Mid-Level UX Researcher
Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Contract
1 day ago
$60 USD
Key skills
AgileUsability TestingCommunication
About this role
UX Researcher Contractor (Rapid Research / Sprint Support)
On-Site Role
Compensation: $60 per hour
ABOUT THE ROLE
Our client is seeking a decisive, action-oriented UX Researcher Contractor to support product teams operating in fast-paced sprint and incubation environments. This role is designed for a researcher who will plan, execute, and deliver decision-ready insights within 24-48 hours as part of 5-day sprint cycles or rapid innovation work. You will independently lead end-to-end UX research studies, partner with product and design teams to frame focused, decision-driven research questions, and determine the appropriate level of rigor based on timeline, risk, and decision needs. The ideal candidate is highly operationally efficient, comfortable working with imperfect information, and focused on unblocking decisions quickly rather than producing exhaustive research artifacts. Strong product instincts, crisp communication, and the ability to drive research that directly informs design and product direction under tight timelines are essential. You will add immediate value to product teams by synthesizing findings into clear, actionable insights and delivering concise presentations that enable rapid decision-making.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
A portfolio can be included, but candidates are asked to submit two contrasting research studies that demonstrate their approach to different research situations. For each study, please include:
At least one example should demonstrate rapid-turn research (48 hours or less), including how scope, methods, and synthesis were adapted for speed.
On-Site Role
Compensation: $60 per hour
ABOUT THE ROLE
Our client is seeking a decisive, action-oriented UX Researcher Contractor to support product teams operating in fast-paced sprint and incubation environments. This role is designed for a researcher who will plan, execute, and deliver decision-ready insights within 24-48 hours as part of 5-day sprint cycles or rapid innovation work. You will independently lead end-to-end UX research studies, partner with product and design teams to frame focused, decision-driven research questions, and determine the appropriate level of rigor based on timeline, risk, and decision needs. The ideal candidate is highly operationally efficient, comfortable working with imperfect information, and focused on unblocking decisions quickly rather than producing exhaustive research artifacts. Strong product instincts, crisp communication, and the ability to drive research that directly informs design and product direction under tight timelines are essential. You will add immediate value to product teams by synthesizing findings into clear, actionable insights and delivering concise presentations that enable rapid decision-making.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Lead UX research studies end-to-end, from scoping through final readout
- Partner with product and design teams to frame focused, decision-driven research questions
- Determine the appropriate level of research rigor based on timeline, risk, and decision needs
- Advise teams on when research is needed and select the most appropriate methods
- Design and execute studies including usability testing, journey exploration, concept evaluation, and in-depth interviews
- Conduct rapid-turn research (24-48 hours) to support sprint cycles and incubation work, including quick study design and launch, streamlined protocols and recruitment, and fast synthesis focused on signal over exhaustiveness
- Perform more structured research when deeper insight is needed, such as foundational or exploratory work
- Synthesize findings into clear, actionable insights with direct implications for product and design
- Deliver concise presentations or readouts that enable teams to make decisions quickly
- ~5 years conducting UX research for digital products
- Demonstrated ability to run research independently end-to-end
- Proven experience executing rapid or iterative research under tight timelines
- Strong facilitation and moderation skills with the ability to get signal quickly
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Strong product mindset; comfortable connecting research findings to design and product direction
- Experience working closely with product managers and designers
- Experience working in agile, sprint-based, or innovation environments
- Ability to flex between speed and depth depending on the problem
- Strong prioritization and operational efficiency; focuses on what matters for the decision at hand
- Clarity under pressure; communicates simply and directly, even with incomplete data
- Bias toward action and decision-making over completeness
- Ability to operate autonomously and add immediate value to product teams
- Opportunity to work in a fast-paced, innovative environment
- Direct impact on product and design decisions
- Autonomous role with immediate value to teams
- Competitive hourly compensation
A portfolio can be included, but candidates are asked to submit two contrasting research studies that demonstrate their approach to different research situations. For each study, please include:
- Study plan or research brief
- Discussion guide / protocol / user test configuration
- Final stakeholder presentation or report
At least one example should demonstrate rapid-turn research (48 hours or less), including how scope, methods, and synthesis were adapted for speed.