and how your design contributes to them.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your technical choices, challenges, and how your work aligns with business/mission objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates, emphasize how your portfolio projects demonstrate process efficiency, system integration, and user adoption, relating them back to the company's mission and values. Highlight any experience with government systems or secure environments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Paycom link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/FD7FFA0D67F42152F057C5ABE2E06632/jobs/102715

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with enterprise portals, UX/UI architecture, persona-based design, and any work within government or defense sectors. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate your portfolio: Select projects that best showcase your ability to design complex, user-centric interfaces and workflows, especially those involving data consolidation or system integration.

• Prepare for security clearance verification: Be ready to discuss your eligibility and process for maintaining an active Secret Security Clearance.

• Research Sabel Systems: Understand their mission, values, and work within the DoD space to articulate your interest and cultural fit 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.