Web Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Web Designer

Company: Government Scientific Source Inc

Location: Reston, VA, US

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Web Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: April 17, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 Years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop visually compelling, user-friendly websites and digital experiences that align with brand identity and business objectives.

• Modernize legacy web layouts for a custom e-commerce platform, balancing contemporary design standards with existing brand and technical constraints.

• Translate business requirements into wireframes, mockups, and high-fidelity prototypes, collaborating closely with stakeholders, developers, and marketers.

• Optimize the customer journey across e-commerce touchpoints, applying conversion-focused design principles to enhance engagement, usability, and sales performance.

• Maintain a consistent visual language through typography, color systems, iconography, and reusable component libraries in partnership with marketing and development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for enhancing the user experience and visual appeal of Government Scientific Source's e-commerce platform. The focus on modernizing legacy systems and optimizing conversion points indicates a significant impact on direct sales and customer engagement within a specialized scientific distribution sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Assess and redesign legacy web layouts to modernize the look, feel, and functionality of the custom e-commerce platform, ensuring brand integrity and adherence to technical constraints.

• Design and prototype responsive web pages, landing pages, and web applications utilizing modern design tools such as Figma and Leadpages.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to efficiently fulfill web design requests, ensuring accuracy and high-quality output by translating large-scale business requirements into tangible design assets.

• Partner with Marketing and Development teams to maintain a consistent visual language, including typography, color palettes, iconography, and reusable component libraries.

• Analyze and optimize the customer journey across e-commerce touchpoints, applying conversion-focused design principles in collaboration with Marketing to improve engagement, usability, and sales performance.

• Work closely with front-end developers to ensure accurate and pixel-perfect implementation of designs.

• Conduct user testing and iterate on designs based on feedback, analytics data, and compliance standards.

• Optimize designs for performance, accessibility (WCAG compliance), and cross-browser compatibility.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Stay current with emerging design trends, tools, and best practices in web and UX design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design, technical understanding, and strategic thinking. The emphasis on e-commerce optimization and legacy system modernization suggests the need for a designer who can not only create aesthetically pleasing interfaces but also understand their impact on business metrics and user conversion funnels.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Web Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is often preferred and can demonstrate foundational knowledge. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in web design, UX design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of successful web projects.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of web design projects, demonstrating aesthetic sensibilities, problem-solving skills, and proficiency in modern design principles.

• Legacy System Modernization: Proven experience in redesigning and modernizing legacy web layouts, with the ability to balance contemporary design standards with existing brand and/or technical constraints of complex, custom platforms.

• UX Principles: Solid grasp of User Experience (UX) principles, information architecture, and user-centered design methodologies.

• E-commerce Optimization: Experience optimizing the customer journey across e-commerce websites, with a strong understanding of conversion-focused design principles and user flow best practices.

• Technical Fundamentals: Strong understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and how designs translate into functional code, particularly within custom back-end environments. Familiarity with PHP fundamentals is also noted.

• Design Tools: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma and experience with landing page builders like Leadpages.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, marketers, and stakeholders.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail and a passion for creating clean, purposeful, and effective design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design iteration.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA).

• Basic understanding of front-end scripting languages beyond core JavaScript.

• Experience working within a federal research or scientific distribution industry context.

• Knowledge of SEO best practices as they relate to web design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for understanding HTML/CSS/JavaScript and PHP fundamentals, alongside experience with custom back-ends, indicates that this role demands more than just visual design. The candidate needs to bridge the gap between design and development, understanding implementation realities, especially given the custom nature of their e-commerce platform.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Project Diversity: Showcase a range of web design projects, including redesigns of existing platforms, new website/landing page designs, and digital experiences.

• Problem/Solution Focus: Clearly articulate the design challenge or business requirement for each project and explain the design solutions implemented.

• E-commerce Case Studies: Include specific examples of e-commerce projects where design directly contributed to improved user engagement, usability, or conversion rates. Highlight the optimization strategies employed.

