User Experience Researcher

About the Role The User Experience Researcher II helps product teams deeply understand user behaviors, needs, and motivations through high‑impact research. In this role, you'll execute mixed‑methods UX research across the product lifecycle—balancing generative discovery with evaluative testing—to inform product strategy, design decisions, and overall user experience. You'll partner closely with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to define research questions, uncover insights, and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations. What You'll Do Lead small‑to‑medium UX research projects across the product lifecycle, including discovery, concept development, design iteration, and post‑launch learning Partner with cross‑functional stakeholders to define problems, research questions, success metrics, and decision points Ask the right questions to clarify ambiguity and focus research on the highest‑impact opportunities Plan and conduct UX research using qualitative and quantitative methods; analyze and synthesize findings into clear insights and recommendations Conduct generative research (e.g., interviews, contextual inquiry, workflow/task analysis) to uncover user needs, workflows, and constraints Conduct evaluative research (e.g., usability testing, concept/prototype validation, surveys) and prioritize issues based on user impact and business value Use product analytics to identify patterns, surface opportunity areas, and generate research hypotheses Apply research frameworks such as Jobs to Be Done, mental models, personas, and journey maps to structure insights and align teams Articulate user‑driven use cases and advocate for user‑centered recommendations that improve the overall experience Identify competitor strengths and weaknesses, market trends, and regulatory considerations to help evaluate gaps and opportunities Independently recruit research participants and ensure compliance with data privacy, consent, and research governance requirements Seek feedback on research plans and deliverables, continuously improving methods and stakeholder collaboration

Pay:

$45.00 - $55.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Evanston, IL 60208