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Design Researcher Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Hyundai Motor Company

User Insight Specialist

Irvine, CA

$90K - $155K/yr

User Insight Specialist Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) is looking for an experienced UX design researcher to join the UX Studio Team of Vehicle Software The Position: The User Insight ...

Hyundai Motor Company

User Insight Specialist

Irvine, CA · On-site

$90K - $155K/yr

User Insight Specialist Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) is looking for an experienced UX design researcher to join the UX Studio Team of Vehicle Software The Position: The User Insight ...

INSPYR Solutions

Quantitative Researcher

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$50 - $70/hr

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU • Design & conduct research to guide the development of novel AI glasses user experiences, with a focus on speech communication and human-AI interaction, leveraging ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite

San Francisco, CA

The UX Researcher partners closely with creative, design, product, and strategy teams to ensure creative discovery is grounded in real user needs, behaviors, motivations, and cultural context. Key ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The UX Researcher partners closely with creative, design, product, and strategy teams to ensure creative discovery is grounded in real user needs, behaviors, motivations, and cultural context. Key ...

Superhuman

Head of Design Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$285K - $417K/yr

Design & Research Operations sets the operational foundation for how our design and research teams function - ensuring designers can focus on craft and researchers can generate insights that ...

Oura

Senior UX Researcher, Human Care

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

We are looking for a Senior UX Researcher to join our Design Research team, embedded in the Human Care mission. Human Care is where Oura expands beyond tracking into territory with real clinical ...

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All JobsDesign Researcher JobsDesign Researcher Jobs in California

Design Researcher information

See California salary details

$29.6K

$111.6K

$162.3K

How much do design researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for design researcher in California is $111,621.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,100.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Design Researcher, you need strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, user-centered design, and a relevant degree in fields such as design, psychology, or human-computer interaction. Experience with tools like usability testing platforms, survey software, and data analysis programs is highly valuable, and certifications such as UX Certification can enhance your profile. Exceptional communication, active listening, and problem-solving abilities set standout design researchers apart. These combined skills ensure that research findings effectively inform product decisions and result in solutions that truly meet user needs.

What are some common challenges faced by Design Researchers, and how do they overcome them?

Design Researchers often face challenges such as recruiting the right participants, balancing tight project timelines, and ensuring that research insights are integrated into the design process. Overcoming these hurdles typically involves collaborating closely with designers, product managers, and engineers, as well as advocating for the importance of user research within cross-functional teams. Being adaptable and maintaining strong organizational and communication skills can help navigate shifting priorities and ensure that research findings have a meaningful impact. Many organizations support ongoing learning and encourage Design Researchers to experiment with new research methods and tools, helping them grow in their roles.

What does a Design Researcher do?

A Design Researcher studies user needs, behaviors, and pain points to inform design decisions. They use qualitative and quantitative research methods—such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing—to gather insights. Their findings help teams create user-centered products and services that are both functional and enjoyable. Design Researchers collaborate closely with designers, product managers, and developers to refine and improve user experiences.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design Researcher jobs in California? The most popular types of Design Researcher jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Design Researcher jobs in California? For Design Researcher jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Researcher jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Design Researcher jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Design Researcher jobs? Cities in California with the most Design Researcher job openings:
Design Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Researcher job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,621 per year, or $53.7 per hour.
Senior Vehicle Design Researcher

Senior Vehicle Design Researcher

General Motors

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$105K - $165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

General Motors rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

General Motors

Based on 309 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Automakers average

Based on 6,230 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Description
The role
As General Motors shapes the future of in-vehicle experiences, we are seeking a Design/User Experience Researcher to lead generative and evaluative research for future-facing features and interfaces.
You will help inform the next generation of in-vehicle user interfaces by grounding design decisions in real user needs, behaviors, and expectations. You will work across topics such as vehicle onboarding, infotainment UX framework, and cabin comfort, turning research insights into clear recommendations that influence product, design, and strategy.
What You'll Do
  • Identify, prioritize, and lead research initiatives that generate actionable insights to inform product, design, and user experience decisions for future in-vehicle experiences.

  • Plan and execute a range of generative and evaluative research studies, including concept testing, and usability testing, interviews, field studies, interviews, diary studies, participatory design, ethnography, and surveys.

  • Partner closely with Design, Product Management, Prototyping, Engineering, and other cross-functional stakeholders to define research goals, inform design iteration, and proactively shape the product strategy.

  • Evaluate current and future concepts, features, and interfaces across both hardware and software experiences.

  • Synthesize findings into clear, compelling stories, frameworks, and recommendations that influence design strategy and design direction.

  • Conduct concept testing and provide actionable feedback and recommendations to design teams.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
  • Bachelor's degree in human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Psychology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

  • 5+ years of user experience research experience in automotive, consumer electronics, hardware, software, or related fields.

  • Demonstrated expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research across both generative and evaluative methodologies

  • Strong communication, storytelling, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
  • Advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Psychology, Anthropology, Design Research, or related field.

  • Experience researching automotive in-cabin experiences, driver information systems, or camera systems.

  • Experience scoping and managing prototype development and conducting research on hardware and HMI products.

  • Familiarity with future-facing mobility experiences, emerging technologies, and evolving user expectations in transportation.

  • Strong curiosity, adaptability, and a collaborative mindset with a passion for future-focused design and emerging use cases.

  • Ability to produce great work in short timeframes, multi-task across diverse topics, and comfortable with rapid context switching across different projects

Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.
  • The salary range for this role: is $105,600 to $165,300. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.
  • Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.
  • Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

#LI-VC1
GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc).This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, emailus or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Working at General Motors

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About General Motors

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908

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