UX / UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX / UI Designer

Company: General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)

Location: Arlington, VA, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience / User Interface Design (Operations Support)

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Owns the end-to-end user experience for a critical national cyber defense command center application, emphasizing operational efficiency and data clarity.

• Designs and maintains a comprehensive design system and component library to ensure consistency across complex, data-dense interfaces.

• Focuses on user workflows, information hierarchy, and cognitive load management for users operating under high-pressure, sustained-attention conditions.

• Ensures adherence to accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG) and supports diverse display environments, including multi-workstation and large shared displays.

• Collaborates closely with front-end and visualization engineers to translate design specifications into functional, user-friendly applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is deeply embedded within operations, requiring a designer who understands the unique demands of command center environments, time-critical decision-making, and the presentation of complex, potentially uncertain data. The emphasis on "operational applications" and "sustained use" indicates a need for designs that prioritize clarity, efficiency, and reduced cognitive load over aesthetic novelty.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design coherent and intuitive user workflows across multiple functional areas within the cyber defense command center application.

• Establish clear navigation and contextual orientation, ensuring users always understand their current location and the implications of their selections.

• Define how user selections and context carry over between different application modules and functional areas.

• Strategize on the presentation of information, including defaults, on-demand elements, and intentional omissions to manage complexity.

• Design role- and entitlement-driven interfaces, ensuring clear presentation of actions and explicit communication of any constraints or permissions.

• Develop status, alerting, and priority encoding systems that convey urgency effectively without causing user fatigue or desensitization.

• Define and design for degraded, stale, empty, and error states to ensure data currency and system health are always apparent to the user.

• Manage cognitive load through strategic use of density, grouping, disclosure patterns, and restrained use of color and motion.

• Present system-generated output with supporting evidence, establishing a consistent visual language for confidence levels, data sources, and currency.

• Design interactions for accepting, rejecting, modifying, or escalating system recommendations, ensuring user control and trust.

• Create, maintain, and evolve the design system and shared component library, ensuring its adoption and adherence across the development team.

• Preserve consistency in terminology, iconography, status encoding, and interaction patterns throughout the application.

• Document design decisions and rationale to ensure knowledge continuity and support future development and maintenance.

• Design for Section 508 and WCAG accessibility compliance from the initial stages of the design process.

• Support legibility and usability on a range of display environments, from individual workstations to large shared command center displays.

• Address complex workflows that span multiple simultaneous displays, ensuring seamless user transitions.

• Provide non-visual equivalents for critical information and interactions where necessary.

• Work directly with end-users to understand their operational workflows, pain points, and requirements.

• Validate design decisions through observed user testing and feedback sessions.

• Deliver detailed specifications and behavior definitions to engineers, minimizing ambiguity and the need for guesswork.

• Partner closely with front-end and visualization engineers throughout the development lifecycle, including sprint planning and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep integration with the operational mission. The focus on "role- and entitlement-driven design," "sustained use," and "presenting derived & uncertain information" points to a need for a designer who can translate complex operational requirements into clear, actionable interfaces. The emphasis on documentation and collaboration with engineers is crucial for maintaining system integrity and enabling efficient development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field.

• Alternatively, equivalent experience per company policy may be considered. Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a strong focus on complex application design.

• Proven experience designing complex, data-dense operational applications is a core requirement.

• Demonstrated experience with multi-area applications that serve multiple distinct user categories.

• Experience managing information hierarchy and cognitive load within time-pressured, operational environments.

• Proven experience designing role- or permission-driven interfaces.

• Experience establishing and maintaining a comprehensive design system and component library.

• Demonstrated success in designing for Section 508 and WCAG accessibility conformance.

• Experience conducting user research, workflow validation, and usability testing.

• Experience collaborating directly with front-end and visualization engineers through the entire implementation process.

• Portfolio showcasing operational or monitoring interfaces, demonstrating relevant design skills and experience. Required Skills:

• User Experience (UX) Design: Expertise in user-centered design principles, information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing.

