UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Diversified Services Network, Inc.

Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: 2026-04-14

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on translating complex qualitative and quantitative research findings into actionable insights to drive HMI, display, and overall heavy equipment UX decisions.

• Key responsibilities include synthesizing operator, customer, and business needs into evidence-based interaction concepts that ensure safe, efficient, and intuitive heavy equipment operation.

• The UX Researcher will collaborate closely with design and cross-functional teams, creating essential UX artifacts to align stakeholders around operator needs and context of use.

• This position requires a strong understanding of user research methodologies, particularly for physical-digital systems, and their integration into product design practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "UX Researcher," the detailed responsibilities and company context (heavy equipment, HMI, physical-digital systems) strongly suggest a specialization within Industrial Design, Human Factors, or Product Design Operations, rather than a pure software UX role. The "Hybrid" work arrangement, combined with the need for field studies and understanding real-world conditions, implies a blend of remote work and on-site collaboration/testing.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct and synthesize qualitative and quantitative user research, including usability testing, field studies, and simulations, to inform HMI, display, and overall heavy equipment UX decisions.

• Translate operator, customer, and business needs into evidence-based interaction concepts that support safe, efficient, and intuitive operation of heavy equipment in real-world conditions.

• Collaborate with design and cross-functional teams to define prototype requirements for testing and iteration.

• Document key goals, themes, elements, and behaviors that must be implemented by downstream design and engineering teams.

• Create and maintain shareable UX artifacts such as journey maps, storyboards, user flows, mental models, and experience maps to foster alignment among cross-functional teams.

• Incorporate ergonomics and human-factors considerations into UX research planning and synthesis, addressing physical, cognitive, and interaction demands of the HMI and cab experience.

• Prioritize research needs and backlog based on the product roadmap and business objectives.

• Apply UI best practices, UI design principles, and essential graphic design theory to research findings and recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "heavy equipment," "HMI," and "physical-digital systems" indicates that the research will involve understanding complex machinery and user interaction in industrial or operational environments, requiring a different approach than typical consumer software UX research.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in UX Research, preferably within a corporate or B2B environment.

• Experience integrating user research into product designs and design practices.

Required Skills:

• Thorough understanding of UI best practices, UI design, and essential graphic design theory.

• Proficiency in UI layout, specification, and prototyping tools.

• Experience in Ergonomics HMI research.

• Ability to produce results independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.

• Outstanding communication, organization, time management, and interpersonal skills.

• Exceptional data storytelling capability.

Preferred Skills:

• Project management experience.

• Experience in the automotive or other adjacent heavy equipment industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a B.S. or higher in specific fields (HCI, Human Factors, Psychology) combined with 8+ years of experience points to a senior or lead researcher role. The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating process and articulation is critical for evaluating the candidate's ability to translate research into tangible design outcomes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, demonstrating expertise in UX research methodologies and the ability to articulate the research process from conception to actionable insights.

• Showcase case studies that highlight how research findings directly influenced HMI, display, or heavy equipment UX decisions, leading to measurable improvements.

• Include examples of UX artifacts created, such as journey maps, storyboards, user flows, and mental models, with explanations of their purpose and impact.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline the research process followed for at least one significant project, detailing methodology selection, participant recruitment, data collection techniques, and synthesis methods.

• Provide examples of how research findings were translated into clear, prioritized insights and recommendations for design and engineering teams.

• Illustrate the collaboration process with cross-functional teams (design, engineering, product management) and how research was integrated into the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role involving heavy equipment and physical-digital interaction, the portfolio should ideally showcase research conducted in field environments or simulations relevant to operational settings, not just digital interfaces. Emphasis on "data storytelling" means the portfolio should effectively communicate the narrative and impact of the research.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $105,000 - $110,000 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) plan

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Disability insurance

• Employee assistance program

• Health insurance

• Health savings account (HSA)

• Life insurance

• Paid time off (PTO)

Working Hours:

• Full-time, likely around 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $105,000 - $110,000 for a UX Researcher with 8+ years of experience in Tucson, Arizona, is competitive and aligns with industry benchmarks for senior-level positions in a major metropolitan area. The comprehensive benefits package is typical for a Fortune 500 company. The "Hybrid" work arrangement suggests a structured approach to in-office days, likely dictated by project needs and team collaboration requirements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Diversified Services Network, Inc. operates within the heavy equipment manufacturing and related services sector, a key component of industrial and infrastructure development. This industry demands robust, reliable, and user-centric product design.

