UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Steampunk

Location: McLean, Virginia, United States

Job Type: Full-time

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

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: Mid-Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive human-centered design initiatives for government clients, translating complex user needs into elegant digital solutions.

• Lead UX/UI design processes from discovery and research through to final interface design, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Act as the primary advocate for the end-user, ensuring their needs are central to all design and development efforts within an Agile framework.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including service designers, technologists, data scientists, and engineers, to deliver high-quality, accessible, and compliant digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX/UI Designer, requiring significant autonomy in guiding client engagements and leading design sprints. The emphasis on "Design Intelligence™" and a "Change Agent" approach suggests a need for proactive problem-solving and strategic thinking beyond typical design execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and execute all phases of the discovery process, including understanding client missions, stakeholder ecosystems, user journeys, and program objectives.

• Facilitate impactful workshops and user interviews to identify pain points, define insights, validate hypotheses, and articulate a compelling user experience vision.

• Develop and leverage key UX artifacts such as journey maps, service blueprints, personas, and ecosystem maps to inform design strategy and user-centered solutions.

• Conduct comprehensive user research and usability testing, translating research findings into actionable design requirements and implementable digital experiences.

• Design intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing user interfaces, employing a test-and-learn approach to iterative improvement.

• Ensure adherence to 508 compliance standards and accessibility best practices throughout the design lifecycle.

• Integrate seamlessly into scrum teams within an Agile delivery framework, contributing to sprint planning, user story creation, and story pointing.

• Maintain the highest quality standards for all design deliverables across diverse government client projects.

• Stay current with evolving industry tools and best practices, recommending new approaches to optimize design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on client-facing work and a need for strategic engagement, moving beyond pure design execution to encompass client education and influence within the "Design Intelligence™" framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Human-Centered Design (HCD), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or UX Design.

Experience: 4+ years of professional UX and UI design experience, with a proven track record of designing multi-platform digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in the end-to-end UX design process, from discovery and user research to interface design and testing.

• Proficiency in conducting primary and secondary user research, including user interviews, co-creation workshops, heuristic evaluations, and card sorting.

• Proven ability to translate user insights into actionable design artifacts such as personas, journey maps, site maps, and information architecture.

• Strong UI design skills, including wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, and user testing (moderated and unmoderated).

• Knowledge and practical experience with Section 508 compliance requirements for accessibility.

• Experience working within an Agile delivery framework, specifically on scrum teams, including writing user stories and participating in story pointing.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, and Zeplin.

• Excellent analytical skills and a natural curiosity for problem-solving.

• Strong written communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and rationale effectively.

• Experience collaborating within multi-disciplinary delivery teams. Preferred Skills:

• Previous work experience in or with the federal government.

• Previous consulting experience.

• Experience working on a cross-functional Salesforce implementation team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a Public Trust Security Clearance is a critical qualification for this role, indicating the sensitive nature of the government projects. The "4+ years" suggests a need for candidates who can operate with a degree of independence and provide strategic direction.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong understanding of design ideology, methodologies, and the tools used to execute them.

• Case studies demonstrating the entire design process, from initial problem definition and user research to final UI design and validation.

• Evidence of applying user research insights to create tangible design artifacts like personas, journey maps, and information architecture.

• Examples of wireframing, low-to-high fidelity prototyping, and user testing methodologies employed to refine designs.

• Demonstrations of UI design principles applied to create intuitive, elegant, and accessible interfaces for multi-platform digital products. Process Documentation:

• Documented experience in leading discovery workshops and user interviews to frame pain points and define experience visions.

• Examples of integrating user research and design artifacts into Agile sprints, including contributions to user stories and story pointing.

• Proof of designing for accessibility and 508 compliance, with explanations of how these requirements were met.

• Case studies that highlight collaboration with cross-functional teams (e.g., service designers, technologists, data scientists) to deliver solutions.

• Demonstrations of iterative design processes, including user and usability testing and subsequent design refinements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's design thinking, process, and ability to deliver user-centered solutions. It should clearly articulate the "why" behind design decisions and the measurable impact of their work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $75,000 - $140,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package (details to be learned more about via the provided link).

• Employee ownership structure, indicating a stake in the company's success and growth.

• Participation in the E-Verify program.

• Equal opportunity employer commitment.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided by the company and is influenced by factors such as geographic location, contractual requirements, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. The employee ownership model is a significant differentiator for Steampunk and should be highlighted as a key benefit.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Federal contracting, specifically serving Homeland, Federal Civilian, Health, and DoD sectors. Steampunk positions itself as a "Change Agent" in this industry.

