Staff User Experience (UX) Researcher (Hybrid-Acton, MA or San Diego, CA)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff User Experience (UX) Researcher

Company: Insulet Corporation

Location: Acton, MA or San Diego, CA (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Strategy

Date Posted: May 21, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ years (Professional) / Staff Level

Remote Status: Hybrid (Requires on-site presence in Acton, MA or San Diego, CA)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and strategically manage the global Digital and Service-based Customer Experiences (DSCX) User Experience (UX) research roadmap, focusing on digital user flows, websites, web portals, and customer care experiences.

• Conduct complex qualitative and quantitative research studies, ensuring rigorous, best-practice methodologies are applied to uncover deep user insights.

• Serve as a thought partner and mentor to a team of three UX researchers, providing strategic guidance and support for research initiatives.

• Drive data-informed design and business decision-making by translating research findings into actionable insights that influence product and service strategy.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including IT, Product Management, Marketing, Legal, and Data Privacy teams to ensure research alignment and compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a "Staff" level position, indicating a senior individual contributor expected to lead complex initiatives, mentor junior team members, and influence strategic direction within the UX research function. The focus on "digital user flows, websites, web portals, and customer care experiences" points towards a strong emphasis on customer journey mapping and service design within the digital ecosystem. The hybrid nature of the role necessitates strong self-management and communication skills to effectively collaborate across locations and with remote team members.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Research Leadership & Strategy:

  • Develop and maintain the global DSCX UX research roadmap, aligning with Insulet's mission to simplify life for people living with diabetes.
  • Proactively identify new opportunity areas for digital and service-based customer experiences through continuous user understanding.
  • Inform and influence product and service strategy by delivering impactful, user-centric insights.

• Research Execution & Methodology:

  • Design, execute, and synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative research studies (e.g., surveys, interviews, usability testing).
  • Utilize rigorous, best-practice methodologies to ensure the validity and reliability of research findings.
  • Leverage a variety of research tools and techniques to gather comprehensive user data.

• Mentorship & Collaboration:

  • Act as a strategic thought partner and mentor to other UX researchers on the team, providing guidance on research design, execution, and synthesis.
  • Foster strong, trust-based relationships across a matrixed organization, collaborating closely with UX leadership and cross-functional partners (IT, Product, Marketing, Legal, Data Privacy).
  • Evangelize user insights across the organization to champion a customer-centered approach to design and business decisions.

• Process & Compliance:

  • Own the end-to-end UX research process, from planning and stakeholder alignment to execution, synthesis, and communication of findings.
  • Partner closely with legal and data privacy teams to ensure all research activities adhere to regulatory and privacy standards, especially within the healthcare domain.
  • Continuously identify opportunities to evolve and improve research practices, tools, and processes within the team.

• Communication & Reporting:

  • Deliver clear, compelling research reports and presentations, utilizing strong storytelling and data visualization techniques.

  • Communicate proactively and effectively with the Senior User Research Manager, peers, and cross-functional partners regarding research progress and findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on research execution, and team mentorship. The emphasis on "global DSCX UX research roadmap" and "customer care experiences" suggests a need for understanding complex user journeys across multiple touchpoints. The explicit mention of partnering with "legal and data privacy teams" underscores the critical importance of compliance in the medical device industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 7+ years of professional User Experience (UX) research experience.

• Demonstrated experience supporting physical, digital, web, and/or service-based products.

• Familiarity with IT systems.

Required Skills:

• Research Expertise:

  • Proven ability to design and execute complex qualitative and quantitative research studies.
  • Strong expertise in various primary research methods, including but not limited to: user interviews, usability testing, surveys, field studies, diary studies, and contextual inquiry.
  • Proficiency in synthesizing research data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Tools & Technology:

  • Strong experience with research platforms and tools, such as Qualtrics for survey design and analysis.
  • Proficiency in using design and collaboration tools like Figma and Miro to support research planning, synthesis, and ideation.
  • Familiarity with AI tools for research assistance or analysis.

