Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Babel Street

Location: Reston, Virginia, United States | Somerville, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-14

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of complex product experiences, driving UX strategy and influencing product roadmap decisions within a high-stakes identity intelligence and risk operations technology company.

• Translate ambiguous user needs, business objectives, and technical requirements into intuitive, scalable, and impactful design solutions for enterprise and government clients.

• Champion user-centered design methodologies, accessibility standards, and inclusive design principles throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring high-quality user experiences.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders to define requirements, develop design epics, and support technically feasible delivery in an Agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly focused on "Design Operations" within a company specializing in "identity intelligence and risk operations," suggesting a need for designers who can not only create but also optimize design processes and systems for complex, mission-critical software. The emphasis on "enterprise, B2B SaaS, government, or similarly complex environments" indicates a requirement for experience with sophisticated user interfaces and demanding stakeholder needs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire design lifecycle for intricate product experiences, from initial discovery and concept ideation through to final delivery and ongoing optimization.

• Develop comprehensive UX strategies and significantly influence product roadmap priorities by leveraging customer insights, robust user research, analytics, and design thinking.

• Create detailed user flows, information architecture diagrams, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished visual designs that set new benchmarks for product usability and effectiveness.

• Foster deep partnerships with Product Managers and Engineering teams to meticulously clarify requirements, pinpoint workflow inefficiencies, and translate strategic roadmap items into actionable design tasks and epics.

• Facilitate critical design discovery sessions, workshops, user journey mapping, design critiques, and stakeholder alignment meetings, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data to validate assumptions and drive continuous user experience improvement.

• Ensure all product designs adhere to accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG) and inclusive design principles, actively participating in design and accessibility QA with Engineering to uphold approved UX standards.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of reusable design system components, patterns, standards, and documentation, working in tandem with Design Engineering to enhance team efficiency and product consistency.

• Provide expert product context, insightful design critiques, and constructive feedback to internal teams and external design partners to ensure high-quality design output across the portfolio.

• Effectively communicate complex design concepts, strategies, and recommendations to diverse audiences, including technical, business, and executive leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership ("drive UX strategy," "influence product roadmap") and hands-on execution ("Create high-quality user flows," "wireframes, prototypes"). The emphasis on "complex product experiences" and "mission-critical problems" suggests that candidates should be adept at handling ambiguity and designing for sophisticated user needs within enterprise-level software.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in digital product design, specifically within enterprise, B2B SaaS, government, or similarly complex environments.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in leading the design of complex software products, from initial concept through to launch and subsequent iterative improvements.

• Deep knowledge of user-centered design (UCD) methodologies, interaction design principles, visual design best practices, information architecture, and usability testing techniques.

• A strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking, advanced problem-solving capabilities, and evidence of measurable impact on both business objectives and user outcomes.

• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, and a thorough understanding of design systems, prototyping tools, and collaborative design workflows.

• Experience in building, scaling, and governing design systems, including the creation of components, comprehensive documentation, and alignment with coded implementations to ensure cross-product consistency.

• Solid understanding of accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG) and a proven ability to integrate accessibility requirements seamlessly into product design processes.

• Skill in synthesizing user research findings, analytical data, customer feedback, and business objectives into actionable and impactful design insights.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities, with a proven capacity to influence decision-making across all organizational levels.

• Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams within Agile product development frameworks, including participation in sprint planning, backlog refinement, iterative delivery cycles, and UX work management using tools like Jira and Confluence.

• Ability to excel in fast-paced, iterative environments, effectively balancing strategic vision with diligent, hands-on execution. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience designing user interfaces for intelligence, analytics platforms, data visualization tools, cybersecurity solutions, defense applications, or other mission-critical software.

• Familiarity with Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) workflows and an understanding of investigative user personas.

• Experience conducting and leading comprehensive user research initiatives, with a strong ability to translate research findings into strategic product direction.

• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across multiple diverse groups without direct authority.

