UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher Company: RTX Corporation Location: RAZ99: RTN Remote, Arizona, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience Research / Operations Date Posted: October 29, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years preferred) Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the planning, design, and execution of comprehensive user research studies, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to drive product development decisions.
• Synthesize complex research data into actionable insights, effectively communicating findings to diverse stakeholder groups to foster a user-centric design culture.
• Establish and refine research operations, including building robust insight repositories, optimizing research processes, and managing participant recruitment to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, design, and engineering, to ensure seamless integration of user feedback throughout the product lifecycle.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of UX Research Standards, promoting consistent, high-quality research practices and potentially mentoring junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role blends core UX Research responsibilities with a significant emphasis on "Research Operations." Candidates should expect to not only conduct research but also to build and manage the infrastructure, processes, and tools that support a scalable and efficient research function. This "operations" aspect is crucial for candidates to highlight in their applications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute a diverse range of user research studies, including usability testing, contextual inquiries, in-depth interviews, and surveys, to gather critical user feedback.
• Analyze and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data from research studies, identifying key trends, pain points, and opportunities for product improvement.
• Develop and present compelling research findings, personas, journey maps, and other artifacts to inform product strategy and design decisions for various stakeholder audiences.
• Build and maintain a centralized repository of research insights, participant data, and study documentation to ensure knowledge sharing and continuity across teams.
• Define, document, and optimize research processes, templates, and tools to enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and consistency in research execution.
• Manage end-to-end participant recruitment for research studies, including outreach, screening, scheduling, and relationship management with external vendors.
• Ensure compliance with ethical research practices and data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) throughout the research lifecycle.
• Contribute to the establishment and rollout of UX Research Standards and best practices, potentially providing guidance and mentorship to junior researchers.
• Track, measure, and report on the impact of user research initiatives on product development and business outcomes.
• Foster strong collaborative relationships with cross-disciplinary teams, including product managers, designers, engineers, and marketing, to embed user insights into product development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Research Operations Responsibilities" listed in the original description are central to this role. The candidate will be expected to not just perform research but also to operationalize it, making it a key differentiator for applicants. This includes building infrastructure for knowledge management and process improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of dedicated experience conducting user research in a professional setting.
• Typically requires a University Degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 5 years prior relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree in a related field and a minimum of 3 years of experience.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in planning, designing, and executing a variety of user research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry).
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills to translate complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights.
• Demonstrated ability to create user-centric artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and user flows.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present research findings effectively to diverse audiences, including executive stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating within cross-functional teams (e.g., product, design, engineering, marketing).
• Understanding of ethical research practices and data privacy considerations.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the aerospace, defense, or complex technology industries.
• Proficiency with leading UX research tools and platforms (e.g., UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, Dovetail, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics).
• Experience in building and managing research operations, including insight repositories, participant databases, and process documentation.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working within sprint cycles.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.
• Experience with data visualization tools and techniques to communicate insights effectively.
• Previous experience mentoring junior researchers or leading research initiatives.
• Ability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Qualifications We Prefer" section provides a strong indication of the desired candidate profile. Emphasizing experience with specific research operations tools, industry background, and mentorship capabilities will be critical for applicants to stand out. The minimum 3 years of UX research experience is a baseline, but the "5 years prior relevant experience" suggests a preference for more seasoned professionals, aligning with the "Mid-Senior Level" experience level.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct UX research projects that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the research lifecycle from planning to impact reporting.
• For each project, clearly articulate the research objectives, chosen methodologies, participant recruitment strategy, and how the insights directly informed product decisions or design iterations.
• Include examples of user-centric artifacts developed (e.g., personas, journey maps, usability reports) and highlight the specific impact or outcomes achieved as a result of the research.
• Demonstrate experience in documenting research processes, establishing research standards, or contributing to the development of research operational frameworks.
• Highlight any experience with managing research tools, participant databases, or vendor relationships for research recruitment.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of experience in documenting research workflows, creating templates for study plans, or developing best practice guides for research execution.
• Showcase examples of how research findings were integrated into development processes, particularly within agile environments.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to measure and report on the impact of research initiatives, including metrics related to efficiency, scalability, or product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the strong "Research Operations" component, a portfolio demonstrating not just research execution but also process improvement, documentation, and operational efficiency will be highly valued. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they've built or improved research functions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $82,000 - $164,000 USD per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Robust retirement savings plans with 401(k) matching.
• Wellness programs and resources to support employee well-being.
• Generous work/life benefits, including parental leave (maternal and paternal), flexible work schedules, and paid time off.
• Employee assistance program for confidential support.
• Achievement awards and recognition programs.
• Educational assistance and opportunities for professional development.
• Child and adult backup care services.
• Potential eligibility for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time workweek of approximately 40 hours.
• Flexible work schedules are offered, allowing for adaptability in daily work patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is broad, reflecting potential variations based on experience, location (even within remote roles, cost of living can be a factor), and specific role responsibilities. RTX is a large corporation, so the benefits package is expected to be comprehensive and competitive, covering health, financial, and work-life balance aspects crucial for operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace and Defense. RTX Corporation is a global leader, formed from the combination of Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation's aerospace businesses. Company Size: Over 185,000 employees globally. This large scale implies established processes, potential for specialized roles, and significant resources. Founded: RTX Corporation was formed in 2020. Its legacy businesses (Raytheon and UTC) have much longer histories, bringing a wealth of experience and established operational practices.

