UI/UX Researcher - Chicago, IL

NOTE: Industry experience in Manufacturing, Construction, Automotive, Aerospace, or Heavy Equipment is required. Please target candidates with direct experience in at least one of these industries.

UI/UX Researcher

Requisition ID: #114759-1
Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid: go in the office when needed but must in local,  must be able to go back in the office full time when asked.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Psychology, User Experience, or a related field.
• Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.

Experience

• 8+ years of UX Research experience, preferably in a corporate, enterprise, or B2B environment.
• Proven experience driving UX strategy through research, testing, and stakeholder engagement.
• Portfolio showcasing UX research methodologies, processes, insights, and business impact.

Required Skills

UX Research & Design

• Expertise in user research methodologies and usability testing.
• Strong understanding of UX principles, UI best practices, and interaction design.
• Experience incorporating research findings into product design decisions.
• Proficiency with UX/UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and specification tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced UI/UX Researcher to join the Shop Team. This role will leverage deep expertise in user research, human-computer interaction, and UX best practices to inform the design, testing, and documentation of user experiences. The ideal candidate will work closely with designers, engineers, product owners, and stakeholders to translate research insights into actionable recommendations that drive exceptional user experiences.

This is a hybrid opportunity requiring candidates to be local and available to work onsite as needed, with the ability to return to a full-time office environment if required.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate user research and usability testing findings into prioritized, actionable UI/UX recommendations.
• Identify, clarify, and advocate for user, customer, and business needs, transforming insights into compelling user experiences.
• Plan, facilitate, and execute UX research initiatives using appropriate methodologies.
• Integrate research findings into product design strategies and design practices.
• Collaborate with designers on prototype development, testing, and iteration.
• Document UX goals, behaviors, workflows, themes, and design requirements for downstream UI teams.
• Create and maintain UX artifacts such as:
• User journeys
• Storyboards
• User flows
• Research reports
• Experience maps
• Develop and communicate the overall UX strategy, including guiding principles, interaction patterns, and experience standards.
• Prioritize research efforts and backlog items based on product roadmap objectives.
• Present insights and recommendations to stakeholders through compelling, data-driven storytelling.

Team & Environment

• Join a team of 11 professionals supporting multiple workstreams, along with 2 interns.
• Collaborate closely with Designers, Product Owners, Engineers, Strategists, and Leadership.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills are critical.
• Hybrid work environment with onsite attendance as needed.

Empathy

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong ability to gather, organize, synthesize, and interpret user and stakeholder feedback.
• A genuine curiosity to understand user needs and pain points.
• Open-minded listening skills and a user-centered approach to problem-solving.

Adaptive Thinking

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities, requirements, and product direction.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and evolving business needs.
• Willingness to embrace challenges as learning opportunities while making informed decisions independently.

Communication & Leadership

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time-management abilities.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.
• Exceptional storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project management.
• Experience working within large enterprise organizations.
• Background supporting cross-functional product teams in Agile environments.

Disqualifiers

Candidates may not be considered if they:

• Have a history of frequent job changes or short tenure without reasonable explanations.
• Have experience focused solely on UX Design without significant UX Research expertise.
• Cannot provide a portfolio demonstrating UX research process, methodologies, and outcomes.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate will:

• Be highly empathetic and user-focused.
• Influence teams through research-backed insights.
• Thrive in a collaborative environment while working independently.
• Effectively manage stakeholders across multiple functions.
• Deliver clear, impactful UX artifacts and research documentation.
• Translate complex findings into actionable product and design decisions.