User Experience Designer

Who we are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in McLean, VA. Our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

About the role:

As a UI/UX Designer, you are a connoisseur of user-centered design principles with a broad understanding of large consumer-facing web applications. Your role is pivotal in translating high-level requirements into beautiful, intuitive, and functional user interfaces while participating in all phases of development from definition and design through implementation.You will collaborate with product management and engineering to define and implement innovative solutions for product direction, visuals, and user experience. Operating in a fast-paced, agile environment, you'll execute all visual design stages from concept to final hand-off to engineering, conceptualizing original ideas that bring simplicity and user-friendliness to complex design challenges.

You will translate high-level requirements into interaction flows, wireframes, and design artifacts. Create wireframes, storyboards, user flows, process flows, and site maps to communicate design ideas. Execute visual design stages from concept to final hand-off to engineering. Present and defend designs and key deliverables to peers and executive-level stakeholders. Conduct user research and evaluate user feedback to inform design decisions. Establish and promote design guidelines, best practices, and standards. Collaborate with cross-functional teams in an Agile/Scrum development process.

This role is contingent on contract award.

What we are looking for:

• 6+ years of relevant work experience in UI/UX design for large consumer-facing web applications.
• Solid experience creating wireframes, storyboards, user flows, process flows, and site maps. 
• Proficiency in visual design and wireframing tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, OmniGraffle, Figma, Sketch).
• Working knowledge of CSS and front-end development principles.
• Experience working in an Agile/Scrum development process.
• Proven ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user interfaces. 
• Strong presentation skills and ability to defend design decisions to stakeholders.

Highly preferred:

• Advanced certification and/or courses in UX Research and Design.
• Proficient experience in an Agile environment, collaborating with PMs, developers, stakeholders, users, and other UX Designers, using tools like FIGMA, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, etc.
• Expert storytelling and persuasion skills, building trust with stakeholders, and comfortable communicating at all organizational levels.

Clearance Requirements:

• Active Top Secret with ability to obtain and maintain SCI 

Work Type:

• Onsite in Colorado Springs, CO
• May require up to 10% travel

Salary Range:

• $120,000 - $150,000
• The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you:

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and company match
• Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
• Education & training benefits
• Generous Referral Bonuses
• And More!

Our Vision Statement: 

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.