Team Structure:

• The User Research team is likely part of a larger Product Development, Engineering, or Design organization.
• It will involve close collaboration with product managers, UX designers, engineers, and potentially business analysts or program managers.
• Reporting structure typically involves a UX Research Lead or Manager, with potential for matrixed reporting within project teams.

Methodology:

• RTX leverages established engineering and product development methodologies, likely including aspects of Agile development, Systems Engineering, and rigorous process controls characteristic of the aerospace and defense industry.
• User research will be integrated into these processes to ensure products meet stringent performance, safety, and user experience requirements.
• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, rigorous testing, and continuous improvement will be core to the operational approach.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a major player in Aerospace and Defense, RTX likely operates with a high degree of process rigor, compliance, and a focus on long-term, complex product development cycles. The "Research Operations" aspect of this role is particularly relevant in such an environment, where scalability, consistency, and robust data management are paramount.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior level UX Researcher with a significant operational component. It's an opportunity to move beyond individual research contributions to shaping the research function itself.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a UX Research Manager or Director, and will work closely with Product Management and Engineering leads on specific projects. The role requires strong collaboration across various departments.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's impact is directly tied to improving the usability, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of RTX's advanced systems and services. By translating user needs into actionable product insights and operationalizing research processes, they contribute to product success, customer adoption, and ultimately, business objectives within the aerospace and defense sectors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or operational aspects of UX research.
• Leadership: Progress into a Senior UX Researcher role, leading larger studies or research initiatives, or moving into a Research Operations Manager position.
• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior researchers and contributing to the growth of the UX research practice.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Gain exposure to various product lines and business units within RTX, potentially leading to roles in product management or program management.
• Industry Expertise: Build deep knowledge within the aerospace and defense domain, becoming a subject matter expert.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "grow into more senior responsibilities over time" phrasing indicates that this role is a stepping stone. Candidates looking for a defined career path in research operations or senior UX research should find this appealing. The emphasis on building processes suggests a potential future in leadership roles focused on scaling research capabilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The role is designated as remote, allowing employees to work primarily from home. Office Location(s): While remote, the successful candidate must reside in one of the 50 U.S. states. The specific location mentioned is RAZ99: RTN Remote, Arizona, suggesting a common administrative or operational hub, but the work itself is remote.

Workspace Context:

