Sr UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr UX Researcher

Company: Target

Location: Bangalore, India

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / GTM Operations Support

Date Posted: June 11, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead user experience research initiatives to deepen understanding of Target guests and team members across digital and in-store platforms, directly impacting product development and GTM strategies.

• Translate complex qualitative and quantitative research findings into compelling narratives that influence product design, inform strategic business priorities, and shape the future of modern retail experiences.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Owners, UX Designers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and Site Merchandisers, to ensure a user-centered design approach is embedded throughout the product lifecycle.

• Manage and execute a diverse range of research projects, from lean usability validation to strategic discovery, ensuring continuous experience optimization and alignment with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Sr UX Researcher," its close collaboration with product owners, data scientists, and site merchandisers, and its focus on informing strategic business priorities and modern retail experiences, indicates a significant operational impact. This role supports Go-To-Market (GTM) operations by providing critical user insights that drive product strategy, customer adoption, and ultimately, revenue generation. The emphasis on translating insights into business priorities and influencing modern retail points to a strategic GTM function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research, including moderated/unmoderated testing (remote and in-person), surveys, heuristic reviews, benchmark studies, concept testing, online/in-store intercepts, ethnographies, and shopalongs.

• Support Principal Researchers in scoping initiatives, coordinating testing logistics, and synthesizing findings to deliver actionable insights.

• Guide product teams through the entire research project lifecycle, recommending appropriate methodologies, defining scope, facilitating research execution, and leading post-research synthesis and analysis.

• Develop and deliver powerful, data-driven stories that clearly articulate user needs, pain points, and opportunities, influencing design decisions and product roadmaps.

• Maintain and enhance the ongoing research library, ensuring a robust and accessible repository of user insights for ongoing product development and strategic planning.

• Collaborate with Data Scientists and Analysts to integrate research findings with behavioral data, creating a holistic view of user behavior and product performance.

• Champion user-centered design principles and advocate for the guest and team member experience in all product development discussions and strategic planning sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical research execution and strategic influence. The expectation to "inform strategic business priorities" and "influence the world of modern retail" suggests the Senior UX Researcher will contribute to broader GTM strategy by identifying market opportunities and user needs that can drive new product adoption or enhance existing customer journeys.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Preferred: Full-time degree in Anthropology, Social Science, Design Research, Psychology, Human Factors, HCI, or a related field.

• Bachelor's degree required; postgraduate degrees are advantageous. Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of dedicated UX design research experience for digital product teams.

• Alternatively, a minimum of 4 years of relevant consumer research experience in a related field.

• Preferred: 7+ years of relevant work experience.

• Demonstrated experience in Lean UX Research methods, including remote moderated/unmoderated testing and in-context (store) intercepts.

• Proven experience and understanding of the retail landscape, encompassing both online and physical store operations. Required Skills:

• Genuine curiosity about people and their experiences, coupled with strong empathy-building capabilities.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex concepts effectively to diverse, cross-functional partners.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, fostering strong relationships and facilitating productive collaborations.

• A demonstrated ability to synthesize data and craft compelling narratives that drive understanding and action.

• Comfort and proficiency in navigating ambiguity, with a strong ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects (both small and large) with adaptability to changing priorities.

• Strong project management skills, with a track record of managing multiple research projects effectively through their entire lifecycle.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Outlook, Word) for reporting and presentation.

• Comfort in speaking with diverse groups of people and adept at leading conversations to uncover crucial research insights. Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated understanding of accessibility user testing, including experience with assistive technologies.

• Experience with video editing software for synthesizing and presenting research findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 2+ years of UX research or 4+ years of consumer research, combined with the preferred 7+ years of experience and advanced degrees, positions this role as a mid-to-senior level. The emphasis on storytelling from data and influencing strategic priorities suggests that candidates with experience in translating research into business impact and GTM strategy will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear progression of research projects, showcasing the research process from initial scoping to final insight delivery and impact.

• Provide examples of how research insights directly influenced product design decisions, user experience improvements, or strategic business priorities.

• Include case studies that highlight the application of various research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) tailored to specific business objectives.

• Showcase the ability to translate research findings into actionable recommendations and compelling narratives that resonate with stakeholders across product, design, engineering, and business teams. Process Documentation:

• Exhibit clear documentation of research plans, including methodology selection, participant recruitment strategies, and data collection protocols.

