Senior UX Researcher, Frame.io

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher, Frame.io

Company: Adobe

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years (Senior Level)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute comprehensive mixed-methods user research initiatives to deeply understand the workflows and needs of creative professionals.

• Champion the voice of the customer by translating research findings into actionable insights that drive product strategy and enhance customer experiences.

• Establish and scale processes for early-stage experimentation, including feedback frameworks and success metrics, to transform nascent signals into clear product direction.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Design, and Marketing teams to ensure the product roadmap aligns with customer priorities and business objectives.

• Drive innovation by exploring the application of AI and emerging tools to stay at the forefront of UX research practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is UX Research, the emphasis on connecting product to broader workflows, collaborating with Product/Eng/Marketing/Design, and driving product vision indicates a strong strategic component. The mention of AI and scaling experimentation suggests a need for process ownership and forward-thinking. The role is positioned to influence product strategy, making it a critical GTM-adjacent function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and conduct rigorous mixed-methods research (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover deep user needs, behaviors, and pain points within the creative professional workflow.

• Develop and implement strategies to effectively disseminate user insights across the organization, ensuring customer needs are understood and prioritized by all relevant teams.

• Define, establish, and scale feedback frameworks, success metrics, and decision criteria for early-stage experimentation programs, translating early signals into actionable product direction.

• Proactively identify and evaluate ambiguous or emerging use cases and product areas to define and prioritize research needs, shaping future product development.

• Partner with cross-functional leaders and product teams to proactively plan and inform product roadmaps, ensuring alignment with customer priorities and business goals.

• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, compelling narratives and actionable recommendations that influence both immediate product iterations and long-term product vision.

• Challenge existing methodologies and seek opportunities to reduce the time-to-insight for both dedicated researchers and non-researcher stakeholders.

• Continuously explore and integrate new research tools, techniques, and technologies, particularly in the realm of AI, to enhance research quality and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize strategic influence, process scaling, and proactive roadmap contribution, indicating a Senior level role that goes beyond typical execution. The focus on "challenging legacy approaches" and "reducing time-to-insight" points to a need for operational efficiency improvements within the research function itself.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of practical experience in User Experience (UX) Research for digital products, with a proven track record of applying a wide variety of research methods across the entire product development lifecycle.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in designing and executing mixed-methods research studies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, card sorting, tree testing, field studies).

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex research findings into clear, persuasive stories and actionable insights that influence product strategy and decision-making.

• Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle and experience collaborating effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Design, and Marketing teams.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Proven ability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience in developing and scaling research processes, feedback frameworks, and success metrics for experimentation.

• Familiarity with data analysis techniques and tools to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI and its application in user research and product development.

• Familiarity with the creative professional industry, workflows, and collaboration tools.

• Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth technology environment.

• Ability to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the growth of the user insights team.

• Experience with quantitative research methodologies and statistical analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5+ years of experience and the emphasis on strategic influence, process scaling, and collaboration with senior stakeholders clearly define this as a Senior-level UX Researcher role. The explicit mention of AI and the desire to "challenge legacy approaches" suggests a need for candidates who are not only skilled researchers but also strategic thinkers capable of evolving research practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of UX research experience, demonstrating a breadth of projects across various methodologies and stages of the product development lifecycle.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, the methods used, the insights generated, and the impact of the research on product decisions and business outcomes.

• Examples of how you have translated complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for product, design, and engineering teams.

• Evidence of experience in establishing or scaling research processes, feedback frameworks, or metrics for experimentation.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have documented research plans, methodologies, findings, and recommendations in a clear and organized manner.

• Case studies highlighting your approach to managing multiple research projects concurrently, including planning, execution, and synthesis phases.

• Demonstrations of how you have collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate research insights into their workflows and decision-making processes.

• Artifacts or descriptions of feedback frameworks, success metrics, or experimental design processes you have developed or improved.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the Senior level and the emphasis on strategy and process scaling, the portfolio should not only showcase research execution but also strategic thinking, process improvement, and demonstrable impact. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their research directly influenced product direction and business objectives, and how they've contributed to the maturity of research practices.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• California: $158,800 - $229,900 annually

• New York: $158,800 - $229,900 annually

• General US Range: $121,800 - $229,900 annually

Explanation of Range: The provided salary ranges are based on Adobe's compensation philosophy, which considers geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The broader U.S. range reflects varying pay scales across different markets, with California and New York having higher specified ranges due to cost of labor and market demand for senior research talent. The upper end of the range is reserved for candidates with exceptional qualifications and extensive experience directly relevant to the role's strategic and leadership aspects.

Benefits:

• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP): A performance-based bonus program.

• Equity Award: Potential for new hire equity awards, providing ownership and participation in company growth.

• Comprehensive Benefits Programs: Includes health insurance, retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k), paid time off, parental leave, and other wellness-focused benefits.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and career growth.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. While the role is on-site, flexibility may be available depending on team needs and project demands, as is common in senior-level positions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is detailed and includes specific figures for California and New York, reflecting the company's transparency. The inclusion of "Annual Incentive Plan" and "Equity award" alongside "Comprehensive benefits programs" highlights a robust total compensation package beyond base salary, which is attractive for senior-level operations and strategy roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software, Technology, Creative Tools, Cloud Services (specifically within Adobe's Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud divisions). Frame.io operates within the video collaboration and post-production workflow space.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Adobe has over 30,000 employees worldwide). Frame.io, as an acquired company, likely maintains a distinct culture within the larger Adobe structure, emphasizing agility and innovation.

