Sr. UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Researcher

Company: AutoNation

Location: Remote-FL, Florida, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: September 09, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user research initiatives to uncover critical customer insights and drive product innovation within the automotive retail space.

• Translate complex user behaviors and needs into actionable recommendations that inform product strategy and design decisions for digital platforms.

• Collaborate extensively with product managers, designers, engineers, and marketing teams to champion a user-centered approach throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Advocate for the user by effectively communicating research findings and their implications to stakeholders at all levels, influencing product roadmaps and strategic priorities.

• Contribute to the evolution of research practices and methodologies within AutoNation, fostering a culture of continuous learning and data-driven decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Sr. UX Researcher," the emphasis on driving innovation, translating insights into actionable product improvements, and collaborating across product, design, and engineering strongly suggests a role that interfaces heavily with product operations and GTM strategy by ensuring user needs are met and informing product development cycles. The "automotive retail" context implies a focus on customer journey mapping, digital transformation, and understanding complex purchase funnels.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute a variety of qualitative and quantitative user research studies, including usability testing, in-depth interviews, surveys, card sorting, and ethnographic research.

• Define research objectives, develop research plans, and select appropriate methodologies to address key business and product questions.

• Recruit, screen, and manage participant recruitment for research studies, ensuring diverse representation of the target customer base.

• Analyze research data, identify key themes, patterns, and user pain points, and synthesize findings into compelling insights and actionable recommendations.

• Create and present research deliverables such as reports, personas, journey maps, and user stories to cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.

• Partner closely with Product Management and UX Design to define product requirements, iterate on designs, and validate solutions against user needs.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a user research repository and best practices to ensure consistency and scalability of research efforts.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape within automotive retail and digital customer experiences.

• Facilitate workshops and brainstorming sessions to translate research insights into innovative product concepts and solutions.

• Measure the impact of research-driven product changes on key business metrics, such as customer satisfaction, conversion rates, and engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are typical for a Senior UX Researcher, but the context of "automotive retail platforms" and "driving innovation" suggests a need for strong analytical skills to understand complex customer journeys and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for process and product improvement. This role will likely involve influencing product roadmaps and contributing to strategic GTM decisions by providing deep customer understanding.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field. A Master's degree or Ph.D. is a plus.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in user experience research, with a proven track record of conducting impactful research studies in a product development environment.

Required Skills:

• Deep understanding and practical application of a wide range of user research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative).

• Proven ability to design, conduct, and analyze complex research studies, translating raw data into clear, actionable insights.

• Strong proficiency in research tools for surveys, usability testing, and data analysis (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, UserTesting.com, Lookback, Dovetail).

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate research findings and their implications to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, UX Designers, Engineers, and Marketing.

• Experience in advocating for user needs and influencing product strategy and design decisions.

• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, results-oriented mindset.

• Experience in automotive retail or a related complex consumer industry is highly advantageous. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with generative AI tools and their application in research and product development.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and experimentation frameworks for validating product changes.

• Knowledge of data analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to complement qualitative research.

• Experience in moderating remote and in-person research sessions.

• Portfolio showcasing a range of UX research projects, methodologies, and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level for a "Sr." role implies a need for candidates who can operate autonomously, mentor junior researchers, and lead strategic research initiatives. The "automotive retail" context suggests a preference for candidates who understand complex customer journeys, purchase funnels, and the integration of digital and physical experiences.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of user research methodologies and their application in solving real-world problems.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, the methodologies employed, the insights generated, and the tangible impact on product design, user experience, or business outcomes.

• Examples of research deliverables such as user personas, journey maps, usability test reports, and research summaries, showcasing clarity and insight.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams and how research findings were integrated into product development processes.

• Documentation of how research insights informed strategic decisions or led to significant improvements in user satisfaction or conversion rates. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrated experience in documenting research processes and methodologies to ensure consistency and repeatability.

• Ability to articulate the lifecycle of a research project, from planning and recruitment to analysis and reporting.

• Examples of how research findings were translated into actionable requirements or design specifications for development teams.

• Understanding of how to integrate user research findings into agile development workflows and continuous improvement cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher, the portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase what was done but why and how it made a difference. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the strategic thinking behind their research choices and the measurable impact of their work on product and business goals, especially within a complex retail environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX Researcher with 5-10 years of experience in a fully remote US-based role, the estimated annual salary range is $110,000 - $150,000. This range can vary based on specific experience, qualifications, and cost of living in the candidate's primary location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Employee discounts on AutoNation vehicles and services.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Flexible work arrangements supporting a healthy work-life balance.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week. While the role is remote, flexibility may be available to accommodate research participant scheduling and cross-time zone collaboration, with core business hours expected for team interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on an aggregation of data from various compensation platforms for similar roles in the US, adjusted for a remote position and the indicated experience level. Benefits are typical for a large, established company like AutoNation. The "Remote-FL" designation suggests that while the role is remote, the candidate may need to reside in Florida for tax or employment purposes, though this is not explicitly stated.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Retail. AutoNation operates at the intersection of traditional automotive sales and modern digital retail, aiming to provide a seamless, customer-centric experience across online and in-dealership touchpoints.