• Present examples of synthesized research findings, demonstrating the ability to identify key themes, patterns, and actionable insights from raw data.

• Illustrate the process of translating insights into impactful presentations, reports, or other communication artifacts that drive decision-making and product iteration.

• Show evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams during the research process and in the dissemination of findings, highlighting effective stakeholder management.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Researcher role, a robust portfolio is critical. It should not just show the what of research but the why and the impact. For this role, emphasis should be placed on how research insights directly informed product strategy, user adoption, and ultimately, business outcomes within a retail context. Demonstrating experience with Lean UX methods and the ability to integrate findings with business data will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Sr. UX Researcher title, 5-10 years of experience, and location in Bangalore, India, a competitive salary range can be estimated. Based on industry benchmarks and cost of living in Bangalore for experienced professionals in tech/retail research roles, the estimated annual salary range is ₹1,800,000 - ₹3,000,000 INR. This range accounts for the experience level, specialized skills in UX research, and the strategic impact expected from the role. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Life Insurance

• 401(k) (or equivalent retirement savings plan)

• Employee Discount on Target products

• Short-Term Disability coverage

• Long-Term Disability coverage

• Generous Paid Sick Leave

• Paid National Holidays

• Paid Vacation Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, flexibility may be offered for specific research activities or project deadlines, subject to team and management approval.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research of UX Researcher roles at a senior level in Bangalore, India, considering factors like the company's industry (retail), the role's seniority, and the typical compensation structures for such positions in the Indian tech and retail sectors. Benefits are standard for a large multinational corporation like Target, providing a comprehensive package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail. Target is a leading American retailer known for its focus on guest experience, value, and curated product selection. The company operates a vast network of physical stores and a significant online presence, creating a complex and dynamic environment for UX research.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Target operates over 1,900 stores in the U.S. and employs over 400,000 team members globally). This scale means the UX Researcher will work on initiatives that impact millions of guests and team members, requiring robust, scalable solutions.

Founded: Target was founded in 1902, with its first store opening in 1962. This long history signifies a stable, established company with a deep understanding of the retail market, now heavily investing in digital transformation and guest experience innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is part of Target's broader digital and marketing organization, likely comprising Principal Researchers, Senior Researchers, and junior researchers, supporting various product domains.

• The reporting structure will likely place the Senior UX Researcher under a Principal Researcher or a Research Manager, with direct collaboration lines to Product Owners, UX Designers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and Site Merchandisers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, as the role bridges user needs with business objectives, requiring strong partnerships with teams responsible for product strategy, design, development, and merchandising. Methodology:

• Target's approach to UX research is likely data-informed and user-centric, leveraging both qualitative insights and quantitative data to drive decisions.

• Expect a focus on agile research methodologies ("Lean UX") to support rapid iteration and product development cycles, alongside strategic, longer-term discovery projects.

• Emphasis on translating research findings into actionable insights that directly inform product roadmaps, feature development, and overall GTM strategy.

Company Website: https://corporate.target.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Target's status as a major retailer means this role operates within a high-impact, fast-paced environment. The company's significant investment in digital transformation presents numerous opportunities for UX Researchers to shape customer journeys and internal operational efficiencies. The "Guest Obsessed" culture means user insights are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a mid-to-senior level of expertise. It requires a solid foundation in research methodologies, the ability to manage projects independently, and the capacity to influence product and business strategies. It's a crucial role for driving user-centricity within product development and GTM efforts.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will likely report to a Principal UX Researcher or a Research Manager within the Digital organization. They will work closely with Product Owners, UX Designers, Engineers, and Data Scientists, acting as a key liaison between user needs and product development.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Researcher's insights directly impact Target's Go-To-Market operations by:

• Identifying unmet guest needs and pain points that can drive new product features or service enhancements.

• Validating product designs and marketing strategies to ensure they resonate with target audiences, reducing the risk of market failure.

• Optimizing user journeys across digital and in-store touchpoints, leading to increased conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and loyalty.

• Providing data-driven rationale for strategic decisions related to product development, feature prioritization, and customer segmentation. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize in specific research areas (e.g., accessibility, in-store tech, e-commerce optimization) or become a subject matter expert in particular user segments.

