Design Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Researcher

Company: MaintainX

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on deeply understanding user needs, behaviors, and motivations to inform the development of an AI-powered maintenance and asset management platform.

• The Design Researcher will employ mixed-methods research to gather insights and translate them into actionable recommendations for product, design, and engineering teams.

• A key aspect of this role involves championing customer empathy across the organization through compelling narratives and accessible insight repositories.

• The position requires leveraging AI tools to enhance research workflows, from data tagging to pattern synthesis, and evolving research operations for greater efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core function is Design Research, the emphasis on "AI-powered product," "maintenance and asset management," and "operations" context suggests a strong tie-in to Product Operations and potentially GTM strategy enablement through user understanding. This role requires a researcher who can bridge the gap between user needs and operational efficiency in a B2B SaaS environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive mixed-methods research, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and contextual inquiries, to uncover deep user needs, pain points, and motivations.

• Synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative research findings into clear, compelling narratives, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations for product managers, designers, and engineers.

• Champion customer empathy across the organization by actively sharing research insights through presentations, workshops, and maintaining shared insight repositories.

• Leverage AI-powered tools (e.g., Claude, NotebookLM) to accelerate research workflows, including data tagging, thematic analysis, and pattern synthesis.

• Evolve and optimize research operations processes, including developing and managing participant recruiting pipelines, establishing best practice documentation, and improving research tool utilization.

• Independently scope, prioritize, and manage the execution of research projects, ensuring alignment with product strategy and business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Designers to define research questions, methodologies, and timelines that support product roadmap development.

• Analyze behavioral data from analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude) to complement primary research findings and provide a holistic understanding of user interaction with the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for proactive research strategy and operationalizing research findings. The mention of "AI-powered product" and "maintenance and asset management" implies a need to understand complex workflows and potentially industrial or field-based user populations, requiring researchers adept at understanding context of use.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of dedicated experience in User Experience (UX) research roles, with a proven track record of delivering impactful research.

Required Skills:

• UX Research Methodologies: Strong foundation in qualitative methods (user interviews, usability testing, ethnography, contextual inquiry) and quantitative methods (surveys, A/B testing analysis, data analysis).

• Data Synthesis & Insight Generation: Proven ability to translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations that drive product and design decisions.

• Storytelling & Communication: Exceptional storytelling, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively communicate research findings to diverse audiences.

• Research Operations: Familiarity with evolving research operations, including participant recruitment strategies and best practice documentation.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Comfort and familiarity with leveraging AI tools (e.g., Claude, NotebookLM) to accelerate research workflows.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively within cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering) in fast-paced, agile environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Analytics Tool Experience: Experience with analytics platforms such as Amplitude to complement primary research with behavioral data.

• Research Tool Proficiency: Familiarity with key UX research tools like UserTesting.com, Dovetail, Lookback, Maze, or similar platforms.

• Domain Experience: Background in industrial, operations, or field-based user populations, understanding the nuances of context-of-use.

• Related Disciplines: Background in psychology, HCI, anthropology, or related social science fields.

• Service Design & VOC: Exposure to service design principles, journey mapping, or Voice of the Customer (VOC) programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to Have" section strongly suggests a preference for candidates who can understand complex B2B workflows and the unique challenges of users who are not desk-bound. This indicates a need for researchers who can adapt methodologies to diverse user groups and environments, a critical aspect of GTM success for specialized SaaS products.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end research process, from problem definition to actionable insights and impact.

• Methodological Variety: Highlight examples of diverse research methodologies employed (e.g., interviews, usability tests, surveys) and the rationale for choosing each method.

• Insight Synthesis & Impact: Clearly articulate the synthesized insights and demonstrate how they directly influenced product decisions, design iterations, or strategic recommendations. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in task completion rate").

• Systematic Approach: Illustrate your systematic approach to research planning, execution, and documentation, including how you manage projects and communicate findings.

Process Documentation:

• Research Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you have designed or improved research workflows, including participant recruitment, data collection, and analysis processes.

• Tool Integration: Demonstrate understanding of how to integrate various research tools (e.g., UserTesting, Dovetail, Amplitude, AI assistants) to create a cohesive and efficient research operation.

• Insight Management: Showcase how you contribute to or manage systems for organizing, disseminating, and socializing research insights to ensure they are accessible and actionable across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Researcher role, the portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical application of research skills. Emphasis should be placed on showing the process of research and the direct impact of insights on product development and user experience, aligning with operations' focus on efficiency and measurable outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $85,000 - $120,000 CAD per year (Full-time)

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for mid-level UX Researchers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, considering the AI-powered B2B SaaS sector and the specific requirements of 3+ years of experience. Factors such as company funding (Series D), growth stage, and the competitive tech market in Toronto were also considered.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and meaningful equity opportunities.

• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401(k) / RRSP enrollment program for retirement savings.

• Generous "Take what you need" Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• A global work culture that values Smart Humble Optimists.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week.

• While on-site, there may be flexibility in daily scheduling, but adherence to project deadlines and team collaboration needs is paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for Toronto, Canada, considers the local cost of living and tech market rates. The inclusion of RRSP enrollment is specific to Canadian retirement savings plans. The "Take what you need PTO" is a significant benefit for work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development (AI-powered Maintenance & Asset Management)

Company Size: 251-500 employees (based on typical Greenhouse ATS job postings for companies at this funding stage).

Founded: 2018 (derived from company description and funding milestones).

Team Structure:

• The Design Researcher will likely be part of a Product Design or Product Management team, working closely with other designers, product managers, and engineers.

• Reporting structure would typically be to a Design Lead, Head of Product, or Director of Product.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: MaintainX emphasizes using data and insights to drive product strategy and development.

• AI Integration: A core focus on integrating AI into their product and research workflows.

• Customer-Centricity: Strong emphasis on understanding and serving the needs of blue-collar workers and enterprise clients.

• Agile Development: Likely operates with agile methodologies, requiring iterative research and feedback loops.

Company Website: https://www.getmaintainx.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI, maintenance, and serving blue-collar workers suggests a culture that values practical problem-solving, user empathy, and technological innovation. The mention of "Smart Humble Optimists" as core values indicates a preference for collaborative, results-oriented individuals who are resilient and positive.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Design Researcher, requiring a solid foundation of 3+ years of experience and the ability to work independently on research projects. It's a critical individual contributor role focused on driving user understanding within the product development lifecycle.

Reporting Structure: The Design Researcher will likely report to a Product Design Manager or Head of Product, with close collaboration across Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing/Sales. The role is embedded within product development to ensure user insights directly inform roadmap decisions.

Operations Impact: The Design Researcher's impact is foundational to the success of MaintainX's AI-powered platform. By deeply understanding user needs, pain points, and workflows within industrial and field settings, this role directly influences:

• Product Strategy: Informing the direction of new features and product enhancements.

• User Experience: Ensuring the platform is intuitive, efficient, and valuable for its target audience.

• Market Fit: Validating product-market fit and identifying opportunities for innovation.

• Adoption & Retention: Contributing to a user experience that drives customer adoption and long-term retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies, AI-assisted research, or particular user segments (e.g., industrial maintenance teams).

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Design Researcher role, mentor junior researchers, or lead research initiatives for larger product areas.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across Product, Design, Engineering, and GTM teams, potentially leading to product management or strategy roles.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through exposure to cutting-edge AI tools, complex B2B SaaS product challenges, and diverse user populations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "operations" aspect in the company's name and product suggests that this research role has a direct impact on how the operational efficiency of their clients is improved through software. This amplifies the importance of understanding user workflows in real-world operational settings.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site," indicating a physical office presence in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This suggests a collaborative environment where in-person interaction is valued for brainstorming, team building, and spontaneous problem-solving.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Specific office address details would typically be provided upon progression in the application process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a modern office environment with dedicated areas for team collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and user research activities.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized equipment for usability testing or immersive research. The company's AI focus suggests a tech-forward environment.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for informal and formal interaction with product, design, and engineering teams, fostering a close-knit working relationship.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, likely with standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM EST).

• While on-site, there may be some flexibility, but consistent availability for team synchronization, user interviews, and project deadlines is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement for a Design Researcher in a tech company often implies a value placed on spontaneous collaboration, team cohesion, and the ability to conduct certain types of in-person user research or observe user environments where remote access might be limited.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, assessing for key qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion focusing on your research experience, methodologies, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss specific projects.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you present 1-2 detailed case studies from your portfolio. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your research process, insights, and impact.

• Skills Assessment: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live exercise simulating a research challenge to assess your practical skills in synthesis, analysis, or communication.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) to assess teamwork and communication style.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss strategic thinking and overall fit with the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem/Opportunity, Your Role, Methodology, Process, Key Findings, Recommendations, and Impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the tangible results of your research (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, diagrams, user journey maps) to illustrate your process and findings.

• Tailor to MaintainX: Highlight research that relates to B2B SaaS, AI-powered products, or complex user workflows. Emphasize how you champion user empathy.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Know your portfolio inside and out. Expect questions about your decision-making, challenges encountered, and how you would approach similar problems for MaintainX.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself with MaintainX's platform, its target users (maintenance professionals, operations managers), and the problems it solves.

• Simulate Research Scenarios: Practice framing research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and synthesizing hypothetical data.

• Articulate AI's Role: Be ready to discuss how AI can be leveraged in research and how you've used or would use AI tools to enhance your work.

• Focus on Actionability: Emphasize how you translate research into actionable insights that drive product improvements and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is heavily geared towards assessing practical research skills and the ability to translate findings into tangible business impact. The portfolio presentation is a cornerstone, so candidates must be prepared to articulate their process and demonstrate real-world application of research principles in a B2B context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UsabilityHub (for remote moderated/unmoderated testing, surveys, and task analysis).

