Sr UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr UX Designer

Company: Sierra Nevada Corporation

Location: Englewood, CO & Lone Tree, CO, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: UX/UI Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: 6+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end UX/UI design process, encompassing research, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design for web, mobile, and command-line (CLI) applications.

• Develop and drive comprehensive design strategy and information architecture across the entire product suite, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineering teams to define project goals, scope, and deliverables, fostering a shared understanding of user needs and technical constraints.

• Ensure all user interfaces adhere to stringent brand guidelines, accessibility standards (WCAG), and platform-specific conventions for web, mobile, and CLI environments.

• Manage and mentor a team of designers, providing professional development opportunities and fostering a high-performance design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer, indicating a need for leadership in design strategy and execution. The emphasis on web, mobile, and CLI applications suggests a complex product ecosystem requiring a versatile designer. The mention of managing a design team points to a significant leadership component, which is crucial for operations professionals aiming for management tracks. The requirement for a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is a critical differentiator for candidates in this sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end UX/UI design process, from initial user research and conceptualization through wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design for diverse platforms including web, mobile, and command-line interfaces (CLI).

• Define, develop, and champion the overarching design strategy and information architecture for the product suite, ensuring consistency and usability across all user touchpoints.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Product Managers and Engineering teams to clearly define project objectives, scope, and critical deliverables, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.

• Guarantee that all designed interfaces meticulously adhere to established brand guidelines, meet accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), and respect platform-specific conventions relevant to web, mobile, and CLI environments.

• Conduct regular reviews and critiques of design work produced by the team, ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to best practices in user experience and interface design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The inclusion of CLI/TUI design is a niche skill that differentiates this role from standard UX/UI positions, often found in complex enterprise or defense software. Mentoring and team management are core components, aligning with senior operational roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related field.

Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, graphic design, or a related creative field. Candidates with equivalent extensive experience (10+ years) in lieu of a formal degree will also be considered. Advanced degrees may substitute for some years of experience.

Required Skills:

• Comprehensive proficiency in leading the end-to-end UX/UI design process, including user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity visual design.

• Extensive hands-on experience with industry-standard UX/UI design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

• Proven ability to design user interfaces and experiences for software applications, with a portfolio that clearly demonstrates UX/UI work (flows, wireframes, prototypes) beyond traditional graphic/print design.

• Strong understanding and practical application of responsive/adaptive design principles and accessibility standards, including WCAG guidelines.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting user research and usability testing, with the ability to translate findings into actionable design improvements.

• Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat, for visual design and asset creation.

• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment, effectively managing multiple projects and deadlines.

• Capacity to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for command-line (CLI) or terminal user interfaces (TUI), or for developer tools.

• Proven experience in building and maintaining scalable design systems or component libraries, particularly within Figma, for cross-platform applications.

• Familiarity with front-end development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and React, to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.

• Experience designing for desktop applications, such as those built with Electron, in addition to web and mobile platforms.

• Background or experience within the Aerospace and Defense Industry.

• Working knowledge of Agile/Scrum development methodologies and participation in these environments.

• Exposure to web and print design, video/audio editing, and 2D animation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a Secret Security Clearance is a significant qualification and potential barrier for some candidates. The distinction between graphic design and UX/UI work in the portfolio is critical. Experience with CLI/TUI design is a specialized skill highly valued in complex software environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong track record in UX/UI design, specifically demonstrating end-to-end project lifecycles from user research to high-fidelity prototypes for software applications.

• Evidence of leading design strategy and information architecture for complex product suites or multiple interconnected applications.

• Case studies detailing the process of conducting user research and usability testing, and how findings directly informed design decisions and improvements.

• Examples of designs that adhere to brand guidelines, accessibility standards (WCAG), and platform-specific conventions (web, mobile, CLI).

• Demonstrations of proficiency with UX/UI design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), including interactive prototypes and user flow diagrams. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of the process for developing and maintaining a design system or component library, including its adoption and impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Examples of how design decisions were validated through user testing and iterative feedback loops.

• Workflow examples illustrating collaboration with product managers and engineers, detailing how design requirements were translated into technical specifications.

• Documentation of adherence to accessibility standards and how these were integrated into the design and development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It must clearly delineate UX/UI contributions from purely graphic design. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions, backed by research and user feedback, is essential. A design system is a strong plus, indicating a mature approach to design operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated starting salary range for this position is $124,771.42 - $171,560.71 USD per year. This range is a guideline and may be adjusted based on factors such as the candidate's key skills, relevant work experience, education, certifications, and any applicable geographic differentials.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement plan with a generous 150% company match on contributions up to 6%.

• Life insurance coverage.

• A minimum of 3 weeks of paid time off (PTO) annually.

• Tuition reimbursement program to support continued education and professional development.

