Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: IDS International (ADG Creative)

Location: Annapolis Junction, MD

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience & Design Operations

Date Posted: June 23, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of UX designers, fostering professional growth and ensuring high-quality design output.

• Define and champion user experience (UX) strategy and vision across a diverse portfolio of complex systems and products.

• Develop and maintain robust design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency in design execution.

• Drive the integration of Human-Centered Design principles within Agile development methodologies.

• Advocate for end-users by thoroughly understanding workflows, identifying pain points, and defining user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within ADG Creative, an IDS subsidiary, indicating a focus on creative solutions and potentially client-facing projects within the government, military, and public sectors. The "Senior" title and emphasis on leadership suggest a significant impact on design direction and team development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, manage, and mentor UX designers, providing direction, constructive feedback, and support for their professional development and career pathing.

• UX Strategy Definition: Define and articulate a clear UX strategy and vision for various projects and products, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Design System Development: Create, manage, and evolve comprehensive design systems that encompass UI components, style guides, and interaction patterns to ensure brand consistency and design efficiency.

• Workshop Facilitation: Design and facilitate collaborative workshops and design sprints to foster cross-functional team alignment, ideation, and problem-solving.

• User Research & Analysis: Conduct in-depth user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to inform design decisions and create accurate user journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes.

• User Advocacy: Act as a strong advocate for the end-user by meticulously identifying user workflows, pinpointing critical pain points, and clearly defining user requirements and needs.

• Process Improvement: Define, refine, and optimize UX processes, ensuring seamless integration of Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and practices within Agile software development lifecycles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, stakeholders, and other cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive product development and successful design implementation.

• Quality Assurance: Ensure the delivery of high-quality, user-centered design solutions that meet both user needs and business goals.

• Ad Hoc Duties: Perform other assigned duties as necessary to support the design team and project objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design execution, and process optimization. The emphasis on "complex systems and products" and integration with Agile development suggests a need for a candidate comfortable with intricate technical environments and iterative design processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in a related field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, Computer Science).

• OR Bachelor's degree in a related field with a minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience.

• OR Associate's degree or High School Diploma with a minimum of 16 years of relevant professional experience. Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a strong track record of leading design initiatives and teams.

• Proven experience in defining and implementing UX strategy for complex digital products and systems.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining design systems. Required Skills:

• UX Strategy: Ability to define and articulate a compelling UX vision and strategy that aligns with business goals and user needs.

• UI Design Expertise: Proficiency in creating intuitive, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces across various platforms.

• User Research Methodologies: Expertise in conducting user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and analyzing findings to inform design decisions.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Advanced skills in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.

• Design System Management: Experience in developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive design systems for scalability and consistency.

• Human-Centered Design (HCD): Deep understanding and practical application of HCD principles and processes.

• Agile Development Integration: Familiarity with Agile methodologies and experience integrating UX processes within Agile sprints and workflows.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a team of designers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within government, military, or public-sector client environments.

• Proficiency in advanced user research techniques, such as contextual inquiry and ethnographic studies.

• Experience with data visualization design for complex datasets.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams.

• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Facilitation of design thinking workshops and cross-functional brainstorming sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive experience requirement and the education substitution structure suggest that practical, hands-on experience and a strong portfolio will be heavily weighted. The preference for government sector experience is a key differentiator for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of UX Strategy: Showcase examples of how you've defined and executed UX strategy for complex products or systems, detailing the process from research to implementation.

• Design System Examples: Include case studies or examples of design systems you've developed or contributed to, highlighting their structure, components, and impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Process Documentation: Present clear documentation of your UX process, including user research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, and iteration cycles. Emphasis on how you integrate HCD within Agile.

• Impact & ROI: Quantify the impact of your design work where possible, demonstrating improvements in user satisfaction, task completion rates, conversion rates, or reduction in support tickets.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide evidence of how you've mapped existing user workflows, identified inefficiencies, and designed optimized workflows that improve user experience.

• System Implementation Standards: Detail your approach to ensuring design consistency and quality during the implementation phase, including collaboration with development teams and adherence to design specifications.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Illustrate how you measure the success of UX/UI designs post-launch, using metrics and analytics to identify areas for continuous improvement and iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is mandatory. Applicants should prepare to present detailed case studies that not only showcase design skills but also demonstrate strategic thinking, process rigor, and quantifiable results, particularly within complex system design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Competitive Hourly Pay (Specific range not provided, but estimated based on Senior UX/UI Designer roles in the Annapolis Junction, MD area with 10+ years of experience, and considering the government sector focus.)

