The California Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) helps deliver better services to the people of California through technology and design. In close partnership with our colleagues in other state departments, we reimagine and deliver more equitable and effective programs and products. We listen to Californians who use a program now or may do so tomorrow and hear about what they need. We build tools and products, create and enhance digital services, conduct research, identify data solutions and offer training. We are a cross-discipline staff with blended backgrounds in design, engineering, product, operations, data, research, policy, and strategy.
We’re looking for a User Experience Designer who will be responsible for creating user- focused, effective and accessible digital services and products for Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) and our agency partners. You will use agile, iterative methods and work collaboratively with user researchers, content designers and developers to design digital services that improve our agency partner’s ability to execute their mission and improve the delivery of services to Californians.
Location: ODI staff reside throughout California. This position provides telework opportunities in accordance with agency telework policies. ODI is currently operating in a hybrid work environment with staff reporting to the office 2 days a week to either Sacramento HQ or our Oakland hub.
Annual salary: $114,084 – $160,524 based on experience and qualifications
Benefits: The state offers many benefits, including pension, health benefits (including after retirement), life insurance, employee assistance program, and much more.
Appointment: This position is appointed by the Governor of California.
What you’ll do
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.
Desirable qualifications
We encourage you to apply regardless of whether you think you meet 100% of the desirable qualifications.
- Deep experience in human-centered design. This includes journey mapping, prototyping, and user testing for complex digital services and products.
- Experience designing products and services, both digital and physical.
- Strong systems thinking and interaction design skills that enable solutions to scale across teams, platforms, and channels.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in every phase of the design process. Practical knowledge of WCAG standards and inclusive research methods.
- Ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities and deadlines. Experience focusing on strategic goals while adapting quickly to new information or direction.
- Experience designing for AI-enabled or data-informed services. Examples include front-end interfaces for machine-generated content, predictive inputs, or adaptive interactions.
- Ability to integrate UX and policy requirements. These can include meeting legal, regulatory, and organizational constraints while keeping a human-centered approach.
- Comfort working in multidisciplinary teams. Collaborators can include product managers, engineers, researchers, content designers, and policy experts.
- Excellent storytelling and communication skills. Ability to explain design rationale, share insights, and get approval among non-design audiences.
- Experience contributing to or influencing design systems. Examples include components and interaction patterns that promote consistency and accessibility.
- Strong facilitation and collaboration skills. Examples include leading co-design sessions, critiques, and workshops across levels and disciplines.
- Curiosity about emerging technologies and the future of design. In particular, how generative AI, automation, and new interaction models might shape user expectations and service delivery.
- Ability to join projects already in progress. This includes collaborating with other designers who already bring ideas about where to go next.
About ODI
We deliver better services to Californians through technology and design. We do so through close partnership with other state departments. Our goal is to create programs and products that are more equitable and effective. We listen to Californians who use a program now or may do so tomorrow and learn about what they need.
We:
- Build tools and products
- Create and enhance digital services
- Conduct research
- Identify data solutions
- Offer training
We are a cross-discipline staff with blended backgrounds in:
- Design
- Engineering
- Product
- Operations
- Data
- Research
- Policy
- Strategy
Learn more about ODI’s vision and mission.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion at ODI
Diversity, equity, and inclusion help us deliver better government services to Californians.
- Fostering diversity inspires better ideas and more innovative thinking.
- Feeling included nurtures a shared sense of community. This drives us to take collective action on challenging problems.
- Prioritizing equity ensures we build solutions for people whose needs are often overlooked.
We acknowledge our history and present of implicit and structural injustice, bias, and discrimination. We see, hear, and accept each other and the lived experiences we bring to our work. We support each other in learning and developing so we can help all Californians thrive.
We understand this work is never done. That’s why we commit to constant improvement.