Front-End Developer, Human-Centered Interfaces

Shadow Strategies LLC; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully covered health insurance

Paid parental leave

Flexible leave and PTO

Job summary

Shadow Strategies LLC in Columbia, MD seeks a front-end engineer to design and implement intuitive interfaces that surface mission data, improve usability, and streamline decision workflows.

You will collaborate with designers, backend engineers, and mission users to translate needs into scalable UI architectures, while delivering production-ready applications and rapid prototypes for feedback and iteration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field
• 5 years of experience (or 9 years without a degree)
• Experience designing/implementing front-end interfaces for mission-critical systems
• Ability to collaborate with designers, backend engineers, and mission users

Responsibilities

• Develop front-end interfaces that surface mission data for users on complex problems
• Design UIs to streamline workflows and reduce friction in mission-support systems
• Build production-ready applications and rapid prototypes for feedback-driven iteration
• Collaborate with designers, backend engineers, and mission users to translate needs into interfaces
• Test and refine interfaces for performance, accessibility, usability, and maintainability

Skills

Front-end development

UI design & implementation

Maintainable software

Performance-focused design

Accessibility-focused UI

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

This is a multi-level ongoing pipeline position.

Location: Columbia, MD

Telework: TBD, subject to manager approval and tasking

Clearance Required: TS//SCI with Polygraph

Salary Range: $110,000 to $260,000

At Shadow Strategies, you will join a culture defined by innovation, purpose, and meaningful impact. We seek multiple levels who build intuitive, reliable front-end interfaces that clearly surface mission data, streamline workflows, reduce user friction, and shape how users interact with systems supporting critical decisions. If you are inspired by complexity, motivated by clarity, and committed to excellence, we invite you to become part of something exceptional.

This role supports development of front ends for systems that support critical decisions, with emphasis on presenting mission data clearly, improving usability, supporting workflow efficiency, and enabling both production-ready applications and rapid prototypes for feedback and iteration. You will serve as a front-end developer and individual contributor responsible for designing and implementing maintainable user interfaces, collaborating across disciplines, and contributing to scalable UI architecture where applicable while working with designers, backend engineers, and mission users. This capability enables users to interact effectively with systems that support critical decisions by improving clarity, trust, usability, workflow efficiency, maintainability, and performance.

What You’ll Do

• Develop front-end interfaces that clearly surface mission data for users working on complex problems
• Design user experiences that streamline workflows and reduce friction in mission-support systems
• Build and maintain both production-ready applications and rapid prototypes to support feedback-driven iteration
• Collaborate with designers, backend engineers, and mission users to translate user needs into effective interfaces
• Test and refine interfaces to improve performance, accessibility, usability, and long-term maintainability

Who This Might Be a Fit For

• You care about how users experience the tools they rely on and prioritize clarity and usability
• You understand how to balance performance, complexity, and operational constraints when building software
• You can collaborate effectively with designers, backend engineers, and mission users to solve complex problems
• You value correctness, maintainability, accessibility, and thoughtful handling of edge cases
• You are comfortable contributing to both production systems and rapid prototypes that evolve through user feedback

Required Skills

• Front-end software development
• User interface design and implementation
• Clean, tested, maintainable software development practices
• Performance-focused application design
• Accessibility-focused interface development

Helpful Experience Areas

• Scalable UI architecture
• Rapid prototyping and iterative development
• Accessibility-focused interface design
• User-centered design in complex operational environments
• Applications that support critical decision-making

Years of Experience and Degree Requirements

Requirements will depend on what level you are being considered for, but at minimum we require a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field and 5 years of experience

OR 9 years of experience without a degree

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Work Environment

Based in Columbia, MD Primarily in the office in Columbia, MD Multidisciplinary teams supporting mission systems in classified environments Ownership and leadership expectations depend on level. Junior contributors are trusted to work independently while drawing on available mentorship and resources. Senior individual contributors are trusted to shape technical direction and connect evidence to execution.

What Comes With It

You will have what you need to do your best work:

• Fully covered health insurance for medical, dental, and vision
• Paid parental leave: 16 weeks if you give birth, 4 weeks if your partner does
• Flexible leave: 36 days total each year, including 25 days of PTO and 11 paid holidays
• 401(k) for your future
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Annual health stipend if you opt out of our insurance

The Extras?

No points systems. No bean bags. Just clarity, autonomy, and a mission that matters.

Shadow invests in exceptional people because demanding work requires more than a paycheck. Our benefits are designed to provide meaningful support inside and outside the mission.

See our benefit plan at: https://www.shadowstrategies.io/benefits

Shadow Strategies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a workplace that values diversity and fosters inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements.