Principal User Researcher (all genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal User Researcher (all genders)

Company: Zalando

Location: Berlin, Germany & Stockholm, Sweden

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Research

Date Posted: 2025-06-11

Experience Level: 5-10 Years (Principal)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Up to 60% remote, actual practice team-dependent)

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead and build the user research discipline within the Connected Network Product Design Team, focusing on understanding partner journeys.
• Drive product ideation and optimization through a blend of evaluative and generative research methodologies, ensuring user-centered design.
• Influence strategic decisions by providing deep insights into diverse customer segments, including high-profile fashion brands, style bloggers, internal users, and approximately 46 million consumers.
• Empower and mentor product designers and managers to conduct effective research, fostering a culture of data-informed decision-making and continuous learning.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Build and mature the user research practice specifically for the Connected Network Product Design Team, establishing best practices and standards.
• Apply a mix of quantitative and qualitative research methods to influence the entire product development lifecycle for multiple products within the Connected Network.
• Generate actionable insights by analyzing and synthesizing data from various sources, challenging the team to focus on solving the right user problems.
• Serve as the key advocate for partners, developing a deep understanding of their needs and influencing strategic decisions based on their perspective.
• Coach, support, and critique colleagues, empowering designers and product managers to conduct substantial research independently and contribute to the broader design community.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in user research.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive user research experience, demonstrating the ability to deliver actionable user insights through various research artifacts and a strong portfolio of impactful research projects.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, ethnographic research).
• Demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and analyze complex research studies independently across the entire product lifecycle.
• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to present complex research findings to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to generate compelling and actionable insights.
• Proven experience advocating for and leading strategic research initiatives that influence product strategy and roadmaps.

Preferred Skills:

• Fluency in English and at least one other European language.
• Experience working in the e-commerce or fashion technology industry.
• Familiarity with Lean UX practices and Design Thinking methodologies.
• Experience coaching and mentoring junior researchers, designers, or product managers in research methods.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Include case studies demonstrating your end-to-end user research process, from research question formulation to insight delivery and impact.
• Showcase examples of how your research influenced product decisions and led to tangible improvements in user experience or business outcomes.
• Present research artifacts such as research plans, interview guides, survey designs, affinity diagrams, user journey maps, and research reports.
• Highlight projects where you successfully integrated quantitative and qualitative data to provide a holistic understanding of user behavior.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your research methodology and rationale for choosing specific methods for each project.
• Detail your approach to participant recruitment, screening, and ethical considerations.
• Explain your data analysis and synthesis techniques, demonstrating how you translated raw data into meaningful insights.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While not explicitly stated, based on industry standards for a Principal User Researcher in Berlin, Germany, and Stockholm, Sweden, with 5-10 years of experience at a large e-commerce company like Zalando, the estimated annual gross salary could range from €75,000 to €105,000. This range is an estimate and can vary based on exact experience, skills, and negotiation. Research sources include Glassdoor, Payscale, and regional tech salary reports.

Benefits:

• Employee shares program, aligning employee success with company performance.
• Generous discounts on Zalando products (40% off fashion and beauty, 30% off Lounge by Zalando) and external partner discounts.
• 2 paid volunteering days per year, supporting community engagement.
• Hybrid working model offering flexibility with up to 60% remote work per week, depending on team needs.
• Opportunity to work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year.
• Competitive vacation time starting at 27 days per year for full-time employees.
• Relocation assistance available for candidates moving to Berlin or Stockholm (subject to agreement).
• Comprehensive family services, including counseling and support.
• Access to health and wellbeing options, including Wellhub (formerly Gympass).
• Mental health support and coaching services provided.
• Support for professional development through a training platform and biannual peer-to-peer reviews.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: E-commerce and Fashion Technology, a dynamic and rapidly evolving market.

Company Size: Over 10,000 employees (LinkedIn data: 11,891), indicating a large, established organization.

Founded: 2008, with over a decade of growth and evolution in the e-commerce landscape.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Connected Network Product Design Team, suggesting a focus on B2B or partner-facing products.
• User Researchers collaborate closely with Product Designers and Product Managers in a cross-functional setting.
• The team integrates with Market Research, Business Intelligence, and Product Analytics teams for a holistic view of the customer.

Methodology:

• Employs an evolving mix of traditional user-centered methodologies, Lean UX practices, and Design Thinking.
• Focuses on a data-informed approach, encouraging stakeholders to embrace data in decision-making.
• Prioritizes impactful research that influences all stages of the product development cycle.

Company Website: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Principal User Researcher, a senior-level position requiring significant experience, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead and mentor within the user research discipline.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Head of Research, Design Director, or Product Director within the Connected Network or a broader Product Insights organization.

Design Impact: This role has a significant opportunity to influence strategic decisions at a high level by being the "voice of the partner" and improving the understanding of their needs and workflows.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to shape and build the user research discipline within a specific product area (Connected Network), demonstrating leadership and strategic impact.
• Potential for advancement into broader research leadership roles or specialized areas within Zalando's large organization.
• Continuous learning and development supported by the company's training platform and peer-to-peer review process.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid working model, combining office work and remote work.

