UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Slingshot Aerospace

Location: Remote, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: 2026-05-19T14:15:50

Experience Level: Mid-level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Conduct end-to-end UX research studies throughout the product lifecycle to uncover user needs and validate design solutions in complex, high-stakes environments.

• Champion the voice of the user by translating research insights into actionable recommendations that inform product strategy, roadmap planning, and design decisions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Product, Design, Engineering, and Growth to foster a user-centered development culture.

• Design and execute mixed-methods research, including generative and evaluative techniques, to address critical product uncertainties and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is classified under User Experience Research, focusing on applying research methodologies to inform product development, particularly within technically complex domains like aerospace. The emphasis on "high-stakes environments" and "complex problem spaces" suggests a need for rigorous research practices and the ability to translate findings into impactful business and product strategies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end execution of UX research studies, from defining research questions and selecting methodologies to participant recruitment, facilitation, and insightful analysis.

• Frame research objectives that directly address product uncertainties and strategic business goals, in close partnership with product managers, designers, engineers, and growth strategists.

• Contribute to product roadmap planning by identifying and articulating user needs, pain points, and emerging opportunity areas, grounded in robust data and qualitative insights.

• Employ a variety of mixed-methods research approaches, including but not limited to interviews, usability tests, surveys, field studies, and A/B testing, to gather comprehensive user data.

• Synthesize research findings into clear, compelling, and actionable insights, creating artifacts such as frameworks, personas, journey maps, and strategic recommendations to guide product development.

• Support product teams with rapid evaluative testing, continuous discovery initiatives, and post-launch learning analyses to drive iterative product improvements.

• Partner with data analysts and designers to triangulate findings, ensuring a holistic understanding of user behavior, attitudes, and contextual factors.

• Present research insights persuasively to cross-functional stakeholders, fostering shared understanding and driving user-centric decision-making across the organization.

• Build empathy for users through compelling storytelling, facilitated workshops, and embedded collaboration practices with product and engineering teams.

• Advocate for research best practices and champion the user's perspective in key planning and product development discussions, contributing to a user-centered design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle research role, emphasizing ownership from study design to insight dissemination. The expectation to "frame research questions that address product uncertainties and business goals" and "contribute to roadmap planning" indicates a strategic contribution beyond just usability testing, aligning with a mid-level to senior UX Researcher profile.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of dedicated experience in UX research, design research, HCI, behavioral science, or product design, with a progression in scope and autonomy.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in designing and conducting a range of research methodologies, including qualitative (e.g., user interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, A/B testing, analytics review).

• Strong analytical and synthesis skills to transform raw data into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to articulate findings persuasively to diverse cross-functional audiences, including leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to influence product and business decisions through compelling insights, storytelling, and data alignment.

• Proficiency in translating user needs and pain points into tangible artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and user flow diagrams.

• Foundational understanding of design thinking and human-centered design principles, and their application within the product development lifecycle.

• Self-starter mentality with a proactive approach to identifying research opportunities and driving value for both users and the business.

Preferred Skills:

• Stakeholder collaboration and influence in driving user-centric initiatives.

• Experience with journey mapping, persona creation, and developing comprehensive insight frameworks.

• Tool proficiency in platforms such as Figma, Dovetail, UserTesting.com, Miro, or Lyssna.

• Awareness of Research Operations principles, including participant management, template development, data tagging, and documentation best practices.

• Flexibility in research approach, balancing methodological rigor with pragmatic, "scrappy" execution when context demands.

• Consistent learning mindset with a strong awareness of current UX trends, emerging methods, and ethical research practices.

• Business acumen, including an understanding of business principles and their role in decision-making.

• Domain experience in aerospace, geospatial technology, 3D visualization, or real-time decision support tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement specifies "increasing scope and autonomy," suggesting that candidates should highlight roles where they led projects and influenced outcomes. The "Pre-flight Checklist" directly translates to required qualifications, while "Bonus Cargo" lists preferred skills that would make a candidate stand out. The mention of "US Government Security Clearance" is a critical requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of research projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, from initial problem framing to final insight delivery.

• Highlight projects where your research directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, or business outcomes, quantifying impact where possible.

• Include examples of both generative research (e.g., identifying new opportunities, understanding user needs) and evaluative research (e.g., usability testing, concept validation).

• Present clear documentation of your research process, including study design, methodologies used, participant criteria, and synthesis methods.

Process Documentation:

• Provide clear explanations of your approach to framing research questions and aligning them with product and business objectives.

• Detail your methods for participant recruitment, ensuring diverse and representative user groups for your studies.

• Showcase your synthesis process, illustrating how you move from raw data (notes, recordings, survey responses) to synthesized insights and strategic recommendations.

• Illustrate your communication strategies for sharing research findings, including examples of presentations, reports, or workshops used to drive understanding and action.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a UX Researcher role, a strong portfolio is paramount. The requirements emphasize demonstrating a complete research lifecycle, strategic impact, and clear communication of findings. Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio, explaining their process, rationale, and the outcomes of their research.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Stock options or equity grants, reflecting the company's growth-stage environment.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and continuous learning.

• Remote work stipend or support for home office setup.

