Principal UX Designer - (Remote eligible)

Requisition Id15235

Annual Salary Range:$$130,000.00-$$160,000.00

Work-Site Type:Remote

ORNL offers a flexible work environment that supports both the organization and the employee. In addition, this position is considered remote-eligible for ORNL in pre-approved locations. Remote-eligibility is not a continued guarantee and could be subject to change based on evolving organizational needs.

Note about pay range:

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, plus also aligned with the internal peer group. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Link to benefits. https://jobs.ornl.gov/content/Benefits/?locale=en_US

Overview:

We're looking for a visionary Principal UX Designer to lead some of our most critical and high-impact UX design initiatives at the lab. In this strategic role, you'll oversee multiple concurrent UX efforts, guide design direction across teams, and align work with both business, tech, and user needs.

Your influence will span the full product lifecycle-from early discovery and conceptual framing to execution and delivery. You'll partner directly with senior leaders, product owners, and engineering leads to create user-centered, mission-aligned experiences that shape the future of digital systems at scale. Beyond individual projects, you'll play a key role in establishing shared design standards, advancing UX maturity, and mentoring the next generation of UX leaders at ORNL.

This position resides in the User Experience group of the Application Development Division in the Information Technology Services Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Strategic Design Leadership

• Lead UX strategy across high-priority initiatives, aligning user needs with organizational and technical goals.
• Provide clear, outcome-focused direction in complex, ambiguous environments.
• Influence product roadmaps through close collaboration with senior stakeholders.

Design Quality, Patterns, and Standards

• Partner with the Coefficient design system team to establish scalable, reusable design patterns for use across the lab.
• Champion consistency, accessibility, and usability through shared standards and quality benchmarks.
• Deliver expert critique and guidance to uphold design excellence.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Build strong partnerships across product, engineering, research, and stakeholder groups.
• Align UX efforts with broader business goals to maximize strategic impact.
• Translate complex, cross-disciplinary requirements into intuitive, human-centered solutions.

Mentorship & Team Development

• Mentor designers to advance craft, systems thinking, and leadership skills.
• Foster a culture of critique, learning, and design excellence.
• Model strategic influence and cross-functional collaboration as a senior design leader.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS degree in design, human-computer interaction, psychology, or a related field of study and a minimum of eight (8) to twelve (12) years of aligned professional experience is required for consideration. An overall combination of equivalent education and experience may be considered.

• Masters and PhD degree holders in the same fields of study are also encouraged to apply:
• Masters' holders should have a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant and aligned experience.
• PhD holders should have up to four (4) to six (6) years of relevant and aligned experience.
• Demonstrated success overseeing multiple concurrent UX efforts, driving strategy, and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Proven experience establishing UX patterns, standards, and systems that scale across teams and products.
• A compelling portfolio that demonstrates leadership in complex problem-solving, design thinking, and high-impact outcomes.
• Mastery of Figma and deep expertise in interaction design, responsive web, accessibility, and design systems.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and consensus-building skills across diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in agile, research-intensive, or mission-driven environments (e.g., public sector, scientific research, or government) is strongly preferred.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family.

Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL offers a flexible work environment that supports both the organization and the employee. In addition, this position is considered remote-eligible for ORNL in pre-approved locations. Remote eligibility is not a continued guarantee and could be subject to change based on evolving organizational needs.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, plus also aligned with the internal peer group. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Link to benefits. https://jobs.ornl.gov/content/Benefits/?locale=en_US

#LI-CS1

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.