Founded: Frame.io was founded in 2014 and acquired by Adobe in 2021. Adobe was founded in 1982. This history provides a blend of startup agility and established corporate stability.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Researcher will report directly to the Head of User Insights, indicating a dedicated insights function within the broader Design organization.

• This role involves close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, UX Designers, and Marketing counterparts, highlighting a cross-functional, team-oriented approach.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The role emphasizes translating "sparse alpha signal into actionable product direction" and using "practical insights" to "clarify goals, highlight opportunities."

• Customer-Centricity: A core tenet is "promoting the voice of the customer" and ensuring the product "align with customer priorities."

• Innovation & Experimentation: The role is tasked with "establishing and scaling processes and insights for early-stage experimentation programs."

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Success relies on partnering with "Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Design" to ensure alignment and integrated strategies.

Company Website: https://www.adobe.com/ and https://frame.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Adobe's scale and Frame.io's specific domain. The emphasis on data-driven decisions, customer-centricity, and cross-functional collaboration is crucial for operations-minded candidates who thrive in structured yet innovative environments. The blend of startup agility (Frame.io) and enterprise resources (Adobe) offers a unique work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior/Staff level within the User Insights/UX Research domain. It requires not just execution but also strategic input, process ownership, and the ability to influence product direction. It’s a critical role in bridging the gap between user needs and business strategy, akin to a strategic operations function within product development.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of User Insights. This implies a direct line to leadership within the insights function, offering mentorship and visibility. The role will also have significant dotted-line reporting or strong collaborative relationships with Product, Engineering, and Design leads.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's work directly impacts product-market fit, user adoption, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue. By ensuring the product addresses genuine customer needs and pain points, the role contributes significantly to the success of Frame.io and Adobe's Creative Cloud offerings. Insights derived will inform roadmap prioritization, feature development, and go-to-market strategies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the strategic direction and growth of the User Insights team.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or product areas within the creative professional space.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Management, Design Strategy, or even GTM strategy roles by leveraging deep customer understanding and strategic influence.

• Impact Amplification: Scale research processes and best practices across Frame.io and potentially other Adobe product teams.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping the future of UX research, particularly with the integration of AI, within a leading technology company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, moving beyond pure research execution to strategic influence and team leadership. The emphasis on scaling processes and impacting product strategy aligns well with career paths in operations and GTM strategy, where driving efficiency and informed decision-making are paramount.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as on-site in San Francisco, New York, or San Jose. This suggests a traditional office environment designed for in-person collaboration, team meetings, and focused work.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California; San Jose, California; New York, New York. These are major tech hubs, offering access to talent and industry networks.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site nature promotes spontaneous interactions, team brainstorming sessions, and direct feedback loops with colleagues in Product, Engineering, and Design.

• Tools and Technology: Access to Adobe's extensive technology stack, including advanced research tools, collaboration platforms, and potentially AI-powered research assistants.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to engage with UX Designers, Product Managers, and Engineers for daily stand-ups, sprint planning, design reviews, and strategy sessions.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (40 hours/week), with an expectation of flexibility to accommodate research needs, project deadlines, and cross-time zone collaboration if necessary. The on-site requirement suggests a structured work week, but senior roles often allow for some autonomy in managing time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in key tech hubs indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, which can be beneficial for rapid iteration and team cohesion. This environment is conducive to the kind of close-knit, cross-functional work expected in strategic operations roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Head of User Insights to delve into experience, research philosophy, strategic thinking, and team fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents selected case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating their research process, insights, and impact. This is a critical stage for assessing practical skills and communication.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, Senior Designers, Engineering Leads) to evaluate collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and ability to influence diverse stakeholders.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level leader within the Design or Product organization to assess strategic alignment and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 impactful projects that showcase a range of methodologies, complex problems solved, and demonstrable business/product impact.

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your approach, key insights, and the resulting actions/outcomes. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in task completion," "informed a strategic pivot resulting in X").

• Highlight Process Ownership: Include examples where you've developed or improved research processes, scaled insights, or established metrics for experimentation.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as compelling narratives. Explain the "why" behind your choices and the challenges you overcame.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your methods, decision-making, and how you handled ambiguity or conflicting feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Mock Research Study Design: Be prepared to outline how you would approach a hypothetical research problem relevant to Frame.io's product or user base.

• Insight Synthesis Exercise: You might be asked to analyze provided data (e.g., interview transcripts, survey results) and present key insights and recommendations.

• Process Improvement Scenario: Prepare to discuss how you would improve a given research process or scale insights delivery within a team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential practical exercises highlights the need for candidates to not only articulate their experience but also demonstrate their ability to apply research methodologies and translate findings into actionable strategies. This aligns with operations roles that require tangible proof of process improvement and strategic contribution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Tools for usability testing, surveys, and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration & Communication: Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Jira.

