Senior UX Research and Design Specialist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Research and Design Specialist

Company: Jobgether (Partner Company)

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Research & Design / EdTech Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (7+ years)

Remote Status: Remote (within the United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a hybrid position requiring expertise in User Experience (UX) Research, Product Design, and Data Visualization within the K-12 education technology (EdTech) sector.

• The specialist will lead comprehensive research initiatives, translating complex educator needs into intuitive and accessible web-based platforms for educational data and assessment.

• A key focus is on designing effective data visualizations that simplify student performance information for non-technical users.

• The position demands close collaboration with product, engineering, and other cross-functional teams to drive product development and ensure user-centric solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior UX Research and Design Specialist," the description emphasizes a strong operational component in translating research into production-ready experiences, collaborating with engineering, and understanding educational workflows. This suggests a role that bridges the gap between user-facing design and the operational execution of product development in an EdTech context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end qualitative and quantitative UX research, including focus groups, interviews, surveys, and usability testing with K-12 educators (teachers, coaches, administrators).

• Conduct market and competitive research to identify trends and opportunities within the EdTech landscape.

• Establish systematic feedback and research loops to continuously capture evolving user needs and measure product perception.

• Manage participant recruitment processes for diverse K-12 educator populations.

• Translate research findings and user pain points into high-fidelity web designs, screen flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Collaborate closely with front-end designers and engineers, providing detailed design specifications for web-structure requirements and developer handoffs.

• Refine interface hierarchy, navigation, labeling, layouts, and interaction patterns through iterative design processes informed by research.

• Apply specialized knowledge of K-12 grading structures, standards-based reporting, and assessment workflows to design teacher dashboards.

• Design effective data visualizations (progress indicators, matrices, grouping tools) for complex student information.

• Ensure all user experiences and data visualizations adhere to inclusive design and accessibility principles, including WCAG guidelines.

• Present research findings and design artifacts (personas, journey maps, prototypes) to technical teams and senior leadership.

• Partner cross-functionally to ensure educator insights are integrated into product decisions and translated into production-ready experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive approach to research, design iteration, and cross-functional execution, all critical for operations-focused product development within the EdTech sector. The emphasis on "production-oriented" and "practical technology solutions" points to an operational mindset in delivering tangible product outcomes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree preferred in Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology, Computer Science, or a related behavioral or technology-focused field. Experience:

• 7+ years of professional experience in UX research, interface design, digital analytics architecture, or a closely related discipline.

• Demonstrated ability to combine rigorous user research with hands-on interface and visual design capabilities.

• Experience communicating research findings and design concepts to technical development teams, product stakeholders, and senior leadership.

• Prior experience as a K-12 teacher, instructional coach, or school-level educator is highly valued.

• Strong understanding of K-12 assessment, standards-based grading, formative assessment, student data, and education technology implementations is preferred.

• Working knowledge of HTML5 and CSS3 for effective collaboration and developer handoffs.

• Experience using AI-powered productivity and research tools for analysis and prototyping.

• Familiarity with accessibility (WCAG) and privacy requirements (FERPA) for K-12 digital products.

• Strong analytical, communication, presentation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong user advocacy, visual design judgment, attention to detail, and ability to balance research with technical constraints. Required Skills:

• Expertise in UX Research (qualitative and quantitative methodologies).

• Proficiency with modern UI wireframing and prototyping tools, particularly Figma.

• Strong visual design and interaction design capabilities.

• Experience with data visualization principles and application in user interfaces. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience in K-12 education (teaching, coaching, administration).

• Deep understanding of K-12 assessment and grading systems.

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML5, CSS3).

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and data privacy regulations (FERPA).

• Experience with AI-powered research and productivity tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "working knowledge of HTML5 and CSS3" and the ability to "read, interpret, and write front-end code to facilitate effective collaboration and developer handoffs" strongly indicates a need for operational understanding of development processes and constraints, rather than pure design work. This is crucial for candidates to highlight.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end UX research projects, showcasing methodology, participant recruitment, data synthesis, and actionable insights.

• Include case studies of interface and visual design work, detailing the problem, your process, design decisions, and the final outcome (high-fidelity mockups, prototypes).

• Showcase examples of data visualizations designed for clarity and usability, explaining the data context and user needs addressed.

• Present projects that highlight collaboration with engineering or product teams, emphasizing effective communication and handoff processes.

• Include examples demonstrating adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG) in design. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of systematic research loop development and implementation.

• Showcase how research findings were translated into concrete design specifications and interactive prototypes.

• Illustrate how user feedback and behavioral data were used to iterate and refine designs.

• Demonstrate experience in presenting complex research findings and design artifacts to diverse stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role with strong operational implications, candidates should emphasize how their research and design processes lead to tangible, implementable solutions. Portfolio pieces should clearly articulate the impact of their work on product development and user adoption, not just the aesthetic or research findings themselves.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Senior level (7+ years experience) and the location (United States), a competitive salary range for a UX Research and Design Specialist in the EdTech sector would typically fall between $110,000 and $160,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the specialized blend of research, design, and educational domain knowledge required. Salary will vary based on specific experience, location within the US, and the partner company's compensation structure. Benefits:

• Opportunity to work remotely within the United States.

