Product Designer

About the role

Join USUL as a Product Designer to shape the future of technology acquisition for defense. You will create user interfaces and workflows for government operators and design for our commercial platform, assisting major defense firms and startups in securing government contracts. This role involves close collaboration with product, engineering, and operational teams to deliver intuitive and scalable experiences. You will translate complex acquisition processes into clear, actionable digital pathways that reduce friction for buyers and sellers. Your work will directly influence how efficiently critical technology reaches organizations responsible for national security and public infrastructure. You will be responsible for maintaining a cohesive visual language while solving highly specific workflow challenges. This position requires a designer who is comfortable operating at the intersection of strict regulatory environments and commercial product velocity.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect user flows that simplify the procurement of defense and space technology through our platform.
• Conduct contextual inquiries with government buyers to extract insights that drive iterative improvements in the digital marketplace.
• Translate ambiguous stakeholder requirements into high-fidelity prototypes that validate product direction before engineering investment.
• Partner with engineering to ensure design implementations remain performant, accessible, and consistent across all touchpoints.
• Define and evolve the design system to support new product features while preserving a unified brand identity.
• Create narrative-driven presentations that communicate design rationale to technical and executive audiences.
• Evaluate emerging AI tooling to determine how it can enhance design efficiency and user research capabilities.
• Establish rigorous design QA processes to catch interaction issues before they reach production environments.
• Coordinate with sales and customer success teams to align product design with real-world selling scenarios.
• Break down complex government requirements into modular design components that can be reused across the platform.
• Lead cross-functional critiques to challenge assumptions and elevate the quality of product outcomes.
• Document edge cases and failure states to ensure resilient user experiences under varied conditions.
• Mentor junior team members on design best practices specific to the defense technology sector.
• Balance speed of delivery with the need for thorough validation in a high-stakes regulatory environment.

Requirements

• Hold 2 to 5 years of full-time experience in Product or UX Design within a technology or defense context.
• Demonstrate proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Show evidence of experience utilizing AI tools for design exploration, prototyping, or documentation.
• Prove ability to quickly convert user feedback from interviews and testing into tangible product experiences.
• Prepare to innovate from foundational principles to build a new product category in government procurement technology.
• Maintain a background in user research methods, including interviews, usability testing, and journey mapping.
• Exhibit strong ability to communicate complex ideas through clear storytelling and visual presentation.
• Accept willingness to travel to customer sites, including military bases, for research and validation activities.
• Understand constraints related to government security requirements and how they impact digital product design.
• Display commitment to designing inclusive experiences that accommodate users with varying technical literacy.

Nice to have

• A drive to improve the current state of the defense industry through thoughtful and modern product design.
• Experience working with procurement frameworks such as SAM.gov or similar government compliance systems.
• Familiarity with agile development cycles and participation in sprint planning and retrospectives.
• Previous work on B2B platforms or marketplaces that involve multi-stakeholder workflows.
• Knowledge of defense acquisition terminology and the roles within the DoD buying process.

Practical notes

• Occasional travel is required, typically 2 to 5 days per month.
• The hiring process includes a 15-minute screening with the Head of Product Design, a 15-minute culture fit with the CEO, CTO, and CPO, a design technical/portfolio deep dive, and an on-site interview in San Francisco or DC.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position.
• This role operates within a fast-paced environment where priorities may shift based on customer and partner needs.
• Successful candidates will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct and collaborate respectfully with cross-functional partners.