Senior UX Researcher, Mixed Methods

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher, Mixed Methods

Company: onX

Location: Austin, Texas, United States; Bozeman, Montana, United States; Denver, Colorado, United States; Kalispell, Montana, United States; Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States; Missoula, Montana, United States; Portland, Oregon, United States; Salt Lake City, Utah, United States; Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Insights

Date Posted: 2026-09-25

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end mixed-methods User Experience (UX) research initiatives, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, to inform product strategy and enhance the customer experience across the full product lifecycle.

• Drive cross-functional partnerships with Product, Design, Data Science, Business Intelligence, and Marketing teams to translate research insights into actionable product decisions and strategic priorities.

• Execute a variety of research methodologies, including generative and evaluative qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, diary studies) and quantitative studies (e.g., surveys, behavioral data analysis) to build a holistic understanding of onX customers.

• Act as a strategic advisor, coaching non-researchers on study design, contributing to shared research standards, and exploring the application of AI and other advanced technologies to improve research efficiency and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is UX Research, the emphasis on "turning research into real product influence," "shaping product strategy and priorities," and "partnering with Product, Design, Data Science, Business Intelligence, and Marketing" indicates a strong connection to GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy enablement through data-driven customer understanding. This role requires translating user needs into actionable product improvements that directly impact market adoption and customer retention.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently plan, scope, and execute mixed-methods research studies from conception through to delivering actionable insights, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives.

• Design and conduct generative research (e.g., user interviews, ethnographic studies) to uncover unmet needs, identify new product opportunities, and inform early-stage product development.

• Plan and execute evaluative research (e.g., usability testing, concept testing, A/B testing analysis) to assess the effectiveness and usability of product features and user flows.

• Develop and deploy quantitative research instruments, such as surveys and questionnaires, and analyze data using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify trends, measure user satisfaction, and quantify impact.

• Synthesize findings from diverse research streams (qualitative, quantitative, behavioral, CX data) to create comprehensive customer profiles, journey maps, and personas that guide product and business decisions.

• Communicate research findings, insights, and recommendations clearly and compellingly to various stakeholders, including executive leadership, product managers, designers, and engineers, through presentations, reports, and workshops.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Design teams to define research questions, prioritize research initiatives, and integrate user feedback throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of UX research standards, best practices, and methodologies across the organization, fostering a user-centric culture.

• Proactively identify research opportunities by staying abreast of market trends, competitive landscapes, and evolving customer behaviors within the outdoor exploration domain.

• Explore and leverage AI and other emerging technologies to enhance research efficiency, data analysis, and the scalability of insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive approach to research, emphasizing "spotting the right questions before anyone asks" and "challenging assumptions." This indicates the role is not just about executing assigned tasks but about driving research strategy and influencing product direction based on deep customer understanding, aligning closely with GTM objectives by ensuring products meet market needs effectively.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Anthropology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Master’s degree or PhD in a related field is considered a strong asset. Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience.

• At least five (5) years specifically in UX research, product research, or consumer research roles, preferably within a fast-paced B2C product environment. Required Skills:

• Mixed-Methods Research Fluency: Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, analyze, and integrate both qualitative and quantitative research studies to answer complex strategic questions.

• Qualitative Research Expertise: Proficiency in foundational and evaluative qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews, usability testing (moderated and unmoderated), diary studies, ethnographic research, and other generative and evaluative approaches.

• Quantitative Research Proficiency: Hands-on experience with survey design, sampling strategies, data quality assessment, and applying descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze survey and behavioral data.

• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving: A proactive mindset capable of understanding customer needs, product context, and business goals to identify critical research areas and translate findings into impactful product and business strategies.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to build strong, trusted relationships with Product, Design, Data Science, Business Intelligence, and Marketing teams, effectively communicating insights and influencing decisions.

• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex findings, implications, and limitations clearly to diverse audiences.

• Agility & Adaptability: Capacity to manage multiple research projects concurrently, adapting to shifting priorities, timelines, and evolving business needs.

• Customer Insight Generation: Ability to synthesize disparate data points into cohesive narratives that reveal deep customer understanding and actionable opportunities.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in a democratized or enabled research environment where non-researchers conduct studies.

• Experience with data analysis or visualization tools such as R, Python, Tableau, or similar.

• Proficiency with advanced statistical techniques including regression analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, etc.

