Senior UX Researcher/Designer - REMOTE

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher/Designer - REMOTE

Company: Flexion

Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design & Research

Date Posted: May 22, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is for a Senior UX Researcher/Designer focused on leading user experience initiatives within agile application development teams.

• The position emphasizes a human-centered design approach, with a strong focus on continuous discovery and iterative problem-solving for complex client projects.

• Candidates will be expected to advocate for users, facilitate design thinking, and collaborate extensively within cross-functional teams.

• The role requires a blend of research and design expertise, with an emphasis on applying Lean UX principles in a startup-like environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior UX Researcher/Designer," the description highlights a strong need for leadership and cross-functional collaboration, suggesting a role that bridges strategy and execution within a consulting context. The emphasis on "startup mentality" and "flexing multi-skilled muscles" indicates a dynamic, hands-on environment where adaptability is key. This role is not just about design execution but about driving UX strategy and adoption within client engagements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead UX design and research activities on client projects, often collaborating with external design teams or client-side personnel.

• Drive continuous discovery processes with customers to identify user needs and opportunities, and to evaluate solutions as understanding evolves.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops and client-facing discussions to align on user needs and business goals.

• Advocate for end-users by integrating their needs and feedback throughout the project lifecycle, balancing them with business objectives.

• Execute a wide range of UX design tasks, including sketching, wireframing, prototyping, information architecture, content strategy, heuristic reviews, and interaction design.

• Conduct comprehensive user and business research to inform UX strategy and design decisions, generating actionable insights.

• Analyze and provide feedback on technical solutions impacting interface design and user experience, ensuring alignment with UX best practices.

• Pair or mob program with development team members, fostering a collaborative design and development process.

• Coach other team members on fundamental Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles relevant to all developers.

• Prototype, test, and iterate on designs based on user feedback and data analysis to refine the user experience.

• Drive and analyze client and user feedback to identify opportunities for continuous improvement of the overall user experience.

• Adhere to lean and agile methodologies to deliver high-quality products efficiently with minimal churn.

• Shepherd projects from inception to completion, ensuring a seamless and positive user experience throughout the product lifecycle.

• Manage remote work effectively, with occasional travel (<10%) for client-site work or user testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are broad, encompassing both strategic leadership and hands-on execution across the entire UX spectrum. The emphasis on "holistic issues" and "tackling tough conversations" suggests a consultative approach where influencing stakeholders is as crucial as design execution. The mention of "enterprise applications" and "dashboards for analyzing real-time data" points towards complex, data-intensive projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in UX design and research for clients.

• At least 2 years of experience working within Agile Scrum methodologies.

• At least 1 year of experience specifically with Lean UX principles in an Agile environment.

• Proven experience in a startup or similar fast-paced, dynamic business setting.

• Demonstrated track record of successfully developing complex enterprise-level products.

• Extensive experience with Incremental/Agile UX practices.

• "Black belt" level proficiency across mixed UI/UX disciplines.

• Experience coaching teams and clients on UX/HCD principles.

• Service Design experience is required.

• Experience designing dashboards for complex data systems and enterprise applications.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in UX research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, heuristic evaluations, card sorting, persona development).

• Expertise in UX design principles and practices, including information architecture, interaction design, and user journey mapping.

• Strong command of prototyping tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite for creating varying fidelity prototypes.

• Deep understanding and practical application of Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles.

• Proven ability to lead and facilitate design workshops and discovery sessions.

• Excellent verbal and visual communication skills for effectively conveying goals, designs, research findings, and requirements to diverse audiences.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach, while also comfortable making decisions with incomplete data.

• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, remote work environment.

Preferred Skills:

• USWDS (U.S. Web Design System) experience.

• FinTech experience is considered a bonus.

• Experience with content auditing and microcopy.

• Familiarity with data modeling concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "black belt in mixed UI/UX disciplines" indicates a need for a highly versatile individual who can seamlessly transition between research, strategy, and detailed design execution. The emphasis on "startup mentality" and "can do attitude devoid of ego" suggests a preference for proactive, adaptable individuals who can thrive in ambiguity and contribute broadly to team success.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of end-to-end UX process, from initial research and strategy to final design and iteration.