• User Interface (UI) Design: Proficiency in creating visually appealing, intuitive, and functional user interfaces, including wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• System Designs: Ability to comprehend and design for complex system architectures and their user-facing components.

• Information Hierarchy: Skill in organizing and presenting information logically to guide user comprehension and decision-making.

• Cognitive Load Management: Strategies and techniques for minimizing mental effort required from users, especially in high-stress environments.

• Section 508 & WCAG Compliance: Deep understanding and practical application of accessibility standards for federal government systems.

• Design Systems & Component Libraries: Experience in developing, maintaining, and implementing design systems for consistency and scalability.

• Operational Application Design: Proven ability to design for environments where data density, speed, and accuracy are paramount.

• Collaboration with Engineering: Ability to effectively communicate design specifications and partner with development teams throughout the software development lifecycle.

• User Research & Validation: Proficiency in user interview, workflow analysis, and usability testing methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• Human Factors: Background or strong understanding of human factors principles to optimize user performance and safety.

• Operations Center / Sustained Attention Environments: Prior design experience in similar high-stakes operational settings.

• Multi-Display Workstations & Large Displays: Experience optimizing designs for complex visual environments with multiple screens.

• Presenting Derived/Algorithmic Output: Skill in designing interfaces that clearly present automated or AI-driven insights for human review and action.

• Adaptive Interface Design: Experience designing interfaces that can dynamically adapt to changing conditions or user needs.

• IAAP CPACC or WAS Certification: Professional certification in accessibility.

• Front-end Familiarity: Basic understanding of front-end development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to ensure design feasibility and realistic specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required qualifications emphasize practical experience in designing for complex, operational systems, a key differentiator for roles supporting government and defense sectors. The explicit mention of Section 508 and WCAG compliance, alongside a Public Trust clearance requirement, signals a need for candidates familiar with government IT standards. The portfolio requirement is crucial for demonstrating hands-on experience in relevant domains.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Operational Interface Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies of complex operational or monitoring interfaces you have designed. These should highlight the problem, your design process, the specific challenges (e.g., data density, time pressure, multiple users), your solutions, and the impact.

• Design System Examples: Include samples or documentation from a design system you have helped create or maintain. This could include component documentation, style guides, and examples of how the system ensures consistency.

• Accessibility Integration: Demonstrate how accessibility (Section 508/WCAG) was integrated into your design process, with specific examples of features or solutions addressing accessibility needs.

• User Research & Validation Artifacts: Provide examples of how you have used user research, workflow analysis, and usability testing to inform and validate your designs. This could include personas, journey maps, or usability test reports.

• Engineer Handoff Specifications: Include examples of the detailed specifications, wireframes, prototypes, or design documentation you provided to engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Optimization Design: Evidence of designing workflows that streamline complex processes, reduce steps, or improve efficiency in an operational context.

• System Consistency & Standards: Documentation or examples demonstrating how you enforced consistency through design systems, style guides, or pattern libraries.

• Data Visualization & Presentation: Examples of how you have designed interfaces to effectively present complex data, derived information, or uncertain data with clear indicators of source and confidence.

• Accessibility Standards Implementation: Documented processes for ensuring designs meet Section 508 and WCAG requirements throughout the design lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is not just a collection of pretty pictures; it's a demonstration of process, problem-solving, and an understanding of operational constraints. The emphasis on "operational applications," "data-dense interfaces," and "engineer handoff" means candidates must show how they design for these specific environments and how they ensure their designs are implementable and effective.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The provided salary range for this position is $107,744 - $143,750 per year.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This range is an estimate based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for a UX/UI Designer with 5-10 years of experience in the Washington D.C. metro area, particularly within the government contracting sector. Actual compensation will be determined by factors including candidate experience, specific skills, and contractual requirements. GDIT operates in a competitive market, and compensation is often tailored to the specific project and client needs.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: A variety of medical plan options, including those with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), providing flexibility for healthcare expenses.