• Expertise in advanced survey methodologies like MaxDiff, conjoint analysis, Van Westendorp pricing, or similar.

• Genuine enthusiasm for the outdoors and a personal understanding of how people explore it.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is crucial for this role, as it directly demonstrates the candidate's ability to translate research into tangible business impact. This aligns with operations roles that demand demonstrable results and ROI. The emphasis on "shaping product strategy and priorities" and "influencing decisions" positions this role as a key contributor to Go-To-Market success by ensuring product-market fit.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is required as part of the application, showcasing the ability to independently scope and execute mixed-method research projects.

• Case studies should clearly demonstrate the translation of research evidence into meaningful product and business impact, highlighting strategic contributions.

• Include examples of how research findings directly influenced product strategy, roadmap prioritization, or key business decisions.

• Showcase the ability to integrate qualitative, quantitative, and behavioral data to derive holistic customer insights. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in defining and documenting research processes, from initial planning and methodology selection to data analysis and insight dissemination.

• Provide examples of how research findings were effectively documented and socialized to ensure widespread understanding and actionability within cross-functional teams.

• Illustrate how research processes were adapted to balance speed with rigor, making informed tradeoffs to deliver timely and credible insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio that demonstrates translating research into "meaningful product and business impact" is a direct parallel to operations roles that require showcasing quantifiable results and ROI. This portfolio should highlight process optimization driven by user insights, and how those insights informed GTM strategies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $154,000 - $180,000 USD per year. This range is an estimate based on the provided salary information and is subject to variation based on candidate experience, skills, certifications, education, and other factors specific to the role and location.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: Annual salary within the specified range, plus an annual bonus of 10% based on company performance.

• Equity: Grant of common share options with a vesting schedule, offering long-term incentive.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including a medical plan with no monthly cost to the employee.

• Family Support: Paid parental leave of 13 weeks for birthing parents and 5 weeks for non-birthing parents.

• Retirement Savings: 401k matching program, offering 100% match for the first 3% saved and 50% match for savings between 3-5%.

• Wellness & Lifestyle: Annual "Get Out, Get Active" funds to support an active lifestyle.

• Time Off: Flexible time away package including Paid Time Off (PTO), Sick Time Off (STO), Volunteer Time Off (VTO), and paid holidays.

• Outdoor Perks: Access to company-wide outdoor adventures and other industry-specific perks.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

While the role is remote, the expectation is consistent engagement and availability during core business hours to facilitate collaboration with distributed teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly defined, and the benefits package is comprehensive, including performance-based bonuses and equity, which are common in roles that have a significant impact on business outcomes. The mention of "annual bonus of 10% based on company performance" directly links individual contribution to broader company success, a common theme in operations roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Outdoor Recreation, Digital Mapping & Navigation.

Company Size: Over 400 employees.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the description suggests a company with established products and a fast-paced, high-growth environment that has evolved from its origins.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is part of a larger Product and Design organization, reporting to a UX Research Manager.

• This role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, Business Intelligence, and Marketing teams, indicating a highly cross-functional operational structure.

• The company operates as a "distributed company" with regional "basecamps," suggesting a hybrid approach to collaboration that blends remote work with periodic in-person gatherings. Methodology:

• Experimentation Mindset: Continuous iteration and improvement in how problems are solved and products are built.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using the latest tooling, including AI, thoughtfully and responsibly, pairing human judgment with technology for increased quality, speed, and impact.

• Customer Centricity: Deep understanding of customers is paramount, with decisions grounded in how people actually explore the outdoors.

• Agile & Adaptable: The business moves quickly, requiring adaptation and continuous evolution in how teams build, prioritize, and deliver.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of rapid growth, high expectations ("grit," "ambiguity"), and a strong commitment to customer understanding and data-driven decision-making. The "experimentation mindset" and "AI" usage are key indicators of a modern operations approach focused on continuous improvement and leveraging technology for efficiency and effectiveness.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC). This role is positioned as a senior-level researcher responsible for owning research end-to-end, influencing strategy, and mentoring others. It is a critical role for translating customer understanding into product success, which directly impacts Go-To-Market effectiveness.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher reports to the UX Research Manager. This implies a clear line of management for guidance, development, and performance evaluation within the UX Research function.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant as it directly informs product strategy and customer experience. By ensuring products are designed based on genuine customer needs and behaviors, this role influences market adoption, customer satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, revenue generation for onX. The insights generated are crucial for GTM teams to effectively position and market products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Research: Potential to grow into a lead researcher role, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to shaping the overall UX research strategy and operational framework for the company.