• Access to additional benefits and programs as outlined by SNC's Total Rewards.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. The role is described as hybrid, allowing for a combination of in-office and remote work, with specific office days to be determined.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary range is competitive for a Senior UX Designer role in the Denver/Colorado area, particularly within the aerospace and defense sector. The benefits package is robust, offering standard but strong provisions for health, retirement, and professional development, which are crucial for attracting and retaining senior talent in specialized fields. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility, a key consideration for operations professionals balancing work and personal life.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace & Defense. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is a global leader in advanced aerospace and national security technologies, known for its agility, innovation, and focus on mission execution.

Company Size: Large enterprise, with a significant global presence. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impactful contributions within specialized teams.

Founded: Information not directly provided, but SNC has a long-standing history and reputation in the aerospace and defense sector, suggesting a stable and established organization.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI design team is part of the corporate function, providing strategic direction and support across SNC's business areas.

• This senior role involves leading a team of designers, indicating a clear hierarchy and management responsibilities within the design function.

• Close collaboration is expected with product management, engineering, and potentially other corporate functions like marketing and communications. Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, leveraging user research and usability testing to inform design strategy and product development.

• A focus on iterative design processes, incorporating feedback loops to refine user experiences.

• Implementation of design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across a diverse product portfolio.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: SNC's positioning as a leader in Aerospace & Defense suggests a culture that values precision, reliability, security, and innovation. For a UX Designer, this means designing for critical systems where user error can have significant consequences. The corporate team structure implies that this role will support multiple business units, requiring adaptability and broad understanding.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor and Team Lead. This role is at a senior level, requiring extensive design expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor and manage other designers. It represents a significant step up from mid-level positions, with a focus on leadership and high-impact projects.

Reporting Structure: The Sr UX Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Design, Product Management, or Engineering, depending on the specific organizational structure within SNC's corporate team. They will directly manage a team of designers.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and adoption of critical software applications used in high-stakes environments. By ensuring intuitive and effective user interfaces, this role contributes to mission success, operational efficiency, and potentially safety within the aerospace and defense sectors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into a Design Director or Head of Design role, overseeing larger teams and broader design strategy across the organization.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as CLI/TUI design, design systems, or user research methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead design initiatives that span multiple product lines or business units, enhancing strategic influence.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge within the Aerospace and Defense industry, becoming a key subject matter expert in UX for this sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within design leadership. The dual focus on hands-on design and team management provides a well-rounded development experience. The niche skill of CLI/TUI design, combined with the security clearance requirement, positions the individual for specialized, high-demand roles within the defense sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Employees are expected to work from the office some days of the week, with flexibility to work remotely on other days. This arrangement aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Englewood, CO and Lone Tree, CO. These locations are in the Denver metropolitan area, offering access to a thriving tech and aerospace ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is likely collaborative, encouraging interaction and knowledge sharing among team members.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses, is expected.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with product managers, engineers, and potentially other stakeholders to foster effective cross-functional teamwork.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (40 hours/week) are expected, with flexibility often afforded within the hybrid model. Adherence to project deadlines and availability for critical meetings will be key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is increasingly standard, offering a balance. For operations professionals, understanding the expectations around in-office days is crucial for productivity and collaboration. The Denver area provides a strong talent pool and a good quality of life, which can be an attractive factor.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio with hiring managers and senior designers. Expect to present specific case studies, discuss your design process, rationale, and how you’ve handled challenges. Be prepared to discuss your experience with UX/UI for web, mobile, and especially CLI applications.

• Team Collaboration Exercise/Challenge: You might be given a design challenge or asked to participate in a collaborative exercise to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to work with others. This could involve critique sessions or problem-solving scenarios related to the company's products.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and understanding of technical constraints.

• Final Interview: Typically with senior leadership to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the senior role and team leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your UX/UI skills, leadership experience, and relevance to SNC's work (especially if you have defense/aerospace or complex software experience).

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the tools used, and the final outcome/impact. Use visuals (flows, wireframes, mockups, prototypes).

• Highlight Leadership: If possible, include projects where you led design efforts, mentored junior designers, or influenced design strategy.

• Address CLI/TUI: If you have experience with command-line interfaces, TUI, or developer tools, make these projects prominent. Explain the unique challenges and solutions for these environments.

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

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to articulate your design decisions, defend your choices, and discuss lessons learned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Sierra Nevada Corporation, its products, and the Aerospace & Defense industry. Think about the unique UX challenges in this sector (security, complexity, user training).

• Practice Design Exercises: Work through common UX design challenges, focusing on problem definition, ideation, and rapid prototyping.

• Prepare for Behavioral Questions: Be ready to discuss your leadership style, how you handle conflict, your approach to mentorship, and how you collaborate with engineering and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a Secret Security Clearance means that candidates must be eligible and prepared for the vetting process. The portfolio review will likely be rigorous, focusing on the depth of UX/UI process and leadership capabilities, with a keen eye for complex application design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX/UI Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred for design systems), Sketch, Adobe XD. Proficiency in at least one is mandatory.

