Sr. UX Researcher - ArcGIS Apps

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Researcher - ArcGIS Apps

Company: Esri

Location: Portland, OR

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Development

Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead foundational and directional user experience research for critical ArcGIS applications, including ArcGIS Business Analyst and ArcGIS Instant Apps, to inform product strategy and decision-making.

• Conduct agile UX research integrated directly into the software development lifecycle, actively participating in standups, sprint planning, and release cycles to ensure user insights are consistently represented.

• Partner deeply with cross-functional product teams, including designers, product managers, and software engineers, to embed user-centric perspectives throughout the development process.

• Synthesize complex research findings from diverse data sources into clear, actionable recommendations that drive product improvements and strategic direction for SaaS applications.

• Champion inclusive research practices to ensure diverse user perspectives, environments, and use cases are accurately represented in product development and research outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is deeply embedded within an agile development framework, requiring the UX Researcher to be an active participant in product team ceremonies and decision-making processes. The emphasis on "foundational and directional research" alongside "agile research" suggests a need for both long-term strategic insights and rapid iteration support. The specific mention of ArcGIS Business Analyst and ArcGIS Instant Apps indicates a focus on enterprise and data-driven SaaS applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead exploratory and evaluative research initiatives across the entire product development lifecycle for ArcGIS Apps, identifying user problems and opportunities for new features or improvements.

• Proactively integrate user insights into agile workflows, including contributing to standups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and managing feedback within development tools like GitHub issues.

• Cultivate and maintain strong collaborative relationships with multiple product teams, serving as a trusted research partner and embedding research methodologies into their daily workflows.

• Collaborate closely with product and design leadership to define research priorities, develop comprehensive research plans, and deliver tailored, actionable insights to product teams.

• Synthesize findings from various qualitative and quantitative data sources into concise problem statements, actionable recommendations, and clear proposals for next steps aligned with product roadmaps.

• Advocate for and implement inclusive research methodologies to ensure participant diversity and that research findings accurately reflect a wide range of user demographics, environments, and use cases.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research operations by mentoring junior researchers, refining participant recruitment strategies, and enhancing research rigor and efficiency.

• Act as a subject matter expert on user behavior and needs for design and engineering partners across the broader ArcGIS application suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic research leadership and tactical execution within an agile environment. The emphasis on "embedding deeply in cross-functional workflows" and "acting as a trusted partner" suggests a highly collaborative and integrated role, moving beyond traditional research silos. The need to "champion inclusive research practices" and "contribute to research operations" points to a senior-level expectation of contributing to team growth and best practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science, Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience leading user experience research specifically on complex enterprise software solutions.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research methodologies, including but not limited to usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiry.

• Deep understanding of design patterns and common usability challenges specific to enterprise software and data-focused applications.

• Proven ability to adapt research methodologies to project-specific needs, opportunities, and constraints, ensuring timely delivery of insights.

• Strong capacity to understand complex software like ArcGIS, including proactively learning product workflows and engaging with internal subject matter experts to grasp domain nuances.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with a proven track record of effectively scoping and managing collaborative research projects.

• Experience in recruiting participants from specialized technical and B2B audiences, with a particular emphasis on international users.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, data visualization tools, and analytical workflows.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and software localization best practices.

• Experience applying quantitative methods to analyze software telemetry data for user behavior insights.

• Familiarity with product development and management tools such as GitHub, Confluence, and Productboard.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for experience with "complex enterprise software" and "data-focused applications" is critical. The preference for GIS knowledge and experience with specific development tools like GitHub and Confluence indicates a need for candidates who can quickly adapt to Esri's specific tech stack and industry context. The emphasis on recruiting specialized B2B and international users highlights the global nature of Esri's customer base.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct user research projects, with a strong emphasis on enterprise or data-intensive SaaS applications.

• For each project, clearly articulate the research objectives, methodologies employed (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods), and the specific research questions addressed.

• Include detailed examples of how research findings were synthesized into actionable insights and recommendations that directly influenced product design, strategy, or development.