• Communication & Collaboration:

  • Demonstrated ability to build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships across a matrixed organization.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to deliver clear, compelling presentations and reports.
  • Strong storytelling and data visualization skills to effectively communicate research findings.
  • Ability to mentor and guide other researchers.

• Strategic Thinking:

  • Strategic thinker capable of operating at both high-level and detailed execution levels, with a strong bias toward action.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity working with partners from call center analytics, digital web analytics, Salesforce Lightning, and data science teams.

• Experience working in regulated medical or healthcare environments, specifically with insulin delivery systems.

• Comfort collaborating across time zones, including teams based in the U.S. and Europe.

• Experience conducting international research and supporting global initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" level designation implies that candidates should not only possess strong research skills but also leadership qualities, including mentorship and strategic influence. The preference for experience in medical/healthcare domains and regulated environments is critical given Insulet's industry. Proficiency in specific tools like Qualtrics, Figma, and Miro is essential for daily operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A robust portfolio showcasing at least 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX research projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the research problem, methodology, execution, key findings, and the impact of the research on product/business outcomes.

• Impact Demonstration: Evidence of how your research directly influenced design decisions, product strategy, or business outcomes. Quantifiable results (e.g., improvements in user satisfaction, task success rates, conversion rates, reduction in support tickets) are highly valued.

• Methodological Diversity: Examples of research employing a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, showcasing your versatility in approaching different research questions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrations of how you effectively partnered with cross-functional teams (e.g., Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, Marketing) to integrate research findings and drive action.

• Mentorship Examples (Optional but Recommended): If applicable, include examples of how you have guided or mentored junior researchers, highlighting your leadership potential.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning: Examples of research plans, stakeholder alignment documents, and research protocols that demonstrate structured and thorough planning.

• Synthesis & Reporting: Portfolios should include examples of synthesized findings, insight reports, and presentations that effectively communicate complex information to various audiences.

• Tool Proficiency: While not always explicitly demonstrated, be prepared to discuss your experience and specific applications of tools like Qualtrics, Figma, Miro, and any other relevant analytics or collaboration platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff-level UX Researcher, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to showcase not just research execution but also strategic thinking, impact, and leadership potential. Emphasize projects where your research led to tangible business or product improvements. Be prepared to discuss your process for ensuring regulatory compliance in research activities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Annual Base Salary: $142,400.00 - $213,575.00 USD

• Note: Actual pay is determined by a combination of factors including skills, experience, education, and location. This range is provided for the specified U.S. locations (Acton, MA or San Diego, CA).

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.

• 401(k) plan with a company match, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) for work-life balance.

• Employee Wellness Programs designed to support overall well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard Full-Time position, typically 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work arrangement requires on-site presence in Acton, MA or San Diego, CA, with flexibility for remote work within those locations as per company policy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is explicit. The benefits package is standard for a full-time role at a corporation of this size, with a particular emphasis on health and financial well-being. The hybrid nature implies a need for structured workdays that balance in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Medical Devices / Healthcare Technology. Insulet is a leader in innovative diabetes management solutions, specifically through its Omnipod product platform.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Likely 1,000-5,000+ employees, based on typical NASDAQ-listed medical device companies). This means established processes, but also potential for significant impact within a dedicated team.

Founded: 2000. This indicates a company with a solid history and established market presence, evolving from an innovative startup to a mature organization.

Team Structure:

• UX Research Team: Part of the larger Innovation & Strategy organization, the UX research team consists of a Senior User Research Manager and three researchers, including this Staff-level position.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with UX partners, IT, Product Management, Marketing, Legal, and Data Privacy teams, indicating a matrixed organizational structure.

