Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: Steampunk

Location: McLean, Virginia, United States

Job Type: Other

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-10

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in driving human-centered design initiatives for government clients, leveraging Steampunk's unique Design Intelligence™ framework to address complex user experience challenges.

• The Senior UX/UI Designer will spearhead the end-to-end design process, from initial discovery and user research through to detailed interface design, prototyping, and rigorous usability and accessibility testing.

• A key responsibility involves acting as the primary advocate for the end-user, ensuring their needs and pain points are thoroughly understood and integrated into proposed digital solutions.

• This position demands a proactive approach to staying abreast of evolving industry tools and best practices in UX/UI design, with a mandate to recommend and implement innovative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the government contracting sector, specifically focusing on applying human-centered design principles to solve complex problems for federal clients. The emphasis on "Design Intelligence™ framework" and "agent of change" suggests a consultative and strategic approach to UX/UI design, moving beyond standard design tasks to influence client missions and outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead all facets of the discovery process, including in-depth understanding of client missions, stakeholder ecosystems, user journeys, user segmentation, and program objectives.

• Facilitate workshops and conduct interviews to effectively frame pain points, identify opportunities, validate hypotheses, and articulate a compelling user experience vision.

• Develop and utilize key UX artifacts such as journey maps, service blueprints, personas, ecosystem maps, and information architecture to craft optimal user experiences.

• Execute comprehensive user research and testing methodologies, translating user needs and insights into actionable, implementable digital experience designs.

• Foster seamless collaboration and communication of stakeholder and user needs within a cross-functional, agile delivery team environment.

• Analyze and integrate the technical, platform, and operational constraints of given environments into intuitive and elegant interface designs.

• Design user interfaces that are not only intuitive and elegant but also adhere to strict accessibility standards, supported by a continuous test-and-learn approach.

• Ensure the highest quality standards are met for all deliverables across a diverse portfolio of projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a consultative and strategic approach, requiring the designer to not only execute design tasks but also to lead discovery, facilitate workshops, and translate complex government client needs into user-centric digital solutions. The emphasis on "Design Intelligence™ framework" and "customer voice" indicates a focus on strategic problem-solving and client impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Human-Centered Design (HCD), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or UX Design.

Experience: 6+ years of professional UX and UI experience designing viable solutions for multi-platform digital products.

Required Skills:

• Ability to obtain a U.S. government Public Trust Security Clearance.

• Proven experience in conducting primary and secondary user research, including user interviews, discovery and co-creation workshops, heuristic evaluations, and card sorting.

• Demonstrated ability to translate research insights into personas, journey maps, site maps, ecosystem maps, information architecture, and interface designs.

• Expertise in UI design, including wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, moderated and unmoderated user testing, and accessibility testing.

• Thorough knowledge and practical experience with Section 508 compliance requirements.

• Experience working within an Agile delivery framework, specifically on scrum teams, and integrating research and design into technical sprints, including user story creation and story pointing.

• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, and Zeplin.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary delivery teams, including service designers, technologists, data scientists, engineers, solution architects, and change managers.

• Strong analytical skills coupled with a natural curiosity for problem-solving.

• Excellent written communication and presentation skills, with a collaborative nature.

• Experience working in a project-based environment. Preferred Skills:

• Previous work experience in or with the federal government.

• Previous work experience as a consultant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required security clearance is a critical qualification for this role, indicating work on sensitive government projects. The blend of deep UX research, UI design, accessibility, and Agile experience, combined with consulting and government sector preferences, points to a role with significant client interaction and strategic impact.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, clearly demonstrating your design ideology, methodologies, utilized tools, honed skills, and overall design craft.

• Showcase case studies that highlight your process for solving complex user experience problems, from initial research and problem framing to final design solutions.

• Include examples of how you've applied human-centered design principles, user research findings, and accessibility standards in your past projects.

• Demonstrate experience with wireframing, prototyping (low and high-fidelity), and user testing, showcasing the evolution of designs based on feedback.

• Provide evidence of your ability to work within technical and platform constraints, and how you've ensured 508 compliance. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to conducting user research, including methodologies used and how insights were synthesized into actionable design artifacts.

• Illustrate your process for creating user journeys, service blueprints, personas, and information architecture.

• Explain your workflow for designing intuitive and accessible interfaces, including prototyping, user testing, and iteration cycles.

• Showcase your experience integrating UX/UI design activities within Agile/Scrum sprints, including user story creation and collaboration with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is central to this role, emphasizing not just the final output but the entire design process, research methodology, and the designer's ability to articulate their thinking. For government projects, demonstrating understanding of 508 compliance and Agile integration will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000 - $170,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Employee ownership opportunities, reflecting Steampunk's employee-owned structure.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

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

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

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit sharing.

