UX Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Engineer

Company: Tyto Athene, LLC

Location: United States (On-site)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Engineering, Frontend Development

Date Posted: May 27, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role serves as a crucial bridge between design and engineering, focusing on elevating the user experience and interaction standards across the company's entire portfolio of capabilities.

• The UX Engineer will be responsible for prototyping new directions, refining existing products, and establishing a foundational visual and interaction framework for all products.

• A key aspect of this role involves leveraging modern AI tools as force multipliers to accelerate prototyping, explore design variations, and achieve a high quality of output.

• This position demands fluency in both design tools (like Figma) and frontend development languages (React, TypeScript), enabling seamless translation of design concepts into functional prototypes and shareable components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "UX Engineer" and the description's emphasis on "bi-lingual in pixels and pointers," "Figma and code without translation cost," and "prototypes that shape product decisions, demos that win customer meetings and board approval, and components that other engineers build on" strongly indicate a role that is heavily focused on hands-on development of interactive prototypes and reusable UI components, rather than purely conceptual UX design. The "horizontal role supporting all of TALON, Tyto’s Acceleration Lab for Operational Needs" suggests a central role within an innovation or R&D group.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Build high-fidelity, interactive prototypes using React and TypeScript to validate product directions and identify potential issues early in the development lifecycle, thereby safeguarding budgets, timelines, and customer trust.

• Own and execute the "polish layer" for executive, board, customer, and trade event demonstrations across the entire product portfolio, ensuring products showcase their performance effectively.

• Establish, grow, and maintain a shared component library built with React and TypeScript, setting the standard for visual design, interaction patterns, and accessibility across the portfolio.

• Collaborate directly with product owners, designers, and engineering leads across multiple product teams to translate ambiguous product questions into tangible working artifacts that clarify and refine product strategy.

• Ensure all components and prototypes graduating into shared infrastructure meet Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility conformance standards.

• Utilize and champion modern AI tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor, v0, Figma Make) as integral parts of the daily workflow, demonstrating their capabilities for AI-augmented design and frontend engineering to the wider team.

• Navigate a matrixed organizational structure where product teams are responsible for delivery, and this role is accountable for the cross-cutting craft layer of design and frontend implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities list clearly delineates a hands-on, development-heavy role. "Build high-fidelity, interactive prototypes in React and TypeScript," "Own the polish layer," and "Establish and grow a shared component library in React and TypeScript" are core development tasks. The emphasis on "horizontal role" and "cross-cutting craft layer" highlights the need for strong collaboration and influence without direct line management authority over product teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating both design and coding proficiency is paramount. Prior experience and a portfolio showcasing relevant skills will likely supersede formal educational requirements.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience working at the intersection of user interface design and frontend engineering.

Required Skills:

• Design Proficiency: Strong visual design sense with the ability to create work that is presentation-ready for customers, executives, and investors.

• Frontend Development: Fluency in React and TypeScript, capable of building polished prototypes rapidly.

• Prototyping: Proven ability to build high-fidelity, interactive prototypes that validate product directions and uncover design challenges.

• Component Library Development: Experience in establishing and contributing to shared component libraries or design systems.

• CSS Expertise: Deep understanding of CSS, including layout, motion, typography, and design tokens.

• Accessibility Standards: Competence in implementing code-based accessibility features, including ARIA, keyboard interaction, and focus management, with a strong understanding of Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.

• AI Tool Integration: Demonstrated proficiency in using modern AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor, or equivalents) as part of the daily workflow and the ability to articulate how these tools enhance speed and quality.

• Cross-Functional Experience: A track record of successful horizontal or cross-team collaboration, operating effectively across multiple product teams or business units.

• Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity and managing competing stakeholder demands in a fast-paced environment, often juggling prototyping, demo polishing, and component library work simultaneously.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working on a shipped component library or a comprehensive design system.

• Familiarity with federal or DoD software development environments and Section 508 conformance requirements.

• Background in developing operator-facing tooling, such as SOC consoles, network management systems, or command-and-control interfaces.

