UX Researcher, Quantitative

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher, Quantitative

Company: Gusto, Inc.

Location: Denver, CO - Hybrid; New York, New York, United States; San Francisco, CA - Hybrid

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Operations

Date Posted: September 09, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2-3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive strategic quantitative UX research initiatives to inform high-stakes product investment decisions, directly influencing senior leadership and VP-level stakeholders.

• Develop and implement advanced psychometric frameworks, validated constructs, and measurement scales specifically for evaluating customer experiences with AI features.

• Own and evolve Gusto's organizational approach to quantitative research methods, including survey strategy, generalization of qualitative findings, and bias reduction in rigorous study design.

• Collaborate closely with Data Science to synthesize behavioral, attitudinal, and sentiment data, creating a holistic customer view and uncovering key performance drivers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a Senior Staff-level equivalent, emphasizing direct impact on executive decision-making and strategic product direction, particularly concerning AI integrations. The focus on quantitative methods, psychometrics, and AI evaluation suggests a need for deep analytical rigor and a strategic research vision.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Set and drive a comprehensive quantitative research roadmap across Research & Development (R&D), prioritizing studies that reduce risk on the company's most significant product bets.

• Develop psychometric frameworks, validated constructs, and scales designed to accurately measure customer perceptions and experiences with Gusto's AI-powered features.

• Lead Gusto's strategic approach to quantitative methods, encompassing the evolution of organization-wide survey strategies and the disciplined generalization of qualitative insights at scale (e.g., MaxDiff, conjoint analysis).

• Design and execute rigorous studies that minimize bias and provide statistically sound evidence to guide product development and investment.

• Partner closely with Data Science teams to integrate behavioral, attitudinal, and sentiment data, forming a cohesive understanding of the customer journey and identifying root causes behind key metrics.

• Build and maintain robust customer profile segmentation, ensuring these profiles remain current with business and product evolution.

• Develop and implement scaled usability measurement programs, including large-sample benchmarking and competitive analysis, to provide high-confidence assessments of user experience and inform design trade-offs.

• Elevate Gusto's overall quantitative research practice by mentoring other researchers, developing shared tools and standards, and championing an AI-native approach to research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership in research planning, deep methodological expertise in quantitative techniques, and a forward-thinking approach to AI evaluation. The emphasis on collaboration with Data Science and the development of scalable research practices indicates a role that is both hands-on and influential across the organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic background in a quantitative field such as Psychology (with a focus on quantitative methods), Statistics, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related discipline is highly preferred. Advanced degrees (Master's or Ph.D.) are beneficial.

Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in leading quantitative UX research, with a demonstrated history of influencing strategic product and business decisions at the executive level.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in leading quantitative UX research projects from inception to impact.

• Deep understanding and practical application of survey science, sampling methodologies, and statistical modeling techniques.

• Experience in developing psychometric frameworks and validated measurement scales.

• Proficiency in SQL for data extraction and analysis.

• Proficiency in Python for statistical analysis and scripting.

• Hands-on experience with enterprise-level survey platforms, such as Qualtrics.

• Experience in designing and conducting usability research at scale, including benchmarking and comparative evaluations.

• Demonstrated ability to set and scale research standards and practices across multiple teams or an entire organization.

• Extensive experience working on AI-powered products and a genuine interest in leveraging AI tools to enhance research processes.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex findings to senior stakeholders and executives.

• Experience in enabling and coaching non-researchers to conduct their own research. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI and LLM evaluation methods, including log analysis and behavioral analysis specific to AI interactions.

• Familiarity with specialized research methodologies like MaxDiff and conjoint analysis.

• Experience in customer segmentation and persona development.

• Understanding of Gusto's core product areas (payroll, benefits, HR) and the small business landscape.

• Familiarity with AI tools and platforms such as Claude Code, Gumloop, or similar.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on 8+ years of experience and the "Senior Staff-level equivalent" designation indicates a need for a highly seasoned researcher who can operate independently, set strategic direction, and mentor others. The specific technical skills (SQL, Python, Qualtrics) combined with advanced methodological requirements (psychometrics, AI evaluation) point towards a candidate with a robust analytical and technical foundation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing at least 3-5 complex quantitative UX research projects, with a clear emphasis on AI-driven product experiences.

• Each project should clearly articulate the research problem, the quantitative methodologies employed (e.g., survey design, statistical analysis, psychometric scaling), and the specific business or product decisions influenced by your findings.

• Include examples of how you have translated raw data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations that drove significant product or business outcomes.

• Showcase evidence of developing and implementing research standards, frameworks, or tools that scaled beyond your individual projects.

• Highlight instances where you have collaborated with Data Science or other analytical teams to combine diverse data sources. Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation or case studies detailing your process for developing a quantitative research roadmap, including prioritization criteria and stakeholder alignment strategies.

