User Experience (UX) Designer - Entry to Mid Level (Maryland)

National Security Agency; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 58,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Security Agency is seeking a User Experience Designer/Researcher to support the strategy and design for next-generation analysis tools and information system applications for the Intelligence Community.

This full-time role blends technical expertise with mission knowledge, designing intuitive workflows, applying human factors, conducting user research, and collaborating with developers to implement solutions that protect national security.

Qualifications

• Degree must be in Human Computer Interaction, Web Design, Web Development, or a related field.
• Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: web design or development, user interface design, user experience research or design, or programming languages.
• Entry-level: high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience.

Responsibilities

• Design user experiences for new and existing web and other framework-based applications from concept to completion.
• Design workflows and experiences that are intuitive, effective, and accessible.
• Apply human factors and cognition principles to tool and UI design.
• Communicate ideas through low and high fidelity mockups.
• Collect and analyze user behaviors and needs through user research (field studies, surveys, lab studies, A/B testing).
• Convey research findings and design approaches to diverse audiences in writing and oral formats.
• Generate design systems and extend existing structures with new approaches.
• Design short- and long-term UX visions for products.
• Collaborate with developers and analysts to implement approved designs.

Skills

User experience design

User research

Communication of findings

Design systems

Collaboration with developers

A/B testing

Education

Human Computer Interaction

Web Design

Web Development

UI/UX

Computer Science

Job description

Responsibilities

As a User Experience Designer/Researcher, you will support the strategy and design for next generation analysis tools and information system applications for the Intelligence Community. Join us to work at the forefront of product/software development in an organization that's focused on promoting consistent processes and practices across the Agency in the areas of user experience engineering, systems engineering, operational engineering and support, and customer outreach. As a User Experience Designer/Researcher, you will be charged with blending both technical expertise and mission knowledge in providing design support for a breadth of analytic, engagement, and business applications.

• Design user experiences for new and existing web and other framework-based applications from concept to completion
• Design workflows and experiences that are intuitive, effective, and accessible
• Apply human factors and cognition principles to the design of tools, systems, tasks, ergonomics, user interfaces, and environments
• Communicate ideas through low and high fidelity mockups
• Collect and analyze user behaviors and needs through various types of user research (field studies, surveys, lab studies, A/B testing, etc.)
• Convey research findings and/or design approach by communicating to a wide range of audiences in both written and oral format
• Generate design systems, building on existing structures and designing new approaches
• Design both a short term and long term UX vision for products
• Think critically through complicated challenges to formulate solutions and collaborate with developers and analysts to implement approved designs

Job Summary

NSA is in search of Computer Science professionals to solve complex problems, test innovative approaches and research new solutions to storing, manipulating, and presenting information. We are looking for you to apply your computer science expertise to projects that seek to create new standards for the transformation of information. If you want to develop technologies and tools and be a part of cutting edge innovations; join our team of experts! Help protect national security interests as part of the world's most advanced team of computer science professionals!

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in Human Computer Interaction, Web Design, Web Development, or a related field (for example, Web Technologies, Computer Science, Programming, Visual Communications, UI/UX, Graphic Design). Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: web design or development, user interface design, user experience research or design, or programming languages. ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience. FULL PERFORMANCE Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 7 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position. Salary Range: $57,736 - $133,142 (Entry/Developmental, Full Performance) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience. Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package. Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible). DCIPS Trial Period: If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.

DCIPS Disclaimer

• VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS** Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority. Veterans' Preference In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application. Acceptable documentation includes: – DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4); OR – Certification of Service: A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date; AND – Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf). If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability; AND – VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating) You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/). **Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.

Skills

• DEFINE - Engage with internal (NSA/CSS) stakeholders, including partner and customer organizations, and individual employees.
• Identify capability gaps to guide improvements, or creation of, applications; infrastructure; tradecraft; tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts.
• RESEARCH - Analyze corporate or customer requirements to develop, design, and deliver strategy documentation.
• Analyze data using mathematical/statistical methods.
• Analyze data using appropriate tool set.
• Analyze new and existing applications, technologies, and/or architectures to solve design, development, and operational problems.
• Analyze problems to facilitate technical solutions.
• Leverage research approaches and methodologies.
• Establish research objectives.
• Identify research questions.
• Document processes, analyses, and/or research findings.
• Review scientific or technical literature to support research efforts.
• Conduct research, including studies, experiments, and investigations.
• Research emerging technologies for application(s) within the Agency.
• Evaluate research for practical application.
• Gather business and user requirements; partner with the development team to develop the operational and system requirements.
• Conduct reviews to validate functional, operational, or user requirements.
• DESIGN - Develop conceptual designs or models to address user and stakeholder needs.
• Design and modify user interfaces, web applications and other technologies.
• Perform high-level design, specifying system and component performance and interface requirements.
• Develop a design plan for custom hardware or software based on requirements.
• Use modeling or simulation to evaluate designs.
• Design and develop web-based documentation.
• Design and/or create artwork or graphics for print, electronic products, exhibits, or displays.
• Design communication campaigns and strategies.
• Design, create, and implement websites.
• Update and create web-based collaborative tools and technologies.
• DEVELOP/IMPLEMENT - Build software prototypes.
• Develop test plans to evaluate software.
• Develop test procedures to ensure conformity with specifications or standards.
• Provide feedback to application developers.
• Develop functional, operational, or user requirements.
• Develop solution designs.
• Develop multimedia products, integrating text, computer graphics, conventional art, photographs, or other media.
• Create and/or manage images (for example, photographs) using digital and analog imaging technologies and databases.
• Develop research approaches and methodologies.
• Develop a test plan for custom hardware or software based on requirements.
• Execute a software or hardware test plan.
• EVALUATE/TEST - Test applications to validate functional, operational, or user requirements.
• Evaluate and test websites and applications for Accessibility as required under Section 508.
• Evaluate or test computer applications or programs to ensure compliance with technical, professional, legal and/or organizational standards/requirements.
• Analyze current tools for proper functionality.
• Evaluate or test computer applications or programs to ensure compliance with technical, professional, legal ...