Sr. Design Researcher (Product Innovation)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Design Researcher (Product Innovation)

Company: Vesync

Location: Tustin, CA, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Product Innovation / User Experience Research

Date Posted: December 10, 2025

Experience Level: 6-8 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design research function for product innovation, focusing on health and wellness brands within the Vesync portfolio, such as Levoit, COSORI, and Etekcity.

• Drive the discovery phase of advanced product development by conducting in-depth qualitative and quantitative consumer research to identify unmet needs and opportunities in new product categories.

• Serve as the primary advocate for the consumer, ensuring their voice and needs are integrated throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization.

• Translate complex consumer feedback, including latent needs and pain points, into actionable product innovation and development recommendations for cross-functional teams.

• Manage multiple research projects concurrently across various brands, ensuring timely execution and delivery of impactful insights to inform product strategy and design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is in Product Innovation and Design Research, its emphasis on informing product development, understanding consumer needs, and working with cross-functional teams aligns closely with the strategic objectives of Revenue Operations and GTM functions by ensuring products meet market demands and drive adoption. The need for data fluency and analysis also resonates with operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive research plans encompassing qualitative methodologies (e.g., In-depth Interviews, Focus Groups, Concept Testing) and quantitative methods (e.g., Surveys) to explore new product categories and inform front-end development.

• Collaborate closely with international engineering, design, and consumer insights teams (US, EU, UK) to synthesize diverse data and establish a holistic understanding of consumer needs and expectations across global markets.

• Translate research findings, including latent needs and identified dissatisfaction, into concrete product innovation and development recommendations that are actively addressed throughout the product development and launch cycle.

• Proactively manage a portfolio of research projects across all Vesync brands, ensuring rigorous execution, timely delivery of outputs, and effective communication of insights to relevant stakeholders.

• Facilitate creative and innovative thinking by leading frequent brainstorm sessions during the conceptualization phase and supporting development processes through to commercialization.

• Communicate research insights, strategic recommendations, and implications professionally and with confidence to a broad range of cross-functional teams, including leadership.

• Ensure research rigor across both qualitative and quantitative datasets, demonstrating strong data fluency and analytical capabilities to derive meaningful insights.

• Actively manage and maintain relationships with consumer insights teams globally, fostering a cohesive approach to understanding consumer needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to translate feedback into product innovation and manage projects through the product lifecycle highlights the need for strong project management and process adherence, akin to operations roles that focus on workflow optimization and execution. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and communication is also critical in operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Psychology, Statistics, Anthropology, Marketing, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Product Design) is required.

Experience:

• 6-8 years of dedicated UX Research experience is mandatory.

• Experience in hardware, connected smart devices, wearables, and/or physical consumer goods is highly preferred, aligning with Vesync's product portfolio.

Required Skills:

• Strong data fluency for ensuring research rigor across both qualitative and quantitative datasets.

• High proficiency or expertise in research operations, including user research tools (e.g., User Interviews, quantilope).

• Expertise in data analysis tools such as R, SPSS, and/or advanced Excel for robust analysis and interpretation.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive research plans.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex insights clearly and professionally to diverse stakeholders.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional, international teams.

• Strong creative and innovative thinking skills, demonstrated through leading brainstorm sessions and conceptual development.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with hardware, connected smart devices, wearables, and physical consumer goods.

• Familiarity with lean research methodologies and agile development environments.

• Experience in product innovation for health and wellness sectors.

• Ability to mentor junior researchers or contribute to the growth of a research organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for strong data fluency, proficiency in specific data analysis tools (R, SPSS, advanced Excel), and experience with user research platforms (User Interviews, quantilope) directly mirrors the technical skill requirements for many operations roles, particularly those involving data analysis, CRM management, and process automation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing a range of qualitative and quantitative research projects, with clear articulation of research objectives, methodologies employed, and key findings.

• Provide case studies that highlight how research insights directly informed product innovation, design decisions, and ultimately, product success.