• Showcase examples of your methodology for designing and validating psychometric frameworks or measurement scales for novel product features, particularly AI.

• Include examples of your process for conducting scaled usability studies, from defining metrics to reporting findings and influencing design direction.

• Detail your approach to enabling non-researchers to conduct basic quantitative research, including training materials or best practice guides you may have developed.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level, the portfolio should not just present past work but also demonstrate strategic thinking, methodological leadership, and the ability to scale research practices. Evidence of influencing executive decisions and working with AI-specific research challenges will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Denver, CO: $172,000 - $215,000 per year

• San Francisco, CA & New York, NY: $202,000 - $253,000 per year

• Methodology: This range is directly provided by Gusto, Inc. and accounts for regional cost of living differences, with San Francisco and New York being higher due to market demands and living expenses. The provided ranges reflect the seniority and specialized quantitative skills required for this Senior Staff-level UX Researcher role.

Benefits:

• Competitive base pay.

• Equity (Restricted Stock Units - RSUs), providing ownership in Gusto's success.

• Comprehensive health insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Additional benefits as outlined in Gusto's Total Rewards philosophy (details available on their careers page).

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this role are 40 hours per week. However, the hybrid nature of the role allows for flexibility in scheduling, with an expectation of 2-3 days per week in the designated office location.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges are specific to location, reflecting Gusto's compensation strategy for senior roles. The inclusion of equity (RSUs) is a significant component of total compensation for full-time employees. The hybrid work arrangement is clearly defined with specific in-office day expectations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (FinTech/HR Tech). Gusto operates within the crucial sector of small business support, providing essential services like payroll, benefits, and HR solutions. This industry demands high levels of trust, reliability, and a deep understanding of small business owner challenges.

Company Size: Gusto supports over 500,000 small businesses nationwide and has teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York. While the exact employee count isn't specified in the provided text, the scale of operations and customer base implies a large, well-established organization, likely in the range of 1,000-5,000 employees.

Founded: Gusto was founded with a mission to grow the small business economy. Its founding principles are centered on simplifying complex administrative tasks for business owners, allowing them to focus on their core operations. This foundational mission drives a culture of innovation and customer-centricity.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is embedded within product areas across R&D, indicating a close working relationship with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers.

• Researchers collaborate with senior leadership, including VPs, suggesting a high level of influence and strategic involvement.

• The Design Organization, which includes UX Research, is a cross-functional group of over 70 individuals encompassing Design, Research, Writing, Ops, and Front-end Development, fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. Methodology:

• Customer learning is highly valued, with a focus on backing critical decisions with evidence.

• There's an active experimentation and adoption of AI in research practices to accelerate, scale, and improve quality.

• A focus on enabling self-service for straightforward research questions through tools, resources, and programs.

• Emphasis on thoughtful, crafted, and inclusive user experiences.

Company Website: https://gusto.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Gusto's culture is deeply rooted in its mission to support small businesses. The emphasis on AI integration across the company, including research practices, signals a forward-thinking and innovative environment. The structure of the Design Organization suggests a collaborative approach where various disciplines work together to solve complex problems.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior Staff-level equivalent within UX Research. This signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and technical expertise. The researcher is expected to lead complex, ambiguous initiatives, mentor others, and contribute to the evolution of research practices at an organizational level. The scope includes influencing decisions made by VPs and above.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, researchers are embedded within product areas in R&D. This suggests reporting to a Director or VP of Design/Research, with direct collaboration and influence on product leadership teams. The role involves setting and driving a research roadmap across R&D, indicating a leadership capacity within their domain.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on strategic product investment decisions and a clear understanding of customer needs, particularly concerning AI features. By providing evidence-based insights, this researcher will directly shape the future direction of Gusto's product portfolio, reduce investment risk, and ensure customer-centricity in the development of innovative AI experiences. The role's output will be critical for senior executives guiding the company's strategic bets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Methodological Specialization: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in quantitative UX research, psychometrics, and AI/LLM evaluation within Gusto and potentially the broader industry.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior researchers, building shared tools and standards, and championing new ways of working (e.g., AI-native research).

• Strategic Influence: Deepen influence at the executive level, contributing to high-stakes product strategy and roadmap development for a rapidly growing company in a critical market.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Gain exposure to Data Science, Product Management, and Engineering leadership, potentially opening doors to broader product strategy or operational leadership roles.

• AI Research Frontier: Be at the forefront of applying research methodologies to emerging AI technologies, shaping how companies evaluate and integrate AI into user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a senior individual contributor role with significant strategic weight. Growth opportunities focus on deepening expertise, expanding leadership and mentorship, and increasing strategic influence within a mission-driven company. The emphasis on AI positions this role at the cutting edge of UX research.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Gusto operates with a hybrid work model. This means employees will be expected to work from designated office locations (Denver, San Francisco, New York) for approximately 2-3 days per week, with the remaining days being remote. This model aims to balance in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s):

• Denver, CO (Hybrid)

• San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)

• New York, NY (Hybrid)

• Note: For San Francisco, this expectation covers both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas. Workspace Context:

• The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, likely featuring open workspaces, meeting rooms, and dedicated areas for focused work.