• Dental and Vision Plans: Integrated coverage for dental and vision care.

• Retirement Savings: A 401(k) plan allowing pre- and post-tax contributions up to IRS limits, with a company match to boost long-term savings.

• Work-Life Balance:

  • Flexible Work: Full flex work weeks are possible where applicable, promoting a healthy balance.
  • Generous Paid Time Off: Includes vacation, sick, and personal time, along with company holidays.
  • Specialized Leave: Paid parental, military, bereavement, and jury duty leave to support employees during significant life events.

• Income Protection:

  • Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability benefits to provide income security.
  • Life Insurance: Basic life insurance, with options for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), personal accident, and critical illness insurance.
  • Travel Insurance: Business travel and accident insurance for peace of mind during work-related travel.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time schedule of 40 hours per week.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is on-site, the mention of "full flex work weeks where possible" suggests potential for some flexibility in daily start/end times, which can be beneficial for managing project sprints and personal needs, provided operational coverage is maintained.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology & Professional Services, Government Contracting. GDIT serves every major U.S. government agency, defense, and intelligence community.

Company Size: GDIT is a large enterprise, employing over 26,000 experts globally. This scale implies robust processes, significant resources, and opportunities for specialized roles.

Founded: GDIT has a long history, evolving through acquisitions and growth, indicating a stable, established presence in the government IT sector.

Team Structure:

• Operations-Focused Design Team: The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a dedicated design team or embedded within a larger software engineering group focused on specific government programs.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with program managers, system architects, front-end developers, visualization engineers, and potentially end-users or subject matter experts (SMEs) from the cyber defense command center.

• Reporting: The role likely reports to a Design Lead, Engineering Manager, or Program Manager, with a clear line of reporting within the project structure.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Given the nature of software development in government contracting, an Agile methodology (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) is highly probable, requiring designers to participate in sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, validation, and performance metrics to inform design decisions.

• Process Optimization: A core focus on improving operational efficiency, reducing errors, and enhancing user effectiveness through thoughtful design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: GDIT's position as a major government contractor means the work environment is often structured, process-oriented, and focused on delivering mission-critical solutions. The culture likely values reliability, security, and adherence to strict compliance standards. The "About Our Work" section emphasizes "mission-ready capabilities" and "delivering solutions at the edge of innovation," suggesting a dynamic environment within a stable framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UX/UI Designer role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level individual contributor. It requires significant experience (5+ years) and the ability to own critical design areas within a complex operational application. The responsibility for a design system and close collaboration with engineers indicates a senior-level contribution.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Engineering Manager within a specific program or project team. Collaboration will extend across various functions, including development, product management, and potentially client-facing roles.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the effectiveness and efficiency of national cyber defense operations. By creating clear, intuitive, and accessible interfaces, the role contributes to faster threat detection, more accurate decision-making, and reduced operator error in high-stakes situations. This has direct implications for national security.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for critical infrastructure, cyber defense, or other specialized government sectors.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX/UI Designer role, mentoring junior designers and overseeing design strategy for larger projects.

• Human Factors Expertise: Further develop skills in human factors engineering, potentially leading to roles focused on system safety and performance optimization.

• Accessibility Leadership: Become a recognized expert in government accessibility compliance, influencing best practices across GDIT.

• Cross-Program Mobility: Leverage experience to move into design roles on other high-impact government programs within GDIT.

• Certifications: Pursue advanced certifications like IAAP CPACC or WAS, or explore human factors certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: GDIT's size and scope offer considerable potential for career progression. The emphasis on mission-critical government projects means that successful performance can lead to opportunities on highly visible and impactful initiatives. Growth paths will likely involve increasing responsibility, specialization, and leadership within the design and engineering functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site work at a government facility in the Washington, D.C. metro area. This implies a secure, professional, and potentially highly regulated work environment.

