Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: Softline Solutions

Location: Glendale, CA

Job Type: Full-Time, Salaried

Category: User Experience Research / Product Insights

Date Posted: 2026-06-25

Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the establishment and scaling of a new UX research function, defining processes, methodologies, and tooling from inception.

• Drive product, design, and marketing decisions across three distinct consumer brands through robust qualitative and quantitative customer and product insights.

• Directly influence critical business outcomes such as conversion rates, customer journey optimization, and overall product strategy.

• Champion a research-informed culture, ensuring user evidence is central to decision-making across creative, product, and marketing teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly positioned as the "first Senior UX Researcher" responsible for "building the research function from the ground up." This implies a significant strategic component beyond executing research, focusing on establishing frameworks, processes, and a research-centric culture within the organization. The emphasis on direct business impact (conversion rates, product strategy) and the need to manage three brands simultaneously points to a highly autonomous and influential position.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Establish and formalize research processes, methodologies, and tooling, including the creation of templates, research repositories, and standardized cadences.

• Define and implement systems for capturing, organizing, and disseminating research insights effectively across the organization.

• Plan, execute, and synthesize findings from a variety of research methods, including usability studies, user interviews, surveys, concept testing, and journey mapping, tailored to the needs of each brand.

• Interpret behavioral data from analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and heatmapping software to identify friction points, particularly in mobile conversion funnels, and translate these into actionable recommendations.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive customer personas for each of the three brands, ensuring they are data-driven and reflect real user behaviors and needs.

• Produce and present bi-monthly research reports to key stakeholders, including the Creative Director, brand leads, and e-commerce leadership, synthesizing cross-brand findings into clear, prioritized insights and actionable strategies.

• Collaborate closely with UI/UX designers to ensure design decisions are grounded in user evidence and to integrate research findings directly into sprint planning and prioritization.

• Partner with the Creative Director to embed customer context into new project briefs from the outset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "own analytics interpretation alongside tools like Google Analytics and heatmapping software" is a critical differentiator. This isn't just about conducting qualitative research but also about integrating quantitative behavioral data to form a holistic understanding of user behavior and conversion drivers, a common requirement for advanced operations or growth-focused roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Statistics, or a related field is typically expected for Senior UX Researcher roles.

Experience:

• 5+ years of dedicated UX research experience is required.

• At least 2 years of experience in a senior or lead UX researcher capacity is essential, demonstrating the ability to work autonomously and influence strategic direction.

• Proven experience conducting and synthesizing findings from both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

• Demonstrated experience managing research projects and insights across multiple products or brands concurrently.

• A background in e-commerce, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, or consumer products is strongly preferred, indicating an understanding of relevant market dynamics and customer behaviors.

• Proficiency with analytics tools such as Google Analytics and experience with heatmap/session recording software is mandatory, along with the ability to independently pull and interpret data. Required Skills:

• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, ethnographic studies).

• Proficiency in quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing analysis, statistical analysis).

• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data sets from various sources, including behavioral analytics and survey responses.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating research findings and their implications to diverse audiences, including executives and non-technical stakeholders.

• Systems thinking ability to design scalable and sustainable research processes and frameworks.

• Experience working in ambiguous, build-from-scratch environments, demonstrating initiative and self-direction.

• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple research streams and priorities across different brands effectively.

• Ability to translate complex research data into compelling narratives and actionable insights that drive business decisions. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific heatmapping and session recording tools (e.g., Hotjar, FullStory).

• Familiarity with A/B testing platforms and methodologies.

• Experience in persona development and customer journey mapping.

• Understanding of product strategy and how research informs roadmap prioritization.

• Experience establishing and managing research repositories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems thinker, can design scalable research processes, not just one-off studies" and "comfortable in ambiguous, build-from-scratch environments" strongly suggests this role requires not just execution but also strategic design of the research function itself, a key aspect of building out operations capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive UX research projects, ideally spanning both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

• For each project, clearly articulate the research objectives, the methods employed, the scope of work (including any multi-brand or complex product considerations), and the key findings.

• Demonstrate how your research directly influenced product decisions, design iterations, or marketing strategies, with a clear emphasis on measurable business outcomes like conversion rate improvements or customer experience enhancements.