• Reporting: This role will report to a Senior User Research Manager, with expectations to mentor other researchers on the team.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: The company's mission ("simplify life for people living with diabetes") and the role's focus on understanding People Living With Diabetes (PWDs) and Health Care Providers (HCPs) highlight a strong commitment to user-centered design and development.

• Data-Driven Decisions: The role emphasizes translating insights into meaningful business and customer outcomes, suggesting a culture that values data and research in strategic planning.

• Process Improvement: Continuous identification and implementation of improvements to research practices, tools, and processes are expected.

Company Website: https://insulet.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Insulet's focus on improving the lives of people with diabetes provides a strong mission-driven context for operations roles. The company's size suggests a structured environment where established processes are important, but the "innovation" aspect indicates openness to new ideas and research-driven improvements. The collaborative nature across departments is typical for product development in the medical device sector.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff UX Researcher. This signifies a senior individual contributor role, requiring deep expertise and the ability to lead complex projects independently. It's a crucial step beyond mid-level roles, often involving mentorship and strategic influence.

Reporting Structure: The Staff UX Researcher reports to the Senior User Research Manager. This implies a clear hierarchy with oversight and strategic direction provided by the manager, while the Staff Researcher independently manages research initiatives and provides guidance to peers.

Operations Impact: The role has a significant impact on Insulet's digital and service-based customer experiences (DSCX). By deeply understanding user needs (PWDs and HCPs), the research directly informs product strategy, design decisions, and ultimately, the effectiveness and adoption of Insulet's diabetes management solutions. This influence extends to identifying new market opportunities and ensuring user-centered outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone leadership skills by mentoring junior researchers, leading complex global initiatives, and influencing strategic roadmaps.

• Skill Specialization & Expansion: Deepen expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and potentially expand into adjacent areas like service design, product strategy, or data analytics integration within the healthcare tech domain.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain valuable experience working closely with diverse teams (IT, Product, Marketing, Legal, Data Privacy), enhancing understanding of the broader product development lifecycle and business operations.

• Impactful Contribution: Contribute to a mission-driven organization focused on improving patient outcomes, offering a high degree of job satisfaction and professional fulfillment.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge within the regulated medical device and diabetes care industry, a highly valuable niche.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title clearly positions this as a senior role. Growth opportunities are likely to focus on leadership, strategic influence, and deepening domain expertise within the critical healthcare technology sector, rather than a direct management track unless the individual excels and seeks it.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. This means the role requires periodic on-site presence at one of Insulet's offices in Acton, MA, or San Diego, CA. The specific frequency of on-site work will be determined by company policy and team needs, likely focused on collaborative sessions, team meetings, and key project milestones.

Office Location(s):

• Acton, Massachusetts, USA

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect access to office environments designed for collaboration, including meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and shared workspaces conducive to team interaction.

• Technology & Tools: The office environment will be equipped with necessary technology to support research activities, including access to company networks, software licenses (e.g., Qualtrics, Figma, Miro), and potentially specialized hardware for testing.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with UX leadership, fellow researchers, and cross-functional colleagues, fostering knowledge sharing and a cohesive team dynamic.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week).

• The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work, requiring strong self-management and communication to ensure productivity and team alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature is a key aspect, implying a need for employees to be comfortable working both independently from home and collaboratively in an office setting. The specific balance will depend on internal policies, but the expectation is regular office presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion with the Senior User Research Manager to assess research expertise, strategic thinking, mentorship capabilities, and cultural fit.

• Cross-functional/Peer Interviews: Interviews with UX partners, product managers, designers, or other researchers to evaluate collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and ability to integrate research into product development.

• Portfolio Presentation: A crucial step where the candidate presents selected case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating their research process, findings, and impact. This often includes a discussion of their strategic approach and problem-solving skills.

• Final Interview (Potentially with Senior Leadership): A final conversation to confirm alignment with the company's vision and strategic goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 diverse case studies that best showcase your experience relevant to Insulet's focus areas (digital, service, healthcare). Prioritize projects with clear impact and strategic influence.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the challenge, your approach (methodology, tools), the key insights, and the resulting actions/outcomes. Quantify impact whenever possible.

