UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Vuori, Inc

Location: Carlsbad, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-22T20:50:02.954

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centric product development by planning, executing, and analyzing user research initiatives to uncover critical user behaviors and pain points.

• Collaborate extensively with Creative, Technology, and Site Experience teams to seamlessly integrate actionable research insights into product decisions and strategic roadmaps.

• Design and support A/B tests to rigorously validate hypotheses and continuously optimize user experiences within the ecommerce platform.

• Establish scalable research processes and maintain robust insight repositories, ensuring the research function effectively informs business objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the 'Digital' sub-department and 'HQ - Technology' department, indicating a strong focus on the online customer journey and digital product evolution. The emphasis on data-driven insights and A/B testing suggests a need for a researcher adept at both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with a direct impact on conversion rates and customer satisfaction within an ecommerce context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive UX research plans, defining objectives, methodologies, and timelines to address key product and business questions.

• Conduct a variety of research activities, including remote user interviews, usability testing sessions, surveys, and competitive analysis, to gather rich qualitative and quantitative data.

• Design, implement, and analyze A/B tests to validate user experience hypotheses, measure the impact of changes, and drive data-informed optimizations for the ecommerce platform.

• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, compelling, and actionable insights, translating raw data into strategic recommendations for stakeholders across product, design, and engineering.

• Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers, to ensure research findings are understood, adopted, and effectively incorporated into product development cycles and strategic roadmaps.

• Establish and maintain robust research processes, best practices, and centralized insight repositories to foster a scalable and efficient research function within the organization.

• Track and communicate the impact of UX research initiatives on key business metrics, such as conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and user engagement, demonstrating the ROI of research efforts.

• Contribute to the creation of wireframes and prototypes as needed to support research objectives and facilitate user validation throughout the design and development lifecycle.

• Ensure all design contributions and research recommendations align with established design systems, brand guidelines, and overall product strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic research planning and hands-on execution, with a strong emphasis on influencing product roadmaps and measuring impact. The requirement to contribute to wireframes and prototypes indicates a need for a researcher with a foundational understanding of design principles and the ability to translate insights into tangible design concepts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 3+ years of professional experience in UX research, UX design, product management, or related fields, with a demonstrated focus on ecommerce environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in planning, conducting, and synthesizing research using a variety of methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing (moderated and unmoderated), surveys, and heuristic evaluations.

• Strong capability in designing and analyzing A/B tests and other experimental designs to validate hypotheses and measure the impact of product changes on user behavior and business metrics.

• Demonstrated experience with qualitative and quantitative research approaches, with the ability to independently lead research initiatives from conception to delivery.

• Proficiency in utilizing research and analytics tools such as UserTesting, Maze, Hotjar, Google Analytics, and Mixpanel for study planning, data collection, analysis, and insight generation.

• Hands-on experience with design and prototyping tools like Figma, enabling effective collaboration with design and engineering teams and the ability to contribute to wireframes and prototypes.

• Excellent organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a proven ability to manage multiple research projects concurrently, balancing priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a strong ability to articulate complex research findings and strategic recommendations clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the apparel or lifestyle retail ecommerce sector.

• Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis techniques for quantitative research data.

• Experience in establishing and scaling research operations, including developing insight repositories and research best practices.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and experience integrating research within sprint cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating research impact is critical. Candidates should prepare case studies that clearly outline the problem, their research process, the insights derived, and the tangible business or product outcomes achieved. The specific mention of tools like UserTesting, Maze, Mixpanel, and Figma indicates a strong preference for candidates already proficient in these platforms.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is required, showcasing a minimum of 3 distinct UX research projects. Each project should clearly articulate:

  • The business or product problem statement.
  • The research objectives and hypotheses.
  • The methodologies employed (e.g., interviews, usability tests, surveys, A/B tests).
  • The research process, including participant recruitment and data collection.
  • Key findings, insights, and actionable recommendations derived from the research.
  • The impact of the research on product decisions, user experience, or business metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, task success rates, user satisfaction scores).

• Demonstrate proficiency in translating research insights into tangible design contributions, such as wireframes or prototypes, and how these were used for validation.

• Evidence of experience in designing and analyzing A/B tests, including hypothesis formulation, experimental design, and interpretation of results using analytics platforms.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of research plans that outline clear objectives, target users, methodologies, timelines, and expected deliverables.

• Documentation of established research processes or contributions to building scalable research functions, including how insights are organized and shared.

• Case studies demonstrating the integration of research insights into product roadmaps and development cycles, highlighting collaboration with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not just list projects but tell a story of how the candidate's research directly led to positive outcomes. For this role, demonstrating a clear link between research insights, A/B test design, and measurable improvements in an ecommerce context will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage options.

• Savings and Retirement Plan: Access to a retirement savings plan, likely with employer matching contributions.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and work-related challenges.

