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Principal User Experience Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mondo

Lead UX Researcher

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$60 - $80/hr

Principal UX Researcher, location is Remote. The start date is ASAP for this 1-year contract position. Job Title: Principal UX Researcher Location-Type: Remote - must be able to work PST hours Start ...

Striim, Inc.

Principal UX Designer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$225K - $250K/yr

Drive user research initiatives, usability testing, and customer feedback loops to inform roadmap ... principal capacity. * Proven experience designing complex B2B enterprise software, preferably ...

Striim, Inc.

Principal UX Designer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$225K - $250K/yr

Drive user research initiatives, usability testing, and customer feedback loops to inform roadmap ... principal capacity. * Proven experience designing complex B2B enterprise software, preferably ...

Socket.dev

UX Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Title: UX Researcher Location: Chicago IL, Culver City CA, or San Francisco CA Who We Are: Ipsos is one of the world's largest research companies and currently the only one primarily managed by ...

New

Allied Solutions LLC

UX Researcher

Carmel, IN · On-site

A UX Researcher solves complex problems with simple, elegant solutions. They plan research activities, conduct both qualitative and quantitative research methods, analyze the results, and translate ...

Allied Solutions LLC

UX Researcher

Carmel, IN · On-site

A UX Researcher solves complex problems with simple, elegant solutions. They plan research activities, conduct both qualitative and quantitative research methods, analyze the results, and translate ...

ACI Infotech

UX Researcher

ROLE: UX Researcher Location: REMOTE DURATION: 1+ Years contract About the Role The UX Researcher will support the mission by work with CTDS product designers and product managers throughout the ...

Ipsos

UX Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K/yr

Title: UX Researcher Location: Chicago IL, Culver City CA, or San Francisco CA Who We Are: Ipsos is one of the world's largest research companies and currently the only one primarily managed by ...

User Research International LLC

UX Researcher (TEMP)

$55 - $70/hr

User Research International is seeking an experienced UX Researcher (5+ years) to lead benchmarking and usability research for AI/ML, cloud, and developer-facing tools. You'll independently design ...

ACI Infotech

UX Researcher

Role: UX Researcher Duration: 1+ Years Location: Remote Experiences Required for This Role UX Research - At least 3 years of experience and use cases with the following: * Conduct primary and ...

Kanak Elite Services Inc

UX Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

Title - UX Researcher LOCATION: Hybrid - Chicago, IL Only Local Must have portfolio included Key Responsibilities : * Lead user research efforts across multiple product lines, including gathering and ...

INSPYR Solutions

UX Researcher

Redmond, WA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

Title: UX Researcher Location: Redmond, WA (5 days a week onsite) Duration: 12 months Compensation: $50-$55/hr Work Requirements: US Citizen, GC Holders or Authorized to Work in the U.S. The Audio ...

ClifyX

UX Researcher

San Jose, CA · On-site

Position : UX Researcher Location: Seattle, WA/San Jose, CA(Hybrid Onsite) Duration: 12+ Months Contract G8 UX Researcher, AI + Quantitative Specialist

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Principal User Experience Researcher information

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How much do principal user experience researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal user experience researcher in the United States is $117,556.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $169,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal user experience researcher?

A Principal User Experience Researcher is a senior-level role responsible for leading user research initiatives to inform product design and strategy. They use qualitative and quantitative methods to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points. In this role, they collaborate with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure research insights drive decision-making. They also mentor junior researchers, establish best practices, and contribute to the overall UX research vision. Their work helps create user-centered products that improve engagement and satisfaction.

What are the typical responsibilities of a principal user experience researcher within a cross-functional product team?

A Principal User Experience Researcher regularly leads the end-to-end design and execution of research studies, synthesizing insights to inform product strategy and improvements. They collaborate closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and business stakeholders to integrate user needs into every stage of development. Frequently, they mentor junior researchers, set research standards, and help establish best practices across the organization. The role often requires presenting research findings to senior leadership and advocating for user-centric approaches in both tactical and high-level decisions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal user experience researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal User Experience Researcher, you need advanced expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods, a strong background in human-computer interaction or a related field, and several years of UX research experience. Proficiency with tools such as UserTesting, Qualtrics, Morae, and data analysis platforms like SPSS or R is commonly expected, and certifications such as UXQB or Nielsen Norman Group can be advantageous. Exceptional communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills are essential to collaborate effectively and advocate for user-centered design across teams. These competencies enable the Principal UX Researcher to drive high-impact product decisions and lead research initiatives that shape user experiences at a strategic level.

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Principal User Experience Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal User Experience Researcher job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,556 per year, or $56.5 per hour.

Lead UX Researcher

Mondo

San Francisco, CA • Remote

$60 - $80/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Apply now: Principal UX Researcher, location is Remote. The start date is ASAP for this 1-year contract position.

Job Title: Principal UX ResearcherLocation-Type: Remote – must be able to work PST hoursStart Date Is: ASAPDuration: 1 year (contract)Compensation Range: $60-80/hr W2Benefits: Eligible for Health, Dental, Vision, 401KMust be authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for sponsorship .

Job Description:Lead end-to-end UX research across complex, consumer-facing digital products, using behavioral insights and mixed research methods to influence product strategy and improve mobile experiences.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

  • Lead UX research across multiple complex, cross-functional projects.
  • Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research studies.
  • Conduct generative, evaluative, moderated, and unmoderated research.
  • Analyze research findings and translate them into actionable product and design recommendations.
  • Conduct foundational research to influence product and design strategy.
  • Partner closely with UX Design, Product, Analytics, Marketing, and other stakeholders.
  • Balance strategic research initiatives with tactical, feature-focused studies.
  • Adapt quickly to changing priorities and move between projects as needed.
  • Influence stakeholder decision-making through clear, data-driven insights.
  • Evaluate user behavior rather than relying solely on stated user preferences.
  • Incorporate AI tools into research workflows and evaluate AI-generated outputs.
  • Maintain clear, organized research documentation.
Minimum Requirements:
  • 5 years of UX Research experience.
  • Enterprise e-commerce experience.
  • Beauty industry experience.
  • 2 years in a Principal, Staff, Lead, or senior-level UX Research role.
  • Strong experience conducting both qualitative and quantitative research.
  • Strong, recent consumer-facing B2C digital product research experience.
  • Mobile-heavy research background, ideally involving shopping, e-commerce, or conversion experiences.
  • Experience leading research projects end-to-end with clear individual ownership.
  • Strong understanding of behavioral testing versus preference-based testing and how to structure research appropriately.
  • Experience balancing product strategy research with tactical feature-level execution.
  • Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional communication skills.
  • Ability to synthesize complex research findings into concise, actionable recommendations.
  • Comfortable working in agile environments and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Comfortable using AI tools within research workflows and assessing AI-generated outputs.
  • Experience with Dscout.
  • Experience with Jira and Confluence.
  • Portfolio demonstrating digital product research, particularly mobile work, product strategy, research methodology, outcomes, and measurable recommendations.
  • Strong ownership and ability to independently produce high-quality work with minimal revision.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience researching mobile shopping journeys and conversion optimization.
  • Experience working with resource-constrained or fast-moving teams.