• Graphic Design: Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello are likely used for workflow management and communication with engineering and product teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) for understanding user behavior and product performance would be beneficial.

• Proficiency in creating reports and dashboards to communicate design impact and user insights. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core UX role, but familiarity with how CRM systems (like Salesforce) or automation platforms integrate with user-facing applications could provide context for certain projects.

• Experience with front-end technologies (HTML/CSS, React) is preferred for better collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma, especially for design systems, is a strong indicator of modern UX practices. The mention of CLI/TUI design suggests potential use of specific tools or frameworks relevant to terminal interfaces, though these are often less standardized than GUI tools. Familiarity with front-end technologies is crucial for effective collaboration in an engineering-driven environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission Focus: A strong dedication to supporting the company's mission in aerospace and national security, understanding that design directly impacts critical operations.

• Innovation & Agility: A culture that encourages creative problem-solving and rapid adaptation to evolving technological and security requirements.

• Excellence & Precision: A commitment to high-quality, reliable, and error-free design, reflecting the standards of the aerospace and defense industry.

• Collaboration & Integrity: Emphasis on teamwork across departments and maintaining ethical standards in all aspects of work, especially concerning sensitive technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active participation and collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially subject matter experts from various business areas to ensure holistic product development.

• Iterative Feedback: An open environment for constructive critique and feedback sessions, fostering continuous improvement of designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and insights across the design team and with partner teams to elevate overall design maturity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at SNC is likely to be highly professional, results-oriented, and security-conscious, given its industry. For operations professionals, demonstrating an understanding of these values and how they translate into design practices will be key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex Systems: Navigating the intricate requirements of aerospace and defense applications, which often involve high complexity, stringent security protocols, and critical operational functions.

• Balancing User Needs with Security & Compliance: Ensuring user-friendly interfaces while strictly adhering to security mandates, regulatory compliance, and industry-specific standards.

• Leading and Mentoring a Team: Effectively managing and developing a team of designers, fostering their growth, and ensuring consistent quality and productivity.

• Bridging Technical Gaps: Collaborating effectively with engineering teams, particularly on specialized areas like CLI/TUI design, and understanding the nuances of implementation.

• Obtaining and Maintaining Security Clearance: The process of obtaining and retaining a U.S. Secret Security Clearance can be demanding and requires ongoing adherence to strict protocols.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like complex system design, security-focused UX, or advanced prototyping techniques.

• Design Leadership Training: Formal or informal training in people management, strategic planning, and leading design teams.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the aerospace and defense sector, its unique challenges, and user requirements.

• Design System Development: Leading the expansion and evolution of SNC's design system, enhancing its scalability and impact across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The security clearance requirement is a significant challenge but also a gateway to specialized, high-value roles within the defense industry. The opportunity to lead design for complex, mission-critical systems is a major draw for ambitious UX professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the design strategy for a complex software product suite. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure consistency across different platforms (web, mobile, CLI)?"

• "How do you approach user research and usability testing for applications where user error has significant consequences? Provide an example."

• "Walk us through your process for creating and maintaining a design system. How do you ensure adoption and ongoing relevance?"

• "Discuss your experience designing for command-line interfaces (CLI) or terminal user interfaces (TUI). What are the unique considerations compared to graphical interfaces?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Sierra Nevada Corporation and the Aerospace & Defense industry specifically?"

• "How do you balance user needs with stringent security requirements and technical constraints common in this industry?"

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you ensure effective collaboration with remote and in-office team members."

• "How do you approach mentoring and developing junior designers on your team?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you took initiative, led design efforts, influenced stakeholders, or mentored team members.

• Showcase Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the technical aspects of your designs and your collaboration with engineers. If you have CLI/TUI experience, dedicate time to showcasing those projects.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly illustrate your UX process, including research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, and testing phases. Use visuals effectively.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your design decisions, trade-offs you made, and how you handled feedback or criticism.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to speak extensively about their portfolio, demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and an understanding of the unique demands of the aerospace and defense sector. The security clearance requirement will be a key topic.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://snc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/SNC_External_Career_Site/job/Lone-Tree-CO/Sr-UX-Designer_R0030833

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your UX/UI leadership experience, proficiency in Figma/Adobe Creative Cloud, experience with web, mobile, and CLI applications, and any relevant work in the Aerospace & Defense industry. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest UX/UI projects that best demonstrate your skills, leadership, and ability to design for complex applications. Ensure it clearly shows your process and impact, with specific attention to any CLI/TUI or security-related design work.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, collaboration skills, and leadership capabilities. Be ready to discuss your experience with user research, design systems, and accessibility standards.

• Research SNC: Understand Sierra Nevada Corporation's mission, products, and role in the aerospace and defense industry. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their values of innovation, agility, and mission focus.

⚠️ 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.