• Highlight "Staff" Level Contributions: Emphasize instances where you led complex initiatives, mentored others, influenced strategy, or navigated challenging stakeholder environments.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, synthesis techniques, and how you handled challenges or ambiguity.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your specific use of tools like Qualtrics, Figma, Miro, and AI, and how they enhanced your research process.

• Showcase Regulatory Awareness: If applicable, highlight experience with research in regulated environments and how you ensured compliance.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Design Challenge: You might be given a hypothetical product or scenario and asked to outline a research plan to address specific business questions. Focus on justifying your methodological choices and stakeholder alignment.

• Data Synthesis & Presentation: You may be asked to analyze a sample dataset or research findings and present key insights and recommendations, demonstrating your synthesis and communication skills.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare to discuss challenging situations related to stakeholder management, influencing decisions, managing competing priorities, or mentoring. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structured responses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio. Candidates should prepare to articulate their research process, strategic contributions, and impact with specific examples. Behavioral questions will likely probe leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving within a complex organizational structure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualtrics: Essential for designing, distributing, and analyzing surveys and other research instruments. Proficiency in creating complex survey logic, managing data, and generating reports is expected.

• Figma: A key tool for collaboration on design artifacts, user flows, and prototypes. Researchers often use Figma for understanding designs, annotating screens, and sometimes for collaborative synthesis activities.

• Miro: A popular digital whiteboard tool for collaborative ideation, journey mapping, affinity diagramming, and research synthesis. Expect to use Miro for team workshops and analysis sessions.

• AI Tools: Mentioned as a proficiency. This could refer to AI-powered research platforms, data analysis tools, or generative AI assistants for tasks like summarizing findings or drafting reports.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Digital Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Familiarity is preferred, as understanding quantitative user behavior on websites and portals is crucial for a holistic view.

• Call Center Analytics: Preferred skill, indicating a need to integrate insights from customer support interactions into research findings.

• Salesforce Lightning: Familiarity is preferred, suggesting the role may interact with CRM data or customer relationship management processes.

• Data Science Collaboration: Experience working with data scientists to combine qualitative insights with quantitative data for deeper analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• Salesforce Lightning: As mentioned, familiarity is preferred, indicating potential interaction with CRM data or processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools are Qualtrics, Figma, and Miro. Proficiency in these is non-negotiable. The preferred skills in web analytics, call center data, and Salesforce indicate a need for a researcher who can connect user experience to broader business metrics and customer journey touchpoints.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Insulet's mission of simplifying life for people with diabetes. Research efforts should align with improving patient outcomes and user experience.

• User-Centricity: A deep-seated value of understanding and advocating for the user (PWDs and HCPs) in all product and service development decisions.

• Data-Driven Innovation: A culture that values rigorous research and data analysis to inform strategy, drive innovation, and ensure product effectiveness.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Emphasis on building strong relationships and working effectively across diverse, cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of constantly seeking ways to enhance research methodologies, tools, and processes to maximize impact and efficiency.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Researchers are expected to be active collaborators, seamlessly integrating with Product, Design, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Data Privacy teams.

• Proactive Communication: A style that emphasizes clear, consistent, and proactive communication of research plans, progress, and findings to all relevant stakeholders.

• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: A culture where senior members (like the Staff Researcher) actively mentor peers and share knowledge to elevate the team's overall capabilities.

• Influence and Advocacy: Researchers are encouraged to be advocates for the user, using insights to influence strategic decisions and champion user-centered design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values a strong sense of purpose, driven by the company's mission. Collaboration is key, requiring researchers to be adept at working with diverse teams and communicating effectively. The expectation for mentorship at the Staff level suggests a team that values growth and shared learning.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Regulated Environment: Research must be conducted with strict adherence to medical device regulations and data privacy laws. This requires careful planning and execution.

