UX Designer/ Developer - College of Engineering - CMU Africa
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!
In a region booming with opportunities, CMU is the only U.S.-based research university offering its master’s degrees with a full-time faculty, staff, and operations in Africa. The Africa location is fast-growing, with over 300 enrolled students from more than 20 African countries. You can read more about CMU-Africa's vision and mission on our website. CMU’s presence in Rwanda provides a platform to engage in Africa’s most significant opportunities and challenges across the continent through world-class education and contextually relevant research and innovation. CMU-Africa enjoys strong collaboration and exchange with the main campus in Pittsburgh, USA.
CMU-Africa seeks a passionate and experienced UX Designer/Developer to join our Learning Science for Innovators (LSFI) team, working with EdTech Hubs to manage and implement storytelling projects about education technology and research. The EdTech Project, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, aims to enhance educational technology products for Africa by training EdTech entrepreneurs and their staff in learning sciences and learning experience design. The UX Designer/Developer will be responsible for articulating and sharing successes and experiences of project stakeholders who are creating technology products for the African educational context. Additionally, this person will support Carnegie Mellon University teams at CMU-Africa and our Pittsburgh campus in the production of high-quality learning
experiences using multimedia and writing projects to elevate learning tools. This role will report to the Learning Science for Innovators Project Co-Director.
Responsibilities:
As UX Designer, you will work closely with the team to ensure high-quality learner experiences.
While specific responsibilities will vary, they will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
- Lead the ongoing design and development of the LSFI project website, future social media channels, project blog, and integration of the OLI Torus online courseware experience. This will involve collaborating closely with LSFI communications team to grow and maintain associated web properties and other marketing and branded materials.
- Collaborate with LSFI learning engineers to adapt CMU’s online learning sciences curriculum to be culturally relevant in African regional contexts. This involves formatting, graphic design, and media production skills that improve the project components' communication design.
- Conduct user research and stakeholder mapping to gain insights into the needs of EdTech Hubs, Entrepreneurs, and the project teams.
- Develop wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch).
- Support the integration of high-quality translation of project assets into other languages (ex: French, Arabic) with oversight from learning engineering team.
- Implement front-end development using modern web technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, AWS, RESTful API, FAST API) and frameworks (e.g., Angular, React, Vue.js).
- Liaise with Learning Engineers to help manage digital assets, including project photographs, audio, video recordings, podcasts; obtain media releases as needed.
- Provide quarterly reports on web analytics, social media impressions, and courseware usage data, and present recommendations to the project and management team.
- Document design improvements and outcomes for annual reporting.
- Collaborate with learning engineers to conduct user testing and evaluation of LSFI’s online learning science courses, proposing courseware modifications for user interface elements, interaction flow, navigation structures, and visual design enhancements as necessary.
- Conduct heuristic assessments for LSFI tools and participating Ed Tech company products to ensure they meet basic usability and digital accessibility requirements (e.g., WCAG 2.1).
Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, computer science, human computer interaction, graphic, design, media production, or other related fields
- 2+ years of experience in UX design and front-end development, preferably in EdTech or e-learning sectors, with strong media design and user researcher skills
- Proficiency in UX design tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch) and front-end technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript)
- Strong portfolio demonstrating user-centered design process and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working on educational technologies in the African context.
- Experience working on multicultural and multilingual teams.
- English fluency; excellent written and verbal English communication skills. Knowledge of additional languages is an added value.
- Media production skills including film, motion graphics, and video editing are a plus.
- A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered
About the EdTech Project:
This project aims to enable demand-driven technology innovations that close the gap in access, quality, and relevant learning for the most underserved learners across populations on the African continent. The Mastercard Foundation is collaborating with a set of 12 Tech Hubs who will grow an innovation ecosystem by hosting and supporting educational technology entrepreneurs from across the continent. In this program, there is a unique and timely opportunity for world-renowned learning science faculty at Carnegie Mellon University to help to increase the quality and relevance of those educational technology innovations by supporting the Tech Hubs and their EdTech entrepreneurs fellows in deepening the skills and knowledge of the science behind learning through a set of coordinated training and mentoring activities, including:
1. In-person and online deep dive workshops with EdTech Hubs
2. Online certificate program in a variety of Learning Sciences topics
3. Online mentoring and office hours with CMU faculty in Africa and Pittsburgh
4. Novel research and knowledge creation together with Hub staff and entrepreneurs
As the project scales, 12 Tech Hubs will enroll 12 EdTech Fellows and their teams every year for 3 years in an acceleration program that supports entrepreneurs to improve the learning outcomes of their EdTech products and other aspects of their business. Data will be collected throughout the program to be analyzed to produce informative research. The novel research and knowledge dissemination will contribute to the learning science in Edtech and importantly to the improvement of EdTech products that deliver high quality education on the African continent.
Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.
Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.
Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!
For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.
At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.
Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!
Location
Kigali, RwandaJob Function
Web Design and Graphic ServicesPosition Type
Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)Full Time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
More Information:
Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.