UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: CACI International

Location: Sterling, VA, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-27

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design operator-centered interfaces for intelligence visualization and mission planning tools, focusing on workflow clarity, information hierarchy, and operator trust.

• Conduct structured operator research and user interviews to develop operator personas and map complex workflows for high-stakes decision-making environments.

• Build and maintain a robust design system in Figma, including data visualization patterns, confidence indicators, and adaptive UI components for mission-phase interfaces.

• Collaborate closely with product owners, development teams, data scientists, and end-users to translate complex data into clear, actionable visualizations and ensure cohesive user experience across applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is UX/UI Designer, the description strongly emphasizes "operator-centered research" and "mission planning tools for military operators," indicating a specialization within UX/UI design focused on government, defense, or intelligence sectors. This requires a deep understanding of user needs in high-stakes, mission-critical environments, which is a key differentiator from standard commercial UX/UI roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct structured operator research across mission phases, documenting workflows, information needs, and task prioritization patterns to inform design decisions.

• Create and validate operator personas based on real user interviews, ensuring designs are grounded in actual user requirements and behaviors.

• Build and maintain design system foundations in Figma, including data visualization patterns, confidence indicators, and adaptive UI components.

• Develop high-fidelity UI components and interactive prototypes for features such as inline annotations, dashboards, and mission-phase adaptive interfaces.

• Lead the establishment of a cohesive look-and-feel and standardized user experience across multiple applications, ensuring consistency and usability.

• Collaborate between creative strategy, UX, visual design, the development team, and clients to develop effective and aligned design strategies.

• Develop compelling, user-focused experiences that directly support and align with mission objectives.

• Lead rapid iteration cycles incorporating operator feedback and conduct A/B testing to validate design decisions and optimize user flows.

• Collaborate closely with developers to implement UI components and ensure the integrity and scalability of the design system.

• Work with data scientists to translate complex data into clear, intuitive, and actionable visualizations.

• Design geospatial interface patterns for map-based intelligence visualization, a critical component for many defense and intelligence applications.

• Ensure WCAG 2.2 / Section 508 accessibility compliance for operational environments, catering to diverse user needs and operational constraints.

• Ensure product quality and timeliness by providing periodic performance reports and contributing to agile development sprints.

• Mentor junior team members, sharing expertise in UX/UI design principles and best practices within the defense sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of traditional UX/UI tasks with a strong emphasis on user research, design systems, data visualization, and domain-specific requirements (geospatial, mission-critical, accessibility for defense). The mention of "agile development and delivering software in short sprints" points to a fast-paced, iterative design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interactive Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), UX/UI Design, or a closely related field.

Experience: 3-5 years of related UX/UI design experience, with a strong preference for work within complex technical, government, or defense domains.

Required Skills:

• Figma mastery: Expertise in creating and managing design systems, component libraries, advanced prototyping, auto-layout, and variants.

• Design Systems: Proven experience building and maintaining scalable design systems from scratch, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Prototyping: Ability to create high-fidelity interactive prototypes for rigorous user testing and validation.

• User Research Methods: Proficiency in conducting user interviews, cognitive task analysis, developing operator personas, and mapping complex workflows.

• Usability Testing: Experience in planning and executing A/B testing, leading rapid iteration cycles, and analyzing user feedback.

• Stakeholder Communication: Proven ability to effectively communicate designs and user experience strategies to product owners, end users, development teams, and management.

• Technical Acumen: Understanding of the trade-offs between design, technical feasibility, and ongoing maintenance, with a basic understanding of front-end fundamentals (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) and back-end concepts (APIs, data flows, system architecture).

• Accessibility Standards: Deep understanding and practical application of WCAG 2.2 / Section 508 compliance for designing inclusive interfaces.

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio showcasing relevant UX/UI design work is required for consideration. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for military, defense, intelligence, or other high-consequence domains.

• Mission-critical UI design experience in high-stakes environments where user trust and performance are paramount.

• Expertise in dashboard design for complex data visualization and monitoring interfaces.

• Experience with geospatial interfaces, map-based tools, and spatial data visualization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Qualifications" clearly indicate a need for practical, hands-on experience with core UX/UI tools and methodologies, particularly Figma and design systems. The emphasis on specific domains (government, defense) and security clearance suggests that candidates with relevant industry experience will have a significant advantage. The portfolio requirement is critical and should highlight projects demonstrating the application of these skills in complex environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate mastery of Figma, including complex component libraries, auto-layout usage, and interactive prototyping capabilities.

