User Research Contract Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary:

Zymo Research is seeking a Senior UX/UI Designer who combines strong UX judgment with polished visual execution. This role is a contract to hire starting at 6 months. 

This role will translate commercial goals, user needs, analytics, brand priorities, and technical constraints into clear, intuitive digital experiences. The designer will shape customer journeys, information architecture, navigation, page structure, interaction patterns, and final UI across Zymo's website and digital touchpoints.

The ideal candidate can structure ambiguous problems, recommend practical solutions, and carry assigned work from discovery through implementation-ready design.

Join us in making a meaningful impact!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

UX Strategy and Discovery

• Translate commercial and marketing goals into clear UX objectives, journeys, and measurable outcomes.
• Use stakeholder input, user research, analytics, usability findings, heuristic reviews, and competitive analysis to inform recommendations.
• Map key journeys across product discovery, education, evaluation, sample or trial requests, purchasing, and contact paths.
• Balance user needs, business priorities, brand standards, and technical constraints.

Experience and Interface Design

• Create information architecture, navigation systems, user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.
• Organize complex scientific and commercial information into clear, intuitive experiences.
• Produce polished, high-fidelity, responsive UI designs with strong hierarchy, typography, layout, and interaction states.
• Apply usability, accessibility, and responsive-design best practices throughout the design process.

Design Systems and Implementation

• Maintain and recommend improvements to the Figma component library and design system.
• Partner with Marketing, Creative, Content, Commercial, and Web teams to ensure solutions are aligned and feasible.
• Provide implementation-ready handoffs, including specifications, responsive behavior, accessibility requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Participate in design QA and UAT to ensure the final experience reflects the approved design.

Optimization and Execution

• Partner with Marketing and Web Analytics to define success measures and evaluate performance.
• Use analytics, testing, and feedback to recommend ongoing improvements.
• Manage assigned priorities, timelines, documentation, and Figma files with strong organization and follow-through.
• Clearly communicate design rationale, trade-offs, and expected outcomes.

Education and Experience:

• 5-7+ years of experience in UX/UI, product design, or digital experience design.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong UX thinking and polished UI execution across websites and digital journeys.
• Deep knowledge of user-centered design, information architecture, navigation, interaction design, usability, accessibility, and responsive design.
• Advanced proficiency in Figma and design systems.
• Strong visual-design skills, including layout, typography, hierarchy, and interaction states.
• Ability to translate user needs, commercial goals, analytics, and technical constraints into practical design solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive assigned work through completion.
• Demonstrated curiosity and commitment to continuous learning in design, technology, and digital experience best practices.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript concepts.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.

About Us:

Since its inception in 1994, Zymo Research has been proudly serving the scientific community by providing innovative, reliable, and high-quality research tools and products. Whether it's DNA, RNA, epigenetics, microbiomics, protein, or yeast-based research, our philosophy remains the same: To provide the highest quality products in the industry while ensuring they are both simple to use and reliable in their performance.

Recognized as a Top Workplace by the Orange County Register in 2021, 2022, and named a Top Workplace USA in 2023, Zymo Research continues to be a vibrant community where employees thrive, feel connected, and are inspired by their work. If you are passionate about contributing to scientific advancement and want to be part of an exceptional team in a dynamic, growing company, we'd love to hear from you!

Compensation, Benefits, and Perks:                                 

The estimated base compensation range for this position is $50-$55 per hour at the time of posting. Actual compensation details will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if applicable, and is based on several factors we believe fairly and accurately impact compensation, including geographic location, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other job permitted factors.

Zymo Research also offers competitive benefits and perks including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Coverages
• EAP Sessions
• Vacation Time plus Company Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Generous 401(K) with matching 
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Complimentary fruit, snacks, and beverages
• Complimentary catered lunches on Thursdays 
• Complimentary EV Charging 
• Cell phone stipend

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer:

Zymo Research welcomes candidates of all backgrounds. These include sex, age, color, race, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical & mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other protected status as defined by federal, state, or local law.

Location:

Onsite - Zymo Research Corporation - 2961 Dow Ave, Tustin, CA, 92780

Disclaimer: At Zymo, we take the integrity of our hiring process seriously. Please be aware of fraudulent recruitment activities that may use our name to deceive job seekers. We will never ask for payment, sensitive personal information, or financial details during the recruitment process.

All legitimate communications will come from an official Zymo or TriNet Hiring email address. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to represent us using a free email service (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or asking for payment, please treat this as fraudulent and report it immediately to careers@zymoresearch.com