Company Size: AutoNation is a large enterprise, typically employing over 25,000 associates nationwide. This scale means significant resources, complex organizational structures, and a broad customer base.

Founded: AutoNation was founded in 1996. Its history reflects a journey of growth, consolidation, and adaptation within the automotive sector, now increasingly focused on digital transformation and customer experience innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is likely part of a larger Product, Design, or Digital Transformation department.

• This Senior role will likely report to a UX Research Lead, Director of Product Design, or Head of Digital Experience.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, Engineers, Marketing teams, and potentially data analysts. Methodology:

• AutoNation emphasizes innovation and a commitment to making a positive impact, suggesting a culture that values forward-thinking solutions and social responsibility (e.g., DRV PNK initiative).

• The company is actively pursuing digital transformation, indicating an openness to adopting new technologies and methodologies to enhance customer experiences.

• A user-centered approach is highlighted, implying that research insights are intended to be a foundational element in decision-making.

Company Website: https://careers.autonation.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with encouraging applications even if not all requirements are met, suggests a culture that values a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. For a UX researcher, this means understanding and designing for a diverse customer base. The automotive retail context implies a need to understand complex sales funnels and customer journeys.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role. A Senior UX Researcher is expected to lead complex research projects independently, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the strategic direction of UX research within the organization. The scope of influence extends beyond individual product features to impacting broader product strategies and user experience principles.

Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a UX Research Manager or Director, or potentially a Head of Product Design or Digital Experience. This position will work closely with Product Managers and UX Designers on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on enhancing the customer experience across AutoNation's digital platforms, which directly influences customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue. By ensuring products are user-centered and intuitive, this role contributes to the success of digital transformation initiatives and the company's competitive positioning in the automotive retail market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Researcher or UX Research Manager role, overseeing a team and setting research strategy.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research areas (e.g., generative research, AI-driven insights, mixed-methods research) or product domains (e.g., e-commerce, service, finance).

• Cross-functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Management, UX Design leadership, or roles focused on Customer Experience Strategy within AutoNation.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, external conferences, and access to research tools and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr." title and 5-10 years of experience suggest a candidate who is ready for greater autonomy and strategic input. Growth opportunities are likely tied to demonstrating leadership in research, influencing product strategy, and contributing to the overall user experience vision for AutoNation's digital transformation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: As a fully remote position, the "office" is the candidate's home workspace. AutoNation's internal culture likely promotes collaboration and communication through digital tools, regardless of physical location.

Office Location(s): Remote-FL, indicating that while the role is remote, candidates may be expected to reside within Florida for employment purposes. This designation might be related to state-specific employment laws, tax implications, or benefits administration.

Workspace Context:

• The environment will be digitally collaborative, relying heavily on video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management tools.

• Access to AutoNation's internal digital tools, research platforms, and relevant software will be provided.

• Opportunities for team interaction will occur through virtual meetings, team syncs, and potentially virtual social events.

Work Schedule: While the role is full-time (estimated 40 hours/week), remote work often offers some flexibility. Core hours for team meetings and collaboration will likely be established, but individual work planning can often accommodate personal needs, especially for scheduling research sessions with participants across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote-FL" designation is a key detail. While the role is remote, candidates should clarify if there are any residency requirements within Florida for tax or legal reasons, as this can impact eligibility for candidates outside that state. The remote nature means strong self-discipline and proactive communication are essential.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review applications and conduct a brief phone screen to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, showcasing key research projects, methodologies, and their impact. This is a critical step to evaluate research skills, strategic thinking, and communication abilities. Expect to discuss your process, challenges, and outcomes in detail.

• Technical/Skills Interview: This may involve deeper dives into specific research methodologies, scenario-based questions, or a take-home exercise (e.g., analyzing a dataset, outlining a research plan).

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Designers, and potentially Engineers to assess collaboration style, ability to translate insights into action, and understanding of the product development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., Director) to discuss strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit with AutoNation's culture and vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, with clear case studies for 3-5 of your most impactful projects. For each case study, clearly outline: the problem, your role, the research questions, the methodology, key findings, actionable recommendations, and the impact (quantified if possible).

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your research drove tangible outcomes – improved user satisfaction, increased conversion rates, informed critical design decisions, or saved development resources. Use metrics whenever possible.

• Showcase Process: Be prepared to discuss your thought process, why you chose specific methodologies, how you handled challenges, and how you collaborated with stakeholders.

• Tailor to AutoNation: If possible, subtly tailor your examples to demonstrate understanding of complex customer journeys, retail environments, or digital transformation initiatives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Planning: Be ready to outline a research plan for a hypothetical problem relevant to AutoNation (e.g., improving the online car-buying experience, understanding user needs for a new service offering).

