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Design Researcher Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Mechanical Design Engineer

Niles, OH · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

As a Mechanical Engineer on our team, you will be working extensively with other engineers and the product development team to design, research, and evaluate existing and new products, including ...

Mechanical Design Engineer

Niles, OH · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

As a Mechanical Engineer on our team, you will be working extensively with other engineers and the product development team to design, research, and evaluate existing and new products, including ...

Mechanical Design Engineer

Niles, OH · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

As a Mechanical Engineer on our team, you will be working extensively with other engineers and the product development team to design, research, and evaluate existing and new products, including ...

Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including design, research, electrical, and prototyping, to refine concepts and drive product decisions. * Apply advanced CAD practices, including ...

We use evidence-driven design to create products that people use, love and remember. With studios ... Leveraging advanced proficiency in research methods, analysis, and both quantitative and ...

Senior UX Researcher

Columbus, OH · On-site

$115K - $130K/yr

We use evidence-driven design to create products that people use, love and remember. With studios ... Leveraging advanced proficiency in research methods, analysis, and both quantitative and ...

Digital Design Engineer

Dayton, OH · On-site

$129K/yr

DIGITAL DESIGN ENGINEER Matrix is always looking to hire outstanding team members that share our ... WHO IS MATRIX RESEARCH? Matrix Research is an employee-owned, small business advancing the ...

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Showing results 1-20

Design Researcher information

See Ohio salary details

$28.5K

$107.5K

$156.4K

How much do design researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for design researcher in Ohio is $107,525.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,700.00 and $146,400.00 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 Ohio? The most popular types of Design Researcher jobs in Ohio are:
Infographic showing various Design Researcher job openings in Ohio as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,525 per year, or $51.7 per hour.

Design Research & Experience Strategist

INFOSYS NOVA HOLDINGS LLC

Cincinnati, OH • On-site

$116K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago


Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a Design Research & Experience Strategist to lead and grow our research practice while expanding the role of research across product, service, brand, consumer, medical, and digital experience opportunities.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who can identify opportunities, build structure where ambiguity exists, and translate user understanding into actionable strategies that inform design, innovation, and business decisions.

What You'll Do

Research Leadership

  • Lead design research initiatives including front-end discovery, contextual inquiry, ethnography, stakeholder interviews, concept evaluation, journey mapping, and opportunity framing.
  • Develop research plans tailored to business questions, project phases, user populations, and client objectives.
  • Establish and maintain research standards, templates, and best practices to ensure quality and consistency.
  • Mentor researchers and cross-functional team members in research planning, fieldwork, synthesis, and insight communication.

Experience Strategy

  • Translate research findings into strategic frameworks, experience principles, service concepts, product direction, and innovation roadmaps.
  • Facilitate workshops that align stakeholders, define priorities, and move teams toward actionable outcomes.
  • Identify opportunities to expand research into broader strategy engagements including service design, brand experience, and front-end innovation.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

  • Build flexible project teams integrating Design Research, Industrial Design, Human Factors, UX/UI, Graphic Design, and Engineering.
  • Train and guide team members to support research activities such as observation, synthesis, journey mapping, and insight translation.
  • Foster a collaborative research culture that values rigor without creating silos.

Practice Growth & Business Development

  • Partner with leadership to shape research and strategy offerings that respond to client needs and market opportunities.
  • Support proposal development, project scoping, and client presentations.
  • Help define and package offerings around design research, experience strategy, service design, and innovation strategy.

Required Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in design research, experience strategy, service design, innovation strategy, or related fields.
  • Strong knowledge of qualitative research methods including contextual inquiry, ethnography, interviews, journey mapping, and concept evaluation.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate research insights into actionable strategies, frameworks, and design principles.
  • Experience managing, mentoring, or guiding researchers and cross-functional teams.
  • Strong facilitation skills including client workshops and stakeholder alignment sessions.
  • Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills.
  • Background in consulting, agency, product development, healthcare, consumer product, or innovation environments.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in medical device, healthcare, consumer product, digital product, or brand strategy.
  • Familiarity with human factors, usability engineering, or regulated product development.
  • Experience partnering with Industrial Design, Human Factors, UX/UI, Graphic Design, and Engineering teams.
  • Ability to support business development through proposals, scoping, and client conversations.
  • Experience building or evolving a design research practice.
  • Comfort working across both strategic front-end ambiguity and tactical evaluative research.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a principal design research leader who has grown into experience strategy. You are comfortable working in ambiguity, confident leading clients and teams, and energized by building something larger than a single discipline. You balance research rigor with business pragmatism — knowing when deep research is required, when a lean approach is appropriate, and how to bring the right disciplines into the process.


  • Self-starter with strong ownership and initiative
  • Strategic thinker who can connect user insight to business value
  • Collaborative leader who can integrate multiple disciplines
  • Clear communicator and compelling storyteller
  • Low ego, high standards