• Access to resources and tools necessary for effective UX/UI design work.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and client engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided based on the company's stated compensation policy, considering factors like location, experience, and contract requirements. Steampunk's employee ownership model is a significant differentiator, suggesting a culture of shared success and investment in its people.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Federal Contracting, Technology Solutions, Human-Centered Design. Steampunk operates at the intersection of traditional government contracting and modern human-centered design, aiming to disrupt the status quo with innovative, practical, and scalable solutions for federal agencies.

Company Size: Steampunk is an employee-owned company, suggesting a collaborative and engaged workforce where employees have a vested interest in the company's success. The exact employee count isn't specified, but the "startup mindset" implies agility and a dynamic environment.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company presents itself as a mature entity with "time-tested approaches" tailored for the federal government, alongside a "startup mindset."

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a multi-disciplinary delivery team, which includes service designers, technologists, data scientists, engineers, solution architects, and change managers.

• The reporting structure is not explicitly defined but is expected to align with project-based work within an Agile framework, suggesting a functional reporting line combined with project-specific team leadership.

• Collaboration is a core tenet, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork to solve complex mission challenges for government clients. Methodology:

• Steampunk utilizes its proprietary "Design Intelligence™ process," which integrates human-centered design with traditional government contracting to deliver client-focused, mission-driven excellence.

• Data analysis and insights are key components, driving hypothesis validation and the creation of compelling experience visions.

• Workflow planning and optimization are central to designing practical and scalable solutions.

• Automation and efficiency are implicitly valued through the application of modern design and development practices within Agile frameworks.

Company Website: http://www.steampunk.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Steampunk's unique positioning as an employee-owned company with a "startup mindset" in the federal contracting space is a significant cultural differentiator. The "Design Intelligence™ process" is a core methodology that applicants should research and understand.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a need for demonstrated expertise, leadership potential, and the ability to mentor others. The role involves guiding clients and influencing project outcomes, extending beyond execution to strategic contribution.

Reporting Structure: While specific reporting lines are not detailed, the Senior UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Program Manager, or a senior operations/delivery leader within Steampunk's project-based structure. They will also work closely with cross-functional team leads in an Agile environment.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX/UI Designer has a direct impact on the success of government client missions by ensuring that digital solutions are user-centered, effective, and meet critical program objectives. Their work directly influences user adoption, operational efficiency, and overall client satisfaction with technology solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, government UX, or advanced prototyping techniques.

• Leadership: Progress into Lead UX/UI Designer roles, managing projects, client relationships, and mentoring junior designers.

• Consulting: Develop advanced consulting skills, leading client workshops and strategic design initiatives.

• Cross-functional Development: Gain exposure to other disciplines like service design, data science, and technology architecture through project work.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to thought leadership through case studies, presentations, or publications related to human-centered design in government.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a move towards strategic influence and potential leadership. The company's focus on "Design Intelligence™" and "client-focused, mission-driven excellence" suggests that growth opportunities will be tied to successful client outcomes and innovation within the government sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This likely involves working from a Steampunk office location or a client site, fostering in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): McLean, Virginia. This location is a hub for government contracting and technology firms, offering potential for proximity to federal agencies and industry partners.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, facilitating close interaction with a multi-disciplinary delivery team (service designers, technologists, data scientists, engineers, etc.).

• Access to necessary design tools, software licenses (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch, etc.), and potentially dedicated project spaces for workshops and brainstorming sessions.

• Opportunities for direct engagement with government clients and stakeholders, providing real-time feedback and collaboration.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with potential for occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines or client needs. The emphasis on Agile and government projects may require adherence to specific client schedules or urgent deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in McLean, VA, is typical for roles supporting government clients in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, emphasizing in-person collaboration and client engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience alignment.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking through selected case studies to demonstrate your design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your methodology, tools, and the outcomes of your work.

• Technical/Behavioral Interviews: Discussions focusing on your UX/UI expertise, understanding of human-centered design principles, experience with Agile/Scrum, and ability to work within government constraints (e.g., 508 compliance). Expect questions about your approach to user research, prototyping, and testing.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: Interaction with potential colleagues from various disciplines (e.g., technologists, data scientists) to assess collaboration style and ability to integrate design into a broader delivery team.

• Client Simulation/Case Study: Potentially a scenario-based exercise or a take-home assignment related to a government client's challenge to evaluate your problem-solving and design thinking in context.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss cultural fit, career aspirations, and overall alignment with Steampunk's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your skills in human-centered design, research, UI design, accessibility, and Agile integration, particularly those relevant to government or complex problem-solving.

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

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your methodology – how you discovered user needs, validated hypotheses, and iterated on designs. Show your thinking, not just the final polished screens.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with stakeholders, developers, and other team members.

• Address Constraints: If applicable, discuss how you navigated technical, budget, or regulatory constraints (like 508 compliance).

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, and your approach to ambiguity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Steampunk: Understand their "Design Intelligence™ process," their mission, and their work in the federal sector.

• Understand Government UX: Familiarize yourself with common challenges and requirements in government digital services, including 508 compliance and security clearances.

• Practice Agile Integration: Be ready to explain how you embed UX/UI into Scrum sprints, write user stories, and participate in story pointing.