• Showcase experience in translating complex consumer needs and latent desires into actionable product requirements and development recommendations.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and executing structured research plans, including clear objectives, participant recruitment strategies, and data collection protocols.

• Examples of creating comprehensive research reports and presentations that effectively communicate findings, implications, and strategic recommendations to diverse audiences.

• Documentation of how you have collaborated with engineering and design teams to ensure research insights are effectively integrated into design and development workflows.

• Showcase experience in iterative research processes and how feedback loops were established to refine product concepts and features.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly asking for an "operations portfolio," the emphasis on structured research plans, translating insights into actionable recommendations, managing projects through a lifecycle, and documenting processes strongly aligns with the expectations for operations professionals who must document workflows, manage projects, and demonstrate impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage, with 100% coverage for employees, spouses, and dependents.

• 401K plan with a 4% employer match, featuring immediate 100% vesting after 90 days of employment.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy.

• Paid company holidays.

• Life Insurance.

• Voluntary Life Insurance.

• Disability Insurance.

• Critical Illness Coverage.

• Accident Insurance.

• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

• Dependent Care FSA.

• Travel Assistance Program.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary starting at $125K for a Senior Design Researcher in Tustin, CA, with 6-8 years of experience is competitive for the role and region. Research for Senior UX Researchers in Orange County, CA, typically falls within a range of $120,000 - $160,000 annually, depending on specific experience and company size. Vesync's comprehensive benefits package, especially the 100% covered insurance for dependents and immediate 401K vesting, is highly attractive.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health & Wellness Consumer Products, Smart Home Technology. Vesync operates in a dynamic and growing market driven by consumer demand for healthier lifestyles and connected home experiences. This context means a focus on user-centric innovation and rapid product iteration.

Company Size: Vesync is a growing company with a significant international presence, indicated by its portfolio of brands and collaborations with global consumer insights teams. The US office is embedded within a Product Innovation Team, suggesting a structured but agile environment.

Founded: Founded in 2011, Vesync has rapidly grown into a recognized player in its market, evidenced by numerous industry awards (CES Innovation, iF Design, IGA, Red Dot). This growth trajectory suggests a culture of achievement, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Team Structure:

• The role is embedded within the US Product Innovation Team, working closely with engineering and design functions.

• There is a requirement to collaborate with international consumer insights teams across the US, EU, and UK, indicating a globally distributed and cross-functional team structure.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Strong emphasis on data fluency and rigorous research across qualitative and quantitative datasets to derive actionable insights.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role involves managing research plans and ensuring insights are integrated throughout the product lifecycle, requiring structured project management and process adherence.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not directly an operations role, the drive for efficiency in research execution and timely delivery of outputs is a key component.

Company Website: http://vesync.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Vesync's growth and award history suggest a culture that values innovation and high performance. The emphasis on collaboration with international teams and the description of the internal team (smart, diligent, collaborative) points to a professional environment where clear communication and a proactive approach are highly valued. This aligns with the operational necessity for clear processes and effective stakeholder management.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a requirement for significant independent contribution, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead research initiatives. It suggests a transition from executing research to shaping research strategy and influencing product direction.

Reporting Structure: The role is embedded within the Product Innovation Team in the US office. Direct reporting lines are not specified but would likely be to a Head of Product Innovation or a similar senior leadership position within the product development function. Collaboration with international consumer insights teams implies matrixed reporting or strong peer-level collaboration.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, the Senior Design Researcher's impact is crucial for driving revenue and market success. By ensuring products are deeply aligned with consumer needs and preferences, the role directly influences product adoption, customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, and ultimately, sales performance. The insights generated can prevent costly product failures and guide investment in high-potential innovations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in research operations, advanced data analysis tools (R, SPSS), and user research platforms, which are transferable skills in many operations contexts.

• Leadership & Strategy: Potential to lead research strategy for new product categories, mentor junior researchers, and influence the company's product innovation roadmap.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop strong relationships and influence across global teams, enhancing skills in stakeholder management and international collaboration, crucial for GTM and RevOps leadership.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the health & wellness and smart home technology sectors, becoming a subject matter expert in consumer behavior within these domains.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a Senior Design Researcher often involves moving into management roles (e.g., Research Manager, Director of UX Research) or specializing further within product innovation. The skills honed in data analysis, process management, and cross-functional influence are highly valuable for transitions into strategic GTM or RevOps roles that require deep market understanding and customer-centric approaches.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site, office-based role in Tustin, CA. This suggests a traditional work environment that prioritizes in-person collaboration and team synergy.

Office Location(s): Tustin, California, USA. This location is in Orange County, a region known for its diverse industries and business community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The office environment likely fosters direct collaboration with engineering, design, and product teams, enabling quick feedback loops and integrated problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary research tools, data analysis software, and potentially product prototypes or testing environments.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for informal discussions, brainstorming sessions, and direct interaction with colleagues, which is beneficial for complex problem-solving and fostering a shared understanding of consumer needs.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, with a focus on delivering research outputs in a timely manner. While the role is on-site, the company culture seems to value ownership and proactivity, suggesting some flexibility might be possible for exceptional circumstances, though the primary expectation is office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in Tustin, CA, for a senior position implies a structured work environment. For operations professionals, this means opportunities for direct mentorship, clear delineation of responsibilities, and a predictable workflow, which can be conducive to process refinement and team alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and fit with the role requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on your background, experience with user research methodologies, product innovation, and understanding of consumer behavior.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with design, engineering, and potentially other insights team members to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate insights into product development.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your approach to research, problem-solving, and impact on product outcomes.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term vision for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Prioritize case studies where your research directly led to tangible product improvements, successful launches, or significant shifts in product strategy. Quantify impact whenever possible (e.g., "increased user satisfaction by X%", "identified a key unmet need leading to Y feature adoption").

• Methodology Diversity: Present a range of qualitative and quantitative projects, illustrating your command over different research tools and techniques.

• Problem-Solution-Outcome: Structure your case studies clearly: Define the problem/opportunity, explain your research approach and methodology, detail your key findings and insights, and articulate the solutions/recommendations you proposed.

• Visual Clarity: Use clear visuals, diagrams, and concise text to convey your findings and process. Ensure your presentation is engaging and easy to follow.

• Company Relevance: Tailor your presentation to Vesync's brands and product categories where possible, highlighting any relevant experience in hardware, smart devices, or health & wellness.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical research challenge for one of Vesync's brands or a new product category.

• Practice articulating your thought process for developing research plans, selecting methodologies, and translating findings into actionable recommendations.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with data analysis tools (R, SPSS, Excel) and user research platforms.

• Think about how you would handle ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and collaborate with international teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio presentation and case studies is critical. For operations candidates, this translates to preparing detailed examples of process improvements, system implementations, or data analysis projects that demonstrate efficiency gains, ROI, or strategic decision-making.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: User Interviews, quantilope (or similar platforms for participant recruitment, survey design, and qualitative data management).

• Data Analysis Tools: R, SPSS, advanced Excel (for statistical analysis, data manipulation, and generating insights from quantitative data).

• Qualitative Analysis Tools: Potentially tools for thematic analysis, affinity mapping, or qualitative data synthesis (e.g., Dovetail, Miro).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for managing research projects and timelines.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Survey Platforms: Tools for creating and deploying surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics).

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially tools for creating dashboards and reports from research data (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel charting).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly listed, understanding how user feedback and insights can feed into CRM systems or inform automated customer journeys could be beneficial. The role is focused on product innovation, but the outputs may influence marketing and sales strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools (R, SPSS, advanced Excel, User Interviews, quantilope) are highly relevant to operations roles, especially those in data analytics, business intelligence, and process optimization. Proficiency in these tools indicates a strong analytical and technical aptitude.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Approach: A core value is the reliance on rigorous data analysis and research to inform decisions, ensuring objectivity and impact.

