UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: TEKsystems

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: April 09, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Inferred from responsibilities and salary range)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days per week onsite)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive, end-to-end research strategies to inform innovation and early-stage concept development within the financial services sector.

• Leverage mixed-methods research expertise, seamlessly integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to uncover deep user insights and validate product hypotheses.

• Translate complex and ambiguous problem spaces into structured, actionable learning plans that directly influence strategic decision-making for a key banking application.

• Focus on a significant visual refresh of the BDB app, ensuring user-centricity, enhanced usability, and a cohesive brand experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a contract position with a high potential for extension, indicating a need for immediate impact and adaptability. The focus on a "visual refresh" and "BDB app" suggests a project-driven initiative within a digital product development lifecycle, requiring a researcher who can quickly integrate and deliver actionable insights. The emphasis on "ambiguous problem spaces" points towards a need for proactive problem definition and strategic research planning.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive research plans, encompassing both qualitative (e.g., interviews, usability testing, ethnography) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, A/B testing analysis, analytics review) methodologies.

• Conduct user research to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points related to financial services applications, with a specific focus on the BDB app's visual and functional aspects.

• Analyze research data to identify key themes, insights, and actionable recommendations, translating complex findings into clear, concise reports and presentations for stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with design, product management, and engineering teams to ensure research findings are effectively integrated into the product development lifecycle and inform design decisions.

• Evaluate the usability and visual coherence of app components and the overall system-level experience, providing data-driven feedback to Design Systems teams.

• Assess how design elements, including visual and brand expression, impact user trust, clarity, accessibility, and emotional response, particularly within the sensitive context of financial services.

• Apply a deep understanding of mobile interaction patterns, platform conventions (iOS/Android), and accessibility considerations (WCAG) throughout the research and design process.

• Partner with product teams to define research objectives, scope, and methodologies aligned with business goals and project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a need for a researcher with a strong command of both qualitative and quantitative methods, a strategic mindset for defining research plans, and the ability to apply these skills within a specific domain (financial services) and platform (mobile app). The collaboration with "Design Systems teams" and evaluation of "component usability" suggests a focus on scalable design and consistency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Proven experience (typically 5-10 years, inferred from role scope) in conducting mixed-methods user research, from planning and design to analysis and reporting.

• Demonstrated ability to design and execute end-to-end research strategies that inform innovation, discovery, and concept development.

Required Skills:

• Mixed Methods Research: Expertise in both qualitative (user interviews, usability testing, persona development, contextual inquiry) and quantitative (surveys, analytics interpretation, A/B testing analysis) research methodologies.

• User Experience (UX) Research: Deep understanding of UX principles, user-centered design, and research best practices.

• Qualitative Research: Proficiency in conducting in-depth interviews, focus groups, and usability studies to uncover user needs and pain points.

• Quantitative Research: Ability to design and analyze surveys, interpret usage data, and contribute to A/B testing strategy.

• Strategy Development: Skill in developing structured research plans and learning agendas that align with business objectives and product roadmaps.

• Usability Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing findings from moderated and unmoderated usability tests.

• Mobile Interaction Patterns: Strong understanding of iOS and Android design guidelines and common mobile interaction paradigms.

• Accessibility: Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and their application in research and design.

Preferred Skills:

• Financial Services/Banking Experience: Prior experience conducting research within the financial services or banking industry, understanding of related user needs and regulatory considerations.

• Design Systems Collaboration: Experience partnering with Design Systems teams to evaluate component usability and system-level consistency.

• Visual Design Evaluation: Ability to assess visual design elements, brand expression, and their impact on user perception (trust, clarity, emotional response).

• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with statistical analysis software or data visualization tools.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills list has been expanded to reflect the "mixed methods" emphasis and the specific domain requirements. The "strategy" skill is crucial given the responsibility to inform "innovation, discovery, and early-stage concept development." Preferred skills are inferred from the "Additional Skills & Qualifications" section of the original posting.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Impact: Showcase case studies that clearly illustrate the impact of your research on product strategy, design decisions, and business outcomes. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Mixed-Methods Examples: Include projects that highlight your ability to effectively integrate qualitative and quantitative research methods to solve complex problems.

