Design Frontend Engineer

About Nava

Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple, effective, and accessible to all. Since 2013, federal, state, and local government agencies have trusted Nava to build transformative digital services to help people access public benefits. Meeting our mission is an opportunity to restore trust between people and public institutions. We focus on populations that are the least protected because the stakes are higher.

As a client services company, we work with government agencies to improve how people apply for benefits, navigate their health care, and more. Our clients hire us to help improve their products and services so that their users and beneficiaries have a better customer experience.

These end-users are at the core of everything we do. We research beneficiaries' needs to help our government clients better deliver on their missions, providing everyone at Nava opportunities to do meaningful, impactful work.

Position Summary

As a Frontend Designer at Nava, you will work on small teams to build scalable infrastructure for the government, impacting programs affecting millions of Americans. This role serves as a bridge between the design team and the engineering team, converting visual designs into clean, accessible code. Responsibilities include assisting with user research, developing wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and other artifacts, as well as developing frontend software using modern techniques and web frameworks (e.g., HTML5, JavaScript, CSS3, CSS frameworks like LESS and SASS, responsive design) for complex projects. You may also serve as a project design lead and/or design manager, aiming for modularity and accessibility, reviewing code, and providing feedback on technical specs, ensuring nuances are not overlooked across teams. All tasks align with Nava's values: Being Active Stewards, Pursuing the Root Cause, Thinking Long-Term, Building Together, Recognizing Inclusion is Essential, and Understanding Progress Takes Work.

What You'll Do

• Use modern web frameworks (HTML5, JavaScript, CSS) to create user-friendly web pages.
• Help facilitate communication between the Design and Engineering practices.
• Collaborate with back-end developers and other designers to improve the usability of a product or feature.
• Independently own working with visual designers to turn research insights into wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and other artifacts.
• Push design work through approvals - internal critique from project team and external feedback from client stakeholders.
• Review code and give feedback on technical specs.
• Iterate on existing prototypes and applications to improve ease-of-use, interactivity, and responsiveness.
• Write functional requirement documents and guides.
• Make improvements by proposing new tools and practices.
• Present or attend project meetings with team members and clients (demos, planning, daily standups).
• Assist with scoping design tasks - participating in planning and breaking down contract requirements into tasks.
• Work with other designers to synthesize previous research and artifacts to come up with a plan of action.
• Attend regular Nava-internal Design org meetings.
• Independently lead conversations about design process improvements and share insights with designers on other projects.

Required Skills

• 5-7 years of experience working in an agile, multidisciplinary team environment, preferably designing and building medium or large-scale web applications.
• Experience working with Engineers and Product Managers on scoping work and defining the definitions of done.
• Experience mapping and driving systemic improvements within complex service environments.
• Understanding of web and mobile user interface design best practices.
• Experience with research methodologies like usability testing and prototyping.
• Significant experience in JavaScript, CSS, and responsive design.
• Demonstrated ability to design, build, and test semantic, accessible, Section 508 compliant web applications.
• Understanding of inclusive design methodologies.
• Some experience with a modern JavaScript framework, such as React, Vue.js, Angular, or Ember.
• Familiarity with a JavaScript testing framework such as Jest, Jasmine, or Mocha.
• Tenacity to dive into problems and iterate in working code.
• Ability to think strategically around trade-offs and short term vs. long term benefits.
• An adaptive, empathetic, collaborative, and positive mindset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Please include a portfolio with your application. Applications without an online portfolio will not be considered.

Other Requirements

All roles at Nava require the following:

* Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and meet any other requirements for government contracts for which they are hired.

* Candidates who are offered a job with Nava must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by their employer for a visa now or in the future.

* May be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or applicants who are eligible for security clearances.

Perks Working with Nava

* Competitive benefits: We prioritize your well-being, offering highly competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits.

* Generous time off: Enjoy 20 days of accrued PTO, 12 paid federal holidays, 5 floating holidays, and unlimited sick leave.

* Annual discretionary bonus: Paid annually to eligible employees. When Nava does well, you do well.

* Parental leave: Receive 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave and weekly meal deliveries during your leave.

* Employee wellness program: Access our comprehensive Employee Wellness Program.

* Virtual doctor visits: Enjoy zero copay virtual doctor visits through UHC.

* Fertility support: Benefit from fertility support and treatment options.

* Sabbatical leave: We offer a sabbatical leave program.

* 401k contributions: We match 4% of your salary in 401k contributions.

* Flexible work arrangements: We offer flexible work arrangements to suit your needs.

* Home office setup: Receive assistance with your home office setup and a monthly phone allowance.

* Utilities reimbursement: Get a monthly partial reimbursement for utilities (where applicable).

* Learning and development: Access our comprehensive learning and development program.

* Tuition and Professional development budget: Receive a prorated annual tuition and professional development budget and a LinkedIn Learning license.

* Equity stock options: Benefit from equity stock options.

* Employee referral program: Participate in our employee referral program.

* Commuter benefits: Enjoy commuter benefits.

* Insurance coverage: Receive short and long-term disability insurance, as well as life and accidental death insurance.

* Inclusive culture: Join our diverse, inclusive, highly collaborative, and vibrant culture that supports remote work.

Location

You can work in a hybrid work arrangement from one of Nava's offices in NYC, DC, or San Francisco. We also have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

*If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time.

Stay in Touch

Sign up for our newsletter to find out about career opportunities, new partnerships, and news from the broader civic tech community.

Nava PBC is an equal opportunity employer that is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, age, gender, religious or political beliefs, national origin or heritage, marital status, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion not only reflects our values as a public benefit corporation but also enriches our ability to do our work. Learn more about where we are today and hope to be by 2025.

Please contact the recruiting team at if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process.

We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States.