• Data Analysis & Visualization: Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets), statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Python libraries for data analysis), qualitative data analysis tools (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo), and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker).

• Prototyping & Design Tools: Familiarity with tools used by design partners such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD will be beneficial for understanding design iterations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding of tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to contextualize user behavior.

• Product Analytics: Experience with platforms like Amplitude or Mixpanel to understand user engagement and product usage patterns.

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to create and interpret dashboards (e.g., using Tableau, Power BI, or internal tools) to communicate research findings and product performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user feedback and insights can inform CRM strategies or customer journey mapping is valuable.

• Familiarity with project management and workflow automation tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) is essential for managing research projects and cross-functional workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While primarily a UX Research role, the mention of AI, scaling processes, and influencing product strategy suggests a need for proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and understanding of product analytics tools. This blend of qualitative research skills with quantitative data literacy is common in advanced operations roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring their needs are at the forefront of product development.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on evidence and insights to guide strategy, prioritize efforts, and measure success, rather than intuition alone.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working openly with cross-functional partners, sharing insights freely, and fostering a collaborative environment where ideas can be challenged and improved.

• Innovation & Continuous Learning: Embracing new tools and methodologies (especially AI), challenging existing approaches, and continuously seeking to improve research quality and efficiency.

• Impact & Accountability: Focusing on delivering research that has a tangible impact on product success and business outcomes, and taking ownership of research initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Partnership: Actively engaging with Product, Engineering, and Design teams early and often to integrate research into the product lifecycle.

• Empathetic Communication: Clearly articulating user needs and perspectives in a way that resonates with different functional groups.

• Constructive Feedback: Providing and receiving feedback constructively to refine research approaches and product strategies.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a culture of shared learning by presenting findings, participating in team discussions, and mentoring colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, analytical rigor, and collaborative execution, which are core to successful operations functions. The focus on impact, continuous learning, and transparency will appeal to operations professionals who value efficiency and measurable results.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research Depth with Speed: Effectively conducting rigorous research while meeting the fast-paced demands of product development and experimentation.

• Translating Ambiguity into Clarity: Defining research needs and generating actionable insights in ambiguous or emerging product areas.

• Influencing Diverse Stakeholders: Persuading teams with different priorities and perspectives to adopt research-backed recommendations.

• Scaling Research Impact: Developing processes and tools to enable wider adoption of user insights across the organization, including empowering non-researchers.

• Integrating AI: Navigating the ethical and practical considerations of integrating AI into research workflows and ensuring its effective use.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunity to master and innovate with cutting-edge qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including AI-driven research tools.

• Strategic Product Influence: Developing skills in strategic planning, roadmap input, and influencing product vision at a senior level.

• Team Leadership: Mentoring junior researchers, contributing to team strategy, and potentially leading research initiatives for new product areas.

• Industry Exposure: Engaging with the broader Adobe Design and Research community, attending conferences, and staying abreast of industry trends.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gaining deeper understanding of Product Management, Engineering, and Go-to-Market strategies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities highlight a role that requires continuous learning, strategic problem-solving, and the ability to drive change – all hallmarks of advanced operations roles. The focus on scaling impact and leveraging new technologies like AI is particularly relevant.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a product roadmap with limited data. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, data synthesis, and persuasion.)

• "How would you approach understanding the needs of creative professionals who are early adopters of new AI tools for their workflow?" (Assess understanding of target users, AI trends, and research methodology.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see Frame.io's product fitting into the broader Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem from a user's perspective?" (Test understanding of product strategy and market positioning.)

• "Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Design, Marketing). How do you ensure alignment and effective collaboration?" (Assess teamwork and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Methodology -> Key Insights -> Impact/Outcome -> Learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the tangible results of your research (e.g., improvements in user satisfaction, task success rates, engagement, or influence on business decisions).

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Highlight how your research informed product strategy, identified new opportunities, or mitigated risks.

• Demonstrate Process Improvement: If applicable, showcase instances where you improved research processes, scaled insights, or developed new frameworks.

• Tailor to Frame.io: Connect your experience and insights to Frame.io's mission and product, showing you've done your homework.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, strong methodological expertise, and the ability to translate research into business impact. Candidates should prepare to discuss process improvements and how they leverage data and user insights to drive product strategy, mirroring the skills valued in operations and GTM roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the Adobe careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Carefully select 3-4 of your most impactful UX research projects that best demonstrate your mixed-methods expertise, strategic thinking, and ability to drive product outcomes. Ensure each case study clearly articulates the problem, your role, your process, key insights, and the resulting impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of UX research experience, specific methodologies used, experience with cross-functional collaboration, and any contributions to scaling research processes or influencing product strategy. Use keywords from the job description such as "mixed methods," "user insights," "product strategy," and "AI."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, synthesizing findings, and demonstrating the business impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic influence. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to be clear, concise, and impactful.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Frame.io and Adobe's Design team. Understand their products, target users (creative professionals), recent news, and company values. Consider how your research skills and approach align with their stated goals, particularly regarding AI integration and customer-centricity.

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

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