• End-to-End Process: Present projects that demonstrate your full research lifecycle management, from defining research questions and planning methodologies to conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting findings.

• Problem Framing: Feature examples where you translated ambiguous or complex business challenges into structured research plans and actionable insights.

• Stakeholder Communication: Showcase examples of how you effectively communicated research findings to diverse audiences (designers, product managers, engineers, leadership) to drive action.

Process Documentation:

• Research Plan Design: Ability to create detailed research plans outlining objectives, methodologies, participant criteria, timelines, and expected deliverables for various research initiatives.

• Methodology Application: Documented experience in applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, adapting approaches based on project needs and constraints.

• Data Synthesis & Reporting: Proficiency in synthesizing large datasets from multiple sources into clear, compelling narratives and actionable recommendations, often presented via slide decks or written reports.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Evidence of working effectively with cross-functional teams, integrating research findings into their workflows, and facilitating user-centric decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "end-to-end research strategies" and informing "innovation, discovery, and early-stage concept development," a robust portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking and impact is essential. The "mixed methods" requirement means candidates should highlight projects that showcase this integration. The specific mention of "Design Systems teams" suggests that examples of evaluating component usability or system-level consistency would be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $55.00 - $65.00 per hour (USD)

Benefits:

• Medical insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Critical Illness insurance

• Accident insurance

• Hospital insurance

• 401(k) Retirement Plan (with pre-tax and Roth post-tax contribution options)

• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for employee and dependents)

• Short-term disability

• Long-term disability

• Health Spending Account (HSA)

• Transportation benefits

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Working Hours:

• Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days per week onsite in Chicago, IL.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided directly in the job description. The listed benefits are typical for contract roles through a staffing agency like TEKsystems, offering a comprehensive package. The "hybrid" work arrangement with specific onsite days is a key detail for potential candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Staffing and Services / Financial Services (Client's Industry)

Company Size: 80,000+ employees (TEKsystems Global)

Founded: TEKsystems was founded in 1983.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will likely be part of a dedicated research group or a product team, reporting to a Research Lead, UX Manager, or Product Lead.

• This role involves close collaboration with UX Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Data Analysts and Design Systems teams.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: The team operates with a strong focus on understanding and meeting user needs, driven by research findings.

• Agile Development: Likely follows Agile methodologies, requiring iterative research and quick adaptation to changing project needs.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Research insights are intended to directly inform product strategy and design, emphasizing a data-driven approach.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Emphasis on seamless communication and partnership across different departments to achieve common goals.

Company Website: https://careers.teksystems.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: TEKsystems is a large IT staffing and services company. The role is a contract position with a specific client in the banking sector. Therefore, the "company culture" reflects both TEKsystems' operational approach and the client's environment. The emphasis on "partners in transformation" and "accelerate business transformation" suggests a dynamic, results-oriented environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-to-Senior level UX Researcher role. The emphasis on "end-to-end research strategies," "informing innovation," and "translating ambiguous problem spaces" signifies a need for autonomy, strategic thinking, and significant experience beyond basic usability testing.

Reporting Structure: The role is a contract position, so reporting will be within the client's organizational structure. Typically, a UX Researcher reports to a UX Manager, Head of Research, or a Product Lead, working closely with Product Managers and Designers.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's impact is critical in guiding product development for the BDB app. By providing deep user insights, they directly influence:

• Product Strategy: Informing what features to build and prioritize.

• User Experience Quality: Ensuring the app is intuitive, accessible, and meets user needs, fostering trust and adoption in a critical financial context.

• Design Decisions: Guiding visual design, information architecture, and interaction design to create a cohesive and effective user journey.

