Defense Unicorns is seeking a Product Designer for UDS Fleet Management, focusing on remote deployment tools for disconnected field operations. The role involves designing mobile and tablet experiences for managing Kubernetes infrastructure in high-stakes environments, requiring expertise in mission-critical interface design.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to conceptualize and execute high-fidelity prototypes for mobile and tablet interfaces, translating concepts into user-friendly designs that align with our brand and business objectives
- Conduct comprehensive UX research and testing methodologies to gather user feedback, identify pain points, and iterate on UI design solutions for optimal user satisfaction on mobile, tablet, and desktop
- Help define early product concepts, flesh out the high-level workflow and micro-interactions of a feature, and execute on an effective visual design for mobile and tablet applications
- Cultivate empathy for end-users across product teams & stakeholders by creating and maintaining user personas for mission operators
- Collaborate with developers to design and build data-centered tools with intuitive mobile and tablet interfaces that improve operator and user experience
- Create, collaborate, and iterate on user flows, user personas, user roles, user journeys, and other UXI design artifacts
- Plan iterative UI design improvements that improve the mission user experience
- Document UI solutions and contribute to the team's shared component library
- Work closely with other product teams and designers to ensure seamless cross-product integration with all other UDS platform tools
- Develop a deep understanding of disconnected operations, classification boundaries, and DoD operational constraints
Requirements:
- Portfolio requirement: Must demonstrate proven experience designing mobile and tablet versions of enterprise software with clear examples of: Web-to-tablet responsive design with specific UX/UI decisions clearly articulated, Complex workflows adapted for smaller screens while maintaining functionality, Adaptive layouts that work across different device sizes and orientations, Information architecture optimized for mobile contexts
- 3-5 years of product design experience with at least 1-2 years designing enterprise mobile/tablet applications
- Strong domain knowledge of both Android (Material Design) and iOS (HIG) design patterns — demonstrated understanding of platform conventions and when to diverge
- Solid proficiency across system design, UX/interaction design, and visual design
- Proficiency in Figma — component libraries, auto-layout, variables, responsive design techniques, and developer handoff
- Understanding of accessibility fundamentals (WCAG 2.1 AA minimum) with specific attention to mobile contexts: contrast for outdoor viewing, touch target sizing, one-handed operation
- Ability to explore different solutions, identify trade-offs, and articulate a strong rationale for design decisions
- Experience facilitating design critiques, user testing sessions, and stakeholder reviews
- Proven experience designing mobile and tablet versions of enterprise software — you've solved the challenges of translating complex workflows to smaller screens
- Experience with adaptive layouts across phones, tablets, and foldables
- Understanding of responsive design principles and breakpoint strategies
- Knowledge of mobile-specific interaction patterns: swipe gestures, pull-to-refresh, bottom sheets, floating action buttons
- Experience designing for offline-first or disconnected scenarios
- Familiarity with Tailwind CSS utility-first approach and constraints — enough to have informed conversations with engineers about feasibility and implementation
- Understanding of progressive web apps (PWAs) or hybrid mobile development approaches
- Basic understanding of Kubernetes concepts or willingness to learn (containers, clusters, pods, deployments)
- Understanding of how operators interact with infrastructure management tools in field environments
- Excellent visual and verbal communication skills with the ability to articulate design decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Proven ability to work autonomously, know when to ask for help, and actively resolve dependencies
- Strong facilitation skills for design workshops, user research sessions, and alignment meetings
- Comfort working in ambiguous problem spaces and turning vague requirements into concrete designs
- Experience working fully remote with distributed teams across time zones
- Deep experience with iOS (HIG) and Android (Material Design) conventions, including when and why to diverge from platform standards
- Ability to design meaningful animations and transitions that enhance usability for task-focused users
- Prior experience with operator interfaces, command-and-control systems, field tools, or mission-critical software
- Experience building or contributing to multi-platform design systems that span web, iOS, and Android
- Prior work conducting research with pilots, operators, field workers, technicians, or other expert user groups
- Previous experience designing for government, military, or highly regulated industries (helpful but not required — the right mindset to learning is what matters most)
- Understanding of DoD classification levels, disconnected operations, or air-gapped environments
- Experience designing for rugged devices or harsh environmental conditions
- Strong understanding of one-handed mobile UI patterns and ergonomic considerations
- Experience with dark mode design and high-contrast themes for outdoor visibility
- Experience leveraging AI tools for accelerating UX processes without sacrificing quality
- Knowledge of device management systems (MDM/EMM) or enterprise mobility management