Staff UX Researcher - C2C

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff UX Researcher - C2C

Company: eBay

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Research / Design Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-02-21

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centered research initiatives to inform product strategy and roadmap prioritization for eBay's core platform.

• Conduct comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to post-launch analysis.

• Collaborate closely with design, product management, engineering, and marketing teams to translate complex user insights into actionable product improvements and strategic recommendations.

• Champion the voice of the customer by employing advanced storytelling techniques and workshops to effectively communicate research findings and advocate for user needs.

• Contribute to the continuous evolution and best practices of the User Experience Research function within a large, global organization like eBay.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Staff UX Researcher," the "C2C" designation often implies a contract-to-hire or a specific project-based engagement within large enterprises, though the provided employment_type is "FULL_TIME" and benefits are listed. Given the "Staff" level and the emphasis on strategic impact, this role is positioned for significant influence on product direction. The hybrid work arrangement is inferred from the location_type being TELECOMMUTE for the US and general industry trends for large tech companies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and synthesis of mixed-methods user research studies to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points.

• Define and drive the UX research strategy for key product areas, aligning with company priorities and business objectives.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to identify critical research questions and ensure research efforts directly impact product and business decisions.

• Develop and deliver compelling research presentations and workshops that clearly articulate insights, facilitate understanding, and drive consensus for action.

• Influence product roadmaps and feature development by providing deep, human-centered insights that inform strategic direction and enhance customer experiences.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of research methodologies, tools, and best practices within the eBay UX Research community.

• Conduct competitive analysis and market research to identify emerging trends and opportunities for user experience innovation.

• Advocate for user privacy and ethical research practices in all research activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are expanded from the raw description to reflect the typical scope of a "Staff" level UX Researcher in a large tech company. This includes strategic influence, leadership in research planning, and a strong partnership with leadership. The emphasis on "zero-to-one" space suggests involvement in new product initiatives or significant platform evolution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 8+ years of practical experience deploying qualitative and quantitative research methods throughout the product development lifecycle, from conceptualization to launch, in an applied user research setting.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., in-depth interviews, ethnography, usability testing, diary studies, focus groups).

• Strong command of quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, card sorting, analytics interpretation, statistical analysis).

• Proven ability to lead research projects from defining research questions to delivering actionable insights and recommendations.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Demonstrated experience in assessing and navigating complex problems and ambiguous situations.

• Expertise in UX research tools and platforms for data collection, analysis, and synthesis.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in large organizations and collaborating across diverse cross-functional teams.

• Global research experience is a significant plus.

• Experience with e-commerce platforms or marketplace dynamics.

• Familiarity with design thinking principles and agile development methodologies.

• Experience mentoring junior researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" AI experience level is refined to "8+ years" as stated in the requirements, with a note that "Staff" level often implies more senior experience. The education requirements are detailed based on the provided fields of study.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a strong track record of conducting end-to-end research projects, demonstrating impact on product strategy and user experience.

• Include case studies that detail the research problem, your approach, methodologies used (qualitative and quantitative), key findings, and the resulting product or business outcomes.

• Highlight your ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling narratives that drive action and inform design decisions.

• Demonstrate experience with various research tools and technologies relevant to modern UX research practice.

Process Documentation:

• Exhibit clear documentation of research plans, discussion guides, survey instruments, and analysis frameworks.

• Showcase how you have synthesized findings from multiple research initiatives to build a holistic understanding of user needs and market opportunities.

• Illustrate your process for collaborating with cross-functional partners, including how you involve them in research and share insights effectively.

• Provide evidence of how you have adapted research methodologies to fit project constraints, timelines, and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are tailored for a senior UX Researcher, emphasizing strategic impact, end-to-end project ownership, and the ability to influence product direction. The focus is on demonstrating a robust research process and its tangible outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $127,600 - $214,700 USD per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical coverage.

• Financial benefits package.

• 401(k) eligibility and matching programs.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Parental leave policies.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available for research planning and analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range and benefits are directly extracted from the provided text. The working hours are inferred to be standard full-time, with a note on typical flexibility for research roles. The "C2C" designation usually implies a contract role, but the benefits and employment type suggest this might be an internal designation for a full-time employee role or a specific type of contract. Given the "FULL_TIME" employment type and the listed benefits, it's presented as a full-time role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Online Marketplace, Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (eBay is a global leader with thousands of employees worldwide).