• Showcase experience in building and maintaining design systems, illustrating scalability, consistency, and efficiency gains.

• Provide case studies detailing user research methodologies employed (e.g., interviews, cognitive task analysis) and how findings informed design decisions.

• Include examples of high-fidelity interactive prototypes and evidence of their use in user testing and iteration cycles.

• Present projects that highlight experience with data visualization, especially for complex or mission-critical information.

• Feature work that adheres to accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 / Section 508) and demonstrate an understanding of inclusive design principles.

• Include projects related to geospatial interface design if applicable, showcasing map-based visualization skills. Process Documentation:

• Detail the process for conducting operator research, from initial planning and recruitment to synthesis of findings and persona development.

• Illustrate the workflow for creating and iterating on design systems, including component creation, documentation, and collaboration with development teams.

• Explain the methodology for planning and executing usability testing, including A/B testing, and how feedback is integrated into design revisions.

• Document the process for translating complex data into effective visualizations, including collaboration with data scientists and developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX/UI role in this sector, the portfolio is paramount. It must not only showcase design aesthetics but also the strategic thinking, user research rigor, and technical proficiency required for complex, mission-critical applications. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating how designs solve specific user problems and contribute to mission success, with clear documentation of the design process and outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $72,700 - $149,200 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage.

• Wellness programs designed to support employee health and well-being.

• Financial planning resources and guidance.

• Robust retirement benefits and savings plans.

• Family support services and benefits.

• Opportunities for continuing education and professional development.

• Flexible time off (PTO) benefit, allowing employees to manage personal and professional commitments.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. While not explicitly stated as flexible, the mention of flexible time off suggests a culture that supports work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, reflecting the experience level and potential for specialization within CACI International's government contracting sector. The salary will likely depend on factors such as the candidate's specific experience, the exact requirements of the government contract, and the candidate's ability to meet security clearance requirements. The benefits package is comprehensive, typical for large government contractors, with a notable mention of flexible time off.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology, Government Contracting, Defense & Intelligence Services. CACI International is a major player in providing advanced technology solutions and services to U.S. government agencies, particularly in defense and intelligence. This context means the work is often mission-critical, requiring high standards of reliability, security, and performance.

Company Size: CACI International is a large enterprise, with thousands of employees globally. This scale implies structured processes, established career paths, and a wide range of resources, but also potentially more bureaucracy than smaller firms.

Founded: CACI was founded in 1962, indicating a long history and deep experience in its core markets. This longevity suggests stability and a well-established understanding of government client needs.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will likely be part of the "Phanos" team, which focuses on intelligence visualization and mission planning tools for military operators. This suggests a specialized, project-focused team.

• The reporting structure is not explicitly detailed but is likely within an engineering or product development department, with the UX Designer collaborating closely with product managers, developers, data scientists, and potentially government client representatives.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close work with technical teams, military operators (as end-users), and potentially other design specialists to ensure cohesive product development. Methodology:

• The team operates with an agile development methodology, emphasizing short sprints and rapid iteration cycles to deliver software efficiently.

• Design processes will likely involve a strong focus on user-centered design (UCD) principles, operator research, and data-driven decision-making.

• Emphasis is placed on innovation, adaptability, and collaboration to create tools that meet the evolving needs of military operators in high-pressure situations.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CACI's culture is deeply rooted in serving national security missions. This translates to a work environment that values integrity, technical excellence, and a commitment to mission success. For a UX/UI Designer, this means understanding the unique needs and constraints of military users and delivering solutions that directly impact operational effectiveness and national security.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX/UI Designer, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It involves significant responsibility for design system development, user research, and cross-functional collaboration, with opportunities for mentorship.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report into a team focused on specific intelligence visualization and mission planning tools. This implies a project-specific reporting line, likely under a UX Lead, Engineering Manager, or Program Manager within the Phanos team.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work will directly impact the effectiveness and efficiency of military operators in high-stakes decision-making scenarios. By creating intuitive, reliable, and actionable interfaces, the role contributes to mission success, operator trust, and potentially national security outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in niche areas like geospatial visualization, mission-critical UI design, or advanced data visualization within defense contexts.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior UX Designer or Lead UX Designer role, taking ownership of larger projects, mentoring junior designers, and influencing design strategy.