• Demonstrate the impact of your research through quantifiable results or qualitative evidence of product improvement, user satisfaction, or business value.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your process for planning, conducting, and reporting on user research, including how you manage research operations and stakeholder communication.

• Illustrate your approach to recruiting and screening participants, especially for specialized technical or B2B audiences, and how you ensure diversity in your participant pool.

• Showcase examples of how you adapt research methodologies to different project constraints (e.g., time, resources, project phase) while maintaining research rigor.

• Include documentation or examples of how you collaborate with cross-functional teams (designers, product managers, engineers) to ensure research insights are understood and actioned.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just the execution of research but also strategic thinking, impact, and integration into product development workflows. The emphasis should be on showing how research directly led to improved product outcomes in complex software environments. The ability to manage research operations and recruit specialized users is a key differentiator for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The provided base salary range for this position is $97,344 - $166,608 USD annually. This range is determined by various factors including skills, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and business needs.

Benefits:

Esri offers a comprehensive total rewards strategy, including:

• Industry-leading health and welfare benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.

• Basic and supplemental life insurance for employees and their families.

• Robust 401(k) plan with matching contributions.

• Profit-sharing programs to share in company success.

• Generous paid time off, with a minimum accrual of 80 hours of vacation leave annually.

• Twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year.

Working Hours:

The role is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Esri may offer some flexibility within standard business hours, aligning with agile team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator of a senior-level position within the UX research field, particularly for enterprise software. The comprehensive benefits package, including profit sharing and ample vacation, aligns with Esri's reputation as a stable and employee-focused organization. The "On-site" designation for this role is explicitly mentioned, indicating a preference for in-person collaboration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Geographic Information System (GIS) Software, Technology, SaaS. Esri is a global leader in GIS, empowering organizations worldwide to make data-driven decisions and solve complex geographical challenges. Their technology is used across diverse sectors including government, business, environmental science, and urban planning.

Company Size: Esri is a large organization, typically falling into the 5,000-10,000+ employee range. This size offers stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for specialization, while also potentially presenting a more structured, process-oriented environment.

Founded: Esri was founded in 1969. With a long history and established presence, the company has a deep understanding of its market and a mature approach to product development and research. This longevity suggests a culture that values stability, long-term vision, and continuous innovation within its core domain.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team likely operates within product development departments, supporting multiple product lines. Team members may specialize in different research methodologies or product areas.

• Reporting structure typically involves a UX Research Manager or Director who oversees the team's strategy and execution, with Senior Researchers reporting to them and collaborating closely with Product Managers and Design Leads.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is paramount, with a strong emphasis on leveraging user research insights to guide product strategy, feature development, and user experience improvements.

• Agile methodologies are integrated into product development, requiring research to be adaptable, iterative, and responsive to changing project needs.

• A focus on understanding complex user workflows and domain-specific challenges within GIS and related fields is key to delivering relevant and impactful research.

Company Website: https://www.esri.com/careers/5091355007?gh_jid=5091355007

📝 Enhancement Note: Esri's position as a leader in GIS software implies a culture that values scientific rigor, data integrity, and the application of technology to solve real-world problems. The company's long history suggests a stable and established culture, while its focus on innovation in GIS means it's likely to embrace modern development and research practices. The emphasis on enterprise and SaaS applications points to a professional, results-oriented environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires demonstrated leadership in research execution, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor others. The scope includes leading research for significant product areas and acting as a subject matter expert, influencing product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will likely report to a UX Research Manager or Director. They will work closely with Product Managers, UX Designers, and Engineering Leads for specific product teams (ArcGIS Business Analyst, ArcGIS Instant Apps, and potentially others). This structure facilitates deep integration into product development squads.

Operations Impact: The work of a Senior UX Researcher at Esri has a direct and substantial impact on how professionals globally utilize GIS tools to address critical environmental, social, and economic challenges. By ensuring user needs are met and workflows are intuitive, this role contributes to the effectiveness and adoption of Esri's flagship applications, ultimately driving customer success and market leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies, product domains (e.g., spatial analysis, business intelligence, mobile GIS), or research operations.