• Case studies showcasing complex enterprise application design and research, highlighting problem-solving skills.

• Examples of work involving dashboards for complex data systems or real-time data analysis.

• Evidence of applying Lean UX and Agile methodologies in project execution.

• Prototypes of varying fidelity (e.g., sketches, wireframes, interactive mockups) created using tools like Figma or Adobe Creative Suite.

• Documentation of user journey maps, personas, and information architecture strategies.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase how you facilitate continuous discovery and iterative problem-solving.

• Provide examples of how you conduct user and business research to generate insights.

• Illustrate your approach to leading design workshops and advocating for user needs.

• Detail your methods for prototyping, testing, and iterating on designs.

• Demonstrate experience with workflow and modeling tools (e.g., OmniGraffle, LucidChart) for process mapping.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to present a portfolio that clearly articulates their involvement in the entire product development lifecycle. The emphasis on "solving complex problems" and "driving learning and development" means portfolios should highlight strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, not just aesthetic design skills. The mention of USWDS and enterprise applications suggests a need to showcase experience with design systems and large-scale, potentially regulated, environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Referral bonuses.

• Commitment to employee well-being and career success.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility inherent in a remote, agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided falls within the typical market for a Senior UX Researcher/Designer with the specified experience level and specialized skills (e.g., Lean UX, USWDS) in the US market. The benefits package is comprehensive and competitive for a full-time role, emphasizing employee well-being and long-term financial planning.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Delivery, Consulting, Technology. Flexion operates as a software delivery company, working on large-scale systems and applications for both commercial and government clients. This context implies a need for adaptability, adherence to potential compliance standards, and a focus on delivering robust solutions.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "start-up experience" and "low-bureaucracy structure" suggests a company that values agility and individual contribution, possibly ranging from medium to large but operating with a lean, empowering ethos.

Founded: Over 24 years ago, indicating a stable company with a long-standing presence in the software delivery space, capable of handling complex, long-term projects.

Team Structure:

• Integrated into cross-functional agile application development teams.

• Teams are designed to be self-sufficient and self-directed, fostering leadership at all levels.

• Collaboration is a core component, with expectations for "pairing or mobbing" with other team members.

Methodology:

• Primarily follows Agile and Scrum methodologies.

• Embraces Lean UX principles for iterative design and development.

• Focuses on continuous discovery and rapid iteration to drive learning and development.

• Emphasizes data-driven decision-making, but also values pragmatic solutions when data is limited.

Company Website: flexion.us

📝 Enhancement Note: Flexion's culture is characterized by autonomy, trust, and transparency. The emphasis on "flexing multi-skilled muscles" and "every member within a cross-functional team is a leader" highlights a flat organizational structure where individuals are empowered to take ownership and contribute broadly. This is crucial for a UX role that needs to influence development and client stakeholders.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role, focused on leading UX efforts within specific client projects and agile teams. It requires significant expertise and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy. It's a "black belt" level position, indicating mastery of mixed UI/UX disciplines.

Reporting Structure: While the specific reporting line isn't detailed, Senior UX Designers/Researchers typically report to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Director of Product/Design within a consulting or agency setting. Within the agile team, they collaborate closely with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and Developers.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the success of client projects by ensuring user needs are met, leading to higher adoption rates, improved user satisfaction, and ultimately, better business outcomes for clients. The UX professional acts as a key influencer in shaping product strategy and technical direction from a user-centric perspective.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like Service Design, complex data visualization, or enterprise UX within government or FinTech sectors.

• Leadership: Progress into Lead UX roles, managing multiple projects or mentoring junior designers. Potential for leadership within Flexion's broader UX practice.

• Skill Expansion: Develop skills in business analysis, content strategy, or information architecture, further enhancing the "multi-skilled" profile.

