Sr. UX Researcher - ArcGIS Apps

NextGenEnergyJobs; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Esri is seeking a Senior UX Researcher for ArcGIS Apps, focusing on ArcGIS Business Analyst and ArcGIS Instant Apps, with cross-team research across ArcGIS tools.

You will guide product direction through exploratory and evaluative studies, working with product management and design to deliver actionable insights. The role requires deep GIS knowledge, strong communication, and experience in agile research within enterprise software environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading UX research on enterprise software.
• Experience with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research.
• Expert-level usability knowledge for enterprise/data-focused apps.
• Proven agile UX research collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to adapt research methods per project and deliver timely insights.
• Strong understanding of ArcGIS/GIS workflows and product usage.
• Experience recruiting specialized technical and B2B audiences, including international users.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; Master’s preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead exploratory and evaluative research across the product lifecycle for ArcGIS Apps.
• Align research with agile development processes and share insights in standups and sprints.
• Manage research projects across multiple product teams and embed in cross-functional workflows.
• Prioritize research needs with product and design leadership and deliver actionable insights.
• Synthesize findings into clear problem statements and recommended next steps.
• Champion inclusive research reflecting diverse users and environments.
• Support research operations for rigor and scalability and mentor team members.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for designers and cross-functional partners.

Skills

UX research leadership

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Usability testing

Agile UX research

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

GIS / ArcGIS knowledge

Education

Bachelors in HCI

Masters in HCI

Tools

GitHub

Confluence

Productboard

Job description

Join Esri as a Senior UX Researcher – ArcGIS Apps, where you’ll focus primarily on ArcGIS Business Analyst and ArcGIS Instant Apps while supporting research across a broader suite of ArcGIS applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead exploratory and evaluative research across the development lifecycle to guide product direction and decision-making on ArcGIS Apps, including identifying user problems & research opportunities to exploring new audiences & testing product iterations
• Align research with agile development processes, ensuring user insights are proactively represented in standups, sprint planning, retrospectives, GitHub issues, and release cycles
• Build strong relationships and manage research projects across multiple product teams, acting as a trusted partner and embedding deeply in cross-functional workflows
• Partner with product and design leadership to prioritize research needs, develop plans, and deliver actionable insights tailored to designers, engineers, and product managers
• Synthesize findings from multiple data sources into clear problem statements, actionable recommendations, and proposed next steps that reflect product priorities
• Champion inclusive research practices, ensuring participants, data, and recommendations reflect the diversity of our users, their environments, and use cases
• Contribute to research operations that improve rigor, efficiency, and scalability including mentoring team members & helping maintain a diverse participant pool
• Serve as a trusted subject matter expert for designers and cross-functional partners working across the ArcGIS suite

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience leading user experience research on complex enterprise software
• Expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research methodologies (including usability testing) across remote and in-person formats
• Expert-level knowledge of design patterns and common usability challenges for enterprise software or data-focused applications
• Demonstrated experience conducting agile UX research and collaborating closely with cross-functional product teams
• Ability to adapt research methodologies to the needs, opportunities, and constraints of each project and deliver insights and recommendations on time
• Ability to deeply understand ArcGIS software and the field of GIS, including proactively learning product workflows and engaging with internal subject matter experts
• Proven ability to plan, organize, and manage time effectively, with a strong focus on scoping and managing collaborative research projects
• Experience recruiting participants from specialized technical and B2B audiences, including international users
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex ideas actionable and easy to understand
• Bachelor’s degree in human-computer interaction, information science, anthropology, psychology, sociology, or a related field
• Knowledge of GIS technologies, data visualization tools, and analytical workflows
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and software localization practices
• Experience applying quantitative methods to software telemetry data
• Familiarity with development and product management tools such as GitHub, Confluence, and Productboard
• Master's degree in human-computer interaction, information science, anthropology, psychology, sociology, or a related field
• Esri’s competitive total rewards strategy includes industry-leading health and welfare benefits: medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance for employees (and their families), 401(k) and profit-sharing programs, minimum accrual of 80 hours of vacation leave, twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Base salary is one component of our total rewards strategy. Compensation decisions and the base range for this role take into account many factors including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
• A reasonable estimate of the base salary range is