UX/UI Designer 3

IDS International; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

IDS International, via its IDS subsidiary ADG Creative, seeks a seasoned UX/UI Designer 3 to lead UX strategy and design across complex government programs at Fort Meade. You will mentor designers, define the UX vision, and guide user-centered initiatives that improve workflows and mission effectiveness.

You will apply Human-Centered Design principles, translate research into actionable design decisions, and collaborate with agile teams to deliver enterprise-quality interfaces.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant UX/UI design experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Full Scope Polygraph required.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating UX/UI design expertise required.
• Deep expertise in Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to translate user research into actionable design decisions.
• Experience working within Agile and/or SAFe development environments.
• Mastery of industry-standard design and prototyping tools, including Figma, Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of UX designers.
• Define and communicate UX strategy and vision across a large portfolio.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system for multiple products.
• Facilitate design activities, workshops, and sprints across teams.
• Lead user research, create journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes.
• Advocate for end users and address workflows, pain points, and needs.
• Define UX processes and integrate HCD into Agile environments.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and leaders to develop effective design solutions.
• Present design recommendations and UX best practices across the organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

User research

Human-Centered Design

Design strategy

Team leadership

UX process definition

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

Figma

Sketch

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Job Title

UX/UI Designer 3

Why IDS?

IDS believes in resolving conflict, building innovative approaches to do so. Combining operational expertise with an intimate understanding of today’s greatest challenges, we bring our customers the solutions required for success in a complex and multidimensional world. IDS tailors solutions for a diverse range of government, military, nonprofit, and public-sector clients.

Location

Fort Meade, MD

Job Description

IDS is seeking an experienced UX/UI Designer 3, for ADG Creative, an IDS subsidiary, to lead user experience strategy and design efforts supporting complex government and intelligence community programs. This role is responsible for defining UX vision, mentoring design teams, leading user-centered design initiatives, and creating innovative solutions that improve user workflows and mission effectiveness. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Human-Centered Design, experience with data-heavy operational systems, and a strong ability to guide UX efforts across multiple products and stakeholders.

Key Duties

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of UX designers, providing design direction and fostering professional growth.
• Define and communicate UX strategy and vision across a large portfolio, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system to drive consistency, scalability, and efficiency across multiple products.
• Facilitate design activities, including workshops and design sprints, to improve collaboration between designers, product managers, and engineers.
• Lead user research efforts, create user journey maps, and design wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes for complex operational challenges.
• Serve as the primary advocate for end users, ensuring their workflows, pain points, and needs are fully understood and addressed.
• Define and refine UX design processes while integrating Human-Centered Design principles into Agile development environments.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, technical teams, and leadership to develop effective design solutions.
• Present design recommendations and communicate UX best practices across the organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant UX/UI design experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Full Scope Polygraph required.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating UX/UI design expertise required.
• Deep expertise in Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to translate user research into actionable design decisions.
• Experience working within Agile and/or SAFe development environments.
• Mastery of industry-standard design and prototyping tools, including Figma, Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• NN/g UX Master Certification.
• Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) certification.
• Experience designing solutions for Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience supporting SETA contracts.
• Prior experience leading UX teams and enterprise-level design initiatives.

Clearance

• Active TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph required.

Additional Requirements

• Portfolio submission required.

Employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move moderate amounts of weight, typically less than 20 pounds, but may vary depending on the position. Regular and predictable attendance is essential.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law.