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Design Researcher Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Beacon Systems, Inc

UX / CX Researcher

Vienna, VA · On-site

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human Factors, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, Cognitive Science, or another related social science discipline ...

BetterUp

Principal UX Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$230K - $320K/yr

We're looking for a Principal UX Researcher, to serve as the most senior researcher on the Product Design team, reporting directly to the VP of Design . This role will define BetterUp's research ...

Accenture Federal Services

UX Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$91K - $184K/yr

Design and lead research studies across generative and evaluative methods, from discovery through delivery * Support team designers and analysts to facilitate or moderate sessions * Ensure the ...

BCC

User Experience Researcher

Fairfax, VA

You will conduct user interviews, usability testing, and analyze data to inform design decisions ... In this role, you will conduct user research, perform usability testing, and analyze data to inform ...

BCC

User Experience Researcher

Fairfax, VA

You will conduct user interviews, usability testing, and analyze data to inform design decisions ... In this role, you will conduct user research, perform usability testing, and analyze data to inform ...

BCC

User Experience Researcher

Fairfax, VA

You will conduct user interviews, usability testing, and analyze data to inform design decisions ... In this role, you will conduct user research, perform usability testing, and analyze data to inform ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite |

Norfolk, VA

Plan, design, and execute user research studies including usability testing, interviews, surveys, field studies, and diary studies. Identify research questions in collaboration with product managers ...

Photon

UX Researcher | Onsite |

Norfolk, VA · On-site

Plan, design, and execute user research studies including usability testing, interviews, surveys, field studies, and diary studies. Identify research questions in collaboration with product managers ...

Hyphen Connect Limited

Analyze research findings to inform design and product decisions. * Advocate for user needs throughout the product development process. * Collaborate with product and design teams to create user ...

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All JobsDesign Researcher JobsDesign Researcher Jobs in Virginia

Design Researcher information

See Virginia salary details

$29.7K

$112.1K

$163.1K

How much do design researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for design researcher in Virginia is $112,132.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,400.00 and $152,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

How much does a design researcher earn?

The average salary for a design researcher varies by experience and location but typically ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 annually. Entry-level roles may start around $50,000, while experienced professionals with specialized skills can earn over $120,000. Salaries often depend on industry, company size, and the research tools used.

How much do design researchers make?

Design researchers typically earn a median annual salary of around $70,000 to $100,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level roles may start lower, while experienced professionals or those in senior positions can earn over $120,000. Skills in user research, data analysis, and familiarity with tools like UserTesting or Optimal Workshop can influence compensation.
What are the most commonly searched types of Design Researcher jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Design Researcher jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Design Researcher jobs in Virginia? For Design Researcher jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Researcher jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Design Researcher jobs in Virginia are:
Design Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Researcher job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 81% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,132 per year, or $53.9 per hour.

Design Researcher, The Natural Infrastructure Lab - The School of Architecture

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

University Of Virginia rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 35 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

207th of 616 rated colleges and universities

Job description

The School of Architecture at the University of Virginia is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Design Researcher at the Natural Infrastructure Lab (NIL). NIL sits at the intersection of art, science, and engineering, conducting design research using landscape architectural methods to advance the design, planning, and management of innovative, culturally significant infrastructure. This position will work closely with Lab Manager Ruby Zielinski and Associate Professor Brian Davis, PLA, FAAR, to research new forms of natural infrastructure for coastal bays and estuaries along the East Coast of the United States.
The Design Researcher will work across the full portfolio of NIL's projects, with an emphasis on Tidelands, which aims to study existing natural forms and human practices of coastal protection and develop new forms of design that increase human and ecosystem health over time. Tidelands is a collaborative effort between the University of Auburn and the University of Pennsylvania, funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers Engineering With Nature program.
This position will explore possibilities through fieldwork, large-scale physical and digital modeling, reviewing existing literature and projects, and mapping, drawing, and writing typically required in large-scale landscape architecture projects. Not all skills are required at the start, but applicants must be motivated, curious, organized, and work well with others. The job will involve travel for fieldwork and collaborative workshops, as well as physical work in the lab and desktop analysis.
The Natural Infrastructure Lab is co-directed by Brian Davis and Michael Luegering in the Department of Landscape Architecture at UVA. The Department has a long tradition of design excellence with an emphasis on theory and cultural landscapes, work on post-industrial lands, and with vulnerable communities. This ethos is evident in the Lab's work on natural infrastructure for coastlines. The Design Researcher would join a thriving research community at the Department, including PhD candidates and faculty working across a wide range of topics.
Key Functions include:
  • Prepare drawings and maps, analyzing and synthesizing insights into existing coastal landscapes.
  • Review scientific literature and published projects from engineering and landscape design.
  • Participate in field-based research to describe landscape form and processes.
  • Participate in design workshops with stakeholders and multi-university project teams.
  • Advance infrastructure design concepts.
  • Help build, run, and maintain large, physical models.
  • Learn and apply numerical coastal models, especially wave and hydrodynamic models.
  • Produce renderings of natural infrastructure concepts in specific locations.
  • Assist in preparing articles for peer review and reports for agencies and other constituents.
  • Drone surveying (training and licensure will be supported).

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree
  • At least 3 years of relevant experience. Master's degree will be considered in place of experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Degree in landscape architecture or related discipline.
  • Experience with design, grounded in the integration of aesthetic, cultural, and ecological dimensions of landscape
  • Demonstrated ability to learn basic physical and numerical modeling methods and be comfortable with quantitative analysis of landscape form and process
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively communicate with others
  • Familiarity with software used in landscape architectural representation, including Adobe CS, Rhino 3D, and ArcGIS.
  • Experience with nature-based infrastructure design and/or design for dynamic landscapes shaped by the interaction of water, sediment, and vegetation
  • Savvy with digital modeling software and GIS mapping software
  • Experience in writing project proposals and/or grant applications
  • Experience with research-by-design methods
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Some prior project management experience, or experience working as an integral member of large project teams

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
Salary Range
  • The anticipated hiring range is $60,000 - $70,000 commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location
  • This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits .
  • This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.
  • This position has a term limit of one year, after which continued employment will depend on department need and funding.
  • This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.

About UVA and the Community
To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA .
Application Timeline
Application review will begin August 12, 2026.
Additional Requirements
  • Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
  • This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

How to Apply
Please apply online , by searching for requisition number
R0085679. Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website . Complete an application with the following documents:
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • A portfolio demonstrating an ability to imagine and depict coastal design and natural features in complex conditions, as well as small-scale technical details (no more than 10 pages)

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Reference Check Process
Reference checks will be completed by UVA's third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.
Contact
  • For questions about the position, please contact Ruby Zielinski: ruby.zielinski@virginia.edu
  • For questions about the application process, please contact Melanie Sponaugle, unw5dq@virginia.edu

Job Profile
J1897 - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Professional 2
Career Stream and Level
Professional-P2
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment .

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About University of Virginia

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The University of Virginia is distinctive among institutions of higher education. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University sustains the ideal of developing, through education, leaders who are well-prepared to shape the future of the nation.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Charlottesville, VA, US

Year founded

1819

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