UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Magpie Health Analytics

Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: April 25, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (US-based)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead user research initiatives to enhance government websites and digital learning platforms, focusing on improving usability, accessibility, and stakeholder engagement.

• Conduct mixed-method user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to uncover user needs and identify pain points within digital experiences.

• Translate complex research findings into actionable recommendations and strategic insights for design, content, and development teams.

• Drive the creation of user-centered artifacts such as personas, user flows, and journey maps to inform product strategy and design decisions.

• Ensure all digital products and experiences adhere to accessibility standards and inclusive design principles, promoting equitable access for all users.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role bridges UX research with operational aspects of digital product development. The "Analytics" in the company name suggests a data-driven approach to UX, implying a need for strong quantitative analysis alongside qualitative research. The focus on government websites also highlights the importance of understanding diverse user groups and strict adherence to accessibility and compliance standards, which are critical operational considerations for public-facing digital assets.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Research Design & Execution: Plan, design, and execute comprehensive user research studies using a variety of methodologies including in-depth interviews, contextual inquiries, usability testing (moderated and unmoderated), surveys, and competitive analysis for government digital platforms.

• User Insight Generation: Analyze qualitative and quantitative data from user research, behavioral analytics, and system metrics to identify key user needs, pain points, and opportunities for improvement in website navigation, content accessibility, and overall user experience.

• Artifact Creation: Develop detailed user personas, user journey maps, user flows, and empathy maps that represent key user segments (e.g., researchers, public users) and inform product development decisions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with UX/UI designers, content strategists, developers, project managers, and program stakeholders to integrate user insights into design iterations, wireframes, prototypes, and final product releases.

• Recommendation & Strategy: Formulate and present clear, actionable recommendations for improving information architecture, content organization, navigation, labeling, search functionality, and overall interface design to enhance user engagement and task completion.

• Accessibility & Compliance: Ensure research and design recommendations align with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles, fostering user-friendly and equitable digital experiences for diverse public audiences.

• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the ongoing evaluation and iteration of digital products by establishing feedback loops and monitoring user behavior post-launch to identify areas for further optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a focus on operationalizing UX research within a product development lifecycle. This involves not just conducting research but actively influencing design and development processes, requiring strong project management and communication skills to ensure research insights translate into tangible improvements and are integrated into the product roadmap.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in User Experience, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Education, Information Science, Communications, or a closely related field.

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of professional experience specifically in UX research, with a proven track record of applying research findings to improve digital products.

Required Skills:

• Mixed-Method Research Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in planning and conducting a variety of user research methods, including qualitative (interviews, usability testing, contextual inquiry) and quantitative (surveys, analytics) approaches.

• User-Centered Design Principles: Deep understanding of user-centered design methodologies and their application in creating intuitive and effective digital experiences.

• Information Architecture (IA): Strong knowledge of IA principles for organizing, structuring, and labeling content to facilitate findability and navigation on websites.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) and inclusive design principles to ensure equitable access for all users.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Ability to analyze and synthesize both qualitative and quantitative research data to derive actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including designers, developers, content creators, and business stakeholders.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate research findings, insights, and recommendations to diverse audiences, including executive stakeholders.

• Prototyping & Wireframing Understanding: Familiarity with wireframing and prototyping tools and processes to effectively collaborate with design teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Government Sector Experience: Prior experience supporting federal or state government health programs (e.g., CMS, HHS) or similar public sector digital initiatives.

• Behavioral Analytics Tools: Experience with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to complement qualitative research.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile development processes and how UX research integrates into iterative development cycles.

• Specific Research Tools: Experience with specialized UX research platforms for usability testing, survey creation, or participant recruitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum requirement of 4 years suggests this role is for a mid-level researcher, expected to work with some autonomy but also collaborate within a team structure. The preferred qualifications highlight a specific industry niche (government health programs), which can be a significant advantage for candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX research process, from research planning and execution to analysis and the impact of your recommendations on product improvements.

• Methodology Diversity: Highlight experience with a range of research methods (interviews, usability testing, surveys, journey mapping) and explain your rationale for choosing specific methods for different project goals.