• Experience in producing high-quality demos for investor, board, customer, or trade events.

• Experience within Private Equity-backed, growth-stage, or matrixed organizations where horizontal roles must gain influence through expertise and collaboration.

• Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Portfolio that demonstrates both interaction design and shipped code" is a critical requirement. Candidates should curate their portfolios to showcase distinct examples of their work in both areas. The "Desired" section points towards specific industry experience (Federal/DoD) and organizational structures (PE-backed) that might be advantageous for candidates seeking to align with the company's strategic objectives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design & Code Integration: The portfolio must clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to both design user interfaces (using tools like Figma) and translate those designs into functional, interactive code (primarily React and TypeScript).

• Prototyping Examples: Showcase high-fidelity interactive prototypes that illustrate problem-solving, user flow validation, and the ability to explore product directions.

• Component Library Contribution: Evidence of contributions to or creation of reusable component libraries, highlighting design consistency, interaction patterns, and code maintainability.

• Accessibility Implementation: Examples demonstrating the practical application of accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA) in code.

• AI Tool Utilization: If possible, include examples or descriptions of how AI tools were leveraged to accelerate design or development processes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Detail how you approach translating ambiguous product requirements into actionable design and development sprints, focusing on iterative refinement.

• Component Development Lifecycle: Outline the process for designing, developing, testing, and deploying components within a shared library, including version control and documentation practices.

• Cross-Team Collaboration: Describe established methods for partnering with product owners, designers, and engineers to ensure alignment and efficient integration of UX/UI efforts.

• Demo Preparation & Delivery: Illustrate a process for creating polished, impactful demos that effectively communicate product value to various stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the "portfolio" is not just a collection of past work, but a demonstration of a process. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they achieve results, not just what they have achieved. The emphasis on "working artifacts" and "prototypes that shape product decisions" means the portfolio should highlight tangible outputs and their impact on product direction.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000 USD per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $160,000 - $175,000 USD annually is for a highly specialized role requiring a blend of advanced design and engineering skills, significant experience, and the ability to work with cutting-edge AI tools. This range aligns with senior-level UX Engineering or Lead Frontend Developer positions in major US tech markets, reflecting the demand for candidates who can operate at the intersection of product strategy, design execution, and technical implementation. Factors like specific years of experience, depth of expertise in React/TypeScript, portfolio strength, and any security clearance will influence the final offer.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.

• 401(k) plan with employer match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) for work-life balance.

• Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance.

• Life Insurance coverage.

• Referral Bonuses to incentivize employee referrals.

• Professional Development Reimbursement to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Parental Leave to support new parents.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, the standard for a full-time, on-site role in the US is typically 40 hours per week. However, the dynamic nature of demo preparation and project deadlines may require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is robust and typical for a full-time role at a company of this size and industry, offering a strong mix of health, financial, and personal well-being support. The inclusion of "professional development reimbursement" is particularly relevant for a UX Engineer role focused on staying current with AI tools and emerging technologies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: IT Services and Solutions, Digital Transformation, Defense, Intelligence, Space, National Security, Civilian, Health, and Public Safety sectors.

Company Size: Tyto Athene is a significant player in its field, supporting clients across the US and worldwide. While the exact number isn't provided in the raw data, their broad client base and global support suggest a medium to large enterprise.

Founded: Tyto Athene has over 50 years of experience, indicating a long-standing presence and deep industry knowledge.

Team Structure:

• TALON - Acceleration Lab for Operational Needs: This role is part of TALON, described as an "Acceleration Lab," suggesting a forward-thinking, innovative, and potentially R&D-focused division.

• Horizontal Role: The UX Engineer operates horizontally, meaning they support multiple product teams or practices rather than being embedded within a single one. This requires strong collaboration and influence skills.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close partnerships are expected with product owners, designers, and engineering leads across various product teams.

Methodology:

• AI-Augmented Development: A core tenet of this role is the integration and leveraging of modern AI tools to enhance productivity and quality in design and frontend engineering.

