UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Engineer

Company: KBR, Inc.

Location: Beavercreek, Ohio, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Software Engineering & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-05

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the user experience design vision for the GEMSTONE platform, a complex cloud-native system supporting modeling and simulation, digital engineering, and AI/ML workflows.

• Translate complex mission needs into intuitive, modern, and visually compelling software experiences through user-centered design principles.

• Develop and maintain React-based user interfaces, ensuring adherence to accessibility standards and best practices.

• Establish and manage a comprehensive GEMSTONE design system, component library, and visual design standards to ensure consistency across the platform.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, product leads, and government stakeholders, in an Agile development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UI/UX Designer & Front-End Developer, indicating a senior-level individual contributor role with significant influence on product design and implementation. The focus on a "platform" suggests a need for strategic thinking around scalability, maintainability, and a cohesive user experience across multiple modules or services.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end user experience (UX) design for the GEMSTONE platform, encompassing applications and associated services.

• Conduct thorough stakeholder interviews, workflow analyses, and user research to deeply understand mission requirements and identify user pain points.

• Develop comprehensive user journeys, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and detailed interaction designs for new platform features and capabilities.

• Define, establish, and meticulously maintain a consistent GEMSTONE design language, a robust component library, and a comprehensive design system.

• Design intuitive and efficient workflows specifically tailored for modeling & simulation, digital engineering, AI/ML, data management, and platform administration tasks.

• Execute and analyze usability studies, translating findings into actionable design improvements and iterative refinements.

• Foster a strong collaborative relationship with software engineers to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of designed interfaces.

• Develop and maintain high-quality, performant React-based user interfaces for critical GEMSTONE functionalities.

• Design insightful dashboards, advanced analytics views, and administrative interfaces to support effective operational decision-making.

• Champion and enforce accessibility best practices, including Section 508 and WCAG compliance, and ensure responsive design across all form factors.

• Mentor junior developers on UX principles, visual design best practices, and effective front-end implementation techniques.

• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, including planning, design reviews, architecture discussions, demonstrations, and user engagement sessions.

• Create and maintain essential design documentation, including standards, UX guidelines, style guides, and user-facing documentation.

• Work in close partnership with product leadership to effectively prioritize user needs and drive improvements in overall product quality and user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "platform administration" and "operational decision-making" suggests the need for strong UX skills in designing complex dashboards, data visualization, and potentially RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) interfaces. The mention of "state-of-the-art CI/CD pipelines" and "containerization" implies a modern development environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Computer Interaction, UX Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a closely related field.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UI/UX design, product design, or front-end development, with a demonstrated track record of leading UX efforts for complex web-based software platforms.

Required Skills:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.

• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of work: user-centered design principles, wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and successfully shipped products.

• Proficient in using design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Balsamiq, Marvel, Axure, or Adobe Creative Suite for collaboration, prototyping, developer handoff, and design system management.

• Proven experience in creating and managing design systems, component libraries, and establishing visual design standards.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting user research, usability testing, and effectively translating user feedback into design improvements.

• Hands-on experience developing web applications using React and TypeScript.

• Solid understanding of accessibility requirements, including Section 508 and WCAG guidelines.

• Experience designing responsive applications that function seamlessly across desktop and mobile form factors.

• Familiarity with REST APIs and modern web application architectures.

• Proficiency in using Git-based source control systems for version management.

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, effective in engaging with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Experience serving as the lead designer for a large enterprise, SaaS platform, or government application.

• Specific experience designing workflows for users in engineering, analytics, digital engineering, AI/ML, or modeling & simulation domains.

• Familiarity with modern front-end frameworks and libraries such as ShadCN, Radix UI, Tailwind CSS, and Material UI.

• Proven ability to simplify complex user interfaces and design effective dashboards, operational views, and data visualization interfaces.

• Understanding of authentication workflows, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and identity management systems.

• Experience working within Agile software development methodologies and environments.

• Familiarity with Kubernetes-hosted applications and cloud-native platform concepts.

• Experience supporting programs within the DoD, Intelligence Community, defense, engineering, or research sectors.

• Proven ability to simplify highly technical and complex workflows into intuitive and user-friendly experiences.

