UI/UX Engineer

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking a UI/UX Engineer to advance modeling and data analysis tools within the ORCA Group. You will bridge creative design with technical execution, shaping user experiences across the product lifecycle.

Ideal candidates have a CS degree, 3+ years in UI/UX and front-end dev, strong JavaScript/React skills, and the ability to collaborate with designers, PMs, and engineers to deliver polished interfaces.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in CS or related field and 3+ years in UI/UX and front-end web development.
• Strong knowledge of JavaScript, CSS frameworks, and component-based libraries (like React).
• Strong knowledge of Object-Oriented Programming, including design patterns, polymorphism, data structures, and algorithms.
• Experience in software development, user-centered design, and web app projects.
• Strong visual/graphical design skills and ability to create polished graphical user interfaces and visual assets that improve product experience.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI access

Responsibilities

• Gather requirements from users and stakeholders.
• Build wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• Conceptualize and design the user experience and interactions.
• Develop designs across the entire product lifecycle from discovery to production.
• Write front-end code (HTML, C++/C#, Rust, Python, or React) to bring designs to life.
• Analyze and quantify requirements; update and enhance existing software.
• Collaborate with designers, PMs, and software engineers to define vision, strategy, and backlog.
• Thoroughly test and document software products

Skills

UI/UX design

Front-end development

JavaScript

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in CS or related field

Tools

React

CSS frameworks

Design systems

Sketch

InVision

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, both in the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

SPA's Sea Land Air (SLA) Division supports a diverse portfolio of national security government clients, including the Undersea Enterprise, the Navy Surface Community, the Navy MPTE Enterprise, the Air Force, Army, DoW Agencies, DARPA, international clients including the Canadian Navy and Australian Defence Force. Our primary objective is to provide timely, objective and analytic assessments that integrate the policy, operational, technical, programmatic and acquisition aspects of our clients' challenges.

Leveraging both in-domain and cross-domain expertise to maximize our clients' success, SLA Division acts as trusted agents to senior decision-makers and key leaders and excels at providing data driven analytic insights, systems engineering, strategies and plans that address current and emerging challenges to national security.

SPA's Operations Research and C5ISR Analysis (ORCA) Group develops and employs simulation system products in support of operations, experimentation, and the acquisition analysis process. ORCA analysts and engineers apply Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) principles and use commercial and proprietary modeling and simulation tools to evaluate warfighting effectiveness and provide recommendations for investments to solve real-world problems. Candidates must be able to work independently and as part of a team; training will be provided. #KS

Responsibilities

ORCA group is seeking a UI/UX Engineer to join our team to build and improve new and ongoing development of modeling and data analysis software tools and bridge the gap between creative visual design and technical execution. As UI/UX Engineer your responsibilities will include:

• Gathering and validating requirements, studying the problem space from users and stakeholders' perspective.
• Build wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes
• Conceptualizing, designing, and creating the user experience, considering the human interaction.
• Developing designs across the entire product lifecycle (from discovery and defining the problem space, to iterating on a product in production).
• Write clean, maintainable, and responsive front-end code, HTML, C++/C#, Rust, Python, or React code to bring designs to life in our software tools
• Analyzing and quantifying requirements; applying computer science, engineering, and mathematical principles to build solutions; updating and enhancing existing software.
• Collaborating with other designers, product managers, and software engineers to define the product vision, strategy, roadmap, and backlog.
• Thoroughly testing and documenting software products

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's in Computer Science or relevant technical, scientific, or engineering fields and 3+ years of professional experience in UI/UX design and front-end web development.
• Strong knowledge of modern JavaScript, CSS frameworks, and component-based libraries (like React)
• Strong knowledge of Object-Oriented Programming, including design patterns, polymorphism, data structures, and algorithms
• Experience in software development, user-centered design, and web app projects.
• Strong visual/graphical design skills and ability to create polished graphical user interfaces and visual assets that improve product experience.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, both in written and verbal formats, with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoW Top Secret clearance with SCI access

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with Web Services, SQL Databases, XML, C++/C#, Rust, Python, React
• Proficiency with the following tools/technologies: Sketch, InVision, Visio, Design Systems, Adobe Create Suite

Pay Range Information

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. California, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $110,000.00/Yr. - USD $140,000.00/Yr.