Company Size: Fortune 500 company, indicating a large, established organization with significant resources, structured processes, and a broad market reach.

Founded: While the exact founding date is not provided, being a Fortune 500 company implies a long history of operations and growth, likely with established corporate values and a mature organizational structure.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will likely be part of a larger Product Development, Engineering, or Design department.

• This role will involve close collaboration with UI designers, HMI engineers, product managers, and potentially field engineers or customer support teams.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is paramount, with a strong emphasis on translating research findings into tangible product improvements.

• Integration of user feedback loops throughout the product development lifecycle is expected.

• Adherence to established design and engineering processes, with opportunities for process optimization through research insights.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Fortune 500 company in the heavy equipment sector, DSN likely values stability, reliability, and a structured approach to innovation. The UX research function is critical for ensuring their complex products are not only functional but also user-friendly and safe for operators in demanding environments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher, requiring substantial experience and the ability to work with a high degree of autonomy. It involves influencing product strategy and design decisions based on deep user understanding.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will report to a manager within a product development, engineering, or design group. Collaboration will be extensive across multiple departments, including engineering, product management, and potentially marketing.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's work directly impacts the usability, safety, and efficiency of heavy equipment, which in turn affects operational costs, operator productivity, and customer satisfaction for clients in demanding industries. This role has a significant influence on the market competitiveness and user adoption of DSN's products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to Lead UX Researcher or Manager of UX Research, overseeing a team and strategic research initiatives.

• Specialization in specific areas of heavy equipment UX, human factors, or ergonomics research.

• Transition into product management roles, leveraging deep user understanding to define product strategy.

• Opportunities for continuous learning through industry conferences, workshops, and internal training programs within a large Fortune 500 organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior-level UX Researcher in a Fortune 500 company, growth typically involves increasing strategic influence, team leadership, or deep specialization. The role's impact on high-value industrial equipment suggests opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects with significant real-world implications.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office presence. This allows for flexibility while ensuring essential face-to-face collaboration and access to physical testing environments.

Office Location(s): Tucson, Arizona. This location likely offers modern office facilities designed to support collaborative work, potentially including labs or testing areas for physical-digital products.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, encouraging interaction with designers, engineers, and product managers.

• Access to necessary tools and technology for UX research, prototyping, and data analysis will be provided.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, standard working hours (likely 40 hours/week), with flexibility often afforded in hybrid arrangements, especially regarding remote work days. The focus will be on achieving project milestones and delivering research insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: A hybrid model in a heavy equipment company might involve specific days for team sync-ups, design reviews, or on-site user testing, while other days can be dedicated to remote analysis, report writing, and virtual collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, salary expectations, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion about experience, research methodologies, and past projects.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will present their portfolio, showcasing their research process, key findings, and impact on product design. This is a critical stage.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with cross-functional team members (designers, engineers, product managers) to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the methodology used, the research process, key insights, and the impact of your recommendations on the product.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Visuals are crucial. Include examples of research artifacts (personas, journey maps, user flows), prototypes, and final product designs influenced by your work.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Did your research lead to increased efficiency, reduced errors, improved user satisfaction, or cost savings?

• Emphasize Process: Detail your thought process, how you adapted methodologies, and how you collaborated with teams. For this role, showcase experience with physical-digital systems and ergonomics research.

• Data Storytelling: Practice articulating your findings in a compelling and understandable way, focusing on the "so what?" and the actionable recommendations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design or research challenge. This could involve analyzing a hypothetical product scenario, outlining a research plan for a new feature, or synthesizing a small dataset.

• Practice articulating your approach to problem-solving, demonstrating your understanding of user-centered design principles and research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for this role. Candidates should prepare to walk through 2-3 detailed case studies that exemplify their ability to conduct research, synthesize findings, and drive product improvements, especially in the context of complex physical-digital systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & UI Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP, InVision (or similar for UI layout, spec, and prototyping).

• Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey (for remote usability testing, surveys, and data collection).

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Miro, Mural (for collaboration and synthesis), Dovetail, NVivo (for qualitative data analysis), Excel, Google Sheets (for quantitative data analysis).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• While not primary, understanding how UX research impacts CRM data or user engagement metrics within automated workflows could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in core UX research and design tools is essential. The emphasis on "physical-digital systems" and "heavy equipment" might also necessitate familiarity with simulation software or tools used for capturing sensor data or user interactions in physical environments, though this is not explicitly stated.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user (operator, customer) in all design and development decisions.

• Data-Driven Insights: Reliance on research and data to inform strategy and validate design choices.

• Collaboration & Communication: Strong emphasis on working effectively across departments to ensure seamless product development and integration.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly refine processes and products based on user feedback and evolving industry best practices.

• Reliability & Safety: Given the industry, there's an implicit value placed on creating products that are robust, safe, and dependable.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional teams are expected to work closely, with UX researchers acting as a bridge between user needs and technical implementation.

• Open communication and constructive feedback are encouraged to foster innovation and problem-solving.

• A proactive approach to identifying and addressing potential user experience challenges is valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture within a Fortune 500 heavy equipment company likely blends a structured, process-oriented approach with a drive for innovation to maintain market leadership. The UX team's role is to inject user empathy and data-backed insights into this established framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Heavy Equipment UX: Researching and designing for complex physical-digital interfaces in demanding operational environments presents unique challenges in terms of accessibility, safety, and user learning curves.

• Bridging Physical and Digital: Effectively synthesizing research across physical interactions, HMI displays, and software interfaces requires a holistic approach.

• Cross-Functional Buy-in: Ensuring that research insights are understood and acted upon by diverse teams (engineering, product, marketing) requires strong communication and advocacy skills.

• Prioritizing Research Needs: Balancing research requests from various product roadmaps and stakeholder priorities can be demanding.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in human factors, ergonomics, industrial design research, and specific HMI technologies.

• Industry Conferences: Participation in leading UX, human factors, and industry-specific conferences to stay abreast of trends and best practices.

• Mentorship: Access to senior leaders and experienced professionals within the organization for guidance and career development.

• Advanced Tooling: Exposure to and training on advanced research and design tools used within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be translating the complexities of heavy machinery operation into intuitive and safe user experiences. Growth opportunities are robust, given the company's size and its commitment to advancing its product offerings through user-centered design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex physical-digital system you've researched. What were the key challenges, and how did you address them?" (Focus on methodology, synthesis, and outcomes.)

• "How do you translate user needs and operational context into concrete design recommendations for HMI and display interfaces?" (Highlight your process for bridging research to design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about the heavy equipment industry and our company, what do you anticipate being the biggest UX challenges for our operators?" (Show research into the company and industry.)

• "How do you collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure research insights are effectively implemented?" (Emphasize your communication and integration skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Relevant Case Studies: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your experience with physical-digital systems, HMI research, ergonomics, and data storytelling.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your research process, the insights gained, and the tangible impact of your work. Quantify results where possible.

• Explain Your Process: Be prepared to detail your methodology, how you synthesized data, and how you collaborated with stakeholders.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation as a narrative that guides the interviewers through your problem-solving journey and the value you delivered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can not only conduct rigorous research but also effectively communicate findings and advocate for user needs within a large, complex organization. Demonstrating an understanding of the specific challenges within the heavy equipment industry will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects involving physical-digital interfaces, industrial equipment, or complex B2B products. Emphasize your process for conducting field studies and integrating ergonomic considerations.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your years of experience, relevant education, and proficiency in key UX research methodologies, especially those mentioned in the job description (usability testing, field studies, HMI research). Use keywords from the job posting.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process and key findings using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare to present your portfolio confidently, focusing on impact and data storytelling.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Diversified Services Network, Inc., their products, and the heavy equipment industry. Understand their market position and the potential user challenges your role will address.

⚠️ 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.