Company Size: Steampunk is an employee-owned company, indicating a culture of shared responsibility and investment in employee success. The exact employee count is not specified, but the "employee owned" status implies a significant operational scale.

Founded: Founded to bring "new thinking" to federal clients. The company's history is rooted in transforming client expectations through its proprietary "Design Intelligence™" process.

Team Structure:

• The role involves working within cross-functional teams including service designers, technologists, data scientists, engineers, solution architects, and change managers.

• Collaboration occurs within an Agile delivery framework, likely organized into scrum teams.

• The "Design Intelligence™" framework suggests a structured approach to problem-solving and client engagement. Methodology:

• Design Intelligence™: A core methodology focused on human-centered design and shared accountability to solve complex mission challenges for government clients.

• Agile/Scrum: The team operates within this framework for iterative development and delivery.

• User-Centered Design: A fundamental principle guiding all UX/UI initiatives.

Company Website: http://www.steampunk.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Steampunk's identity as an "employee owned company" and a "Change Agent" suggests a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and employee contribution. The focus on "Design Intelligence™" indicates a commitment to a specific, impactful design methodology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a mid-level UX/UI Designer, requiring 4+ years of experience. It implies a capacity to lead design efforts, guide clients, and contribute strategically to project outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The reporting structure is not explicitly detailed, but the role involves collaboration within scrum teams and likely reports to a Design Lead, Program Manager, or similar.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer's impact is measured by their ability to solve complex user experience challenges for government clients, improve user satisfaction, enhance system usability, and ensure compliance, thereby contributing to the successful achievement of client missions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific government sectors (Homeland, Federal Civilian, Health, DoD) or in advanced UX/UI methodologies.

• Leadership: Potential to advance into Senior UX/UI Designer roles, lead design teams, or mentor junior designers.

• Consulting Skills: Development of client management, workshop facilitation, and strategic advisory skills through direct client engagement.

• Methodology Mastery: Becoming an expert in Steampunk's "Design Intelligence™" process and potentially contributing to its evolution.

• Technical Skill Expansion: Learning new design tools, prototyping techniques, and staying abreast of emerging technologies and accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on client engagement and the "Design Intelligence™" framework provides a unique growth path beyond traditional UX/UI roles, focusing on strategic problem-solving and consultancy within the federal sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site work environment in McLean, Virginia. This suggests a traditional office setting conducive to in-person collaboration and client interactions.

Office Location(s): McLean, Virginia. This location is part of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, a hub for federal contracting and government work.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment where designers work alongside technologists, data scientists, and other specialists.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, and Zeplin.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with government clients, stakeholders, and end-users to gather feedback and present design solutions.

• An environment that likely fosters a structured approach to project delivery, aligning with Agile methodologies.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with the expectation of on-site presence. While not explicitly stated, a project-based environment often requires flexibility to meet client deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in McLean, VA, is significant for candidates in the region. It implies a preference for in-person collaboration and direct client engagement, which is common in government contracting roles where trust and direct communication are paramount.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications against requirements.

• Technical Interview(s): Discussion of design philosophy, process, and technical skills. This may involve a review of portfolio case studies to understand design rationale, problem-solving approach, and tool proficiency.

• Client/Stakeholder Simulation: Potential for a scenario-based interview or a workshop simulation to assess client interaction, facilitation, and problem-framing skills.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Assessment of collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Steampunk's values and "Design Intelligence™" methodology.

• Security Clearance Process: Initiation of the Public Trust Security Clearance process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process undertaken, key decisions, challenges faced, and the final solution with its impact.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your methodology, from discovery and research to iteration and testing. Show how you arrived at the solution, not just the final screens.

• Showcase Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved usability scores, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction). If quantitative data is unavailable, articulate the qualitative impact clearly.

• Address Compliance: Specifically showcase projects where you considered and implemented 508 compliance and accessibility best practices.

• Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects proficiency in the required tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to common UX challenges in government contexts, such as balancing user needs with strict regulatory requirements or integrating new designs into legacy systems.

• Practice articulating your design decisions concisely and persuasively, focusing on the user and mission impact.

• Research Steampunk's "Design Intelligence™" framework and be ready to discuss how your approach aligns with it.

• Prepare questions that demonstrate your understanding of the company's mission, client types, and operational environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design process and strategic thinking, especially concerning government client needs and compliance.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator), Sketch, Figma.