• The remote work environment necessitates strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and effective use of collaboration tools.
• Access to standard office technology and software will be crucial for productivity.
• The role will require significant interaction via virtual meetings, collaboration platforms, and digital documentation.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week.
• Flexible work schedules are a key benefit, allowing for greater autonomy in managing work hours, which can be beneficial for deep work and accommodating different time zones for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While remote, candidates should be aware that in-person interviews may be required at certain stages, regardless of the role's designation. This is a common practice for large organizations to ensure thorough assessment and security protocols.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review, potentially followed by a brief HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications and interest.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: In-depth discussion of UX research experience, methodologies, and operational capabilities. Expect questions about past projects, challenges, and problem-solving approaches.
• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their work, focusing on specific projects that highlight research execution, insight generation, and operational contributions. Be prepared to discuss your role in detail.
• Skills-Based Assessment/Case Study: A practical exercise, potentially involving analyzing a dataset, critiquing a design, or outlining a research plan for a given scenario. This may focus on both research design and operational considerations.
• Cross-Functional Interview: Meeting with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, Designers) to assess teamwork, communication, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment and long-term fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your UX research expertise and your operational contributions (process improvement, tool implementation, knowledge management).
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach (methodology, operations), the insights derived, the impact, and your specific role. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the tangible results of your research and operational improvements.
• Highlight Operational Skills: Explicitly discuss how you've built, documented, or improved research processes, managed tools, or handled participant recruitment.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, how you handle conflicting stakeholder feedback, and how you measure research effectiveness.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Design: Be ready to outline a research plan for a hypothetical product or feature, considering objectives, target users, methodologies, and recruitment.
• Data Synthesis: Practice synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data quickly and identifying key themes.
• Process Improvement: Think about how you would improve a given research process or tool to increase efficiency and impact.
• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare to explain complex research findings and their implications to both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Research Operations" means the portfolio review and any case studies should not solely focus on research discovery but also on the how – how research is managed, scaled, and integrated operationally. Demonstrating process ownership and improvement is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Optimal Workshop, Dovetail, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics (familiarity with at least one or two is highly preferred).
• Prototyping & Design Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or InVision for understanding design artifacts and potentially conducting moderated usability tests.
• Collaboration & Communication: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, Confluence – standard enterprise tools for project management and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in qualitative data analysis software (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and familiarity with quantitative analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis) is beneficial.
• Dashboarding Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Google Data Studio for visualizing research insights and impact metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM/automation role, understanding how user research data can feed into CRM systems (e.g., for customer segmentation) or inform marketing automation strategies is a plus.
• Familiarity with enterprise software environments and data management principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preference for specific research tools like UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, and Dovetail is explicitly stated. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these or equivalent platforms, especially in the context of managing research operations and data.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all product decisions.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Reliance on evidence from research to guide strategy and design.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams and sharing knowledge.
• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on creating repeatable, efficient research processes that can scale with the organization's needs.
• Continuous Improvement: A mindset geared towards refining methodologies, tools, and processes to enhance research quality and impact.
• Integrity & Ethics: Adherence to ethical research practices and data privacy standards.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Communication: Engaging with stakeholders early and often to align on research goals and share findings.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working as an integrated member of product teams, contributing research expertise throughout the development lifecycle.
• Open Feedback Culture: Willingness to give and receive constructive feedback on research approaches and findings.
• Knowledge Sharing: Actively contributing to shared documentation, best practices, and team learning sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of UX Research and Operations suggests a culture that values both deep user understanding and systematic, efficient execution. Candidates who can demonstrate both analytical rigor and process orientation will align well.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research Depth and Breadth: Managing multiple research projects across different product areas while maintaining methodological rigor.
• Operationalizing Research at Scale: Developing and implementing processes that can support a large, complex organization like RTX.
• Demonstrating ROI: Quantifying the impact of user research and operational improvements to justify resources and investment.
• Integrating Research in a Defense/Aerospace Context: Navigating the unique requirements, security protocols, and long development cycles present in this industry.
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating complex research insights and influencing diverse stakeholders with varying priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Opportunities to learn and implement cutting-edge qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
• Research Operations Specialization: Developing expertise in building and managing research infrastructure, tooling, and processes, potentially leading to dedicated Research Operations roles.
• Industry Knowledge: Gaining deep insights into the aerospace and defense sector, its users, and its technological advancements.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to guide junior researchers and contribute to the strategic direction of the UX research practice.
• Professional Development: Access to training, conferences, and certifications relevant to UX research and operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dual nature of the role – excelling in research execution while simultaneously building the operational framework. The growth opportunities point towards a career path that can lead to senior research, research operations management, or strategic product contributions within a specialized industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to operationalize a new research process or tool. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, documentation, and adoption).
• "How do you prioritize research requests when multiple teams have urgent needs?" (Assess prioritization, stakeholder management, and operational planning).
• "Walk us through a complex research project from inception to impact. What was your specific role in both the research execution and operational aspects?" (Demonstrate end-to-end ownership and operational contribution).
• "How would you build a centralized repository for UX research insights at RTX? What tools and processes would you consider?" (Test your operational thinking and strategy).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about RTX and the aerospace/defense industry? How do you see UX research contributing to this sector?" (Showcase industry awareness and strategic thinking).
• "How do you ensure research findings are effectively integrated into development workflows, especially within potentially rigid organizational structures?" (Assess collaboration and process integration skills).
• "Describe your experience working in a large, established company. How do you navigate established processes and influence change?" (Gauge adaptability and influence).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, perhaps by project, highlighting the research problem, your operational approach, the insights, the impact, and key learnings.
• Emphasize Operations: For each project, explicitly call out any operational contributions – e.g., "I developed a new participant screening template that reduced recruitment time by 15%," or "I helped establish a standardized reporting format for usability findings."
• Quantify Everything: Use numbers to demonstrate impact wherever possible (e.g., "identified 3 critical usability issues that led to a 20% reduction in task completion errors," "streamlined the recruitment process, saving $X in vendor costs").
• Showcase Tools: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with relevant research and operations tools.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, data analysis, and how you handled specific challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should strongly lean into the "Research Operations" aspect. Candidates need to demonstrate not just how to do research, but how to build and manage a research function effectively, especially within a large, established, and specialized company like RTX.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Visit the RTX careers portal via the provided URL and submit your application electronically.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in both UX research methodologies and research operations. Quantify achievements related to process improvement, efficiency gains, and impact measurement using operations-focused keywords.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that prominently feature your ability to plan, execute, and synthesize research, as well as your contributions to operationalizing research processes, documentation, and tooling. Be prepared to present your work clearly and concisely, emphasizing both research insights and operational impact.
• Prepare for Operational Questions: Anticipate interview questions that delve into your experience with research operations, process development, tool management, and stakeholder collaboration within large organizations.
• Research RTX: Familiarize yourself with RTX's business units, products, and the aerospace/defense industry to demonstrate your understanding of their unique context and user needs.

⚠️ 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.

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