Human-Centered Design (HCD) Expert

Human-Centered Design (HCD) Expert

Position Description
CGI is seeking a Human Centered Design (HCD) Expert to join a high performing Agile team supporting a portfolio of IT application development and modernization for a large federal agency. You will conduct user research, facilitate design activities, and create prototypes and design artifacts that improve usability across a complex ecosystem of applications. This is an opportunity to apply HCD methods at scale while partnering with product owners, developers, analysts, and stakeholders in a fast paced environment.
The ideal candidate is a structured thinker who is highly collaborative, curious, and comfortable engaging users and team members to uncover needs and translate them into clear design direction. This role requires strong communication skills, initiative, and the ability to manage competing priorities in an evolving environment. This position can be located in Fairfax, VA or Lafayette, LA. A hybrid working model is acceptable.
Due to the nature of this government contract, US Citizenship is required.
Your future duties and responsibilities:
. Communicate effectively and respectfully with team members, customers, partners, and management, both in person and virtually.
. Conduct user research through interviews, usability testing, workflow analysis, and surveys.
. Synthesize research into personas, journey maps, service blueprints, and other design artifacts.
. Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to backlog refinement, feature shaping, and solution design.
. Lead or support design workshops, design studios, and collaborative working sessions.
. Produce wireframes, prototypes, and conceptual workflows using tools such as Figma and Miro.
. Validate design decisions through iterative testing and feedback cycles.
. Ensure designs follow accessibility standards and align to USWDS or client design frameworks.
. Maintain documentation, research notes, and reusable design assets.
. Support user acceptance activities through usability validation and release readiness checks.
. Assist in preparing user guides, training materials, and support resources when needed.
Required qualifications to be successful in this role:
. Bachelor's degree
. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
. At least 4+ years of related HCD, UX research, or service design experience in the IT industry
. Strong collaboration skills with team members and stakeholders
. Experience conducting user research and translating findings into actionable design guidance
. Ability to create wireframes, prototypes, and user flows
. Ability to work effectively within a team environment under tight timelines
Desired qualifications/non essential skills required:
. Experience working with JIRA and Confluence
. Familiarity with federal programs, procurement, or complex enterprise systems
. Knowledge of accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG) and USWDS
. Experience with Figma, FigJam, Miro, Axure, or similar design tools
. Experience producing high fidelity HCD deliverables such as personas, service blueprints, and usability test plans
. Experience applying HCD methods within Agile delivery
. Experience extracting user insights from IT behavior tools such as Datadog Real User Monitoring, Google Analytics, or similar
CGI is required by law in some jurisdictions to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The determination of this range includes various factors not limited to skill set, level, experience, relevant training, and licensure and certifications. To support the ability to reward for merit based performance, CGI typically does not hire individuals at or near the top of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range for this role in the U.S. is $79,600.00 $172,400.00.
CGI Federal's benefits are offered to eligible professionals on their first day of employment to include:
. Competitive compensation
. Comprehensive insurance options
. Matching contributions through the 401(k) plan and the share purchase plan
. Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick time
. Paid parental leave
. Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
. Wellness and Well being programs
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Your future duties and responsibilities

Required qualifications to be successful in this role

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Life at CGI is rooted in ownership, teamwork, respect and belonging. Here, you’ll reach your full potential because…

You are invited to be an owner from day 1 as we work together to bring our Dream to life. That’s why we call ourselves CGI Partners rather than employees. We benefit from our collective success and actively shape our company’s strategy and direction.

Your work creates value. You’ll develop innovative solutions and build relationships with teammates and clients while accessing global capabilities to scale your ideas, embrace new opportunities, and benefit from expansive industry and technology expertise.

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