• Process Documentation: Demonstrate the design process, from initial wireframing and prototyping to high-fidelity mockups and collaboration with developers. Visuals of wireframes, user flows, and mockups are essential.

• Brand Consistency: Examples that illustrate the ability to maintain and evolve brand identity across digital touchpoints.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Evidence of designing efficient workflows for web development and design requests, including how requirements are gathered and translated.

• User-Centered Design: Documentation outlining how user feedback, analytics, and user testing were incorporated into the design iteration process.

• System Implementation Standards: Examples showing how designs were translated for implementation, ensuring cross-browser compatibility, performance optimization, and adherence to accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Web Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showcasing aesthetics but demonstrating a systematic approach to problem-solving, understanding user needs, and driving business outcomes (like conversion rates) through design. The emphasis on legacy system modernization means examples of transforming outdated interfaces into modern, functional ones will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Web Designer with 4+ years of experience in the Reston, VA, area, the estimated salary range is $70,000 - $95,000 per year. This estimate considers the hybrid work model, the specific technical skills required (including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP understanding), and the e-commerce optimization focus.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: 15 days of accrued PTO for the first year, plus 12 paid holidays and additional PTO for birthdays.

• Financial Incentives: Annual discretionary profit-sharing bonus and a company-sponsored 401k with matching contributions.

• Insurance: 100% company-paid life insurance and disability insurance. Comprehensive health insurance plans are available.

• Family Support: Maternity and Parental Leave policies are in place.

• Flexible Spending: Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) availability.

• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement program to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, totaling 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 3 days per week onsite in Reston, VA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from reputable compensation sources for UX/Web Design roles in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, factoring in the specific experience level and the hybrid work arrangement. The comprehensive benefits package, including profit-sharing and tuition reimbursement, suggests a company that invests in employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Scientific Equipment Distribution, serving the Federal Research Arena and beyond. This sector requires a high degree of precision, compliance, and reliability.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, ADP's platform often indicates company size. Assuming it's a medium-sized enterprise based on the range of benefits and structured hiring process. This size typically allows for a balance of established processes and opportunities for individual impact.

Founded: 1991. With over three decades in operation, Government Scientific Source (GovSci) has established a stable presence and deep understanding of its market.

Team Structure:

• The Web Designer will likely be part of a Marketing or Digital Operations team, collaborating closely with Marketing specialists and Front-End Developers.

• Reporting structure is expected to be to a Marketing Manager or a Head of Digital, with direct interaction and project collaboration with developers responsible for the e-commerce platform's functionality.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on analyzing customer journeys, user feedback, and analytics to inform design decisions and optimize conversion funnels.

• Agile Development Practices: Likely to work within an agile framework, involving iterative design, prototyping, and collaboration with development sprints.

• Brand Stewardship: A strong focus on maintaining and evolving a consistent brand identity across all digital touchpoints, ensuring quality, compliance, and integrity.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: GovSci's mission to "empower those at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific research" suggests a culture that values innovation, precision, and support for scientific advancement. The company's longevity points to stability and a deep understanding of its specialized market, which can influence the design approach towards professionalism and clarity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Web Designer role is positioned at a Mid-Level. It requires solid foundational skills and experience (4+ years) and the ability to work independently on projects while also collaborating effectively within a team. The responsibilities include strategic elements like customer journey optimization and modernization of a core platform, indicating a role with significant impact beyond purely aesthetic contributions.

Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to a Marketing Manager or a Lead Designer/Developer, with frequent interaction with cross-functional teams including marketing, sales, and development. This structure allows for broad exposure to different business functions.

Operations Impact: The Web Designer's work directly influences the company's primary digital storefront (e-commerce platform). By improving user experience, modernizing interfaces, and optimizing conversion rates, this role has a tangible impact on sales performance, customer satisfaction, and overall brand perception in the scientific distribution market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in e-commerce UX/UI design, conversion rate optimization (CRO), or accessibility standards.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Senior Web Designer role, leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers, or managing design projects.

