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Design Researcher Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

BRMi is seeking a UX Researcher to assist in planning, leading and formulating user-centered design strategies and solutions for experiences and initiatives using insights and inputs gathered from ...

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Design Researcher information

See Virginia salary details

$29.7K

$112.1K

$163.1K

How much do design researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 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 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 Virginia? The most popular types of Design Researcher jobs in Virginia are:
Infographic showing various Design Researcher job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,132 per year, or $53.9 per hour.
SR Researcher for Behavioral Health Projects

SR Researcher for Behavioral Health Projects

Eagle Technologies, Inc.

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

Job Description:

Eagle Technologies, Inc., is hiring a Senior Researcher to support behavioral health projects for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and to engage in other research activities. Eagle has led the way in designing and implementing new technologies to collect, analyze, and disseminate substance use and mental health information to SAMHSA, academics, practitioners, and the general public. Eagle provides government decision-makers with deep, data-driven insights into federal programs' effectiveness, impact, and limitations. Eagle has comprehensive experience managing large-scale projects for the federal government, and expert knowledge of evaluation design, implementation, and data analytics. The senior researcher will lead the activities of designing and implementing evaluations and research studies and developing reports and research products. They will coordinate with team members and clients in support of various project tasks and, as necessary, work under tight deadlines to fulfill client requirements. The successful candidate must have strong writing skills and be able to effectively present data to be viewed by various consumers, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, academia, and the general public.

Responsibilities:

  •  Serve as Principal Investigator on federal program evaluation contracts, leading the design, implementation, and reporting of evaluation studies.
  • Manage all aspects of project planning, execution, and delivery, ensuring compliance with contract requirements and timelines.
  • Conduct quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, designing formal experiments and suitable quasi-experiments as needed.
  • Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and project teams to elicit requirements and information pertinent to the programs being evaluated.
  • Integrate both primary and secondary data sources in analysis, combining data from various sources to provide a comprehensive evaluation.
  • Design, interpret, develop, and execute research studies.
  • Lead and participate in conferences and national webinars to share insights on relevant topics in substance abuse and mental health treatment.
  • Author reports, data briefs, executive summaries, and peer-reviewed articles summarizing research findings.
  • Prepare memos, technical assistance tools/products, webinar presentations, and journal manuscripts.
  • Program and conduct a wide variety of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses.
  • Work with the data analysis and reports team and clients to support various project tasks.
  • Conduct quality control on the results of other researchers.
  • Review existing data sources, perform extensive data profiling and analysis to design and develop data models and research projects to transform data into actionable insights.
  •  Assist with client account management to understand needs, manage expectations, and build long-term relationships (including business development activities).
  •  Use SAS and/or other statistical software to produce graphs and tables and respond to ad hoc data requests.

Requirements:

  • A high level of proficiency in SAS, Stata, or both.
  • Authored at least two peer-reviewed publications in public health, the social sciences, or statistics.
  • Demonstrated record of technical and business writing.
  • Demonstrated expertise in applied research and a strong understanding of statistical analysis methods.
  • Experience working with large data sets and gleaning meaningful insights.
  • High level of proficiency in M.S. Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Bring creative ideas for business development and actively participate in submitting proposals and obtaining new projects.
  • Preferred: Prior experience in behavioral health (substance use and/or mental health).
  • Attention to detail, deductive/analytic reasoning.
  • Ability to manage multiple assignments at once.
  • Ability to assess, understand, and adapt to new approaches quickly.
  • Ability to work effectively independently as well as within a team environment.
  • Ability to clearly express ideas orally and in writing.

Education and  Experience:

Master’s or doctoral degree in public health, public policy, epidemiology, behavioral or social sciences, statistics, data analytics, data science, or other relevant disciplines.

A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience

Work Authorization:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without a VISA sponsorship, both now and in the future.

Background Check:

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

Eagle Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected categories covered under local law.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME