Job Requirements
Arlington, VA
Clearance Unspecified Polygraph not specified
Mid Level Career (5+ yrs experience)
Salary not specified
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Job Description
Lead UI/UX Design Engineer – Enterprise Platforms (DoD / GovCloud)
Location: Arlington, VA
Work Environment: Hybrid / On-Site as required
Clearance: Clearance Eligible – U.S. Citizenship Required
Position Overview
NALEJ Corporation is seeking an experienced Lead UI/UX Design Engineer to define and build the user experience across our enterprise software platforms.
This is a hands-on role at the intersection of visual design, user experience, and frontend engineering. We are looking for someone with a strong visual point of view who can simplify complex technical workflows, establish a consistent product design language, and personally help implement production-quality frontend experiences.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working in Figma and the codebase. You should be capable of taking an experience from concept, user flow, wireframe, and high-fidelity design through reusable frontend components, production implementation, and design QA.
This is not a pure product design role where designs are handed off to developers, nor is it a traditional frontend engineering role focused only on implementation. The successful candidate will help determine what the experience should be, how it should look and behave, and how it gets built.
The Lead UI/UX Design Engineer will work across complex, data-intensive platforms operating within AWS Commercial and GovCloud environments supporting DoD and federal customers. You will partner closely with Software Architects, Product Owners, and Engineers to establish a unified, modern, accessible user experience across multiple applications.
Key Responsibilities
UI/UX & Visual Design
Establish and continuously evolve the visual language and user experience across NALEJ's enterprise platform ecosystem.
Translate complex technical, operational, and data-heavy workflows into intuitive, polished, and easy-to-navigate experiences.
Create user flows, wireframes, prototypes, interaction models, and high-fidelity designs.
Bring a strong visual point of view to typography, spacing, information hierarchy, layout, interaction patterns, navigation, and overall product presentation.
Ensure individual applications feel like components of a unified platform rather than disconnected products.
Balance modern commercial software design with the unique needs of government, defense, and highly technical users.
Frontend Engineering
Personally design and build production-ready frontend components using modern technologies including React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Translate design concepts directly into scalable, reusable, maintainable application components.
Build responsive, accessible interfaces using component-driven frontend architecture.
Work with API-driven applications and collaborate with backend engineers to connect frontend experiences to platform services.
Participate in code reviews, frontend architecture decisions, testing, and production implementation.
Diagnose and resolve frontend usability, performance, consistency, and implementation issues.
Use modern AI-assisted development tools and workflows to accelerate design and engineering without sacrificing quality.
Design System & Component Architecture
Architect, build, and maintain a unified enterprise design system.
Establish reusable UI components, interaction standards, design tokens, typography, layout systems, and responsive patterns.
Ensure that design system components are represented consistently in both design assets and production code.
Work with technologies and libraries such as Tailwind CSS, ShadCN, Radix UI, MUI, or comparable modern component frameworks.
Integrate government design standards such as the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) where appropriate.
Drive adoption of shared components and eliminate unnecessary duplication or inconsistent UI patterns across engineering teams.
Accessibility & Usability
Ensure accessibility is incorporated into both design and frontend development from the beginning.
Design and implement experiences aligned with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Conduct or support accessibility reviews, usability testing, and design QA.
Use user feedback, analytics, and testing to identify friction points and continuously improve the product experience.
Design for users operating in complex, high-information, and mission-focused environments.
Cross-Functional Product Development
Work closely with Software Architects, Product Owners, Backend Engineers, Platform Engineers, and other technical stakeholders.
Understand technical constraints early and incorporate them into design decisions rather than treating engineering as a downstream handoff.
Help engineering teams translate product requirements into usable, scalable frontend experiences.
Challenge inconsistent or poor user experiences and recommend practical solutions.
Operate independently and serve as a trusted authority for UI/UX and frontend experience decisions.
Required Qualifications
7+ years of professional experience across UI/UX design, product design, frontend engineering, design engineering, or closely related disciplines.
Demonstrated experience operating in a hybrid design and frontend engineering capacity.
Strong hands-on development experience with React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Demonstrated professional experience personally implementing production frontend applications or reusable UI components.
Strong proficiency with Figma or comparable modern product design and prototyping tools.
A portfolio demonstrating sophisticated visual design, complex workflows, enterprise applications, dashboards, analytics products, data-intensive interfaces, or comparable software products.
Demonstrated ability to create and maintain scalable design systems and component libraries.
Strong understanding of responsive design, interaction design, information architecture, frontend architecture, and component-driven development.
Experience working with REST APIs, application state, and frontend/backend integration.
Experience with modern source control, development, and CI/CD workflows using Git-based environments.
