UX/UI Designer (Temporarily – 6 months)

About Skyward

We are Skyward.

That is, a love for people, for improvement, for human advancement through information technology. We are a people-centered business with a desire to serve others. We are diverse and unified; creative and collaborative; a collection of complementary, not competing talents. And though on the surface we remain relaxed, beneath, a torrent of energy links us to our civic tech mission.

We stand by our values, and we won’t compromise on any of them.

• Integrity: We’re conscientious, intentional, and empathetic. Our words and actions align. That’s our character. Please don’t ask us to play another part, we’re poor actors.
• Compassionate: If we may borrow a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Because our team is thoughtful and supportive, caring deeply for each other, our clients, and our work, this comes naturally.
• Inquisitive: We remain students by failing openly and turning lessons into solutions.
• Unconventional: For us, life isn’t what happens outside of work. Work happens inside of life and our culture erases the line often dividing the two.
• Authentic: Made possible only because we embody the values listed above. We’re relaxed and fun yet intensely curious and driven. Team members are placed with thought, care, and precision to ensure that Trust, Truth, and Transparency continue to represent our brand.

Because of that, we continue Onward, Upward, and Skyward.

Role Overview

We need a UX/UI Designer (Temporarily – 6 months).

Are you the kind of designer who sees complexity and immediately starts simplifying it? Someone who can bring structure to fast-moving environments without slowing them down.

We already have a strong UX Designer on the team - moving fast, building quickly, and pushing things forward. Now we need someone who can complement that energy by bringing clarity, consistency, and scalability to the experience.

If you’re a thoughtful designer who thrives in fast-paced environments and loves turning “scrappy” into “scalable,” then we definitely want you.

Come join us if you're motivated to learn from others, to learn from mistakes, to be part of a future-looking and growth-oriented team.

Let's go Skyward together.

What you'll do:

• Design intuitive, accessible user experiences supporting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) platforms and digital services for federal clients.
• Partner closely with an existing UX Designer to bring structure, consistency, and polish to fast-moving design efforts.
• Document designs, workflows, and decisions clearly, ensuring developers have everything they need to execute quickly and accurately.
• Build, refine, and maintain design systems aligned with modern frontend frameworks like SvelteKit and React.
• Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that translate complex workflows into simple, user-friendly experiences.
• Leverage AI tools to accelerate design workflows - whether for prototyping, research synthesis, or usability insights.
• Improve design-to-development handoffs, reducing bottlenecks and enabling faster delivery cycles.
• Iterate quickly based on feedback, balancing speed with thoughtful, scalable design decisions.
• Ensure accessibility (Section 508/WCAG) and usability standards are consistently met.
• Collaborate across product, engineering, and stakeholders to keep work moving forward with clarity and purpose.

What we'd like you to have:

• Bachelor’s degree in UX, Visual Design, HCI, or a related field.
• 3 years of product-focused UX/UI experience (government or civic tech experience a bonus but not required).
• A portfolio that shows off original thinking, human-centered design, and systems-level imagination.
• Fluency in Figma, Sketch, or other modern design tools.
• Comfort working alongside developers and being curious about the “why” behind technical decisions.
• Passion for AI, machine learning, and the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent systems.
• Fearlessness. You’re excited to build something that’s never been built before.
• Exposure to AI-assisted design tools or strong interest in integrating AI into your workflow.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.
• A proactive mindset with a bias toward action. You don’t wait to improve things.

What would blow us away:

• Experience supporting FOIA systems or government case management platforms.

You believe the best digital experiences aren’t just smart. They’re soulful.

• Your portfolio.

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.

What we offer you:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance (fully paid for employees)
• 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!

Compensation

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!

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Skyward, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or background, can thrive. We support flexible working hours and remote opportunities to help maintain a healthy work-life balance for all employees, including caregivers and those with unique needs.

Additional Information

Offers of employment with Skyward are contingent upon acceptable results of a background investigation.

Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance due to the nature of our work as a government contractor.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.