Software Engineer

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is looking for a skilled Mid-Level UX Design Engineer with a minimum of 2-5 years of experience to join our dynamic software development team based in Portland, Oregon, or remotely. In this role, you will bridge the gap between user experience design and front-end development, contributing to a range of innovative projects. 

This mid-level position is part of our Technology Services consultant team, which provides software development expertise to a diverse group of public sector clients, including the California Department of Water Resources, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, among many other local, state, and federal agencies. 

Your work will focus on designing and building web applications that promote environmental conservation and stewardship, efficiently manage large and complex datasets, and streamline workflows. 

You will collaborate closely with developers, technical architects, project managers, and product leads to create high-quality, user-centric, scalable, and engaging software solutions for our clients. 

Who You Are 

• You are an early- to mid-career professional with a strong commitment to advancing your career and enhancing your UX design and front-end development expertise. 
• You have at least 2 years of relevant professional experience, including creating visual mock-ups for websites or applications, coding front-end interfaces, and presenting your work to senior leaders and clients. 
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in a design or technology-related field.
• You bring a balanced skill set as both a designer and a builder. 
• You possess a solid understanding of design principles (layout, color theory, typography) and have experience creating user interfaces in Figma. 
• You are proficient in front-end development, with strong skills in HTML and CSS. 
• You are passionate about working on environmental projects and collaborating with public sector clients. 
• You are an effective communicator, capable of articulating design decisions and collaborating efficiently with others. 
• You are organized, analytical, and skilled in problem-solving and applying systems thinking. 
• You thrive in collaborative environments and are experienced working within an Agile framework. 
• You are based in the Portland, Oregon area or have the ability to work remotely during Pacific time zone business hours and are able to travel to the Portland office 1-2 times a year for team meetings. 

What You Will Do for ESA 

• Design intuitive user interfaces by translating client needs and system requirements into engaging digital experiences. 
• Develop and refine user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups. 
• Conduct usability testing and support user research activities, including interviews, workshops, and data analysis. 
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of design systems, style guides, and component libraries to ensure consistency across projects. 
• Implement visual designs into front-end code using HTML and CSS. 
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams and engage in Agile workflows and team rituals. 
• Prepare materials for client meetings and participate in discussions as required. 
• Understand and work within the constraints of a professional services consulting environment.
• Design and code samples may be requested as a stage in the interview process. 

What’s Special About Our Technology Services Team in the Pacific Northwest 

Our team designs and builds applications that help protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife on the Columbia River and its tributaries, mitigate the groundwater crisis in California, identify restoration opportunities in riparian habitats in Washington State, and assist growers in Canada in understanding the impact of their farming practices on green