• Meaningful opportunity to influence digital learning experiences used by educators and students.

• Work at the intersection of UX research, product design, data visualization, AI-enabled workflows, and EdTech.

• Collaborative environment focused on simplifying complex educational experiences and creating accessible solutions.

• Opportunity to work closely with product, engineering, and education-focused stakeholders.

• Inclusive culture that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, ideas, and experiences.

• Professional environment with opportunities to contribute to innovative educational technology initiatives.

• Equal opportunity employment and consideration for qualified candidates regardless of protected characteristics. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, likely around 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be available, but consistent availability for collaboration with US-based teams is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for senior UX roles in the US tech sector, adjusted for the specialized EdTech domain and the remote work arrangement. Actual compensation will be determined by the hiring partner company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Education (EdTech)

Company Size: Not specified, but the role is listed on behalf of a partner company. Jobgether itself has a growing tech presence. The specific partner company's size will influence team dynamics.

Founded: Not specified for the partner company. Jobgether was founded in 2022.

Team Structure:

• This role will likely be part of a product development team, including Product Managers, Engineers (front-end, back-end), and potentially other UX/UI designers or researchers.

• The reporting structure will depend on the partner company, but likely to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or Engineering Lead.

• Close cross-functional collaboration is expected with product, engineering, and educational stakeholders to ensure user insights are integrated into product decisions. Methodology:

• The role emphasizes a data-driven approach, using both qualitative and quantitative research to inform design.

• Agile or iterative design and development processes are likely, given the need for rapid iterations and collaboration with engineering.

• Focus on user-centric design principles and inclusive design practices.

• Leveraging AI-powered tools for research acceleration and efficiency is a noted aspect.

Company Website: jobgether.com (for the platform managing applications)

📝 Enhancement Note: The partner company's specific culture is unknown, but the context of EdTech and remote work suggests a focus on impact, collaboration, and potentially a mission-driven environment. Candidates should research EdTech companies that focus on data analytics and assessment for K-12 if they want to infer potential company cultures.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Specialist/Individual Contributor. This role requires significant experience and the ability to lead projects independently. It sits at a senior individual contributor level, bridging research, design, and operational execution.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Product Manager, Design Lead, or Head of Product within the partner company. Will work closely with engineering leads and product stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is direct on the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of educational data and assessment platforms. By translating educator needs into intuitive designs, the specialist will improve how teachers and administrators understand and act upon student data, directly influencing educational outcomes and operational efficiency within schools. The integration of AI tools also suggests a forward-looking operational impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deeper specialization in EdTech UX, data visualization for education, or AI-driven product development.

• Potential to lead UX research and design initiatives for larger product areas or new product lines.

• Opportunities to mentor junior designers/researchers or contribute to establishing UX best practices within the organization.

• Advancement into product management or lead design roles, depending on career aspirations and organizational structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "operations" aspect here refers to the practical application of UX/design principles to create functional, production-ready software that serves specific educational workflows and user needs. Growth potential lies in deepening expertise within this intersection.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Remote work is permitted within the United States. This implies a distributed team environment.

Office Location(s): The role is remote within the United States. Specific time zone alignment may be beneficial for collaboration, with a mention of "America/Chicago" timezones being relevant.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a highly collaborative, digital-first work environment.

• Access to standard productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software) will be essential.

• The role requires a dedicated home office setup conducive to remote work and participation in virtual meetings.

• Interaction with cross-functional teams will primarily be through digital channels.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time (approx. 40 hours/week). While remote, maintaining consistent working hours and availability for scheduled meetings and collaborative sessions is crucial for team integration and operational effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a remote role, candidates should highlight their experience with remote collaboration tools and their ability to maintain productivity and communication in a distributed setting. The mention of a specific timezone is a subtle hint towards the operational need for synchronous collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely conducted by Jobgether's AI system, followed by a recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Hiring Partner Interview(s): This will involve discussions with the hiring manager, product team members, and potentially engineering leads. Expect questions on UX research methodologies, design process, problem-solving, and experience with EdTech.

• Portfolio Review: A crucial stage where you will present your past work, explaining your process, design decisions, research insights, and the impact of your contributions.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: May involve a practical exercise to assess your design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to apply your expertise to specific scenarios relevant to the company's products.

• Final Interview: May involve leadership or senior team members to assess overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate 3-5 of your strongest projects, focusing on those that demonstrate end-to-end UX research and design, especially those with a data visualization or educational context if possible.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the research methodologies used, key insights, design solutions (show wireframes, mockups, prototypes), and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Highlight your collaboration process with engineers and product managers, showcasing how you translate user needs into actionable specifications.

• Be prepared to discuss your design decisions, trade-offs made, and how you incorporated user feedback and technical constraints.

