Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced UI/UX Modernization Lead to guide the transformation of a 40-year-old mainframe application—currently operating in a cloud environment—into a modern, intuitive, accessible interface. This role will oversee the redesign of approximately 750 legacy screens within a fixed modernization window (January 30, 2026 – January 29, 2027), working in close partnership with stakeholders, product owners, and development teams.
The UI/UX Modernization Lead will shape the design strategy, align it with COBOL-driven workflows and C#-compatible front-end technologies, and drive an achievable modernization schedule. This position requires a visionary designer with strong leadership, systems thinking, and the ability to translate legacy complexity into modern user experiences.
Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end modernization of a large-scale mainframe UI.
- Develop the design vision, principles, and roadmap for the modernization effort.
- Analyze, deconstruct, and reimagine 750 legacy screens, grouping workflows into coherent user journeys.
- Conduct stakeholder interviews, workshops, and usability validations to inform design decisions.
- Create wireframes, prototypes, high-fidelity designs, and supporting documentation.
- Build or refine a scalable design system to support consistent and efficient delivery.
- Partner with engineers to ensure technical feasibility and alignment with modernization constraints.
- Define Agile-ready design stories, estimates, sequencing, and acceptance criteria.
- Participate in PI Planning, Sprint Planning, Refinements, and Reviews as the program’s design authority.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and feedback to the team throughout the modernization cycle.
- Identify risks early and recommend mitigation strategies to maintain schedule integrity.
Required Abilities / Experience
- 7+ years of experience in UI/UX design, including lead-level responsibility.
- Demonstrated success modernizing legacy or mainframe applications, ideally at scale (300+ screens).
- Strong understanding of design considerations for systems interacting with COBOL or other mainframe workflows.
- Experience building and governing enterprise-level design systems.
- Ability to break complex design work into Agile-friendly increments and partner effectively with engineering teams.
- Strong portfolio showing workflow redesign, information hierarchy, and transformation of outdated interfaces.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proven success facilitating workshops, gathering requirements, and leading consensus-building discussions.
Desired Abilities / Experience
- Experience working directly with mainframe modernization technologies, terminal emulator UI updates, or COBOL modernization tools.
- Familiarity with cloud modernization patterns.
- Experience supporting government, enterprise, or highly regulated modernization efforts.
- Knowledge of DevSecOps processes.
- Background developing modernization plans or migration roadmaps for large application portfolios.
- Prior leadership in a time-boxed modernization effort or rapid transformation program.
