Senior Human Centered Design & UI/UX Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Human‑Centered Design & UI/UX Engineer to fill a dual‑hatted position that combines deep human‑factors expertise with hands‑on UI/UX design, joining our Digital Architecture Team (DAT) to shape mission‑critical software experiences. In this senior position you will own end‑to‑end human‑centered design activities user research, requirements synthesis, interaction design, high‑fidelity prototyping, usability testing, and design‑system governance while also driving the visual and interaction design strategy for our software platforms. You will partner closely with product owners, system architects, engineers, and subject‑matter experts to ensure that every solution is technically robust, highly usable, accessible, and fully compliant with DoD human‑factors standards (e.g., MIL‑STD‑1472, Section 508).

Responsibilities

• Champion Human‑Centered Design and UI/UX best practices across the Digital Architecture Team, embedding user‑focus into every stage of the SAFe® development flow.
• Lead end‑to‑end user research (contextual inquiries, interviews, surveys, field observations) and translate findings into personas, journey maps, and well‑defined design requirements.
• Drive interaction‑design work: produce low‑fi wireframes, high‑fi mock‑ups, and interactive prototypes (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, etc.) that illustrate concepts for sprint planning and stakeholder review.
• Own the UI/UX design system: create, maintain, and govern component libraries, style guides, and accessibility standards to ensure visual and functional consistency across all DAT products.
• Conduct formative and summative usability testing (lab‑based, remote, or in‑the‑field); analyze results, document findings, and iterate designs to meet the Definition of Done and MIL‑STD‑1472 / Section 508 compliance.
• Partner with product owners, system architects, software engineers, and DevSecOps teams to ensure designs are technically feasible, secure, and aligned with the ART’s backlog and PI objectives.
• Integrate design artifacts (research insights, personas, user stories, acceptance criteria) into JIRA so they are visible and traceable throughout the sprint lifecycle.
• Produce and maintain comprehensive design documentation, traceability matrices, and human‑factors compliance evidence required for internal and external audits.
• Mentor junior designers and cross‑functional team members on HCD methodologies, UI/UX tools, and usability testing techniques; lead design critiques and review sessions.
• Present research outcomes, design concepts, and usability findings to senior leadership, customers, and external stakeholders, synthesizing feedback into actionable design improvements.
• Identify and proactively remove design‑related impediments; collaborate with the Release Train Engineer to surface any systemic barriers that affect user‑experience delivery.
• Drive continuous‑improvement initiatives: capture lessons learned from each iteration, update the team’s Definition of Done, and contribute to refining DAT’s Agile processes.
• Stay current with emerging UI/UX trends, human‑factors research, and defense‑industry standards; apply relevant innovations to enhance the usability and effectiveness of BAE Systems’ digital solutions.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Human‑Centered Design, Human‑Factors Engineering, Interaction Design, Industrial Design, Cognitive Psychology, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
• 4 + years of professional experience in human‑centered design, UI/UX, or related fields, including at least 2 years of leadership or lead‑designer responsibility.
• 3 + years of hands‑on experience working in Agile/Scrum environments (participating in sprint planning, daily stand‑ups, PI planning, etc.).
• Deep knowledge of human‑factors standards and accessibility guidelines relevant to defense (e.g., MIL‑STD‑1472, Section 508, ANSI/HFES 100) and demonstrated experience applying them in design solutions.
• Strong experience building and governing design systems: component libraries, style guides, and accessibility rules that ensure consistency across multiple products.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Master’s degree or advanced certification in Human‑Factors Engineering, User Experience, Interaction Design, or a closely related discipline.
• Direct experience designing for defense, aerospace, or other high‑security, safety‑critical domains (e.g., DoD, NASA, aerospace OEMs).
• Proven track record delivering UI/UX for large‑scale, multi‑team SAFe® Agile Release Trains (multiple Planning Intervals).
• Exposure to DevSecOps pipelines and security‑by‑design practices ensuring UI/UX components meet stringent security requirements.
• Active security clearance – Secret or higher.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $97008 - $164914

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

About BAE Systems, Inc.

BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.