UX Researcher Intern

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher Intern

Company: AAA (Auto Club Enterprises)

Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

Job Type: Part-Time, Intern

Category: User Experience Research / Operations

Date Posted: May 22, 2026

Experience Level: 0-2 Years (Internship Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship focuses on hands-on experience in the full spectrum of UX research, from strategy and execution to synthesis and reporting, within a large, established organization.

• The role involves close collaboration with experienced UX Researchers, product teams, designers, and engineers to understand and advocate for user needs.

• A significant component of the role includes leveraging both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, with an emphasis on modern tools and AI-assisted research.

• The intern will gain practical experience in research operations, contributing to knowledge management and the promotion of user-centered design principles across the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Researcher Intern," the detailed responsibilities and required skills, particularly around data analysis, system utilization (Adobe Analytics, CDP, AJO, Target), and cross-functional collaboration, align it closely with a "GTM Operations" or "Product Operations" internship, where understanding user behavior directly impacts product strategy and market adoption. The emphasis on "Research Operations (ResOps)" further solidifies this connection.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• UX Research Strategy & Execution: Partner with UX Researchers and cross-functional teams (product, design, engineering) to define research objectives, identify user needs, and plan research studies across digital channels (websites, mobile apps).

• Qualitative Research Execution: Assist in planning, moderating, and executing various qualitative research methodologies, including usability testing (moderated/unmoderated), in-depth interviews, concept testing, and ethnographic studies.

• Quantitative Research & Analytics: Support the analysis of quantitative data using tools like Quantum Metrics, Adobe Analytics, and Tableau to identify user pain points, measure KPIs, and inform optimization initiatives.

• Synthesis & Reporting: Analyze and synthesize research findings from both qualitative and quantitative studies into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for stakeholders and leadership.

• Research Operations Support: Contribute to research operations (ResOps) by assisting with participant management, documentation, taxonomy/tagging, and process improvement initiatives within the UX research function.

• AI Tool Integration: Practice leveraging AI tools (Gemini, Claude) to enhance research scope, velocity, and impact.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, UX Design, Content Strategy, Engineering, Analytics, and Marketing teams to ensure user insights are integrated into product development.

• Knowledge Management: Capture, organize, and maintain research insights in knowledge repositories (e.g., Aurelius).

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of qualitative research methodologies provided in the original description suggests a comprehensive training program. The responsibilities clearly outline the intern's role in supporting senior researchers rather than independently leading complex studies, fitting the intern profile. The mention of "Use case testing (Adobe CDP & AJO)" and "Persona Attributes mapping" indicates a strategic focus on understanding user segments and their journeys, which is crucial for GTM strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience delivering research artifacts or project work for web, mobile, or software applications, potentially through academic projects or previous internships.

Required Skills:

• Qualitative Research Methods: Foundational understanding of user research principles and methodologies (e.g., usability testing, interviews).

• Quantitative Research & Data Analysis: Ability to interpret data, analyze KPIs, and understand user behavior metrics from analytics platforms.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience constructing interactive prototypes using tools such as Figma or Sketch.

• Collaboration & Communication: Proven ability to work cross-functionally, synthesize feedback from stakeholders, and communicate findings effectively.

• Analytical Thinking: Strong observational skills, curiosity, and a data-driven mindset.

• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail in research planning, execution, and reporting.

• AI Tool Familiarity: Basic understanding or willingness to learn AI tools for research enhancement.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting user research and usability testing in a professional or academic setting.

• Familiarity with AI tools like Gemini or Claude for research applications.

• Experience with specific analytics platforms such as Adobe Analytics, Quantum Metrics, or Tableau.

• Knowledge of A/B testing and personalization strategies, particularly with tools like Adobe Target.

• Understanding of Information Architecture (IA) principles.

• A strong eye for visual design, layout, and user flow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "0-2 Years" experience level and "Intern" employment type are critical. The requirements blend academic exposure with practical application, suggesting that candidates with strong project portfolios from coursework will be competitive. The emphasis on "using data to influence UX design" and specific analytics tools bridges the gap between pure UX and a more operations-oriented perspective.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Project Examples: A portfolio showcasing academic or personal projects demonstrating your approach to understanding user needs and influencing design decisions.

