Lead User Experience (UX) Engineer, TS/SCI wPoly

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead User Experience (UX) Engineer, TS/SCI wPoly

Company: The MITRE Corporation

Location: McLean, Virginia, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Engineering / Front-End Development

Date Posted: May 29, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the design and development of sophisticated front-end web applications for critical Intelligence Community (IC) initiatives, focusing on user experience and mission effectiveness.

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert in UI/UX, interaction design, and visual design within secure, high-priority government environments.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including human factors engineers, designers, researchers, and ODNI sponsors, to translate complex mission workflows into intuitive and efficient user interfaces.

• Develop and refine interactive, visually engaging, and responsive applications, ensuring performance, usability, and accessibility standards are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly specialized, requiring a specific security clearance (TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph) and a strong blend of front-end development expertise and user-centered design principles within a government contracting context. The emphasis on ODNI initiatives suggests a focus on national security, intelligence analysis, and secure collaboration platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design, documentation, development, and refinement of interactive, visually engaging, and responsive front-end web applications and interaction designs for highly sensitive Intelligence Community environments.

• Collaborate directly with ODNI sponsors and MITRE technical teams to translate complex mission workflows into clear, accessible, and mission-effective user interfaces that support analyst decision-making and reduce cognitive burden.

• Work closely with human factors engineers, UX designers, researchers, project leaders, and sponsors to create software prototypes using current front-end technologies and best practices.

• Lead or support the development of enterprise-grade application front ends for a variety of mission needs, including data visualization, workflow automation, analytics, and geospatial displays.

• Produce and maintain design-system components, interaction specifications, accessibility annotations, and developer-ready handoff documentation for sponsor engagement.

• Ensure the performance, usability, and accessibility of application designs, adhering to established standards and best practices.

• Clearly present designs and technical solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, facilitating understanding and buy-in.

• Mentor junior developers and designers, contributing to the department's technical standards and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a leadership component, emphasizing the ability to guide technical development and mentor junior staff. The translation of "complex mission workflows" into "clear, accessible, and mission-effective user interfaces" is a core requirement, demanding strong analytical and communication skills alongside technical proficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), UX Design, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years with a Master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience.

Required Skills:

• Active TS//SCI clearance with a Full Scope Polygraph (required at time of hire).

• U.S. Citizenship is required to be considered for a security clearance.

• Proficiency in modern front-end technologies: JavaScript, HTML, CSS.

• Experience with JavaScript Frameworks such as Angular, Vue, React, and/or similar libraries.

• Experience with UI-first rapid prototyping and development approaches.

• Experience with CSS frameworks such as Tailwind or Material Design-based libraries.

• Deep understanding of usability, accessibility (WCAG standards), visual hierarchy, and user-centered design principles.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with geospatial application design and libraries (e.g., ESRI, open-source geospatial libraries).

• Experience developing web applications with different architectures: Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Single Page Applications (SPAs), and hybrid applications (interactive islands pattern).

• Experience working within Linux-based environments, including command line and shell scripting.

• Experience using version control systems (Git) and managing code reviews and releases.

• Experience developing applications within Intelligence Community (IC) or ODNI environments.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms, specifically AWS-managed services and cloud-native architectures.

• Experience producing high-quality software documentation and design artifacts.

• Familiarity with alternative JavaScript runtimes such as Bun or Deno.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a strong foundation in web development technologies, coupled with a deep understanding of UX principles. The explicit mention of TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph is a critical qualification, alongside the requirement for U.S. Citizenship. Preferred skills indicate a leaning towards modern development practices and experience within specialized government sectors.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex front-end web application projects demonstrating UI/UX engineering expertise, with a focus on applications developed for government or highly regulated environments.

• Projects should highlight the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user interfaces, emphasizing user-centered design principles and problem-solving.

• Include examples of interactive prototypes, wireframes, and final application interfaces, detailing the design process from concept to implementation.

• Demonstrate proficiency in responsive design, ensuring applications function seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes.

Process Documentation:

• Detail the process undertaken for each portfolio project, including user research, requirements gathering, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iterative design refinement.

