Design Lead (UX/UI) (REMOTE)

This position may be filled prior to the posted deadline. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Koniag Technology Solutions, inc a Koniag Government Services company, is seeking a Design Lead (UX/UI) to support KTS and our government customer. The position is remote. This position requires the candidate to be able to obtain a Public Trust.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
This position will be part of a team supporting a Federal client with a business and IT modernization project.

The Design Lead ensures the ERAS Platform is intuitive, accessible, and user-centered. This person leads all research and design activities and ensures the team consistently applies human-centered design principles throughout development.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead user research activities including usability testing, interviews, and contextual inquiry at regular sprint intervals
Develop and maintain research plans and share findings with the full team and USDA stakeholders
Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs for all user-facing features
Ensure designs meet WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA accessibility standards and Section 508 requirements
Maintain and apply consistent design patterns across the platform for a seamless user experience
Design for a broad range of users including USDA customers, federal staff, managers, executives, and the general public
Produce and deliver Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) based on the latest VPAT template
Collaborate closely with developers to ensure designs are implemented accurately
Conduct content design work to ensure plain language and clarity throughout the platform
Ensure page response time goals (under 1.25 seconds to render) are considered in design decisions

Required Skills:

Background in UX research, interaction design, or visual design
Experience conducting user research in a government or regulated environment
Proficiency with design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, or similar)
Strong knowledge of Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards
Experience working within agile development teams
Ability to communicate design decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

Security Requirement:

Ability to obtain a Public Trust

Education & Experience:
Education:

Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Psychology, Information Science, or a related field required. Master's degree preferred.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of UX/UI design and research experience, with at least 2 years on federal government or large public-sector digital products
Demonstrated portfolio of user-centered design work, including research artifacts, wireframes, and final design deliverables
Experience conducting usability testing and translating findings into actionable design improvements
Experience designing accessible digital products that meet Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 standards
Familiarity with U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) is strongly preferred
Experience with content design and plain language writing for government audiences

Certifications:

Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification or similar UX certifications are a plus. DHS Trusted Tester certification is preferred

Our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The company is an equal opportunity employer. The company shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity (except where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification), national origin or ancestry, age, disability, citizenship, military/veteran status, marital status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to equal employment opportunity in all decisions related to employment, promotion, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.
The company is dedicated to seeking all qualified applicants. If you require an accommodation to navigate or apply for a position on our website, please get in touch with Heaven Wood via e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 703-488-9377 to request accommodations.
Koniag Government Services (KGS) is an Alaska Native Owned corporation supporting the values and traditions of our native communities through an agile employee and corporate culture that delivers Enterprise Solutions, Professional Services and Operational Management to Federal Government Agencies. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Koniag, we apply our proven commercial solutions to a deep knowledge of Defense and Civilian missions to provide forward leaning technical, professional, and operational solutions. KGS enables successful mission outcomes for our customers through solution-oriented business partnerships and a commitment to exceptional service delivery. We ensure long-term success with a continuous improvement approach while balancing the collective interests of our customers, employees, and native communities. For more information, please visit www.koniag-gs.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. Shareholder Preference in accordance with Public Law 88-352