• Cross-Functional Roles: Transition into roles focused on digital strategy, product design, or UX research within the company or broader GTM teams.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to gain exposure to broader digital marketing strategies, front-end development nuances, and business analytics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a specialized niche. The emphasis on e-commerce and modernization suggests opportunities to build a strong portfolio in conversion-focused design and platform transformation, which are highly valued skills in the market.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is Hybrid, requiring 3 days per week onsite at the Reston, VA office. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to facilitate teamwork and communication, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Reston, VA (20191). This location is part of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, known for its vibrant tech and government contractor ecosystem, offering good accessibility and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially open-plan desks designed to foster interaction between designers, developers, and marketing teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software (Figma, etc.), high-speed internet, and potentially company-provided hardware. The technical stack will be crucial for day-to-day operations.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person brainstorming sessions, design reviews, and project check-ins with the immediate team and broader stakeholders.

Work Schedule: The standard workday is 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a total of 40 hours per week. The hybrid schedule allows for flexibility in balancing work and personal life, while the onsite days are crucial for collaborative design processes and team integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is typical for attracting talent while maintaining team cohesion. For a designer, the office days are valuable for spontaneous collaboration, whiteboarding sessions, and direct feedback, which are often more effective in person.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design experience.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design choices, and their role in achieving project goals. This is a critical stage to evaluate problem-solving skills and communication.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: May involve a design challenge or a discussion on technical skills (HTML/CSS/JS understanding, Figma proficiency) and UX/conversion principles.

• Behavioral/Team Fit Interview: Assessing collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and cultural alignment with GovSci's values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership or key stakeholders to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Modernization Projects: Showcase examples where you successfully updated or redesigned legacy web interfaces, emphasizing the "before" and "after" impact.

• Demonstrate Conversion Focus: For e-commerce projects, clearly articulate how your design decisions aimed to improve user flow, reduce friction, and increase conversion rates. Use metrics if available.

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, and mockups to illustrate your design thinking and problem-solving methodology. Explain your rationale behind design choices.

• Technical Understanding: Be prepared to discuss how your designs translate to code, demonstrating awareness of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript limitations and possibilities.

• Tailor to GovSci: Research GovSci's current website and e-commerce platform. Prepare to discuss potential areas for improvement and how your skills align with their business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Expect a task that might involve redesigning a specific page or feature, or solving a hypothetical UX problem related to e-commerce or scientific product presentation. Focus on your process, not just the final output.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, explaining the "why" behind your choices to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Time Management: If a timed challenge is given, prioritize key elements and ensure you can present a well-reasoned solution within the allocated time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the portfolio. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design process, justify their decisions with user-centered and business-oriented reasoning, and demonstrate a practical understanding of how their designs will function within a real-world e-commerce environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Leadpages (or similar landing page builders): Experience in designing and potentially implementing landing pages for marketing campaigns.

Web Technologies & Fundamentals:

• HTML/CSS: Deep understanding for structuring and styling web pages.

• JavaScript: Essential for interactive elements and dynamic content.

• PHP: Familiarity with how designs are implemented on custom back-end systems is noted as important.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics (or similar): Familiarity with web analytics tools to understand user behavior, track conversions, and inform design decisions.

• Heatmapping/Session Recording Tools: Tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg can be beneficial for analyzing user interactions on the e-commerce platform.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct responsibility, understanding how website designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce, if used) and marketing automation platforms can be advantageous for holistic customer journey design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and the foundational understanding of HTML/CSS/JavaScript and PHP are critical. This indicates the company utilizes modern design tools and requires designers who can bridge the gap between design and implementation on a custom-built platform.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Integrity: As a distributor of scientific equipment, a commitment to high standards, accuracy, and ethical practices is paramount. This translates to meticulous design work and reliable digital experiences.

