United States onlyWho is Element?
We serve as a partner at the intersection of innovation and our clients' needs, efficiently crafting meaningful user experiences for government and commercial customers. By breaking complex problems down into their fundamental elements, we create modern digital solutions that drive efficiency, maximize taxpayer dollars, and deliver essential outcomes that serve the people.
Why Work at Element?
Make an impact that resonates-join our vibrant team and discover how you can improve lives through digital transformation. Our talented professionals bring unparalleled energy engagement, setting a higher standard for impactful work. Be a part of our team and shape a better future.
Position Summary
Element is seeking an experienced, full-time Sr. UI/UX Designer to join our growing company. This individual will lead the design of human-centered digital experiences that make AI-driven public services accessible, transparent, and trustworthy. This role bridges design strategy, accessibility standards, and emerging technology—ensuring that AI solutions serve all residents equitably and effectively. This individual will collaborate with cross-functional teams—including data scientists, AI engineers, developers, and policy experts—to design intuitive user interfaces and experiences for web and mobile applications built on state AI platforms.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end design efforts for AI-enabled tools, dashboards, and public-facing applications.
- Develop and maintain design systems that align with state digital service standards and accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA).
- Conduct user research, usability testing, and stakeholder workshops to inform product design decisions.
- Translate complex AI models and data visualizations into clear, understandable interfaces for diverse audiences.
- Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that communicate design intent effectively.
- Collaborate closely with developers to ensure accurate implementation of design specifications.
- Advocate for user-centered and inclusive design practices across all state AI projects.
- Stay current with emerging technologies in AI, UX research, accessibility, and civic tech.
- Design and validate multilingual, WCAG 2.1 Level AA–compliant user interfaces to ensure inclusive access for residents, policymakers, and researchers across the Commonwealth.
- Develop user experiences that embody FAIR principles by improving the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability of AI datasets, dashboards, and decision tools.
- Translate complex model outputs and metadata into transparent, explainable design elements that reinforce trust and accountability in AI-driven systems.
- Lead usability testing in sandbox and pilot environments to validate accessibility, usability, and adoption before production rollout.
- Collaborate with data governance and AI fairness teams to ensure interfaces reflect ethical AI principles, including fairness, transparency, and user autonomy.
- Contribute to the creation of a unified design system supporting consistent branding, accessibility, and modular interface components across all Hub applications.
- Apply human-centered design and participatory research practices to ensure products address real-world user needs and reduce barriers to engagement.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 8+ years of professional experience in UI/UX design, preferably including civic tech, enterprise systems, or AI-driven products.
- Proficiency with design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).Strong understanding of responsive and accessible design principles.
- Experience conducting user research and translating insights into actionable design solutions.
- Demonstrated experience designing accessible and inclusive interfaces that meet WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 standards.
- Proven ability to incorporate FAIR and ethical AI design principles into user experience workflows and digital product design.
- Experience supporting multilingual or multicultural digital experiences in public or enterprise systems.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts in simple, visual ways.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to work in Agile or Lean environments.US Citizenship or Permanent Residency required.
- Must reside in the Continental US.
- Depending on the government agency, specific requirements may include public trust background check or security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing for public-sector or government services.
- Familiarity with data visualization, AI/ML workflows, or ethical AI design.
- Knowledge of front-end development fundamentals (HTML, CSS, JS).
- Experience contributing to or maintaining a design system at scale.
- Familiarity with FAIR data and metadata visualization patterns (e.g., CKAN, Dataverse, or open data portals).
- Experience designing explainable AI (XAI) interfaces that promote interpretability, user trust, and responsible AI adoption.
- Understanding of UX compliance audits and accessibility testing tools for government or regulated environments.
Location
Be in your Element. We are a remote-first company based in Washington, DC.
Element is an equal opportunity employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
We believe in a world where solutions we build improve the lives of those who use them.