• A strong interest in contributing to and shaping the long-term user experience vision for a next-generation digital engineering and modeling & simulation platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a DoD Secret security clearance is a critical gate for this role. The portfolio requirement is heavily emphasized, indicating it will be a primary evaluation tool. The distinction between required and desired skills highlights areas where candidates can differentiate themselves, particularly in specific technologies and domain experience within defense/government sectors.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a breadth of user-centered design work, including detailed examples of wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and successfully deployed products.

• Demonstrations of experience in establishing and maintaining design systems, component libraries, and visual design standards are crucial.

• Evidence of user research methodologies employed, usability testing conducted, and how feedback was integrated into design iterations.

• Examples of React and TypeScript development, particularly in building complex web applications, are highly valued.

• Projects that highlight a strong understanding and application of accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG) and responsive design principles. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of design processes, including user research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping workflows, and collaboration with engineering teams.

• Examples of how design systems and component libraries were developed, documented, and maintained to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Records of usability testing sessions, analysis of findings, and how these insights informed design decisions and product improvements.

• Design artifacts that illustrate the translation of complex requirements (e.g., modeling & simulation, AI/ML) into intuitive user workflows and interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the critical nature of the GEMSTONE platform and its government/DoD clientele, the portfolio is expected to demonstrate not just aesthetic design but also a deep understanding of user needs in a complex technical environment, robust process documentation, and a commitment to usability and accessibility standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (5-10 years), location (Beavercreek, Ohio), and the specialized nature of the role (UI/UX Design, Front-End Development, DoD clearance), the estimated annual salary range for this position is $100,000 - $140,000. This estimate is derived from industry benchmarks for similar roles in the US defense contracting sector, considering the required technical skills and security clearance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive 401(k) plan with company match, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Robust medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to ensure employee well-being.

• Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance for added security.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for pre-tax healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• Disability insurance to provide income protection.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) to support work-life balance.

• Flexible work schedule options to accommodate personal needs and optimize productivity.

• Access to professional training and development programs to foster career advancement and skill enhancement.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this full-time, on-site position are typically 40 hours per week. While core business hours will apply, there may be flexibility available, subject to team and project needs, to accommodate efficient workflow and task completion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on publicly available data for similar roles in the United States, adjusted for the specific location and the high demand for cleared professionals in the defense sector. The benefits package is extensive and typical for a large government contractor like KBR.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: KBR operates within the Aerospace & Defense, Government Solutions, and Engineering industries, with a strong focus on national security and advanced technology solutions. The National Security Solutions team specifically supports the Department of the Air Force and intelligence communities.

Company Size: KBR is a large, global company, with its employee count often ranging in the tens of thousands. This scale provides stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for diverse project involvement.

Founded: KBR has a long history, tracing its roots back to the early 20th century, evolving through various mergers and acquisitions. This legacy suggests a company with deep expertise, established processes, and a significant presence in its operating sectors.

Team Structure:

• The GEMSTONE platform team is likely composed of specialized engineers and product experts working collaboratively. This includes UI/UX designers, front-end developers, back-end engineers, DevSecOps architects, product leads, and mission subject matter experts.

• The reporting structure for this UI Engineer role would likely be within a software development or product engineering group, reporting to a manager or lead responsible for the GEMSTONE platform's development.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with the UI Engineer working closely with product owners, software engineers, QA testers, and government stakeholders to ensure alignment with mission objectives and technical requirements. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are central to understanding user needs and platform performance, driving design decisions.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are applied to create efficient and intuitive user experiences for complex technical processes.

• Automation and efficiency practices are leveraged through modern development tools and methodologies to streamline development and deployment.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: KBR's positioning as a major defense contractor implies a culture that values precision, security, adherence to process, and mission impact. The GEMSTONE platform specifically targets advanced defense capabilities, suggesting a fast-paced, innovative, yet highly structured work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior UI/UX Designer & Front-End Developer, indicating a mid-to-senior level position within the design and development track. It carries significant responsibility for leading user experience initiatives and contributing directly to the platform's technical implementation. The role demands a blend of strategic design thinking and practical coding execution.

Reporting Structure: The UI Engineer will likely report to a Software Engineering Manager, Product Lead, or a Director overseeing the GEMSTONE platform's development. They will work closely with a Product Owner and collaborate extensively with a cross-functional team of engineers and subject matter experts.

