Burns & McDonnell UX/UI Designer interview questions & guide 2026

The following questions are representative of those asked during real interview experiences for this position at Burns & McDonnell. While exact wording and focus may vary depending on the specific team, market segment, and location, these patterns illustrate what hiring managers look for during the evaluation process.

Technical and Software Proficiency

These questions test your command of industry-standard design tools and your ability to execute core responsibilities efficiently.

• What programs do you have experience in?
• What experience in Revit do you have?

Preparing for your interview with Burns & McDonnell requires more than just showcasing a strong portfolio; you must demonstrate how your design thinking translates into practical value for heavy engineering and consulting projects. Interviewers look for candidates who can balance creative vision with rigorous attention to detail, technical compliance, and cross-functional teamwork.

Role-related knowledge – This criterion measures your practical command of essential design tools, drafting software, and visualization frameworks. At Burns & McDonnell, you will be expected to demonstrate fluency in programs relevant to your specific sub-specialty, whether that involves Revit, CAD platforms, or visual storytelling suites. Interviewers evaluate this through direct questions about your technical background and through the structural quality of your portfolio work.

Problem-solving ability – This evaluates how you analyze messy, ambiguous project constraints and arrive at clean, functional design solutions. You will be assessed on your ability to break down complex requests from engineers or clients into structured, actionable deliverables. Demonstrate strength here by walking interviewers through your decision-making process, highlighting how you weighed trade-offs between aesthetics, technical feasibility, and user needs.

Communication and collaboration – Because you will work alongside engineers, project managers, and clients from diverse backgrounds, your ability to articulate ideas clearly is paramount. Interviewers look for active listening, empathy toward non-technical stakeholders, and the confidence to defend your design choices professionally. Show strength by sharing examples of how you successfully gathered feedback and built consensus within a team.

Culture fit and core values – Burns & McDonnell places a high value on employee ownership, accountability, and mutual respect. Interviewers assess whether you are self-motivated, eager to learn, and genuinely invested in contributing to a collaborative corporate culture. You can demonstrate alignment by showing enthusiasm for team success, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to support colleagues across different divisions.

The interview journey at Burns & McDonnell is designed to be thorough, professional, and collaborative, giving you ample opportunity to meet members of the team and understand the company culture. The process typically begins with an initial screening conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager, often conducted virtually or by phone, where your background, availability, and general interest in the role are evaluated. If you advance, you will progress to more in-depth discussions, which often involve meeting multiple team members across different divisions or market segments.

Expect the later stages of the interview to be rigorous and comprehensive, frequently taking up a full block of time if conducted in person. You will be questioned by staff of varying experience levels, ranging from peer designers to senior leadership, ensuring that you possess both the technical chops for the job and the interpersonal agility required for a consulting environment. Dress is typically business casual, and interviewers appreciate candidates who arrive fully prepared with thoughtful questions about active projects and company culture.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression from your initial recruiter screen through virtual discussions and comprehensive in-person evaluations. Use this roadmap to pace your preparation, ensuring you build up your stamina for extended interview blocks and multi-person panels. Keep in mind that specific scheduling details can vary based on office location, market segment, and whether you are interviewing for a full-time position or an internship.

Technical Execution and Software Fluency

Your technical competency forms the baseline of your evaluation. Interviewers need absolute confidence that you can open the required software, navigate complex files, and produce accurate deliverables without constant oversight. Strong performance means speaking fluently about your tool stack, explaining your layer management or modeling standards, and demonstrating error-free execution.

• Software familiarity – Deep dive into your experience with core programs like Revit, AutoCAD, or visual design suites.
• Standards compliance – Understanding how to apply company and client drafting or styling guidelines rigorously.
• File organization – Maintaining clean, structured digital assets that can be easily handed off to multidisciplinary team members.

As a UX/UI Designer at Burns & McDonnell, your day-to-day work centers on creating clear, functional, and visually compelling assets that support massive infrastructure, aviation, energy, and commercial projects. You will spend a significant portion of your time revising existing drawings, preparing new visual components from detailed sketches or verbal instructions, and ensuring all work strictly adheres to established company and client standards.

Collaboration is a constant theme in your daily routine. You will work side-by-side with engineers, project managers, and technical specialists across various market segments—ranging from Transmission & Distribution to Global Facilities and Aviation & Federal. Your role is to take raw technical data or operational concepts and translate them into intuitive user interfaces, polished presentations, or coordinated spatial designs that communicate project value instantly.

