User Experience (UX) Designer - Experienced Level (Maryland) at National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland

Job Description:

RESPONSIBILITIES
**PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PORTFOLIO URL IN THE COVER LETTER SECTION FOR FULL CONSIDERATION OF THIS POSITION** As a User Experience Designer/Researcher, you will support the strategy and design for next generation analysis tools and information system applications for the Intelligence Community. Join us to work at the forefront of product/software development in an organization that's focused on promoting consistent processes and practices across the Agency in the areas of user experience engineering, systems engineering, operational engineering and support, and customer outreach. As a User Experience Designer/Researcher, you will be charged with blending both technical expertise and mission knowledge in providing design support for a breadth of analytic, engagement, and business applications. Responsibilities may include: - Design user experiences for new and existing web and other framework-based applications from concept to completion - Design workflows and experiences that are intuitive, effective, and accessible - Apply human factors and cognition principles to the design of tools, systems, tasks, ergonomics, user interfaces, and environments - Communicate ideas through low and high fidelity mockups - Collect and analyze user behaviors and needs through various types of user research (field studies, surveys, lab studies, A/B testing, etc.) - Convey research findings and/or design approach by communicating to diverse audiences in both written and oral format - Generate design systems, building on existing structures and designing new approaches - Design both a short term and long term UX vision for products - Think critically through complicated challenges to formulate solutions and collaborate with developers and analysts to implement approved designs
SKILLS
DEFINE - Engage with internal (NSA/CSS) stakeholders, including partner and customer organizations, and individual employees. - Identify capability gaps to guide improvements, or creation of, applications; infrastructure; tradecraft; tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). - Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts. RESEARCH - Analyze corporate or customer requirements to develop, design, and deliver strategy documentation. - Analyze data using mathematical/statistical methods. - Analyze data using appropriate tool set. - Analyze new and existing applications, technologies, and/or architectures to solve design, development, and operational problems. - Analyze problems to facilitate technical solutions. - Leverage research approaches and methodologies. - Establish research objectives. - Identify research questions. - Document processes, analyses, and/or research findings. - Review scientific or technical literature to support research efforts. - Conduct research, including studies, experiments, and investigations. - Research emerging technologies for application(s) within the Agency. - Evaluate research for practical application. - Gather business and user requirements; partner with the development team to develop the operational and system requirements. - Conduct reviews to validate functional, operational, or user requirements. DESIGN - Develop conceptual designs or models to address user and stakeholder needs. - Design and modify user interfaces, web applications and other technologies. - Perform high-level design, specifying system and component performance and interface requirements. - Develop a design plan for custom hardware or software based on requirements. - Use modeling or simulation to evaluate designs. - Design and develop web-based documentation. - Design and/or create artwork or graphics for print, electronic products, exhibits, or displays. - Design communication campaigns and strategies. - Design, create, and implement websites. - Update and create web-based collaborative tools and technologies. DEVELOP/IMPLEMENT - Build software prototypes. - Develop test plans to evaluate software. - Develop test procedures to ensure conformity with specifications or standards. - Provide feedback to application developers. - Develop functional, operational, or user requirements. - Develop solution designs. - Develop multimedia products, integrating text, computer graphics, conventional art, photographs, or other media. - Create and/or manage images (for example, photographs) using digital and analog imaging technologies and databases. - Develop research approaches and methodologies. - Develop a test plan for custom hardware or software based on requirements. - Execute a software or hardware test plan. EVALUATE/TEST - Test applications to validate functional, operational, or user requirements. - Evaluate and test websites and applications for Accessibility as required under Section 508. - Evaluate or test computer applications or programs for usability in order to meet performance objectives. - Communicate identified defects in developed hardware or software to development team. - Evaluate the results of a software or hardware test. - Evaluate a software or hardware test plan. - Analyze current tools for proper functionality. - Evaluate or test computer applications or programs to ensure compliance with technical, professional, legal and/or organizational standards/requirements. - Analyze user/customer requirements related to software and/or software system design. - Evaluate solution designs. - Conduct front-end analyses.
PAY BENEFITS & WORK SCHEDULE
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position. Salary Range: $82,764 - $181,216 (Full Performance, Senior) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. On the job training, internal NSA courses, and external training will be made available based on the need and experience of the selectee. Benefits: NSA offers excellent benefits to include relocation assistance, flexible work schedules, generous leave programs, paid personal fitness time, training and continuing education classes, health and life insurance, Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and a Federal retirement plan. Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
POSITION SUMMARY
NSA is in search of Computer Science professionals to solve complex problems, test innovative approaches and research new solutions to storing, manipulating, and presenting information. We are looking for you to apply your computer science expertise to projects that seek to create new standards for the transformation of information. If you want to develop technologies and tools and be a part of cutting edge innovations; join our team of experts! Help protect national security interests as part of the world's most advanced team of computer science professionals!
HOW TO APPLY
Apply soonest, as job postings can close earlier than stated end dates due to changes in requirements. It is important to review and note the minimum qualifications, as only those applicants who meet the required qualifications will be contacted to continue the employment process. Please populate the resume tool to showcase any relevant work experience and education related to the position and answer any applicable screening questions. Information collected will be used to determine eligibility, and failure to provide accurate information may result in disqualification for this position. A confirmation email will be sent after submission of the first application and also after any future updates to submitted applications. **Due to time sensitive communications regarding applications, please ensure your spam filters are configured to accept email from noreply@intelligencecareers.gov. For job vacancies that include stated testing requirements, also include the following: @uwe.nsa.gov, @nsa.gov, and @pearson.com** U.S. Citizenship is required for all applicants. NSA is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations. All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process where appropriate. Please visit our Diversity link for more information https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/NSA/diversity-and-inclusion.
DCIPS Disclaimer
The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.
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