Associate User Researcher Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Ready to think boldly, work with some of the world's most recognized brands, andkick-start your career?Welcome to the IBM's Associate Program for universityhires.

From day one,you'llcollaborate with global clients and contribute to projects that help organizations solve their toughest challenges across digital transformation, cloud strategy, AI adoption, and process redesign - working alongside a global cohort of diverse, ambitious peers. As an Associate,you'llhave access to industry-recognized certifications, digital badges, and a minimum of 40 hours of structured learning per year on IBM's AI-driven learning platform - supported by coaches, mentors, and thriving professional communities across practices. IBM's culture of internal mobility meansyou'llhave the freedom to explorenew technologies, industries, and career paths as your interests evolve.

Bring your curiosity. Grow your skills. Build what's next -like an IBMer.

As an Associate Designer at IBM, you'll focus on customer and employee strategies that explore opportunities to improve digital innovation, addressing user needs and designing world-class digital experiences. You'll support to uncover user and business requirements in the context of the technical landscape through applying User Experience, Design Thinking, and Information Architecture methods.

In your role, you may be responsible for:

• UX and UI worksuch ascreating wireframes, visualinterfacesand prototypes; annotating the wireframes; collaborating with other designers, researchers,consultantsand developers; making sure the interaction is getting recorded and addressed correctly.
• Conduct user researchleveragingIBM Enterprise Design Thinking and do direct user research as part of managing a project.
• Supporting a Senior Designer on UX and UI production tasks, getting and incorporating the feedback, and working very closely with developersand testers on a day-to-day basis.
• Visual Design work, such as creating delightful concepts and exploring art of the possible, creating mock‑ups and prototypes from sketches andwireframes, working closely with clients, senior designers, front‑end developers to implement dynamic human-centered digital solutions.
• Create storyboards, layouts, impactful presentations, graphics, data visualizations, and other design artifacts in preparation for client meetings orproduct development.
• Participate/lead in design workshops, incorporate input from multiple stakeholders, communicate conceptual ideas and design rationale, outline digital experiences screen by screen, working with front‑end development teams.

High School Diploma/GED

Bachelor's Degree

• Exposure to design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, InVision, as well as communication and workflow platforms like Slack, JIRA, Workfront.
• Understanding of the principles and methods for human-centered design including user research, rapid ideation and iteration, prototyping, and user testing.
• Thorough, design-focused, and analytical with the capability to apply logic to solve problems.
• Background in Human-Computer Interaction / User Experience methodologies, GraphicDesign, Visualart desired.
• Ability to communicate design approaches and complex situations clearly and simply (via voice, words, and pictures), listen actively, and convey difficult messages in a positive manner.
• Willingness to travel up to 100%

• Preferred Majors: Business, Graphic Design, Design and Visual communications or related field.
• Professional or University-based design experience with a portfoliorepresentingdesign artifacts and associated projects.
• Passion for innovative ideas, coupled with the ability to understand and assimilate different points of view.
• Effective interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate and work with individuals, strengthening relationships to achieve win-win solutions.

IBM Consulting is IBM’s consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients’ businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can‑do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• - Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
• - Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs
• - Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• - Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• - Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Job Title

Associate Designer 2027

Date posted

13-Aug-2026

Job ID

128666

City / Township / Village

Chicago

State / Province

Country

United States

Work arrangement

Onsite

Area of work

Design & UX

Employment type

Regular

Contract type

Regular

Projected Minimum Salary per year

81,600.00

Projected Maximum Salary per year

122,400.00

Position type

Entry Level

Up to 100% or 5 days a week (home on weekends - based on project requirements)

Company

(0147) International Business Machines Corporation

Shift

General (daytime)

Is this role a commissionable/sales incentive based position?