• Generous Vuori Discount & Industry Perks: Significant discounts on Vuori apparel and potential benefits through industry partnerships.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): A competitive package for vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Wellness & Fitness Benefits: Support for employee well-being, potentially including gym memberships or wellness stipends.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are assumed to be 40 hours per week, aligning with full-time employment expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a UX Researcher role with 3+ years of experience in the Carlsbad, California area. The benefits package is typical for a mid-sized company and includes robust health coverage, retirement planning, and attractive employee discounts relevant to the brand's industry. The location in Carlsbad, CA, suggests a cost of living that aligns with this salary range.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Athletic Apparel & Lifestyle Retail. Vuori operates in a dynamic and competitive market, focusing on blending performance-driven athletic wear with a casual, coastal California aesthetic. This dual focus requires an understanding of both functional needs and lifestyle trends.

Company Size: Vuori is a growing company, indicated by its "Digital" sub-department and "HQ - Technology" department. While not explicitly stated, the need for a dedicated UX Researcher suggests a maturing digital presence and a commitment to data-informed decision-making, moving beyond a startup phase into a more established growth trajectory.

Founded: Founded with inspiration from an active coastal California lifestyle, Vuori aims to create apparel that supports both fitness and everyday life. Their culture is described as high-energy, fast-paced, and fun, with a strong emphasis on personal growth and success.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will likely be part of the broader Creative & Technology teams, potentially sitting within a Product Design or Digital Experience group.

• Reporting structure will likely be to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Digital Product.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core tenet, leveraging user research, A/B testing, and analytics to inform strategy and product enhancements.

• User-Centric Design: Prioritizing user needs, behaviors, and pain points to create intuitive and effective digital experiences.

• Agile Collaboration: Working within fast-paced cycles, integrating research findings iteratively into product development and roadmaps.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships across departments to ensure alignment and collective ownership of user experience.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes an active lifestyle and a fun, energetic environment. For operations professionals, this means being adaptable, proactive, and comfortable in a dynamic setting. The emphasis on "clarity, enthusiasm, and purpose" suggests a desire for team members who are not only skilled but also driven and aligned with the company's mission.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is ideal for an early to mid-career UX Researcher with 3+ years of experience, looking to deepen their expertise in an ecommerce environment. It offers opportunities to lead research initiatives, influence product strategy, and contribute to building scalable research processes.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a manager within the Technology or Digital Product team, providing direct guidance and mentorship. They will also work closely with cross-functional leads, offering opportunities to build relationships and influence decision-making across departments.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work will directly impact key business metrics for Vuori's digital presence, including conversion rates, customer engagement, user satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue. By providing actionable insights, they will shape the user experience of the ecommerce platform, contributing to customer loyalty and business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in UX research for the apparel/lifestyle ecommerce sector, potentially leading to senior or lead researcher roles.

• Process Development: Play a key role in shaping and scaling Vuori's UX research function, establishing best practices, and mentoring junior researchers as the team grows.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop strong stakeholder management skills and influence product roadmaps, potentially leading to product management or UX strategy roles.

• Skill Expansion: Gain deeper experience in A/B testing, analytics, and potentially contributing to broader product strategy discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role represents a chance to refine data analysis, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration skills within a consumer-facing, fast-growing company. The emphasis on measurable impact aligns well with operations career paths focused on driving efficiency and performance.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job posting specifies "Onsite" work at their Carlsbad, CA location. This indicates a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration is expected.

Office Location(s): 5600 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This location likely offers a vibrant work environment, characteristic of Southern California tech and lifestyle companies.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting will facilitate direct interaction with Creative, Technology, and Site Experience teams, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for brainstorming, feedback sessions, and co-creation.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard UX research and design tools (UserTesting, Maze, Mixpanel, Figma) will be provided, enabling efficient workflow and data analysis.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team meetings, design critiques, and informal discussions with colleagues, promoting knowledge sharing and a strong sense of team unity.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an expected 40 hours per week. While the core hours will be standard business hours, there might be some flexibility depending on team needs and project deadlines, especially during critical research phases or A/B test deployments.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in Carlsbad suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion. Operations professionals should be prepared for a structured work environment that encourages direct communication and team-based problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, understand career goals, and explain the role and company culture.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, research methodologies, and approach to UX research, focusing on how you've driven impact. This may include behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A key stage where you'll present 2-3 selected projects from your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through your process, insights, and the outcomes achieved, specifically highlighting your contributions to ecommerce optimization.

• Skills-Based Exercise: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live exercise focused on a specific research problem, A/B test design, or synthesis of provided data. This assesses your practical skills and problem-solving abilities.

• Cross-Functional Team Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Creative, Technology, and Site Experience teams to assess collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: May involve a senior leader to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term potential within the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience with ecommerce, A/B testing, and driving measurable business impact. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the methodology, your key insights, and, most importantly, the tangible results and business impact. Use metrics whenever possible (e.g., "increased conversion by X%", "reduced task completion time by Y%").

• Show Your Process: Detail your research process, from planning and recruitment to analysis and synthesis. Explain your rationale for choosing specific methodologies.

• Highlight Collaboration: Describe how you worked with designers, product managers, and engineers. Showcase your ability to translate research into actionable recommendations that the team can implement.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, how you handle conflicting feedback, and how you measure the success of your research.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Vuori's brand, products, target audience, and current ecommerce strategies. Think about potential user pain points or areas for optimization.