• Process Documentation: Samples of your research process, including how you planned, executed, and analyzed studies.

• Deliverables: Examples of research artifacts such as user journey maps, personas, usability test reports, or synthesized findings.

• Data Integration: Evidence of how data (qualitative or quantitative) was used to inform your design recommendations.

• Collaboration Showcase: Projects that highlight your ability to collaborate with "mock" business stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the research lifecycle, from identifying research questions to delivering actionable insights.

• Showcase your ability to document research plans, methodologies, and findings clearly and concisely.

• Highlight how you would organize and share research insights to contribute to a knowledge repository.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is an internship, the expectation for a "portfolio" is likely to include academic projects, personal projects, or contributions to group projects. The emphasis is on demonstrating the process and thinking behind the work, rather than solely polished, professional deliverables. The mention of "mock business stakeholders" indicates the need to simulate real-world collaboration scenarios.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $30 per hour

Benefits:

• Hands-on Training: One-to-one mentoring from experienced UX Researchers.

• Professional Development: Exposure to a wide array of UX research methodologies and tools.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Opportunities to collaborate with various departments including Product, Design, Engineering, Analytics, and Marketing.

• AI Tool Integration: Practical experience with cutting-edge AI tools in a research context.

• Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals within a large, established organization like AAA.

• Potential for Future Opportunities: Successful interns may be considered for future roles.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week (based on the description of a full-time internship, though listed as Part-Time employment type, this implies full-time commitment for the internship duration).

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly rate of $30/hour is competitive for UX Research Internships in the Los Angeles area, especially for a company of AAA's size and reputation. The "Part-Time" employment type designation seems to conflict with the "40 hours per week" implication. It's likely this means it's a temporary, non-permanent position, rather than strictly less than 40 hours.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Services, Insurance, Membership Services, Financial Services (FinTech). AAA operates across a diverse range of industries, providing a broad operational landscape.

Company Size: AAA (Auto Club Enterprises) is a large organization with nearly 17,000 employees and over 18 million members across 24 states, indicating a complex and established corporate structure.

Founded: The national AAA federation was founded in 1900, providing a long-standing history and reputation. Auto Club Enterprises is a significant part of this federation.

Team Structure:

• UX Research Team: The intern will be part of a UX Research team, working directly with a UX Research Lead and other career UX Researchers.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close partnerships are expected with Product Management, UX Design, Content Strategy, Engineering, Analytics, and Marketing teams.

• Reporting: The intern will report to a UX Research Lead or a senior researcher, receiving direct mentorship and guidance.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A strong emphasis on understanding and advocating for user needs in product development.

• Data-Driven Insights: Utilization of both qualitative and quantitative data to inform decisions and drive optimization.

• AI-Assisted Research: Integration of AI tools to enhance research efficiency and scope.

• Agile & Collaborative: Working within cross-functional teams to deliver research support in an iterative manner.

Company Website: https://www.aaa.com/ (General AAA site; specific Auto Club Enterprises details may vary)

📝 Enhancement Note: AAA's diverse business lines (Insurance, Membership, Travel, FinTech) mean the UX Research team likely supports a wide range of products and services. This offers broad exposure but also requires adaptability and the ability to understand different user contexts and business objectives. The "legendary service" and "embracing diversity" themes suggest a customer-centric and inclusive culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level internship, designed for individuals with 0-2 years of experience to gain foundational knowledge and practical skills in UX Research and its operational aspects.

Reporting Structure: The intern will report to a UX Research Lead or a senior researcher, receiving direct supervision and mentorship. This structure provides a clear line of guidance and feedback.

Operations Impact: Through user research, the intern's work will directly inform product design and strategy, influencing user experience, customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and ultimately, business outcomes across various AAA lines of service. The focus on data analysis and optimization also contributes to operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Develop expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and learn to apply them effectively.

