The UI/UX Design Engineer supports the Case Management Modernization (CMM) Program for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) by bridging the gap between design and engineering. This role will be responsible for synthesizing UX research and high-fidelity prototypes into intuitive, accessible, and efficient user experiences using HCD and usability design principles as well as producing clean, production-ready code. Working within Agile teams alongside developers, architects, and product owners, this role ensures that all CMM applications - developed on an AWS platform - are designed around user needs, meet Section 508 compliance, and align with federal digital service standards for accessibility, performance, and security. ________________________________________

Collaborate with Product Owners, UI Architects, Developers, and HCD Specialists to translate research insights into actionable design specifications.
Act as the bridge between design and engineering to translate prototypes into responsive, accessible and performant front-end code.
Ensure all designs comply with Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and are fully aligned with program objectives and Agile ceremonies.
Define and enforce UI/UX and front-end coding standards to ensure consistency and reusability.
Evaluate designs for compliance with Section 508, usability, and WCAG accessibility guidelines.
Support iterative feedback loops through rapid prototyping and validation within sprint cycles.
Provide guidance and recommendations on UI consistency, interaction design, and design system reuse.
Partner with Quality Assurance and Compliance teams to verify usability and accessibility in production releases.

Deliverable Alignment & Performance Outcomes:

HCD Implementation Plans: Documentation of methodologies, user testing cycles, and outcome summaries.
Accessibility and Compliance Reports: Validation of Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA, and FedRAMP UI standards.
Design System Contributions: Standardized templates and components integrated into the shared UI library.
Performance Outcomes: produce design and code artifacts in accordance with HCD and Agile sprint objectives; achieve accessibility-audit targets; improve task completion and user satisfaction; and reduce post-release UI defects through proactive design validation.

8+ years of experience in UI/UX design development, including 5+ years in a Human-Centered Design role supporting enterprise or government applications.
Strong understanding of Agile/SAFe delivery and iterative design integration.
Expertise in usability testing methodologies such as heuristic evaluations, card sorting, and A/B testing.
Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Storybook, Axure, or Miro.
Familiarity with HTML5, CSS3, and responsive UI behavior to collaborate effectively with developers.
Strong experience working with Sass or other CSS preprocessors.
Experience designing for federal systems, with practical knowledge of Section 508 and WCAG compliance.
Excellent storytelling and communication skills to present design and development rationale to technical and non-technical audiences.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, or a related field.
Experience designing for federal digital modernization programs or court/case management systems.
Familiarity with DesignOps and UX governance practices.
Exposure to data-driven UX optimization using analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Hotjar.
Understanding of Zero Trust Design and secure user interface principles.
Knowledge of AI-assisted UX tools or predictive usability models.

Tools & Technologies:

Design and prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Storybook, Miro, Axure, InVision.
Accessibility: Axe, WAVE, Color Oracle, SiteImprove.
Collaboration: Jira, Confluence, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams.
Testing and analytics: Hotjar, Google Analytics, Optimal Workshop.

Qualifications:

10+ years of general experience in information systems.
8+ years of specialized experience.
Minimum education: BA/BS. Experience may be considered in lieu of degree as follows: high school with 16+ years, associate degree with 14+ years, BA/BS with 12+ years, or doctorate with 9+ years.
Excellent oral and written presentation and communication skills.
Consultant mindset with the ability to work with senior customer stakeholders and build strong customer relationships.
Experience identifying and applying industry tools, solutions, methods, best practices, and emerging technologies.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to formulate and communicate recommendations.
Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a team.

Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) or Certified HCD Professional.
SAFe Agile Practitioner (SPC or SSM).
Section 508 Trusted Tester Certification.
UX Design or HCD Certification from NN/g, IDEO, or HFI.

UI/UX Human Centered Design Specialist

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