What is a UX/UI Designer at AECOM?

As a UX/UI Designer at AECOM, you are stepping into a unique intersection of digital innovation, human-centered research, and the built environment. Unlike traditional tech companies where UX is confined to software screens, design at AECOM is about shaping how people interact with the world around them. Whether you are designing interfaces for complex infrastructure systems, creating digital solutions for urban planning, or applying evidence-based research to physical spaces, your work directly impacts how communities thrive.

This role requires a deep commitment to people-centered design. You will be tasked with solving some of the most complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation, and buildings. AECOM relies on its designers to translate massive, intricate problems into intuitive, accessible, and sustainable solutions. Your ability to map user journeys, synthesize research, and produce high-quality design artifacts is critical to delivering projects that build legacies for future generations.

Expect a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment. You will work alongside planners, architects, engineers, and digital innovators on a global scale. This role is not just about making things look good; it is about demonstrating a measurable, positive, and tangible impact on communities, often partnering directly with not-for-profit programs and commercial practices to drive social impact.

Common Interview Questions

The questions below represent the types of inquiries you will face during your AECOM interviews. They are designed to test your process, your collaborative skills, and your alignment with the company's core values. Use these to practice structuring your responses using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Portfolio and Design Process

These questions focus on how you think, how you research, and how you execute your designs from start to finish.

• Walk me through a project in your portfolio that you are most proud of. What was your specific role?
• How do you decide which research methods to use for a new project?
• Tell me about a time a design project did not go as planned. What did you learn?
• How do you incorporate accessibility and inclusive design into your everyday workflow?
• Show us an example of how you translated complex data or requirements into a simple user interface.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management

These questions evaluate your ability to work within AECOM's massive, multidisciplinary ecosystem.

• Describe a time when you had to convince a skeptical stakeholder to adopt your design recommendation.
• How do you handle handoffs to engineering or implementation teams?
• Tell me about a time you had to balance multiple fast-paced projects with competing deadlines.
• Give an example of how you have incorporated feedback from a non-designer into your work.

Culture and Mission Alignment

These questions test your passion for AECOM's specific industry and your commitment to community impact.

• Why do you want to work at an infrastructure and engineering firm rather than a traditional tech company?
• Tell me about a time you worked on a project that had a direct, positive impact on a community.
• How do you define "people-centered design" in the context of physical spaces and infrastructure?
• Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a completely new domain or subject matter.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for an interview at AECOM means understanding that you are being evaluated on both your technical craft and your alignment with the company's mission to deliver a better world.

Design and Process Mastery Interviewers want to see how you approach a problem from end to end. You must be able to articulate your research methodologies, how you gather user requirements, and how you translate evidence into actionable design decisions. AECOM heavily favors candidates who prioritize people-centered and research-centered design processes.

Technical Execution and Tooling You will be evaluated on your ability to produce high-quality work efficiently. This means demonstrating proficiency in standard design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, as well as showing an aptitude for or knowledge of spatial and infrastructure design tools like SketchUp or Revit, depending on your specific studio's focus.

Collaboration and Adaptability AECOM projects are massive and multidisciplinary. Interviewers will look for evidence that you can follow instructions from senior staff, maintain individual accountability, and work seamlessly within a project-based team. Navigating ambiguity and managing specific tasks to completion in a fast-paced environment are essential traits.

Mission Alignment and Community Focus A strong candidate demonstrates a genuine commitment to social impact. Interviewers will assess your desire to engage with community-based partner organizations and your understanding of how design influences both the digital and built environment.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a UX/UI Designer at AECOM is designed to evaluate your portfolio, your problem-solving process, and your cultural fit within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary team. The process typically moves efficiently, reflecting the fast-paced nature of the firm's project work.