• Skill Development: Continuously learn and apply new UX/UI methodologies, tools, and best practices, particularly those relevant to government and defense applications, including advanced accessibility and security considerations.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Develop a strong understanding of system architecture, data science, and agile development, potentially transitioning into product management or technical leadership roles within CACI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a UX/UI Designer at CACI, especially within a specialized team like Phanos, is heavily influenced by the company's government contracting focus. Opportunities will likely involve increasing complexity of projects, deeper domain expertise, and potentially leadership roles on specific government contracts or programs.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. Given CACI's focus on government contracting and sensitive projects, the office environment will likely be secure and professional.

Office Location(s): Sterling, VA. This location is a hub for government contracting and technology companies, offering proximity to government agencies and a strong talent pool. Specific office details (e.g., amenities, layout) are not provided but can be expected to be professional and functional.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be collaborative, requiring close interaction with development teams, product managers, and potentially end-users for research and feedback.

• Access to standard design tools and technology will be provided, with Figma being a primary requirement. The environment will support the implementation of design systems and prototyping.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with military operators are a key feature, allowing for rich user feedback and a deep understanding of operational needs.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (40 hours/week) are expected. While the role is on-site, the mention of flexible time off suggests a culture that values work-life balance within the constraints of on-site and mission-critical work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement, coupled with a TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance, suggests a highly secure work environment. Candidates should be prepared for a professional setting where security protocols are paramount, and direct collaboration is the norm.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience level, and security clearance eligibility.

• Technical Interview: A deep dive into your UX/UI skills, Figma proficiency, design system experience, and user research methodologies. Expect questions about your process and problem-solving approaches.

• Portfolio Presentation: A crucial stage where you'll present selected case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact. Be prepared to articulate your design decisions and their rationale.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your fit with the team, understanding of the defense/intelligence domain, and how you approach collaboration and working within agile environments.

• Security Clearance: The process will involve obtaining or verifying a TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance, which can be a lengthy process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your skills in Figma, design systems, user research, and complex data/geospatial visualization. Prioritize projects with a clear problem, your process, and measurable outcomes.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, research methods, design iterations, and the rationale behind your decisions. Highlight how you translated user needs into effective design solutions.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. For example, "Improved task completion time by X%," "Reduced user errors by Y%," or "Increased user adoption by Z%."

• Highlight Domain Relevance: If you have experience in defense, government, or complex technical domains, emphasize this. Showcase how you've designed for users in high-stakes environments.

• Accessibility & Compliance: Explicitly mention and demonstrate your understanding and application of WCAG 2.2 / Section 508 standards.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a design exercise, potentially a take-home challenge or an in-interview whiteboard session, focusing on a problem relevant to intelligence visualization or mission planning.

• User Research Scenario: You might be asked to outline how you would approach user research for a specific scenario, demonstrating your understanding of user-centered methodologies.

• Design System Thinking: Expect questions about your approach to building or scaling a design system, and how you ensure its adoption and integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The security clearance requirement (TS/SCI with Polygraph) is a significant factor. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and eligible for this level of clearance. The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to perform in a defense/intelligence context, making domain-relevant experience and a strong, well-documented portfolio critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design system creation, component libraries, prototyping, auto-layout, and variants. Mastery is a core requirement.

• Prototyping Tools: High-fidelity interactive prototypes for user testing (likely within Figma, but other tools may be acceptable).

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., Zoom, UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey).

• Design System Management: Tools or processes for documenting and maintaining design system components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• A/B Testing Tools: For validating design decisions and measuring impact.

• Performance Tracking: Potentially tools to track user engagement and task success rates within the applications.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data informs design is beneficial. Collaboration with teams using these systems will be necessary.

• Agile Project Management Tools: Tools like Jira or Confluence are likely used for sprint planning, task management, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly called out as a required mastery. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency. Experience with tools supporting user research, usability testing, and agile workflows is also highly relevant.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity: A core value for CACI, emphasizing honesty, ethical conduct, and commitment to mission success in all operations.

• Innovation: Driving new solutions and approaches to meet evolving national security challenges.

