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Design Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Milwaukee Tool

Senior Design Researcher

Brookfield, WI · On-site

Are you looking for a career with a growing company and the opportunity to help build the role of Design Research as a core competency for a business? Looking for a challenging and quick paced ...

Conifer

Design Researcher Openings

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

Conifer Research conducts design research projects both domestically and internationally for clients across a wide variety of industries. DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you ...

Milwaukee Tool

Design Researcher

Brookfield, WI · On-site

Design and execute multi-faceted research plans to learn about all aspects of the construction ... trade. These plans typically include qualitative discovery research on jobsites, primary and ...

Milwaukee Tool

Design Researcher

Brookfield, WI

Design and execute multi-faceted research plans to learn about all aspects of the construction ... trade. These plans typically include qualitative discovery research on jobsites, primary and ...

Conifer

Design Researcher Openings

Chicago, IL · Remote

Conifer Research conducts design research projects both domestically and internationally for clients across a wide variety of industries. DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you ...

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Design Research information

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$37K

$106K

$142.5K

How much do design research jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for design research in the United States is $106,012.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $104,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is UX a high paying job?

User Experience (UX) design is generally considered a well-paying profession, especially for those with several years of experience, specialized skills, or certifications in tools like Figma or Adobe XD. Salaries vary by industry, location, and level of expertise but tend to be above average compared to many other design roles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Design Researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Researcher, you need a solid understanding of research methodologies, user experience principles, and data analysis, often supported by a degree in design, psychology, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like UserTesting, Qualtrics, and data visualization software is commonly required. Strong communication, empathy, and critical thinking skills help researchers effectively interpret insights and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure that research findings directly inform user-centered design solutions, leading to better products and experiences.

What is the difference between Design Research vs User Experience Designer?

AspectDesign ResearchUser Experience Designer
Primary FocusUnderstanding user needs and behaviors through research methodsDesigning and improving user interfaces and interactions
Required SkillsQualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, user interviewsWireframing, prototyping, visual design, usability testing
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, field studies, collaborative teamsDesign studios, product teams, cross-functional collaboration
Common UsageGathering insights to inform design decisionsCreating user-centered designs based on research findings

While both roles focus on improving user experiences, Design Research primarily involves understanding user needs through research, whereas User Experience Designers apply those insights to create and refine digital interfaces. Both roles often collaborate closely within product teams to ensure user needs are effectively addressed.

How does a Design Researcher typically collaborate with designers and product teams throughout a project?

Design Researchers work closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure user insights are integrated at every stage of the development process. Early in a project, they help define user needs and pain points by conducting interviews, surveys, or usability tests. As the project progresses, they facilitate workshops, share findings through presentations or reports, and recommend design improvements based on research data. Effective communication and a collaborative mindset are essential, as researchers often act as the bridge between users and the product team.

What is design research?

Design research is a field that focuses on understanding users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences to inform and improve the design process. It combines methods from social sciences, such as interviews and observations, with design thinking principles to gather insights that help create user-centered products, services, or systems. Design researchers work closely with designers, product managers, and stakeholders to ensure that solutions are both innovative and practical, ultimately enhancing the user experience.

What does a design researcher do?

A design researcher studies user behaviors, needs, and preferences to inform the development of products, services, or interfaces. They use methods such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing, often working closely with designers and product teams to ensure user-centered solutions. Proficiency in research tools and data analysis is essential for this role.

What jobs can DT get you?

A career in design research can lead to roles such as User Experience (UX) researcher, product researcher, or design strategist. These positions involve gathering user insights, conducting usability testing, and informing design decisions, often requiring skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as familiarity with tools like surveys and analytics platforms.

Who gets paid more, UX designer or UX researcher?

Typically, UX designers tend to have higher salaries than UX researchers due to their broader scope of responsibilities, including design and prototyping skills. However, salaries can vary based on experience, location, and company size, with specialized researchers sometimes earning comparable or higher wages in certain markets or industries.
More about Design Research jobs
What cities are hiring for Design Research jobs? Cities with the most Design Research job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Design Research jobs? The most popular types of Design Research jobs are:
What states have the most Design Research jobs? States with the most job openings for Design Research jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Design Research jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Design Research jobs are:
Design Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Research job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,012 per year, or $51 per hour.