Working knowledge of modern frontend libraries and frameworks such as Tailwind CSS, ShadCN, Radix UI, MUI, or comparable technologies.
Strong understanding of web accessibility and WCAG / Section 508 requirements.
Ability to operate autonomously in an environment where UI/UX standards may still be evolving.
Ability to communicate design and engineering decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, federal government, or national security customers.
Experience designing and building interfaces for highly technical users, analysts, operators, engineers, or mission personnel.
Experience developing software within AWS Commercial, AWS GovCloud, IL2–IL5, or other regulated cloud environments.
Experience with the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS).
Experience with Next.js, Astro, Node.js, or similar modern web technologies.
Experience developing data visualization, analytics, geospatial, workflow-management, AI-enabled, or large-scale enterprise applications.
Familiarity with modern DevSecOps environments, GitLab, containerized development, or remote developer workspaces.
Experience working in AI-native or AI-assisted software development environments.
Active Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI clearance is a plus but is not required.
Portfolio Expectations
Candidates should provide a portfolio that demonstrates both design quality and technical implementation.
Strong portfolios will show:
A clear visual point of view and strong UI design judgment.
Complex enterprise, B2B, government, SaaS, or data-intensive applications.
Design systems and reusable component architecture.
Examples of responsive and accessible interfaces.
Work that progressed from concept or prototype into production.
Clear explanation of the candidate's individual contribution.
Candidates should be prepared to distinguish which elements they personally designed, personally coded, and personally shipped.
What Success Looks Like
The successful Lead UI/UX Design Engineer will become the person NALEJ relies on to establish what our software should look like, feel like, and behave like.
Success means:
NALEJ develops a recognizable and modern visual identity across its software platforms.
Complex technical workflows become intuitive and easier for users to understand.
Engineers use reusable, production-ready components instead of rebuilding UI patterns independently.
Design standards exist in both Figma and production code.
Accessibility and responsive design are built into the development process by default.
UI decisions reflect strong visual judgment while remaining technically practical.
Product teams can move from concept to production more quickly because design and engineering are tightly connected.
The person in this role is capable of independently identifying UI problems, defining the solution, and helping build it.
About NALEJ
NALEJ Corporation develops advanced technology solutions supporting complex government, defense, and enterprise missions. Our teams operate at the intersection of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data, software engineering, and mission operations to build scalable platforms for demanding operational environments.
We believe sophisticated technology should not require a difficult user experience. We are looking for someone who can help ensure the quality of the interface matches the quality of the technology behind it.
Location: Arlington, VA
Work Environment: Hybrid / On-Site as required
Clearance: Clearance Eligible – U.S. Citizenship Required
Position Overview
NALEJ Corporation is seeking an experienced Lead UI/UX Design Engineer to define and build the user experience across our enterprise software platforms.
This is a hands-on role at the intersection of visual design, user experience, and frontend engineering. We are looking for someone with a strong visual point of view who can simplify complex technical workflows, establish a consistent product design language, and personally help implement production-quality frontend experiences.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working in Figma and the codebase. You should be capable of taking an experience from concept, user flow, wireframe, and high-fidelity design through reusable frontend components, production implementation, and design QA.
This is not a pure product design role where designs are handed off to developers, nor is it a traditional frontend engineering role focused only on implementation. The successful candidate will help determine what the experience should be, how it should look and behave, and how it gets built.
The Lead UI/UX Design Engineer will work across complex, data-intensive platforms operating within AWS Commercial and GovCloud environments supporting DoD and federal customers. You will partner closely with Software Architects, Product Owners, and Engineers to establish a unified, modern, accessible user experience across multiple applications.
Key Responsibilities
UI/UX & Visual Design
Establish and continuously evolve the visual language and user experience across NALEJ's enterprise platform ecosystem.
Translate complex technical, operational, and data-heavy workflows into intuitive, polished, and easy-to-navigate experiences.
Create user flows, wireframes, prototypes, interaction models, and high-fidelity designs.
Bring a strong visual point of view to typography, spacing, information hierarchy, layout, interaction patterns, navigation, and overall product presentation.
Ensure individual applications feel like components of a unified platform rather than disconnected products.
Balance modern commercial software design with the unique needs of government, defense, and highly technical users.
Frontend Engineering
Personally design and build production-ready frontend components using modern technologies including React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Translate design concepts directly into scalable, reusable, maintainable application components.
Build responsive, accessible interfaces using component-driven frontend architecture.
Work with API-driven applications and collaborate with backend engineers to connect frontend experiences to platform services.
Participate in code reviews, frontend architecture decisions, testing, and production implementation.
Diagnose and resolve frontend usability, performance, consistency, and implementation issues.
Use modern AI-assisted development tools and workflows to accelerate design and engineering without sacrificing quality.
