Senior UX Designer

Element 84 is a woman-owned small business specializing in cloud-based geospatial data processing and software development. We partner with clients across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build tools that address critical questions about health, infrastructure, and our changing environment. Our expertise lies in remote sensing, Earth science systems, and advanced geospatial workflows. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, with a satellite office in Philadelphia, we also support a large remote team across various states.

Our Culture and Values
At Element 84, we believe in investing in each other, being reliable, and creating work that benefits the world. We take on meaningful, technically challenging projects that have a positive impact across industries. We support life beyond work with flexible schedules, parental leave for all, and a compassionate approach to family needs. Since our founding in 2010, flexibility and respect for diverse perspectives have been core to our culture. We strive to build an inclusive environment where curiosity and mutual support thrive.

Who You Are
You are curious, self-driven, and eager to lead—whether formally or informally. You thrive on solving complex problems with a societal impact, especially in science, medicine, or environmental domains. Comfortable working independently or as part of a team, you prioritize your workload effectively and excel without close supervision. You value clear, thoughtful written communication, knowing that in a remote team, good writing is essential to collaboration and quality outcomes.

Role Overview
As a UX Designer at Element 84, you will guide discovery and design phases using human-centered design methods. Your work will focus on understanding client challenges, user needs, and technical constraints to create responsive, accessible designs—primarily for geospatial web applications in areas like water management, earth sciences, and risk assessment.

This is a contract position. Contractors are pre-approved to work on projects as opportunities arise, which can vary in length from a single sprint to a year or more. Contractors must embrace Element 84’s values and represent the company professionally to clients.

Key Responsibilities

Discovery

• Facilitate stakeholder workshops using Miro or Figjam
• Conduct qualitative user research
• Synthesize findings and communicate insights
• Develop initial design concepts and define design direction

Design

• Map user flows and create system diagrams
• Produce wireframes and high-fidelity clickable prototypes in Figma
• Prototype data visualizations and map interfaces
• Ensure all designs meet accessibility standards
• Maintain and utilize design systems for consistency
• Collaborate with clients, team members, and users
• Participate in sprint meetings and provide timely progress updates
• Accept and iterate on client feedback
• Present design walkthroughs and deliver supporting materials
• Foster a respectful, team-oriented environment

Evaluation & Support

• Conduct usability testing and analyze user feedback or usage data
• Assist engineers by clarifying design details and reviewing their work

Expertise

• Apply strong visual design and human-centered design principles
• Guide clients through iterative design processes
• Collaborate effectively with technical experts and engineers
• Experience with geospatial data, dashboards, or decision support tools is a plus

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 3 years in UX, UI, or product design
• Strong foundation in visual design and modern UX best practices for responsive, accessible web apps
• Proficiency in Figma and building design systems
• Demonstrated strength in qualitative UX research and discovery
• Skilled in leading workshops using tools like Miro or Figjam
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities
• A portfolio that highlights your design process and impact

Preferred but Not Required

• Experience designing visualizations for data science, AI, or machine learning
• Familiarity with maps or GIS data
• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or React
• Experience working closely with front-end engineers
• Skills in quantitative UX research, graphic design, or branding

Education
We value skill and experience over formal education. Whether you’re self-taught, bootcamp-trained, or have a degree, what matters most is your demonstrated ability and passion for design.

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