• Consumer-Centricity: The paramount value is understanding and advocating for the consumer, ensuring products meet genuine needs and delight users.

• Innovation & Creativity: Encourages proactive thinking, exploration of new ideas, and a spirit of continuous improvement in product development.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Fosters a team environment where individuals take responsibility for their work while actively collaborating with others, especially across international boundaries.

• Resilience & Adaptability: Values individuals who can thrive in ambiguity, overcome challenges, and adapt to changing priorities with a positive, solution-oriented attitude.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working closely with engineering, design, and global consumer insights teams to ensure a unified approach to product development.

• Open Communication: Values clear, confident, and professional communication to bring stakeholders together around insights and drive consensus.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encourages sharing of insights and learnings across teams and geographies to build a collective understanding of consumer needs and market trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of data-driven decision-making, consumer-centricity, collaboration, and resilience are directly applicable to operations roles. Operations professionals are expected to leverage data, understand customer needs (internal or external), work effectively across departments, and adapt to evolving business requirements.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Thriving in an environment where new product categories and technologies require exploration without pre-defined paths, demanding proactive research design and strategic thinking.

• International Collaboration: Effectively managing research and communication across different time zones, cultures, and communication styles to ensure alignment and buy-in from global teams.

• Translating Insights to Action: The ongoing challenge of ensuring research findings are not just reported but are actively integrated into product roadmaps and design decisions.

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: Conducting thorough, high-quality research while meeting the fast-paced demands of product development and innovation cycles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Opportunity to deepen expertise in cutting-edge qualitative and quantitative research techniques and tools.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gain experience in shaping product strategy and influencing innovation roadmaps for a portfolio of successful brands.

• Cross-Cultural Competency: Enhance skills in international collaboration, communication, and understanding diverse consumer markets.

• Industry Specialization: Become an expert in the health & wellness and smart home technology sectors, understanding consumer behavior and market dynamics in depth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges of navigating ambiguity, managing cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring insights translate into action are common in operations. The growth opportunities in data analysis, process implementation, and strategic influence are also highly relevant for operations professionals looking to advance their careers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used qualitative research to uncover a latent consumer need that significantly impacted product design." (Focus on your process, insight generation, and the outcome.)

• "How would you approach developing a research plan to explore the potential for a new smart kitchen appliance category for COSORI?" (Demonstrate your structured thinking, methodology selection, and consideration of Vesync's brands.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Vesync's brands (Levoit, COSORI, Etekcity) and the health & wellness/smart home industry?" (Showcase your research into the company and passion for the domain.)

• "How do you handle working with international teams and different cultural perspectives in your research process?" (Address your experience with cross-cultural collaboration and sensitivity.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate:

Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role -> Methodology -> Key Insights -> Recommendations -> Impact/Outcome.

• Quantify When Possible: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your research, such as improvements in user satisfaction, feature adoption rates, or market share.

• Showcase Process: Be ready to discuss the granular steps of your research process, from planning and recruitment to analysis and reporting.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with cross-functional teams (design, engineering, marketing) to ensure insights were actionable and implemented.

• Address Ambiguity: Be prepared to discuss how you handled uncertainty or incomplete information during your research projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates transitioning or comparing roles, interview preparation should focus on demonstrating process ownership, data-driven problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to drive efficiency and impact. Case studies should highlight process optimization, system implementation, or data analysis projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Researcher position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your portfolio through the provided application portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies that highlight your expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, product innovation, and your ability to translate insights into actionable product development recommendations, ideally within hardware or consumer goods.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 6-8 years of UX Research experience, proficiency in data analysis tools (R, SPSS, Excel), user research platforms, and experience working with cross-functional and international teams. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review your portfolio and prepare to present 2-3 compelling case studies that demonstrate your research process, problem-solving skills, and impact on product outcomes. Practice articulating your findings and how you drove product innovation.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Vesync's brands (Levoit, COSORI, Etekcity), their product lines, and recent industry awards to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their market position.

⚠️ 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.