Lead UX/UI Designer

Important Notice for Applicants:
At Bixal, we want to ensure a transparent and secure application process for all candidates. Official communication will come from an email address ending in @bixal.com or from [email protected]. Messages from other sources may be fraudulent, and you should exercise care to avoid any links or attachments included.

Bixal will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Need Assistance or a Reasonable Accommodation?
If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to complete your application, we're here to help. Please reach out to us at [email protected] and let us know how we can support you. You do not need to share personal details or disclose the nature of your request. You can expect a response from a team member within 24 hours during the regular work week and on the next operating day during the weekend or holidays.

Why Bixal?

Bixal is a consulting company headquartered in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Our values:

• People-First : Emphasizing the importance of people in all aspects of work.
• Collaboration and Transparency : Valuing teamwork and open communication.
• Growth Mindset : Encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
• Creating Lasting Impact : Focusing on meaningful outcomes and positive change.

About the role:

The Principal UX Designer leads the design and implementation of user-centric,
Section 508-compliant digital interfaces within complex enterprise environments.
This role blends creative problem solving with technical expertise in interaction
design, usability, accessibility, and front-end development standards. The Principal UX Designer works collaboratively with stakeholders, engineers, and business
analysts to craft intuitive, responsive, and accessible user experiences aligned with
federal digital service standards and security protocols.

This is a full-time position contingent on contract award , with a defined
performance period of one year with four one-year option periods.
You’ll have the opportunity to join a project that directly supports Bixal’s mission of
improving how government serves people. While the project has a defined
timeline, we believe in open communication and proactive career support. You’ll
be kept informed of contract status — and we’ll be here to help you grow into
what’s next, whether within this project or beyond it.

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is $115,000-130,000. In the spirit of transparency, most offers tend to land near the midpoint of the range. We make compensation decisions thoughtfully, considering your experience, the skills you bring, and our commitment to internal equity. Fairness and transparency are core to how we operate.

Responsibilities:

• Apply Human-Centered Design (HCD), user research, and usability testing to drive iterative design improvements.
  
• Partner with UX researchers to plan and conduct surveys, user interviews,
  and analytics-based assessments.
  
• Lead the creation of high-fidelity wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and
  interactive models for web applications and services aligned with agency
  design system and style guide standards.
  
• Conduct heuristic evaluations and cognitive walkthroughs to validate
  accessibility and usability, ensuring full compliance with Section 508 and
  WCAG 2.1 standards.
  
• Advocate for accessibility-first design principles, integrating assistive
  technologies and screen reader testing.
  
• Build upon and maintain scalable design systems, UI frameworks, and style
  guides that can be reused across the enterprise.
  
• Use tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD in conjunction with front-end
  frameworks (e.g., React, Bootstrap, TailwindCSS) to deliver production-ready
  designs.
  
• Provide detailed design specifications and assets to developers, collaborate
  with developers to implement and refine design solutions, and actively
  participate in sprint planning and reviews.
  
• Contribute to cross-team UX governance to standardize interaction models
  and visual language across projects.
  
• Communicate with team members and stakeholders about problem
  statements, the design process, and design choices to ensure awareness
  and alignment regarding prioritization and to ensure consistency across
  microservices, applications, and API-driven interfaces.

• Other relevant duties as assigned and qualified/trained to perform

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in User Experience Design, UI/UX, or related technical discipline plus at least eight (8) years of experience in the IT field focusing on development projects of which three (3) years shall be in architecture and design of UX/IX for enterprise applications
• Proven understanding and work experience in the design of complex, enterprise-level, services, and systems.
• Demonstrated ability as an excellent collaborator and communicator who will comfortably and effectively work very closely with client and contractor staff.
• Thorough knowledge of UX design tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch) and prototyping tools.
• Experience designing within modern front-end development frameworks (e.g., HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, React, Angular).
• Strong portfolio showcasing responsive, accessible, and interactive web or application design.
• In-depth understanding of Section 508, WCAG 2.1, and federal digital accessibility mandates.
• Familiarity with Agile/SAFe methodologies and participation in DevSecOps teams.
• Ability to present and defend design decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven experience working on federal government programs, ideally within USCIS or similar regulatory environments.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance

How We Support Our Team:

• Flex hours
• 401K with matching incentive
• Parental Leave
• Medical/dental/vision benefits
• Flex Spending Account
• Company provided short-term disability and life insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 11 Paid holidays

Our company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.