• Familiarity with AI-assisted design workflows, Model Context Protocol (MCP), or modern component frameworks such as shadcn/ui.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" years of experience inferred from the "8+ years" requirement combined with a "Senior" title suggests that candidates are expected to have a mature understanding of design strategy, process optimization, and leadership within a design function. The preferred qualifications point towards a niche within complex, data-driven, and security-conscious industries.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio demonstrating a comprehensive approach to UX design, showcasing strategic problem-solving from problem definition through to solution implementation and impact measurement.

• Case studies that clearly articulate complex challenges, the design process undertaken, the rationale behind key design decisions, and quantifiable outcomes achieved (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user adoption).

• Examples of end-to-end product design, including user flows, information architecture, wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, and final visual designs, specifically for complex enterprise or B2B SaaS applications.

• Evidence of experience with design systems, including contributions to their creation, maintenance, or utilization, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Projects that highlight experience with user research, usability testing, and the integration of accessibility standards (WCAG/ADA) into the design process. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrations of experience in defining and optimizing design processes, potentially including workflow diagrams for discovery, design, and handoff phases.

• Examples of how user research and data analytics have been integrated into design workflows to inform product strategy and iterative improvements.

• Evidence of experience working within Agile/Scrum methodologies, including contributions to sprint planning, backlog refinement, and collaboration with engineering on design tasks.

• Documentation or descriptions of how design systems are governed, maintained, and evolved to support product consistency and team efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior" title and focus on "Design Operations," the portfolio is expected to go beyond just showcasing final designs. It should highlight the candidate's strategic thinking, process ownership, ability to influence product direction, and experience with design systems and Agile workflows, particularly in complex B2B/enterprise environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $170,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and company holidays.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and continuing education.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options.

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours, with flexibility expected for project deadlines and team collaboration within the designated office locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $140,000 - $170,000 USD per year is consistent with Senior UX Designer roles in the Reston, Virginia, and Somerville, Massachusetts areas, considering the experience level (10+ years) and the specialized nature of the company's industry (identity intelligence, risk operations, government contracts). These are competitive rates for experienced design professionals in tech hubs.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Data Analytics, Identity Intelligence, Risk Operations, Government & Defense Sector.

Company Size: Babel Street is a growing technology company, likely employing between 200-500 individuals based on typical Greenhouse ATS job postings and industry segment. This size suggests a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact but also requires individuals who can operate with a degree of autonomy.

Founded: Founded in 2009, Babel Street has established itself as a mature player in the identity intelligence and risk operations space, indicating a stable yet innovative company culture focused on cutting-edge AI and data analytics solutions.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will be part of the Design Operations team, likely working alongside other designers, researchers, and potentially design engineers.

• This role involves significant cross-functional collaboration with Product Management, Engineering (likely in Agile squads), Marketing, and directly with government and commercial customers.

• Reporting structure is not explicitly defined but typically for a Senior individual contributor, it would be to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Director of Product/Design. Methodology:

• The company leverages advanced AI and data analytics to provide actionable insights, suggesting a data-driven approach to product development and design validation.

• Emphasis on "proactive risk identification" and "360-degree insights" implies a complex problem-solving methodology that requires deep user understanding and systems thinking.

• Solutions are designed for seamless integration, indicating a focus on robust architecture and user workflows that fit within existing operational environments.

Company Website: www.babelstreet.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "identity intelligence and risk operations" for government and commercial clients points to a culture that values precision, security, discretion, and the ability to handle complex, high-stakes information. The "disruptive Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) solutions" aspect suggests an innovative and forward-thinking environment within these critical domains.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role (Senior UX Designer), indicating a high level of expertise and autonomy. It's a position for experienced professionals who can lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and significantly influence product strategy without necessarily managing a team.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a Design Operations team, likely under a Design Lead or Manager. Collaboration will be broad, spanning Product Management, Engineering, and customer-facing roles, requiring strong communication and influencing skills.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer's work directly impacts the usability, adoption, and effectiveness of Babel Street's AI and data analytics solutions. This role is crucial for translating complex technical capabilities into intuitive user interfaces that empower government and commercial organizations to gain strategic advantages in identity and risk operations, directly contributing to mission success and client satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for specific domains like intelligence, cybersecurity, or data visualization within the company's niche.