• Global Research Complexity: Managing research initiatives across different regions and time zones introduces logistical and cultural complexities.

• Influencing Strategic Decisions: Effectively translating research insights into actionable strategies that influence senior leadership and cross-functional partners can be challenging.

• Balancing Research Rigor with Business Agility: Finding the optimal balance between conducting thorough, methodologically sound research and meeting the fast-paced demands of product development.

• Mentoring and Developing Others: Providing effective guidance and mentorship to junior researchers while managing one's own complex research projects requires strong time management and interpersonal skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Healthcare Domain Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in diabetes management, insulin delivery systems, and the broader healthcare technology landscape.

• Strategic Research Leadership: Develop advanced skills in shaping research roadmaps, influencing product strategy, and leading complex, multi-faceted research programs.

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunity to explore and implement cutting-edge research techniques, potentially including advanced quantitative analysis or mixed-methods approaches.

• Cross-functional Influence: Enhance skills in stakeholder management, communication, and influencing across diverse business functions.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend relevant industry conferences, workshops, and training to stay abreast of UX research best practices and healthcare technology trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a regulated industry, emphasizing the need for meticulousness and strategic influence. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening domain expertise and leadership within the UX research field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a global research initiative. What were the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on stakeholder alignment, cultural nuances, and logistical planning.)

• "How do you prioritize research requests when multiple teams have competing needs?" (Highlight your approach to strategic roadmap management and stakeholder negotiation.)

• "Walk us through a complex research project where your insights significantly influenced product strategy or business outcomes. What was your process for ensuring those insights were acted upon?" (Prepare a detailed case study emphasizing impact and strategic influence.)

• "How do you mentor junior researchers? Describe a situation where you provided guidance that led to their growth or improved their research quality." (Focus on your leadership and coaching style.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Insulet and our mission?" (Research Insulet's products, values, and recent news.)

• "How do you ensure your research aligns with regulatory and data privacy standards?" (Showcase your awareness of compliance requirements in the healthcare industry.)

• "How do you approach building trust and rapport with cross-functional stakeholders, especially those who may be less familiar with UX research?" (Discuss your collaboration and communication strategies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select High-Impact Cases: Choose 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your strategic thinking, leadership, research rigor, and demonstrable impact.

• Focus on the "Why" and "So What": Clearly articulate the business/product problem, your strategic research approach, the critical insights, and the tangible outcomes or influence your research had.

• Showcase Your Process: Be prepared to discuss the nuances of your research design, participant recruitment, data synthesis, and how you iterated based on feedback or findings.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the success of your research (e.g., improved user satisfaction scores, reduced task completion times, increased conversion rates).

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making, and how you handled complexities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of research impact within a regulated industry. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring clear storytelling and data-backed evidence of success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff User Experience (UX) Researcher position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the Insulet Careers site and submit your application online via the provided link. Ensure all required fields are completed accurately.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful UX research case studies. Focus on projects that demonstrate your ability to lead complex initiatives, mentor others, influence strategy, and deliver measurable business outcomes, particularly within digital, service, or healthcare contexts.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to highlight your 7+ years of UX research experience, specific methodologies used, proficiency with tools like Qualtrics, Figma, and Miro, and any experience in the medical device or healthcare industry. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice presenting your selected case studies. Focus on clearly articulating the problem, your strategic approach, key insights, and the impact of your research. Be ready to discuss your process and answer in-depth questions.

• Research Insulet: Familiarize yourself with Insulet's mission, the Omnipod platform, recent company news, and their commitment to simplifying life for people with diabetes. Understand their product ecosystem and the importance of user experience in healthcare technology.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description has been generated by AI, incorporating industry-standard expectations for a Staff UX Researcher role and Insulet's specific context. All details, especially regarding responsibilities, qualifications, and interview processes, should be verified directly with the hiring organization through their official channels before making application decisions.