• As part of the Design Organization, the researcher will have access to modern tools and technologies necessary for quantitative research, data analysis, and AI experimentation.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data Science, Marketing) will be frequent, especially on in-office days, facilitating strong working relationships and shared understanding.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. While core working hours will likely align with business needs and team collaboration, the hybrid model offers flexibility in managing the remote workdays. Specific in-office days are expected to be coordinated with the team to maximize collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring employees to be present in the office for a portion of the week. This suggests a company culture that values both face-to-face interaction and the benefits of remote flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, role understanding, and alignment with Gusto's values.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An interview with the hiring manager (likely a Director/VP of Research/Design) to dive deeper into your experience, strategic thinking, and quantitative research expertise. Expect questions about your approach to research roadmapping, AI evaluation, and influencing senior stakeholders.

• Portfolio Review & Deep Dive: This is a critical stage. You will present a selection of your most relevant quantitative UX research projects. Be prepared to walk through your process, methodology, key findings, and the impact of your work, especially any related to AI or complex statistical analysis. This may involve a dedicated session with senior researchers or product leaders.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key collaborators, such as Product Managers, Data Scientists, or Engineering leads. These sessions will assess your ability to partner effectively, communicate research insights clearly, and integrate findings into product development.

• Executive Interview: A final interview with a senior executive (e.g., VP of Product, Chief Product Officer) to discuss your strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit with Gusto's mission and culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Everything: Focus on projects where you used rigorous quantitative methods. Clearly present the data, statistical significance, and measurable impact (e.g., conversion rate improvements, satisfaction score changes, risk reduction percentages).

• AI Focus: Prioritize projects involving AI or LLM evaluation if you have them. Detail your approach to measuring user perception, performance, and potential biases in AI features.

• Strategic Narrative: For each project, tell a story: What was the ambiguous problem? How did your quantitative approach bring clarity? What was the outcome? How did it influence executive decisions?

• Methodological Depth: Be ready to discuss the nuances of your chosen methods (survey design, sampling, statistical tests, psychometric scaling) and why they were appropriate for the problem.

• Tools & Tech: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with SQL, Python, Qualtrics, and any other relevant quantitative research tools.

• Scalability: Highlight examples where you've built or improved research processes that benefit multiple teams or the entire organization.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Scenario: You might be given a hypothetical product challenge involving AI features and asked to outline a quantitative research plan, including key metrics, study designs, and potential pitfalls.

• Data Interpretation: Be prepared to interpret mock data sets or survey results and draw actionable conclusions.

• Roadmap Prioritization: You could be asked to prioritize a list of research questions or initiatives based on business impact, risk reduction, and available resources.

• AI Evaluation Strategy: Expect questions about how you would measure the success or failure of a new AI feature from a user's perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong analytical mindset and the ability to translate complex quantitative data into clear, strategic guidance for executives. The portfolio and interview process will heavily emphasize this capability, especially concerning AI product development.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Survey Platforms: Qualtrics (primary platform for survey design, distribution, and analysis).

• Data Analysis & Scripting: SQL (for data extraction and manipulation), Python (for advanced statistical analysis, scripting, and potentially data visualization).

• AI Tools: Claude Code, Gumloop, and other AI tools for research acceleration and analysis.

• Statistical Software: Potentially R, SPSS, or similar for advanced statistical modeling and psychometric analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Warehousing/Databases: Access to Gusto's internal data infrastructure to pull behavioral and attitudinal data.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Potentially Tableau, Looker, or similar for data visualization and dashboard creation, though direct data analysis with SQL/Python is emphasized.

• Benchmarking Tools: Internal and external tools for competitive analysis and user experience benchmarking.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how customer data is managed within systems like Salesforce or internal CRMs is beneficial for data integration.

• Integration Tools: Familiarity with how data flows between different systems can be helpful for understanding data sources.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong command of quantitative analysis tools, especially SQL, Python, and Qualtrics, is non-negotiable. Proficiency with AI-specific research tools and an understanding of data infrastructure are also key. The ability to bridge the gap between raw data and actionable insights is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and serving small business owners and their employees, ensuring their needs are at the forefront of product development.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on evidence and rigorous analysis to guide strategy, prioritize initiatives, and measure impact.

• Innovation & AI Integration: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, to enhance efficiency, scale practices, and create novel user experiences.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working effectively across functions, sharing insights openly, and fostering a team environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

• Bias for Action & Efficiency: A proactive approach to problem-solving, with a focus on optimizing processes and delivering impactful results efficiently.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Researchers work closely with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, and Engineers, acting as a bridge between customer understanding and product execution.

