Qualitative UX Researcher (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Qualitative UX Researcher (Contract)

Company: Suno

Location: New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Boston, MA

Job Type: Contract (approximately 3 months)

Category: UX Research / Product Design

Date Posted: June 9, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end qualitative user research studies, including user interviews, usability tests, and diary studies, across web, mobile, and platform experiences.
• Drive rapid product development cycles by supporting weekly research sprints for both product and marketing initiatives, focusing on concept validation and feature improvement.
• Synthesize complex qualitative data into clear, actionable insights that directly inform product, design, and engineering decisions.
• Champion the voice of the user throughout the product lifecycle, from initial onboarding flows to advanced remix tools and artist interactions.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute qualitative research studies using methodologies such as in-depth interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiry, and diary studies.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering) to define research objectives, develop research plans, and ensure research aligns with product strategy and design goals.
• Conduct user interviews and usability sessions to gather insights on user behavior, needs, pain points, and mental models related to music creation and interaction with the Suno platform.
• Analyze qualitative data using techniques such as thematic analysis, affinity mapping, and journey mapping to identify key findings and overarching themes.
• Develop and administer surveys to gather complementary quantitative data and validate qualitative hypotheses in a lightweight manner.
• Prepare and deliver compelling research reports, presentations, and workshops to communicate findings and recommendations effectively to stakeholders.
• Act as a vocal advocate for the user, ensuring their needs and perspectives are central to product development and decision-making processes.
• Contribute to the evolution of UX research best practices and scalable processes within the organization to support rapid experimentation and growing research demands.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: BA or equivalent experience in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related field. A PhD in a related field is a plus.

Experience: 2+ years of industry experience in UX research, with a demonstrated focus on qualitative research methods within fast-paced product development environments. Experience conducting research across mobile, web, and platform experiences is essential.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in designing, conducting, and synthesizing qualitative research studies (user interviews, usability testing, diary studies, etc.).
• Proficiency in qualitative data analysis techniques (thematic analysis, affinity mapping).
• Solid working knowledge of survey design and the ability to perform basic statistical analysis to complement qualitative findings.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex research data into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, and engineers.
• A proactive, flexible, and adaptable mindset, comfortable navigating ambiguity, managing shifting priorities, and working under tight deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting UX research within the music industry, creative tools, or platforms targeting Gen-Z digital culture.
• Familiarity with AI and generative technologies and their application in product experiences.
• Experience with rapid experimentation and agile research methodologies.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Include case studies that showcase your expertise in end-to-end qualitative research projects, from problem definition and methodology selection to data analysis and insight delivery.
• Demonstrate your ability to adapt research methods to fast-paced product development cycles and deliver actionable insights quickly.
• Highlight projects where you collaborated effectively with design, product, and engineering teams to influence product decisions through research.
• Showcase your skill in translating research findings into compelling presentations and reports that resonate with non-research audiences.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly articulate the research objectives, the specific qualitative methodologies employed, and your rationale for choosing them.
• Detail your process for recruiting participants, conducting interviews or usability sessions, and analyzing the gathered data.
• Explain how your research findings directly informed product or design decisions and the impact of those decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $45 - $90 per hour (USD)

Benefits:

• Healthcare coverage (medical, vision, dental) for full-time employees and their dependents (Note: Benefits typically apply to full-time employees, and this is a contract role. Verification of benefit eligibility for contractors is recommended).
• 401k retirement plan with company match (Note: Benefit eligibility for contractors should be confirmed).
• Generous commuter benefit (Note: Benefit eligibility for contractors should be confirmed).
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) (Note: Benefit eligibility for contractors should be confirmed).

Working Hours: Full-time contract position, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility given the fast-paced environment. This is an in-person role requiring presence at one of the specified office locations.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Technology, Information, and Internet (specifically AI-powered music creation)

Company Size: 11-50 employees (LinkedIn indicates 178 employees, suggesting recent growth or a broader internal count)

Founded: 2022

Team Structure:

• UX Researchers are embedded within fast-moving product teams, collaborating directly with product managers, designers, and engineers.
• Emphasis on cross-functional collaboration to bring user insights into every stage of the product lifecycle.
• The company culture celebrates music and experimentation, likely influencing the design and research approach.

Methodology:

• Focus on rapid iteration and weekly research cycles to support fast-paced product development.
• Likely utilizes agile or lean UX methodologies, prioritizing quick insights and continuous user feedback.
• Combines qualitative methods with survey data for a comprehensive understanding of user behavior.

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

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Mid-Level Qualitative UX Researcher. This role is focused on executing research and delivering insights to inform product development within specific teams.

Reporting Structure: The researcher will likely report to a UX Research Lead or Product Lead, working closely with design and product managers on a daily basis.

Design Impact: This role has direct impact on product development by providing essential user insights that shape features, flows, and overall user experience for a rapidly evolving music creation platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in qualitative research methodologies within the unique context of AI and music technology.
• Exposure to fast-paced product development cycles and the opportunity to refine skills in delivering research insights rapidly and effectively.
• Potential to contribute to establishing and evolving research best practices within a growing organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site at one of the specified office locations (New York City, Los Angeles, or Boston/Cambridge).