You will generally start with an initial screening by a recruiter, focused on your background, timeline, and basic qualifications. This is followed by a deeper portfolio review with senior design staff or hiring managers. During this stage, the focus shifts heavily to your methodology—how you research, iterate, and deliver. Finally, you will participate in a panel or cross-functional interview where you will meet with various stakeholders, potentially including engineers or planners, to assess how well you communicate your design rationale to non-designers.

Expect a conversational but rigorous atmosphere. AECOM values evidence-based design, so interviewers will push you to explain the "why" behind your design choices. They want to see that your bold ideas are grounded in solid research and realistic application.

This timeline illustrates the typical progression from the initial recruiter screen to the final team interviews. Use this visual to structure your preparation, focusing first on refining your core narrative and portfolio presentation, and later on practicing cross-functional communication and behavioral responses.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed in the AECOM interview process, you must demonstrate strength across several key dimensions. Interviewers will probe your past experiences to predict your future performance on complex infrastructure and community projects.

Portfolio and Evidence-Based Design

Your portfolio is the most critical component of your application. Interviewers will look past the final visual polish to understand the mechanics of your design thinking. They want to see a clear, people-centered approach where research directly informs the outcome.

Be ready to go over:

• Problem Definition – How you identify and frame the core user problem before jumping into solutions.
• Research Methodology – Your experience conducting user interviews, surveys, or usability tests, and how you synthesize that data.
• Iterative Process – How you handle feedback, pivot when necessary, and refine your wireframes and prototypes.
• Impact and Metrics – How you measure the success of your designs using qualitative and quantitative evidence.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through a project in your portfolio where user research fundamentally changed your initial design concept."
• "How do you ensure your design decisions are evidence-based rather than based on personal preference?"
• "Explain a time when you had to balance user needs with strict technical or business constraints."

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Designers at AECOM never work in a vacuum. You will be collaborating with engineers, project managers, and community stakeholders. Interviewers need to know that you can communicate complex design concepts to people who may not share your technical vocabulary.

Be ready to go over:

• Stakeholder Management – How you present your work, gather requirements, and build consensus among diverse groups.
• Handling Pushback – Your approach to defending your design decisions while remaining open to constructive criticism.
• Team Integration – How you hand off designs to technical teams and support them through the implementation phase.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you disagreed with an engineer or project manager about a design feature. How did you resolve it?"
• "How do you adapt your presentation style when explaining a UX concept to a non-design stakeholder?"

Mission Alignment and Social Impact

AECOM is deeply invested in transforming communities and building sustainable legacies. Interviewers will evaluate your passion for projects that have a tangible, real-world impact. They want to see that you are motivated by more than just building standard commercial applications.

Be ready to go over:

• Community Engagement – Any past volunteer work, not-for-profit projects, or community-based design initiatives you have participated in.
• Sustainability and Accessibility – How you incorporate inclusive design principles and sustainable thinking into your work.
• Long-term Vision – Your understanding of how design impacts the built environment and community well-being over time.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Why are you specifically interested in applying your design skills at an infrastructure firm like AECOM?"
• "Describe a project where you designed for a diverse, community-based user group. What unique challenges did you face?"

Key Responsibilities

As a UX/UI Designer at AECOM, your day-to-day work will be a dynamic mix of independent design execution and collaborative problem-solving. You will perform a variety of assignments designed to develop your professional knowledge, requiring the application of standard design techniques and procedures.

A significant portion of your time will be spent translating complex project requirements into clear, user-friendly interfaces and experiences. You will follow instructions from senior staff to accomplish specific tasks, ensuring that you meet required schedules while consistently producing high-quality work. This often involves creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed design documentation that technical teams can easily interpret and build upon.

Beyond screen design, you will actively participate in project-based teams, maintaining individual accountability while contributing to a shared goal. Depending on your specific studio, you may also engage with community-based partner organizations, helping to develop design solutions for pressing local needs. This requires a strong ability to manage multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously, balancing commercial studio work with social impact initiatives.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

AECOM looks for candidates who blend creative talent with a structured, analytical mindset. You must be able to prove your capabilities through a strong portfolio and a solid educational foundation.

