Agile Programming Methodologies, Analysis Skills, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Processes, Cognitive Psychology, Communication Skills, Customer/Client Research, Federal Government, Government, Human Experimentation, Human Factors, Information Architecture, Information Models, Interviewing Skills, Organizational Skills, Performance Metrics, Process Engineering, Product Development, Product Engineering, Product Support, Prototyping, Requirements Management, Research Skills, Secret Clearance, Section 508, Security Clearance, Software Engineering, Storyboards, Systems Administration/Management, Systems Engineering, Systems Scalability, Team Player, Technical Operations, United States Citizen, Usability Engineering, Usability Testing, User Experience Design (UXD), User Interface Design, User Interface/Experience (UI/UX), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
LOCATION
Washington, DC
POSTED
3 days ago
User Experience Designer
GDIT is seeking a User Experience Designer to lead human-centered design for a federal platform modernization program. You will shape how federal analysts, coordinators, and decision-makers interact with a next-generation system — replacing fragmented legacy tools with intuitive, accessible workflows that directly support mission-critical operations.
Meaningful Work and Personal Impact
As a User Experience Designer, your work will define the experience for federal users who rely on this platform to execute their mission every day.
Lead user research, interaction design, and visual design for a platform serving diverse user personas across a federal agency
Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and federal stakeholders to translate complex operational workflows into intuitive, accessible interfaces
Drive design quality as a contractual performance metric — your work directly impacts program success
Utilize iterative, participatory design methods aligned to SAFe sprint cadences and User Validation Events
Function/Responsibility
Conduct stakeholder interviews, user requirements analysis, task analysis, conceptual modeling, information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing with federal analysts and decision-makers
Design and specify user interfaces and information architecture for complex operational workflows
Lead participatory and iterative design activities, including observational studies, customer interviews, usability testing, and other forms of requirements discovery
Produce user requirements specifications and experience goals, personas, storyboards, scenarios, flowcharts, design prototypes, and design specifications
Effectively communicate research findings, conceptual ideas, detailed design, and design rationale both verbally and visually to federal stakeholders and engineering teams
Plan and facilitate collaborative critiques and analysis and synthesis working sessions
Work closely with front-end engineers and development teams to ensure design fidelity and that customer goals are met
Participate in User Validation Events (UVEs) at PI completion, incorporating feedback into subsequent increments
Ensure Section 508 / WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across all deliverables
Maintain a scalable design system supporting platform consistency and rapid iteration
What You'll Need to Succeed
Education: Bachelor's degree in cognitive and/or experimental psychology, human factors engineering, or an engineering-related field (e.g., systems engineering, software engineering, business process engineering)
Experience: 4+ years demonstrated ability to conduct user research, analysis and synthesis, interaction design, and experience measurement activities in support of product development
Proficiency in Figma or equivalent design/prototyping tools
Experience conducting user research and usability testing in federal or regulated environments
Understanding of accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG 2.1)
Experience working within Agile/SAFe delivery teams with sprint-aligned design deliverables
Security clearance: Active Secret
US citizenship required
Preferred Qualifications
Professional certifications such as Certified Human Factors Engineering Professional, Certified Usability Analyst, or HCD certification
Experience designing for geospatial, scientific/analytical, or technical operations tools
Familiarity with design systems supporting low-code or configurable platforms
Experience with government UX frameworks (USWDS or similar)
Location: Remote with periodic on-site (Washington, D.C.)
Clearance: Active Secret clearance required
GDIT IS YOUR PLACE
Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities
Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals
Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off
Flexibility: Full-flex work week to own your priorities at work and at home
Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace
The likely salary range for this position is $144,500 - $195,500. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.
About the Company
G
General Dynamics Information Technology
General Dynamics Information Technology solves our customers’ challenges through future-focused technology and services, ingenuity and deep mission-knowledge. Partnering with government, defense, the intelligence community, industry leaders and cutting-edge technology companies, we deliver solutions that make a difference – helping our customers to advance mission performance, transform operations and discover opportunities to build a better future.
Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., with major offices worldwide, General Dynamics IT and General Dynamics Mission Systems form the Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) business group of General Dynamics. IS&T and the Aerospace, Combat Systems and Marine Systems groups form General Dynamics Corp.