• Leadership: Transition into a Design Lead or Managerial role, overseeing a team of designers and shaping the design vision.

• Strategic Influence: Become a key voice in product strategy, driving innovation and user advocacy at a higher organizational level.

• Design System Evolution: Take on more responsibility for the strategic direction and growth of the company's design system.

• Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior designers, contributing to the overall growth and maturity of the design practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the emphasis on influencing product direction suggest that this role offers significant growth potential beyond individual contribution, possibly into leadership or principal-level strategic roles within the design or product organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration is prioritized. The company has offices in Reston, Virginia, and Somerville, Massachusetts.

Office Location(s): Candidates can be based in Reston, Virginia, or Somerville, Massachusetts. Both locations are in established tech hubs with access to talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a collaborative workspace designed to foster interaction between design, product, and engineering teams.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma, and potentially specialized software for data analytics and visualization.

• Opportunities for regular team syncs, design critiques, and cross-functional project meetings, supporting a dynamic and iterative development process.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, there's likely a degree of flexibility within standard business hours to accommodate Agile sprints and project demands, but a consistent presence in the office is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a company culture that values face-to-face collaboration, team cohesion, and spontaneous idea exchange, which can be particularly beneficial for complex design challenges.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your resume and portfolio for initial fit. Prepare to articulate your relevant experience and highlight key projects.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Expect a deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on your process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities. A design challenge or case study presentation may be required to assess your skills in action.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineering leads to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to work within an Agile framework.

• Stakeholder/Leadership Interview: An interview with senior leadership or a design executive to evaluate strategic thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing user research, ideation, iteration, and problem-solving.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the business value and user impact of your design solutions (e.g., increased adoption, improved efficiency, reduced errors).

• Showcase Complexity: Highlight projects that involved complex user needs, intricate data, or challenging technical constraints, especially those relevant to enterprise, government, or B2B SaaS.

• Demonstrate Design System Experience: Include examples of your involvement with design systems, whether in creation, contribution, or comprehensive utilization.

• Tailor to Babel Street: Research Babel Street's products and target audience (identity intelligence, risk operations) and tailor your presentation to show how your skills align with their specific needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), identity intelligence, and risk operations concepts to better grasp the user context.

• Problem Decomposition: Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and outlining a systematic approach to solving them.

• User-Centricity: Prepare to demonstrate how you would approach understanding user needs and translating them into design solutions, even with limited initial information.

• Communication: Rehearse presenting your thought process, design decisions, and solutions clearly and concisely, anticipating questions from both design and technical perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, the interview process will heavily scrutinize not just design execution but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex, mission-critical environment. The portfolio review is a critical gate.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is explicitly required for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience building, scaling, and governing design systems is essential. This includes understanding component libraries, documentation, and alignment with coded implementations.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with Figma's prototyping capabilities or other advanced prototyping tools to create interactive user experiences.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with tools like Jira and Confluence for Agile workflow management, task tracking, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a required tool, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) for user behavior analysis and data-driven design decisions would be highly beneficial.

• Familiarity with data visualization tools may be advantageous given the company's focus on data analytics. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified for UX, but familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation tools integrate with user-facing products could provide valuable context for B2B SaaS design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and Design Systems indicates a modern, scalable design operation. The mention of Jira and Confluence points to a strong integration with engineering workflows in an Agile setting.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value driving all design decisions, ensuring that user needs and outcomes are paramount.

• Innovation & Disruption: A drive to develop cutting-edge AI and data analytics solutions that transform how organizations manage identity and risk.

