UI UX Designer IT

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI UX Designer IT

Company: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

Location: Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Technology / Art & Design / Software

Date Posted: August 7, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years (with 3+ years in UI/UX)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and prototype user-centered digital experiences for the Airports Authority's web and mobile platforms, ensuring visual appeal, cohesion, and user-friendliness.

• Collaborate closely with Business Analysts and stakeholders to translate business requirements into intuitive wireframes, UI/UX interaction concepts, and detailed design specifications.

• Drive innovation in the Airports Authority’s digital presence, enhancing engagement for travelers, end-users, and business stakeholders across both Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Dulles Washington International Airport (IAD).

• Leverage best-of-breed experience design principles and tools to move from initial concept to interactive prototypes and final product delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description focuses on UI/UX design for public-facing applications, the role's inclusion in the "IT" department and mention of "intranet sites" and "business application portfolio" suggest a significant internal operations and employee-facing component. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how UI/UX principles can optimize internal workflows and user adoption for employees.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and prototype innovative features for the Airports Authority's public website, intranet, and mobile applications, adhering to best practices in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

• Translate complex business requirements and user needs into clear, effective wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes, using a variety of design tools and methodologies.

• Develop visually striking and cohesive graphic designs that align with the Airports Authority's brand identity and public relations objectives, in close collaboration with the Office of Communications.

• Present design concepts and prototypes to diverse stakeholders, including marketing staff, business leaders, and technical teams, effectively gathering feedback and iterating on designs.

• Actively participate in the strategic planning and roadmap development for the Airports Authority’s digital platforms, contributing UX/UI expertise to inform future enhancements.

• Prepare and convert text documents and image assets into web-ready formats (e.g., HTML-compatible), ensuring content is optimized for digital display.

• Create device-agnostic and cross-browser compatible web, intranet, and mobile application designs, ensuring a consistent and seamless user experience across various platforms and devices.

• Conduct thorough usability testing and user research on new and existing features, analyzing findings to provide actionable recommendations for software engineers and business analysts.

• Maintain and enhance the Airports Authority’s existing intranet and web sites, as well as its business application portfolio, by applying modern UI/UX principles to improve functionality and user satisfaction.

• Utilize project management and development tools such as Jira and Azure DevOps to capture design requirements, track progress, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional development teams.

• Facilitate and participate in Design Thinking workshops, conducting desk audits and customer shadowing to deeply understand user needs and develop business application designs aligned with industry standards.

• Support web page and application development efforts, ensuring adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for applications within assigned domains.

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the technology and digital strategy of the Airports Authority.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of conducting "desk audits and shadowing of the customer for Design Thinking workshops" indicates a strong emphasis on user research and empathy-driven design. Candidates should highlight their experience with qualitative research methods and their ability to translate these insights into actionable design solutions for both external and internal users.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a closely related field.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. Experience:

• Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in IT software development, with a focus on application creation.

• Three (3) of these six years must be dedicated to working in a User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) capacity, designing interactive websites and applications for diverse customer audiences. Required Skills:

• Proficient in applying UI/UX design principles to conceptualize, design, and prototype new features for websites, intranet sites, mobile pages, and applications, ensuring they are user-friendly, clear, and efficient.

• Skilled in using HTML extensions and understanding mobile rendering aspects of graphics and content to convert text documents and images into viewable HTML formats.

• Expertise in creating interactive and responsive designs for web and mobile applications using technologies such as Flash, XML-based web apps, XHTML programming, and current web development languages.

• Adept at applying a device-agnostic approach to web and mobile app design, ensuring compatibility across all servers and browsers.

• Strong analytical abilities to make detailed analyses of data and information, and to formulate practical recommendations.

• Ability to conduct Sprint grooming sessions within the SCRUM process, demonstrating an understanding of agile development methodologies.

• Knowledge of DevOps concepts and tools, including Jira, Confluence, and Azure DevOps, for requirement capture and team collaboration.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate technical issues and design concepts effectively to non-technical audiences. Preferred Skills:

• Experience utilizing graphic design software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD, Tailwind, and Paint Shop Pro in the design of web, intranet, and mobile applications.

• Demonstrated experience in software development projects focusing on web and mobile technologies, including the development of mobile app solutions.