• Document the rationale behind design decisions, particularly concerning usability, accessibility, and alignment with mission objectives.

• Explain the development workflow, including the use of version control (Git), collaboration tools, and deployment strategies.

• Include examples of how accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) were integrated into the design and development process.

• Illustrate the approach to stakeholder engagement, feedback incorporation, and the iterative improvement of designs based on user input and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, a portfolio demonstrating practical application of UX/UI engineering skills in complex, secure environments is crucial. The emphasis should be on showcasing the candidate's ability to deliver functional, user-friendly interfaces that meet stringent government requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $156,800 - $235,200 Annual

Benefits:

• Competitive Benefits package.

• Exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth.

• Opportunities for innovation and adaptability.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, likely around 40 hours per week.

• The role requires a significant on-site presence (5 days a week), indicating a collaborative and integrated work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a lead-level engineering role with specialized security clearance requirements in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The benefits focus on professional growth and a supportive work environment, aligning with MITRE's mission-driven culture. The strict on-site requirement is notable for candidates seeking flexible work arrangements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Research & Development (R&D), Government Contracting, Not-for-Profit Technology Organization

Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees)

Founded: 1958

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Engineering team operates within a larger technical department supporting high-priority ODNI initiatives.

• This team likely comprises a mix of UX/UI engineers, human factors engineers, UX designers, and potentially front-end developers, working closely with project managers and government sponsors.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on user-centered design, translating complex mission needs into intuitive and effective interfaces.

• Agile development methodologies are likely employed, with a focus on iterative design, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.

• Strong adherence to security protocols and best practices within Intelligence Community environments.

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging user insights and performance metrics to inform design choices.

Company Website: https://careers.mitre.org/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: MITRE's identity as a not-for-profit R&D organization working for the public interest shapes its culture. Expect a mission-driven environment focused on technical excellence and societal impact, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and continuous learning. The team structure suggests a supportive, specialized group focused on critical national security challenges.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Engineer / Senior Contributor

This role represents a senior-level position requiring extensive experience and the ability to lead technical efforts. As a "Lead UX/UI Engineer," the individual is expected to be a subject matter expert, capable of guiding project direction, mentoring junior staff, and influencing technical strategy within their domain. The role demands a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for delivering complex solutions.

Reporting Structure:

The Lead UX/UI Engineer will likely report to a technical lead, program manager, or department director within MITRE's relevant division. They will work closely with ODNI sponsors and MITRE technical teams, indicating a matrixed reporting or strong collaborative relationship with external stakeholders.

Operations Impact:

The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the effectiveness of critical intelligence analysis and decision-making processes. By creating intuitive and efficient user interfaces, the Lead UX/UI Engineer will help reduce cognitive burden on analysts, improve data accessibility, enhance collaboration, and ultimately contribute to more robust national security outcomes. Their work directly supports technology modernization and data integration efforts for the ODNI.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like geospatial visualization, advanced data analytics interfaces, or specialized security-focused UX.

• Leadership Development: Progress into management roles, leading larger teams, or taking on program management responsibilities for complex R&D initiatives.

• Cross-Domain Expertise: Expand knowledge into related fields such as cybersecurity, AI/ML interfaces, or enterprise transformation, leveraging MITRE's broad scope.

• Mentorship & Training: Become a key figure in developing internal training programs and mentoring the next generation of UX/UI engineers within MITRE.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title signifies a clear path for career progression, moving beyond individual contribution to leadership and strategic influence. MITRE's R&D focus provides ample opportunities for continuous learning and specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site with potential for collaboration at sponsor locations within the National Capital Region.

The role explicitly states an on-site requirement of 5 days a week in McLean, Virginia, or Bethesda, Maryland, with potential travel within the National Capital Region. This indicates a traditional office-based work environment designed for close collaboration and secure operations.

Office Location(s):

• McLean, Virginia

• Bethesda, Maryland Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on on-site work and collaboration with sponsors suggests a dynamic workspace where face-to-face interaction, whiteboard sessions, and impromptu discussions are common.