• Precision & Accuracy: Essential for high-stakes identity intelligence and risk operations, where errors can have significant consequences.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A strong emphasis on working closely with Product Management, Engineering, and customers to achieve shared goals.

• Impact & Mission Focus: A commitment to delivering solutions that safeguard lives and protect critical assets, aligning with the company's mission.

• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to iterating on designs and optimizing processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Managers and Engineers, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical feasibility.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Collaboration involves leveraging user research, analytics, and customer feedback to guide design strategies and product roadmaps.

• Agile Cadence: Working within Agile sprints requires frequent communication, iteration, and adaptability in collaborative efforts.

• Mentorship and Peer Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and knowledge sharing among designers and with other teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission-critical focus suggests a culture that values rigor, accountability, and a deep understanding of user context. The collaborative style is likely to be highly integrated and iterative, especially given the Agile development environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for identity intelligence, risk operations, and OSINT involves intricate data, sensitive information, and demanding user workflows, requiring a deep understanding of specialized user needs and potential edge cases.

• Balancing Strategic Influence with Execution: As a Senior Designer, you'll need to drive strategic vision while also executing hands-on design tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Technical Constraints: Integrating advanced AI and data analytics capabilities into intuitive and user-friendly interfaces often presents significant technical challenges that require close collaboration with engineering.

• Evolving User Needs and Technology: Staying abreast of advancements in AI, data analytics, and user interface design, while also understanding the evolving threat landscape for government and commercial clients, requires continuous learning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in intelligence, cybersecurity, and data visualization through internal resources, customer interactions, and industry events.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunities to lead initiatives for expanding and refining the company's design system, impacting multiple product lines.

• Strategic Product Involvement: Influence the long-term product vision and roadmap through active participation in strategic planning sessions.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential to mentor junior designers, developing leadership and coaching skills.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to professional development resources to stay current with UX best practices, tools, and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working with complex, high-stakes technology. The growth opportunities are geared towards individuals who want to deepen their expertise in a specialized field and potentially move into strategic or leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced a product roadmap based on user research. What was the outcome?" (Prepare with a STAR method example showcasing your strategic thinking and impact.)

• "How do you approach designing for complex data visualization and analysis in a B2B/enterprise context?" (Focus on your process for understanding data, user workflows, and translating insights into clear interfaces.)

• "Walk me through your process for designing a new feature from concept to implementation. How do you ensure technical feasibility and user adoption?" (Highlight your end-to-end design skills and collaboration with engineering.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Babel Street's mission in identity intelligence and risk operations?" (Research the company's mission, recent news, and value proposition.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility and inclusive design are integrated into your work, especially in complex enterprise software?" (Discuss your practical experience and commitment to these principles.)

• "Describe your experience working with design systems. How have you contributed to or leveraged them to ensure consistency?" (Prepare examples of your design system work and its impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the measurable results.

• Focus on Strategy and Impact: Emphasize why you made certain design choices and the business/user outcomes they achieved, not just the final visuals.

• Showcase Process: Detail your user research, ideation, prototyping, and testing methods.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Address Complexity: Present projects that demonstrate your ability to handle complex requirements, data, and user needs relevant to Babel Street's domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and a deep understanding of user-centered design within complex enterprise environments. Tailoring your examples to Babel Street's industry (identity intelligence, risk operations, government) will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse platform.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent your experience in complex B2B SaaS, enterprise, or government design, highlighting your strategic approach, process, and measurable impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your Figma proficiency and design system experience.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to emphasize keywords related to UX design, product strategy, design systems, accessibility, Agile methodologies, and experience in complex environments. Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on telling a compelling story about problem-solving, collaboration, and the impact of your designs. Be ready to articulate your design process and rationale clearly.

• Research Babel Street: Understand the company's mission, products (identity intelligence, risk operations, OSINT), target audience (government, commercial), and values. Prepare to discuss why you are a good fit for their specific industry and culture.

⚠️ 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.