• Familiarity with Tailwind CSS for efficient and responsive front-end development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for three years of specific UI/UX experience, alongside six years of broader IT software development, suggests a need for candidates who possess both foundational development understanding and specialized design expertise. Highlighting projects where UI/UX directly contributed to improved functionality or user adoption will be crucial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of UI/UX design projects that demonstrate a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and their application in real-world scenarios.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final visual designs for web, intranet, and mobile applications.

• Highlight projects where you translated complex business requirements into intuitive and efficient user experiences.

• Present case studies that illustrate your process from initial concept and user research through to final design and iteration, detailing your role and contributions.

• Demonstrate proficiency with design tools and technologies mentioned in the qualifications section (e.g., Adobe XD, Tailwind, HTML). Process Documentation:

• Provide examples or descriptions of how you approach user research, including methods like usability testing, customer shadowing, and design thinking workshops.

• Detail your process for collaborating with stakeholders, business analysts, and development teams, including how you manage feedback and incorporate it into designs.

• Explain your methodology for creating and documenting design specifications for development teams, ensuring clarity and completeness.

• Showcase your understanding of agile development processes, particularly SCRUM, and how UI/UX design integrates within sprints and grooming sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on translating business requirements and the mention of Design Thinking workshops, candidates should prepare to present portfolio pieces that clearly articulate the problem statement, the user research conducted, the design solutions proposed, and the impact of those solutions. Quantifiable results, where possible, will significantly strengthen their application.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $106,262.00 - $154,080.00 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Access to well-being resources.

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• Pension and retirement plans designed to support long-term financial security.

• Ongoing training and development opportunities to foster professional growth. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work, likely 40 hours per week.

• May be subject to night/weekend work to provide after-hours administrator website support, indicating a need for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a UI/UX Designer with the specified experience level in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, reflecting the specialized skills and responsibilities of the role. The mention of potential night/weekend work suggests a critical support function for the Airports Authority's digital infrastructure, requiring on-call readiness or flexible scheduling.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government & Public Sector / Transportation Infrastructure

Company Size: The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is a significant governmental entity responsible for managing major transportation hubs like Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, indicating a large organizational structure with diverse departments and a substantial employee base.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly provided, MWAA was created by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact in 1972. This history suggests a stable, established organization with a long-standing commitment to public service and infrastructure development.

Team Structure:

• The UI UX Designer IT will be part of the Web Application Department within the Office of Technology.

• This department likely works closely with other IT teams, Business Analysts, the Office of Communications, and various business stakeholders across the Airports Authority.

• Collaboration is key, with a focus on translating business needs into user-friendly digital solutions. Methodology:

• Emphasis on user-centered design, with a commitment to creating visually striking, cohesive, and user-friendly web and mobile platforms.

• Utilization of Design Thinking workshops to understand user needs and innovate application design.

• Adoption of agile methodologies, including SCRUM, for software development and project management.

• Integration of DevOps concepts and tools for efficient development workflows and collaboration.

• Focus on data analysis and assessment of usability to drive continuous improvement in digital products.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a public sector entity, MWAA's culture likely emphasizes public service, reliability, security, and adherence to regulations. The IT department's role is critical in supporting the operational efficiency and passenger experience of major airports, requiring a blend of innovation and robust, secure system management.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an experienced UI/UX Designer within the IT department, specifically within the Web Application group. It requires a strong foundation in IT software development and specialized expertise in UI/UX design, placing it at a mid-to-senior level. The "S21 Compensation Grade" suggests a professional level with significant responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The UI UX Designer IT reports within the Web Application Department of the Office of Technology. They will likely report to a manager or director overseeing web applications and digital platforms. Collaboration will extend across IT, business units, and potentially marketing/communications.

Operations Impact: The UI UX Designer IT plays a crucial role in enhancing the digital experience for millions of travelers and internal stakeholders. Their work directly impacts:

• Passenger Experience: Intuitive and informative websites and mobile apps improve navigation, access to travel information, and overall satisfaction for airport users.

• Internal Efficiency: Well-designed intranet and business applications streamline internal workflows, improve communication, and boost employee productivity.

• Brand Perception: Visually appealing and user-friendly digital platforms contribute to a positive public image of the Airports Authority.