• Secure Operations: Working within Intelligence Community environments necessitates adherence to strict security protocols, which may influence the physical workspace and available technologies.

• Technology Access: Employees will have access to MITRE's standard technology stack, including development tools, secure networks, and potentially specialized hardware or software relevant to IC initiatives. The role involves working with various front-end technologies and potentially cloud-based services.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, requiring a commitment of approximately 40 hours per week.

• Given the critical nature of ODNI initiatives, there may be an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines or address urgent operational needs, though core hours are likely standard.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 5-day on-site requirement is a significant factor for candidates. This setup is designed to facilitate deep collaboration, secure information handling, and direct engagement with government stakeholders.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will likely conduct an initial review of applications, focusing on security clearance, core qualifications, and relevant experience.

2. Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more interviews with hiring managers and senior technical team members. These will delve into your front-end development skills, UX/UI design philosophy, experience with specific technologies (JavaScript frameworks, CSS, D3.js), and your approach to user-centered design. Be prepared to discuss your problem-solving methodologies.

3. Portfolio Review: A significant portion of the interview process will involve presenting your portfolio. You will be asked to walk through specific projects, explaining your role, design decisions, technical implementation, and the impact of your work.

4. Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions will assess your ability to collaborate, mentor others, communicate complex ideas, and handle challenges within a high-stakes government environment.

5. Security Clearance Verification: The TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph clearance will be a primary focus throughout the process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your experience with complex front-end applications, UI/UX engineering, and ideally, work relevant to government or national security contexts.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific contributions, the design process you followed (user research, wireframing, prototyping), the technologies used, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss your code, design patterns, and technical challenges overcome. If possible, provide code snippets or links to live demos (if not sensitive).

• Emphasize Collaboration: Explain how you worked with designers, developers, researchers, and stakeholders. Demonstrate your ability to incorporate feedback and achieve consensus.

• Focus on Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible (e.g., improved usability scores, reduced task completion time, increased user adoption).

• Address Security Context: If you have experience in secure environments, highlight how you adapted your processes to meet security requirements.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prototyping Exercise: You might be given a small design problem or a set of requirements and asked to create a rapid prototype or outline a design approach. Practice using tools like Figma, Sketch, or even basic HTML/CSS/JS for quick mockups.

• Technical Q&A: Prepare for in-depth questions on JavaScript, specific frameworks (React, Vue, Angular), CSS architecture, accessibility standards, and potentially data visualization techniques.

• System Design: Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing a front-end system for a given mission requirement, considering scalability, security, and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenges underscores the practical, hands-on nature of this role. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their skills and thought processes extensively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• JavaScript Frameworks: React, Vue, Angular (proficiency in at least one is expected, familiarity with others is a plus).

• Core Web Technologies: HTML5, CSS3.

• CSS Frameworks: Tailwind CSS, Material Design libraries.

• Data Visualization: D3.js (specifically mentioned).

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for wireframing and interactive mockups.

• Version Control: Git (essential for code management and collaboration).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Development Environment:

• Operating Systems: Likely Linux-based environments, with experience in command line and shell scripting being preferred.

• Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with AWS-managed services and cloud-native architectures is preferred.

• Alternative Runtimes: Bun or Deno (familiarity is a plus).

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is modern and aligned with current front-end development best practices. Proficiency in JavaScript frameworks, core web technologies, and data visualization tools like D3.js is critical. Experience with Linux and cloud environments is increasingly important for government contracting roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Technical Excellence: A commitment to high-quality engineering, design, and development, pushing the boundaries of what's possible within secure constraints.

• Mission Focus: A deep understanding and dedication to supporting national security objectives and public interest initiatives.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with diverse teams, sponsors, and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies and methodologies to solve complex problems and adapt to evolving mission needs.

• Integrity & Accountability: Upholding the highest ethical standards and taking responsibility for the impact of one's work.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with human factors engineers, UX designers, researchers, and software developers. The role requires bridging the gap between design intent and technical implementation.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactive communication and engagement with ODNI sponsors are essential for understanding mission requirements, gathering feedback, and ensuring alignment.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: As a lead, there's an expectation to mentor junior colleagues, share best practices, and contribute to the collective knowledge base of the team and department.