• Leadership: Potential to move into lead researcher roles, manage research projects, mentor junior team members, or transition into research management positions.

• Cross-functional Development: Exposure to product strategy, design thinking, and software development processes, fostering a holistic understanding of product creation.

• Industry Influence: Contributing to the advancement of UX research practices within the GIS industry and at a leading technology company.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior role, the expectation is not just to execute but to strategically guide research efforts and mentor others. The growth path likely involves increasing scope of responsibility, leadership in research initiatives, and potentially moving into management or specialized expert roles within the broader UX organization. The impact is significant, as Esri's tools are critical for many professional workflows.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a preference for an in-person work environment. This suggests a collaborative office setting designed to foster teamwork and spontaneous interaction.

Office Location(s): The position is based in Portland, OR. Esri's main headquarters are in Redlands, CA, but they have offices in various locations, suggesting a distributed yet collaborative company structure. The Portland office likely offers modern amenities and a professional atmosphere conducive to focused work.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, facilitating easy communication and interaction with designers, product managers, and engineers.

• Access to necessary research tools, software, and technology will be provided to support the execution of research methodologies.

• Opportunities for informal knowledge sharing, brainstorming sessions, and team-building activities are likely prevalent, contributing to a strong team dynamic.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. While the role is on-site, Esri, like many tech companies, may offer some flexibility in start and end times, provided that core collaboration hours with distributed teams are respected and research deliverables are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is a key differentiator, indicating Esri values in-person collaboration for this role. This suggests an environment where spontaneous discussions, whiteboarding sessions, and direct team interaction are important for research integration and product development. Candidates should be prepared for a structured office environment that supports focused work and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications for alignment with basic qualifications.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion focusing on experience, research methodologies, problem-solving skills, and understanding of enterprise software. Candidates may be asked to walk through specific projects from their portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents 2-3 key research projects from their portfolio. This is a critical stage to assess research rigor, synthesis skills, impact demonstration, and communication abilities. Expect questions on methodology choices, challenges, and outcomes.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, UX Designers, Engineers) to assess teamwork, communication style, and ability to integrate research into agile workflows.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or a final assessment of strategic fit and overall qualifications.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience with complex enterprise software, agile research, and delivering actionable insights. Prioritize projects with clear impact and measurable results.

• Structure for Clarity: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the methodology, key findings, recommendations, and the impact achieved. Use visuals effectively to illustrate findings and processes.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your research and its contribution to product improvements or business goals.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you partnered with cross-functional teams, managed stakeholder expectations, and integrated research into the development lifecycle.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and how you handled challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Mock Research Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical research problem related to ArcGIS applications or enterprise SaaS.

• Agile Integration: Be ready to articulate how you would fit research into an agile sprint cycle, including your role in ceremonies and feedback loops.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice explaining complex research findings and recommendations concisely and persuasively to different audiences (technical and non-technical).

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is the cornerstone of this interview process. Candidates must prepare to articulate their research process, findings, and impact with clarity and confidence. The emphasis on agile integration and cross-functional collaboration means interviewers will be looking for evidence of a proactive, team-oriented researcher who can operate effectively within a dynamic product development environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and participant management (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration & Documentation: Tools for team communication, project management, and documentation (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, Confluence, Miro, Figma).

• Data Analysis: Software for analyzing qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., Dovetail, Excel, SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Telemetry: Experience with analyzing software usage data and analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Pendo, Amplitude) is a plus for quantitative insights.

• Reporting Tools: Proficiency in creating clear and compelling reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate research findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM/automation workflows, an understanding of how user behavior data is captured and utilized within enterprise CRM or SaaS platforms can be beneficial for context.

• Familiarity with development tools like GitHub for issue tracking and Confluence for documentation is listed as a recommended qualification, indicating their use in the team's workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on research execution tools and collaboration platforms. While direct experience with specific analytics or CRM tools isn't mandatory, an understanding of how user data flows through these systems will provide valuable context for enterprise software research. The mention of GitHub and Confluence as recommended qualifications highlights their importance in the development and documentation process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs, ensuring that product decisions are informed by real user insights.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Valuing research that provides actionable data and insights to drive innovation and continuous improvement in product development.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering a collaborative environment where UX researchers work closely with product managers, designers, and engineers as integral members of the product team.

