UX Researcher (Moderation Specialist)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher (Moderation Specialist)

Company: Pulse Labs AI, Inc.

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Job Type: Full-time, Contract, Temporary

Category: User Experience Research / Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-24

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute qualitative UX research initiatives, focusing on in-depth user interviews (IDIs) and focus groups to gather actionable insights.

• Collaborate directly with high-profile technology clients, including FAANG and early-stage startups, to understand their product development needs and research objectives.

• Analyze complex qualitative and quantitative data from participant responses, surveys, and other study data to identify key findings and patterns.

• Develop and present comprehensive client-ready reports, including Toplines, Scorecards, Executive Summaries, and Slide Decks, to Director and VP-level stakeholders.

• Work within a fast-paced, rapid-response research operations environment, ensuring rigorous methodology and high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical bridge between client needs and user insights, requiring a strong blend of research expertise and operational rigor. The emphasis on "rapid-response" and "ambiguous environment" suggests a need for adaptability and proactive problem-solving within the operations framework. The contract nature (November 2026) indicates a project-specific need, likely for a significant client engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and execute qualitative research projects, aligning with client requirements, business goals, and project timelines, ensuring sound research methodology.

• Moderate IDIs and focus groups, expertly preparing moderator guides, visual aids, and managing participant interaction to elicit rich qualitative data.

• Analyze research study responses from participant videos, transcripts, surveys, and other collected data to synthesize key findings and actionable recommendations.

• Create compelling client deliverables such as Toplines, Scorecards, Executive Summaries, Final Reports, and Slide Decks that clearly articulate research insights and strategic implications.

• Provide comprehensive support to clients throughout the research lifecycle, including presenting research findings to senior-level stakeholders up to the Director or VP level.

• Collaborate closely with Panel and Research Operations team members to ensure project execution is on track and data collected meets specified requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a dual focus on direct client engagement and internal operational execution. The emphasis on "sound research methodology" and "aligning with client requirements" points to a need for structured project management within the research operations context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Psychology, Research Methods, Human-Computer Interaction, Sociology, or a related field.

• Master's Degree is preferred. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a qualitative research role within a detail-oriented research operations environment.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience moderating IDIs and focus groups (both remote and in-person).

• Experience working in an agency or consulting environment conducting research.

• Experience working at or with early-to-mid stage startups and/or FAANG/top tech companies. Required Skills:

• Fluency in both Spanish and English with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.

• Expertise in qualitative data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-faceted research projects from inception to delivery.

• Deep knowledge of the end-to-end research lifecycle, including UX-specific research methods, approaches, and common analyses.

• High attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to recognize patterns and anomalies in qualitative data.

• Ability to translate qualitative insights into actionable recommendations and present them in compelling reports.

• Comfort presenting your own research and research prepared by others to senior-level stakeholders.

• Strong sense of ownership, transparency, detail-orientedness, and self-initiation.

• High comfort using emerging technologies and various software systems.

• Proficiency with Google Docs, Google Sheets, or similar productivity suites.

• Collaborative attitude and ability to foster a positive work environment.

• Experience and comfort working on a team of researchers and alongside operations personnel in a rapid-response, often ambiguous environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a consulting or agency setting.

• Experience working with early-stage startups.

• Experience working with FAANG/top tech companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize bilingualism in Spanish and English, a critical requirement for research conducted in Mexico. The blend of research methodology expertise and operational experience ("detail-oriented research operations environment") is key, as is the comfort with ambiguity and rapid-response scenarios common in startup and tech environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 complex qualitative research projects, demonstrating end-to-end project management from planning to reporting.

• Include examples of moderator guides, participant recruitment criteria, and research protocols.

• Present detailed analysis of qualitative data, highlighting your methodology for identifying themes, patterns, and user insights.

• Provide examples of client-ready deliverables such as Toplines, Executive Summaries, and full research reports, emphasizing clarity and actionable recommendations.

• Demonstrate experience in presenting research findings to senior stakeholders, ideally with examples of presentation decks or recorded presentation snippets. Process Documentation:

• Document your approach to designing and executing qualitative research plans, detailing how you align research objectives with client business goals.

• Illustrate your process for developing moderator guides and focus group protocols, ensuring comprehensive coverage of research questions.

