UI/UX Designer

OverviewLynker is seeking a talented UI/UX Designer to support the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to lead the user experience and overhaul the interface design for  spaceweather.gov.  The IDEAL UI/UX Designer will be able to work a Hybrid schedule, working 2 days per week in office in Boulder, CO, and working the remaining 3 days per week from home. This role focuses entirely on user experience design, research, visual communication, and design system management. You will bridge the gap between complex space science—geomagnetic storms, solar flares, radio blackouts—and accessible visual products used by aviation controllers, power grid operators, satellite technicians, and the general public. You will create production-ready UI designs, visual assets, wireframes, and design specs for our software engineering team to implement. Responsibilities

Duties of the UI/UX Designer will include the following:

UI/UX Design & Scientific Visualization

• Information Architecture: Restructure navigation, user flows, and site hierarchy so diverse personas (from commercial airline dispatchers to casual skywatchers) can quickly find critical alerts and data.
• Complex Data UI: Design intuitive visual layouts, dashboards, maps, and chart interfaces for real-time space weather data (e.g., K-index scales, aurora oval predictions, solar image feeds).
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Build low-fidelity sketches, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive Figma prototypes to validate feature ideas before handing off to developers.

User Research & Testing

• User Advocacy: Conduct user interviews, surveys, and usability testing with critical stakeholders (power grid operators, pilots, emergency managers, researchers) to understand their operational workflows.
• Iterative Design: Use analytics, feedback loops, and usability findings to refine designs and eliminate friction in high-stress monitoring environments.

Design System & Accessibility

• US Web Design System (USWDS): Build and maintain a unified Figma component library based on the US Web Design System and NOAA brand standards.
• Accessibility First (Section 508): Design inclusive interfaces adhering to WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, ensuring color choices, visual hierarchy, and graph concepts translate well for all users.
• Developer Handoff: Provide clean, pixel-perfect design specifications, redlines, asset exports, and interaction notes to software engineers.

Qualifications

The UI/UX Designer selected should have the following:

• Experience: 3+ years in UI/UX design, visual design, or product design.
• Portfolio: Demonstrates UI/UX projects, design systems, data visual mockups, and user research processes.
• Design Tools: Mastery of Figma (components, auto-layout, interactive prototyping) or equivalent tools (Adobe XD, Sketch, Illustrator).
• Accessibility Knowledge: Strong understanding of WCAG 2.1 AA standards for visual design (contrast ratios, readable typography, colorblind-friendly data palettes).
• Communication: Ability to articulate design decisions clearly to scientists, program managers, and engineering teams.

The Ideal UI/UX Designer will have the following:

• Background or experience designing visual UI for scientific, meteorological, geospatial, or complex data monitoring dashboards.
• Experience applying or adapting component-based design systems (especially USWDS).

  Key Deliverables (First 90 Days)

UX Audit & Research: Complete a visual and structural audit of spaceweather.gov key user paths and compile a research summary of user pain points.

Figma UI Library: Establish a standardized Figma design library aligned with USWDS guidelines for all future web products.

High-Fidelity Prototypes: Deliver fully spec’d UI designs and interactive prototypes for updated high-priority alerts and aurora forecasting pages ready for engineering handoff.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.