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Senior User Experience Researcher Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Pure UX research and design role. No coding expected. * Graduates of ISU HCI (Human Computer ... Senior UX Design Expertise: * Extensive experience designing responsive web application interfaces ...

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The Client is seeking a highly skilled, communication-focused Senior UX Designer / Researcher to join our digital modernization team. We are looking for a dedicated user experience and user research ...

New

Contract We are seeking a highly skilled Sr. UI/UX Developer/Architect with extensive experience in building and maintaining enterprise design systems, deep expertise in WCAG accessibility standards ...

UX Designer

Ankeny, IA · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Collaborating with UX researchers on product discovery, design validation, first click testing, usability testing, interviews, and surveys. * Presenting your design vision and recommendations to ...

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Senior User Experience Researcher information

See Iowa salary details

$28.2K

$106.2K

$154.5K

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

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior user experience researcher in Iowa is $106,233.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62,900.00 and $144,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior user experience researcher do?

A Senior User Experience (UX) Researcher is responsible for studying how users interact with products and services to inform design decisions. They plan, conduct, and analyze user research using methods like interviews, usability testing, and surveys. Their insights help teams create user-centered products that are intuitive and effective. Senior UX Researchers also mentor junior researchers and collaborate closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure research findings are integrated into the development process.

How does a senior user experience researcher typically collaborate with product managers and designers throughout a project lifecycle?

A Senior User Experience Researcher works closely with product managers and designers from the early stages of product development through launch and iteration. They help define research goals, select appropriate methodologies, and share insights that directly inform design decisions. Regular meetings, workshops, and presentations ensure that research findings are integrated into the product roadmap. This collaborative approach not only aligns stakeholders but also fosters a user-centered culture across the team.

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

To thrive as a Senior User Experience Researcher, you need expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods, a background in human-computer interaction or psychology, and several years of relevant UX research experience. Familiarity with tools such as UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, and analytics platforms, along with experience in usability testing and survey design, is typically required. Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and critical thinking skills help you translate research insights into actionable recommendations and foster cross-functional collaboration. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering impactful user-centered solutions that drive product success and business value.

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

AspectSenior User Experience ResearcherUser Experience Researcher
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in HCI, Psychology, or related field; experience in research methodsSimilar educational background; less work experience required
Work EnvironmentLeads research projects, mentors junior staff, collaborates with cross-functional teamsSupports research activities, assists in data collection and analysis
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in tech, e-commerce, and design firms for advanced research rolesCommon entry-level or mid-level role across similar industries

The main difference between a Senior User Experience Researcher and a User Experience Researcher lies in experience level, responsibilities, and leadership. Senior roles typically involve leading projects, mentoring, and strategic input, while User Experience Researchers focus on supporting research tasks. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are prevalent in tech and design industries.

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

The most popular types of User Experience Researcher jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Senior User Experience Researcher jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Senior User Experience Researcher job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior User Experience Researcher job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,233 per year, or $51.1 per hour.

Senior UX Designer

HonorVet Technologies

Des Moines, IA • On-site

Other

Posted 3 days ago

New


Job description

HonorVet Technologies is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned IT staffing firm, ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, working with federal agencies, state governments, and Fortune 500 enterprise clients across the US. What makes us different isn't a tagline; it's the way we work. We don't forward resumes and hope for the best. We take the time to understand where a professional like you are headed and only reach out when we genuinely believe there's a fit worth exploring.
Job Title: Senior UX Designer
Location: Des Moines IA, 50309 (Hybrid)
Duration: 08 Months (Possible Extension)
Job Description:
We are seeking a highly skilled, communication-focused Senior UX Designer / Researcher to join our digital modernization team. We are looking for a dedicated user experience and user research specialist. Front-end development skills are entirely optional, though any coding ability serves as a welcome asset. In this position, you will closely collaborate with our lead UX/Accessibility Architect to scale high-quality digital standards across enterprise initiatives. You will possess specialized UX research capabilities that do not exist on the current team, taking ownership of user testing and UI optimization.
Key Purpose:
  • Pure UX research and design role. No coding expected.
  • Graduates of ISU HCI (Human Computer Interaction) program highly desired.
  • Primary Focus, UX research, User-centered design, User journey mapping, Wireframes and prototypes
  • Design recommendations
  • First Accessibility design
  • Design documentation and annotations
  • Required Skills
  • Advanced Figma
  • UX research methodologies
  • User flow creation
  • Prototyping
  • Accessibility (WCAG)
  • Stakeholder collaboration
  • Design documentation
  • Preferred Experience
  • Heat maps (Crazy Egg, Hotjar, etc.)
  • Card sorting
  • Usability testing
  • Nielsen Norman Group training
  • Google UX Certification
  • Formal UX/HCI education
  • Research Experience Desired:
  • Heat maps
  • Crazy Egg or similar analytics tools
  • Card sorting
  • User behavior analysis
  • Data-driven design recommendations
  • Screening Priorities
  • UX research experience
  • Figma proficiency
  • Accessibility knowledge
  • Design thinking methodology
  • Analytics-driven recommendations
  • No Coding Required
  • No .NET
  • No SQL
  • No front-end development