Design System & Component Architecture
Architect, build, and maintain a unified enterprise design system.
Establish reusable UI components, interaction standards, design tokens, typography, layout systems, and responsive patterns.
Ensure that design system components are represented consistently in both design assets and production code.
Work with technologies and libraries such as Tailwind CSS, ShadCN, Radix UI, MUI, or comparable modern component frameworks.
Integrate government design standards such as the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) where appropriate.
Drive adoption of shared components and eliminate unnecessary duplication or inconsistent UI patterns across engineering teams.
Accessibility & Usability
Ensure accessibility is incorporated into both design and frontend development from the beginning.
Design and implement experiences aligned with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Conduct or support accessibility reviews, usability testing, and design QA.
Use user feedback, analytics, and testing to identify friction points and continuously improve the product experience.
Design for users operating in complex, high-information, and mission-focused environments.
Cross-Functional Product Development
Work closely with Software Architects, Product Owners, Backend Engineers, Platform Engineers, and other technical stakeholders.
Understand technical constraints early and incorporate them into design decisions rather than treating engineering as a downstream handoff.
Help engineering teams translate product requirements into usable, scalable frontend experiences.
Challenge inconsistent or poor user experiences and recommend practical solutions.
Operate independently and serve as a trusted authority for UI/UX and frontend experience decisions.
Required Qualifications
7+ years of professional experience across UI/UX design, product design, frontend engineering, design engineering, or closely related disciplines.
Demonstrated experience operating in a hybrid design and frontend engineering capacity.
Strong hands-on development experience with React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Demonstrated professional experience personally implementing production frontend applications or reusable UI components.
Strong proficiency with Figma or comparable modern product design and prototyping tools.
A portfolio demonstrating sophisticated visual design, complex workflows, enterprise applications, dashboards, analytics products, data-intensive interfaces, or comparable software products.
Demonstrated ability to create and maintain scalable design systems and component libraries.
Strong understanding of responsive design, interaction design, information architecture, frontend architecture, and component-driven development.
Experience working with REST APIs, application state, and frontend/backend integration.
Experience with modern source control, development, and CI/CD workflows using Git-based environments.
Working knowledge of modern frontend libraries and frameworks such as Tailwind CSS, ShadCN, Radix UI, MUI, or comparable technologies.
Strong understanding of web accessibility and WCAG / Section 508 requirements.
Ability to operate autonomously in an environment where UI/UX standards may still be evolving.
Ability to communicate design and engineering decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, federal government, or national security customers.
Experience designing and building interfaces for highly technical users, analysts, operators, engineers, or mission personnel.
Experience developing software within AWS Commercial, AWS GovCloud, IL2–IL5, or other regulated cloud environments.
Experience with the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS).
Experience with Next.js, Astro, Node.js, or similar modern web technologies.
Experience developing data visualization, analytics, geospatial, workflow-management, AI-enabled, or large-scale enterprise applications.
Familiarity with modern DevSecOps environments, GitLab, containerized development, or remote developer workspaces.
Experience working in AI-native or AI-assisted software development environments.
Active Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI clearance is a plus but is not required.
Portfolio Expectations
Candidates should provide a portfolio that demonstrates both design quality and technical implementation.
Strong portfolios will show:
A clear visual point of view and strong UI design judgment.
Complex enterprise, B2B, government, SaaS, or data-intensive applications.
Design systems and reusable component architecture.
Examples of responsive and accessible interfaces.
Work that progressed from concept or prototype into production.
Clear explanation of the candidate's individual contribution.
Candidates should be prepared to distinguish which elements they personally designed, personally coded, and personally shipped.
What Success Looks Like
The successful Lead UI/UX Design Engineer will become the person NALEJ relies on to establish what our software should look like, feel like, and behave like.
Success means:
NALEJ develops a recognizable and modern visual identity across its software platforms.
Complex technical workflows become intuitive and easier for users to understand.
Engineers use reusable, production-ready components instead of rebuilding UI patterns independently.
Design standards exist in both Figma and production code.
Accessibility and responsive design are built into the development process by default.
UI decisions reflect strong visual judgment while remaining technically practical.
Product teams can move from concept to production more quickly because design and engineering are tightly connected.
The person in this role is capable of independently identifying UI problems, defining the solution, and helping build it.
About NALEJ
NALEJ Corporation develops advanced technology solutions supporting complex government, defense, and enterprise missions. Our teams operate at the intersection of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data, software engineering, and mission operations to build scalable platforms for demanding operational environments.
We believe sophisticated technology should not require a difficult user experience. We are looking for someone who can help ensure the quality of the interface matches the quality of the technology behind it.
group id: 91127940