• Detail your methods for analyzing qualitative data, including thematic analysis, coding, and synthesis techniques.

• Explain your workflow for creating compelling research reports and presentations, focusing on storytelling and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly requested, a portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical application of research skills. Candidates should prepare to showcase their ability to manage the entire research lifecycle, from planning and moderation to rigorous analysis and impactful reporting, especially within a client-facing and operations-driven context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the role's requirements (3+ years of experience, bilingual fluency, specialization in qualitative UX research, and contract nature), and considering Mexico City's cost of living and the tech industry's compensation benchmarks for remote roles, a competitive hourly rate or a pro-rated annual salary range is estimated. For a full-time, 40-hour per week contract role in Mexico City, a likely range would be between MXN $45,000 to MXN $75,000 per month, or an equivalent of USD $2,200 to $3,700 per month, depending on the candidate's specific experience and negotiation. This estimate is based on typical rates for experienced UX researchers and moderation specialists in similar markets and industries, adjusted for a contract position. Benefits:

• As this is a short-term contract position (November 2026), benefits are typically limited. However, potential benefits may include:

• Competitive contract rate, reflecting specialized skills and experience.

• Opportunity to work with leading technology companies and cutting-edge products.

• Professional development through exposure to diverse research challenges and client needs.

• Flexible remote work arrangement. Working Hours:

• This is a 100% full-time position requiring approximately 40 hours per week.

• Some overlap with Eastern Time Zone (ET) business hours is required.

• Flexibility is expected, with potential for work before and after standard work hours, including weekends, to ensure quality and on-time client delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on a review of similar contract UX Researcher roles in Mexico and globally, considering the specific requirements for bilingualism, moderation expertise, and client-facing experience. Benefits are typically minimal for short-term contracts, but the opportunity itself and the professional exposure are significant value propositions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, AI, Product Development, Market Research, Consulting. Pulse Labs AI operates at the intersection of AI, user experience, and product development, providing critical insights to major tech firms.

Company Size: Pulse Labs AI appears to be a growing company, likely a mid-sized to large consultancy or specialized research firm, given its client roster (Google, Amazon) and focus on advanced product development.

Founded: Pulse Labs AI was founded to revolutionize product development by delivering human-centered insights. The company's mission is to empower top tech companies to create and refine innovative products.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will be part of a dedicated group of UX researchers and analysts, working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

• The role requires close collaboration with Panel and Research Operations team members assigned to specific projects.

• There's an expectation of working alongside operations personnel, indicating a strong integration between research and operational execution functions.

• The team structure likely supports rapid-response projects and requires individuals who can work autonomously and as part of a cohesive unit. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Emphasis on rigorous analysis of rich video and survey data to uncover meaningful user insights.

• Human-Centered Approach: Focus on product development informed by user needs and experiences.

• Rapid-Response Research: Ability to execute projects quickly and efficiently to meet client demands in dynamic product development cycles.

• Client Collaboration: Close partnership with clients to define research objectives and deliver actionable strategic recommendations.

Company Website: https://www.pulselabs.ai/ (assuming this is the correct URL based on domain)

📝 Enhancement Note: Pulse Labs AI positions itself as a leader in providing actionable insights for product development, leveraging AI and human-centered methodologies. The culture likely values rigor, speed, collaboration, and a strong client focus, particularly within a research operations context.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a Mid-Level to Senior UX Researcher position with a strong operational component. It requires significant autonomy in managing research projects and direct client interaction, but within the framework of a research operations team. The "Moderation Specialist" title indicates a deep dive into a specific, critical skill set within UX research.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will report to a Research Lead or Project Manager within Pulse Labs AI. They will also work closely with assigned Panel and Research Operations team members, suggesting a matrixed reporting or strong collaborative structure for project execution. Direct interaction with clients up to the Director or VP level indicates significant responsibility and visibility.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on shaping product strategy, design decisions, and customer experience for major technology companies. By providing human-centered, actionable insights, the UX Researcher helps clients de-risk product development, improve user satisfaction, and drive market success. The "Moderation Specialist" focus ensures the quality and depth of the foundational data used for these strategic decisions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in qualitative moderation techniques and advanced UX research methodologies.

• Client Management: Develop stronger client relationship skills and experience in presenting to C-suite executives.