• Tool Proficiency: Gain hands-on experience with industry-leading UX research and analytics tools (User Testing, Adobe Analytics, Figma, AI platforms).

• Industry Exposure: Understand the complexities of UX research within large, multi-faceted organizations like AAA, spanning insurance, travel, and finance.

• Professional Network: Build connections with experienced researchers and cross-functional teams, which can be invaluable for future career steps.

• Potential for Full-Time Roles: Successful internship performance can lead to consideration for future full-time positions within AAA's UX or related operational teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The internship is positioned as a learning and development opportunity. The growth pathways emphasize acquiring a broad skillset applicable to various roles within the UX and product development space, including those with operational components like Product Operations or GTM Operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This requires residing within driving distance of the Los Angeles, CA office to attend in-person meetings and team collaboration sessions.

Office Location(s): Los Angeles, CA (specifically noted as "Los Angeles Figueroa - 1085").

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Space: The hybrid model suggests opportunities for in-person collaboration, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions within the Los Angeles office.

• Technology Access: Interns will likely have access to the necessary software and tools for research, analysis, and prototyping, both remotely and within the office.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with UX Researchers and cross-functional team members will be facilitated through both virtual and in-person channels.

Work Schedule: The role is designated as "PART_TIME" but implies a full-time commitment (approximately 40 hours per week) for the duration of the internship, common for structured internship programs. Flexibility may exist within the daily schedule, but significant in-office attendance is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hybrid" requirement is a key factor. Candidates must be local to Los Angeles and comfortable with a mix of remote and in-office work, emphasizing the need for in-person collaboration for certain activities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational qualifications and relevant project experience.

• Skills-Based Interview: Expect questions focusing on your understanding of UX research methodologies, data analysis, and your approach to problem-solving. You may be asked to discuss specific projects from your portfolio.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will present and walk through selected projects from your portfolio, explaining your process, insights, and outcomes.

• Behavioral & Fit Interview: Questions assessing your curiosity, empathy, collaboration skills, ability to learn, and cultural fit with AAA's values.

• Cross-functional/Team Interview: Potentially meet with team members from Product, Design, or Engineering to assess collaboration dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your research process for each project, from problem definition to insight generation.

• Highlight Impact: Even for academic projects, explain how your research findings influenced decisions or design recommendations.

• Data Integration: If possible, include examples where you used data (qualitative or quantitative) to support your findings.

• Tool Proficiency: Mention and, if possible, demonstrate your experience with relevant tools like Figma, Sketch, or analytics platforms.

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as compelling narratives that demonstrate your problem-solving skills and user advocacy. Focus on what you learned and how you applied that learning.

• Tailor to AAA: If possible, research AAA's products and services and consider how your past projects might relate to their user base or business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodology Questions: Be prepared to discuss the pros and cons of various research methods and when you would use them.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about how you would approach a hypothetical research problem for a digital product.

• Data Interpretation: Practice discussing how you would interpret common UX metrics or analytics data.

• AI in Research: Be ready to discuss your thoughts on how AI can be integrated into UX research workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role. The interview process will heavily rely on demonstrating practical application of UX research principles through project examples. For an intern, showing potential and a strong learning methodology is as important as polished deliverables.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Testing Platforms: Experience with or aptitude to learn platforms like User Testing for conducting moderated and unmoderated studies.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch (for creating interactive prototypes).

• AI Research Tools: Gemini, Claude (for enhancing research scope and velocity).

• Knowledge Management: Aurelius (or similar platforms for capturing, organizing, and tagging research insights).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web & App Analytics: Adobe Analytics, Quantum Metrics (for analyzing user behavior, KPIs, conversion funnels, path analyses).

• Data Visualization: Tableau (for creating dashboards and reporting insights).

• Experimentation & Personalization: Adobe Target (for A/B testing and personalization strategies).

CRM & Automation:

• Customer Data Platform (CDP): Adobe CDP (for understanding customer journeys and personalization).

• Automation/Optimization: Adobe AJO (Adobe Journey Optimizer) (potentially for leveraging insights in marketing automation).

