Product Designer - Six Months (W2 Temp)

Job Title: Product Designer - W2 Temp

Dates: April 1, 2025 - September 25, 2025

Location: 100% Remote - anywhere in the Continental U.S.

Rate: $64.90/hour

Hours: 40/per week

Who We Are

We are Friends From The City, a design and tech company focused on impact. We envision a future where everyone has equal access to the benefits of technology, and where the use of technology is guided by ethical principles and a commitment to sustainability and inclusivity. We're a minority, woman-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in Chicago.

Our mission is to make interactions with the government easy for all people. We create digital experiences for federal agencies that are user-centered, inclusive, and accessible. Picture this: A loved one is trying to access information on a government website, but they experience frustrating navigational challenges in the process. Or perhaps a relative who's seeking citizenship needs help understanding the application process because of a language barrier. At Friends From The City, we work to eliminate obstacles like these.

Our approach to human-centered design and software development is pretty straightforward. We apply user research to the design and development of functional platforms using clean code and intuitive design, and then we make those platforms accessible to all.

About The Role

Like most people in the United States, we depend on government systems to pay our taxes, obtain passports, and manage healthcare and other benefits. Unfortunately, completing these transactions online isn't always easy.

We are seeking a skilled and innovative Product Designer to join our project team at the Department of Veterans Affairs for a temporary engagement. This role will backfill a team member currently on parental leave. As a Product Designer, you will be responsible for creating intuitive, user-centered designs that improve the financial management experience for veterans. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and user researchers, to design digital solutions that simplify complex financial processes and ensure accessibility and usability for all Veterans and their families.

Requirements

• Design and iterate on user interface for VA financial management system, ensuring accessibility and usability for Veterans and staff.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and users to gather insights and validate design concepts through usability testing and feedback.
• Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that align with user needs and project goals.
• Maintain design consistency by adhering to the VA's design system and accessibility guidelines.
• Work closely with developers to ensure the design vision is executed accurately.
• Contribute to user journey mapping, interaction design, and overall product strategy to enhance user experience

Skill You'll Need to Bring

• 5-7 years of hands-on experience as a Product Designer or UX/UI Designer, ideally with experience in government or healthcare-related projects.
• A strong portfolio showcasing your process and work
• Experience creating user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and prototypes using design and prototyping in Figma or Codepen
• Experience with designing for accessibility (WCAG 2.1, Section 508 compliance).
• Strong communication skills—can clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions to your peers and cross-functional teams; comfortable giving and receiving feedback.
• Strong collaboration skills—comfortable and excited about building relationships with not only internal stakeholders, but also engineering, content, project management, and quality assurance teams
• Ability to prioritize, manage, and execute work in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment
• BA/BS in any discipline

Benefits

• Fully Remote
• 3 wellness days
• The ability to make a noticeable impact and improve lives

Our Hiring Process

• Phone Screen
• Portfolio Review
• Offer