• Must-have skills – A strong portfolio showcasing people-centered, evidence-based, or research-centered design processes. You must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to manage specific tasks to completion. Proficiency in standard design tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or similar graphic software) is mandatory.
• Educational requirements – Candidates are typically pursuing or have recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in UX/UI Design, Interaction Design, Architecture, Urban Planning, Interior Design, or a related field.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience in project construction documentation using Revit, proficiency in SketchUp, and a demonstrated commitment to community engagement, not-for-profit programs, or social impact projects.
• Work Authorization – Depending on the specific project focus (e.g., federal or highly secure infrastructure projects), U.S. Citizenship may be required, and sponsorship for U.S. employment authorization is often not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How important is the portfolio presentation during the interview? Your portfolio presentation is the most critical part of the technical evaluation. Interviewers care less about the sheer volume of your work and more about the depth of your process. You must clearly articulate your problem-solving journey, the evidence that drove your decisions, and the final impact of your designs.

Q: What kind of software proficiency is AECOM actually looking for? While traditional UX/UI tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite are expected, AECOM highly values candidates who are adaptable. Depending on your specific team, familiarity with spatial design tools like SketchUp or Revit can be a massive differentiator, as it bridges the gap between digital interfaces and the built environment.

Q: Will I be working solely on digital screens, or will physical spaces be involved? This depends heavily on your specific studio placement. AECOM integrates digital design with urban planning, architecture, and infrastructure. Your UX skills will often be applied to how users interact with physical environments, community spaces, or the digital tools that manage those physical assets.

Q: Is U.S. Citizenship strictly required for all design roles? For certain roles, especially those dealing with federal infrastructure, defense, or highly secure public sector projects, U.S. Citizenship is a strict requirement due to the nature of the work. Always review the specific job posting details regarding sponsorship and citizenship.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the first interview to an offer? The process usually spans three to five weeks. After the initial recruiter screen, portfolio reviews and panel interviews are often scheduled within a week or two of each other. AECOM moves efficiently when they find a candidate whose portfolio and communication skills align with their immediate project needs.

Other General Tips

• Connect Digital to Physical: When discussing your portfolio, explicitly draw connections between your digital design process and how it could apply to physical spaces, infrastructure, or community well-being. AECOM loves designers who think beyond the screen.
• Master the "Why AECOM" Question: Generic answers will not work here. Research AECOM's recent global projects (e.g., sustainable water systems, major transit hubs) and reference them. Show that you are genuinely excited about infrastructure and building legacies.

• Showcase Adaptability: Emphasize your ability to learn new tools and domains quickly. You will be working alongside engineers and planners, so demonstrating a history of quickly grasping complex, non-design subject matter is a major plus.
• Highlight Community Impact: If you have any volunteer experience, non-profit design work, or projects focused on social good, bring them to the forefront. AECOM heavily weighs a candidate's commitment to community engagement.

Summary & Next Steps

Securing a UX/UI Designer role at AECOM is an incredible opportunity to leverage your design skills for global, tangible impact. You will be at the forefront of combining human-centered digital experiences with massive infrastructure and community projects. The work is fast-paced, highly collaborative, and deeply rewarding for those who are passionate about delivering a better world.

This salary data provides a baseline expectation for internship and entry-level design roles within specific regional programs at the company. As you progress in your career at AECOM, compensation structures will evolve to include comprehensive benefits, flexible work options, and broader enterprise impact. Use this information to ensure your expectations are aligned with the scope of the specific program you are applying for.

To succeed in your interviews, focus heavily on the narrative of your portfolio. Ensure that every design choice you present is backed by evidence and research. Practice articulating your process to non-designers, and be ready to showcase your passion for community-driven projects. Dive into the additional resources and interview insights available on Dataford to continue refining your approach. You have the skills and the vision to make a real impact—now it is time to show AECOM how you plan to build the future.