Senior UX Designer (Secret or TS Clearance Required)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer (Secret or TS Clearance Required)

Company: ICF

Location: Nationwide Remote Office (US99)

Job Type: Full time

Category: UX/UI Design & Product Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: 5-10 years professional experience

Remote Status: Hybrid (Occasional onsite work required in the metro DC area)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive User-Centered Modernization: Lead the application of human-centered design principles to modernize federal legacy systems, ensuring intuitive and effective user experiences across the entire product lifecycle. This involves translating complex government processes and technical constraints into user-friendly digital solutions.

• Integrate UX Research and Testing: Support and conduct usability testing with representative users, gather qualitative insights, and translate research findings into actionable design improvements to enhance usability, efficiency, and overall user satisfaction.

• Leverage Data for Design Optimization: Implement and analyze UX metrics (e.g., task success rates, feature adoption, workflow completion times) to inform iterative design decisions, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to product prioritization.

• Collaborate in Agile/DevSecOps Environments: Work within cross-functional Agile (SAFe) delivery teams, collaborating closely with developers, product owners, and engineers throughout the development process to ensure seamless integration of UX/UI into iterative releases.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on UX/UI design within the specific context of federal government contracts, requiring a strong understanding of government-specific design systems, accessibility standards, and security clearance requirements. The "Nationwide Remote Office" designation with occasional onsite requirements suggests a flexible arrangement for US-based employees, with a primary operational hub likely in the metro DC area.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design End-to-End User Experiences: Create comprehensive user journeys, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs and detailed specifications for enterprise applications.

• Ensure Federal UX/UI Compliance: Guarantee all designs adhere to federal UX/UI standards, including Section 508 accessibility compliance and specific government design systems (e.g., NBIS UI/UX Playbook).

• Conduct and Support Usability Testing: Observe end-users performing key workflows, capture detailed qualitative insights, and collaborate with product teams to validate design concepts and drive iterative improvements.

• Analyze and Report on UX Metrics: Support the implementation of UX measurement tools, analyze user behavior and feature usage data, and contribute to reports on user experience outcomes to guide product roadmaps.

• Collaborate in Agile and DevSecOps Programs: Participate actively in sprint planning, design reviews, and PI demos, ensuring UX considerations are integrated into CI/CD pipelines and aligned with system architecture.

• Contribute to Design Systems: Apply and help evolve shared UI components, patterns, and design systems to maintain consistency across enterprise applications and promote interoperability.

• Develop UX/UI Documentation: Produce clear and concise documentation, including design specifications, interaction patterns, and user guidance to support system adoption and training.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and tactical execution within a government contracting environment. Emphasis is placed on compliance, iterative development, and data-informed design, typical for large-scale federal digital transformation projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Psychology, Computer Science) preferred.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in user experience design, interaction design, or a closely related field. Experience designing for complex, multi-step workflows or enterprise applications is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Active Secret security clearance, with eligibility to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.

• Proven experience in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

• Proficiency in creating user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Strong understanding of human-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Familiarity with federal accessibility standards, particularly Section 508.

• Experience working within Agile or iterative delivery environments.

• Excellent communication skills to articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively.

• Must reside in the United States (U.S.) and perform work within the United States. Preferred Skills:

• Top Secret security clearance.

• Working knowledge of Figma for design and prototyping.

• Experience designing for complex, multi-step workflows or enterprise applications.

• Exposure to the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS).

• Experience working on federal or highly regulated systems (e.g., DoD, security, identity platforms).

• Familiarity with UX analytics and behavioral measurement tools.

• Experience supporting the modernization of legacy systems into cloud-based platforms.

• Strong collaboration skills across cross-functional teams (design, engineering, product).

• Ability to adapt designs based on feedback and user research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The clearance requirement is a critical filter. The preference for Figma, USWDS, and experience with federal/regulated systems strongly indicates the types of projects and tools commonly used in this sector. "Nationwide Remote Office" implies the need for self-discipline and strong remote collaboration skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of UX/UI design projects, with a focus on complex workflows and enterprise applications.

• Include detailed case studies demonstrating the application of human-centered design principles from research to final design.

• Highlight contributions to usability testing, user research, and iterative design improvements.

• Demonstrate proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Present designs that adhere to accessibility standards (e.g., Section 508). Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you've translated complex requirements into intuitive user interfaces.

• Showcase your process for conducting and synthesizing usability testing findings.

• Illustrate how you've used data and metrics to inform design decisions and drive improvements.

• Include documentation of contributions to design systems or style guides for consistency.

• Demonstrate experience working within Agile methodologies, including sprint reviews and PI demos.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, especially in government contracting, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond visual aesthetics to demonstrate a systematic approach to problem-solving, user advocacy, and the ability to deliver compliant and effective designs within a structured environment. Highlighting experience with federal design systems and accessibility is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $98,614.00 - $167,644.00 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k) with company match).