Office Location(s): Arlington, VA. This location is within a major hub for government contracting and federal agencies, offering accessibility and proximity to key stakeholders.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While on-site, expect a professional setting that facilitates collaboration with engineers, project managers, and potentially government personnel. Shared workspaces or team areas are likely.

• Tools and Technology: Access to standard design software, prototyping tools, and potentially specialized visualization tools relevant to cyber defense applications. The company likely provides necessary hardware and software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with the immediate project team, fostering strong working relationships and efficient communication.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for "full flex work weeks" to allow for some adjustment in daily start/end times. Adherence to project deadlines and operational needs will be paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement at a government facility is a critical factor. This environment often demands strict adherence to security protocols, access procedures, and professional conduct. While collaborative, it may also be more formal than a typical commercial tech office. The focus on "multiple displays" and "large shared displays" suggests a workspace designed for command and control operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager/Team Lead Interview: Deeper dive into experience, technical skills, and understanding of operational design challenges. This is where your portfolio will likely be introduced.

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discussing your process, decision-making, and impact. You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or problem-solving task related to the application's domain.

• Technical/Cross-Functional Interview: Discussion with engineers or other team members to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to deliver specifications.

• Final Interview/Offer: May involve senior leadership or a final confirmation of fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Operational Relevance: Tailor your presentation to highlight experience with complex, data-dense, and time-sensitive applications. Emphasize how your designs improve operational outcomes.

• Process Over Polish: Clearly articulate your design process, from research and ideation to validation and handoff. Explain why you made specific design choices, referencing user needs and operational constraints.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics or specific examples to demonstrate the positive impact of your designs (e.g., reduced error rates, faster task completion, improved user satisfaction).

• Design System Expertise: Showcase your ability to create and maintain design systems, highlighting consistency, scalability, and efficiency benefits.

• Accessibility Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you incorporate Section 508 and WCAG compliance into your workflow.

• Engineer Collaboration: Provide examples of how you effectively collaborate with engineers, including the quality and clarity of your specifications.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions about how you would approach specific design challenges related to managing information overload, designing for uncertainty, or ensuring accessibility in complex systems.

• Design System Development: Be ready to discuss your experience building or contributing to design systems, including governance and adoption strategies.

• Accessibility Standards: Prepare to answer questions about specific Section 508 and WCAG guidelines and how you apply them.

• User Research Techniques: Review common user research methodologies and be prepared to discuss how you would apply them in a government operational context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for government contracting roles often emphasizes adherence to process, documentation, and compliance. A strong understanding of Section 508/WCAG and the ability to articulate a methodical design process are critical. The portfolio review is a key opportunity to demonstrate practical application of these principles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Design System Management Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for creating and managing design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration, or custom documentation platforms).

• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, or Microsoft Teams for project management, documentation, and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Tools: While not primary, an understanding of how user behavior data (e.g., from tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or custom dashboards) can inform design decisions is beneficial.

• Reporting Tools: Ability to interpret and utilize reports generated by engineering or product teams regarding application usage and performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While this role is primarily design-focused, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or workflow automation tools (e.g., Zapier, Power Automate) might be advantageous for understanding broader business processes, though not directly required for this position.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools will be design and prototyping software. Proficiency in a robust design system toolset is highly valued given the explicit requirement to maintain one. Experience with collaborative platforms is essential for seamless integration with development teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission Focus: A strong commitment to supporting the operational mission of national cyber defense, understanding that design decisions have real-world security implications.

• Excellence & Precision: A dedication to high-quality design, rigorous testing, and meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding data accuracy and user experience.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing open communication, shared problem-solving, and mutual support among team members across disciplines.

• Integrity & Accountability: Upholding ethical standards, taking ownership of work, and being accountable for design outcomes.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset geared towards ongoing learning, process refinement, and adapting to evolving technologies and user needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with engineers, product owners, and stakeholders to ensure designs are technically feasible, meet user needs, and align with project goals.

