Design Lead
Overview
LMI is seeking an experienced Design Lead to support a key client at the General Services Administration (GSA) in delivering a modern, web-based acquisitions system. This initiative is focused on streamlining Governmentwide Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV) contracting by enabling intuitive, efficient collaboration between the acquisitions team and suppliers across the acquisition lifecycle.
The Design Lead and will serve as the senior authority responsible for defining and enforcing the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design approach across the program. This individual must possess a comprehensive understanding of user needs, accessibility requirements, and modern web-based design practices, ensuring the development team consistently follows a cohesive, scalable design strategy.
The ideal candidate combines strong visual design expertise, deep UX knowledge, and the ability to operate effectively within Agile software delivery teams in secure, cloud-based federal environments.
This position is anticipated to be majority remote, but with the ability to travel and visit the client’s offices in Washington, D.C. as frequently as needed.
LMI is a new breed of digital solutions provider dedicated to accelerating government impact with innovation and speed. Investing in technology and prototypes ahead of need, LMI brings commercial-grade platforms and mission-ready AI to federal agencies at commercial speed.
Leveraging our mission-ready technology and solutions, proven expertise in federal deployment, and strategic relationships, we enhance outcomes for the government, efficiently and effectively. With a focus on agility and collaboration, LMI serves the defense, space, healthcare, and energy sectors-helping agencies navigate complexity and outpace change. Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, LMI is committed to delivering impactful results that strengthen missions and drive lasting value.
Responsibilities
Design Leadership & Strategy
- Serve as the primary authority for UX/UI strategy and execution
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of user needs and the approved design approach, ensuring consistent implementation across development teams
- Define and enforce design standards, style guides, and interaction patterns across all modules of the acquisitions system
- Ensure cohesive user journeys across pre-award, award, and post-award acquisition lifecycle activities
User Experience & Interface Design
- Lead the full UX lifecycle, including research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and iterative refinement
- Translate complex acquisition workflows into intuitive, accessible, and efficient user experiences
- Design workflows that reduce cognitive load and training burden for the federal acquisition workforce (AWF), improving adoption and productivity.
- Develop high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes
- Ensure design solutions align with both user needs and federal regulatory requirements
Agile & Iterative Delivery
- Operate effectively within an Agile or Scrum framework, managing a backlog of design work and supporting sprint-based delivery
- Conduct rapid prototyping and iterative testing to validate design decisions
- Collaborate closely with Product Owners and Technical Leads to ensure designs are feasible and aligned with technical architecture
- Support sprint reviews, demonstrations, and continuous improvement efforts
Technical Collaboration & Cloud Considerations
- Demonstrate proficiency in industry-standard design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch)
- Understand technical constraints of modern web development, including HTML/CSS and responsive design principles
- Ensure design specifications translate effectively into CI/CD pipelines and AWS cloud deployment environments
- Promote secure, performant, and maintainable front-end architectures in collaboration with engineering teams
Design Standards & Compliance
- Apply fundamental design principles, including color theory, typography, layout, and grid systems, to ensure high-quality and consistent work
- Ensure compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards and federal usability guidelines
- Support documentation of design decisions, style systems, and user research findings
Team & Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work effectively with engineering, product management, and government stakeholders to align design efforts with overall product vision
- Facilitate design reviews and feedback sessions
- Mentor designers and foster a collaborative, user-centered culture
- Clearly communicate design rationale, tradeoffs, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience serving as a Design Lead (or equivalent role) on complex web-based or enterprise platforms
- Proficiency with industry-standard design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or Sketch
- Deep understanding of UX/UI principles and full project lifecycle design practices
- Proven ability to work within Agile or Scrum development environments
- Strong understanding of modern web technologies and front-end technical constraints
- Experience designing secure, scalable interfaces deployed within cloud environments such as AWS
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
Desired Qualifications
- Experience supporting GSA or other federal digital modernization initiatives
- Experience designing systems supporting acquisition, procurement, or enterprise workflow automation
- Familiarity with design systems and component-based architectures
- Experience conducting user research within federal or highly regulated environments
Portfolio Submission Required: To better evaluate your skills and design expertise, please ensure you upload a copy of your portfolio or provide a link to your work when submitting your application.
The target salary range for this position is $122,209-$211,317.
The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is not a guarantee of compensation. Individual salaries are determined by various factors including, but not limited to location, internal equity, business considerations, client contract requirements, and candidate qualifications, such as education, experience, skills, and security clearances.
Applicants must meet eligibility requirements for a U.S. Government security clearance. Only US Citizens are eligible for a security clearance. For this position, LMI will only consider applicants with security clearances or applicants who are eligible for security clearances, due to the nature of the work.