ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Principal User Experience Researcher Jobs

Mondo

Lead UX Researcher

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$60 - $80/hr

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 ...

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 ... Requirements: * 8+ years of experience in UX design, with at least 3+ years in a senior or ...

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 ... Requirements: * 8+ years of experience in UX design, with at least 3+ years in a senior or ...

Socket.dev

UX Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

This roleis responsible forperforming activities that directly support senior UX team members in ... The Researcher skillfully executes core activities to support projects, such as preparation, data ...

New

Ipsos

UX Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K/yr

This role is responsible for performing activities that directly support senior UX team members in ... The Researcher plays an active role in training and mentoring their Researcher colleagues on ...

Ipsos

UX Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K/yr

This role is responsible for performing activities that directly support senior UX team members in ... The Researcher plays an active role in training and mentoring their Researcher colleagues on ...

TEKsystems

Sr UX Researcher

Greensboro, NC

$80 - $85/hr

The Senior UX Researcher will provide embedded, pragmatic research that quickly identifies where experiences break down, what users need, and what improvements will deliver measurable impact. This ...

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 ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPrincipal User Experience Researcher JobsSenior Principal User Experience Researcher Jobs

Senior Principal User Experience Researcher information

See salary details

$36.5K

$109.4K

$182K

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

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal user experience researcher in the United States is $109,393.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior principal user experience researcher?

A Senior Principal User Experience (UX) Researcher is an expert in understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through various research methods such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, and data analysis. They lead and design high-impact research initiatives, influence product strategy, and mentor other researchers. In this senior role, they often collaborate with product managers, designers, and engineers to ensure user-centered design and drive business outcomes. Their deep expertise helps shape the long-term vision for user experience within an organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior principal user experience researcher?

To thrive as a Senior Principal User Experience Researcher, you need advanced expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, a strong understanding of human-centered design, and typically a relevant advanced degree. Mastery of research tools such as UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, and data analysis platforms like SPSS or R, along with experience in usability testing and UX strategy, is essential. Outstanding communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills set top candidates apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for driving user-focused innovation, shaping product strategy, and influencing organizational decision-making at a high level.

How does a senior principal user experience researcher typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a product development cycle?

Senior Principal User Experience Researchers play a strategic role by partnering with product managers, designers, engineers, and data analysts throughout the product development process. They lead research initiatives, facilitate workshops to align teams on user insights, and translate complex research findings into actionable recommendations. Their expertise helps ensure that user needs are integrated into design decisions, often mentoring junior researchers and advocating for user-centered design across departments. Effective communication and relationship-building are key, as they frequently present findings to stakeholders and influence product direction at a high level.

What is the difference between Senior Principal User Experience Researcher vs Lead User Experience Researcher?

AspectSenior Principal User Experience ResearcherLead User Experience Researcher
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in UX, psychology, or related fields; extensive research experienceSimilar credentials; leadership and project management skills
Work EnvironmentStrategic research, high-level analysis, influencing product designOverseeing research teams, coordinating projects, stakeholder communication
Industry UsageCommon in tech, software, and product companiesOften used interchangeably, but more common in organizations emphasizing team leadership

The Senior Principal User Experience Researcher focuses on high-level, strategic research and influencing product decisions, while the Lead User Experience Researcher typically manages research teams and oversees project execution. Both roles require advanced credentials and experience, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and leadership emphasis.

More about Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs

What cities are hiring for Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Principal User Experience Researcher job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal User Experience Researcher jobs?

The most popular types of Principal User Experience Researcher jobs are:

What states have the most Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs are:

Senior Principal User Experience Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Principal User Experience Researcher job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 68% Full Time, and 32% Contract. Highlights an 68% In-person, and 32% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Lead UX Researcher

Mondo

San Francisco, CA • Remote

$60 - $80/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 5 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.