• Methodology Practice: Brush up on common UX research methods and A/B testing principles. Be ready to discuss trade-offs between different approaches.

• Data Synthesis: Practice synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights. Be prepared to present findings concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio presentation and practical application. Candidates should prepare to articulate their research process and its impact on business outcomes, particularly within an ecommerce context. The inclusion of A/B testing and analytics tools suggests that candidates will be assessed on their ability to connect research to measurable results.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting, Maze (for unmoderated testing, surveys, and feedback collection).

• Analytics & Data Visualization: Mixpanel, Google Analytics (for tracking user behavior, conversion funnels, and analyzing A/B test results).

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (for collaborating with designers, contributing to wireframes, and potentially creating prototypes for testing).

• Collaboration Tools: Likely Slack, Jira, Confluence (standard for team communication, project tracking, and documentation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics or similar platforms to understand website traffic, user journeys, and conversion rates.

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel or similar tools for in-depth analysis of user interactions within the digital product.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Tools integrated with the website or dedicated platforms for designing, running, and analyzing experiments.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms could be beneficial for understanding the broader customer data landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in UserTesting, Maze, Mixpanel, and Figma is explicitly required. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools, including how they use them to plan studies, collect data, analyze results, and integrate insights into the product development workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven: A strong emphasis on using data and research to inform decisions, moving beyond intuition to evidence-based strategies.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and prioritizing the needs and experiences of the customer in all product development efforts.

• Collaboration: A belief that the best outcomes are achieved through open communication, cross-functional teamwork, and shared ownership.

• Action-Oriented: A culture that encourages taking initiative, driving projects forward, and delivering tangible results in a fast-paced environment.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on learning, iterating, and constantly seeking ways to enhance user experiences and business performance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The UX Researcher will be expected to work closely with designers, product managers, engineers, and marketing teams, acting as a bridge between user needs and business objectives.

• Feedback Exchange: An environment that encourages constructive feedback on research findings, design concepts, and implemented solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote the sharing of research insights and best practices across teams to foster a collective understanding of the user.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values align with those often found in successful GTM and operations teams: data-driven decision-making, customer focus, and strong collaboration. Operations professionals will likely find a culture that rewards proactivity, analytical thinking, and the ability to work effectively across diverse teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research Needs with Business Urgency: In a fast-paced ecommerce environment, there can be pressure to make quick decisions. The challenge will be to effectively advocate for thorough research while meeting business deadlines.

• Synthesizing Diverse Data Streams: Integrating insights from qualitative research, quantitative analytics, and A/B testing to form a cohesive understanding of user behavior.

• Driving Adoption of Insights: Ensuring that research findings are not just delivered but actively understood and acted upon by cross-functional teams.

• Scaling Research Operations: As Vuori grows, establishing and maintaining efficient, scalable research processes and repositories will be an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Ecommerce Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in UX research for the online retail sector, understanding key conversion drivers and customer journey optimization.

• Advanced Analytics & A/B Testing: Hone skills in experimental design, statistical analysis, and leveraging product analytics tools to measure impact.

• Strategic Influence: Develop skills in stakeholder management and influencing product strategy at a higher level.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by experienced design or product leaders, and later, to mentor junior team members as the research function matures.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, these challenges and growth opportunities mirror common themes: optimizing processes under pressure, leveraging data for strategic advantage, and driving cross-functional alignment. The role offers significant potential for skill development in areas directly applicable to revenue and sales operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used user research to significantly impact an ecommerce product or feature. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, insights, and measurable results).

• "How would you approach designing an A/B test to improve the checkout conversion rate on our website?" (Assess your understanding of hypothesis generation, experimental design, and key metrics relevant to ecommerce).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Vuori's brand and its target customer?" (Show you've done your research and understand the lifestyle aspect).

• "How do you approach collaborating with designers and product managers who may have different perspectives on user needs?" (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and teamwork skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, your methodology, your key insights, and the impact (quantified if possible).

• Highlight Ecommerce Relevance: Emphasize projects that directly relate to improving online user experiences, conversion rates, customer journeys, or product discovery in a retail context.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss how you used tools like Figma, UserTesting, Maze, or Mixpanel in your projects.

• Focus on Actionability: Explain how your insights translated into concrete design changes or product decisions that led to positive outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your ability to apply UX research methodologies to solve ecommerce challenges and drive measurable business results. Be ready to discuss your experience with A/B testing and analytics tools in detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Smartrecruiters link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful UX research projects, with a strong emphasis on those involving ecommerce, A/B testing, and measurable business outcomes. Ensure each project clearly details the problem, your process, your insights, and the resulting impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Research," "Ecommerce," "A/B Testing," "Usability Testing," "Figma," "Mixpanel," and "User Behavior Analysis." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio projects concisely, focusing on storytelling and demonstrating how your research directly influenced product decisions and business metrics. Be ready to articulate your thought process and collaboration style.

• Research Vuori: Familiarize yourself with Vuori's brand, products, target audience, and their current digital presence. Think critically about potential user pain points and areas for improvement on their website.

⚠️ 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.