Sr. UX Researcher (Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Researcher

Company: Rula

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: 2026-07-29

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end user research initiatives to deeply understand patient and provider needs, motivations, and challenges within the mental healthcare landscape.

• Translate complex user insights and behavioral data into actionable product strategies that enhance user retention and workflow efficiency for B2B SaaS and operations platforms.

• Drive product development decisions by identifying high-impact research opportunities, defining research roadmaps, and turning signals from users and product analytics into actionable insights.

• Partner closely with Product, Design, Engineering, and Data teams to ensure product experiences are grounded in meaningful user insights and behavioral data, fostering a culture of data-informed decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Sr. UX Researcher," the emphasis on B2B SaaS, operations platforms, workflow efficiency, and task automation strongly suggests a significant overlap with Product Operations and GTM Strategy. The successful candidate will likely bridge the gap between user needs and the operational execution of product features, influencing how Rula's platform supports both patients and providers effectively.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive, end-to-end user research studies across various methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to uncover deep user insights for both patient and provider personas.

• Frame ambiguous product questions into clear, decision-oriented research plans, directly connecting research objectives to "build/don't build/what to build" decisions and influencing product strategy.

• Lead research initiatives that inform product strategy and improve various workflows across Rula's platform, with a focus on identifying opportunities for user retention and task automation.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Data Analysts to translate research findings into design principles, product requirements, and actionable product improvements.

• Synthesize behavioral data, product analytics, and user feedback to identify key pain points and opportunities, translating these into impactful insights that guide product direction and roadmap prioritization.

• Champion user-centricity within the organization by effectively communicating research findings and advocating for user needs to stakeholders at all levels.

• Propose and define research roadmaps, identifying high-impact research opportunities that align with Rula's strategic goals and product development priorities.

• Conduct research with audiences in a multi-sided marketplace, such as consumers (patients) and professionals (providers), understanding the unique needs and interactions of each group.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strategic and influential role, moving beyond just executing studies to actively shaping product direction and operational efficiency. The mention of "operations platforms" and "workflow efficiency" indicates a need for researchers who can understand and improve complex systems, a key tenet of Product Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level UX Research roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5+ years of User Research experience with a demonstrated track record of building and scaling B2B SaaS, productivity tools, or operations platforms, with clear evidence of driving measurable impact in user retention, workflow efficiency, or task automation.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End Research Leadership: Proven ability to lead qualitative and quantitative research initiatives from conception through to actionable insights and product integration.

• Strategic Framing: Expertise in translating ambiguous product questions into clear, decision-oriented research plans that directly inform "build/don't build/what to build" decisions.

• B2B SaaS & Operations Platform Experience: Demonstrated success in researching and improving complex B2B SaaS products, productivity tools, or operations platforms.

• Impact Measurement: A clear track record of driving measurable impact in user retention, workflow efficiency, or task automation through research insights.

• Multi-Sided Marketplace Research: Experience conducting research with diverse user groups within a multi-sided marketplace (e.g., consumers and professionals).

• Agile Research Execution: Capacity to balance speed, rigor, and product constraints, including proposing and executing realistic research plans within tight timelines (e.g., one-month cycles).

• Product Strategy Influence: Proven ability to influence product strategy and roadmap development through compelling user insights.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong experience collaborating with Product Management, Design, Engineering, and Data Analytics teams, including aligning on decisions and risks, constructively challenging product direction, and translating insights into design principles.

• Data Synthesis: Ability to synthesize behavioral data, product analytics, and user feedback to identify key trends and opportunities.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting research across multiple connected product surfaces (e.g., mobile and web).

• Past work with internal clinical, support, operations, or other expert teams to understand operational workflows and challenges.

• Exposure to and experience within the healthcare or mental health product area, understanding sensitive product domains.

• Experience with A/B testing design and analysis to validate product hypotheses.

• Familiarity with journey mapping and service blueprinting techniques to visualize user experiences and operational flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on B2B SaaS, operations platforms, and workflow efficiency in the required qualifications strongly indicates that candidates with experience in optimizing business processes and internal tools will be highly valued. The preferred qualifications further solidify the desire for candidates who understand the complexities of healthcare operations and multi-platform user experiences.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 in-depth case studies detailing end-to-end research projects, highlighting your role, methodology, key findings, and the resulting product or strategic impact.

• Impact Demonstration: Clearly articulate the measurable impact of your research on key business metrics such as user retention, workflow efficiency, task completion rates, or adoption of new features. Quantify outcomes wherever possible.

• Problem Framing: Include examples of how you framed ambiguous product questions into actionable research plans and connected research objectives to specific product decisions.