• Estimated Range: $75 - $110+ per hour (equivalent to $156,000 - $228,800+ annually), depending on experience, qualifications, and specific project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is listed as "Competitive Hourly Pay." Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX/UI Designer with over 10 years of experience in the Maryland area, particularly for roles supporting government contracts (which often have specific pay scales and benefit structures), an hourly rate is estimated. This estimation considers the cost of living in the Annapolis Junction area and the specialized nature of UX/UI design within complex systems for government clients, which can command higher rates.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k)

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays)

• Professional Development Opportunities (e.g., training, conferences)

• Potential for overtime pay based on project needs. Working Hours:

• Standard work week, typically 40 hours.

• Flexibility: While general hours are provided, candidates must be flexible to accommodate customer requirements, which may necessitate earlier or later reporting times on occasion.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology and Services, Government Contracting, Defense & Public Sector Solutions.

Company Size: IDS International is a medium-sized company, with ADG Creative likely operating as a specialized unit within it. Company size impacts operations by often balancing the agility of smaller teams with the resources of a larger organization.

Founded: IDS International was founded in 1987, bringing decades of experience and stability to its operations and client engagements.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX/UI Designer will likely lead a team of UX/UI designers within ADG Creative, reporting to a Design Director or similar leadership role.

• This role involves significant cross-functional collaboration with product managers, software engineers, business analysts, and client stakeholders, particularly within Agile development frameworks.

• The team structure emphasizes user advocacy and data-driven design, integrated into the broader project management and development lifecycles. Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design (HCD): Core to the design philosophy, ensuring user needs are at the forefront of all product development.

• Agile Development: Design processes are integrated within Agile sprints, requiring iterative design, continuous feedback, and adaptability.

• Data-Driven Decisions: User research, analytics, and performance metrics are used to inform design choices and measure success.

• Design Systems: A structured approach to design ensures consistency, efficiency, and scalability across projects.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on government, military, and public sector clients suggests a culture that values precision, reliability, security, and adherence to established protocols, alongside innovation. ADG Creative's position as a subsidiary implies a specialized creative hub within a larger, established organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role with significant leadership and mentorship responsibilities. It sits at a critical juncture where individual design expertise meets team management and strategic direction. The role is pivotal in shaping the user experience of complex systems.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Director of Design, VP of Product, or a similar senior leadership position within ADG Creative or IDS International. They will manage and mentor a team of junior and mid-level UX/UI designers.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX/UI Designer has a direct and substantial impact on the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of complex systems critical to government, military, and public sector operations. Their work directly influences user efficiency, task success rates, and overall satisfaction with technology solutions, thereby supporting the mission objectives of clientele.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into Director-level or VP-level design leadership roles, managing larger teams and broader design portfolios.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as UX research, interaction design, design systems architecture, or accessibility for complex systems.

• Strategic Influence: Greater involvement in product strategy, roadmap planning, and defining the long-term vision for user experience across IDS International and its subsidiaries.

• Client Engagement: Increased opportunities to engage directly with high-level government and military clients, presenting design strategies and solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Senior UX/UI Designer in this context typically involves progression into leadership or deep specialization. The government sector focus can also lead to opportunities in highly specialized technical design roles or program management within defense and public sector projects.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site in Annapolis Junction, MD, suggesting a traditional office environment. This likely includes collaborative workspaces, private offices or cubicles for focused work, and meeting rooms equipped for presentations and team discussions. Collaboration with colleagues, including those in government client roles, will be a key aspect.

Office Location(s): Annapolis Junction, Maryland. This location places the role within a significant hub for government contracting and technology companies supporting federal agencies in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect an environment that encourages interaction and teamwork, especially during design sprints, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional project meetings.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, collaboration platforms, and potentially specialized tools for government-related projects.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities to interact with fellow designers, product managers, engineers, and potentially direct client representatives, fostering a dynamic and communicative work setting.

Work Schedule: Standard working hours are expected, but flexibility is required to meet customer needs, which may involve adjusted start/end times. This adaptability is common in roles supporting government contracts where operational demands can fluctuate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement points to a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often crucial for complex, sensitive projects in the government sector. The Annapolis Junction location is strategic for accessing government agencies and related contractors.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by HR and the hiring manager to assess qualifications and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking through key case studies. Expect in-depth questions about your UX strategy, design process, HCD integration, Agile experience, and how you've managed design systems. This stage often includes scenario-based questions related to leading design teams and solving complex UX challenges.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (designers, product managers, engineers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the team and ADG Creative.

• Leadership/Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit with IDS International's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your UX strategy, leadership, design system expertise, and HCD application for complex systems.

• Storytelling is Key: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (emphasizing HCD and Agile integration), the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly show instances where you've mentored designers, led workshops, or influenced product direction. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Design System Focus: Dedicate a section or a specific project to illustrating your experience with design systems—their creation, maintenance, and benefits.

• Prepare for Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss the rationale behind your design decisions at a granular level and defend them with user data and design principles.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You may be given a hypothetical design problem or a take-home assignment to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply HCD principles under a time constraint. Focus on a structured approach.