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including training and certifications.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available for remote work, though occasional onsite presence in the metro DC area is required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is a strong benchmark for a Senior UX Designer with the specified experience level and the critical requirement of a government security clearance. The "Nationwide Remote Office" designation often implies some level of flexibility in daily hours, but core collaboration times and occasional onsite requirements will dictate the exact schedule. The salary range is competitive for specialized UX roles requiring clearances in the US market.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consulting & Technology Services, with a significant focus on Government clients. ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider that partners with government and commercial clients to solve complex challenges.

Company Size: ICF is a large organization, with indications of being a significant employer, likely in the thousands of employees globally. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes and potential for diverse project opportunities.

Founded: ICF was founded in 1969. This long history indicates stability, deep industry experience, and a well-established reputation, particularly within the government sector.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Design team likely operates within larger project delivery groups, often organized around specific federal agencies or program areas.

• This Senior UX Designer will be part of cross-functional delivery teams, working alongside Agile coaches, Product Owners, developers, QA engineers, and potentially UX researchers.

• Reporting structure is likely to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Program Manager, with direct collaboration across various technical and client-facing roles. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on analyzing UX metrics and user feedback to inform design iterations and strategic decisions.

• Human-Centered Design: Core philosophy guiding all product development, ensuring user needs are paramount.

• Agile & DevSecOps: Integration into iterative development cycles (SAFe), with a focus on continuous integration and delivery, and security embedded throughout the development lifecycle.

• Compliance and Standards: Strict adherence to government regulations, accessibility standards (Section 508), and specific client design systems.

Company Website: https://www.icf.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: ICF's long-standing presence in government contracting means their culture is likely to be professional, process-oriented, and focused on delivering reliable, compliant solutions. The "ICF Next Government" division specifically highlights their commitment to modernizing digital services for federal clients, making this a key area of focus for the company.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a need for demonstrated expertise, leadership potential, and the ability to work with a high degree of autonomy. Senior UX Designers are expected to mentor junior team members, lead design initiatives, and contribute to strategic design decisions for complex projects.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a UX Design Manager or a Program Manager overseeing federal digital transformation projects. They will collaborate closely with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and development teams within an Agile framework.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to improving the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of critical government digital services. Successful UX design can lead to increased citizen engagement, streamlined internal government operations, improved data accuracy, and enhanced security posture for federal systems. This role contributes to the broader "GTM" (Go-to-Market) strategy for ICF by ensuring their digital solutions are user-friendly and meet client objectives, thereby fostering client satisfaction and repeat business.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design efforts on major federal projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the strategic direction of UX within ICF's government sector.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific government domains (e.g., defense, health, security), accessibility, or advanced UX research methodologies.

• Technical Advancement: Gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies and DevSecOps practices within government IT modernization.

• Clearance Progression: Opportunities to leverage and maintain higher-level security clearances (TS) which open doors to more sensitive and impactful projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a leadership component, not just execution. The impact is significant, as poor UX in government systems can have real-world consequences for citizens and government employees. Growth is likely tied to project complexity, leadership responsibilities, and further specialization within the government sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as "Nationwide Remote Office (US99)" with an "Hybrid" work arrangement, requiring occasional onsite work in the metro DC area. This suggests a flexible remote setup for US-based employees, with specific requirements for in-person collaboration or client engagement near ICF's primary government hubs.

Office Location(s): While remote, the requirement for occasional onsite work in the metro DC area points to ICF's significant presence in Reston, VA, and surrounding regions, which are hubs for government contracting.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a heavily digital and collaborative environment utilizing video conferencing, instant messaging, and cloud-based design/project management tools.

• Operations Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), project management platforms, and potentially specialized government-specific tools.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and government stakeholders, through virtual meetings, stand-ups, and design reviews.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for some flexibility in daily start/end times given the remote nature. However, adherence to Agile ceremonies (daily stand-ups, sprint reviews) and occasional onsite requirements will dictate specific availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and requirement for onsite work in the DC area are critical for candidates to understand. While remote, the expectation is not fully remote, and proximity to the DC metro area might be a practical consideration for fulfilling the onsite requirements. The emphasis on remote collaboration tools is standard for distributed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, clearance status, and interest in the role and ICF.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, career goals, and alignment with the team's mission. Expect questions about your approach to UX design, problem-solving, and collaboration.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects, explaining your process, design decisions, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. This may involve a live design exercise or a case study discussion.

• Team/Stakeholder Interview: Meet with potential team members (developers, product owners) and possibly a senior government client representative to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and ability to communicate complex design concepts.

• Final Offer: Based on successful completion of all interview stages.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience with complex workflows, enterprise applications, and adherence to government/accessibility standards.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges, your solutions, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Highlight Process, Not Just Pixels: Emphasize your design thinking, user research integration, and iterative approach. Show how you translated requirements into solutions.

• Demonstrate Compliance: Explicitly mention how you incorporated Section 508 accessibility and any relevant government design systems (like USWDS).

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, your experience with Agile, and your understanding of federal IT environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be ready for a potential short design exercise, which might involve sketching user flows, wireframing a specific feature, or analyzing a given problem. Focus on your thought process and problem-solving approach.

• Case Study Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio projects concisely and engagingly within a set timeframe (e.g., 30-45 minutes).

• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare to discuss how you would communicate design concepts and rationale to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including government clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for UX roles, especially at the senior level. For this specific role, demonstrating experience with government contracts, security clearances, and accessibility standards will be critical. The emphasis on "human-centered design" and "user-centered transformation" means candidates should be ready to articulate how they advocate for the user within potentially rigid government structures.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Highly preferred for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping. Proficiency is a significant advantage.

• Sketch/Adobe XD: While Figma is preferred, experience with other industry-standard design tools may be acceptable.

• Prototyping Tools: InVision, Axure, or similar for interactive prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• UX Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Hotjar, or similar for tracking user behavior and feature usage is beneficial.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that can present UX metrics and outcomes to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX design impacts user adoption within enterprise systems is key. Experience with government-specific platforms or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems may be relevant.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for Agile workflow management and documentation.

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned as a preferred tool, making it a key skill to highlight. The mention of "UX measurement tools" and "analyzing UX metrics" indicates a need for designers who are data-informed and can translate quantitative data into design improvements, which is crucial for demonstrating ROI in government projects.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A deep commitment to understanding and representing the needs of federal users, ensuring that digital solutions are effective and accessible.

• Excellence in Design: Striving for high-quality, intuitive, and visually appealing user experiences that meet stringent government standards.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively within cross-functional Agile teams, fostering open communication and shared problem-solving.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing iterative design processes, incorporating feedback, and leveraging data to enhance user experiences over time.

• Integrity & Compliance: Upholding the highest standards of professional conduct, particularly concerning security clearances and government regulations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively participating in Agile ceremonies and collaborating closely with developers, product owners, and subject matter experts to ensure seamless integration of UX into the development lifecycle.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Regularly seeking and providing constructive feedback on designs and processes to drive continuous improvement and alignment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share UX best practices, insights from user research, and design patterns with the broader team and potentially across different projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a user-centric approach within a structured, compliance-driven environment. Collaboration is key, especially in Agile DevSecOps settings, where UX designers must work seamlessly with technical teams to ensure feasibility and timely delivery.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Federal Bureaucracy & Legacy Systems: Modernizing complex, often outdated, government systems requires significant problem-solving skills, patience, and the ability to influence stakeholders accustomed to established processes.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical/Security Constraints: Ensuring designs are both user-friendly and compliant with strict security protocols and technical limitations inherent in government IT.

• Maintaining Clearance & Security Protocols: Adhering to rigorous security requirements associated with government clearances.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring seamless communication and design integration across distributed teams and potentially with geographically dispersed users.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Methodologies: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like service design, journey mapping for complex systems, or advanced user research techniques specific to government contexts.

• Government Design Systems & Standards: Becoming an expert in evolving federal design systems (e.g., USWDS) and accessibility standards.

• DevSecOps Integration: Gaining hands-on experience with modern CI/CD pipelines and secure development practices.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and leading design initiatives on significant federal projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of government contracting, requiring adaptability and a strong understanding of the unique constraints. Growth opportunities are tied to specialization, leadership, and navigating the complex federal IT landscape, which can be very rewarding for those who thrive in such environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating complex government requirements and technical constraints into intuitive UX/UI solutions." (Focus on your structured approach, user-centricity, and problem-solving methodology.)

• "How do you ensure Section 508 accessibility and compliance with federal design systems like USWDS in your designs?" (Highlight your knowledge of standards and how you integrate them from the start.)

• "Walk me through a challenging project where you had to balance user needs with strict security or technical limitations. How did you navigate this?" (Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio that demonstrates this.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working on federal government projects with ICF?" (Research ICF's mission in government modernization and connect it to your career goals.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within an Agile DevSecOps team, especially when working remotely?" (Emphasize proactive communication, participation in ceremonies, and tool proficiency.)

• "How do you measure the success of your UX designs, particularly in terms of efficiency and user satisfaction?" (Discuss UX metrics, analytics tools, and feedback mechanisms.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction, Problem Statement, Your Role & Process, Solutions (Designs/Prototypes), Challenges, Outcomes/Impact, and Key Learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "increased user adoption by Y%").

• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to explain the rationale behind your design decisions at every stage.

• Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you collaborated with developers, product owners, and stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

• Address Clearance: Be ready to confirm your clearance status and willingness to maintain it.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily lean into the specific requirements of government contracting: security, compliance, and working within complex, often legacy systems. Highlighting a structured, data-informed, and collaborative approach will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the ICF careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 5+ years of UX/UI design experience, specifically mentioning human-centered design, Agile methodologies, and any experience with government or regulated systems. Explicitly state your active Secret clearance and willingness to maintain it.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio that showcases 2-3 of your strongest projects, focusing on complex workflows, enterprise applications, and demonstrating your process, problem-solving skills, and adherence to accessibility standards. Be ready to present this effectively.

• Research ICF: Familiarize yourself with ICF's work in government modernization, their commitment to human-centered design, and their values. Understand their role in the federal IT landscape.

• Practice Your Narrative: Prepare to articulate your experience, design philosophy, and motivations for seeking this role, with a particular emphasis on your ability to work effectively in a hybrid, remote, and government-contracting environment.

⚠️ 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.