Design Researcher

Digital Garage; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 133,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

4 days on-site in Auckland CBD + 1 day

Job summary

Digital Garage in Auckland is seeking a Design Researcher to drive discovery and evaluative research for major initiatives. You will drop into dynamic workstreams to untangle complex user problems, uncover critical behavioral insights, and translate findings into practical direction for product and design teams.

This role blends hands-on fieldwork with collaborative storytelling, using lean, high-impact research methods, interviews, usability tests, and contextual inquiries.

Qualifications

• Experience leading end-to-end UX research in large-scale programs.
• Skilled with qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Able to translate findings into actionable design direction.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct lean, high-impact UX research.
• Identify core user needs and mental models.
• Synthesize data into customer journeys and personas.
• Facilitate playback sessions with cross-functional teams.
• Leverage AI-driven workflows to speed insights.

Skills

UX research

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Interviews

Usability testing

Synthesis & storytelling

Tools

AI-driven workflows

Job description

Lead high-impact UX research for major initiatives with a top-tier Auckland brand!

Why You’d Like It

If you love diving deep into human behaviour and transforming complex, ambiguous questions into crystal-clear user insights, this is where you belong. You’ll step in at the very beginning of major company initiatives, uncovering the "why" behind user decisions and directly shaping experiences that touch millions of lives. It’s high-impact, fast-paced work where your research genuinely steers the ship.

The Story

Our client is well known for setting the pace in customer-centred innovation, but staying at the top means constantly grounding big ideas in real user needs. They are looking for a dedicated Design Researcher to step in and lead UX research across high-profile initiatives. This isn't about running surface-level surveys; it’s a hands‑on, collaborative role designed to get beneath the surface, unpack complex user journeys, and ensure squad teams build solutions that hit the mark every time.

Company Profile

You’ll be joining an iconic brand with a well-earned reputation for forward-thinking design. They foster a supportive, craft-led community where continuous learning and modern ways of working are genuinely backed. They value inquisitive thinkers who can cut through the noise, challenge assumptions with hard evidence, and bring cross‑functional teams along for the ride.

Your Role

As a Design Researcher, you will drive the discovery and evaluative research that underpins major new projects. You’ll drop into dynamic workstreams to untangle complex user problems, uncover critical behavioral insights, and translate your findings into practical direction for product and design teams.

Your day-to-day will involve:

• Planning and conducting lean, high-impact UX research using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Uncovering core user needs, pain points, and mental models through interviews, usability testing, and contextual inquiry.
• Synthesising complex qualitative data into clear customer journeys, personas, and actionable insights.
• Facilitating collaborative playback sessions to align cross‑functional stakeholders on key research findings.
• Leveraging modern research tools and AI‑driven workflows to speed up insight generation and synthesis.

Benefits

• Initial 6-month contract with a high likelihood of extension
• Competitive daily rate of $720–$800 per day + GST
• Hybrid flexibility with 4 days on‑site in Auckland CBD and 1 day work‑from‑home
• Join a passionate, highly supportive community of design and research experts
• Put your stamp on major, high-profile projects right from the ground up

Your Fit

You are a naturally curious researcher who thrives on making sense of complex user environments. You bring solid experience leading end-to-end UX research within large-scale setups, paired with a sharp toolkit of qualitative and quantitative methods. You know how to spot assumptions from a mile away, replacing guesswork with rock-solid user evidence. Excellent communication skills, a pragmatic mindset, and a comfort with modern design tools will make you stand out.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand. If you are not a NZ Citizen, you must have the right of permanent residence or a valid work visa.