• Leadership: Potential to progress into a Principal UX Researcher role, leading larger, more strategic initiatives, mentoring junior researchers, and taking on more significant influence within the product organization.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Experience gained in understanding user needs and business impact can open doors to roles in Product Management, GTM Strategy, or User Research Management.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through workshops, conferences, and internal training on advanced research techniques, data analysis tools, and emerging UX trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior UX Researcher role at Target offers a significant opportunity for growth within a leading retail organization. The emphasis on influencing strategy and the breadth of product touchpoints (digital, in-store) provide a rich environment for developing expertise in retail UX and its impact on GTM success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role requires a physical presence at Target's Bangalore, India office. This facilitates in-person collaboration, team meetings, and access to office resources.

Office Location(s): Bangalore, India. Specific office details would be provided upon further engagement, but typically large tech companies in Bangalore have modern, well-equipped campuses designed for collaboration and productivity.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a modern office environment designed to foster collaboration. This could include open-plan areas, dedicated team spaces, meeting rooms equipped with AV technology, and potentially quiet zones for focused work.

• Access to standard office technology, including high-speed internet, workstations, and any specialized research software or hardware required for testing.

• Frequent opportunities for interaction with UX Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and other researchers, fostering a dynamic and collaborative team atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with an on-site requirement. While core hours will exist for team collaboration, some flexibility may be available for specific research activities, especially those requiring off-hours data collection or analysis, subject to manager approval.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Bangalore is typical for senior roles in large organizations that prioritize in-person collaboration and team cohesion. The environment is expected to be conducive to both focused research work and dynamic team interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your experience, research philosophy, and approach to complex problems. Expect questions about your past projects and how you handle challenges.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A critical stage where you present 2-3 case studies from your portfolio. This will be a significant portion of the interview, focusing on your research process, insights, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your methodologies, decision-making, and the outcomes of your research.

• Cross-functional Team Interviews: Interviews with potential peers and collaborators (e.g., UX Designers, Product Owners, Engineers). These will assess your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to integrate research into development workflows.

• Senior Leadership/Principal Researcher Interview: A final interview, likely with a senior leader, to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall alignment with Target's goals and culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your senior-level capabilities, diverse methodologies, and measurable impact, particularly within a retail or complex digital product context.

• Define the Problem Clearly: For each case study, articulate the business problem or user need you were addressing and why research was necessary.

• Detail Your Process: Explain your chosen methodology, why it was appropriate, and how you executed it. Highlight any challenges encountered and how you overcame them.

• Highlight Insights & Impact: Clearly present your key findings and, most importantly, demonstrate the impact of your research on product design, user experience, or business outcomes. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction).

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation as a compelling narrative, guiding the interviewers through your process and the journey of discovery.

• Showcase Collaboration: Illustrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams and communicated your findings effectively to drive action.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential case study discussions or hypothetical scenarios where you might be asked to outline a research approach for a given problem.

• Practice articulating your research strategy concisely, focusing on how you would identify key questions, select methodologies, and deliver actionable insights within a given timeframe and resource constraint.

• Anticipate questions about how you handle conflicting stakeholder feedback or ambiguous project requirements, and how you prioritize research efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is paramount for a Senior UX Researcher. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just their research skills but their ability to drive product and business impact through data-driven insights. Demonstrating an understanding of retail challenges and the ability to adapt Lean UX methodologies will be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Proficiency in tools for remote moderated and unmoderated testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UserZoom/UsabilityHub).

• Survey Tools: Experience with survey platforms for data collection and analysis (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Collaboration & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools used by design and product teams (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to understand their workflows and integrate research seamlessly.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis Tools: Ability to use qualitative coding software (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative analysis tools (e.g., Excel, R, Python for basic analysis) to synthesize research findings.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior data and complement qualitative findings.

• BI Tools: Experience with data visualization and dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to integrate research insights with business metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) or customer data platforms (CDPs) can inform research questions or provide context for user segmentation is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "Lean UX Research methods" and "online & in-context (store) intercepts" implies a need for familiarity with a range of agile research tools. Proficiency in tools that facilitate rapid data collection and analysis will be key. Experience with retail-specific analytics or customer data platforms would be a strong plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Guest Obsessed: A core value at Target, emphasizing a deep understanding and prioritization of guest needs and experiences in all decisions and research efforts.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by data and insights, whether from user research, sales figures, or market analysis. Researchers are expected to provide evidence-based recommendations.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve common goals. Researchers must be adept at working with diverse teams.

