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The Role
Supports UX and UI design for mission-critical software by refining design systems, updating and annotating Figma files, creating prototypes and visual assets, documenting use cases, and incorporating stakeholder feedback. Collaborates with agile teams using human-centered design, design thinking, user research, and iterative processes. The intern must be enrolled in a relevant design or HCI program, understand HTML and CSS, and be able to obtain or maintain an active Secret clearance.
Summary Generated by Built In
About The Role:
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking a User Experience and Interface Design Intern to be part of our Integrated Mission Systems team and based out of our Arlington, VA location.
The User Experience and Interface Design Intern will support efforts to refine design specs, iterate on design systems, and build deliverables to communicate the use cases of our products’ design to stakeholders and team members for rapid development. Human Centered Design Thinking, curiosity, empathy, creativity, and design skills will be required to successfully deliver innovative solutions in this dynamic customer space.
Clearance & Location Requirements:
- All applicants must be able to obtain/maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
- This is an on-site position. Requiring at least 2-3 days in office, based out of our Arlington, VA location.
Key Responsibilities
What You Will Do:
- Contributes to and augments design system components and design patterns. Documents use cases of components and patterns for consistent future use.
- Updates Figma designs based on stakeholder feedback and discovery.
- Annotates Figma design files with specs to ensure context if provided to stakeholders and SMEs.
- Collaborates on solutions to “How Might We” statements and identifies best practices to leverage. Builds and delivers solutions that meet users’ expectations. Gathers data to support recommended solutions and engages appropriate stakeholders before taking action to minimize potential risk.
- Revises prototypes after adjustments to design screens have occurred.
- Creates IDT branded illustrations, pictograms, and iconography as needed.
- Selects and uses the appropriate tools or systems to conduct analyses and build deliverables. Participates in design and delivery reviews to align solutions with mission objectives.
- Seeks input from others when assessing strategic implications. Seeks clarification when connections or implications are unclear.
- Imbues the iterative design process within the agile development cycle and receives feedback and considerations openly.
- Prioritizes goals based on users’ needs and expectations and achieves expected (agreed upon) results against the users’ needs. Advocates for users’ needs when ambiguity persists in discovery and design sessions, and demonstrates an understanding of users’ needs.
- Learns from successes and setbacks and applies those lessons in the future designs.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Who You Are (Required):
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or post-graduate degree program with a major or minor in HCI, Interaction Design, Fine, Visual, or Media Arts, Graphic Design or relevant related field of study, or equivalent full-time professional experience with (at minimum in-progress or on-going) coursework (such as NNG), certification, or accredited bootcamp program.
- Experience with digital design tools such as (but not limited to) Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Animate, XD). Bonus tools: Figma or Sketch, Miro or Mural.
- Completed coursework, has experience with, or studied human design thinking, and/or has knowledge of Heuristics and Design Patterns.
- Experience with or an understanding of HTML and CSS or developing interactive digital products or deliverables.
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Initiative, creativity, reliability, teamwork, and collaboration.
- Portfolio of design or development work; bonus if the work supports interactive products.
- Demonstrations of the Design Thinking process in your work history and coursework. Bonus if candidate is familiar with interaction design, affinity or empathy mapping exercises, or workflow diagrams.
- Can speak to empathy and advocacy in their work examples. Can identify how they derived solutions based on external data.
- Willingness to learn and curiosity about how to best support team members in their work.
- Nice to have: Already has experience with UI tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.
- Nice to have: Experience or knowledge of Agile methodologies, especially Lean.
- Can identify and is familiar with UX/I publications and resources the industry utilizes.
If you see yourself reflected in this role and are excited about the impact you could make, we encourage you to apply! If you know someone who may be a great fit, please feel free to share this opportunity with your network.
Pay Range*: $28 - $34 / Hour
This amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.
This amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.
Job Benefits
IDT’s Summer Internship Program offers students the opportunity to learn from experts and perform meaningful work in a professional work environment. IDT interns gain valuable, hands-on experience and solve real-world problems. In this program, students can expect:
- A 10–12-week program; up to 40 hours per week
- Competitive pay
- Individual mentoring
- Valuable training
- A supportive culture
- Social events and team building activities
EEO Statement:
IDT is an Equal Opportunity employer.
About
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) is a leading defense technology company focused on rapidly delivering mission-critical software and systems solutions to the U.S. government. The company specializes in automation, digital engineering, and enabling the rapid integration of advanced capabilities into complex weapon and combat systems. These essential solutions empower the warfighter to field, operate, and sustain decisive capability at speed and scale. At IDT, our employees are developing advanced mission-critical outcomes by consistently delivering high-quality results, fostering innovation, applying rigorous problem-solving, and effectively collaborating across multifaceted teams and stakeholders. Grounded in these competencies, IDT translates complex customer priorities into robust software solutions.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree program majoring or minoring in HCI, Interaction Design, Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Graphic Design, or a related field
- Equivalent full-time professional experience with in-progress or ongoing coursework, certification, or an accredited bootcamp program may substitute for degree enrollment
- Experience with digital design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Animate, or Adobe XD
- Completed coursework, experience, or knowledge of human-centered design thinking, heuristics, and design patterns
- Experience with or understanding of HTML and CSS, or developing interactive digital products or deliverables
- Ability to obtain and maintain an active Secret U.S. security clearance
- Portfolio of design or development work, preferably supporting interactive products
- Experience with interaction design, affinity mapping, empathy mapping, or workflow diagrams
- Experience with UI tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD
- Experience or knowledge of Agile methodologies, especially Lean
- Familiarity with UX and interaction design publications and industry resources
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The Company
What We Do
WHO WE ARE Innovative Defense Technologies -IDT- provides automated software testing, data analysis, and cybersecurity solutions for the DOD's mission-critical systems. Using patented Automated Test and ReTest (ATRT) technology, we support the entire software testing lifecycle from component testing, to system integration and testing, to the analysis of results. Our automated test and analysis solutions enable the rapid update and delivery of large, complex systems. Our technologies offer: -Rapid system configuration assessment and validation -Repeatable, consistent testing, analysis and reporting -On-demand regression tests in response to cyber threats -Statistical rigor in test and analysis -Reduced time and manpower At IDT, we work closely with our customers to tailor our products to support their systems and meet their goals. IDT has the expertise, strategies and processes in place to provide an automated solution for your next project. Let us help you dramatically accelerate test execution time, expand test coverage and improve software quality. OUR MISSION Our mission is to enable new software capabilities to be fielded faster and more affordably by reducing the amount of time and the cost spent on software testing. Through the use of our software testing technology, IDT is changing the way testing is being done for large, complex, software systems.