• Specialization & Advanced Methods: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research areas (e.g., advanced quantitative analysis, AI-driven research) and gain experience with more complex, high-impact projects.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic partnerships across Product, Design, Data Science, and Marketing, potentially leading to opportunities in product strategy or GTM enablement roles.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in user research for the outdoor recreation technology sector, contributing to the company's market leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Senior UX Researcher in a company like onX, with its GTM focus, often involves opportunities to influence product strategy and market positioning. This is akin to a Senior Operations Analyst or Strategist who provides critical insights that shape how products are brought to market and supported.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Distributed workforce with established "virtual workforce Basecamps" and two HQ locations. This indicates a flexible work environment that supports remote employees while fostering opportunities for in-person connection.

Office Location(s): Bozeman, MT (HQ); Missoula, MT (HQ); Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Kalispell, MT; Minneapolis, MN; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA. Employees are expected to travel quarterly for multiple days to a corporate office or strategic location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Designed to foster connection and collaboration, even within a distributed model. Regular in-person gatherings are part of the culture.

• Modern Tooling: Employees are expected to use the latest tooling, including AI, to enhance quality, speed, and impact, suggesting access to up-to-date technology.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with product, design, and data teams, crucial for integrating research into development workflows.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. The distributed nature suggests flexibility in daily scheduling, but core hours are likely maintained for cross-team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "distributed company" model with "basecamps" and mandatory quarterly travel suggests a deliberate effort to balance remote flexibility with the operational necessity of in-person collaboration for strategic alignment and team cohesion, common in companies with robust GTM functions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, research philosophy, and alignment with team needs.

• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: Candidates will present case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating end-to-end research execution, strategic thinking, and impact on product/business outcomes. This is a critical stage for evaluating operations-relevant skills.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product, Design, and potentially Data Science partners to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to influence.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss strategic fit and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Impact: Clearly articulate the business and product impact of your research. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., "Increased conversion by X%," "Reduced support tickets by Y%," "Informed product strategy leading to Z revenue growth").

• Showcase Mixed Methods: Demonstrate your ability to seamlessly integrate qualitative and quantitative findings to provide a holistic view. Explain why you chose specific methods.

• Detail Your Process: Walk through your research process step-by-step, from defining the problem and research questions to data collection, analysis, and synthesizing insights.

• Tell a Story: Frame your case studies as narratives that highlight the problem, your approach, the challenges faced, the insights discovered, and the resulting actions and outcomes.

• Tailor to onX: Research onX's products, target audience, and recent company news. Frame your examples to show how your skills align with their mission and challenges in the outdoor exploration space.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss hypothetical research scenarios relevant to onX's products (e.g., researching user needs for a new mapping feature, evaluating the usability of an off-road navigation tool).

• Practice articulating your thought process for designing studies, choosing methods, and interpreting potential findings.

• Prepare to discuss how you would collaborate with product and design teams to integrate research findings into their workflows and decision-making processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and demonstrating "meaningful product and business impact" is a direct parallel to operations roles where candidates are expected to showcase their ability to drive efficiency, optimize processes, and achieve measurable business outcomes through data and strategic analysis. This stage is crucial for assessing a candidate's operational mindset.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualitative Research Tools: Proficiency in tools for conducting interviews, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze), and diary studies.

• Quantitative Research Tools: Expertise in survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Typeform) and data analysis software.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Slack, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Statistical Software: Experience with statistical analysis tools such as R, Python (with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, SciPy), SPSS, or similar is highly desirable.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to use tools like Tableau, Power BI, or libraries within R/Python to create clear and impactful visualizations of research data.

• BI Platforms: Familiarity with Business Intelligence platforms (e.g., Looker, Tableau) for understanding broader business and customer data context.

CRM & Automation:

• While not direct CRM/automation tools, understanding how user data is collected and managed within CRM systems and how automated workflows impact user experience can be beneficial.

• Familiarity with analytics platforms that track user behavior (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) is advantageous for integrating behavioral data into research findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred skills mentioning R, Python, and advanced statistics highlight a strong analytical component, crucial for roles that involve data-driven decision-making and process optimization. This aligns with operations roles that require analytical rigor to derive actionable insights from complex datasets.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep understanding of and commitment to the customer's needs and experiences, driving product decisions that enhance user satisfaction and loyalty.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Leveraging data and insights to fuel experimentation, continuous improvement, and the development of innovative solutions.

