Product Design Researcher

The Product Design Researcher will support the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Vulnerability Management (VM) team by contributing to user centered research that informs product and service improvements across the VM portfolio. This role focuses on designing and executing research activities, particularly usability testing—to ensure CISA’s VM offerings meet the needs of federal stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is curious, detail oriented, and passionate about understanding user behavior. This role supports the Attack Surface Management (ASM) portfolio by helping translate customer needs into insights that guide product decisions.

• Assist in developing research plans for usability testing sessions, including defining objectives, participant criteria, and testing protocols.
• Conduct user research (e.g., usability testing, interviews, surveys, observation) to uncover actionable insights that inform product design and service enhancements.
• Support the synthesis of research findings into clear, concise deliverables such as insights summaries, journey maps, or opportunity areas.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams—including cybersecurity SMEs, product owners/managers, and development teams—to ensure research insights are incorporated into product decisions.
• Assist in the creation of simple measurement approaches to evaluate user experience outcomes over time.
• Help maintain a consistent understanding of user needs across the team by contributing to research documentation and insight repositories.
• Translate research findings into user centered recommendations that support intuitive, accessible design solutions.
• Support stakeholder engagement by preparing presentations, research readouts, and visual storytelling materials.
• Stay current on foundational CX, Human Centered Design (HCD), and usability research practices, particularly within public-sector digital services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field of study.
• Certified Tester -- Advanced Level (TTA, TA, and/or TM) desired
• 5 or more years professional software testing experience including test automation and/or infrastructure development, test planning, test case design, test methodologies

Other Job Specific Skills

• Some experience supporting or conducting user research, including usability testing, user interviews, or exploratory research.
• Familiarity with research planning, note taking, and insight synthesis.
• Exposure to journey mapping, service blueprinting, or user flows (coursework or project experience welcome).
• Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to translate user feedback into practical insights.
• Experience collaborating in Agile product environments.
• Curiosity about federal digital service standards and government CX initiatives.
• Experience designing surveys and analyzing survey data (nice to have).
• Interest in cybersecurity or willingness to learn about federal cybersecurity concepts.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.