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Contract Ethnographic Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ACI Infotech

UX Researcher

REMOTE DURATION: 1+ Years contract About the Role The UX Researcher will support the mission by ... Perform market and ethnographic research * Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and ...

ACI Infotech

UI/UX Designer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

Role: UI/UX Designer Duration: Full Time / Contract -W2 / C2C ( ONLY LOCALS) Location: Atlanta, GA ... Perform market and ethnographic research * Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and ...

ACI Infotech

UI/UX Designer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

Role: UI/UX Designer Duration: Full Time / Contract -W2 / C2C ( ONLY LOCALS) Location: Atlanta, GA ... Perform market and ethnographic research * Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and ...

ACI Infotech

UI/UX Designer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

Role: UI/UX Designer Duration: Full Time / Contract -W2 Location: Atlanta, GA ( On-Site) Accepting ... Perform market and ethnographic research * Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and ...

ACI Infotech

UI/UX Designer

Atlanta, GA

Role: UI/UX Designer Duration: Full Time / Contract -W2 / C2C ( ONLY LOCALS) Location: Atlanta, GA ... Perform market and ethnographic research * Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and ...

ACI Infotech

UI/UX Designer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

Role: UI/UX Designer Duration: Full Time / Contract -W2 Location: Atlanta, GA ( On-Site) Accepting ... Perform market and ethnographic research * Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and ...

MMI

UX Architect

Charlotte, NC

Contract Description: -This position requires a senior-level usability specialist. -Candidates ... research methods(ethnographic research, personas, design games, etc.) -Ability to evaluate ...

MMI

UX Architect

Charlotte, NC · On-site

Contract Description: -This position requires a senior-level usability specialist. -Candidates ... research methods(ethnographic research, personas, design games, etc.) -Ability to evaluate ...

Arlo Technologies, Inc.

Senior Industrial Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$109K - $117K/yr

Contract: Fulltime/12-month Fixed Term Key Responsibilities - Assist, and lead in some cases, the ... and ethnographic research insights to identify and drive meaningful user experiences. - Be ...

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Contract Ethnographic Research information

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$17.5K

$82.2K

$154.5K

How much do contract ethnographic research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract ethnographic research in the United States is $82,164.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,500.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is contract ethnographic research?

Contract ethnographic research refers to the practice of hiring professional ethnographers on a contractual basis to study people and cultures in specific contexts, often for businesses, nonprofits, or government agencies. These researchers use qualitative methods such as interviews, participant observation, and fieldwork to gather deep insights into human behaviors, social patterns, and cultural dynamics. The findings from contract ethnographic research are often used to inform product development, marketing strategies, or policy decisions. Unlike academic ethnography, contract ethnographers work on clearly defined projects with specific goals and deadlines set by the client.

What are the typical challenges faced by contract ethnographic researchers, and how can they be effectively managed?

Contract ethnographic researchers often encounter challenges such as building trust with participants in a limited timeframe and adapting to diverse cultural settings quickly. Working on a contract basis also means managing multiple projects simultaneously and balancing client expectations with rigorous research standards. To address these challenges, strong communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to quickly establish rapport are essential. Additionally, maintaining clear documentation and regular updates for clients can help ensure project goals are met efficiently.

What is the difference between Contract Ethnographic Research vs Contract User Experience Research?

AspectContract Ethnographic ResearchContract User Experience Research
CredentialsQualitative research skills, ethnography training, research methodsUX research skills, usability testing, qualitative and quantitative methods
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, in-depth interviews, participant observationUsability labs, remote testing, user interviews
Industry UsageMarket research, anthropology, product developmentDesign, technology, digital products
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding cultural contexts, in-depth researchImproving user experience, interface testing

Contract Ethnographic Research focuses on immersive, qualitative fieldwork to understand cultural and social behaviors, often involving in-depth observation. Contract User Experience Research emphasizes usability testing and user insights to enhance digital products. While both roles require qualitative research skills, ethnographic research is more field-based and cultural, whereas UX research is more product and interface-focused.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract ethnographic researcher?