• Methodological Diversity: Demonstrate proficiency in a range of research methodologies, including usability testing, in-depth interviews, surveys, diary studies, and concept testing, and explain why specific methods were chosen for particular problems.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Examples: Illustrate how you partnered with Product, Design, and Engineering teams, including how you translated insights into actionable design principles or product requirements.

Process Documentation:

• Research Workflow Design: Showcase examples of how you designed and optimized research workflows to balance speed, rigor, and product constraints, especially within agile development cycles.

• Insight-to-Action Frameworks: Provide examples of how you translated research signals and product analytics into structured insights that guided product direction and roadmap planning.

• User Journey & Workflow Mapping: If applicable, include examples of user journey maps or workflow diagrams that illustrate a deep understanding of user experiences and operational processes within a B2B SaaS or platform context.

• Data Integration: Demonstrate how you integrated qualitative insights with quantitative behavioral data and product analytics to create a holistic understanding of user behavior and product performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio should not just present research findings but also demonstrate the candidate's ability to impact product strategy and operational efficiency within a B2B SaaS or platform context. Emphasize case studies that show how research directly led to improved user retention or streamlined workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $221,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Protecting employees and their families.

• FSA/HSA Options: Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts for healthcare expenses.

• 401(k) Plan Access: Retirement savings plan to help employees plan for their future.

• Generous Time-Off Policies: Including 2 company-wide shutdown weeks per year for self-care.

• Paid Parental Leave: Comprehensive leave for birthing, non-birthing, adopting, and fostering parents.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support for mental and physical well-being.

• Quarterly Department Stipend: For team-building activities or gatherings.

• Home Office Stipend: New hire stipend and a $50 monthly stipend for internet or cell phone expenses.

• Wellness at Rula Program: Year-round wellness initiatives and a $50/month wellness stipend.

• Equity: Potential for stock options or other equity grants.

Working Hours: Full-time position with working hours designed to support a healthy work-life balance. Specific daily hours are flexible, but candidates must be based in the United States to align with operational needs and time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior UX Researcher role in the US, especially for a remote-first company with a focus on impactful product development. The extensive benefits package highlights Rula's commitment to employee well-being, which is particularly relevant given their mission in mental healthcare.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mental Healthcare Technology. Rula operates at the intersection of technology and healthcare, aiming to destigmatize and improve access to mental health services through its platform.

Company Size: Rula is a growing company, likely falling into the 50-200 employees range based on typical startup growth trajectories for Series A/B funded companies in the health tech space. This size offers a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: Rula was founded with a mission to revolutionize mental healthcare. The exact founding date is not provided, but the company's focus on a remote-first approach and modern technology suggests a relatively recent establishment, likely within the last 5-10 years.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research function likely sits within the Product or Design organization, collaborating closely with Product Management, UX/UI Design, and Engineering.

• As a Senior UXR, you will likely be a key individual contributor, potentially leading research efforts for specific product areas or feature sets.

• There may be opportunities to mentor junior researchers as the team grows.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, with close partnerships expected with Data Science/Analytics teams to integrate behavioral data with qualitative findings. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: A strong emphasis on using both qualitative user insights and quantitative behavioral data to inform product strategy and iteration.

• User-Centric Design: A commitment to understanding and addressing the needs of both patients and providers to create accessible and effective mental healthcare solutions.

• Agile & Iterative Processes: Research will likely be integrated into agile development cycles, requiring the ability to deliver timely, actionable insights to support rapid iteration.

• Impact-Focused Research: A focus on research that drives measurable business outcomes, such as improved user retention, workflow efficiency, and platform adoption.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in mental healthcare and its remote-first, data-driven approach create a unique culture. Candidates should be prepared for a fast-paced environment where research directly influences product strategy and where there's a strong emphasis on improving access and outcomes for mental health services. The "operations platforms" mention in the job description suggests that understanding the operational aspects of healthcare delivery will be crucial.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as Senior User Experience Researcher. This implies a level of autonomy, strategic thinking, and leadership in research execution. The individual is expected to drive research initiatives independently, influence product strategy, and potentially mentor junior team members. The focus on B2B SaaS, operations platforms, and workflow efficiency indicates the role requires a researcher who can contribute to the operational success of the platform, not just its user interface.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will likely report to a Head of Product, Director of Product Design, or a similar leadership role within the product organization. Close collaboration with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers is expected.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on Rula's ability to achieve its mission by ensuring the platform is intuitive, accessible, and effective for both patients seeking care and providers delivering it. By improving user retention, workflow efficiency, and task automation through research, the Senior UXR contributes significantly to the platform's overall adoption, user satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's success in the mental healthcare market. Understanding and improving the operational aspects of the platform is key to this impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Research: Opportunity to shape and scale the UX research function at Rula, potentially building out a research team or defining best practices.