Operations Impact: The UI Engineer's work directly impacts the effectiveness and usability of a critical national security platform. By simplifying complex technical workflows, improving user efficiency, and ensuring accessibility, they contribute to the Department of the Air Force's ability to conduct advanced modeling, simulation, and digital engineering, thereby enhancing national defense capabilities. Their designs will influence how mission-critical data is accessed, analyzed, and utilized.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in advanced front-end frameworks (React, TypeScript), design systems, accessibility standards, and cloud-native development practices.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UI/UX Designer role, managing design teams or taking on more strategic product vision responsibilities for future platforms.

• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in specialized areas like digital engineering, AI/ML interfaces, or modeling & simulation UX, becoming a subject matter expert within KBR's defense sector.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain exposure to broader software development lifecycle, DevSecOps practices, and government contracting processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a senior UI/UX professional in a large defense contractor like KBR often involves moving from individual contribution to team leadership or specialized technical expertise. The "operations" context here refers to the operational efficiency and effectiveness gained through superior UI/UX design for the end-users of the platform.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role located in Beavercreek, Ohio. The office environment is expected to be professional and conducive to focused work, likely within a facility supporting KBR's defense contracting operations.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is 2647 Commons Boulevard, Beavercreek, Ohio. This location is situated in a region with a strong presence of defense contractors and related technology companies.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely support a collaborative environment, with opportunities for direct interaction with team members, including software engineers, product leads, and mission experts.

• Access to modern development tools and technology, including high-performance workstations, relevant software licenses for design and development tools, and robust network infrastructure, is expected.

• The environment fosters interaction through Agile ceremonies, design reviews, and informal discussions, promoting a shared understanding of project goals and user needs.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, standardly 40 hours per week, with potential for some flexibility. Given the mission-critical nature of the GEMSTONE platform, occasional extended hours or weekend work might be required during critical project phases or deployment cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being an on-site role in the defense sector, the work environment will likely prioritize security, collaboration, and access to necessary technical resources. The emphasis on mission impact suggests a driven and focused team culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter screens applications for basic qualifications, including experience, clearance eligibility, and portfolio availability.

• Technical Interview (Design Focus): A discussion with hiring managers or senior designers focusing on UX principles, design process, problem-solving approaches, and a deep dive into portfolio examples. Expect to walk through case studies demonstrating your design thinking.

• Technical Interview (Development Focus): An interview with senior front-end engineers to assess React and TypeScript proficiency, understanding of web architecture, accessibility implementation, and Git usage.

• Team/Culture Fit Interview: Meeting with potential team members (engineers, product leads) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with KBR's culture and the GEMSTONE team's working dynamics.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader or program manager to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end UX design process and your front-end development capabilities. Prioritize projects that align with the GEMSTONE platform's complexity (e.g., complex dashboards, data visualization, technical workflows).

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the research and discovery phase, design decisions and rationale, prototyping, and the final outcome. Include user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible. If you improved user efficiency, reduced error rates, or enhanced user satisfaction, present these metrics clearly. For front-end work, showcase code quality, performance optimization, and accessibility implementation.

• Tailor to GEMSTONE: Emphasize any experience with defense, government, complex SaaS platforms, modeling & simulation, AI/ML, or data visualization. Demonstrate how your skills can directly benefit the GEMSTONE platform.

• Design System Examples: If you have experience creating or contributing to design systems, showcase these components and documentation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a design exercise, which might involve a take-home assignment or a live whiteboard session. This could focus on designing a specific feature, optimizing an existing workflow, or creating a dashboard based on a given scenario. Focus on your thought process, problem-solving approach, and ability to articulate design choices.

• Coding Challenge: Expect a coding exercise, potentially a live coding session or a small take-home project, testing your proficiency in React, TypeScript, and potentially API integration or state management. Focus on clean, efficient, and well-documented code.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to answer questions about how you would handle conflicting stakeholder feedback, prioritize tasks in an Agile environment, or ensure accessibility in a complex project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is multi-faceted, requiring candidates to demonstrate expertise in both design and development, as well as the ability to navigate complex government projects and clearances. The portfolio is paramount and should be meticulously prepared to showcase relevant experience and process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred), Sketch, Balsamiq, Axure, Adobe Creative Suite. Proficiency in at least one, ideally Figma, is critical for collaboration and design system management.

• Front-End Development: React, TypeScript (required).

• Styling/Component Libraries: ShadCN, Radix UI, Tailwind CSS, Material UI (desired).