To thrive as a Contract Ethnographic Researcher, you need a background in anthropology or social sciences, experience in qualitative research methods, and strong analytical skills. Familiarity with data collection tools such as audio/video recording devices, transcription software, and qualitative analysis platforms like NVivo or ATLAS.ti is typically required. Excellent observational abilities, cultural sensitivity, and clear communication set outstanding researchers apart in this field. These skills are crucial for accurately understanding and interpreting human behavior, generating actionable insights, and delivering valuable research outcomes to clients.
More about Contract Ethnographic Research jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Ethnographic Research jobs? Cities with the most Contract Ethnographic Research job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Ethnographic Research jobs? The most popular types of Ethnographic Research jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Ethnographic Research jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Ethnographic Research jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Contract Ethnographic Research jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Ethnographic Research jobs are:
Contract Ethnographic Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Ethnographic Research job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,164 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

UX Researcher

ACI Infotech

Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

ROLE: UX Researcher
Location: REMOTE
DURATION: 1+ Years contract
About the Role
The UX Researcher will support the mission by work with CTDS product designers and product managers throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from identifying foundational user needs during the discovery phase to measuring impact on the user after a product or feature has launched. The UX Researcher will serve as a voice for the user, utilizing broad skills in both qualitative and quantitative research to facilitate a user-centered design process.
In addition, you will help scale user research at the State of Connecticut by joining a team of user researchers within a growing tech and design space. You and your team will become trusted and work with a diverse set of state partners to understand, improve, and test varied government products and designs. The candidate should also have experience working in an Agile environment.
Experiences Required for This Role
UX Research - At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:
  • Conduct primary and secondary user research
  • Conduct and evaluate quantitative and qualitative research
  • Perform market and ethnographic research
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and evaluate research topics
  • Plan and implement user research strategies and methodologies
  • Advocate research findings to diverse audiences through written and oral presentations
  • Mentor and coach junior UX researchers on the team
  • Perform usability studies with consumers
  • Ask questions, gather data, and analyze data
  • Use a diverse set of UX research tools

User Acceptance Testing - At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:
  • Building and running tests (ideally automated) to confirm the service or product meets user and stakeholder needs
  • Helping to discover problems while the service is being developed, not once it is live
  • Checking the operating environment to make sure test results are valid
  • Helping increase user and agency confidence in future service or product delivery
  • Helping reduce the risk of reputational damage
  • Recruiting and leading testing groups
  • Running research sessions with users
  • Understanding accessibility issues and engage with team to build with equality

Digital Platforms, Tools, & Discipline - At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following:
  • Working with enterprise scale digital platforms and products
  • Using of productivity and analysis tools to manage iterative delivery, such as JIRA, Google Analytics, Git Repository, MS Teams, Confluence

Performance in Complex Situations - At least 3 years of experience and user cases with the following:
  • Communication and collaboration with state-wide partners
  • Encouraging of an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer-focused work environment
  • Comfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environment
  • Judgement fitting to the ever-changing environment
  • Government-specific task management

Knowledge, Skills and Ability
UX Research & Testing
  • Ability to share research results quickly and effectively
  • Ability to perform all research-related tasks including research, planning, evaluating, and iteration
  • Ability to formulate specific, answerable, and practical questions
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and act as a strategic partner in product decisions
  • Experience with remote testing tools
  • A strong desire for creative problem-solving with a positive attitude
  • Excellent time-management skills
  • Knowledge of best practices for user experience research and testing
  • Willingness to participate ethnographic research and interviews

Performance in Complex Situations
  • Ability to distill complex concepts into simple ideas
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, handle and prioritize simultaneous requests, and manage laterally and upwards
  • Comfort in blazing a path through an ambiguous work environment
  • Prioritization, organization, and triage in an independent environment
  • Understanding of the Agile development process

Team Player
  • Supporting teammates' skills and behaviors development and delivery
  • Communication and collaboration with state-wide partners
  • Creative and analytical thinking with strong problem-solving skills
  • Judgement in dealing effectively and diplomatically with government staff
  • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Preferred Skills & Qualifications
Other Desirable Skills
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in graphic design, marketing, communications, or related field
  • 2 years professional experience in design, communications, management, or testing
  • 1 year of user-centered design
  • 1 year of user research and analytics

Apply