Key Responsibilities:
User Experience Research:
  • Design, plan, and execute formal user experience research to evaluate complex workflows, ensuring applications are intuitive and efficient for internal stakeholders and staff.
Usability Testing:
  • Moderate hands-on user testing sessions and run usability labs to actively identify and resolve
    workflow friction.
Heuristic Evaluation:
  • Audit early layouts and interfaces against usability best practices and design standards.
 
User Journey & Persona Mapping:  
  • Translate complex enterprise data reporting and environmental workflows into clear,
    intuitive user journeys and behavioral personas.
 
Information Architecture:
  • Structure massive, data-heavy reporting categories logically using techniques like card sorting.
 
Accessibility Alignment:
  • Integrate digital accessibility from the ground up, aligning design systems and user research
    with WCAG standards to ensure digital services are universally accessible to all residents.
 
Collaborative Design:
  • Partner with our lead Architect to scale technical user experience and research practices across
    multi-agency initiatives, chatbot interfaces, and global projects.
 
Clear Communication:
  • Collaborate effectively with cross-functional agency teams, product owners, and technical stakeholders to clearly articulate design findings and research data.
 
Required Technical Skills & Qualifications:
Senior UX Design Expertise:
  • Extensive experience designing responsive web application interfaces, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.
 
Specialized UX Research Skills:
  • Demonstrated mastery in moderating user testing sessions, executing usability labs, performing heuristic evaluations, mapping user journeys, and managing information architecture.
 
WCAG 2.2 Level AA Mastery:
  • Practical knowledge of implementing WCAG 2.2 Level AA requirements, focus management, keyboard navigation mechanics, and color contrast principles within visual layouts.
Strong Communicator:
  • Ability to clearly explain user research insights, interface design choices, and usability standards to technical team members, developers, and agency stakeholders.
 
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Front-end engineering experience writing semantic HTML5 and modern, responsive CSS/SASS.
  • Experience integrating interface designs into Angular or MVC .NET framework environments.
  • Experience utilizing or extending the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS).
 
Required Skill sets:
  • User Experience Research, Usability testing,
  • Usability labs, Heuristic evaluation, User journey mapping, Persona
  • development, Information architecture, Card sorting, Wireframing, Interactive
  • prototyping, UX design, WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance, Focus management,
  • Keyboard navigation mechanics, Color contrast requirements, Accessibility
  • auditing, technical communication, Design system vs usage.
 
"If you are interested, feel free to reach out to me directly at or call/text at ."
 

    HonorVet Technologies logo

    About HonorVet Technologies

    Sourced by ZipRecruiter

    HonorVet Technologies, located in Fairfield, NJ, US, is a technology-driven company with a unique dimension - enhancing veteran engagement in the workforce. Founded with the goal of supporting and preserving professional veterans while satisfying the IT and professional needs of businesses, HonorVet Technologies brings a particular focus to diversity and veteran hiring, making it a standout player in the IT and Staffing industries. Functioning as a veteran-driven community entity, the firm offers IT staffing, bespoke development, and consulting services, with the aim of connecting talents with IT-related job opportunities.

    Industry

    Recruiting and staffing services

    Company size

    201 - 500 Employees

    Headquarters location

    Fairfield , NJ, US

    Year founded

    2015