• Refine Presentation Skills: Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly and concisely, especially for a potentially non-design audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio presentation and the ability to articulate the design process, particularly within the context of government contracting and Agile methodologies. Understanding Steampunk's unique "Design Intelligence™" framework will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, Figma. These are essential for creating wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and final UI assets.

• Prototyping Tools: Explicitly mentioned are Figma and Sketch, along with "other prototyping tools," suggesting proficiency in tools like InVision, Axure, or Adobe XD for creating interactive workflows.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Zeplin is listed, indicating experience in design handoff to development teams, facilitating asset sharing, style guides, and code snippets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) would be beneficial for understanding user behavior post-launch and informing iterative design. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified for this UX/UI role, but understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation tools impact user journeys and data flow could provide valuable context for designing integrated experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, and Figma is a core requirement. Experience with Zeplin for design handoff is also noted. The role implies using these tools to translate research into tangible design artifacts and interactive prototypes for government clients.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered Design: A fundamental value, driving all design decisions to prioritize user needs and missions.

• Client-Focused, Mission-Driven Excellence: A commitment to delivering impactful and practical solutions that directly support client objectives within the federal government.

• Innovation & Disruption: Encouraging a "startup mindset" and an "agent of change" mentality to challenge traditional approaches in government contracting.

• Collaboration & Empowerment: Fostering an environment where employees are empowered to find creative solutions and work collaboratively across disciplines.

• Continuous Learning & Growth: Valuing curiosity and a desire to keep pace with evolving industry tools and best practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A strong emphasis on working within multi-disciplinary teams, integrating design seamlessly with technology, data science, and engineering efforts.

• Agile Methodology: Collaborative work within scrum teams, participating in sprints, user story creation, and iterative development cycles.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Direct collaboration with government clients and stakeholders to gather requirements, validate designs, and ensure alignment with mission goals.

• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for receiving and giving constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in design quality and process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Steampunk's culture is defined by its unique blend of human-centered design principles, a mission-driven approach for government clients, and an employee-owned, startup-like ethos. Collaboration and continuous learning are key to their operational values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Constraints: Working within the specific regulations, security requirements, and procurement processes inherent to federal government projects, including strict adherence to 508 compliance.

• Bridging Design and Technical Implementation: Effectively translating complex user needs and elegant designs into implementable solutions within the technical and operational constraints of government systems.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Balancing the requirements and expectations of various government stakeholders, users, and internal teams to achieve a cohesive and effective user experience.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with rapid advancements in design tools, methodologies, and government technology landscapes to ensure solutions remain relevant and effective.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like accessibility, user research methodologies, interaction design patterns, or visual design for complex systems.

• Government Sector Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of federal agency missions, challenges, and digital transformation initiatives.

• Consulting Skills Development: Enhancing facilitation, client management, and strategic problem-solving skills through direct client engagement.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to and collaboration with data scientists, engineers, and service designers, broadening understanding of the full solution lifecycle.

• Leadership Training: Potential pathways to lead design efforts on significant government projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to Steampunk's methodology development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the unique demands of government contracting, including compliance and stakeholder complexity. Growth opportunities are strongly tied to developing specialized expertise within this domain and advancing into leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for the user's needs when they conflicted with stakeholder requirements. How did you approach this, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for balancing needs and communication skills.)

• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research for a complex government system. What methods did you use, and how did you translate insights into actionable designs?" (Highlight your research methodology, artifact creation, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure your designs meet accessibility standards, particularly Section 508 compliance? Provide an example of how you've implemented accessibility features." (Demonstrate your technical knowledge and practical application of compliance.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Steampunk's 'Design Intelligence™' framework and its application in the federal sector?" (Research the framework and align your passion for human-centered design with their approach.)

• "How do you envision contributing to a 'startup mindset' within a federal contracting environment?" (Focus on innovation, agility, and proactive problem-solving.)

• "Describe your experience working in an employee-owned company or a collaborative, team-centric environment." (Highlight your teamwork and commitment to shared success.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the methodology used (discovery, research, design, testing), key decisions made, challenges encountered, and the measurable impact or results.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – sketches, wireframes, prototypes, user flows, personas – to illustrate your process and thinking.

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

• Be Prepared for Technical Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design tools, prototyping techniques, and your understanding of the underlying technologies or platforms.

• Articulate Your "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind your design choices and how they align with user needs and business/mission objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing practical application of UX/UI principles within government constraints, demonstrating collaborative skills in an Agile setting, and aligning with Steampunk's unique "Design Intelligence™" approach.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Steampunk careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating human-centered design, user research, UI design, accessibility (508 compliance), and Agile integration, ideally with examples relevant to government or complex systems.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of relevant experience, specific skills in UX/UI design tools, research methodologies, and Agile frameworks. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling your design process, and prepare to discuss your approach to government client challenges and user advocacy.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Steampunk, their "Design Intelligence™" process, and their work in the federal sector to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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.

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