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 InformationFull-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 Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.
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.