• Grit & Resilience: Embracing challenges, adapting to ambiguity, and persevering to achieve ambitious goals in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Taking personal responsibility for outcomes while working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared objectives.

• Passion for the Outdoors: A genuine enthusiasm for outdoor exploration, which informs the company's mission and product development.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Building close, trusted relationships with Product, Design, Data Science, and Marketing partners to proactively identify research opportunities and integrate findings.

• Insight-Driven Influence: Clearly communicating research findings and their implications to influence product strategy and business decisions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to shared research standards and practices, and potentially coaching non-researchers on effective research methodologies.

• Experimentation Culture: Embracing iterative development and learning from both successes and failures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "data-driven innovation," "grit & resilience," and "collaboration & ownership" are core tenets of successful operations teams. These values foster an environment where data is used to drive efficiency, challenges are met with determination, and cross-functional alignment is paramount for achieving GTM objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Rigor: Effectively managing research timelines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining methodological soundness and delivering credible insights.

• Influencing Diverse Stakeholders: Translating complex research findings into compelling narratives that resonate with and influence decision-makers across different departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing, etc.).

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working effectively in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift and research questions may evolve, requiring adaptability and strategic foresight.

• Scaling Research Impact: Finding ways to make research insights more accessible and reusable across the organization, potentially through AI-powered tools or democratized research approaches.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodological Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including advanced statistical analysis and AI applications in research.

• Strategic Influence Development: Gaining experience in shaping product strategy and influencing high-level business decisions through impactful research.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Broadening understanding of product management, design thinking, data science, and marketing operations by working closely with these teams.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Potential to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the strategic direction of the UX research function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges described, such as "balancing speed and rigor" and "influencing diverse stakeholders," are common in operations roles that require delivering critical insights under pressure and aligning various business units towards a common goal. The growth opportunities align with advancing within an operations or GTM strategy track.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used mixed-methods research to uncover a critical customer insight that significantly shifted product strategy. What was your process, what were the key findings, and what was the ultimate impact?" (Focus on demonstrating end-to-end ownership, strategic thinking, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you approach building trust and strong partnerships with Product Managers and Designers? Provide an example of a challenging collaboration and how you navigated it." (Assess collaboration skills and ability to integrate research into product development workflows.)

• "Imagine we're considering launching a new feature for X onX product. How would you approach researching user needs and validating the concept? What methods would you prioritize and why?" (Evaluate research planning, methodological justification, and strategic foresight.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about onX and our mission to help people explore the outdoors? How do you see your research skills contributing to our success?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and alignment with company values and industry.)

• "How do you stay current with new research methodologies and emerging technologies like AI? How might you apply these in a company like onX?" (Showcase continuous learning and forward-thinking approach.)

• "Describe your experience working in a distributed or hybrid team environment. What strategies do you employ to ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Assess adaptability to onX's work model.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: Use a clear narrative: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Approach -> Methodology -> Key Findings -> Impact & Recommendations -> Learnings.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, highlight measurable outcomes. If direct quantification is difficult, articulate the strategic implications and how decisions were made based on your research.

• Showcase Methodology Choices: Clearly explain why you chose specific qualitative and quantitative methods, demonstrating your strategic rationale and methodological fluency.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Highlight how you partnered with other teams throughout the research process and how your insights were integrated into product development.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific data points, analytical techniques, and alternative approaches you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating impact, strategic thinking, and collaboration, which are critical for operations roles. The emphasis on quantifying results and articulating ROI in case studies is a direct parallel to the expectations for operations professionals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit Your Application: Apply directly through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest mixed-methods research case studies that best demonstrate your ability to drive product and business impact. Ensure these highlight your strategic thinking, methodological rigor, and collaboration skills.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to clearly showcase your 8+ years of experience, with a strong emphasis on the 5+ years in UX/product research. Use keywords from the job description and highlight achievements with quantifiable results where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio case studies. Be ready to articulate your process, findings, and impact concisely and compellingly, anticipating questions about methodology and collaboration.

• Research onX: Thoroughly research onX's products (Hunt, Offroad, Backcountry, Fish), mission, values, and recent company news. Understand their target audience and the competitive landscape of outdoor technology. Prepare to discuss how your skills align with their specific needs and challenges.

⚠️ 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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