• 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week.

• While remote, candidates are expected to maintain availability during core business hours for collaboration, with potential flexibility depending on team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated based on typical US-based remote UX Researcher roles with 3+ years of experience. The specific range can fluctuate significantly based on the candidate's qualifications and the final leveling of the role. Benefits are inferred from standard offerings at growth-stage tech companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace, Defense, Space Technology, Software Development. Slingshot Aerospace operates at the intersection of cutting-edge space technology and data analytics, providing critical insights for global security, disaster response, and climate monitoring. This context implies a fast-paced, mission-driven environment where precision and reliability are paramount.

Company Size: The description suggests a growth-stage company, likely between 50-250 employees, indicating a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant impact. This size often means less bureaucracy and more direct influence on product direction.

Founded: While not specified, the company's mission and focus on advanced technology suggest it is a relatively modern company, likely founded within the last decade, aiming to disrupt the established aerospace and defense sectors with innovative software solutions.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research function appears to be integrated within product teams, working closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers. The role may involve working across multiple product squads or focusing on a specific product area.

• Collaboration is emphasized, suggesting a flat or matrixed organizational structure where input from various functions is valued.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core principle, with research insights expected to be grounded in empirical evidence.

• User-centered design is a key focus, with the UX Researcher acting as the primary advocate for the user's voice.

• Agile and iterative development methodologies are likely employed, requiring researchers to support continuous discovery and rapid feedback loops.

• A culture of rapid iteration and learning from failure is encouraged, suggesting a willingness to experiment and adapt.

Company Website: slingshot.space

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in aerospace and defense implies a need for researchers who can handle complex, technical domains and understand the critical nature of the users' work. The culture is described as fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative, valuing curiosity and initiative.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level, requiring 3+ years of experience and the ability to work with increasing autonomy. Depending on demonstrated leadership and strategic impact, there is potential for advancement to a Senior UX Researcher or Lead UX Researcher role. Senior roles would typically involve mentoring junior researchers, leading larger-scale strategic initiatives, and having a more significant influence on overall product strategy and research operations.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report into a Head of Product, Director of Product Design, or a similar leadership role overseeing product development. They will work closely with individual Product Managers and Design Leads for specific product areas or initiatives.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's insights will directly impact product strategy, design efficacy, and user adoption. By ensuring products are intuitive and meet critical user needs in high-stakes environments, the researcher contributes to the overall success and security objectives of Slingshot Aerospace's clients, thereby influencing business growth and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies (e.g., advanced qualitative techniques, quantitative analysis, ethnography) or specific product domains within aerospace.

• Leadership Development: Potential to take on mentorship roles for junior researchers or lead strategic research initiatives, contributing to the development of the Research Operations framework.

• Cross-functional Acumen: Expand understanding of product management, engineering, and business strategy through close collaboration, enhancing overall product development fluency.

• Industry Expertise: Develop deep knowledge in the aerospace and defense technology sector, becoming a subject matter expert in user needs and operational challenges within this domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "depending on level and scope" phrasing suggests flexibility in hiring for this role, with potential to onboard a candidate who can grow into more senior responsibilities. The growth opportunities focus on deepening research expertise and expanding strategic influence within a specialized industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This offers flexibility and allows candidates to work from their preferred location within the specified regions (US and UK).

Office Location(s): Remote within the United States and United Kingdom. Specific state limitations for US-based candidates (AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV) and UK residents are noted.

Workspace Context:

• The remote work environment necessitates strong self-discipline, excellent asynchronous communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively using digital tools.

• Access to standard remote work technologies and collaboration platforms will be essential.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time workweek, likely 40 hours.

• While remote, maintaining availability during core business hours for team syncs and collaborative sessions is expected. Flexibility may be offered, but responsiveness to team needs and project timelines is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of the role requires candidates to be adept at asynchronous communication and digital collaboration. The specific geographic restrictions are important for applicants to note.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications, focusing on resume and portfolio to assess experience alignment and foundational skills.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Expect a discussion with the hiring manager and potentially a senior designer or product manager. This stage will delve into your experience, research philosophy, and how you approach complex problems. Be prepared to discuss your research process and past projects.

• Portfolio Presentation: A key stage will involve presenting a selection of your research work. This is an opportunity to showcase your methodology, insights, and impact. Focus on storytelling and demonstrating how your research drove tangible outcomes.

• Cross-functional Interview(s): You may meet with engineers, product managers, or other stakeholders to assess your collaboration style and ability to communicate research findings effectively across disciplines.

• Final Interview: Potentially a meeting with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end research process, impact, and ability to tackle complex problems relevant to Slingshot Aerospace's domain.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the problem, your research approach, the key insights, and, most importantly, the resulting actions or outcomes. Quantify impact whenever possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in task completion," "identified a critical usability issue that was resolved, improving user satisfaction").

• Showcase Methodology: Detail your choice of research methods and justify why they were appropriate for the problem you were addressing.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentations like a narrative – setting the context, describing the challenge, detailing your journey, and revealing the resolution and its impact.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, challenges faced, how you handled conflicting feedback, and how you would approach research for Slingshot Aerospace's specific products.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with cross-functional teams and how your insights were integrated into the product development process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for a potential take-home exercise or a live case study focusing on a hypothetical research problem relevant to the aerospace/defense domain.