• Include examples of how you synthesized complex data into actionable insights and communicated these effectively to stakeholders.

• Highlight any experience in establishing or improving research processes, methodologies, or tooling. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to documenting research findings and making them accessible.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to create standardized research templates, repositories, and cadences that can be adopted organization-wide.

• Showcase examples of how you've integrated research insights into product development workflows, such as sprint planning or brief creation.

• Be ready to articulate how you would measure the impact and effectiveness of the research function itself.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's mandate to "build the research foundation from the ground up," candidates should prepare to discuss not just past research projects but also their vision and strategic approach for establishing a scalable research function. This includes how they would define processes, select tools, and embed research into the organization's DNA.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k) with potential company match.

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and resources for skill enhancement.

• Potential for stock options or performance-based bonuses, depending on company policy.

• Opportunities to directly shape and lead a critical function within a growing organization.

Working Hours: The role is likely based on a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility often extended for project needs. However, due to the on-site nature and the responsibility for building a function, consistent presence and availability during core business hours will be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator for a Senior UX Researcher role in the Glendale, CA area. Research into comparable roles in Los Angeles County indicates this range is competitive for individuals with 5+ years of experience and a proven track record in e-commerce and building research functions. The benefits listed are standard for full-time salaried positions in the US tech/e-commerce sector and are assumed based on typical offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates within the consumer products and e-commerce sectors, specifically focusing on home organization (Closet by Design, Closet World) and premium hydration products (Brio Water). This industry context implies a focus on direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing, user experience optimization for online sales, and understanding consumer purchasing behaviors for high-consideration items.

Company Size: Softline Solutions is likely a mid-sized company, given it is building out core functions like UX research from the ground up and manages multiple distinct brands. This size typically allows for significant individual impact and cross-functional collaboration, but also means processes may still be evolving.

Founded: Information about the founding date is not provided. However, the strategy of managing three distinct consumer brands suggests a company that has either grown organically through acquisitions or strategic brand development, indicating a dynamic and potentially evolving business structure.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research function is currently nascent, with this role being the first dedicated hire. The Senior UX Researcher will report to the Creative Director, indicating a close alignment with creative and design initiatives.

• The role requires extensive cross-functional collaboration with Product Managers, Marketing teams, UI/UX Designers, and potentially E-commerce leadership across all three brands.

• The structure implies a matrixed environment where influence and strong communication are key, as formal authority over other teams will be limited. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a data-driven approach to decision-making, as evidenced by the need for a Senior UX Researcher to interpret analytics and drive product strategy.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be a key focus, particularly in establishing research processes and integrating them into existing product development cycles (e.g., sprint planning).

• Automation and efficiency practices are implied through the need for scalable research processes and clear reporting mechanisms.

Company Website: [Softline Solutions Website URL - Placeholder, as not provided]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's structure, managing three distinct brands (Closet by Design, Closet World, Brio Water), is a crucial detail. It means the Senior UX Researcher must be adept at segmenting research, managing multiple stakeholder groups with potentially different priorities, and understanding the unique customer journeys and product complexities of each brand. This requires strong organizational and prioritization skills, akin to managing multiple projects or client accounts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level, with the explicit mandate of establishing a foundational research function. This signifies a high degree of autonomy and strategic responsibility, going beyond individual contributor research execution to include process design, methodology definition, and cultural influence. It's a leadership opportunity within the UX research discipline.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher reports to the Creative Director. This indicates a close working relationship with design and creative leadership, ensuring research insights are directly integrated into the creative and product development pipeline. It suggests that the research function is viewed as a critical component of the creative and product strategy.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to improving business outcomes such as conversion rates, product strategy, and customer experience across three e-commerce brands. This means the Senior UX Researcher will be instrumental in driving revenue growth and enhancing customer satisfaction through data-informed decision-making. The work is intended to be highly visible and directly actionable, not siloed or purely academic.

Growth Opportunities:

• Research Leadership: As the research function scales, this role has a clear path to grow into a Research Lead or Manager position, potentially building and mentoring a team.

• Strategic Influence: The opportunity to shape the company's approach to understanding its customers and to influence product roadmaps and marketing strategies at a high level.