Office Location(s): New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Boston (likely Cambridge), MA.

Design Workspace Context:

• The work environment is collaborative, with researchers embedded within product teams, facilitating close interaction with designers and engineers.
• The company culture celebrates music, suggesting a potentially vibrant and creatively stimulating office environment.
• Likely features spaces conducive to collaboration, brainstorming, and conducting user research sessions.

Work Schedule: Full-time contract position with standard business hours, requiring in-person presence at a designated office. While flexible PTO is mentioned as a full-time benefit, the contract nature of this role means schedule flexibility should be discussed.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio review focusing on your qualitative research case studies, research methodologies, and impact on product decisions.
• Interviews with members of the UX research, product, and design teams to assess skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.
• Potentially a take-home research exercise or a presentation of a past research project to demonstrate your process and analytical abilities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end qualitative research process, from defining research questions to delivering actionable insights.
• Clearly articulate your research methodology, participant recruitment strategy, data analysis techniques, and how your findings influenced product or design outcomes.
• Highlight your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and communicate research findings effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Given the company's domain, if you have research experience in music, creative tools, or AI-powered products, showcase it prominently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Review common qualitative research scenarios and be prepared to discuss how you would approach them within a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Practice articulating your research process and rationale clearly and concisely.
• Be ready to discuss how you handle challenges in recruitment, data analysis, or stakeholder alignment in research projects.

ATS Keywords: Qualitative UX Research, User Interviews, Usability Testing, Diary Studies, Contextual Inquiry, Thematic Analysis, Affinity Mapping, Journey Mapping, Survey Design, Data Analysis, Research Synthesis, Actionable Insights, Stakeholder Communication, Cross-functional Collaboration, Agile Research, Rapid Iteration, User Advocacy, HCI, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Product Development, Design Thinking, User-Centered Design, Music Technology, AI, Generative AI, Proactive, Flexible, Fast-paced Environment, Web, Mobile, Platform Experience, Case Studies, Portfolio, Research Methodology, Participant Recruitment, Data Analysis Techniques, Product Decisions, Research Findings, Communication Skills, Storytelling, Collaboration Skills, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools: While the focus is on research, familiarity with design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD may be beneficial for understanding design handoff and collaborating with designers.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Likely uses collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for team communication and coordination.
• Project management tools such as Jira, Asana, or Trello are probably used for tracking research tasks and integrating with product development workflows.

Research & Testing:

• Proficiency with qualitative research tools for conducting remote interviews and usability tests (e.g., Zoom, Lookback, UserTesting.com).
• Experience with survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms) for designing and deploying surveys.
• Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, EnjoyHQ, or even spreadsheets and affinity mapping tools).

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Strong emphasis on being user-centered, bringing the voice of the user into product development.
• Values rapid iteration and experimentation to quickly validate concepts and improve features based on user feedback.
• Celebrates music and experimenting with sound, suggesting a passion for the product domain within the team.
• Likely values collaboration and open communication within embedded product teams.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative environment with researchers working closely alongside product managers, designers, and engineers on a daily basis.
• Emphasis on sharing research findings effectively and influencing product decisions through compelling insights.
• Likely involves frequent team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional workshops.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Operating effectively within a high-velocity, rapid iteration environment, requiring quick turnaround on research insights.
• Navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities inherent in a fast-growing company in a nascent field (AI music generation).
• Communicating complex qualitative findings concisely and compellingly to influence product decisions under tight deadlines.
• Recruiting and engaging participants relevant to the unique user base of an AI music creation platform.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to gain significant experience in conducting research in the cutting-edge field of AI and generative technologies.
• Develop expertise in rapid and agile research methodologies suited for fast-paced product development.
• Learn how to effectively integrate qualitative and quantitative data for a more holistic understanding of user behavior.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through your end-to-end qualitative research process using examples from your portfolio. Discuss how you define research questions, select methodologies, recruit participants, conduct sessions, analyze data, and synthesize findings.
• Discuss your experience working in fast-paced or agile environments and how you adapt your research process to meet rapid iteration cycles.
• Explain how you prioritize research questions and manage multiple research projects simultaneously.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Suno's product and user base. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of their users and potential research questions relevant to their platform.
• Discuss your experience collaborating with product managers, designers, and engineers and how you ensure research findings are integrated into the product development process.
• Express your interest in music and AI technology, and how it aligns with your passion for UX research.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies that best showcase your qualitative research skills, particularly those in fast-paced or complex product areas.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your research approach, key findings, and the impact of your research on the product.
• Focus on the "so what?" – explain the implications of your findings and provide actionable recommendations.
• Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced in each project and how you overcame them.

📌 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 qualitative UX research, particularly in fast-paced environments and your familiarity with the music or AI domain.
• Prepare a portfolio of research case studies that effectively demonstrate your end-to-end research process, analytical skills, and ability to deliver actionable insights.
• Research Suno and their product thoroughly to understand their business, target users, and the potential challenges and opportunities in researching their platform.