• Practice articulating your thought process for defining research questions, selecting methods, and planning a study under time constraints.

• Prepare to present your findings and recommendations clearly and concisely, as you would to product stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio. Candidates should prepare to articulate their research process, demonstrate impact, and showcase their ability to work within a technical domain. The mention of "complex problem spaces" and "high-stakes environments" suggests that case studies should reflect this.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lyssna, Lookback, UserZoom for remote usability testing and user feedback collection.

• Collaboration & Synthesis: Miro, Mural for collaborative whiteboarding, ideation, and affinity mapping.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Dovetail for qualitative data analysis, tagging, and synthesis.

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (for reviewing designs, potentially creating basic prototypes for testing).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX Research role, but an understanding of how user feedback can inform CRM strategies or product automation workflows might be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with specific UX research tools like UserTesting.com, Dovetail, and Miro is explicitly mentioned as a "Bonus Cargo" skill, indicating these are highly desirable. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these and similar tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity over Ego: A culture that encourages asking "why" and exploring user needs without preconceived notions.

• Initiative over Permission: Proactive individuals who identify opportunities and drive them forward are highly valued.

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on producing work that has a tangible effect on the product and the company's mission.

• User-Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all product decisions.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively across teams to achieve shared goals.

• Mission-Oriented: A shared dedication to making space safer and more secure, providing a sense of purpose.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Researchers are expected to be embedded within product teams, working closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure research insights are seamlessly integrated into the development process.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and transparent sharing of information and findings.

• Empathy Building: Utilizing research as a tool to foster empathy for users across the entire organization through storytelling and shared experiences.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of research methodologies, findings, and best practices among peers and across teams to elevate the overall research practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a proactive, collaborative, and user-focused approach. The emphasis on "curiosity over ego" and "initiative over waiting for permission" points to a culture that values independent thinkers who contribute actively.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Technical Domains: Diving deep into highly technical areas like space systems, defense operations, and satellite tracking can be challenging but also rewarding for those who enjoy learning complex subjects.

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: The need to conduct thorough research while operating in a fast-paced, agile environment requires adaptability and strategic prioritization of research efforts.

• Driving Organizational Change: As a researcher, influencing decisions and embedding a user-centric mindset across different departments can be a continuous challenge.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively building rapport and facilitating research with distributed teams and users requires strong communication and facilitation skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in the unique user needs and operational challenges within the aerospace and defense technology sectors.

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Potential to expand expertise in specialized research techniques and tools, contributing to the evolution of the company's research practice.

• Strategic Impact: Grow in influence by taking on more strategic research initiatives that shape product direction and business goals.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior team members or take on leadership roles in research operations as the team scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in fast-growing tech companies, particularly those in specialized industries. The growth opportunities are aligned with career progression in UX research, emphasizing both technical skill development and strategic influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to research a complex, technical product. How did you approach understanding the domain and user needs?" (Focus on your learning process, methods for domain immersion, and how you simplified complex information).

• "How do you prioritize research requests when multiple teams have urgent needs?" (Highlight your prioritization framework, stakeholder management skills, and ability to communicate trade-offs).

• "Walk us through a research study where your insights significantly changed the direction of a product or feature. What was the impact?" (Prepare a STAR method response focusing on the problem, your actions, the results, and the quantifiable impact).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Slingshot Aerospace's mission and the space technology industry?" (Research the company's mission, recent news, and key product areas. Connect your passion for user-centered design to their goals).

• "How do you foster a user-centered culture within product teams?" (Discuss your methods for building empathy, sharing insights, and advocating for users).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Choose Impactful Projects: Select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end research process, strategic thinking, and measurable impact.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline: the problem/objective, your research questions, your methodology (and why you chose it), your key findings, the insights derived, the recommendations you made, and the resulting impact (quantified if possible).

• Showcase Your Process: Be ready to discuss the "how" and "why" behind your decisions at each stage of the research process.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you partnered with designers, PMs, and engineers throughout the research lifecycle.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific methodological choices, data synthesis, challenges encountered, and how you'd adapt your approach for Slingshot Aerospace's unique context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating strategic thinking, domain adaptability, and strong communication skills, all crucial for a UX Researcher in a technical and mission-driven company. The portfolio presentation is a central component, requiring candidates to craft compelling narratives of their work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience with mixed-methods research, complex domains (especially if you have aerospace or technical experience), and your ability to drive product strategy through insights.

• Portfolio Preparation: Select 2-3 key research projects that showcase your end-to-end process, strategic impact, and ability to communicate findings effectively. Prepare a clear narrative for each, focusing on problem, process, insights, and outcomes.

• Interview Practice: Rehearse answers to common UX research interview questions, focusing on behavioral examples and your problem-solving approach. Practice articulating your research strategy and methodology clearly.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Slingshot Aerospace's mission, products, and recent developments. Understand their target users and the critical nature of their work in space and defense. This will help you tailor your responses and ask insightful questions.

⚠️ 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.