• Cross-Brand Expertise: Developing deep expertise across multiple product lines and consumer segments, enhancing versatility and marketability.

• Process & System Development: Gaining significant experience in building operational processes and research infrastructure from the ground up, a valuable skill set for future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Path to grow, as the team scales, this role is positioned to grow into a research lead function" is a significant indicator of career progression. This role is not just a job; it's an opportunity to build and lead a critical function within the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," suggesting a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration is valued. This allows for direct interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

Office Location(s): Glendale, CA. This location offers access to the broader Los Angeles metropolitan area's tech and creative industries. Specific details about office amenities or accessibility would need to be confirmed directly.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, fostering interaction with the Creative Director, design teams, and marketing professionals.

• Access to necessary operational tools and technology for research and data analysis will be provided, though the role may also involve selecting and implementing new research tools.

• Opportunities for direct engagement with cross-functional teams will be frequent, facilitating the seamless integration of research insights into ongoing projects.

Work Schedule: The role is likely 40 hours per week, with standard business hours expected for on-site presence. Some flexibility may be available, but the foundational nature of the role and the need for consistent collaboration suggest a predictable schedule is important for establishing routines and reporting cadences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is important for candidates who prefer or require in-person collaboration and structure. It also suggests that the company values face-to-face interaction for building culture and ensuring alignment, which can be beneficial for a role focused on establishing new processes.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A conversation to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit, likely with an HR representative or hiring manager.

• Portfolio Presentation: A key stage where candidates present 2-3 case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating their research process, insights, and impact. This will likely be with the Creative Director and potentially other key stakeholders.

• Skills-Based Interview/Workshop: This may involve a practical exercise or discussion focused on your approach to research design, data synthesis, or problem-solving for one of Softline Solutions' brands.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with cross-functional team members (e.g., Product, Marketing) to assess collaboration style and ability to integrate research into their workflows.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to finalize the decision and discuss terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize projects where your research led to tangible business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, reduced churn, improved user satisfaction metrics). Quantify impact whenever possible.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your end-to-end research process, from defining objectives to conducting research, synthesizing data, and communicating findings.

• Highlight Multi-Brand Experience: Since the role involves three brands, emphasize any experience managing research across diverse products or audiences.

• Data Integration: Demonstrate your ability to weave together qualitative insights with quantitative data (analytics, surveys) to provide a holistic view.

• Communication Clarity: Ensure your presentation is clear, concise, and engaging, tailored to an audience that includes both researchers and non-researchers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building a research function from scratch, including potential methodologies, tooling, and stakeholder engagement strategies.

• Anticipate questions about how you would prioritize research needs across three different brands with potentially competing objectives.

• Practice articulating your research findings and recommendations in a way that is easily understood and actionable by non-researchers, focusing on business impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on building "from the ground up" and influencing "conversion rates, product strategy" means interviewers will be looking for strategic thinkers, not just executors. Candidates should be ready to discuss their vision for the research function, how they would prioritize initiatives, and how they measure success beyond just delivering research reports.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Analytics & Web Tracking: Google Analytics is explicitly mentioned, along with heatmapping and session recording software (e.g., Hotjar, FullStory, Contentsquare).

• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative data analysis (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, potentially R or Python for advanced analysis).

• Collaboration & Documentation: Tools like Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Miro, Confluence, or similar for documentation, synthesis, and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics: Essential for understanding website traffic, user behavior, conversion funnels, and campaign performance.

• Heatmapping/Session Recording Tools: For visualizing user interaction on websites and identifying usability issues.

• Dashboarding Tools: Potentially Tableau, Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio), or similar for creating visual reports and tracking key metrics over time.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how customer data is managed in a CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) might be beneficial for persona development and customer journey mapping.

• Automation tools might be used for survey distribution or basic data processing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Google Analytics and heatmapping software, coupled with the need to "interpret data independently," highlights the importance of quantitative analysis skills. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their proficiency with these tools and how they integrate them into their research practice.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value expected to permeate all teams, ensuring that strategic choices are informed by user evidence and business metrics.

• Customer Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs, which this role will directly champion.

• Impact Orientation: A focus on driving measurable business outcomes, such as conversion rate optimization and revenue growth, rather than just completing tasks.

