2025 Graduate - Design Strategist - Design Thinking Group

Do you get energized by working with teams to tackle difficult challenges and rapidly deliver user-centered solutions?

Are you motivated by delivering high-impact products and valuable experiences that solve complex problems?

Do you have a growing understanding of design thinking and are you looking to learn more about innovation?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our Design Thinking team at APL.

APL's Design Thinking Group is a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, designers, creatives, and makers who apply Human Centered Design (HCD) and Design Thinking (DT) methodologies to take on complex national security challenges. We immerse ourselves within the user environment and collaborate with government and industry partners to rapidly develop impactful product concepts and user experiences. We believe that authentic connections, intellectual humility, and endless curiosity deliver the most powerful solutions, and we're relentlessly focused on the human at the center of every challenge.

We are seeking new partners to join our multi-functional teams throughout the front-end of innovation (FEI) continuum, including immersive unmet needs discovery, solution landscaping, and concept development. You will work with talented teammates to build empathy in your research and define all aspects of end-to-end experience and product design. You will also have the opportunity advocate for design thinking and human-centered design methodologies, helping others in the organization develop their knowledge and experience in a range of methods.

We are looking for candidates that can use DT and HCD to decompose a problem, identify opportunities, and deliver novel solutions to gnarly challenges. We are looking for teammates that are passionate about delivering phenomenal human-centric solution, have a bias for action, and like thinking big.

As a Design Strategist, you will...

• Be a vital member of the Design Thinking Group, joining multi-functional teams passionate about developing novel concepts and solutions for our customers.
• Demonstrate an understanding of enigeering and design principles, contextual inquiry, and how to translate research into solutions and requirements.
• Use your talent to identify insights and opportunities from ethnographic research.
• Connect the dots between various user groups, workflows, emerging tech trends, and turn them into simple, easy to understand, and impactful outcomes.
• Look for opportunities to solve problems in unusual and innovative ways.
• Demonstrate self-motivation and an ability to balance great design while meeting short timelines.
• Always be looking to refine your process.
• Leverage your skill(s) in design, visual communication, and interactive prototyping tools.
• Use generative, collaborative methods to establish a diversity of design decisions and scenarios.
• Explore new ways to create compelling pitches, stories, presentations, and workshops for teammates and customers alike.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have:

• BA/BFA/BS or MA/MS in a relevant field, including Interactive, Visual, or Product Design; Human Factors; Psychology; Cognitive Science, Engineering or equivalent.
• An understanding of how to use design thinking or human-centered design frameworks as an approach to problem solving.
• Experience planning, conducting, and communicating user research findings to a diverse group of partners.
• Experience planning and/or conducting both qualitative and quantitative research.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secretlevel security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time. Locations are TBD, but include Naval Bases, Research Locations, and meeting in geographies such as San Diego, Hawaii, Norfolk, Groton, and San Francisco.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have:

• Experience in federal government, federal government consulting, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with leading collaboration methodologies from industry (e.g. Google Sprint, LUMA, etc.).
• Strong visual, written, and/or oral story-telling capabilities.
• Experience quoting and planning complex front-end innovation projects in a consulting or design firm environment.
• Product or project management experience and/or credentials.
• An active Secret security clearance or above.
• Experience with Agile and other development methodologies.

Why work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone's voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.