• Methodology Justification: Be prepared to defend your choice of research methods based on specific research goals and constraints.

• Insight Synthesis: Practice synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data into clear, concise, and actionable insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for UX Researcher roles. Candidates should prepare to not only show their work but also articulate the strategic rationale behind their research and its measurable business impact, especially within a large, complex retail organization like AutoNation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UsabilityHub, Optimal Workshop (for card sorting, tree testing).

• Survey & Data Collection: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Typeform.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Dovetail, NVivo, Excel, Google Sheets, Miro, Mural (for affinity mapping, journey mapping).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (familiarity is beneficial for complementing qualitative data).

• Reporting Tools: Tableau, Power BI (for visualizing user data trends).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (General Awareness): Understanding how customer data is managed in systems like Salesforce or similar platforms is beneficial, as research insights often feed into CRM strategies.

• Automation Tools (General Awareness): Familiarity with how automation impacts user journeys or how research can inform automated workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in a range of qualitative and quantitative research tools is essential. The ability to synthesize findings from these tools and integrate them with available quantitative data (like web analytics) will be a significant advantage. Familiarity with collaborative platforms is key for remote work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value that drives all research efforts, ensuring that customer needs and experiences are at the forefront of product development.

• Innovation: A drive to explore new ideas, technologies, and approaches to solve user problems and enhance the automotive retail experience.

• Collaboration: A commitment to working effectively with diverse teams, sharing knowledge, and building consensus to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing research insights and data as foundational elements for strategic planning and product iteration.

• Impact & Results: Focusing on delivering research that leads to measurable improvements in user satisfaction, engagement, and business outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working as a strategic partner with Product Managers and Designers, providing ongoing research support and insights throughout the product lifecycle.

• Influence: Effectively communicating research findings to influence product direction and gain buy-in from stakeholders.

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly integrating research activities and findings into agile development sprints and broader business initiatives.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment of open dialogue, feedback, and knowledge sharing within the UX team and with partner teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values of innovation, positive impact, and diversity align well with a user-centered research culture. The emphasis on collaboration suggests that the researcher will be an integral part of multiple cross-functional teams, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Organization: In a large enterprise like AutoNation, aligning research priorities with various departmental goals and securing buy-in for user-centered initiatives can be challenging.

• Balancing Research Rigor with Speed: The fast-paced nature of product development, especially in digital retail, requires balancing in-depth research with the need for timely insights.

• Data Synthesis Across Diverse Platforms: Integrating insights from various digital touchpoints (web, mobile, in-dealership tech) to form a holistic customer view can be complex.

• Advocating for the User: Consistently championing user needs against competing business priorities requires strong persuasive skills and robust data.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge research methodologies, including AI-assisted research.

• Industry Expertise: Deepening knowledge of the automotive retail landscape, customer behaviors, and industry trends.

• Strategic Influence: Developing skills in influencing product strategy and contributing to higher-level business decisions.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior researchers and contribute to building the UX research practice within AutoNation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in large organizations undergoing digital transformation. The growth opportunities are focused on advancing research expertise and increasing strategic influence within the company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence product strategy based on your research findings. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, data, and impact).

• "How would you approach researching the optimal digital experience for a customer looking to purchase a car online?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the customer journey and research planning).

• "What are the key differences between qualitative and quantitative research, and when would you use each in this context?" (Showcase your methodological knowledge).

• "How do you balance the need for rigorous research with tight project deadlines?" (Highlight your ability to adapt and prioritize). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about AutoNation and the automotive retail industry specifically?" (Research the company's mission, recent news, and DRV PNK initiative).

• "How do you contribute to a diverse and inclusive team environment?" (Align with the company's stated DEI values).

• "Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with stakeholders who had different priorities. How did you manage it?" (Showcase your communication and negotiation skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the challenge, your journey (research process), the discovery (insights), and the resolution (impact).

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use numbers to demonstrate the success of your research (e.g., "reduced task completion time by 15%", "increased conversion rates by X%", "identified X critical usability issues").

• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to explain why you chose specific methods, why certain insights were critical, and why your recommendations were made.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, use visuals, short video clips of users, or interactive prototypes to make your presentation more engaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, strong methodological expertise, and the ability to translate research into actionable business outcomes within a complex retail environment. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

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

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in user research methodologies, data analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and experience within complex industries (automotive, retail, or e-commerce). Use keywords from the job description such as "user research," "customer insights," "product innovation," and "stakeholder management."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-5 of your most impactful UX research projects, clearly articulating the problem, your process, key insights, and measurable outcomes. Ensure it's easily accessible online (e.g., PDF, personal website).

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on clear storytelling, quantifiable results, and strategic rationale. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your process and impact.

• Research AutoNation: Understand AutoNation's business model, digital initiatives, customer base, and recent news. Familiarize yourself with their stated values regarding innovation, customer experience, and DEI.

⚠️ 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.