• Mission-Driven Environment: The company emphasizes supporting critical defense and public safety clients, implying a culture focused on mission success, reliability, and high stakes.

• Data-Driven Insights: While not explicitly detailed for this role, the general emphasis on digital transformation and measurable success suggests a data-informed approach to decision-making.

Company Website: https://careers.ashtonwoods.com (Note: This URL appears to be for Ashton Woods, not Tyto Athene. Tyto Athene's primary website is likely tytoathene.com, and their careers portal might be separate. The provided URL careers.ashtonwoods.com seems to be a system URL for the job board, not the company's main site.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on defense and national security sectors implies a culture that values rigor, security, and a commitment to mission outcomes. The "TALON" lab suggests an environment that encourages experimentation and innovation within these critical areas. The "horizontal" nature of the role means success will depend heavily on influencing without direct authority.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UX Engineer role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, requiring 5+ years of specialized experience. It's a critical, cross-functional position that acts as a force multiplier for design and development efforts across the organization. The role is not within traditional "Revenue Operations" or "Sales Operations" but is vital for the GTM (Go-To-Market) success of products by ensuring their quality, usability, and presentation.

Reporting Structure: The UX Engineer operates horizontally, supporting various product teams within the TALON lab. Reporting is likely to a design lead, engineering manager, or director within TALON, rather than directly to a product team manager. This structure necessitates strong self-direction and proactive collaboration.

Operations Impact: While not directly revenue-generating, this role has a significant indirect impact on revenue and business decisions by:

• Enhancing Product Value: High-quality, well-designed, and accessible products are more attractive to customers, leading to better sales outcomes and customer retention.

• Improving Demo Effectiveness: Polished demos are crucial for winning customer meetings, securing board approval, and attracting investors, directly influencing business development and funding.

• Accelerating Development: By providing a shared component library and validated prototypes, the UX Engineer helps product teams deliver faster and with higher quality, indirectly impacting time-to-market and revenue realization.

• Shaping Product Direction: Prototypes and working artifacts produced by the UX Engineer directly influence product strategy and decisions made by stakeholders, including executives and investors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in AI-Augmented Development: Become a recognized expert in leveraging AI for design and frontend engineering, a rapidly growing field.

• Design System Leadership: Lead the expansion and evolution of the company's shared component library and design system, potentially becoming a Design System Architect or Manager.

• Cross-Portfolio Influence: Expand influence across more product lines or even into broader strategic initiatives within TALON or other parts of Tyto Athene.

• Technical Leadership: Transition into a lead engineering or technical architect role focused on frontend architecture and UI/UX best practices.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in specific sectors like defense, intelligence, or health, becoming a go-to expert for UX/UI challenges in those domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "horizontal" nature of this role is key for career growth. Success here can lead to broader influence and leadership opportunities across the entire organization, not just within a single product silo. The emphasis on AI tools also positions the candidate for future-oriented career paths.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," suggesting a traditional office-based work environment.

Office Location(s): The location is listed as "United States (On-site)" with specific locality/region/street address marked as "UNAVAILABLE." This implies the company has a physical presence in the US, and candidates will likely be expected to work from a designated office location, though the specific city is not provided.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The description emphasizes working "across practices," "partnering directly with product owners, designers, and engineering leads," and being the "glue between design and engineering," indicating a highly collaborative workspace.

• Technology Focus: As a UX Engineer, access to modern development tools, design software, and potentially high-performance workstations will be essential. The company's support for AI tools suggests an investment in cutting-edge technology.

• Innovation Hub: The role within TALON, the "Acceleration Lab for Operational Needs," suggests an environment that fosters innovation, experimentation, and rapid iteration.

Work Schedule: The typical work schedule is likely 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. However, the need for demo polish and the dynamic nature of projects may require occasional flexibility and extended hours to meet critical deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is significant. Candidates should be prepared to relocate or already reside within commuting distance of a Tyto Athene office that supports the TALON lab. The lack of specific city information might indicate that the exact office location is flexible or to be determined based on the candidate's profile.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a UX Engineer role at a company like Tyto Athene would likely involve:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager reviews applications and resumes, focusing on keywords, experience, and portfolio relevance.