• Strategic Product Influence: Grow into a more strategic role, influencing long-term product vision and roadmap by consistently delivering high-value insights.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in the mental healthcare industry and its unique research challenges, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-Functional Development: Develop stronger skills in product management, data analysis, and design strategy through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior researchers and contribute to the growth of the design and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, combined with the emphasis on influencing product strategy and operational efficiency for B2B SaaS and operations platforms, suggests a strong potential for career advancement into lead research roles, product management, or even strategic operations positions within Rula.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Rula is a remote-first company. This means that the primary work environment is a home office. The company fosters a culture that supports remote collaboration and employee well-being.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates must be based in the United States. Specific office locations for potential future hybrid gatherings or team offsites are not detailed, but the company currently operates across most U.S. states, excluding Hawaii.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office Setup: Employees are provided with a home office stipend and a monthly stipend to cover internet or cell phone expenses, enabling a productive remote work setup.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Expect extensive use of digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma, Jira, Notion) for communication, design, and project management.

• Asynchronous Communication: A strong emphasis on effective asynchronous communication will be necessary due to the distributed nature of the team.

• Team Building: The company offers quarterly department stipends for team-building activities or gatherings, encouraging connection among remote team members.

Work Schedule: The role requires full-time commitment, with working hours designed to support a healthy work-life balance. Flexibility is offered, but candidates must be available to collaborate with colleagues across various U.S. time zones. This flexibility is crucial for balancing research activities with data analysis and stakeholder meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of Rula necessitates strong self-discipline, excellent communication skills (both synchronous and asynchronous), and comfort with digital collaboration tools. The focus on work-life balance and employee well-being is a significant aspect of their work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process is likely to be structured to assess research expertise, strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and cultural fit. Expect multiple stages:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will assess your resume and initial qualifications.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into your experience, research philosophy, and approach to solving complex product problems.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study Review: A crucial stage where you'll present 1-3 detailed case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your research process, impact, and ability to influence product decisions. This will likely involve interactive discussions and Q&A with potential peers and stakeholders.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Designers, and potentially Engineers to assess collaboration style, ability to translate insights, and understanding of product development lifecycles.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership discussing strategic alignment, long-term vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the key insights, and most importantly, the measurable impact of your research on product strategy, user retention, or workflow efficiency. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Show how you framed ambiguous problems, influenced product roadmaps, and connected research directly to business objectives and "build/don't build" decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Illustrate how you worked with PM, Design, and Engineering, and how you translated insights into actionable recommendations that were adopted.

• Methodological Justification: Be prepared to explain why you chose specific research methods for each project and how they addressed the research questions effectively.

• Conciseness & Clarity: Present your work clearly and concisely. Focus on the most impactful aspects of each project. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process and decisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate a Research Challenge: Be prepared for a take-home assignment or live exercise that tests your ability to frame research questions, propose a research plan, or analyze a given dataset for insights. This might involve a hypothetical product scenario.

• Focus on Workflow & Efficiency: Given the job description's emphasis on workflow efficiency and operations platforms, any exercise might probe your ability to identify and improve operational bottlenecks through research.

• Strategic Prioritization: Practice articulating how you would prioritize research efforts given limited time and resources, aligning with business goals.

• Communication of Insights: Prepare to present your findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively, as if to a product team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is a critical component. Candidates should prepare to showcase their ability not just to conduct research but to drive tangible business outcomes, particularly in areas of user retention and operational efficiency within a B2B SaaS context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Collaboration & Prototyping: Tools for sharing research findings, collaborating on designs, and reviewing prototypes (e.g., Figma, Miro, Mural, Confluence, Notion).

• Project Management: Tools for tracking research projects and sprints (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar platforms for analyzing user behavior and product usage data.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Looker, or Power BI for creating dashboards and reporting on research insights alongside quantitative data.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed within a CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for understanding customer lifecycles and operational data.

• Data Warehousing/Databases: Basic understanding of how data is stored and accessed (e.g., SQL) could be advantageous for deeper data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of user research tools is essential. Beyond that, the ability to integrate qualitative research findings with quantitative product analytics is highly valued, suggesting familiarity with tools that bridge these two domains. Understanding the operational aspects of how data flows and is utilized within a SaaS platform will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs of both patients and providers to ensure the platform is accessible, effective, and compassionate.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing insights derived from both qualitative research and quantitative analytics to guide product development and strategic decisions.