• Rigor & Adaptability: Upholding high standards for research quality and methodology while remaining flexible and adaptable to agile development cycles and evolving project needs.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: Championing inclusive research practices that ensure a broad representation of users and perspectives, leading to more equitable and accessible products.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: UX Researchers are expected to be deeply embedded within product teams, participating actively in all stages of the development process.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, feedback, and knowledge sharing across disciplines to ensure research findings are understood and effectively utilized.

• Process Improvement: A culture that values continuous learning and improvement, including refining research operations and team workflows to enhance efficiency and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Esri's emphasis on "creating positive global change" and "diversity, equity, and inclusion" suggests a culture that values purpose-driven work and a commitment to social responsibility. For the UX Research team, this translates to a strong focus on user advocacy, ethical research practices, and building products that are both powerful and accessible. Collaboration is key, with researchers acting as integral partners rather than isolated specialists.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical Research: Simultaneously conducting deep, foundational research to inform long-term strategy while also supporting the rapid, iterative needs of agile development cycles.

• Complexity of Enterprise Software: Navigating the intricate workflows, diverse user roles, and extensive feature sets common in enterprise GIS applications requires deep domain understanding and robust research methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and adoption of research insights across multiple product teams, each with potentially different priorities and development cadences.

• Recruiting Specialized Users: Identifying and recruiting participants from niche technical and B2B audiences, especially for international markets, can be resource-intensive and require creative sourcing strategies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen GIS Domain Expertise: Opportunities to become a subject matter expert in the complex world of GIS, spatial analysis, and its diverse applications.

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Training and practical application of advanced qualitative and quantitative research techniques, potentially including econometrics or advanced statistical analysis for telemetry data.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing skills in leading research initiatives, mentoring junior researchers, and contributing to the growth of the UX research function within Esri.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, present research findings, and contribute to the broader UX and GIS communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the complexity of the domain and the need to integrate research effectively within a large, agile organization. Growth opportunities are strong, particularly for those who can develop deep domain expertise and leadership skills within the UX research function. The emphasis on mentorship and industry engagement suggests a supportive environment for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you approach understanding the core user problems for a new feature within ArcGIS Business Analyst, given a tight agile sprint timeline?

• Describe a time you had to influence product direction based on your research findings when stakeholders initially disagreed. What was your strategy?

Company & Culture Questions:

• What interests you about Esri's mission and its role in the GIS industry?

• How do you see your research contributing to Esri's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your case studies with a clear beginning (problem/goal), middle (your approach/methodology), and end (findings, recommendations, impact).

• Visual Storytelling: Use screenshots, diagrams, user journey maps, and quotes to illustrate your process and findings. Keep slides clean and focused.

• Quantify and Qualify: Clearly state the impact of your work using metrics where possible, but also be prepared to discuss qualitative improvements or insights.

• Address Challenges: Be transparent about any challenges faced during research and how you overcame them, demonstrating problem-solving skills.

• Tailor to Esri: Briefly touch upon how your experience aligns with Esri's products (ArcGIS Apps) and their user base.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be assessing not only your technical research skills but also your strategic thinking, collaborative approach, and ability to communicate complex information effectively. Preparation should focus on articulating your process, the impact of your work, and how you fit into Esri's culture and development environment. Practicing your portfolio presentation aloud is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Esri careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects involving complex enterprise software and agile development lifecycles. Highlight your experience with data-rich applications and your ability to recruit specialized B2B or technical users.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 5+ years of UX research experience, specifically mentioning enterprise software, qualitative/quantitative/mixed-methods research, and agile integration. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, key findings, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss how you would integrate research into Esri's agile development environment and your understanding of GIS applications. Rehearse your portfolio presentation focusing on clarity, impact, and collaboration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Esri's mission, its core products (especially ArcGIS Business Analyst and ArcGIS Instant Apps), and its commitment to diversity and social responsibility. Understand the value proposition of GIS technology.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.