• Technical/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, potentially involving a call with a designer or engineering lead to discuss specific projects, design decisions, and coding implementation.

• Skills Assessment/Coding Challenge: A practical exercise to evaluate proficiency in React, TypeScript, CSS, and potentially prototyping or AI tool usage. This could be a take-home assignment or an in-interview exercise.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with product owners, engineering leads, and potentially other stakeholders the UX Engineer would collaborate with, assessing communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

• Behavioral/Cultural Fit Interview: Assessing alignment with Tyto Athene's values, mission, and the innovative culture of TALON. This may include questions about handling ambiguity and working in a matrixed environment.

• Executive/Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with senior leadership to discuss strategic impact and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Duality: Ensure your portfolio clearly presents both your design acumen (Figma mockups, interaction flows) and your coding capabilities (links to live projects, GitHub repositories, detailed descriptions of code implementation).

• Highlight Prototypes: Dedicate sections to your high-fidelity interactive prototypes. Explain the problem they solved, the user flows explored, and the impact they had on product direction or stakeholder decisions.

• Detail Component Library Work: If you've contributed to or built design systems/component libraries, showcase the architecture, key components, and the benefits they brought (e.g., efficiency, consistency).

• Explain Process & Tools: For each project, briefly describe your process, especially how you incorporated feedback, navigated challenges, and leveraged tools like AI assistants. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "reduced development time by X%," "improved demo clarity leading to Y outcome").

• Accessibility Focus: Explicitly mention and demonstrate how you've implemented accessibility standards.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with the "horizontal," "cross-cutting," and "AI-augmented" aspects of the role.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Proficiency: Be ready to write clean, efficient React and TypeScript code. Practice common UI patterns and state management.

• Prototyping Skills: Be prepared to quickly sketch out or prototype a UI concept for a given problem.

• AI Tool Fluency: Be able to articulate how you use AI coding assistants and discuss their benefits and limitations.

• Problem-Solving: Practice breaking down ambiguous problems into concrete design and development tasks.

• Communication: Prepare to clearly articulate your design rationale, technical choices, and how your work benefits the product and business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "prototypes that shape product decisions" and "demos that win customer meetings and board approval" means the portfolio review will likely focus on the impact and influence of the candidate's work, not just the technical execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping: Figma (explicitly mentioned for design and "Figma Make" for AI integration).

• Frontend Frameworks: React (core requirement).

• Programming Languages: TypeScript (core requirement).

• AI Coding Assistants: Claude Code, Cursor, v0, Figma Make, and successors (explicitly mentioned as daily tools).

Analytics & Reporting: While not specified, the nature of the role supporting product teams suggests familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) and dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) might be beneficial for understanding product usage and performance.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant to this role's core responsibilities, but familiarity with how frontend components integrate with backend systems and potentially CRM data points could be a plus.

Other Potential Tools:

• Version Control: Git (standard for code collaboration).

• Build Tools: Webpack, Vite (common in React development).

• Testing Frameworks: Jest, React Testing Library (for component and unit testing).

• Design Systems Tools: Storybook (for component development and documentation).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools like Claude Code and Cursor is a strong indicator that proficiency and a forward-thinking approach to these technologies are highly valued. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and opinions on these tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission Focus: A strong commitment to supporting critical national security and public safety missions.

• Innovation & Acceleration: A culture that encourages rapid iteration, experimentation, and leveraging new technologies (like AI) within the TALON lab.

• Quality & Precision: High standards for design, interaction, and code quality, especially for products used in demanding environments and presented to high-level stakeholders.

• Collaboration & Influence: Emphasis on working effectively across teams, building consensus, and influencing product direction through expertise and demonstrated value.

• Continuous Learning: Encouragement to stay at the forefront of design and engineering practices, including AI-augmented workflows.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working closely with product owners, designers, and engineers, fostering a collaborative relationship to achieve shared goals.