• Excellence: Striving for high performance, quality, and reliability in all aspects of work, especially in mission-critical systems.

• Collaboration: Working effectively in diverse, cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.

• Operator Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of military operators, ensuring their trust and operational effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with engineering, product management, data science, and military end-users is fundamental.

• Agile & Iterative: A dynamic, fast-paced approach with regular feedback loops and iterative design adjustments.

• Security-Conscious: All collaboration and information sharing will adhere to strict security protocols due to the nature of the projects.

• Data-Driven: Design decisions are expected to be informed by user research, data analysis, and performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at CACI is geared towards serving critical national security missions. This fosters a sense of purpose, a strong emphasis on teamwork, and a commitment to delivering robust, reliable solutions. For a UX/UI Designer, it means embracing a user-centric approach tailored to the unique demands of military operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Mission-Critical Design: Designing for high-stakes environments where user errors can have severe consequences requires meticulous attention to detail, clarity, and reliability.

• Complex Data Visualization: Translating vast amounts of complex data into intuitive and actionable insights for military operators presents a significant design challenge.

• Security Clearance Requirements: Obtaining and maintaining a TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance is a rigorous process that can impact onboarding and project assignments.

• Adapting to Evolving Needs: Military operational needs can change rapidly, requiring designers to be agile and adaptable to new requirements and technologies.

• Balancing Design with Technical Constraints: Integrating advanced designs within complex technical architectures and stringent security protocols requires strong negotiation and collaboration skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Gain deep knowledge of military operations, intelligence analysis, and defense technology.

• Advanced UX/UI Skills: Develop specialized skills in areas like geospatial visualization, mission planning interfaces, and advanced data dashboards.

• Security & Compliance: Become an expert in designing for stringent security requirements and accessibility standards within government contracting.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and learn from experienced professionals within CACI's established engineering teams.

• Professional Certifications: Pursue relevant certifications in UX/UI design, HCI, or domain-specific areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges stem from the demanding nature of the defense sector – high stakes, complex data, and strict security. However, these challenges also present significant growth opportunities for designers seeking to make a tangible impact and develop specialized expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a complex data visualization. What was the data, who was the user, and what was your design process?" (Focus on clarity, impact, and user needs.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a mission planning tool, starting from understanding operator needs?" (Highlight your user research methodology and iterative design process.)

• "Walk me through your process for building or maintaining a design system in Figma. What are the key challenges and how do you ensure adoption?" (Emphasize componentization, documentation, and collaboration.)

• "How do you ensure your designs meet accessibility standards like WCAG 2.2 or Section 508?" (Demonstrate your understanding of principles and practical application.)

• "Describe your experience with geospatial interfaces or map-based visualization tools." (If applicable, showcase relevant projects.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for CACI and specifically on the Phanos team supporting military operators?" (Research CACI's mission and tailor your answer.)

• "How do you handle feedback from stakeholders who may have different priorities or technical understandings?" (Focus on communication, collaboration, and finding common ground.)

• "Describe your experience working in an agile development environment." (Highlight your ability to work in sprints, iterate quickly, and collaborate with developers.)

• "How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects with competing deadlines?" (Showcase your organizational and time management skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your role, the users, your process, the solutions, and the results/impact.

• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals of your designs, prototypes, and research artifacts. Keep slides clean and focused.

• Interactive Demo: Be ready to demonstrate interactive prototypes live if possible, or clearly explain their functionality.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to fit within the allotted timeframe, focusing on the most critical aspects of each project.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you would approach future challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, the ability to work within a rigorous, mission-oriented environment, and proficiency with core design tools like Figma. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the CACI careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest UX/UI projects that best demonstrate your skills in Figma, design systems, user research, and complex data/geospatial visualization. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your process, and the impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to defense, government, or complex technical domains, and explicitly list your proficiency with Figma, design systems, user research methodologies, and accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 / Section 508).

• Prepare for Security Clearance: Be ready to discuss your U.S. citizenship status and eligibility for a TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance.

• Practice Your Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse presenting your selected case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, articulating your design process, and demonstrating the impact of your work. Be prepared for an interactive demonstration of prototypes.

• Research CACI: Understand CACI's mission, its role in government contracting, and the specific focus of the Phanos team to tailor your answers during interviews.

⚠️ 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.