• Constructive Feedback: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback during design reviews and sprint retrospectives to foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design knowledge, best practices, and insights through documentation, presentations, and informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at GDIT, particularly within government-contracting projects, often emphasizes professionalism, adherence to process, and a shared commitment to the mission. Designers are expected to be collaborative partners who can translate complex requirements into effective solutions while respecting established protocols.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Data & Workflows: Designing for highly complex, data-dense applications with intricate workflows that require careful management of information hierarchy and cognitive load.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating potentially diverse requirements from various user groups, stakeholders, and government agencies while maintaining design integrity and consistency.

• Ensuring Accessibility: Consistently meeting stringent Section 508 and WCAG compliance standards across all design elements and interactions.

• Rapid Development Cycles: Adapting designs and specifications to agile development sprints, requiring flexibility and efficient iteration.

• On-Site Requirement: Commuting to a government facility daily, which may be a challenge for some candidates.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Accessibility Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in government accessibility standards and become a go-to resource.

• Specialized Domain Knowledge: Gaining in-depth understanding of cyber defense operations, critical infrastructure protection, and related government initiatives.

• Human Factors Specialization: Pursuing formal training or certifications in human factors engineering to enhance design impact.

• Design System Leadership: Taking on greater responsibility for the evolution and governance of the design system.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Tech: Working with advanced technologies and solutions deployed in critical national security contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to high-impact operational design roles. Overcoming them requires a blend of technical skill, strong communication, and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. The growth opportunities are substantial for individuals looking to build a career in specialized government technology sectors.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a complex, data-dense operational application. How do you manage information hierarchy and cognitive load?" (Prepare to walk through a relevant portfolio case study, highlighting your systematic approach.)

• "How do you ensure Section 508 and WCAG compliance is integrated throughout your design process, not just as an afterthought?" (Be ready to discuss specific techniques, tools, and testing methods.)

• "Walk us through a time you had to collaborate closely with engineers. How did you ensure your design specifications were clear and implemented accurately?" (Focus on communication, documentation, and iterative feedback.)

• "Imagine you are designing an interface for users with different security clearances and permissions. How would you visually represent these differences and control access to information?" (Think about role-based access control (RBAC) and clear UI indicators.)

• "Describe your experience with design systems. What are the key components, and how do you ensure adoption and maintain consistency?" (Be prepared to discuss your role in building or contributing to a design system.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for GDIT and specifically on this cyber defense command center application?" (Research GDIT's mission and recent projects. Connect your passion for design to national security.)

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or conflicting feedback from stakeholders or team members?" (Emphasize your ability to listen, analyze, and find collaborative solutions.)

• "What are your expectations for working in an on-site, government facility environment?" (Show understanding of professionalism, security protocols, and the importance of the mission.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, present 2-3 key projects, dedicating significant time to operational or data-intensive examples.

• Problem-Solution-Outcome: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design process and solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Visual Aids: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and relevant diagrams (e.g., user flows, information architecture maps).

• Narrative Storytelling: Weave a compelling narrative around your design choices, explaining the rationale behind each decision and how it addressed user needs and operational requirements.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design elements, technical constraints, or user research findings. Be ready to defend your choices with clear reasoning.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should heavily focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of operational design principles, accessibility standards, and collaborative development practices. The ability to articulate a methodical process and showcase tangible results through a portfolio will be paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

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

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly relevant to operational UX/UI design, data-dense applications, accessibility (Section 508/WCAG), and design systems. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience with complex operational interfaces, data visualization, and adherence to design standards. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work for each portfolio project. Be ready to discuss your experience with engineering collaboration and accessibility.

• Research GDIT: Understand GDIT's mission, its role in government contracting, and its commitment to technology solutions. Familiarize yourself with the context of cyber defense command centers.

⚠️ 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.