PhD Researcher, AI Research

Autodesk, Inc.; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 56,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Autodesk, Inc. seeks a Senior UX Researcher to lead qualitative and quantitative research, usability testing, and service design for complex digital applications. Plan research strategies, recruit participants, conduct tests, and translate findings into actionable insights with cross-functional teams.

Toronto-based with hybrid schedule (up to 3 days onsite). This 5-month contract covers accessibility and WCAG/AODA compliance, delivering wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using

Qualifications

• 7+ years in end-to-end UX/CX research (planning, recruitment, testing, synthesis).
• Experience translating research into user flows, journeys, wireframes, and high-fidelity designs.
• Experience with cross-functional collaboration in regulated environments.
• Proficient with accessibility standards (AODA, WCAG 2.1 AA).

Responsibilities

• Develop research plans, screeners, discussion guides, and consent materials for interviews, surveys, and usability tests.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative CX/UX research, including interviews, heuristic evaluations, and secondary research.
• Synthesize findings into prioritized insights, pain points, and actionable recommendations.
• Create user-centered artifacts: IA, task flows, wireframes, clickable prototypes, and high-fidelity UI.
• Develop personas, journey maps, service blueprints, and ecosystem models.
• Perform accessibility reviews to ensure AODA and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
• Facilitate remote workshops and cross-functional alignment sessions.
• Review vendor/product deliverables for usability and design system consistency.
• Document design decisions and research rationale for leadership.

Skills

UX Research

Research Planning

Participant Recruitment

Synthesis & Insights

Tools

Figma

Adobe XD

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior UX Researcher to lead qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, user testing, and service design efforts for complex digital applications. In this role, you will work under the direction of CX/UX leadership to plan research strategies, recruit participants, conduct usability testing, and perform heuristic evaluations. Translating research findings into actionable insights, you will partner with cross-functional product, technical, clinical, and vendor teams to create accessible, AODA-compliant user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that streamline workflows and optimize user experience.

Location: Toronto, ON (Hybrid – Up to 3 days/week onsite, subject to hiring manager's discretion)

Duration: 5-month contract.

Advantages

• End-to-End CX/UX Impact: Drive research, service blueprints, interactive prototyping, and high-fidelity UI delivery within a single role.
• Complex Service Design: Design accessible, human-centered digital products that streamline workflows in a highly regulated ecosystem.
• Modern Prototyping Ecosystem: Leverage industry-standard design systems and tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and collaborative canvas software.
• Flexible Hybrid Schedule: Combine remote flexibility with up to 3 days per week onsite in Toronto.

Responsibilities

• Develop research plans, participant criteria, screeners, discussion guides, and consent materials for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing sessions.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative CX/UX research, including user interviews, heuristic evaluations, and secondary research across assigned workstreams.
• Synthesize research findings into prioritized insights, user pain points, experience opportunities, and actionable recommendations.
• Create user-centered design artifacts, including information architecture, task flows, wireframes, clickable prototypes, and high-fidelity UI mockups using Figma or Adobe XD.
• Develop Customer Experience and Service Design deliverables such as personas, customer journey maps, service blueprints, and ecosystem models.
• Conduct accessibility reviews and usability tests to ensure all digital services and UI components comply strictly with AODA and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
• Facilitate remote design workshops, alignment sessions, and co-design activities with cross-functional teams, business leads, and external partners.
• Review vendor and product team deliverables to provide structured feedback on usability, accessibility, content clarity, and design system consistency.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of design decisions, research rationale, risks, and weekly progress updates for leadership stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Senior UX/CX Research Seniority: 7+ years of experience in end-to-end UX/CX research, including research planning, participant recruitment, usability testing, heuristic evaluations, and actionable synthesis (Strictly Required).
• Inclusive UX/UI & Service Design: 7+ years of experience translating research insights into user flows, journey maps, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity AODA/WCAG-compliant designs (Strictly Required).
• Regulated Environment Collaboration: 5+ years of experience partnering with cross-functional product, technical, business, vendor, and change management teams in complex, regulated environments (Strictly Required).
• Design Systems & Prototyping Tools: Hands-on experience working with UI design systems, pattern libraries, and prototyping tools such as Figma or Adobe XD (Strictly Required).
• Accessibility Compliance: Proven experience designing and testing digital solutions for AODA and WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance (Strictly Required).

Nice-to-Have Assets

• Relevant certifications or professional training in CX, UX, Service Design, or Human-Centered Design.
• Prior experience delivering digital product design or research within public sector or health-related environments.

Salary: CA$56,141.00–CA$72,969.00 yearly

Randstad Canada is committed to fostering a workforce reflective of all peoples of Canada. As a result, we are committed to developing and implementing strategies to increase the equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace by examining our internal policies, practices, and systems throughout the entire lifecycle of our workforce, including its recruitment, retention and advancement for all employees. In addition to our deep commitment to respecting human rights, we are dedicated to positive actions to affect change to ensure everyone has full participation in the workforce free from any barriers, systemic or otherwise, especially equity-seeking groups who are usually underrepresented in Canada’s workforce, including those who identify as women or non-binary/gender non-conforming; Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples; persons with disabilities (visible or invisible) and; members of visible minorities, racialized groups and the LGBTQ2+ community.

Randstad Canada is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible workplace for all its candidates and employees by supporting their accessibility and accommodation needs throughout the employment lifecycle. We ask that all job applications please identify any accommodation requirements by sending an email to [e-mail] to ensure their ability to fully participate in the interview process.