• Process & Strategy Questions: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach defining UX strategy for a new, complex system, how you would integrate UX into an existing Agile team, or how you would resolve design disagreements within a team.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating complex design concepts and strategies clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including potential government clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior" title and mandatory portfolio requirement, expect a rigorous interview process that heavily scrutinizes strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and practical application of UX principles in complex environments. The ability to articulate process and impact is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, XD), InVision, Axure RP. Proficiency in at least one advanced prototyping tool is expected.

• User Research: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or custom research platforms. Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods is key.

• Design System Management: Tools and platforms for creating, documenting, and distributing design system components (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal solutions).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior on digital products.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools for analyzing and presenting user data and design performance metrics.

• Product Analytics: Tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo to track user interactions and feature adoption.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms impact user journeys and data collection can be beneficial for holistic design strategy.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for managing design tasks within Agile workflows and documenting processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is highly valued. Experience with tools that facilitate design system management and user research analysis will be critical. Familiarity with Agile project management tools like Jira is also essential for seamless integration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the end-user in all design decisions.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for high standards in design execution, process, and user outcomes.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and leveraged.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the ability to adapt to evolving project requirements and technologies.

• Integrity & Professionalism: Upholding high ethical standards, particularly relevant in government contracting environments.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively working with product, engineering, and business teams to ensure cohesive product development and shared understanding of user needs and design solutions.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and constructive feedback loops among team members and stakeholders.

• Agile Mindset: Embracing iterative design, rapid prototyping, and responsive adjustments based on feedback and evolving project needs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture of sharing best practices, design patterns, and lessons learned across the design team and broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes a blend of rigorous process, user advocacy, and collaborative problem-solving, essential for delivering high-quality solutions in the government and defense sectors. The "Senior" role is expected to embody and promote these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Systems: Designing for intricate, multi-faceted systems with diverse user groups and potentially legacy constraints requires deep analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing and reconciling the often competing needs and priorities of various stakeholders, including end-users, clients, and internal teams.

• Integrating HCD in Agile: Ensuring that robust Human-Centered Design processes are effectively integrated into fast-paced Agile development sprints without sacrificing thoroughness.

• Maintaining Design System Scalability: Evolving and scaling design systems to accommodate new features, platforms, and evolving brand guidelines while ensuring adoption.

• Mentoring Diverse Skill Levels: Guiding and developing a design team that may have varying levels of experience and specialized skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Specializations: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like UX research, interaction design, accessibility, visual design for complex interfaces, or information architecture.

• Leadership Development Programs: Formal training and mentorship focused on developing leadership, team management, and strategic planning skills.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant UX/UI conferences, workshops, and pursuing certifications to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working on a variety of projects for different government and public sector clients, offering broad exposure to unique challenges and solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around complexity, integration, and leadership. Growth opportunities are geared towards advancing leadership capabilities and deepening specialized design expertise within a stable, mission-oriented environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a UX strategy for a complex system. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, problem-solving, and ability to articulate vision.)

• "How would you integrate a new UX designer into an established Agile development team? What are the key steps and considerations?" (Assess your understanding of Agile, team integration, and mentorship approach.)

• "Walk us through your process for creating and maintaining a design system. What are the key components, and how do you ensure adoption and consistency?" (Demonstrate your expertise in design systems and their practical application.)

• "Imagine a conflict arises between a user's need and a technical constraint. How would you approach resolving this?" (Evaluate your problem-solving skills, negotiation abilities, and user advocacy.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about IDS International and ADG Creative? Why are you interested in working with government/public sector clients?" (Showcase your research and genuine interest in the company's mission and client base.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative environment within a design team and with cross-functional partners?" (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX/UI trends and technologies, especially those relevant to government applications?" (Demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, the methodologies used (HCD, research, Agile), the design solutions, and the measurable results.

• Emphasize Leadership: When discussing projects, highlight instances where you led the design effort, mentored junior designers, or facilitated team collaboration.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., improved task completion time, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the value of your work.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, user research findings, and the rationale behind your chosen tools and processes.

• Showcase Design Systems: If you have a strong design system project, dedicate time to explaining its architecture, component library, and the benefits it brought to the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design proficiency but also strategic leadership, strong process discipline (especially HCD and Agile), and the ability to articulate impact and value, particularly within the context of government contracting.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the JazzHR portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of UX/UI design experience, leadership in design strategy, experience with design systems, and proficiency in Human-Centered Design and Agile methodologies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is polished, easily navigable, and showcases your strongest projects that align with the responsibilities outlined. Pay special attention to case studies demonstrating strategy, leadership, and design system development.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on clear storytelling, articulating your process, and quantifying impact. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions and leadership approach.

• Research IDS International & ADG Creative: Understand their mission, client base (government, military, public sector), and any recent projects or news. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.