UX Researcher

Important Notice for Applicants:

At Bixal, we want to ensure a transparent and secure application process for all candidates. Official communication will come from an email address ending in @bixal.com or from @bixal.na.teamtailor-mail.com. Messages from other sources may be fraudulent, and you should exercise care to avoid any links or attachments included.

Bixal will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Need Assistance or a Reasonable Accommodation? If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to complete your application, we're here to help. Please reach out to us at talent@bixal.com and let us know how we can support you. You do not need to share personal details or disclose the nature of your request. You can expect a response from a team member within 24 hours during the regular work week and on the next operating day during the weekend or holidays.

Why Bixal? Bixal is a consulting company headquartered in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Our values:

• People-First: Emphasizing the importance of people in all aspects of work.
• Collaboration and Transparency: Valuing teamwork and open communication.
• Growth Mindset: Encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
• Creating Lasting Impact: Focusing on meaningful outcomes and positive change.

About the role:

Bixal is seeking a UX Researcher to join our digital services team supporting a large-scale public sector web and application modernization initiative to deliver flexible, secure, and citizen-centered digital services across government entities. The UX Researcher will be a critical member of the team supporting the development and continuous improvement of a modern, accessible, and scalable content management system (CMS) that provides reusable, user-friendly website templates aligned with user needs as well as government digital and brand guidelines. This role will focus on improving user experience across public-facing digital platforms by grounding design and development decisions in real user insights with the goal of empowering our clients to provide seamless, mobile-friendly, and accessible digital experiences for residents. This role is central to ensuring a user-first approach, directly engaging with system users, including end users and content managers across the government. The ideal candidate will have experience conducting both qualitative and quantitative research and translating findings into actionable recommendations for cross-functional teams. This project-based position is contingent on contract award, with an anticipated performance period of a two-year base period with up to three (3) one year (1) option periods. There is potential for occasional travel for on-site meetings and working sessions (Colorado) at the discretion of the client. This role offers you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a project that aligns with Bixal’s mission of delivering innovative, human-centered solutions. While the role has a fixed duration, we are committed to transparency and collaboration, keeping you informed about contract updates and new opportunities. At Bixal, we support your professional journey, ensuring your experience reflects our inclusive, purpose-driven culture and prepares you for future success.

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is $105,000 – $120,000. In the spirit of transparency, most offers tend to land near the midpoint of the range. We make compensation decisions thoughtfully, considering your experience, the skills you bring, and our commitment to internal equity. Fairness and transparency are core to how we operate.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute a wide range of user research activities, including interviews, surveys, usability testing, and contextual inquiries, to inform design and product decisions.

Partner closely with product managers, designers, and developers to ensure user needs are central to every stage of the digital service lifecycle and the final product is intuitive, accessible, and effective.

• Conduct research with diverse user groups, including end users and internal government stakeholders, to understand motivations, pain points, and behavioral patterns.
• Develop research artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and empathy maps to communicate actionable insights.
• Synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights that guide design and content decisions.
• Support the design and delivery of accessible, user-centered digital products that comply with WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards.
• Participate in co-creation workshops and agile sprint activities, collaborating to validate design concepts and prototypes.
• Maintain research documentation, protocols, and ethical standards in alignment with federal and state guidelines.
• Present findings through reports, briefs, and visual storytelling to build alignment among stakeholders.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research frameworks, tools, and methods to ensure consistency and scalability across projects.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in planning and conducting qualitative and quantitative user research for digital products or services, preferably within the public sector or consulting environment.
• Proven experience using diverse research methodologies, such as usability testing, user interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry and card sorting to uncover user needs, behaviors and motivations.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and translate research findings into design recommendations, actionable insights and measurable improvements for design and development teams.
• Experience creating research artifacts such as personas, user journey maps, and empathy maps.
• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and accessibility best practices (e.g., WCAG 2.2 AA).
• Experience working within an agile or iterative development environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Ability to pass a background check in compliance with applicable laws and client requirements.

Nice to Have Skills and Experience:

• Familiarity with government digital service standards such as the U.S. Web Design System and content management systems (CMS).
• Experience conducting research for large-scale, user-facing platforms serving diverse populations.
• Comfort facilitating workshops or usability sessions both remotely and in person.

How We Support Our Team:

Flex hours 401K with matching incentive Parental Leave Medical/dental/vision benefits Flex Spending Account Company provided short-term disability and life insurance Commuter benefits Paid Time Off (PTO) 11 Paid holidays Our company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.