• Operational Effectiveness: Efficient digital tools can support critical airport operations, from passenger flow management to internal communications and administrative tasks.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UI/UX design, such as accessibility design, user research methodologies, or interaction design for complex systems.

• Leadership: Progress into roles like Senior UI/UX Designer, UX Lead, or even management positions within the Web Application Department or broader IT organization, overseeing teams and strategic initiatives.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop a broader understanding of IT operations, business analysis, and public sector project management, enabling a more holistic approach to digital transformation.

• Skill Development: Leverage ongoing training and development opportunities to stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices in the public sector and transportation industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "progressive experience" requirement and the specified salary grade suggest that this role is not entry-level. Candidates should frame their experience in terms of increasing responsibility and impact, particularly in designing complex systems or improving user engagement metrics.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is located at Dulles International Airport (IAD), indicating a professional office environment within a major transportation hub. This setting offers unique opportunities for direct observation of user behavior and interaction with airport services.

Office Location(s): Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia. This location is part of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, offering accessibility to a major urban center.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be within the Office of Technology, potentially in a collaborative design studio or team office setting.

• Access to modern design software, hardware, and development tools (e.g., Adobe suite, Jira, Azure DevOps) is expected.

• Opportunities for direct collaboration with IT professionals, business analysts, and stakeholders will be frequent, fostering a dynamic work environment.

• The airport environment itself may offer unique insights and inspiration for design challenges. Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely Monday through Friday.

• The "Necessary Special Factors" section mentions potential for night/weekend work to provide after-hours administrator website support. This suggests a need for flexibility and potential on-call duties, especially for critical system maintenance or incident response.

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within an airport environment can present unique challenges and rewards. Candidates should consider how they would approach user research and design in a high-traffic, diverse, and often time-sensitive public space. The potential for off-hours work indicates a critical operational support role for digital systems.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and application to assess qualifications against the minimum requirements (education, years of experience, specific UI/UX experience).

• Technical Interview/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, showcasing their design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver user-centered solutions. This may include a discussion of specific projects, design tools, and methodologies.

• Behavioral/Situational Interview: Questions will assess problem-solving abilities, collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and how candidates handle challenges in a team environment. Expect questions related to working with stakeholders, managing feedback, and adapting to project changes.

• Case Study/Design Challenge: A practical exercise may be given, either pre-interview or during the process, to assess design thinking and problem-solving skills in a scenario relevant to MWAA's needs.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with higher-level management or key stakeholders to assess cultural fit and overall suitability for the role and the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best align with the job description's requirements, emphasizing web, intranet, and mobile application design.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the user research conducted, the design decisions made, the tools used, and the outcomes/impact. Use wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and user flow diagrams.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user engagement, reduced task completion time, improved conversion rates).

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you collaborated with developers, business analysts, and stakeholders, and how you incorporated their feedback.

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with specific design and development tools (Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch, HTML, CSS, Tailwind, etc.).

• Address MWAA Context: If possible, tailor a project or a portion of your presentation to address challenges relevant to a public sector or transportation organization.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research MWAA's mission, services, and key digital platforms. Familiarize yourself with common challenges in airport technology and public transportation user experience.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be prepared to walk through a design problem from understanding user needs to ideation and prototyping.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss design decisions and the trade-offs involved (e.g., balancing user needs with technical constraints or business goals).

• Communicate Clearly: Practice explaining complex design concepts and technical details concisely and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a public sector organization like MWAA, demonstrating an understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and the ability to design for diverse user groups will be highly advantageous. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they ensure their designs are inclusive.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Adobe XD (explicitly mentioned), Figma, Sketch, InVision, or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, interactive prototyping, and visual design.

• Graphic Design: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), Paint Shop Pro.

• Web Development Languages/Technologies: HTML, XHTML, XML, Flash (legacy, but mentioned), Tailwind CSS (preferred).

• Development & Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Azure DevOps for requirement tracking, workflow management, and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and user behavior analytics platforms (e.g., Hotjar, Crazy Egg) would be beneficial for assessing usability and informing design improvements. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UI/UX role, but an understanding of how design integrates with broader CRM or marketing automation platforms might be useful in larger organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe XD, Tailwind, and DevOps tools like Jira and Azure DevOps indicates a modern tech stack. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate hands-on experience with these specific tools and articulate how they leverage them to enhance the design and development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Public Service: A commitment to serving the public interest and contributing to the efficient operation of critical infrastructure.

