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Design Researcher Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Director of Product Design

Redmond, WA · On-site

$173K - $213K/yr

Research & Insights * Establish and scale a robust UX research strategy using qualitative and quantitative methods. * Translate insights into actionable recommendations that influence product ...

Sr. UX Researcher

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$141K - $225K/yr

On the Product Design & Research team, we're building experiences that support pets across every stage of care-from everyday wellness to complex health journeys. We believe thoughtful, accessible ...

On the Product Design & Research team, we're building experiences that support pets across every stage of care--from everyday wellness to complex health journeys. We believe thoughtful, accessible ...

UX Researcher

Redmond, WA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

RESPONSIBILITIES: - Design & conduct research to guide the development of novel audio-centric AR/VR user experiences, leveraging a range of qualitative and quantitative UX research approaches and ...

UX Researcher

Redmond, WA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

RESPONSIBILITIES: - Design & conduct research to guide the development of novel audio-centric AR/VR user experiences, leveraging a range of qualitative and quantitative UX research approaches and ...

On the Product Design & Research team, we create experiences that delight pet parents, businesses, and veterinarians while helping pets live happier, healthier lives. We're looking for an experienced ...

On the Product Design & Research team, we create experiences that delight pet parents, businesses, and veterinarians while helping pets live happier, healthier lives. We're looking for an experienced ...

Design Engineer II/Sr

Redmond, WA · On-site

$91K - $140K/yr

Design Engineer II/Sr Redmond, WA Onsite At Terex / Genie we believe in fostering a vibrant and ... Research, specify, and test manufactured and purchased parts working closely with the sourcing ...

Design Engineer II/Sr

Redmond, WA · On-site +1

$91K - $140K/yr

Design Engineer II/Sr Redmond, WA Onsite At Terex / Genie we believe in fostering a vibrant and ... Research, specify, and test manufactured and purchased parts working closely with the sourcing ...

Director, Product Design

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$204K - $300K/yr

Within our Product Design & Research team, we bring that mission to life by crafting experiences that delight customers and support the businesses and veterinarians who care for pets. We're a team of ...

Within our Product Design & Research team, we bring that mission to life by crafting experiences that delight customers and support the businesses and veterinarians who care for pets. We're a team of ...

Market Researcher

Redmond, WA · On-site

$35 - $38/hr

What You'll Do: * urvey Design & Programming: * Develop initial drafts of survey questionnaires aligned with research objectives. * Apply best practices in survey design, ensuring question clarity ...

Sr. Director, Product Design

Seattle, WA · On-site

$216K - $297K/yr

Identify and prioritize usage scenarios through customer research, competitive analysis, and ... Design and drive functional prototypes to prove out interaction models * Strong partnership with ...

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Design Researcher information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$34.2K

$128.8K

$187.3K

How much do design researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for design researcher in Seattle, WA is $128,785.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,300.00 and $175,400.00 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 Seattle, WA? The most popular types of Design Researcher jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What are popular job titles related to Design Researcher jobs in Seattle, WA? For Design Researcher jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Design Researcher jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Design Researcher jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Infographic showing various Design Researcher job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,713 per year, or $61.9 per hour.
Director of Product Design

Director of Product Design

Microsoft

Redmond, WA • On-site

$173K - $213K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Microsoft rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 131 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 245 rated software companies


Job description

Overview
Microsoft is a place where passionate innovators come together to collaborate, envision what's possible, and take their careers further. In a world driven by cloud-enabled innovation, we embrace openness, creativity, and limitless thinking.
Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We bring this to life through a growth mindset, a commitment to innovation, and a culture grounded in respect, integrity, and accountability, where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
The Global Skilling Product Team (GSPT) is on a mission to build world-class skilling products and experiences that inspire customers, partners, Microsoft sellers, and future generations. Our goal is to reach 100M+ learners globally through impactful skilling, upskilling, and reskilling solutions.
We are looking for a Director of Product Design to lead and scale a multidisciplinary team of designers, researchers and customer experience program managers. This leader will shape the end-to-end experience strategy, ensuring our products are human-centered, inclusive, and insight-driven.
This role is well suited to someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy, design, research, and leadership and is passionate about building products that create meaningful global impact.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a diverse team of UX designers, researchers and customer experience program managers.
  • Foster an inclusive, psychologically safe, and collaborative environment where all voices are valued.
  • Support career development through coaching, feedback, and sponsorship.

Design Vision & Strategy
  • Define and drive the end-to-end product design and research strategy aligned with GSPT goals.
  • Partner with cross-functional leaders to shape roadmaps, priorities, and long-term vision.
  • Ensure alignment between user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.

AI driven design development:
  • Embrace, evolve and help team grow their AI skills for design and research.
  • Familiarity modern design tools to accelerate their time to land designs with their. stakeholders.
  • Build AI prototypes built on real code to help teams bring their ideas to life faster.

User-Centered Design Excellence
  • Champion inclusive and accessible design practices across all products and experiences.
  • Oversee the full design lifecycle: research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
  • Embed a deep understanding of diverse user needs, behaviors, and contexts.

Research & Insights
  • Establish and scale a robust UX research strategy using qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Translate insights into actionable recommendations that influence product decisions.
  • Advocate for data-informed decision-making across stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with engineering, product, marketing, and business stakeholders.
  • Build dependable relationships and drive alignment across distributed, global teams.
  • Communicate effectively with executive stakeholders on vision, progress, and impact.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Stay current with industry trends in design, research, and emerging technologies.
  • Identify opportunities to innovate and evolve design systems, tools, and processes.
  • Drive a culture of experimentation and continuous learning.

Operational effectiveness
  • Oversee multiple initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes.
  • Implement scalable processes for design and research operations.
  • Measure success through user impact, product adoption, and business outcomes.

People Management
  • Managers enable success through empowerment, accountability, and inclusion-by modeling, coaching, and caring:
  • Model: Champion our culture by living our values, demonstrating inclusive behaviors, and applying leadership principles in everyday actions.
  • Coach: Set clear, meaningful goals and outcomes; support collaboration across teams and boundaries; and foster continuous learning, adaptability, and growth.
  • Care: Build and sustain diverse, high-performing teams by recognizing individual strengths, understanding aspirations, and investing in each person's development and well-being.

Other
  • Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 7+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 9+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).
  • 5+ years people management experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 12+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 15+ years' experience working in product or service design
    • OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).
  • 12+ years of experience across product management, UX design, and/or user research.
  • 8+ years people management experience with a focus on coaching and development.
  • 8+ years' experience shipping products, services, or games and/or delivering to customers as a result of an end-to-end design process.
  • 5+ years in a leadership role managing multidisciplinary teams.
  • Proven track record of delivering user-centered, impactful products at scale.
  • Experience working in agile and distributed team environments.
  • Background in skilling, education technology, or learning platforms a plus.
  • Familiarity with inclusive design, accessibility standards, and global user experiences.
  • Proficient in:
    • Design strategy and lifecycle management.
    • Human-centered design principles.
    • Research methodologies (qualitative & quantitative)
    • Modern design tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch)
    • Proficient communication, storytelling, and stakeholder management skills.

Product Design M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

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