Founded: 1995. eBay has a long-standing history in e-commerce, evolving from an auction site to a comprehensive marketplace, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team likely operates within the broader Product or Design organization, with researchers embedded in specific product verticals or feature teams.

• Researchers collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Marketing teams, forming cross-functional pods or squads.

Methodology:

• eBay emphasizes a human-centered approach, integrating user insights into all stages of product development.

• Data-driven decision-making is crucial, combining qualitative findings with quantitative analytics to validate hypotheses and measure impact.

• Collaboration and open communication are key, with regular cross-functional syncs and workshops to align on strategy and translate insights into action.

• Continuous improvement is fostered, with an emphasis on iterating on products and research practices alike.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context is derived from general knowledge of eBay and the provided description, emphasizing its e-commerce leadership and its commitment to customer-centricity and innovation. The "C2C" designation is noted as potentially indicating a specific program or contract type, but the comprehensive benefits and full-time status suggest it's a full-time employee position.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff UX Researcher

This role represents a senior individual contributor position within the UX Research function. A Staff UX Researcher is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, influence strategic decisions, and tackle complex, ambiguous problems. They often lead research for significant product initiatives, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the advancement of research practices within the organization.

Reporting Structure:

The Staff UX Researcher will likely report to a Director or Senior Manager of UX Research. They will also work closely with senior leadership in Product Management and Design, acting as a key strategic partner.

Operations Impact:

The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the user experience of millions of eBay customers globally. By providing critical human-centered insights, the Staff UX Researcher will shape product strategy, drive feature development, and contribute to key business metrics such as customer satisfaction, engagement, and conversion rates. Their work will be instrumental in ensuring eBay remains competitive and relevant in the evolving e-commerce landscape.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership within Research: Potential to move into Principal UX Researcher roles, focusing on highly complex strategic challenges or leading research for major platform initiatives.

• Management Track: Opportunity to transition into a management role, leading a team of UX Researchers.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Management or Design Strategy roles, leveraging deep user understanding.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research areas (e.g., generative research, behavioral economics, quantitative modeling) or product domains.

• Mentorship: Formal or informal mentorship of junior researchers, contributing to the growth of the research practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis focuses on the "Staff" level, detailing its strategic importance and typical career progression paths within a large tech organization like eBay. The term "Operations" is interpreted broadly to include the operational execution of research strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, combining remote work with in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): Austin, Texas, United States. This location is a major tech hub, suggesting potential for collaboration with other tech companies and a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• The role involves a mix of independent work (remote) and collaborative sessions (in-office).

• Expect access to standard office amenities, technology, and potentially specialized research labs for in-person studies.

• The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, common areas, and flexible workspaces.

Work Schedule:

• While a standard 40-hour work week is expected, the hybrid nature allows for flexibility. Researchers often manage their schedules to balance deep work with collaborative sessions and stakeholder meetings, which may occur during core business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" work arrangement is inferred, and the Austin location is elaborated upon as a tech hub. The workspace context considers both remote and in-office aspects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on experience alignment and qualifications.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation to discuss your background, experience, and fit for the role and team.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: You will likely be asked to present a selection of your work, showcasing 2-3 impactful research projects. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your process, insights, and influence.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a take-home assignment or an on-site/virtual case study to assess your research skills, problem-solving abilities, and strategic thinking.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key partners (e.g., Product Managers, Designers, Engineers) to assess collaboration style and ability to drive impact.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to confirm strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose projects where your research demonstrably influenced product decisions and led to positive outcomes (user satisfaction, business metrics).

• Structure Your Narratives: For each project, clearly articulate:

  • The business/product problem.
  • Your research objectives and questions.
  • The methodologies employed and why.
  • Your key findings and insights.
  • The recommendations you made.
  • The impact of your work (quantifiable if possible).

• Showcase Mixed Methods: Present examples of both qualitative and quantitative research and how you integrated them.

• Highlight Collaboration: Describe how you partnered with cross-functional teams and influenced their thinking.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to deliver it within the allotted time, making it engaging and easy to follow.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand eBay's Business: Research eBay's current market position, key products, user segments, and recent strategic initiatives.

• Anticipate Research Scenarios: Prepare for questions related to common e-commerce UX challenges, such as improving buyer/seller experience, trust, search, or checkout.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you would approach research for ambiguous problems or new product initiatives.

• Refine Your Storytelling: Practice articulating your thought process and research impact clearly and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides a detailed breakdown of a typical interview process for a senior UX Researcher role, with specific advice on portfolio preparation and challenge assessment, tailored to eBay's context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Typeform (for surveys), UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UsabilityHub (for usability testing and remote research).

