UX Designer II

Summary

Join Fearless Digital as a User Researcher II and contribute to building software with a soul. You will plan, design, and conduct user research to deeply understand users of our products and services. Responsibilities include user research, analysis, synthesis, persona development, and usability testing. You will communicate findings to cross-functional teams and stakeholders, and collaborate with designers, product managers, and engineers. The role requires 10+ years of experience, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, and an Active TS/SCI Full Scope Poly Clearance. The position offers a hybrid work opportunity in Columbia, MD, with potential for up to two days of telework.

Requirements

• 10 plus years of experience with Bachelor's in Computer Science (or related field)
• Obtain an Active TS/SCI Full Scope Poly Clearance
• Experience in conducting of the usability and software engineering cycle phases
• Experience creating user interface design specifications through researching and documenting user requirements including profiles, frequent tasks, workflows, and user scenarios while working closely with application developers
• Experience conducting usability testing proficiency in one or more design tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, XD and PenPot
• Experience with a wide variety of research and synthesis methods applied across the product development process
• Experience with user experience design, service design, and human-centered design practices
• Demonstrated ability to align user research activities to help the team understand changing user behavior
• Experience creating and implementing research plans
• Experience effectively implementing a variety of research methods
• Demonstrated understanding of the diversity of users of Government services and the need to make services usable and accessible for everyone
• Ability to collaborate, actively network, and provide diverse feedback to the team at times when information can be fully absorbed
• Experience working in agile environments, including an awareness of agile tools and how to use them
• Knowledge of the technologies used to build and operate digital services
• Experience recruiting end users for research activities
• Demonstrated ability to identify and communicate constraints and work within them
• Ability to conduct analysis and visualization of large, multi-faceted data sets
• Ability to operate and manage work, strategically reason, build relationships, and influence others

Responsibilities

• Independently executes and implements solutions with minimal direction from senior Designers or team leaders
• Coaches and mentors others to develop their professional skills and improve the quality of their work
• Strengthens Fearless’ research community and fosters positive collaboration across the company
• Communicates research findings, conceptual ideas, detailed designs, design rationale, and goals both verbally and visually
• Presents findings and articulates opportunities to cross-functional teammates and stakeholders
• Guides and leads team members in analysis and synthesis when needed
• Collaborates closely with other Researchers, Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers to identify research objectives
• Coaches interdisciplinary teams on basic research and synthesis skills, and co-facilitates synthesis sessions
• Collaborates with Visual Designers to help translate insights into visual artifacts
• Conducts qualitative and quantitative research, managing research participants in an efficient, inclusive fashion in accordance with privacy guidelines to meet research objectives
• Develops and carries out research plans
• Implements an evidence-based approach to craft information radiators, such as user personas, journey maps, and service blueprints to communicate insights
• Designs and carries out research activities with users and team members to help them get a deep understanding of the people that use products and services
• Informs policy and proposition by aligning research activities and objectives
• Applies user-centered design practices in an agile workflow to deliver timely findings
• Conducts iterative design activities, such as observational studies, customer interviews, usability testing, and other forms of requirements discovery
• Analyzes and synthesizes the results of usability testing and other research methods to provide recommendations for change and improvement to products and services

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the social and technological context for Government products and services
• Experience in service design, visual design, interaction design, content design, and/or user research
• Experience working with Government customers

Benefits

• We cover 100% of your premium for our medical HSA plan + the deductible portion of HSA contributions, 80% of your premium for our HMO or PPO plans, and offer competitive dependent coverage
• We cover 100% of dental and vision premiums for you and your dependents and offer medical and dependent care FSA options
• We also offer life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and legal planning and support insurance
• Tech, education / training, and wellness allowances
• Safe Harbor 401(k) plan with employer contributions (current match = 4%) and immediate vesting
• Referral bonus: Bring your friends! If someone you refer is hired, you’ll get a bonus of $6–12k!
• Total Pet Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Up 12 weeks of FMLA paid at 100%
• PTO is provided to team members as a lump sum allowance, not an accrual
• 8.75 days of sick leave
• 11 federal holidays
• Their birthday (8 hours)
• Up to 15 days for jury duty
• Up to 3 days (24 hours) of bereavement leave per eligible instance
• Life-friendly schedules
• Family-friendly workplace