Office Location(s): Berlin, Germany and Stockholm, Sweden. Candidates can likely be based in either location.

Design Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for both focused remote work and in-person collaboration with the team and stakeholders.
• Office spaces in Berlin and Stockholm likely offer collaborative areas and resources for design and research activities.
• Opportunities for interaction with a large design community across Zalando locations.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility provided by the hybrid model allowing up to 60% remote work per week, depending on team needs and collaboration requirements.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening to assess experience and fit for a Principal-level role in user research.
• Portfolio review focusing on your research process, methodologies, insights, and the impact of your work on product development.
• Case study presentation where you walk through a significant research project, detailing your approach, findings, and recommendations.
• Interviews with members of the Product Design team, Product Management, and potentially stakeholders from the Connected Network, assessing technical skills, strategic thinking, collaboration style, and cultural fit.
• Discussion of leadership experience, mentoring capabilities, and ability to build and scale research practices.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the research problem, your approach, key findings, actionable insights, and the resulting impact.
• Highlight projects where you influenced strategic decisions or built research capabilities within a team.
• Demonstrate your ability to synthesize complex data (both qualitative and quantitative) into clear, compelling narratives.
• Be prepared to discuss your research process in detail, including challenges faced and lessons learned.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design or research challenge is required, approach it by clearly defining the research questions, proposing appropriate methodologies, outlining a research plan, and articulating how you would analyze and synthesize the data to provide actionable insights.
• Focus on demonstrating your strategic thinking and ability to tackle complex problems relevant to user research at a Principal level.

ATS Keywords: User Research, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, Research Methodologies, Data Analysis, Survey Design, Interviewing, Usability Testing, Ethnography, Diary Studies, Workshop Facilitation, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Research, Product Development, User Insights, Design Thinking, Lean UX, Coaching, Mentoring, Communication, Storytelling.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• While not explicitly mentioned for a User Researcher, familiarity with tools used by the design team (e.g., Figma, Sketch, InVision) can be beneficial for understanding design workflows and handoff processes.
• Proficiency in survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).
• Experience with remote testing tools (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).
• Familiarity with data analysis software or statistical packages may be required for quantitative analysis.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools for collaboration and project management (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Asana).
• Communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Google Meet, Zoom).

Research & Testing:

• Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, EnjoyHQ).
• Tools for creating and managing participant databases.
• Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) for integrating behavioral data with research findings.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Focused on being "inclusive by design," valuing diversity and different perspectives within the team and in their work.
• Emphasis on understanding and advocating for the user ("Be the voice of our partners").
• Commitment to a data-informed approach, leveraging insights from various sources to drive decisions.
• Culture of continuous learning and development ("Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review").

Collaboration Style:

• Works closely and collaboratively with Product Designers and Product Managers in cross-functional teams.
• Integrates with other insights teams (Market Research, Business Intelligence, Product Analytics) for a holistic understanding.
• Encourages coaching and mentoring among colleagues, fostering shared learning and growth.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Building and establishing the user research discipline within a specific domain (Connected Network), which may involve developing processes, standards, and buy-in from stakeholders.
• Working with diverse user segments (fashion brands, bloggers, internal users, consumers) and tailoring research approaches accordingly.
• Integrating qualitative and quantitative data from various sources to provide comprehensive insights in a complex e-commerce ecosystem.
• Balancing the need for high-quality, in-depth research with fast-paced, iterative product development cycles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies and their application in an e-commerce context.
• Develop leadership and mentoring skills by coaching and empowering colleagues in research practices.
• Exposure to a wide range of product areas and user segments within a large, international organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your end-to-end user research process for a complex project, from defining research questions to delivering actionable insights.
• Explain how you choose appropriate research methodologies based on research objectives and constraints.
• Describe your approach to recruiting and screening participants, particularly for niche or hard-to-reach user segments like fashion brands or internal users.
• Discuss your methods for analyzing and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data, and how you ensure the findings are reliable and valid.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Zalando's values, particularly their focus on "inclusive by design," and be prepared to discuss how your approach to user research aligns with these values.
• Ask questions about the collaboration between user research, product design, and product management teams, and how research insights are integrated into the product development process.
• Inquire about the team's approach to data-informed decision-making and how research contributes to strategic planning.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 1-2 case studies that best showcase your strategic impact, ability to work with complex data, and influence on product decisions.
• Clearly articulate the research problem, your role, the methodologies used, key findings, concrete recommendations, and the impact of your work.
• Emphasize your process and thinking, demonstrating your ability to go beyond simply executing research methods.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading strategic user research initiatives, building research practices, and working with diverse user segments.
• Select portfolio pieces that demonstrate your expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and your ability to synthesize data for actionable insights.
• Prepare to discuss specific examples of how your research has influenced product strategy and led to measurable impact.
• Research Zalando's Connected Network products and services to demonstrate your understanding of the specific domain this role focuses on.