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Senior User Experience Researcher Jobs in Reston, VA

Sr. Service Designer/UX Researcher

Fairfax, VA · On-site +1

$125K - $130K/yr

Bixal is hiring a Senior Service Designer / UX Researcher to join our Developer Experience team on a newly awarded platform engineering contract with the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid ...

... Sr UX Interaction Designer Job Summary The Sr UX Interaction Designer is a strategic leader ... Lead comprehensive research efforts to uncover unmet needs, operational inefficiencies, and ...

New

Senior UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$110K - $170K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

Senior UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$110K - $170K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

Senior UX/UI Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$110K - $170K/yr

Conduct user research and testing and effectively translate user needs into an implementable digital experience * Collaborate and communicate stakeholder and user needs on a cross functional team ...

Senior UX/UI Designer

Bethesda, MD · Hybrid

$109K - $172K/yr

As a Senior UX/UI designer you will be responsible for building functional prototypes and ... You will be part of a multi-disciplinary design and research team that values people, human ...

UI/UX Developer

Reston, VA · On-site

$52 - $67.50/hr

The Senior UI/UX Developer will be part of a team of Application, Data, Cloud, and Security ... Experience conducting or supporting user research, usability testing, stakeholder interviews, and ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior User Experience Researcher information

See Reston, VA salary details

$31.2K

$117.7K

$171.1K

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 Reston, VA is $117,666.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,700.00 and $160,200.00 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 Reston, VA?

The most popular types of User Experience Researcher jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Senior User Experience Researcher jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Senior User Experience Researcher job openings:

Senior UX Designer, Incentives

Verawholehealth

Washington, DC • On-site

$108K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New


Job description

Job Description Summary

How will you make an impact & Requirements

The Senior UX Designer for Castlight's Incentives and Wellbeing Experience will be a foundational member of a growing, fast-paced team of designers and researchers who are reenvisioning the Castlight platform from the ground up. You will take ownership of a critical aspect of the platform: the way members interact with their incentives and rewards, and the way rewards programs are designed by Benefit Leaders through our configuration tools. You will be responsible for conducting user research, working with the product team to understand and shape vision and strategy, and using our design system to bring the experiences to life in a delightful, usable, and innovative way on both mobile and desktop platforms.

What You'll Do

  • Take ownership of a critical and complex aspect of the Castlight platform that is being reimagined. Be the voice of the user and work to envision cutting-edge, sophisticated rewards and shopping experiences for end users.
  • Reimagine a complex workflow for Benefit Leaders as they configure and manage their benefit programs in Castlight's admin tools.
  • Work across the design process at many levels: from the "30,000 ft" view to the interaction details that makes an experience feel sophisticated.
  • Plan and launch user research studies to help validate your concepts. Manage deadlines to fit a continuous cycle of research and iteration into the design process.
  • Work closely with the design team to ensure consistency of design patterns, voice and tone across the application. Integrate our new design system and help to push it forward by inventing new patterns and interactions.
  • Work closely with the product and engineering teams to help implement your design work, making reasonable tradeoff decisions and building and maintaining strong relationships cross functionally.
  • Stay on top of UX trends and technological advancements, ensuring that the company's design practices are at the forefront of the industry and continuously evolving. Bring new processes, ideas, and ways of working back to the UX team and our product and engineering partners.

Education/Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree in Design, or related field; Master's degree is a plus.
  • 5+ years of experience in product UX design, with a proven track record of creating successful and user-friendly products.
  • Expertise in UX/UI design tools such as Figma and experience using AI Design tools like Claude Code/Design.
  • Preference for candidates with experience designing in ecommerce, rewards programs, and consumer-facing product problem spaces.
  • Familiarity with agile methodologies and experience working in agile product development teams.
  • Strong understanding of design systems, user flows, and interaction design principles.
  • Experience conducting user research and usability testing, with the ability to synthesize insights into actionable design improvements.
  • Proficiency in creating wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups. Demonstrated ability to design across mobile and desktop platforms.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to design for complex user interactions and workflows.

Compensation Range:

$108,466.00

to

$195,238.00

The anticipated base salary range represents the Company's good-faith estimate of the compensation it reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, geographic location, internal equity, and business needs.