• Evidence-Based Advocacy: Presenting research findings persuasively, using data to advocate for user needs and inform design and product decisions.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture of learning and development where experienced researchers mentor others and best practices are shared openly across teams.

• Continuous Improvement: An ongoing effort to refine research methodologies, tools, and processes to increase effectiveness and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at Gusto emphasizes a mission-driven approach, data integrity, and a forward-looking embrace of technology. Collaboration is key, with researchers acting as central conduits for customer insights across product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity in AI Evaluation: Developing robust, validated methods to measure the effectiveness, fairness, and user perception of rapidly evolving AI features presents a significant, ongoing challenge.

• Scaling Research Practices: Ensuring that quantitative research insights and methodologies can be effectively scaled across a growing R&D organization, potentially enabling self-service for certain research needs.

• Influencing Executive Strategy: Consistently translating complex quantitative findings into clear, compelling narratives that drive high-stakes strategic decisions at the executive level.

• Data Integration Complexity: Synthesizing diverse data sources (behavioral, attitudinal, sentiment, AI logs) into a coherent customer view requires sophisticated analytical approaches and cross-functional alignment.

• Keeping Pace with AI Advancements: Continuously learning and adapting research methods to evaluate new AI capabilities and potential impacts on user experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Research Specialization: Deepen expertise in the emerging field of AI/LLM evaluation research, becoming a thought leader within Gusto.

• Advanced Methodological Training: Opportunities to pursue certifications or advanced training in psychometrics, advanced statistical modeling, or specific AI evaluation techniques.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal mentorship opportunities to hone skills in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and team leadership.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, present findings, and contribute to the broader UX research community, particularly in quantitative and AI research.

• Cross-Functional Skill Building: Gaining deeper insights into Data Science, Product Management, and Engineering principles through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly related to the cutting-edge nature of AI research and the strategic demands of a senior-level role. Growth opportunities are geared towards developing specialized expertise, leadership capabilities, and influencing product strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a quantitative research strategy for a complex, ambiguous product area, especially one involving AI. How did you prioritize your roadmap?" (Focus on your process for defining scope, identifying key risks, and aligning with stakeholders.)

• "How do you approach building psychometric frameworks or validated scales? Walk me through an example, detailing your methodology and how you ensured validity and reliability." (Be ready to discuss construct definition, item generation, statistical validation, and iteration.)

• "How would you measure the success of a new AI feature designed to assist small business owners with payroll compliance? What quantitative metrics and methods would you employ?" (Demonstrate your ability to translate product goals into measurable research objectives and appropriate study designs.)

• "Describe a situation where your quantitative research findings directly influenced a significant strategic decision made by senior leadership. What was your communication strategy?" (Highlight your ability to distill complex data into actionable, executive-level insights.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Gusto's mission and how does your approach to quantitative UX research align with supporting small businesses?" (Research Gusto's values, mission, and recent product developments, particularly in AI.)

• "How do you foster a culture of customer learning within a cross-functional team, especially when working with non-researchers?" (Discuss your experience in enabling others, sharing insights, and advocating for user needs.)

• "How do you see AI evolving the field of UX research, and how have you already started incorporating AI into your own practice?" (Be prepared to discuss your perspective on AI's role in research and specific tools/techniques you've used.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each project, clearly define the Problem, your Approach (Methodology), Key Findings, and the Result/Impact. Use visual aids effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use numbers, percentages, and statistical significance to demonstrate the impact of your research. If direct impact is hard to quantify, explain the potential impact or how it de-risked a decision.

• Focus on AI: If you have AI-specific research examples, make them prominent. Detail how you measured user trust, comprehension, task success, or bias in AI interactions.

• Methodological Rigor: Be ready to defend your methodological choices and discuss any limitations or trade-offs.

• Stakeholder Communication: Explain how you tailored your communication for different audiences, especially executives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to demonstrate deep methodological expertise, strategic thinking regarding AI products, and a proven ability to influence executive-level decisions through data-driven insights. Your portfolio should be the centerpiece of your application, showcasing concrete examples of your quantitative research impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this quantitative UX Researcher position at Gusto:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 8+ years of experience in quantitative UX research, emphasizing your expertise in survey science, statistical modeling, SQL, Python, and AI/LLM evaluation. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful quantitative UX research projects, prioritizing those involving AI or complex data analysis. Ensure each project clearly details the problem, your rigorous quantitative approach, key findings, and the resulting business/product impact. Prepare to articulate these projects concisely and persuasively.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Anticipate potential case study exercises or interview questions that require you to outline research plans for AI-driven features or interpret data sets. Practice articulating your thought process and strategic approach.

• Research Gusto: Understand Gusto's mission, product offerings, and recent initiatives, particularly their focus on AI and supporting small businesses. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.