Beyond core production work, you will actively participate in project meetings, assist lead designers with administrative and technical duties, and help drive visual storytelling initiatives for groups like 1898 & Co. You are expected to be a self-motivated learner who takes initiative in identifying design bottlenecks, proposing workflow improvements, and maintaining a high standard of quality across every deliverable you touch.

Meeting the qualifications for a UX/UI Designer or related design role at Burns & McDonnell requires a solid educational foundation, proven technical capability, and strong interpersonal skills. The hiring team looks for candidates who combine formal design training with a proactive, consulting-oriented mindset.

• Must-have technical skills – Proficiency in industry-standard software relevant to your discipline (such as Revit, CAD packages, or visual storytelling tools) alongside a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Educational background – Active pursuit or completion of a certificate, Associate's, or Bachelor's/Master’s degree in Computer-Aided Drafting, Engineering Technology, Interior Design, Graphic Design, or a closely related field from an accredited program.
• Academic performance – A minimum GPA of 3.0 is strongly preferred, reflecting consistent dedication and strong analytical habits.
• Soft skills and leadership – Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated leadership in campus or community organizations, and the self-motivation to develop rapidly within a fast-paced corporate setting.
• Nice-to-have qualifications – Prior internship experience, previous consulting background, involvement in multidisciplinary student projects, and familiarity with specialized industry codes or accessibility standards.

Q: How difficult is the interview process at Burns & McDonnell? The interview process is rigorous and thorough, reflecting the high standards of an employee-owned firm. While initial screens and recruiter chats are conversational and welcoming, technical and in-person panels require deep preparation, detailed portfolio walkthroughs, and clear explanations of your design rationale.

Q: What differentiates successful candidates from other applicants? Successful candidates combine undeniable technical fluency with a collaborative, consulting-oriented attitude. They do not just show pretty portfolios; they explain how their designs solve practical engineering problems, respect project constraints, and make life easier for cross-functional teammates.

Q: What is the company culture like for design professionals? Culture at Burns & McDonnell is deeply rooted in teamwork, ownership, and professional respect. Because employees have a direct stake in the company's success through ownership programs, teams are exceptionally collaborative, and colleagues across different divisions are remarkably willing to share insight and mentorship.

Q: How long does the interview process typically take? The timeline from initial application or career fair connection to a final offer can vary, but generally spans a few weeks. It typically includes an initial recruiter or hiring manager screening, followed by multi-person in-person or virtual interview loops before a final decision is made.

Q: Are there opportunities for professional growth and skill expansion? Yes, the company heavily encourages continuous learning. Whether you are participating in internal training programs, collaborating across diverse market sectors like aviation or energy, or attending cross-divisional lunches, you will find ample runway to expand your design skillset.

• Prepare to talk through your process: Interviewers care just as much about how you arrived at a design as they do about the final graphic or model. Be ready to narrate your step-by-step problem-solving journey.
• Research the market segments: Familiarize yourself with the various groups within Burns & McDonnell—such as Transmission & Distribution, Aviation & Federal, and Global Facilities—so you understand the industrial contexts your designs will impact.
• Highlight your collaboration skills: Emphasize instances where you successfully worked alongside non-designers, engineers, or clients to resolve conflicting feedback and reach a unified vision.
• Lean into the employee-ownership mindset: Show that you take personal pride in your work and care deeply about the overall success of the team and the company.
• Bring thoughtful questions: Use the multi-person panel and lunch sessions to ask genuine questions about day-to-day project workflows, team structure, and mentorship opportunities.

Stepping into a UX/UI Designer role at Burns & McDonnell offers an incredible opportunity to apply your creative talents to high-impact, complex engineering and infrastructure projects. Throughout your preparation, focus on mastering your core software tools, articulating your design rationale with clarity, and demonstrating a genuine passion for collaborative, cross-functional problem-solving. By understanding what the evaluation panels look for—ranging from technical precision to cultural alignment—you can approach every stage of the interview with confidence.

Remember that thorough preparation can materially transform your performance and ease interview-day nerves. To explore additional interview insights, practice questions, and comprehensive preparation resources, candidates can visit Dataford. Take time to review your portfolio, practice walking through your past projects in detail, and step into your interviews ready to showcase both your technical capability and your enthusiasm for building a better world through design.

The compensation data above outlines expected earning ranges and hourly rates for design and drafting roles across various market segments and locations. Candidates should interpret these figures as baseline ranges that are ultimately adjusted based on individual education, certifications, prior work experience, and geographic cost of living. Reviewing these figures early helps you align your expectations and prepares you for productive compensation discussions with HR.