UX Researcher/Designer (Rockville)

We need a UX Researcher/Designer.
Do you get a little thrill from watching a user do something you swore nobody would ever do, and then realizing they’re right and the design is wrong? Are you the person who asks, “but what were you actually trying to do?” until the real need falls out? If you can turn a messy pile of interviews into an insight the whole team rallies around, and then sketch the screen that fixes it, then please apply.

Let’s go Skyward together.

What you'll do:

• Support a mission that matters. Help CMS deliver a world-class customer experience across its enterprise AI platform, grounding decisions in what users actually need.
• Turn research into insight. Plan and run interviews, usability sessions, and surveys - qualitative and quantitative - then synthesize the mess into findings people can act on.
• Dabble in design. Translate insights into low-fidelity wireframes and prototypes in Figma, partnering with the design team to shape and validate solutions (research-primary, but you get your hands on the pixels).
• Map the experience. Build personas, journey maps, and service blueprints that show how users interact with AI services and where it hurts.
• Champion accessibility. Keep Section 508 and WCAG front of mind so what gets built works for every user.
• Drive customer success and engagement. Feed research back into onboarding, training, and product decisions so adoption actually happens.
• Be the voice of the user. Bring evidence (and the occasional prototype) to a badgeless, one-team mix of engineers, designers, and CMS stakeholders.

What we'd like you to have:

• A bachelor’s degree and 5+ years in UX/HCD research (with hands-on design exposure) or a closely related field.
• A strong research toolkit: user research, usability testing, synthesis, and the ability to tell the story behind the data.
• Working design skills: comfort creating wireframes and prototypes in Figma, even if research is your primary craft.
• Familiarity with the USWDS and federal CX mandates.
• Fluency in modern research and design tools (Figma, Mural, Dovetail, or similar).
• Genuine accessibility awareness. 508 and WCAG are part of how you work, not an afterthought.
• Experience researching data-heavy or AI-driven products — dashboards, search, chat, or knowledge tools.

What would blow us away:

• You’ve got strong visual/interaction design chops. You can take a concept from sketch to polished, USWDS-aligned prototype.
• You previously supported CMS or another federal agency.

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. At Skyward, we’re focused on hiring individuals with the right skills and passion to grow, not just checking off every box.

And now the important part. What we offer you:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 15 days of paid leave
• 7 days of sick leave
• 2 days bereavement leave
• 11 paid Federal holidays
• Up to 40 hours for jury duty
• 401K with 4% employer contribution (and no vesting period)
• Up to 4 weeks of paid paternity and maternity leave
• Company provided laptop
• $5,000 per year for professional development
• $600 per year for technical supplies and equipment
• $2,000 referral bonus
• Life and disability insurance
• HSA and FSA
• Legal Shield and ID Shield Voluntary Benefits
• Opportunity to work in a collaborative, motivated team focused on modernizing government services with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. Who says government work can’t be exciting!

We believe great work deserves great pay. That’s why we ensure our compensation is not only competitive but also fair and transparent, as required by Maryland law. Expect a salary that matches your skills, experience, and the value you bring to the table — because you’re worth it!

VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
We request Priority Protected Veteran & Disabled Referrals for all of our locations within the state.