• Proactive & Influential: As a horizontal role, the UX Engineer must proactively engage with teams, offer expertise, and influence decisions through well-crafted prototypes and compelling demonstrations.

• Transparent Communication: Openly sharing progress, challenges, and learnings, particularly regarding the application of new technologies like AI.

• Feedback Integration: A willingness to incorporate feedback from various stakeholders to refine designs and prototypes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on government and defense clients likely instills a culture of reliability, security, and meticulousness. The TALON lab, however, suggests a counterbalancing drive for innovation and speed. The UX Engineer will need to navigate these potentially contrasting cultural elements.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The role requires translating vague product ideas into tangible, working artifacts in a dynamic environment.

• Matrixed Environment Influence: Earning buy-in and driving adoption of design standards and components across multiple product teams without direct authority.

• Balancing Priorities: Juggling diverse tasks such as rapid prototyping, demo polishing, and component library development, often under tight deadlines.

• Setting and Maintaining Standards: Establishing and upholding high standards for design, interaction, and accessibility across a broad portfolio.

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Keeping pace with the fast-changing AI tools and effectively integrating them into established workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Become a leading practitioner in AI-assisted design and development, a highly sought-after skill.

• Design System Leadership: Grow expertise in building and managing robust design systems that scale across an organization.

• Cross-Domain Exposure: Gain deep insights into the operational needs and user contexts of diverse sectors like defense, intelligence, and public safety.

• Executive Presentation Skills: Hone abilities in crafting and delivering impactful demos and presentations for high-level audiences.

• Strategic Impact: Contribute to the foundational elements of products that support critical national missions, offering a unique sense of purpose and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be balancing the need for speed and innovation (driven by AI and the TALON lab) with the rigorous demands of quality, accessibility, and security required by the company's client base.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Vision & Prototyping: "Describe a time you translated an ambiguous product requirement into a high-fidelity prototype. What was your process, what tools did you use (including AI), and how did it influence the final product direction?" (Prepare to walk through a portfolio example.)

• Cross-Team Collaboration: "How do you establish and maintain design/frontend standards across multiple product teams when you don't have direct authority? Provide an example of how you influenced adoption of a component library or design pattern."

• Problem-Solving & Impact: "Imagine you need to create a demo for a new command-and-control interface for a board meeting in two weeks. What are your first steps, how do you ensure it's polished and impactful, and what potential technical or design challenges do you anticipate?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Tyto Athene, specifically within the TALON lab?" (Research their mission, identify aspects that resonate.)

• "How do you see AI tools changing the landscape of UX Engineering, and how would you champion their adoption within a team?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your dual UX/Engineering skills, focusing on prototypes, component libraries, and your process.

• Tell a Story: For each key project, explain the problem, your approach, your specific contributions (design, code, AI usage), the outcomes, and lessons learned. Quantify impact whenever possible.

• Live Demo/Code Walkthrough: Be prepared to demonstrate a prototype live or walk through relevant code snippets to showcase your technical proficiency.

• Focus on AI Integration: Explicitly discuss how you've used AI tools, the benefits you've seen, and how you envision their future role in your work.

• Address Accessibility: Show concrete examples of how you've implemented accessibility standards in your code.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh practical demonstration of skills. Candidates should be ready to "show, don't just tell" their capabilities through their portfolio and potentially through live exercises. The ability to articulate the strategic value of UX/UI and frontend development to business outcomes will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided careers portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience with React, TypeScript, Figma, interactive prototyping, component libraries, and AI coding assistants.

• Resume Optimization: Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Engineer," "React," "TypeScript," "Figma," "AI tools," "prototyping," "component library," and "accessibility" to ensure ATS compatibility.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with specific examples, focusing on how your work has influenced product decisions and improved demonstrations. Be ready to discuss your process and how you leverage AI.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Tyto Athene's mission, their work in defense/intelligence sectors, and the concept of an "Acceleration Lab" to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment with their goals.

⚠️ 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.