UI / UX Designer Job at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. in Alexandria

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, in both the US and abroad. Our team is highly collaborative, producing Results that Matter. SPA offers opportunity, unique challenges, and a clear commitment to the mission. SPA : Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division (JOID) provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA\'s NATO Allied Command Transformation Group, within JOID, provides capability development, portfolio management, program management, quality management, cost estimation analysis, standardization, reporting, software solutions and information management, and capability management support. We also provide an improved capability requirements capture process, including the generation, documentation and tracing of user requirements, with appropriate technical scrutiny, over the entire lifecycle of the requirements from capability definition through capability realization and capability usage.

We have a near-term need for a UI / UX Designer to provide remote support to NATO-ACT.

Responsibilities

NATO ACT has adopted Agile DevSecOps principles emphasizing rapid, iterative delivery cycles and user-driven development. Many capability development efforts are software-intensive, while others integrate hardware and software into larger systems and services. Modern continuous integration and delivery toolsets are applied to ensure transparency, traceability, and responsiveness, allowing solutions to be developed, fielded, and refined quickly while remaining aligned with operational requirements. The growing demand for digital solutions has led to an expanding backlog of projects requiring sustained contractor support. Candidates are embedded within ACT\'s cross-functional teams, working alongside staff in product-centric development efforts. These teams deliver Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) through rapid development cycles while simultaneously exploring emerging technologies that combine hardware and software integration. This dual-track approach ensures NATO can meet immediate operational needs while also experimenting with novel solutions that strengthen long-term capabilities. To sustain and expand this capability, HQ SACT is seeking contractor support across multiple labor categories, including Solution Architects, DevSecOps Engineers, Full-Stack Developers, UI / UX Designers, Security Professionals, Acquisition and Contracting Specialists, Product Managers, Systems Engineers, Network Engineers, and Service Desk Operators. Candidates will be integrated into ACT teams under the guidance of the COTR, working within an Agile DevSecOps framework to deliver user-centric, operationally relevant solutions at speed. May require, at the direction of the COTR, to undertake official travel in support of ACT, both within and outside NATO boundaries, for a maximum of 30 days per year or as otherwise agreed.

The UI / UX Designer will be specifically tasked with the following : support product teams by applying User-Centered Design (UCD) best practices throughout the software lifecycle.

Engage with end users through the agile product development process to ensure solutions meet operational needs.

Establish feedback loops with customers and apply the Build-Measure-Learn cycle to guide iterative product development.

Conduct user research, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to validate design assumptions.

Create design artifacts such as sketches, flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

Ensure all design work complies with accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and follows industry best practices for inclusive design.

Collaborate with Product Managers on backlog refinement and prioritization to align design priorities with business value.

Provide clarification to developers during implementation to ensure user expectations are met.

Collaborate within cross-functional Agile / DevSecOps teams, actively participating in standups, demos, and retrospectives.

Present and communicate design decisions effectively to stakeholders and senior leadership.

Qualifications

Required :

• Proven UI / UX industry experience on complex web and / or mobile application design projects.
• Strong skills in user research, usability testing, and user-centered design methods.
• 3+ years of experience, with experience collaborating in Agile / DevSecOps environments including backlog refinement with Product Managers.
• Proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, InVision).
• Knowledge and practical application of accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and inclusive design principles.
• Experience producing deliverables such as wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Fluent in English (oral and written).
• Portfolio of work demonstrating past design solutions and methodology.
• Citizen of a NATO member nation.

Desired :

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