User Experience (UX) Designer

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 a wide range of 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

Job 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!

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree in any field is acceptable. Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: design areas (for example user centered, software user interface, graphic/visual, interaction, web development, and information architecture) or usability and user research. FULL PERFORMANCE Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience or a Doctoral degree and no experience. A high school diploma or GED plus 7 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience may be considered. SENIOR Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. A high school diploma or GED plus 10 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience may be considered.

Competencies

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: $84,601 - $185,234 (Full Performance, Senior) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience. Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package. 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). DCIPS Trial Period: If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.

How to apply

The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. (Please attach in application) 1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. 2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. 3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. 4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
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.

DCIPS Disclaimer

**VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS** Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority. Veterans' Preference In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application. Acceptable documentation includes: - DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4); OR - Certification of Service: A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date; AND - Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf). If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability; AND - VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating) You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/). **Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.