• Impact & Efficiency: Striving to create solutions that not only meet user needs but also improve workflow efficiency and task automation for providers and operational teams.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where teams work together openly, sharing insights, challenges, and feedback to achieve common goals.

• Well-being & Empathy: Demonstrating a strong commitment to mental health, both for users and employees, fostering a supportive and empathetic work environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Expect a highly collaborative environment where the UX Researcher works closely with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Data Analysts, acting as a key bridge between user needs and product execution.

• Constructive Challenge: The culture encourages constructive debate and challenging assumptions to ensure the best product decisions are made, rooted in user insights and business objectives.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Embracing a culture of continuous feedback, where research findings are shared regularly, and iteration is a core part of the product development process.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of research methodologies, insights, and best practices across teams to elevate the collective understanding of users and the market.

📝 Enhancement Note: Rula's mission in mental health strongly influences its culture. Candidates should be prepared for a mission-driven environment that values empathy, well-being, and a data-informed approach to improving healthcare access and delivery. The emphasis on efficiency and operations platforms suggests a practical, results-oriented approach to problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Rigor: In a fast-moving startup environment, the challenge will be to conduct rigorous research while meeting aggressive product development timelines, requiring strong prioritization and efficient methodologies.

• Navigating a Multi-Sided Marketplace: Effectively researching and understanding the distinct needs, motivations, and workflows of both patients and providers within a single platform presents a complex research challenge.

• Driving Strategic Impact in a Growing Company: As Rula scales, ensuring research insights consistently influence product strategy and operational improvements across evolving product surfaces will be a continuous challenge.

• Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Data: Effectively synthesizing insights from diverse data sources (user interviews, product analytics, behavioral data) to create a cohesive and actionable understanding of user behavior and platform performance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Healthcare Domain Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in mental health, healthcare technology, and the operational nuances of care delivery.

• Advancing Research Leadership Skills: Developing strategic research planning, team mentorship, and influencing skills within a growing product organization.

• Mastering B2B SaaS & Operations Research: Becoming an expert in researching complex B2B SaaS products and operational platforms, focusing on workflow optimization and user retention.

• Exposure to Product Strategy: Gaining hands-on experience in shaping product roadmaps and contributing to long-term product vision.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend relevant UX research, product management, or health tech conferences and pursue further training.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic nature of a growing health tech company. Success in this role will depend on adaptability, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex user needs into practical, efficient solutions that support Rula's operational goals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to frame research for an ambiguous product question. How did you connect your research to 'build/don't build' decisions?"

• "How do you balance research rigor with the need for speed in a fast-paced startup environment? Provide an example."

• "Walk us through a research initiative where you influenced product strategy or a significant product decision. What was the outcome?"

• "How have you approached research in a multi-sided marketplace? What were the unique challenges and how did you address them?"

• "Describe a situation where you had to integrate qualitative research findings with quantitative product analytics to drive a product decision. What tools and methods did you use?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Rula's mission, particularly in the mental healthcare space?"

• "How do you see your skills in improving workflow efficiency and task automation contributing to Rula's platform for providers?"

• "Describe your ideal cross-functional collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering teams."

• "How do you advocate for user needs when they conflict with business priorities or technical constraints?"

• "What are your expectations for work-life balance and well-being in a remote-first company like Rula?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, start with the business problem or product challenge, followed by your research approach and key findings, and conclude with the tangible impact and lessons learned.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your research (e.g., "This insight led to a 15% increase in user retention," or "Optimized workflow reduced task completion time by 20%").

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, diagrams, personas, journey maps) to illustrate your process and findings effectively.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology, trade-offs made, stakeholder management, and how you would approach similar problems differently.

• Connect to Rula: Where possible, subtly tie your experiences and insights back to Rula's mission and the specific challenges outlined in the job description (e.g., improving provider workflows, enhancing patient access).

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their research acumen but also their strategic thinking, ability to drive measurable impact, and understanding of how research contributes to the operational success of a B2B SaaS product in the healthcare sector.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned UX Research position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with B2B SaaS, operations platforms, workflow efficiency, user retention, and task automation. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful research case studies that demonstrate end-to-end research, strategic influence, and measurable outcomes. Focus on projects where you drove efficiency or retention.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your chosen case studies, focusing on the problem, your process, key insights, and quantifiable impact. Be ready to discuss your methodology and collaboration.

• Research Rula: Understand their mission, target audience (patients and providers), and any publicly available information about their product or market position. Consider how your research skills can specifically benefit their unique challenges in mental healthcare.

⚠️ 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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