Senior User Experience (UX/UI) Designer (NSF)

General Information

• Job Code: CIT-WB-04T
• Location: Rockville, MD/Client site in Virginia
• Telework: Ad Hoc at discretion of client.
• Employee Type: On-Call/Part-time Ad-hoc

• Salary Range: $44.50 - $51.17 per hour

Are you passionate about building web solutions that engage audiences and drive impact?

Ripple Effect is seeking a Senior User Experience (UX/UI) Designer to join the Ripple Effect team supporting internal projects as well as projects like the National Science Foundation (NSF) Web Team, which drafts and posts all external content on NSF.gov and manages internal content on the NSF Employee Portal. In this role, you will respond to publishing and editing requests from Ripple and/or client staff, creating webpages, news and event items, official funding and guidance documents, and other content using the Drupal Content Management System (CMS). Successful candidates will have user experience expertise for web design and be clear communicators.

Responsibilities Include:

• Creating clear, compelling webpage layouts that conform to web design best practices, WCAG 2.0/Section 508 requirements, and federal plain language requirements.
• Providing timely, high-quality customer support, handling requests and inquiries, resolving issues, and tracking all requests/inquiries within a ticketing system (built in ServiceNow and Microsoft Lists).
• Conducting UX research, developing wireframes, prototypes, and task flows, and leading usability testing to guide user‑centered design decisions.
• Advise on web design best practices, including consistent and clear layouts, 508 compliances, and the use of visuals to enhance engagement and understanding.
• Participate in special projects and perform other related duties as assigned. 

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Six or more years of experience with user-experience research and web design, additional education substitutes for experience.

Basic Requirements:

• Experience with the U.S. Web Design Systems and at least one Content Management System (CMS) (Drupal, etc.).
• Advanced experience with creating and documenting information design concepts and solutions by various means, including developing wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, and task flow diagrams.
• Advanced experience with usability testing, including preparing test plans and associated wireframes/protypes, facilitating test sessions, analyzing data, and reporting and presenting results.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of creating, managing, and supporting user experience and feedback activities, including surveys, and interviews.
• Ability to recommend the best user experience possible while considering technical feasibility and business goals through professional communication that prioritizes customer satisfaction.

Skills That Set You Apart:

• Intermediate experience with AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support project management tasks.
• Prior experience supporting NSF or other federal health agency UX/UI Web Design projects.
• Experience integrating 508 compliance and web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) into web design projects and products.
• Experience optimizing data visualizations to improve user experience with data dashboards, including Power BI

About Ripple Effect 

Ripple Effect is an award-winning women-owned, 200-person company of communicators, scientists, researchers, and analysts. Established in 2003, and named as one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” since 2020, Ripple Effect has earned acclaim for delivering unparalleled consulting services and top-tier talent across federal, private, and non-profit sectors.  

At Ripple Effect, we reward our employees for their contributions to our mission. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes competitive pay, exceptional benefits, and a range of programs that support your work/life balance and personalized preferences. 

Learn more about our benefits and culture here.