Lead UX/UI Designer: Liaison/Product Manager

Company Overview:

At FWDthink we are at the forefront of technological innovation, committed to securing the digital frontier for businesses and government entities alike. With a mission rooted in excellence, integrity, and innovation, we've achieved notable success in delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. Our culture is one of collaboration, empowerment, and continuous learning, where every team member's contribution is valued and drives our shared success. We use authenticity, simplicity & kindness to enable talent & service. Our model focuses on moving the mission forward and encourages experimentation, expression the disruption of paradigms that no longer serve the greater good. We are creative, nurturing and innovative. We are a company of creators with evolving interests. We think forward by aligning our resources, tools, and strategies to focus on the solution. Join us as we encourage and empower our employees!

Description:

We are seeking a passionate, talented product designer to join our team as a Lead UX/UI Designer: Liaison/Product Manager, in the Defense & Space industry. As a crucial member of our organization, you will be responsible for leading the design process, managing product development, and acting as a liaison between various programs. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying and validating problems and areas of opportunities through research, ideation and developing solutions that balances three key critical areas: user, business/mission needs, and technology implementation. In this role you must be a high performer, a visionary, and exceptionally creative, that sees the big picture but can focus on the smallest of details that matter. You will have the opportunity to solve complex and challenging problems and create solutions with experiences that people will love.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the design process, including concept development, prototype creation, and final product design.

Manage and prioritize the product roadmap, ensuring product development aligns with program specifications and customer requirements. Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions and to ensure smooth execution of product development milestones. Serve as a point of contact for program teams and external partners, providing technical expertise and support throughout all stages of product development. Create, execute, and maintain UX strategy plan of action to align product goals with user needs and business/mission needs by defining: Vision-strategic intent and positioning, goals and measurable outcomes, and plan-focus areas, product requirements, roadmap. Conduct market research user needs, validate assumptions, identify goals and pain points, gaps and opportunities, synthesize findings and conduct analysis, and use insights to inform design decisions. Gather quantitative data through surveys and other similar methods. Gather qualitative data through user interviews and focus groups. Observe users in working environments to understand workflow and behaviors through Contextual Inquiry. Competitive Analysis - understand products or solutions currently in the marketplace, conduct SWOT analysis. Thematic analysis (using journaling, affinity diagram, software, other methods). Create research validated personas to help better understand and empathize with user needs, behaviors, goals, and preferences. Secondary research-academia, industry, DoD, Air Force, Space Force, and local policies and regulations, other sources. Analytics-track and analyze metrics, KPIs, OKRs. Create user-centered designs that enhance the user experience and usability of products. Utilize industry practiced ideation methodologies to include but not limited to: Brainstorming, Mind mapping, Crazy 8s, Opportunity Solution Trees, Scamper, Design Studio. Use mapping solutions to understand and communicate complex processes and system relationships, identify areas of improvements, identify gaps and disconnect. Utilize the following methodologies but not limited to: User Journey Mapping, Service Blueprint, Information Architecture, Task analysis. Create wireframes, user and task flows, prototypes, and visual designs that effectively communicate design specs, intent and interaction requirements for development team and ensure design solutions are informed by research and stakeholder requirements. Test and validate assumptions, requirements, and design concepts through user testing, usability testing and analytics: Moderated and unmoderated usability tests, A/B Testing, Use Card Sorting and other methods to create information architecture, organize content and information in products that fits users mental models. Atlas Design System - Contribute at scale to the development, creation, and maintenance of: UI components and patterns, Style guide, Design principles, Governance, Collaborate with developers. Communicate, collaborate, and work closely with developers to ensure designs are feasible and can be implemented according to design specifications. Continuously iterate on designs based on user and stakeholder feedback. Maintain a strong understanding of industry trends and best practices in UX/product design, and user research. Communicate and present research findings, brief projects, product demonstrations with the team, stakeholders, senior military and civilian leadership. Lead and facilitate brainstorming, product and solution reviews and feedback/critique sessions. Practice and employ problem solving and UX methodologies such as Design Thinking, User-Centered Design, Jobs-to-be-Done, Lean UX, and more. Conduct cross-functional fundamentals training in UX and design within the team and potentially across the command. Evangelize and advocate for end-users, human-centered design and development. Define and implement design and development standards, processes, and best practices to optimize product quality and efficiency. Proactively identify risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful product delivery and program alignment

Qualifiers:

U.S. Citizen with an active U.S. Secret security clearance required. Master's degree in User Experience Design, or a related field. Strong design portfolio that clearly demonstrates end-to-end process, research, strategy, problem-solving, and design skills. Proven experience as a lead designer: Liaison/Product Manager in the defense and space industry. In-depth knowledge of user-centered design, agile/iterative design, and emerging design trends. Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Proficient in design, research, communication, and project management tools such as Figma, FigJam, Adobe CC, Maze, Notion, Slack, SharePoint, and emerging design tools. Flexibility to travel as required. Strong knowledge and a mindset in human-centered design principles. Strong planning, strategy, problem-solving, analytical skills to contribute to making high-level strategic product decisions. Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional environment, working closely with developers, program, project, product manager, and organizational stakeholders and clients. Excellent communication and presentation skills - project briefing, workshop and critique/feedback session facilitation, defend and rationalize design decisions, product presentations and demonstrations to stakeholders and civilian and military leadership. Knowledge and experience with any UX principles such as design thinking, lean, jobs-to-be-done, user-centered design, five elements, double-diamond. A willingness to fail and learn. Passionate, eager, and ego free who welcomes receiving candid constructive feedback and can provide it as well. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams. Exceptional problem-solving abilities and a track record of delivering innovative solutions. Knowledge and experience in agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, XP, SAFe is a plus. Basic knowledge and skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a plus. Experience in brand and identity design is a plus. Knowledge, skills, and experience in Data Visualization design is a plus. Flexibility to travel if required with advance notice and approval.

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