• Prototyping & Handoff: Zeplin.

• Collaboration & Workflow: Agile/Scrum tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) for sprint integration, user story creation, and story pointing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to use analytics tools to understand user behavior and inform design decisions. This may include tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specialized government-focused platforms.

• Reporting on usability testing results and design impact will be key. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with Salesforce is a "bonus point," suggesting potential integration with Salesforce-driven projects.

• Understanding of how design interfaces with backend systems and workflows is implied.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Sketch is highly desirable, given their prevalence in modern UX/UI design. The mention of Zeplin indicates a need for seamless handoff to development teams. Experience with Agile project management tools is essential for integration into the development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered Design: A core value, emphasizing the user's needs and experiences as paramount.

• Innovation & Change: Steampunk positions itself as a "Change Agent," valuing fresh thinking and challenging the status quo in federal contracting.

• Shared Accountability: As an employee-owned company, there's an inherent value in collective responsibility and contributing to overall success.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering the highest quality deliverables, particularly for government clients.

• Problem-Solving: A "natural curiosity for solving problems" is explicitly mentioned, highlighting a proactive and analytical approach.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with service designers, technologists, data scientists, engineers, and change managers.

• Agile Environment: Collaboration occurs within scrum teams, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback.

• Client-Focused: A strong emphasis on understanding and collaborating with government clients to meet their mission objectives.

• Open Communication: Excellent written and presentation skills are required, facilitating clear communication of design concepts and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of innovative design thinking and structured project execution, with a strong emphasis on employee ownership and client mission success within the federal sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Constraints: Balancing user needs with complex federal regulations, security requirements, and legacy systems.

• Client Education: Guiding government clients through modern human-centered design principles and methodologies, which may be a new approach for some.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless integration of design with technical development, data science, and other project streams within an Agile framework.

• Maintaining Design Quality: Consistently delivering high-quality, accessible, and compliant designs across a variety of projects with potentially tight deadlines.

• Adapting to Evolving Tech: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in design tools, methodologies, and accessibility standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in areas like interaction design, information architecture, and visual design through complex projects.

• Federal Sector Expertise: Deepening understanding of specific government agency missions and operational challenges.

• Consulting Acumen: Developing strong client management, workshop facilitation, and strategic advisory capabilities.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into senior design roles, lead project design efforts, or mentor junior team members.

• Industry Best Practices: Continuous learning through exposure to cutting-edge design practices and technologies relevant to the federal sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for roles in government contracting, requiring adaptability, strong communication, and a dedication to quality and compliance. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a blend of technical skill enhancement and strategic client-facing development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with strict regulatory requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, compromise, and outcome.)

• "How would you approach defining the user experience for a complex government system with diverse user groups and legacy constraints?" (Emphasize discovery, research, and phased implementation.)

• "Walk us through your process for ensuring Section 508 compliance and accessibility in your designs." (Highlight specific methods, tools, and testing procedures.)

• "How do you integrate user research and design feedback into an Agile sprint cycle?" (Discuss user stories, sprint planning, and iterative design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Steampunk's 'Design Intelligence™' framework and its application in the federal sector?" (Show research and alignment with their methodology.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to Steampunk's mission as an employee-owned company?" (Demonstrate understanding of their ownership model and collaborative spirit.)

• "Describe your experience working in a consulting or project-based environment." (Highlight adaptability and client focus.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project, with a clear introduction, problem statement, your role, process, key decisions, challenges, solutions, and outcomes.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each case study, emphasizing the "why" behind your design choices and the impact of your work.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, prototypes, and diagrams to illustrate your process and final designs.

• Interaction: Be prepared to walk through interactive prototypes and explain user flows.

• Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and how you handled specific challenges. Be ready to discuss your experience with specific tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not only their design skills but also their strategic thinking, client-facing abilities, and understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the federal government sector.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

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

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "UI Design," "User Research," "Agile," "508 Compliance," and specific tools like "Figma" and "Sketch." Quantify achievements and responsibilities where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end UX/UI process, client collaboration, and ability to meet complex requirements, especially those involving government or regulated environments. Ensure it clearly showcases your methodology, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your role, the challenges, your design process, and the outcomes. Practice articulating your design rationale concisely.

• Research Steampunk: Understand their "Design Intelligence™" process, their focus on being a "Change Agent," and their employee-owned structure. Prepare questions that reflect this research and your interest in their unique approach.

⚠️ 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.

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