• Collaboration & Transparency: An emphasis on working effectively across departments and sharing insights openly to foster a cohesive and informed organization.

• Builder Mentality: An encouragement of initiative, innovation, and a proactive approach to creating and improving processes and products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with Product, Design, and Marketing teams, acting as a bridge between user needs and business objectives.

• Evidence-Based Advocacy: A style that is collaborative but also assertive, using research data to advocate for user needs and challenge assumptions respectfully.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that values sharing insights and best practices, making research findings accessible and actionable for broader organizational benefit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "builder mentality" and "comfortable holding complexity across multiple brands simultaneously" are key cultural indicators. This suggests a dynamic environment where individuals are empowered to create, adapt, and manage diverse challenges efficiently.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing a research function, processes, and culture without existing frameworks requires significant initiative, strategic planning, and influence.

• Managing Multiple Brands: Simultaneously addressing the distinct needs, audiences, and product complexities of three different consumer brands can be demanding.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and proving the value and impact of UX research on business outcomes to stakeholders who may be new to research-informed decision-making.

• Balancing Strategic vs. Tactical: Juggling the need to establish long-term research infrastructure with the immediate demands for tactical research insights to support ongoing product development and marketing efforts.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational Process Design: Gaining invaluable experience in architecting and implementing research operations and best practices from the ground up.

• Multi-Brand Expertise: Deepening understanding of diverse consumer markets, product strategies, and e-commerce dynamics across different verticals.

• Strategic Influence: Developing skills in stakeholder management, executive communication, and embedding research into core business strategy.

• Mentorship and Team Building: Potential to mentor junior team members or build out a research team as the function matures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is also the primary growth opportunity: building a function from the ground up. This requires resilience, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to defining and implementing best practices in a potentially resource-constrained or nascent environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a UX research function from scratch for three distinct consumer brands, and what would be your priorities in the first 90 days?" (Focus on process design, stakeholder mapping, methodology selection, and early wins.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance research needs for multiple products or brands simultaneously. How did you prioritize, and what were the outcomes?" (Demonstrate organizational skills, prioritization frameworks, and ability to manage complexity.)

• "How do you ensure your research insights translate into actionable product or business decisions, especially when working with stakeholders who may not be research-savvy?" (Highlight communication strategies, narrative building, and focusing on business impact like conversion rates.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Softline Solutions is managing Closet by Design, Closet World, and Brio Water. How would you tailor your research approach for each of these brands, considering their different product complexities and customer bases?" (Showcase understanding of brand segmentation and audience research.)

• "This role involves close collaboration with our Creative Director and cross-functional teams. Describe your ideal collaboration style and how you build strong working relationships." (Emphasize communication, feedback loops, and shared ownership.)

• "We're looking for someone who is motivated by business outcomes, not just pretty decks. How do you measure the success and impact of your UX research efforts?" (Focus on metrics, ROI, and linking research to conversion, strategy, and customer satisfaction.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your approach (methods), the insights generated, and the specific actions taken based on those insights, along with measurable results (e.g., conversion lift, task success rate improvement).

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use numbers and data to support your claims about impact and the effectiveness of your research.

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and ability to drive positive change.

• Address the "Build from Scratch" Aspect: Be prepared to discuss how your past experiences in process improvement or establishing new initiatives could be applied to this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking to assess your ability to not only do UX research but also to build and lead a research function. Be ready to discuss your strategic vision, process design capabilities, and how you influence organizational culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on ats.rippling.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in building research functions, managing multiple brands/products, and driving business outcomes like conversion rates. Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases these aspects with specific examples and quantifiable results.

• Resume Optimization: Integrate keywords from the job description such as "UX Research," "DTC," "E-commerce," "Google Analytics," "Conversion Rate Optimization," "Qualitative Research," "Quantitative Research," and "Process Design." Emphasize achievements and impact rather than just responsibilities.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your approach to establishing research processes, managing cross-brand research, and communicating insights to diverse stakeholders. Prepare specific examples for behavioral and situational questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Softline Solutions and its three brands (Closet by Design, Closet World, Brio Water). Understand their market position, target audiences, and any publicly available information about their products and customer experience. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

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