• Impact & Metrics: Clearly articulate the outcomes of your research, quantifying the impact where possible (e.g., reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores, improved accessibility compliance).

• Collaboration & Deliverables: Include examples of deliverables such as personas, journey maps, user flows, and research reports, illustrating how you collaborated with design and development teams.

• Accessibility Focus: Demonstrate how you incorporated accessibility and inclusive design principles into your research and recommendations.

Process Documentation:

• Research Plans: Provide examples of well-structured research plans outlining objectives, methodologies, participant criteria, and timelines.

• Usability Test Scripts & Protocols: Showcase examples of clear and effective usability test scripts and moderation protocols.

• Synthesis & Reporting: Demonstrate your ability to synthesize complex data into clear, concise reports and presentations that drive action.

• Iteration & Optimization: Illustrate how your research contributed to iterative improvements and ongoing optimization of digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Researcher role, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showing pretty designs, but about demonstrating a rigorous, data-driven process that leads to measurable improvements in user experience and product effectiveness. Highlighting the impact of research on operational efficiency and user satisfaction is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for UX Researchers with 4+ years of experience in the US, and considering the company's focus on analytics and potentially government contracts which can influence compensation, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between $90,000 - $120,000 annually. This estimate is highly dependent on the candidate's specific experience, the depth of their domain knowledge (especially in government health analytics), and the company's compensation philosophy.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) with potential company match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and certifications in UX research and related fields.

• Remote Work Stipend: Potential allowance for home office setup and ongoing remote work expenses.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Standard employer-provided insurance policies.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time employment agreement. While the role is remote, maintaining consistent availability during core business hours for collaboration with teams across US time zones, particularly within the Eastern Time Zone (ET) due to the Baltimore location, will be expected. Flexibility may be offered based on project needs and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general US market data for mid-level UX roles. The "Analytics" aspect and "government websites" could place this role in a slightly higher compensation bracket due to specialized skills and potential contract requirements. Benefits are assumed to be standard for a professional US-based role, with an emphasis on remote work support and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health Analytics / Digital Health Technology / Government Technology Solutions. Magpie Health Analytics likely operates at the intersection of healthcare data, technology, and public service, focusing on improving health outcomes through data-driven insights and intuitive digital platforms.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the presence of a dedicated UX Researcher role and the nature of the work suggest a growing or established mid-sized company, likely ranging from 50-250 employees. This size often allows for specialized roles while maintaining a collaborative, agile environment.

Founded: The founding date is not provided. However, the company's focus on "Health Analytics" and "government websites" suggests an organization established to address specific needs in public health data utilization and digital service delivery.

Team Structure:

• UX/Product Team: The UX Researcher will likely be part of a UX/Product team, collaborating closely with UX/UI Designers, Product Managers, and potentially Data Analysts.

• Reporting Structure: This role would typically report to a Lead UX Researcher, UX Manager, Head of Product, or a Director of Design/User Experience.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The researcher will work extensively with cross-functional teams including content strategists, developers (front-end and back-end), project managers, and key program stakeholders within government agencies.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using research data and analytics to inform user experience strategies and product development.

• User-Centric Approach: A strong commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs throughout the product lifecycle.

• Iterative Design & Development: Utilizing research findings to drive continuous improvement cycles within an Agile or similar development framework.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: A core operational value to ensure all digital products serve a broad and diverse user base effectively and equitably.

Company Website: https://magpie-health-analytics.breezy.hr (Note: This is a Breezy HR portal URL, the actual company website would be magpiehealthanalytics.com or similar, but this is the provided link).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's name and focus imply a mission-driven organization. Roles supporting government initiatives often come with a strong sense of purpose and a need for meticulous attention to detail and compliance, which are key operational aspects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UX Researcher position is positioned as a Mid-Level role, requiring 4+ years of experience. This level typically involves independent execution of research projects, contributing to strategic discussions, and mentoring junior team members. The role is crucial for operationalizing user insights into tangible product improvements.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a senior UX leader or Product Manager. This structure provides guidance and mentorship while allowing for significant autonomy in executing research plans and influencing product direction. Collaboration will be a key aspect, working closely with designers and developers.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work directly impacts the operational efficiency and effectiveness of government digital platforms. By identifying and resolving usability and accessibility issues, they enhance user satisfaction, improve task completion rates, reduce support costs, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This directly contributes to the success and public perception of the government services delivered through these digital channels.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies, government health programs, or analytics integration.

• Leadership: Progress to Senior UX Researcher, Lead UX Researcher, or UX Manager roles, overseeing research strategy and managing teams.

• Product Strategy: Transition into Product Management or UX Strategy roles, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs to shape product roadmaps.

• Skill Expansion: Develop skills in areas like AI/ML in UX, advanced analytics, or specific domain expertise within health technology.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunities to work on diverse government projects or with different product teams within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for UX Researchers often involves specialization or moving into leadership and strategy roles. The emphasis on analytics and government work within Magpie Health Analytics suggests potential for growth in specialized areas of health tech UX or public sector digital transformation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a Fully Remote position, allowing employees to work from their home office. This arrangement is common for tech companies, especially those supporting government clients where remote collaboration tools are well-established.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the primary location derived is Baltimore, Maryland, United States. This suggests the company has a physical presence or strong ties to this region, and candidates should ideally be located within the US to facilitate collaboration with US-based teams and government entities.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration Focus: The work environment is heavily reliant on digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, Miro) for communication, ideation, and project management.

• Technology & Tools: Access to essential UX research software, collaboration platforms, and potentially company-provided hardware or stipends for home office setup.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual team meetings, stand-ups, design critiques, and research review sessions to foster a sense of connection and collaboration despite the remote setup.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an expectation of 40 hours per week. While remote, maintaining availability during core US business hours, particularly Eastern Time, is crucial for synchronous collaboration with designers, developers, and stakeholders. Flexibility may be available, but adherence to project deadlines and team availability is paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role necessitates strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools. For operations professionals, understanding how to maintain productivity and collaboration in a distributed team is a critical skill.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a UX Lead or Manager) to explore experience, research methodologies, and understanding of the role's responsibilities.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: Candidates will present 1-2 selected case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating their research process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of their work. This will likely include technical questions about research methods, data analysis, and accessibility.

• Cross-Functional Team Interviews: Interviews with key collaborators such as UX Designers, Product Managers, or Developers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate research into the product development workflow.

• Final Interview (Optional): A final discussion with a senior leader or executive to confirm fit and discuss long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies around a clear narrative: the problem, your approach, your process, the challenges, the solution, and the impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the tangible results of your research. For example, "Usability testing revealed a 30% reduction in task completion time after implementing proposed navigation changes."

• Highlight Process, Not Just Outcomes: Detail your research methodology, your rationale for choosing specific methods, and how you synthesized data.

• Showcase Collaboration: Explain how you worked with designers, developers, and stakeholders, and how your research influenced their work.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with government websites, health analytics, or complex digital platforms. Highlight your experience with accessibility and inclusive design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Research Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a UX research problem for a government website or health analytics platform.

• Accessibility Scenarios: Discuss how you would ensure a digital product is accessible and inclusive.

• Data Synthesis Exercise: You might be asked to interpret mock research data or discuss how you would analyze a specific dataset.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you handle disagreements or integrate feedback from non-research team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potential technical challenges highlights the practical, results-oriented nature of this role. Candidates should be ready to discuss their work in detail and demonstrate how their research directly contributes to product success and operational efficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Virtual whiteboarding and collaboration tools for ideation, journey mapping, and synthesis (e.g., Miro, Mural, FigJam).

• Prototyping & Design Tools: Familiarity with tools used by designers for wireframing and prototyping (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to understand their workflow and deliverables.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Experience with platforms like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar tools to analyze user behavior data on websites.

• Data Visualization: Tools for presenting research findings and analytics data clearly (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or advanced features within Google Sheets/Excel).

CRM & Automation:

• Not Directly Applicable: While not a core CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how insights can feed into CRM or customer data platforms might be a plus.

Other Relevant Technologies:

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking research tasks and integrating with development sprints.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom for daily communication and virtual meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of UX research and collaboration tools is essential. The inclusion of analytics tools suggests an expectation for researchers to leverage data to inform their qualitative findings, bridging the gap between user behavior and business/operational outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and representing the needs of diverse users, particularly in a public service context.

• Data-Driven Insights: Valuing empirical evidence and rigorous analysis to inform decisions and drive product improvements.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where research findings, methodologies, and challenges are shared freely among team members and stakeholders.

• Efficiency & Effectiveness: Striving to make digital experiences intuitive, accessible, and effective, thereby improving operational outcomes for both users and the organization.

• Continuous Learning: Embracing new research methodologies, technologies, and domain knowledge to stay at the forefront of UX practice.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working as a close partner with designers, developers, and product managers, integrating research into every stage of the product lifecycle.

• Constructive Feedback: Engaging in open dialogue and providing constructive feedback, both receiving and giving, to refine research approaches and product designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing research findings, best practices, and learnings with the broader team and organization to build a shared understanding of the user.

• Problem-Solving Focus: Approaching challenges with a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset, leveraging collective expertise to overcome obstacles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Data-Driven Insights," "Efficiency & Effectiveness," and "Collaboration" aligns with core operational principles. For a UX Researcher, these values translate into ensuring research is not just an academic exercise but a practical tool for improving digital product operations and user outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Research and Implementation: Ensuring research insights are effectively translated into actionable design and development changes, overcoming potential resistance or technical constraints.

• Diverse User Needs: Researching and designing for a wide range of users, including those with varying technical abilities, accessibility needs, and backgrounds, within the context of government services.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating the priorities and perspectives of various stakeholders (government agencies, end-users, internal teams) to find solutions that meet diverse requirements.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the direct impact of UX research on key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics can sometimes be challenging.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a fully remote environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunities to learn and apply cutting-edge research methodologies, such as AI-driven analytics, generative research, or complex longitudinal studies.

• Domain Expertise: Deepening knowledge in health analytics, public health, or specific government program areas to provide more strategic insights.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Developing leadership skills through mentoring junior researchers or leading larger research initiatives.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Attending conferences (e.g., CHI, UXPA) and pursuing certifications relevant to UX research, accessibility, or health informatics.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to data science, product management, and software development processes to foster a holistic understanding of product operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities of UX research in a regulated environment. The growth opportunities emphasize continuous learning, which is crucial for staying relevant in the evolving fields of UX and health analytics.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a team or stakeholder to adopt a UX recommendation based on your research. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your communication, persuasion, and impact.)

• "How would you approach researching user needs for a new feature on a government health portal aimed at improving public access to information?" (Demonstrate your research planning process, methodology selection, and consideration of diverse users.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with government websites and health analytics specifically?" (Show research into the company's mission and sector.)

• "How do you ensure your research is unbiased and inclusive, especially when dealing with diverse user populations?" (Assess your understanding of ethical research practices.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select with Intent: Choose 1-2 case studies that best showcase your skills relevant to this role (e.g., government, health, complex digital products, strong impact).

• Focus on the "Why" and "How": Clearly articulate the research problem, your strategic approach, the methods you used and why, and how you synthesized findings.

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

• Quantify Impact: Be ready to discuss metrics, ROI, or other tangible outcomes of your research.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your methodology, challenges, and how you would handle specific scenarios related to this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a structured, data-driven, and collaborative approach to UX research, with a clear understanding of how research directly contributes to the operational success of digital products, especially in the context of government and health analytics.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Breezy HR link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience with mixed-method research, government/health-related projects, accessibility standards, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your years of experience align.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 compelling case studies that best represent your UX research process and impact, focusing on projects similar to those described in the job posting. Ensure your portfolio clearly details the problem, your methodology, your findings, and the resulting improvements.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your chosen case studies, focusing on storytelling, quantifying impact, and demonstrating your collaborative approach. Be ready to discuss your process and answer in-depth questions.

• Research Magpie Health Analytics: Understand the company's mission, their focus on health analytics, and their work with government entities. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.