📝 Enhancement Note: This internship provides exposure to a comprehensive MarTech/Product Analytics stack. Proficiency in Figma/Sketch is a hard requirement, while experience with the Adobe suite and other analytics platforms is a strong preference, indicating the company's investment in these technologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity & Empathy: A deep desire to understand user behaviors, thoughts, feelings, and wishes.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on evidence from research and analytics to inform strategy and design.

• User-Centricity: Placing the user at the heart of all product development and operational decisions.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams to achieve common goals and integrate user insights across departments.

• Continuous Learning: Embracing new tools, methodologies, and AI technologies to improve research impact and efficiency.

• Legendary Service: A commitment to delivering exceptional value and support to members.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active participation in working sessions with product, design, engineering, analytics, and marketing teams.

• Insight Sharing: Effectively communicating research findings to various audiences, both technical and non-technical.

• User Advocacy: Acting as a voice for the user within product development discussions.

• Process Improvement: Contributing to the refinement of UX research operations and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes member service and diversity. Within the UX team, the culture is likely collaborative, analytical, and focused on leveraging insights to improve user experiences across AAA's diverse service offerings.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scope & Scale: Navigating the complexity of research across multiple, diverse business lines (insurance, travel, auto services, FinTech) within a large organization.

• Data Synthesis: Integrating insights from a wide array of qualitative and quantitative data sources and tools.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Effectively communicating research findings and recommendations to various stakeholders with different priorities.

• Rapid Learning Curve: Quickly adapting to new tools, methodologies, and the specific research operations of AAA.

• AI Integration: Understanding and effectively applying emergent AI tools in practical research scenarios.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Methodology Mastery: Deepen understanding and practical application of numerous qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

• Tool Ecosystem Exposure: Gain hands-on experience with a robust suite of analytics, prototyping, and research management tools.

• Industry Best Practices: Learn how a leading organization conducts UX research and integrates it into its operational workflows.

• Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced UX Researchers, fostering professional growth and skill development.

• Career Pathway Exploration: Understand how UX research contributes to broader product management, design, and GTM operations roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The internship is designed to expose interns to real-world challenges in a large-scale operational environment, providing structured learning to overcome these challenges.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used data to understand user behavior or influence a design decision. If you don't have professional experience, describe a project where you did this." (Focus on your process, the data used, and the outcome/recommendation).

• "How would you approach designing a research study to understand why users abandon their shopping carts on an e-commerce website?" (Discuss methodology, target users, and how you'd analyze results).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about UX research at AAA, given our diverse range of services (insurance, travel, auto)?" (Research AAA's offerings and articulate your interest in their user base).

• "How do you approach learning new tools or methodologies?" (Highlight your proactive learning style and adaptability).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 Strong Projects: Choose projects that best showcase your research process, analytical skills, and ability to translate findings into recommendations.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, cover: the problem/objective, your role, the methodology used, key findings, and recommendations/impact.

• Quantify When Possible: Highlight any metrics or data points that support your findings or the impact of your recommendations.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific contributions, challenges faced, and alternative approaches you considered.

• Showcase Your "Why": Explain your thought process and demonstrate your passion for understanding users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will be a blend of assessing technical UX research skills, data literacy, collaboration potential, and cultural fit. The portfolio is the primary vehicle for demonstrating practical skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher Intern position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Workday portal.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a digital portfolio (e.g., a personal website, PDF, or shared drive) that clearly presents 2-3 of your strongest academic or personal projects. Ensure each project highlights your research process, methodologies, findings, and any resulting recommendations.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant coursework, projects, any prior internships, and skills mentioned in the job description (e.g., data analysis, prototyping tools, collaboration). Use keywords like "UX Research," "Usability Testing," "Data Analysis," and "Figma."

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, practice answering behavioral questions, and research AAA's various business lines to articulate your interest and understanding.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with AAA's mission, values, and the different services they offer to demonstrate genuine interest and an understanding of their user base.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding compensation, benefits, and interview processes, should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions. The "Part-Time" designation alongside a 40-hour work week implication should be clarified.