Senior Design Researcher

Milwaukee Tool

Brookfield, WI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Job Description:
Are you looking for a career with a growing company and the opportunity to help build the role of Design Research as a core competency for a business? Looking for a challenging and quick paced environment? Then look no further than our Senior Design Researcher role for Milwaukee Tool.
Milwaukee Tool is an industry-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories and hand tools for professional users worldwide.
Since the company began in 1924, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry in both durability and performance. With an unwavering commitment to the trades, Milwaukee continues to lead with a focus on providing innovative, trade-specific solutions. Whether it is through their leadership in LITHIUM-ION technology, as seen in the M12™, M18™ & M28™ Systems, time-saving accessories or innovative hand tool products, Milwaukee is dedicated to delivering a steady stream of advanced solutions for the trades that offer increased productivity and unmatched durability.
To do this, Milwaukee takes the time to work side by side with real craftsman to understand the demands of a constantly changing workplace and how they can best deliver solutions that help the user work both faster and smarter. Milwaukee knows that professional users sweat the small stuff, and so do they. They pay attention to the small details that that make a big difference. This user focus not only leads to solutions for real jobsite challenges, but fuels the disruptive innovation seen across all product lines.
Milwaukee offers benefits on your first day of work (health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k) and an excellent working environment that includes an on-site cafeteria, state of the art fitness facility, organized fitness classes, recreational sports leagues and company outings.
You must be permanently eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for this position.
Senior Design Researcher
The Design Research team at Milwaukee Tool sits within a collaborative user-centered design and technology development group focused on the fuzzy front end of product development. We are tasked with informing the entrepreneurial spirit of the company, influencing and inspiring the direction of the business through strategic and functional findings. In this role you will be leading the research efforts of highly collaborative and diverse teams of Engineers, Industrial Designers, and Product Managers to inspire and influence key decision makers on new solutions for the construction industry. As a senior member of the team you will also provide leadership in developing new methods and approaches, championing Design Research and Design Thinking at Milwaukee Tool, and coaching and mentoring junior-level researchers as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Design and conduct multi-faceted research plans to learn about all aspects of the construction trade. These plans typically include qualitative discovery research on jobsites, primary and secondary research exercises to understand the competitive product set, and evaluation of mock-ups and preliminary concept prototypes in field.
  • Build, grow, and maintain a network of users to understand their evolving needs and work context. Establishing strong relationships with our end users is critical to conducting appropriate discovery research, co-creating solutions, and eliciting honest feedback.
  • Analyze and synthesize research findings into key insights that inform opportunities for new feature sets, functionalities and business approaches.
  • Plan and facilitate hands-on tool evaluations, team workshops, and analysis sessions. These participatory co-creation sessions result in a common ground of familiarity with a tool and its use, while inspiring creativity and collaboration within your team.
  • Present research findings in an engaging and concise manner to key stakeholders across the business. You will need to communicate through well-crafted presentations and events that educate and inspire your team through photos, video, diagrams, storytelling and demonstrations.
  • Experiment with new approaches and methodologies to achieve ingenious results. As a research group we encourage new ways of thinking, and we want you to help us build new tools and methodologies appropriate to the work we do.
  • Champion the importance of User-Centered Design and Design Thinking throughout the company.
  • Mentor and coach junior researchers as appropriate.

Required Skills
  • You are curious, not just about your research topic but also the company, your co-workers, and your process
  • You are comfortable working in the ambiguous "fuzzy front end"
  • You are a strategic thinker who looks not only at the stated problem but at the space around it
  • You are proactive and open to changing research plans on the fly based on new information
  • You have strong communication skills and can get your ideas across to engineers, industrial designers, and marketers alike
  • You link everything back to our core end user's activities and needs to provide insight for developing breakthrough products
  • You are a team player, focused on bringing the team along on the journey
  • You have passion for the importance of user insights in the product development process and are ready to champion those insights
  • You are comfortable facilitating conversations with multi-disciplinary teams
  • You make non-obvious connections and revel in talking about ideas
  • You are proficient in Microsoft Office, with some experience with editing video and 2D software (ex: Adobe Creative Suite)

Desired Skills
  • Experience within a design consultancy a plus
  • Some familiarity with quantitative research methodologies, study design and data analysis
  • An appreciation of how quantitative and qualitative research methodologies play best together
  • Master's degree preferred

Education and Experience Requirements
  • Master's or Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Business, or Engineering
  • Five years + experience in the fuzzy front end of product development with an understanding of innovation methods and design thinking
  • Five years + experience using qualitative research methods including observation, interviewing, and contextual inquiry
  • 25-35% overnight domestic travel
  • Must have a valid driver's license
  • Upon an interview, must be prepared to present on a project and its methodology

Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.

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