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Design Researcher Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

As a UX Researcher at CoreWeave, you will own the research function that helps product and design teams understand customers deeply and make better decisions. You will lead qualitative and ...

UX Researcher III

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$48 - $68/hr

Design and execute qualitative studies, including in-depth interviews, diary studies, concept testing, usability testing, and asynchronous research. * Develop discussion guides, screeners, task ...

Design and execute end-to-end custom primary research using a wide variety of methods * Design studies that address both user behavior and attitudes * Ability to work independently and autonomously

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU Design, manage, analyze, and produce reports for large-scale, primarily tracking surveys. Effectively manage and prioritize research within ambiguous and rapidly changing ...

Brings expertise in UX strategy and research to support design, product, and brand development. Skilled in developing user-centered perspectives, guiding UX teams of varying experience levels, and ...

RESPONSIBILITIES : • Design & conduct research to guide the development of Client audio-centric augmented reality (AR) and smart glasses user experiences, with a focus on hearing-related features ...

Working at the intersection of UX, product strategy, and systems thinking, you guide teams through early-stage problem framing, research, and design for enterprise and mission-critical tools. You ...

AI Security Researcher II

Redmond, WA · On-site

$102K - $202K/yr

We are looking for an AI Security Researcher II who can frame open research questions, design rigorous experiments, analyze emerging risks in agentic systems, and translate findings into techniques ...

Showing results 21-40

Design Researcher information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$34.1K

$128.7K

$187.2K

How much do design researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for design researcher in Seattle, WA is $128,713.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,200.00 and $175,300.00 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 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:
Infographic showing various Design Researcher job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,785 per year, or $61.9 per hour.

Senior User Experience Researcher

Microsoft

Redmond, WA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Microsoft rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 243 rated software companies


Job description

Overview
The Windows & Devices Research & Design organization in Redmond, WA is seeking a Senior User Experience Researcher role to build the next generation of tools, systems, and infrastructure that enable UX Research to scale in new ways across the Windows organization.
This technical role helps close the distance between what our researchers know and what the organization can act on. In close partnership with UX researchers, product managers, designers, data science, and engineering leaders, you will create and champion research tools that teams value and adopt-systems that make insights findable, composable, and ready for both human and AI-powered workflows. By connecting knowledge across studies, product areas, and audiences, your work will help surface broader patterns and opportunities that no single study can reveal. Success requires equal parts program strategy, operational excellence, and fundamental UXR skills with the opportunity to shape how Windows learns from customers and improves experiences reaching millions of users.
The ideal candidate is passionate about building systems that drive measurable improvements in UX quality and craft. You bring hands-on research experience, fluency working with data at scale, and the technical ability to architect, prototype, and operationalize tools and AI-enabled systems. You are as equally energized by doing the research as you are by building the systems that support and amplify it. You have concrete examples of tools you have personally built and delivered end to end that changed how organizations work. You create structure and repeatability by turning one-off activities into sustainable programs, and you know how to use AI and automation to improve efficiency.
Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
  • Design, operationalize, and maintain research infrastructure and quality scaling programs, including our research knowledge system.
  • Leverage AI agents, agentic systems, and self-service infrastructure to scale quality programs across hundreds of product makers.
  • Partner with UX researchers, product managers, designers, and engineering leaders to co-create programs that drive overall product and experience quality that teams value and adopt.
  • Establish measurement frameworks that track program adoption, quality outcomes, and the impact of customer feedback and UX quality programs on product decisions, demonstrating how programmatic customer connections improve shipped experiences.
  • Champion and drive adoption of new tools through training, best practices, showcase examples, and ongoing support that helps teams naturally integrate into their workflows.
  • Continuously evolve tools and systems based on team feedback, emerging AI capabilities, and metrics, innovating on how the systems drive measurable improvements in product excellence.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Doctorate in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 1+ year(s) User Experience Research experience.
    • OR Master's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 3+ years User Experience Research experience.
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 4+ years User Experience Research experience.
    • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Deep understanding of research operations and research methodologies with end-to-end experience building production-quality internal tools, research platforms, data pipelines, and/or AI-enabled workflows.
  • Ability to translate research and operational requirements into technical system designs. Experience with data modeling, taxonomies, or ontology design for both structured and unstructured data.
  • Experience building or managing data pipelines (ingestion, storage, transformation, data delivery) as well as data cleansing, enrichment, aggregation and integration. Experience with modern data platforms for storing, transforming, and surfacing data at scale, especially Microsoft Fabric and data lakehouses.
  • Track record of measuring and demonstrating program impact on product quality metrics, user satisfaction scores, or business outcomes, with compelling examples of quality improvements driven by systematic customer feedback.

#W+DJOBS
UX Research IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $160,200 - $261,000 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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