User Experience Designer

Mid-Level User Experience Designer

AgencyQ is looking for a mid-level User Experience Designer to support the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

AgencyQ helps organizations unify data, AI, and insights to build platforms that perform, adapt, and scale. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, we bring together strategy, human-centered design, platform engineering, and data and analytics for clients across the public sector, health and wellness, associations and nonprofits, and other industries. Our approach is AI-first and human-led: we pair people who understand users and missions with technology that delivers measurable results.

About the Role

AgencyQ is hiring a User Experience Designer to work remotely, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supporting NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). You will work alongside NIH program staff, scientists, and technical teams to research and design public-facing websites, research data platforms, and internal tools used by researchers, clinicians, educators, and the public. NIH is the nation's medical research agency. Clear, usable websites and tools help researchers find and use biomedical literature and genomic data and help the public understand the science behind their health.

This is a mid-level role, not an entry-level position. You'll work directly with NCBI teams on short- and long-term projects, largely independently once you're up to speed, with light guidance from an AgencyQ UX lead. You'll do your own design and research work and also advise developers and other team members on the user experience of what they build. Prior experience at NIH, or an existing Public Trust determination, is a strong advantage. This role starts as an independent contractor (1099) engagement, with the potential to convert to full-time employment with AgencyQ. If you don't meet every qualification listed but believe you'd be an excellent fit, we encourage you to apply and tell us why.

Position at a Glance

• Engagement type: Independent contractor (1099), full-time hours, with potential to convert to full-time employment
• Location: Remote (U.S.-based)
• Experience: 2+ years of professional UX design experience
• Background investigation: Must be able to obtain and maintain an NIH Public Trust determination and qualify for an NIH PIV badge
• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required

What You'll Do

• Design wireframes and full-fidelity interactive prototypes in Figma using the NCBI design system and existing page patterns and explain the rationale behind your design decisions.
• Translate complex scientific, policy, and data-heavy content into clear, usable experiences.
• Use AI tools responsibly for research synthesis and, where it fits, prototyping, following NIH and HHS policies on AI use and non-public data.
• Design to Section 508 standards and WCAG 2.1 AA and follow federal plain language guidelines; help review and resolve accessibility issues.
• Use and contribute to the NCBI design system, based on the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS), and NCBI web and brand standards.
• Plan and conduct user research, including interviews and usability testing.
• Synthesize research findings into clear, actionable recommendations and help present them to NIH stakeholders.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and work in tools such as Jira and Confluence; prepare annotations, specs, and handoff files for developers as needed.
• Support workshops, design sprints, and working sessions with NIH stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Manage your own tasks across multiple projects and communicate progress and blockers proactively.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional UX design experience (not including internships or coursework).
• A portfolio with at least two real-world projects that shows your research and design process, your specific role, and the outcomes.
• Proficiency in Figma or a comparable tool for wireframing and prototyping.
• Experience designing websites or web applications, from wireframes through full-fidelity, responsive designs.
• UI design skills, including applying an existing design system and matching established visual styles.
• Working knowledge of accessibility principles, Section 508, and WCAG.
• Experience conducting usability testing or other user research.
• Experience working on cross-functional teams with developers, content strategists, and product owners.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including presenting work to stakeholders.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain an NIH Public Trust determination and meet all requirements for an NIH PIV badge.
• Ability to work remotely during standard NIH business hours (Eastern Time), with a reliable, secure home workspace.
• Bachelor's degree in human-computer interaction, design, information science, psychology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior work at NIH or another HHS agency (such as CDC, FDA, CMS, or HRSA), as a federal employee or contractor.
• A current or recent Public Trust determination or NIH badge.
• Experience designing for healthcare, scientific, research, or public health audiences.
• Experience with USWDS or similar design systems.
• Experience using AI tools in your design and research workflow, such as generating design options, building prototypes, or synthesizing research notes, along with the judgment to check the output and protect sensitive information.
• Experience designing search, data tables, or other data-dense interfaces.
• Experience working in an Agile environment.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Agency or federal consulting experience.

How You Work

• Passion for human-centered design and for solving real problems for real people.
• Constructive advocacy for users, accessibility, and inclusive design—without backing down on the issues that matter.
• Comfort working within federal processes, policies, and approval chains while still pushing for better outcomes.
• Openness to critique from every discipline, and the ability to give constructive feedback in return.
• Energy for bringing structure to ambiguity and staying productive when priorities shift.
• Sound judgment and discretion with sensitive, pre-decisional, and non-public information.
• Continuous learning, critical thinking, and the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and with humility.
• Genuine care for colleagues, clients, and the people we design for.

AgencyQ is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status. This role supports a federal government contract and is contingent upon successful completion of a government background investigation.

Salary: $54.72 - $60.24 per hour