• Innovation: Identifying unmet user needs and opportunities for new features or improvements.

Growth Opportunities:

• Project Extension: High potential for contract extension, offering stability and deeper involvement in the project.

• Domain Expertise: Opportunity to deepen expertise in financial services UX research, a valuable niche.

• Skill Expansion: Exposure to complex mobile app development and Design Systems collaboration can broaden skill sets.

• Networking: Building professional relationships within the client organization and with TEKsystems.

• Future Opportunities: Successful contract performance can lead to other opportunities through TEKsystems or the client.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Career Level" is an inference based on the described responsibilities and the need for strategic research design. The "Operations Impact" section is tailored to how a UX Researcher contributes to the broader "operations" of a product team and the business.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. The role requires 3 days per week onsite at the client's office in Chicago, IL, with the remaining days potentially remote.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, USA (specific office details not provided, but likely a corporate or tech hub location).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The onsite days are intended for collaboration, team meetings, and potentially user research sessions.

• Technology Access: Expect access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized UX research tools provided by the client.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with designers, product managers, and other team members during onsite days, fostering a cohesive team dynamic.

• Flexibility: The hybrid model offers a balance between in-person collaboration and remote work flexibility.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours, generally Monday through Friday, with an expectation of approximately 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be possible depending on project needs and client expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Work Environment" section focuses on the practical aspects of the hybrid model and the typical office setting for such a role, emphasizing collaboration and technology access.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely conducted by TEKsystems recruiters to assess basic qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's core requirements (mixed-methods, financial services).

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A more in-depth interview with the client's hiring manager and/or key team members (e.g., UX Lead, Product Manager). This stage will focus on your research philosophy, methodological expertise, and problem-solving approach.

• Portfolio Review: A critical component where you will present 1-2 key case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your process, insights, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role, the challenges, your approach, and the outcomes.

• Potential Skills Assessment/Case Study: Some clients may include a short take-home assignment or a live case study exercise to evaluate your research design and analysis skills in a simulated scenario.

• Final Interview/Offer: If successful, a final discussion may occur, followed by an offer from TEKsystems.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your mixed-methods expertise, strategic research design, and impact, especially those relevant to mobile apps or financial services if possible.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate:

  • The Problem: What was the ambiguous challenge or business question?
  • Your Role: What specific contributions did you make?
  • The Methodology: Why did you choose specific qualitative and quantitative methods? How did they integrate?
  • The Process: Walk through your research steps.
  • The Insights: What key findings emerged?
  • The Impact: How did your research influence design, strategy, or business outcomes? Quantify if possible.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly mention your experience with mobile patterns, accessibility, and collaboration with design systems.

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

• Visual Coherence: Ensure your portfolio presentation is visually clean, well-organized, and easy to follow.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Design: Practice outlining research plans for hypothetical scenarios, similar to the BDB app's visual refresh.

• Methodology Justification: Be ready to defend your choice of research methods based on specific research questions and constraints.

• Data Synthesis: Practice distilling complex findings into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is inferred based on standard practices for contract UX Researcher roles through staffing agencies and client engagements. The portfolio review is highlighted as a critical step given the nature of UX research roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Proficiency with tools for remote usability testing and qualitative data collection (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Optimal Workshop).

• Survey Tools: Experience designing and deploying surveys using platforms like SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms, or Typeform.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools for team collaboration and documentation (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Asana, Miro, Figma).

• Presentation Software: Expertise in creating compelling presentations using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Software: While not explicitly stated, familiarity with basic data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, potentially Tableau or Power BI) for interpreting quantitative data is beneficial.