• Innovation & Advancement: Supporting scientific research implies a culture that values forward-thinking and facilitates progress. This can be reflected in embracing new design trends and technologies.

• Collaboration & Support: The need to work closely with developers and marketers suggests a team-oriented environment where mutual support and effective communication are prioritized.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The focus on optimizing customer journeys and conversion rates indicates a value placed on using data and analytics to drive design improvements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with marketing (for brand consistency and campaign needs) and development (for implementation feasibility and technical constraints).

• Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is exchanged to refine designs and improve project outcomes. This includes iterative design reviews and user testing feedback loops.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share insights on design trends, best practices, and user behavior to collectively enhance the company's digital presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: GovSci's mission to empower scientific discovery suggests a culture that values intellectual curiosity, precision, and a commitment to enabling others. This likely translates into a professional, detail-oriented, and collaborative work environment where contributions to impactful work are recognized.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Modernizing Legacy Systems: Balancing the need for a modern, intuitive user interface with the constraints and existing architecture of a custom e-commerce platform can be technically challenging.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring that design effectively meets the diverse needs of marketing, sales, and development teams, while staying true to UX best practices and brand identity.

• Conversion Rate Optimization: Continuously improving conversion rates on an established e-commerce platform requires deep analysis, experimentation, and iterative design, which can be demanding.

• Keeping Pace with Trends: The rapid evolution of web design, UX trends, and e-commerce technology requires continuous learning and adaptation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• E-commerce Specialization: Deepen expertise in conversion rate optimization (CRO), A/B testing, and e-commerce UX best practices.

• Technical Skill Enhancement: Gain more in-depth knowledge of front-end development principles and how they directly impact design implementation and performance.

• Industry Knowledge: Develop a strong understanding of the scientific equipment distribution market, which can inform more targeted and effective design solutions.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced developers and marketing professionals within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be navigating the complexities of a custom e-commerce platform while aiming for modern design standards and measurable performance improvements. This presents a significant opportunity for a designer to gain invaluable experience in platform modernization and conversion-focused design within a stable industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to redesign a legacy web system. What were the key challenges, and how did you balance modernization with existing constraints?" (Focus on your process, stakeholder management, and trade-offs.)

• "How do you approach optimizing the customer journey on an e-commerce site to improve conversion rates? Can you walk us through an example from your portfolio?" (Highlight your analytical skills, understanding of user psychology, and data-driven approach.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Government Scientific Source and our mission? How do you see your role contributing to our goals?" (Research the company's website, mission, and values. Connect your skills to their impact.)

• "How do you collaborate with developers and marketing teams? Describe a situation where you had to negotiate design decisions." (Showcase your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a cross-functional context.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your process, the solution, and the results (if quantifiable).

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your designs contributed to business objectives, such as increased engagement, improved usability, or higher conversion rates.

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, and iterations to demonstrate your thinking and problem-solving approach.

• Technical Awareness: Be ready to discuss the technical feasibility of your designs and your understanding of HTML/CSS/JavaScript.

• Be Concise: Respect the interviewer's time by being clear, direct, and focused on the most relevant aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, technical understanding, and a results-oriented mindset. The ability to articulate design decisions with clear reasoning, backed by user-centered principles and business objectives, will be key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Web Designer position:

• Submit your resume through the provided ADP application link, ensuring it highlights your relevant experience and skills.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your online portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your expertise in web design, UX/UI, e-commerce optimization, and legacy system modernization. Include case studies that detail your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as "Web Designer," "UX Design," "Figma," "HTML/CSS/JavaScript," "E-commerce," and "Conversion-Focused Design." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, articulating your design process, and answering common interview questions related to web design, UX, and e-commerce challenges. Prepare to discuss your experience with hybrid work environments.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Government Scientific Source, their mission, their current website, and their market position. Understand their commitment to scientific research and how your design skills can support their goals and values.

⚠️ 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.