UX/UI Designer

Prysmtech; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A national security consulting firm is seeking a UX Designer in Herndon, Virginia. This role requires active TS/SCI Security Clearance and involves leading user research, design, and prototyping efforts for high-visibility applications. The ideal candidate will have experience in UX research, strong design skills using tools like Figma and Adobe XD, and the ability to articulate complex design decisions. You'll collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure accessibility and alignment with design standards. Competitive salary and opportunities for growth available.

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level with polygraph.
• Minimum 8 years of experience for a Bachelor’s degree holder.
• Demonstrated experience in UX research beyond UI.
• Strong proficiency with design and prototyping tools.

Responsibilities

• Conduct user research activities including interviews and usability testing.
• Analyze research findings into actionable insights and personas.
• Lead UX and UI efforts for complex applications.
• Develop interactive prototypes for concept validation.

Skills

User research

Prototyping

UX strategy

UI design

Accessibility standards

Design systems

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Design, HCI, or related field

Tools

Figma

Adobe XD

Job description

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct user research activities including interviews, usability testing, and feedback sessions with diverse user groups (e.g., analysts, SMEs, managers, data scientists).
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into actionable insights, personas, user journeys, and workflow maps.
• Document research findings and recommendations to support stakeholder understanding and buy-in, particularly in government settings.
• Apply ethical, secure, and compliant research practices appropriate for classified or sensitive environments.
• UX Strategy & Design Systems
• Lead UX and UI efforts for complex, high-visibility applications.
• Define, maintain, and evolve design systems and component libraries in collaboration with engineering teams.
• Establish consistent interaction patterns, workflows, and design standards across multiple applications.
• Create service blueprints and end-to-end experience maps to align cross-functional teams.
• UI Design & Prototyping
• Develop interactive prototypes using tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or similar, to explore concepts and validate user flows.
• Produce high-fidelity UI designs that are accessible, usable, and visually consistent.
• Ensure designs align with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and applicable government design guidelines.
• Document interaction behaviors, design rationale, and micro-copy to support implementation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level with required polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Senior Labor Category: Minimum 8 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 7 years of experience with a Masters degree; or 6 years of experience with a Doctorate.
• Demonstrated experience conducting UX research, analysis, and synthesis (not UI-only).
• Strong proficiency with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or equivalent.
• Experience collaborating closely with product managers and engineering teams.
• Ability to clearly articulate design decisions and research findings to stakeholders.
• Willingness to work onsite full time in McLean, VA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Portfolio (website, case studies, or work samples) demonstrating UX research methodology, analysis, and UI design quality.
• Experience designing for mission-critical or government systems.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.
• Experience contributing to or managing design systems.
• Familiarity with modern front-end frameworks and design constraints (e.g., component-based development).
• Experience supporting data-heavy or analytical user workflows.