• Client Influence: Gain experience working with a diverse range of clients and complex problems, building a strong consulting portfolio and reputation.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to coach and mentor other team members on HCD, contributing to the overall UX maturity of the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant influence. Growth opportunities likely lie in becoming a subject matter expert, leading larger initiatives, or potentially moving into management roles within Flexion's consulting framework. The emphasis on "start-up mentality" and "low-bureaucracy" suggests that career progression might be less about traditional hierarchical steps and more about increased project complexity, client impact, and leadership within project teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Predominantly remote. The company emphasizes a low-bureaucracy, trust-based culture that supports remote work. Client-site work is minimal (<10%), suggesting most collaboration and work will be conducted digitally.

Office Location(s): The job posting lists Madison, Wisconsin as a primary location, but the role is designated as "REMOTE." This suggests that while the company has a physical presence, the role is not tied to a specific office and can be performed from anywhere within the US, with potential occasional travel to client sites.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While remote, there's a strong emphasis on online collaboration, including "pairing or mobbing" with team members. This indicates a need for effective virtual collaboration tools and practices.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard UX tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) and workflow modeling tools (OmniGraffle, LucidChart) is expected.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with cross-functional agile teams, clients, and potentially other design consultants. The culture encourages open communication and shared responsibility.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 40 hours/week) with flexibility inherent in remote and agile work. The focus is on delivering demonstrable software regularly, emphasizing results over strict hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role, coupled with the emphasis on collaboration, suggests that candidates should be highly self-motivated and proficient in asynchronous and synchronous remote communication tools. The occasional travel requirement should be noted as a potential constraint for some candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the resume and portfolio to assess experience and fit with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation/Deep Dive: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific case studies that demonstrate their UX research and design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Expect questions about their role, methodologies, and decision-making.

• Technical/Behavioral Interviews: Interviews with hiring managers and/or team members focusing on UX methodologies, Agile/Lean UX experience, collaboration style, and how they handle challenging client or project situations.

• Client/Stakeholder Interaction (Potentially): Depending on the project, there might be an interview or discussion with a client representative to assess fit and communication skills.

• Final Round: May involve a discussion with senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Clearly articulate your thought process, research methodologies, design decisions, and the rationale behind them. Emphasize how you tackled complex problems.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction, reduced task completion time).

• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples that showcase a range of UX skills (research, IA, interaction design, prototyping, service design) and your ability to adapt to different project needs.

• Contextualize Your Role: Be specific about your contributions within each project, especially if it was a team effort.

• Address Startup Mentality: Include projects that demonstrate initiative, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity or fast-paced environments.

• USWDS/Enterprise Focus: If applicable, highlight projects that involved design systems, complex data visualization, or enterprise-level applications.

Challenge Preparation:

• UX Problem-Solving: Be prepared for a hypothetical UX challenge or case study that requires you to outline your approach to understanding a problem, conducting research, and proposing design solutions within an agile context.

• Agile/Lean UX Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you integrate UX into agile workflows, manage changing requirements, and apply Lean UX principles.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design rationale and research findings clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "leading UX design and research activities" and "facilitating tough conversations" means interviewers will be looking for strong communication, influencing, and leadership skills in addition to technical UX proficiency. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience advocating for users and balancing their needs with business goals in challenging client scenarios.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma (explicitly mentioned), Adobe Creative Suite (explicitly mentioned). Candidates should be proficient in creating varying levels of fidelity prototypes.

• Workflow & Modeling: OmniGraffle, LucidChart (explicitly mentioned) for process mapping, workflow design, and data modeling.

• Collaboration: Tools for remote collaboration, likely including video conferencing (Zoom, Teams), messaging (Slack), and project management platforms (Jira, Asana).

Analytics & Reporting: While not specified, proficiency with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Hotjar) for user behavior analysis and performance tracking would be highly beneficial. Experience interpreting data to inform design decisions is crucial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly mentioned for this role, but understanding how UX integrates with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms could be a plus for broader GTM understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, OmniGraffle, and LucidChart indicates these are essential tools for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their proficiency and experience with these specific platforms. The ability to leverage analytics to drive UX decisions is implied by the need for data-driven decision-making.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Openness & Honesty: Speak openly and honestly about problems and solutions with colleagues and clients.