• Collaboration & Synthesis: Dovetail, Miro, Mural (for organizing research data, affinity mapping, journey mapping, and collaborative ideation).

• AI Research Assistants: Claude, NotebookLM (for accelerating data tagging, summarization, pattern identification, and literature review).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Behavioral Analytics: Amplitude (or similar like Mixpanel, Google Analytics) for understanding user behavior patterns and complementing primary research with quantitative data.

• BI/Dashboard Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (potentially used by other teams, but understanding their data can be beneficial for context).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (understanding how customer data is managed can provide context for user segmentation and outreach).

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello (for managing research projects and collaborating with engineering/product teams).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools like Claude and NotebookLM, alongside traditional research platforms and analytics tools, highlights a forward-thinking approach to research operations. Proficiency in these areas is a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Smart Humble Optimists: This core value suggests a culture that prioritizes intelligence and competence ("Smart"), a collaborative and non-egotistical approach ("Humble"), and a proactive, positive outlook towards challenges ("Optimists"). For a Design Researcher, this means bringing well-researched insights with confidence but also being open to feedback and collaborative problem-solving.

• Meritocracy: Ideas and effort are publicly celebrated. This implies that well-supported research findings and diligent work will be recognized and valued, encouraging initiative and data-backed advocacy.

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to making the lives of blue-collar workers easier. This translates to a research focus on understanding the realities and needs of this specific user base, prioritizing empathy and practical solutions.

• Data-Driven: While not explicitly stated as a value, the nature of the role and the product implies a strong reliance on data and insights to guide decisions, a key tenet of effective operations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to ensure research insights are integrated into the product development lifecycle.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages sharing ideas and feedback openly, fostering a dynamic environment for continuous improvement.

• Shared Ownership: While researchers champion user needs, there's an implied shared responsibility for product success, requiring researchers to align their findings with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Smart Humble Optimists" value is key. It suggests a preference for individuals who are intellectually curious and data-driven, but also team players who can navigate challenges constructively. This is crucial for operations roles that often require influencing stakeholders without direct authority.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Understanding Complex Workflows: The target users are often in industrial or field settings with complex, hands-on workflows. Translating these into intuitive digital experiences requires deep contextual understanding and robust research methodologies.

• Bridging AI and User Needs: Effectively researching and designing for AI-powered features requires understanding both user expectations and the capabilities/limitations of AI.

• Data Synthesis at Scale: With a growing user base and product, synthesizing large volumes of qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights can be challenging.

• Driving Organizational Empathy: Consistently embedding user empathy across a fast-growing, global organization requires ongoing effort and effective communication strategies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunity to explore and implement cutting-edge research methods, particularly those suited for industrial/field users and AI-driven products.

• AI Tool Mastery: Deepen expertise in leveraging AI tools for research efficiency and insight generation, staying at the forefront of research technology.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Develop a strong understanding of product management, engineering processes, and GTM strategies through close collaboration.

• Industry Exposure: Gain deep knowledge of the maintenance and asset management industry, understanding the operational challenges and technological needs of blue-collar workers and enterprise clients.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced product and design leaders within a rapidly growing tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the unique intersection of B2B SaaS, AI, and industrial operations. Success in this role requires adaptability, a strong methodological toolkit, and the ability to translate complex user needs into practical product solutions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to conduct research for a complex, non-desk-bound user group. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on methodology adaptation and context of use).

• "How would you approach researching the usability and adoption of a new AI-powered feature for our platform?" (Emphasize your process for evaluating AI features and user trust).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about MaintainX's mission and our focus on serving blue-collar workers?" (Connect your passion for user advocacy to their mission).

• "How do you embody the 'Smart Humble Optimist' value in your work?" (Provide examples of collaboration, learning from mistakes, and positive problem-solving).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end research process, diverse methodologies, and demonstrable impact. Prioritize projects relevant to B2B SaaS or complex user workflows.

• Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process/insights), and end (solution/impact).

• Highlight Your Process: Clearly articulate your decision-making at each stage – why you chose specific methods, how you synthesized data, and how you translated findings into recommendations.

• Quantify Results: Use data and metrics to support the impact of your research. If direct quantification is difficult, discuss the qualitative impact and intended outcomes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology, challenges, alternative approaches, and how your work aligns with business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research skills, but also strategic thinking, operational understanding, and the ability to drive impact within a product development context. Emphasizing the "why" behind your methodological choices and the "so what" of your findings is critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the MaintainX careers portal via the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 detailed case studies that highlight your experience with mixed-methods research, B2B SaaS environments, and driving tangible product impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords such as "UX Research," "User Interviews," "Usability Testing," "Data Synthesis," "Product Strategy," "AI Tools," and any experience with industrial or operations-focused user groups. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, methodologies, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present a compelling case study.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research MaintainX's product, target market, company values ("Smart Humble Optimists"), and recent funding news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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