Raft UX/UI Intern - Summer 2025

Who We Are:
Raft (https://teamraft.com) is a customer-obsessed, non-traditional small business focused on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. Headquartered in McLean, VA, we partner with innovative federal and public agencies to leverage design thinking, cutting-edge technology stacks, and a cloud-native ecosystem. Our digital solutions impact the lives of millions of Americans, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment.

About the Role:
At Raft, our goal is to constantly push the limits of technology to deliver innovative solutions that meet the complex demands of our clients. We are currently looking for a highly motivated UX Design Intern to join our team for the upcoming summer. This position provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in a dynamic and supportive work environment while using  Human-Centered Design principles and methods to approach product design, influencing and impacting how we think about our users and our ability to identify and satisfy their needs through compelling software applications and solutions.

What we are looking for:

• Assist in user research, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, to inform design decisions.


• Participate in the creation of wireframes, user journey maps, mockups, and interaction design using tools like Figma.


• Support visual design efforts and help solve complex workflow problems related to information architecture and user interface design.


• Conduct usability testing, surveys, and data analysis to improve user experience on internal platforms.


• Document and report on project progress and outcomes, contributing to the design of intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.


• Currently enrolled in a UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related degree program.


• U.S. citizenship is required as interns may be exposed to sensitive work related to government operations.

Highly Preferred:

• Familiarity with design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.


• Experience with human-centered design principles and research methodologies.


• Ability to conduct usability tests and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions.

Capstone Project or Program Support:
At the conclusion of the internship, you may present a Capstone Project that focuses on your contributions to UX improvements for Raft’s platforms. Alternatively, you may support ongoing design initiatives throughout the summer, including dashboard designs, user experience enhancements, and creating training materials.

Work Type:

• Location: Remote with travel to Raft HQ.


• Duration: June to August 2025.


• Hours: Part-time, up to 29 hours per week


• Compensation: $20 - $24 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Our Vision Statement:  

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.