• Adaptability: Welcome and handle changing requirements and priorities with little to no warning.

• Collaboration: Work collaboratively online in small groups.

• Simplicity: Encourage simple and minimal solutions that keep options open.

• Quality: Expect and vocally advocate for quality first.

• Continuous Learning: Learn new practices and techniques as the situation demands.

• Delivery Focus: Ensure teams develop demonstrable software regularly.

• Ego-Free Contribution: Do what needs to be done to deliver the product or project without ego or attitude.

• Root Cause Analysis: Dig deep to find the root causes of problems.

• Relentless Improvement: Continuously improve oneself, the team, and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Work closely within agile teams, pairing or mobbing with developers and other disciplines.

• Process Review & Feedback: Open to iterative development and feedback loops, embracing Lean UX principles.

• Knowledge Sharing: Expected to coach team members on HCD and share expertise. The culture values teamwork and collective success over individual accolades.

📝 Enhancement Note: Flexion's stated principles highlight a culture that values proactivity, adaptability, quality, and teamwork. For a UX professional, this means being comfortable with iterative design, embracing feedback, and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement. The "ego-free contribution" and "do what needs to be done" aspects are crucial for success in this dynamic consulting environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively mediating between client business goals, user needs, and technical constraints in complex enterprise projects.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Thriving in a "startup mentality" environment where requirements may evolve rapidly and data may be incomplete.

• Driving UX Adoption: Influencing teams and clients to prioritize and integrate UX best practices into their development processes.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring seamless collaboration and communication across distributed teams and clients.

• Project Complexity: Tackling large-scale systems and applications that require deep understanding and strategic design solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Exposure: Gaining experience in sectors like FinTech or government applications, broadening industry knowledge.

• Advanced UX Methodologies: Deepening expertise in Service Design, complex data visualization, and enterprise-level HCD.

• Agile & Lean UX Mastery: Honing skills in fast-paced, iterative development cycles.

• Consulting Acumen: Developing client-facing communication, negotiation, and strategic influencing skills.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Opportunities to mentor junior team members and clients, solidifying understanding and leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior consulting role focused on complex projects. The growth opportunities are significant, offering paths to specialization, leadership, and enhanced consulting skills, driven by exposure to diverse projects and a culture that encourages continuous learning.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user need that conflicted with business goals. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, negotiation skills, and ability to find balanced solutions.)

• "How do you integrate Lean UX principles into an Agile Scrum development process? Provide an example." (Be ready to discuss iterative design, continuous discovery, and rapid prototyping within sprints.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Flexion's culture of autonomy, trust, and transparency?" (Relate your working style and preferences to their stated values.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a cross-functional, remote team, especially when pairing or mobbing?" (Highlight your communication, teamwork, and adaptability.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 key case studies that best represent your senior-level capabilities, problem-solving skills, and the breadth of your UX experience.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach (research, design, iteration), your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Process & Rationale: Focus on why you made certain decisions. Explain your research findings, design rationale, and how you iterated based on feedback.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, OmniGraffle, LucidChart, and other relevant UX tools.

• Showcase Adaptability: Include examples that highlight your ability to work in a startup-like environment and adapt to changing requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical UX skills, but also strategic thinking, strong communication, and a collaborative, adaptable mindset aligned with Flexion's culture. Be prepared to discuss your experience with complex systems and your ability to influence stakeholders.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher/Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided URL on the SilkRoad careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your 8+ years of UX experience, specific expertise in Lean UX and Agile methodologies, and any experience with enterprise applications, complex data systems, or USWDS.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your achievements using action verbs and quantifies your impact where possible. Keywords like "UX Research," "UX Design," "Lean UX," "Agile," "Scrum," "Figma," and "Enterprise Applications" should be prominent.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your case studies, focusing on problem-solving, your process, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with remote collaboration and your understanding of Flexion's culture.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Flexion's work, client types, and company principles to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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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