• Project Leadership: Gain experience leading complex, multi-faceted research projects within a fast-paced agency/consulting environment.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Enhance understanding of how research integrates with broader product development and operations workflows.

• Potential for Future Engagements: Successful contract performance could lead to longer-term opportunities or recommendations for other roles within Pulse Labs AI or their client network.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, it offers significant opportunities for skill development in specialized research operations and client management, which are valuable for future career progression in the UX research and product development fields.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a 100% remote position. While based in Mexico City, the work is conducted from the employee's own remote workspace.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Mexico City, Mexico, requiring candidates to reside in or near this location to facilitate potential local coordination or understanding of market nuances, and to ensure overlapping work hours with the Eastern Time Zone.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Autonomy: Requires a dedicated, professional remote workspace conducive to focused work, client calls, and research moderation.

• Technology Integration: High comfort level with emerging technologies and various software systems is essential, particularly for remote collaboration and research execution.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with fellow UX researchers and operations personnel, likely through virtual collaboration tools and scheduled meetings. The environment is described as "rapid-response, often ambiguous," demanding proactive communication and adaptability.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.

• Requires overlap with Eastern Time Zone working hours.

• Flexibility is key; candidates must be prepared to work outside standard hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet client delivery deadlines and ensure research quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature combined with specific time zone overlap and flexibility requirements suggests an environment that prioritizes deliverables and client needs over strict adherence to traditional 9-to-5 schedules. Candidates must be self-disciplined and adept at remote collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Email resume to ops-jobs@pulselabs.ai. This will likely be followed by an initial screening call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect interviews focused on your UX research methodology, qualitative moderation skills, data analysis techniques, and experience with client management. Be prepared to discuss specific research projects in detail.

• Portfolio Review: A significant portion of the evaluation will involve reviewing your portfolio. Be ready to walk through 1-2 key projects, explaining your role, process, findings, and impact.

• Client Scenario/Case Study: You might be presented with a hypothetical research scenario or client problem to gauge your problem-solving approach, research planning abilities, and how you would moderate a session or analyze data.

• Final Interview: A final interview may focus on cultural fit, your understanding of Pulse Labs AI's mission, and your ability to thrive in a rapid-response, collaborative, and sometimes ambiguous environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your moderation skills, ability to handle complex research, and deliver impactful insights. Highlight projects with FAANG or startup clients if possible.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, clearly articulate the research problem, your specific role and methodology, the challenges faced, your analysis process, key findings, and the client's actions or impact based on your recommendations.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the value of your research and recommendations.

• Highlight Bilingualism: If applicable, showcase projects where your Spanish fluency was critical to research success.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your moderation style, how you handle difficult participants, your approach to analyzing qualitative data, and how you present findings.

Challenge Preparation:

• Moderation Scenarios: Practice articulating your approach to moderating different types of participants and scenarios.

• Data Analysis Walkthrough: Be ready to explain how you would analyze transcripts from an IDI or focus group to extract key themes.

• Reporting Structure: Outline how you would structure a report for a specific research question, focusing on clarity and actionable insights for a VP-level audience.

• Client Communication: Prepare to discuss how you manage client expectations and communicate research findings effectively, especially when results might be unexpected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes practical demonstration of skills through a portfolio and case studies, reflecting the hands-on nature of the role. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process and impact clearly and concisely.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualitative Research Platforms: Experience with remote moderation tools (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, specialized platforms like UserTesting, Lookback) will be essential for conducting IDIs and focus groups.

• Data Analysis Software: Familiarity with qualitative data analysis (QDA) software (e.g., NVivo, Dovetail, ATLAS.ti) or advanced spreadsheet techniques for thematic analysis and coding is highly beneficial.

• Collaboration Suites: High comfort and proficiency with Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides) is explicitly required for documentation, analysis, and reporting.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Reporting Tools: Experience in creating professional reports and presentations using tools like Google Slides, PowerPoint, or specialized reporting dashboards.

• Data Visualization: Ability to present qualitative findings in a clear, digestible format, potentially using basic charting within Google Sheets or presentation software.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) could be helpful for understanding client project workflows and internal team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Google Workspace highlights its centrality. Proficiency in remote moderation tools and qualitative data analysis techniques will be key evaluation points.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Rigor and Quality: A commitment to sound research methodology and delivering high-quality, accurate insights is paramount, especially in a "rapid-response" environment.

