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Ethnographic Design Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Conifer

Design Researcher Openings

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you think? We do. Conifer Research is ... Through an ethnographic approach to research, we help our clients embed their creativity into an ...

Conifer

Design Researcher Openings

Chicago, IL · Remote

DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you think? We do. Conifer Research is ... Through an ethnographic approach to research, we help our clients embed their creativity into an ...

Conifer

Design Researcher - Contractor

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you think? We do. Conifer Research is ... Through an ethnographic approach to research, we help our clients embed their creativity into an ...

Conifer

Design Researcher - Contractor

Chicago, IL · Remote

DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you think? We do. Conifer Research is ... Through an ethnographic approach to research, we help our clients embed their creativity into an ...

Apple

Senior Human Factors Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Design research methods (contextual inquiry, diary studies, participatory design, ethnographic research, survey design), Qualitative research and synthesis for experience strategy, Interaction design ...

Cedars Sinai

Senior UX Designer - Remote

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$109K - $174K/yr

Designs and executes user research using qualitative and quantitative methods, including ethnographic studies, primary interviews, generative design research, usability studies, A/B testing.

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite

San Francisco, CA

The UX Researcher partners closely with creative, design, product, and strategy teams to ensure ... ethnographic studies, diary studies, contextual inquiry, and field research. * Support creative ...

Apple

Senior Human Factors Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

Design research methods (contextual inquiry, diary studies, participatory design, ethnographic research, survey design), Qualitative research and synthesis for experience strategy, Interaction design ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The UX Researcher partners closely with creative, design, product, and strategy teams to ensure ... ethnographic studies, diary studies, contextual inquiry, and field research. * Support creative ...

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Ethnographic Design Research information

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do ethnographic design research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for ethnographic design research in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an ethnographic design researcher?

An Ethnographic Design Research job involves studying people in their natural environments to understand their behaviors, needs, and challenges. Researchers use qualitative methods like interviews, observations, and contextual inquiries to gather insights. These insights help inform the design of products, services, or systems that better fit users' real-world experiences. The role blends anthropology, design thinking, and user research to create human-centered solutions.

What are the typical responsibilities of an ethnographic design researcher in a product development team?

As an Ethnographic Design Researcher in a product development team, you will spend much of your time conducting in-depth observations, interviews, and field studies to understand user behaviors and cultural contexts. Your work often involves synthesizing findings into actionable insights and presenting them to designers, product managers, and engineers to inform design decisions. Collaboration is key, as you will frequently partner with multidisciplinary teams to translate user needs into practical design solutions. On a weekly basis, you might be planning research activities, conducting fieldwork, analyzing data, and facilitating workshops to align stakeholders on user-centered strategies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in ethnographic design research, and why are they important?

To excel in Ethnographic Design Research, a strong understanding of qualitative research methods, user-centered design principles, and experience with fieldwork are essential, often supported by a degree in anthropology, design, or a related field. Proficiency in recording tools, qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo or Dedoose, and experience with visual documentation are commonly required. Outstanding interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to synthesize complex findings set professionals apart. These competencies enable robust insights into user behaviors and needs, which drive meaningful design solutions that address real-world problems.

More about Ethnographic Design Research jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Ethnographic Design Research jobs?

The most popular types of Ethnographic Design Research jobs are:

What job categories do people searching Ethnographic Design Research jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Ethnographic Design Research jobs are:

Ethnographic Design Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ethnographic Design Research job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Design Researcher Openings

Conifer

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

Contractor

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Conifer Research conducts design research projects both domestically and internationally for clients across a wide variety of industries.
DESIGN RESEARCHER
People are endlessly fascinating, don't you think? We do. Conifer Research is seeking a curious and empathetic Design Researcher who is passionate about humans, learning, and guiding clients to understand what makes people tick and drive strategy and innovation. Conifer provides opportunities to work on projects across numerous industries, wearing many hats along the way - from researcher to strategist to storyteller to user advocate. Though there may be longer-term opportunities in the future, we are currently looking to hire on a project basis.
ABOUT CONIFER
Conifer Research brings practical insight to companies that wish to change and innovate. Through an ethnographic approach to research, we help our clients embed their creativity into an understanding of the everyday lives of people they hope to engage - customers, workers, and end-users. Our seasoned team of anthropologists, strategists, and information designers act as consultants, facilitators, and coaches helping organizations gather deep insights.
Clients come to Conifer for many reasons, but with a common challenge: How do we align business activities better with the real lives and needs of customers? We have experience in retail, consumer goods and lifestyles, financial services, healthcare, and digital products. Some clients include Sonos, Samsung, PepsiCo, McDonald's, Google, Discover, Lowe's, CarMax, and Ferrara Candy Company.
RESPONSIBILITIES
A successful candidate will be expected to:
  • Work with internal and client teams through all phases of qualitative research or innovation programs, including: planning, research design, data collection, rigorous analysis and synthesis, identifying patterns, developing key insights, ideation and opportunity definition.
  • Execute research programs drawing from established methodologies for ethnography, remote research, evaluative testing, and co-creation.
  • Translate research into actionable recommendations and innovation opportunities.
  • Contribute to synthesis and sensemaking to create narratives that frame research findings in a way that clearly demonstrates the business implications of insights and opportunities
  • Create deliverables and client presentations
  • Be adaptable and creative in order to conduct rigorous remote research

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
The qualities of an ideal candidate include:
  • Relevant experience in research or insights, including experience in a consultative environment
  • Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Design or a related field
  • Experience designing and fielding remote ethnography and online community research
  • Being strategic, flexible, collaborative, and passionate about advocating for user needs
  • Confident presentation skills and passion for communicating user stories and insights
  • Active engagement in thought leadership within the design research community
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proficient with Keynote and remote research software

Bonus points for:
  • Experience with video editing (Final Cut, Adobe Premiere and After Effects) and/or visual storytelling preferred.
  • Visual communication and presentation design skills
  • Previous experience with quantitative research including survey design and quant data analysis
  • Proficiency with video, still photography and audio recording equipment.
  • Foreign language fluency
  • Thought leadership and public speaking experience

APPLICATIONS: Please share a cover letter, portfolio and relevant work samples in addition to resume. Apply through our career portal: https://conifer.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0tf5/

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