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with web/mobile analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior patterns.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the UX Researcher role, but understanding how user feedback integrates into CRM or product management systems is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are common for UX Researchers. The emphasis on "mobile interaction patterns" and "accessibility" suggests that tools supporting these aspects, or research methodologies that capture them, will be relevant. Figma is included as it's a dominant tool for design collaboration, where UX researchers often work closely.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value driving all decisions, ensuring products are designed with the user's needs, goals, and context at the forefront.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasizing the use of research insights and data to inform strategy and validate hypotheses, rather than relying solely on intuition.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Encouraging strong working relationships across disciplines (design, product, engineering) to achieve shared objectives.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A mindset geared towards exploring new ideas, identifying opportunities for enhancement, and iterating on products.

• Impact & Results: Focus on delivering tangible outcomes that improve the user experience and contribute to business success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Researchers are expected to be embedded within product teams, working closely with designers and product managers on a daily basis.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where ideas can be shared freely, feedback is constructive, and challenges are discussed openly.

• Process Iteration: A willingness to adapt research processes and team workflows to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the dissemination of research findings and best practices across the team and wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred from the general context of modern UX teams, especially within tech-forward companies and the emphasis on data-driven insights and cross-functional work in the job description.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity: Navigating "ambiguous problem spaces" requires strong analytical skills and the ability to define clear research objectives and methodologies.

• Hybrid Work Integration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong team connections in a hybrid environment, ensuring seamless communication and efficient onsite days.

• Financial Services Nuances: Understanding the specific user needs, trust factors, and regulatory considerations within the banking sector.

• Visual Refresh Focus: Delivering impactful research for a "visual refresh" requires balancing aesthetic considerations with functional usability and user trust.

• Project Timelines: Delivering high-quality research within project deadlines, common in contract roles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Domain Expertise: Gaining significant experience in UX research for financial services, a specialized and high-demand field.

• Mobile UX Mastery: Enhancing skills in understanding and researching complex mobile application user journeys.

• Design Systems Interaction: Learning how to effectively research and provide feedback on design system components and their implementation.

• Strategic Research Impact: Developing a stronger track record in informing high-level product strategy and innovation.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Skills: Refining ability to work effectively with diverse teams in a hybrid setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are derived from the job description's specifics (ambiguity, visual refresh, financial services) and the contract/hybrid nature of the role. Growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement directly related to the role's demands.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define a research strategy for an ambiguous problem space. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your structured learning plan development).

• "How do you balance qualitative and quantitative methods in your research? Can you provide an example of a project where you used both effectively?" (Highlight mixed-methods integration).

• "Imagine you're tasked with evaluating the visual refresh of a banking app. What would be your initial research questions, and what methodologies would you propose?" (Prepare to outline a research plan).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the financial services industry, specifically within banking?" (Research common user challenges and trust factors in banking apps).

• "How do you approach collaboration with designers and product managers, especially in a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss your communication style and strategies for remote/on-site interaction).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose 1-2 case studies that best represent your mixed-methods expertise, strategic research capabilities, and demonstrable impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation around a clear narrative: problem, your approach, execution, findings, and impact.

• Quantify When Possible: Use data and metrics to support your claims about user behavior, usability improvements, or business outcomes.

• Highlight Your Role: Be precise about your individual contributions, especially if it was a team effort.

• Address Specific Requirements: If possible, showcase projects that touch upon mobile apps, financial services, or design system evaluation.

• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and challenges faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to the specific requirements and context of this UX Researcher role, emphasizing mixed methods, financial services, and the hybrid work model.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the TEKsystems careers portal link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your mixed-methods research experience, strategic planning capabilities, and any relevant financial services or mobile app UX research.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with end-to-end research strategies, qualitative and quantitative methods, and your ability to translate ambiguous problems into actionable insights. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Case Studies: Select and refine 1-2 key case studies for your portfolio presentation that best demonstrate your skills in mixed-methods research, strategic impact, and collaboration. Be ready to discuss them in detail.

• Research the Client: Understand the typical challenges and user needs within the banking/financial services sector. Familiarize yourself with common mobile app UX best practices and accessibility standards.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with TEKsystems or the hiring organization before making application decisions.