• Emphasize how your work addresses accessibility and data privacy, especially for the K-12 context. Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the core problem and user needs first.

• Clearly outline your approach to research and design, even if time is limited.

• Be prepared to present your thinking process and design rationale concisely.

• Consider how your solution would be implemented and what operational considerations (e.g., data integration, performance) might be relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "production-oriented web experiences" and "practical technology solutions" means interviewers will look for candidates who can bridge the gap between ideas and execution. Your portfolio and interview responses should reflect this operational awareness.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a preferred tool for wireframing and prototyping. Strong proficiency is expected.

• UX Research Tools: Experience with survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), and potentially qualitative data analysis tools.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Understanding of how to interpret and utilize data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude) to inform design decisions.

• Experience designing dashboards and reports for data visualization. CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned, understanding of how UX/design impacts user journeys within educational platforms and potentially CRM-like systems for educators would be advantageous.

• Familiarity with AI-powered productivity and research tools is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Figma and the requirement for HTML/CSS knowledge indicate a need for practical skills in toolchain integration and developer handoffs, which are core operational aspects of design execution.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong commitment to understanding and advocating for educator and student needs.

• Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering practical, usable solutions that improve educational outcomes and operational efficiency in schools.

• Collaboration: A willingness to work closely with diverse teams (product, engineering, education specialists) to achieve common goals.

• Data-Informed: Utilizing research and analytics to guide decision-making and measure success.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies like AI to enhance research and design processes.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Designing for all users, ensuring equitable access to educational tools and data.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment where input from various disciplines is valued.

• Communication will primarily be digital, requiring clear, concise, and proactive engagement.

• A culture of constructive feedback and iterative improvement is likely present.

• Knowledge sharing and continuous learning are important, especially with the integration of AI and evolving EdTech trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "production-oriented web experiences" and "practical technology solutions" suggests a culture that values execution and tangible results, not just theoretical design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging the Gap: Effectively translating complex educational data and assessment needs into intuitive, accessible user interfaces for non-technical educators.

• Balancing Research and Design: Managing end-to-end responsibilities that span rigorous research and hands-on visual design, often under project deadlines.

• Understanding Diverse Users: Catering to the varied needs of teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators across different K-12 levels.

• Technical Constraints: Collaborating effectively with engineers to ensure designs are feasible and align with web-structure requirements and development timelines.

• AI Integration: Staying current with and effectively leveraging AI tools in research and design workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in data visualization for educational contexts.

• Specialize in UX research methodologies tailored for the K-12 sector.

• Gain hands-on experience with AI-driven product development tools and processes.

• Develop skills in communicating complex technical and design concepts to leadership.

• Contribute to shaping product strategy and roadmap based on user insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities of EdTech product development, requiring a candidate who can navigate technical, user, and business requirements simultaneously.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led an end-to-end UX research project for a complex product. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on methodology, insights, and impact.)

• "How do you translate user pain points and behavioral data into high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes?" (Showcase your design process and tool proficiency, e.g., Figma.)

• "Walk us through a data visualization you designed. What data was it representing, who was the audience, and how did you ensure clarity and usability?" (Highlight your data viz skills and user-centric approach.)

• "How do you collaborate with engineers and product managers to ensure your designs are technically feasible and meet product goals?" (Emphasize your operational understanding of the development lifecycle and handoff processes.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the EdTech space, specifically with K-12 data and assessment platforms?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the domain.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible, particularly for users with diverse technical backgrounds like educators?" (Demonstrate knowledge of WCAG and inclusive design principles.)

• "How have you used AI-powered tools in your research or design process? What were the benefits and limitations?" (Showcase your adaptability and forward-thinking approach.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation around 2-3 key projects that demonstrate your full capabilities.

• For each project, clearly articulate the "Why" (problem), "Who" (user), "What" (your solution), and "How" (your process).

• Use visuals (screenshots, mockups, prototypes) effectively.

• Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "usability testing revealed a 30% reduction in task completion time").

• Be ready to discuss trade-offs, challenges, and lessons learned.

• Emphasize how your work directly contributed to product development and operational success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for evidence of practical application, problem-solving in a product development context, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders, reflecting the operational demands of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX role:

• Submit your application through the Jobgether platform.

• Customize your resume: Highlight your 7+ years of experience in UX research and design, specifically mentioning Figma, data visualization, and any experience with educational technology, K-12 workflows, or accessibility standards. Quantify your achievements where possible.

• Prepare your portfolio: Ensure it clearly showcases your end-to-end UX research and design process, with strong examples of high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and data visualizations. Include case studies that demonstrate collaboration with engineering and product teams.

• Research the EdTech landscape: Familiarize yourself with current trends in K-12 assessment, data analytics for education, and the role of UX in these platforms. Understand the operational challenges faced by educators.

• Practice your presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on articulating your process, rationale, and impact clearly and concisely for potential interviewers.

⚠️ 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.