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Dovetail, NVivo, ATLAS.ti (for qualitative data analysis); SPSS, R, Python (for quantitative analysis); Excel, Google Sheets.

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural, Figma (for collaborative ideation, journey mapping, and workshop facilitation).

• Design Prototyping & Handoff: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (to understand and review designs, and sometimes to create simple prototypes for testing).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (to understand user behavior at scale).

• Business Intelligence Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Looker (for data visualization and dashboard creation).

CRM & Automation:

• While not the primary focus, familiarity with how user data is managed within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or customer data platforms (CDPs) can be beneficial for understanding data flow and integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is based on common tools used by UX Researchers in large tech companies, emphasizing platforms for data collection, analysis, collaboration, and understanding user behavior analytics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user across all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Insights: Valuing rigorous research and analysis to inform strategy and validate hypotheses.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Boldness: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to solve complex problems.

• Inclusivity: Ensuring diverse perspectives are considered in both research and product development.

• Impact & Accountability: Focusing on delivering measurable results and taking ownership of research outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded and Integrated: Researchers are expected to be active members of product teams, working hand-in-hand with designers and product managers.

• Consultative and Influential: Researchers act as trusted advisors, guiding stakeholders through the research process and influencing strategic direction.

• Workshop-Driven: Utilizing workshops to co-create solutions, share insights, and build alignment across teams.

• Transparent Communication: Openly sharing findings, progress, and challenges to foster trust and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Values and collaboration styles are inferred based on eBay's stated company values and the typical operational culture of a senior UX Research role in a large tech organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Navigating the sheer volume of users, products, and business objectives at eBay requires sophisticated research strategies and efficient execution.

• Ambiguity: Tackling "zero-to-one" spaces or evolving market dynamics often means starting with highly ambiguous problems requiring generative research.

• Influencing Diverse Stakeholders: Gaining buy-in and driving action from various departments (product, engineering, marketing, legal) with different priorities and perspectives.

• Balancing Research Rigor with Speed: Delivering timely insights in a fast-paced agile environment without compromising research quality.

• Measuring Research Impact: Quantifying the ROI of user research and demonstrating its direct contribution to business success.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge research techniques.

• Strategic Leadership: Developing skills in influencing executive-level strategy and roadmapping.

• Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Gaining deeper understanding of e-commerce business models, technology stacks, and market dynamics.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal opportunities to learn from and mentor other researchers.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Support for attending relevant conferences (e.g., CHI, UXR Conference) and pursuing specialized training.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights potential challenges specific to a large e-commerce platform and outlines growth opportunities for a senior researcher.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced product strategy for a complex product or feature using user research."

• "How would you approach research for a new, undefined product area at eBay?"

• "Walk us through a research project where you had to overcome significant obstacles or ambiguity."

• "How do you prioritize research requests when multiple stakeholders have urgent needs?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why eBay? What excites you about our mission and platform?"

• "How do you approach building strong collaborative relationships with Product Managers and Designers?"

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote environment."

• "How do you contribute to a positive and inclusive team culture?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Ensure each case study clearly articulates the business or user outcome. Use metrics whenever possible.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation like a compelling narrative – problem, journey, insights, solution, impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, quotes, personas, journey maps) to illustrate your points.

• Demonstrate Your Process: Explain why you chose certain methodologies and how they led to your insights.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, alternative approaches, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview questions and preparation advice, focusing on strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to articulate research impact, which are crucial for a Staff-level role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff UX Researcher position:

• 📝 Customize Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research, emphasizing your work across the full product development lifecycle and your ability to influence product strategy. Use keywords from the job description, such as "user research," "product development," "storytelling," and "cross-functional collaboration."

• 📝 Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful research projects. For each, prepare a concise narrative detailing the problem, your approach, key insights, recommendations, and measurable outcomes. Ensure it showcases your mixed-methods expertise and strategic influence.

• 📝 Research eBay: Understand eBay's current business, its user base, key challenges in the e-commerce space, and recent product developments. Identify how your skills can address these.

• 📝 Prepare for Case Studies: Anticipate potential research scenarios or design problems related to e-commerce and practice articulating your approach and thought process.

• 📝 Submit Your Application: Apply through the provided link on eBay's career portal. Ensure all required fields are completed accurately.

⚠️ 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.