• Innovation: A culture that encourages new ideas and approaches to solving problems, whether in product development, research methodology, or business strategy.

• Efficiency: A drive for operational excellence and continuous improvement, including the adoption of efficient research practices like Lean UX.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Proactively engaging with Product Owners, Designers, and Engineers to understand their challenges and integrate research insights into their workflows.

• Insight-Driven Advocacy: Acting as a strong advocate for the user, translating research findings into clear, compelling arguments that influence product direction and business strategy.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment of open feedback and knowledge sharing, both within the research team and with cross-functional partners.

• Agile Integration: Working within agile development cycles, adapting research approaches to provide timely and relevant insights for iterative product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Target's strong emphasis on "Guest Obsessed" and "Data-Driven" values means that the Senior UX Researcher must not only conduct research but also effectively translate those findings into actionable strategies that directly benefit the guest and align with business objectives. The ability to communicate insights persuasively to drive these values will be key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Lean vs. Strategic Research: Effectively managing the need for rapid, lean research to support agile development while also conducting deeper, strategic discovery projects to inform long-term roadmaps.

• Integrating Online and In-Store Research: Bridging the gap between digital user experiences and the complexities of the physical retail environment, requiring innovative research methods for both.

• Influencing Diverse Stakeholders: Communicating research insights in ways that resonate with various audiences (e.g., engineers, marketers, business leaders) and driving consensus on action.

• Data Synthesis at Scale: Synthesizing large volumes of qualitative and quantitative data from diverse sources to identify meaningful patterns and actionable insights for a large organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized research areas such as accessibility testing, generative AI's impact on UX, or advanced qualitative analysis techniques.

• Retail Industry Insights: Gaining a deep understanding of the retail market, consumer behavior trends, and the operational nuances of a leading retailer like Target.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior researchers, lead research initiatives, and develop skills in strategic planning and team management.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working closely with product management, data science, and marketing teams to understand broader business objectives and develop a holistic view of product success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in a large retail environment like Target will require adaptability and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly for those looking to make a strategic impact on customer experience within the retail sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to conduct research with limited resources or time. How did you adapt your methodology, and what were the trade-offs?" (Focus on Lean UX and prioritization.)

• "How do you approach synthesizing complex qualitative and quantitative data to tell a compelling story that influences business decisions?" (Prepare a case study example.)

• "Imagine we are launching a new feature for our in-store digital kiosks. Outline your research plan to ensure it meets guest needs and is easy to use." (Demonstrate your process for problem definition, methodology selection, and execution.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Target as a company, and specifically about contributing to our UX research efforts in the retail space?" (Research Target's recent initiatives, digital strategy, and guest obsession.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings are actionable and effectively integrated into product development and business strategies?" (Discuss your stakeholder management and communication approach.)

• "Describe a situation where your research revealed something unexpected or challenged existing assumptions. How did you handle it?" (Showcase your objectivity and ability to navigate resistance.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the Problem, your Approach/Methodology, the Insights/Findings, and the Impact/Outcome. Use visual aids effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your research (e.g., "User testing identified usability issues that led to a 15% reduction in task completion time," or "Concept testing informed a feature that contributed to a 5% increase in conversion rates.")

• Focus on "Why": Explain the rationale behind your methodological choices and how your insights directly addressed the initial problem.

• Showcase Collaboration: Briefly mention how you worked with designers, product managers, or engineers throughout the process.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your data collection, analysis, and how you handled any ethical considerations or participant recruitment challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should heavily emphasize demonstrating how research directly drives business outcomes and informs strategic GTM decisions. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience in retail, Lean UX, and their ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations for a large, complex organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Target's careers portal.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 key UX research projects that best highlight your senior-level expertise, diverse methodologies, and demonstrable impact on product design or business strategy, with a focus on retail or complex digital environments.

• Tailor your resume: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience in UX research, Lean UX, qualitative and quantitative methods, and your ability to influence cross-functional teams and business decisions. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice presenting your selected case studies, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of methodology and insights, and quantifiable impact. Be ready to discuss your process and decision-making in detail.

• Research Target: Familiarize yourself with Target's business model, its digital strategy, recent initiatives, and its core values, particularly "Guest Obsessed" and its approach to innovation in retail. Understand how UX research contributes to these objectives.

⚠️ 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.