• Integrity & Accountability: Upholding high ethical standards and taking responsibility for the reliability and security of digital systems.

• Innovation: Continuously seeking ways to improve user experiences and leverage technology to enhance operations and services.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across departments and with diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals.

• Excellence: Striving for high quality in all aspects of work, from design execution to user satisfaction.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with Business Analysts, IT developers, the Office of Communications, and various business unit stakeholders. Effective communication and partnership are key.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages open feedback on design work, with a structured process for incorporating constructive criticism to refine solutions.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing an iterative design process, working within agile frameworks (SCRUM) to deliver value incrementally and adapt to changing requirements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design insights, best practices, and lessons learned within the IT department and across relevant teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: In a public sector organization, a strong emphasis on transparency, compliance, and stakeholder engagement is often paramount. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of how these principles influence design decisions and team collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse User Needs: Designing for a broad spectrum of users, including travelers with varying technical abilities, airport employees with specific operational needs, and business partners.

• Legacy Systems Integration: Potentially working with and modernizing older systems or digital assets, requiring careful integration and a phased approach to UI/UX improvements.

• Security & Compliance: Adhering to strict security protocols and government compliance standards in all design and development efforts.

• Stakeholder Management: Navigating the needs and expectations of numerous stakeholders across different departments, each with unique priorities.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying current with the fast-paced evolution of UI/UX design trends and technologies while maintaining stable and reliable systems for critical infrastructure.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Accessibility Standards: Deepening knowledge and application of accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG) to ensure digital products are usable by everyone.

• User Research Techniques: Expanding expertise in advanced user research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative analysis.

• Public Sector Technology: Gaining insights into the unique technological landscape and challenges of government and public infrastructure organizations.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into management roles.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to training programs, workshops, and conferences focused on UI/UX design, IT, and public sector technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges listed are common in large, public-facing organizations. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they have successfully navigated similar situations, highlighting their problem-solving skills and adaptability.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements for a digital project. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and user advocacy).

• "Walk us through your process for designing a new feature for a mobile application, from initial concept to final handoff to developers." (Emphasize user research, ideation, prototyping, and collaboration).

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities?" (Highlight knowledge of WCAG and inclusive design principles).

• "Describe a project where you used data or user feedback to significantly improve a design. What was the data, and what changes did you make?" (Focus on data-driven decision-making and iterative improvement). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, specifically in a UI/UX role within IT?" (Show research into MWAA's mission and public service aspect).

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-design team members, such as developers or business analysts?" (Emphasize communication, empathy, and shared goals).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UI/UX trends and technologies, and how do you decide which ones are relevant to implement?" (Demonstrate continuous learning and strategic thinking). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each project as a narrative: the challenge, your approach, the solution, and the impact.

• Be Interactive: If possible, use live prototypes or interactive elements to showcase your work.

• Explain Your 'Why': For every design decision, be prepared to explain the rationale behind it, linking it back to user needs or business objectives.

• Highlight Collaboration: Clearly articulate your role and how you worked with others on the team.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the public sector nature of MWAA, interviewers will likely be keen to understand candidates' commitment to public service, their ability to work within established guidelines, and their approach to inclusive design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI UX Designer IT position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday portal link: https://mwaa.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/MWAA/job/Dulles-International-Airport/UI-UX-Designer-IT_R0007357

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your six years of IT software development experience and, crucially, your three years of dedicated UI/UX design experience. Use keywords from the job description such as "wireframing," "prototyping," "responsive design," "usability testing," and specific tools like "Adobe XD" and "Tailwind."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that showcase your ability to design user-friendly web, intranet, and mobile applications. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Prepare to present 3-5 key projects.

• Research MWAA: Understand the mission, values, and digital presence of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Consider the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for a public transportation infrastructure organization.

• Prepare for Technical & Behavioral Questions: Practice articulating your design process, explaining your rationale for design decisions, and discussing your experience with collaboration, stakeholder management, and problem-solving in a team environment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions for a UI/UX Designer role within a public sector IT department. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.