• Version Control: Git (required), familiarity with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary responsibility for this role, understanding how users interact with the platform via analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, custom dashboards) will be beneficial for informing design decisions.

• Experience designing intuitive dashboards and data visualization interfaces is a key requirement. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of this UI Engineer role, but understanding how front-end applications integrate with back-end systems and APIs is essential.

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines (DevSecOps) is a plus, indicating an understanding of the broader development and deployment ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes modern front-end development practices with a strong focus on React and TypeScript, coupled with industry-standard design tools. The desired skills in specific UI component libraries and styling frameworks suggest a modern, component-driven approach to UI development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission Focus: A strong dedication to supporting national security objectives and delivering impactful solutions for the Department of the Air Force and DoD.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and working closely with diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to advance defense capabilities.

• Precision & Quality: Commitment to high standards in design, development, documentation, and adherence to security protocols.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards and maintaining trust through reliable performance and secure practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The team operates in an Agile environment, requiring seamless collaboration between UI/UX designers, front-end and back-end engineers, DevSecOps specialists, product owners, and mission experts.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous feedback and iterative refinement is encouraged, with regular design reviews, sprint demos, and user engagement sessions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Open sharing of best practices, technical insights, and design strategies is fostered to collectively improve the platform and individual skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: KBR's culture, especially within its National Security Solutions sector, likely emphasizes professionalism, accountability, and a shared commitment to the mission. The team's collaborative style is geared towards rapid development and delivery of secure, high-quality software.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Mission Requirements: Translating highly technical and often abstract defense requirements into intuitive and usable interfaces can be challenging.

• Balancing Innovation with Security: Integrating modern UX/UI trends and technologies while adhering to stringent DoD security protocols and compliance standards (Section 508, WCAG).

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and effective communication across diverse teams with varying technical backgrounds and priorities.

• Rapidly Evolving Technology: Staying current with advancements in front-end development, design tools, and cloud-native technologies relevant to defense applications.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in React, TypeScript, modern UI frameworks, design systems, and accessibility best practices.

• Domain Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in areas such as digital engineering, AI/ML interfaces, modeling & simulation, and data visualization within the defense sector.

• Security Clearance Maintenance & Growth: Opportunity to maintain and potentially upgrade security clearance levels, opening doors to more sensitive and impactful projects.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Potential to evolve into leadership roles, guiding junior team members, or contributing to strategic product vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working on cutting-edge defense technology projects. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career advancement and specialization within a critical industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating complex user needs into intuitive UI designs for a technical platform like GEMSTONE." (Focus on research, user flows, wireframing, and iteration.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility (Section 508/WCAG) is integrated from the start of the design and development process for a government application?" (Highlight proactive measures and testing.)

• "Walk us through a challenging UX design problem you solved, detailing your approach, the trade-offs you considered, and the outcome." (Use the STAR method; focus on problem-solving and impact.)

• "How do you collaborate with front-end engineers to ensure your designs are implemented accurately and efficiently? Provide an example." (Emphasize communication, handoff processes, and iterative feedback.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about KBR and specifically the GEMSTONE platform's mission?" (Research KBR's mission and the platform's role in defense.)

• "How do you approach working in a highly regulated environment with strict security requirements?" (Demonstrate understanding of DoD constraints and compliance.)

• "Describe a time you had to work with a difficult stakeholder or navigate conflicting priorities within a team. How did you handle it?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and finding solutions.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the solution, and the impact. Use a consistent structure for all case studies.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points. Annotate designs to explain key decisions and user flows.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, positive user feedback).

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the technical aspects of your front-end work, including React implementation, state management, API integration, and accessibility considerations.

• Conciseness: Be respectful of the interviewer's time. Practice your presentation to be clear, concise, and impactful, ideally within 15-20 minutes for a portfolio review.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of design thinking, technical proficiency, and an understanding of the defense sector's unique requirements, including security and compliance. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the KBR Careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience with React, TypeScript, UI/UX design for complex platforms, and any experience relevant to defense, government, or highly technical applications.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with design systems, accessibility standards (Section 508/WCAG), user research, and front-end development tools. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and technical skills using the STAR method for behavioral questions. Prepare to walk through your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on problem-solving, impact, and your role.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research KBR, its mission in national security, and the GEMSTONE platform's objectives. Understand the company's values and culture to articulate your fit.

⚠️ 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.