• Iterative Design Process: The team likely employs an iterative approach, valuing open feedback, constructive criticism, and continuous improvement of designs and applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: MITRE's culture emphasizes impactful work for the public good, combined with a strong technical foundation. The values highlight a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven environment where technical expertise is highly respected and applied to critical national challenges.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Secure Environments: Working with highly sensitive data and within strict security protocols requires careful attention to detail and adherence to compliance, which can sometimes constrain rapid iteration.

• Translating Complex Requirements: Effectively converting intricate mission needs and technical jargon into intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for analysts with varying technical backgrounds.

• Balancing Design and Development: Ensuring that the technical feasibility and performance of designs are maintained throughout the development lifecycle, especially with advanced UI/UX features.

• Staying Current with Technology: Continuously learning and integrating new front-end technologies and UX paradigms while maintaining stability and security for government applications.

• On-Site Requirement: For candidates who prefer remote or hybrid work, the mandatory 5-day on-site presence is a significant challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technical Training: Access to training in cutting-edge front-end frameworks, UI/UX design patterns, data visualization techniques, and cloud technologies.

• Security Clearance Advancement: Opportunities to maintain and potentially expand security clearances as career progresses.

• Cross-Domain Exposure: MITRE's broad scope allows for exposure to diverse projects in cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, and enterprise transformation, offering opportunities to apply UX skills in new contexts.

• Leadership Development Programs: Formal and informal mentorship programs designed to cultivate leadership skills, project management capabilities, and strategic thinking.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant conferences and pursuing professional certifications to stay at the forefront of UX/UI engineering and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in high-security, mission-critical environments. However, these challenges are balanced by substantial growth opportunities within a leading R&D organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex mission workflow you've translated into a user interface. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure usability and effectiveness for the end-users?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio. Focus on user research, iterative design, and how you addressed cognitive load or decision support needs. Quantify impact if possible.

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility (e.g., WCAG compliance) within a front-end development context, especially when working with complex data visualizations?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your understanding of accessibility standards and practical application. Be ready to explain how you'd implement ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation, and contrast ratios.

• "Walk me through your process for developing and maintaining a design system or reusable UI components. How do you ensure consistency and scalability?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to MITRE's mission and our work with the Intelligence Community?"

  • Preparation: Research MITRE's role in national security and public interest. Connect your personal values and career goals to their mission.

• "How do you mentor junior engineers or designers, and what is your approach to fostering a collaborative team environment?"

  • Preparation: Provide examples of mentorship, knowledge sharing, and conflict resolution. Highlight your leadership style.

• "Given the on-site requirement, how do you envision contributing to a collaborative team dynamic in McLean, Virginia?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each project, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Solution -> Your Role -> Technologies -> Outcome.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, or even short video demos to showcase the user experience.

• Quantify Achievements: Wherever possible, use metrics (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "improved user satisfaction scores by Y%") to demonstrate impact.

• Technical Deep Dive: Be prepared to discuss code architecture, specific JavaScript frameworks, CSS implementation, and any unique technical challenges you overcame.

• Stakeholder Communication: Explain how you managed feedback from sponsors and incorporated it into the design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only technical proficiency but also a deep understanding of user-centered design, problem-solving, and the ability to operate effectively in a secure, government-focused environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the official MITRE careers portal link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your most relevant experience in front-end development, UI/UX engineering, and any work within government or national security sectors. Emphasize projects involving data visualization, complex workflow translation, and user-centered design.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiency in required technologies (JavaScript, HTML, CSS, React/Vue/Angular, D3.js) and explicitly states your active TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph clearance. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on telling a compelling story for each project that demonstrates your problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and impact. Prepare to discuss your design process and collaboration style.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research The MITRE Corporation, its mission, and its role in supporting the public interest and national security. Understand the significance of ODNI initiatives to better align your responses 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 MITRE Corporation before making application decisions. The TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph clearance is a non-negotiable requirement.