• Client Focus: Dedication to understanding and meeting client needs, delivering actionable recommendations that drive product success.

• Collaboration: A strong team-player attitude, working effectively with fellow researchers and operations personnel.

• Detail-Orientedness: Meticulous attention to detail in planning, execution, analysis, and reporting to ensure precision in findings.

• Ownership and Initiative: A proactive approach to managing projects, identifying potential issues, and driving tasks to completion with minimal supervision.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Expect to work closely with both fellow UX researchers and research operations staff, requiring clear communication and shared understanding of project goals.

• Cross-functional: Collaboration extends to working alongside operations personnel, suggesting a need to bridge research and operational execution.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that likely values open feedback exchange to continuously improve research processes and deliverables.

• Shared Ambiguity: The environment is described as "often ambiguous," necessitating a collaborative approach to navigate uncertainty and problem-solve collectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "rigor," "quality," "detail-orientedness," and "ownership" within a "rapid-response" and "ambiguous" context points to a culture that values high performance, autonomy, and a strong work ethic, balanced with collaborative problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid-Response Environment: Adapting to fast-paced project timelines and delivering high-quality research under pressure.

• Ambiguous Requirements: Navigating situations where client needs may be ill-defined, requiring proactive clarification and strategic research planning.

• Balancing Client Needs and Research Integrity: Ensuring that client demands do not compromise the scientific rigor of the research methodology.

• Managing Multiple Projects: Juggling concurrent research projects with varying client needs and deadlines.

• Remote Collaboration Nuances: Effectively collaborating and building rapport with team members and clients solely through virtual channels.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Moderation Techniques: Honing skills in moderating diverse participant groups and complex research scenarios.

• Client Executive Engagement: Gaining experience in presenting complex research findings and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

• Exposure to Top Tech Clients: Understanding the product development challenges and research needs of leading technology companies.

• Cross-functional Operations Insight: Developing a deeper appreciation for how research integrates into broader operational workflows and product lifecycles.

• Contract-to-Hire Potential: For exceptional performance, there may be opportunities for longer-term engagements or future roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the high-paced, client-centric nature of the role. Growth is framed around mastering specialized research skills and navigating complex professional interactions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex qualitative research project you led from start to finish. What were the objectives, your methodology, key challenges, and the ultimate impact of your findings?"

• "How do you prepare for and moderate an in-depth interview (IDI) or focus group to ensure you elicit rich, unbiased insights?"

• "Walk me through your process for analyzing qualitative data from transcripts and participant responses. How do you identify themes and develop actionable recommendations?"

• "Imagine a client wants to understand user perception of a new AI feature. How would you approach designing a research study to address this, and what are potential pitfalls to avoid?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Pulse Labs AI and our mission to empower product development through human-centered insights?"

• "How do you handle ambiguity or unclear project requirements? Provide an example."

• "Describe your experience working in a rapid-response research environment. How do you prioritize and manage your workload?"

• "How do you foster strong relationships with clients and internal team members, especially in a remote setting?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, methodology, key findings, and recommendations. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your points.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your research led to tangible outcomes or informed critical decisions for the client.

• Highlight Moderation Skills: Be prepared to discuss specific moderation techniques you employed and how you managed participant dynamics.

• Demonstrate Bilingualism: If applicable, clearly articulate how your Spanish fluency was integral to the success of a project.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time, keeping the audience engaged.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating practical application of research skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for a fast-paced, client-facing operations role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher (Moderation Specialist) position:

• Submit your resume via email to ops-jobs@pulselabs.ai.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your most impactful qualitative research projects, focusing on moderation, analysis, and client-ready reporting. Ensure it highlights your bilingual capabilities and experience with tech clients.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your 3+ years of qualitative research experience, specific moderation skills (IDI, focus groups), analytical capabilities, client-facing experience, and bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse how you will present your portfolio projects and answer common UX research and behavioral interview questions, focusing on your operational approach and ability to deliver under pressure.

• Research Pulse Labs AI: Understand their mission, client base, and the types of products they help develop to articulate your interest and fit effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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