Director, User Research

Paradigm; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software company in Seattle is seeking a Director, User Research to establish and lead its user research practice. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in user research and proven leadership abilities. Responsibilities include conducting comprehensive research, collaborating with product and design teams, and advocating for user-centered decision-making. This is a unique opportunity to influence product design and strategy as part of an innovative company. Expected travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in user research, leading efforts in complex product environments.
• Strong judgment in selecting appropriate research methods.
• Experience partnering with product, design, and engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the user research practice.
• Conduct end-to-end research across workflows and user journeys.
• Translate research findings into actionable insights.

Skills

User research methodologies

Leadership

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Job description

Paradigm is a software company transforming the way that the residential, construction & building product industries operate across the globe. We are looking for a Director, User Research to be part of revolutionizing these industries.

This individual will establish and lead Paradigm’s user research practice. This is a unique opportunity to build strong research foundations and shape how user insight informs product and design decisions across a growing digital platform. This role is ideal for a hands‑on research leader who is comfortable operating in ambiguity, partnering closely with cross‑functional teams, and building research capability that scales through enablement. You will lead critical research directly while also setting standards, frameworks, strategy, and practices that help teams make better decisions with confidence. You will work closely with the Vice President of Design & Research, as well as Product, Engineering, and Data partners, to ensure research is integrated into planning, prioritization, and delivery.

What You Will Do

• Establish and lead Paradigm’s user research practice, contributing to long‑term strategy and setting clear standards for rigor, synthesis, and impact.
• Lead end‑to‑end research across complex workflows and user journeys, including internal tools, external customers, and field contexts.
• Partner closely with Product, Design, and Engineering leaders to frame the right learning questions and ensure research informs real decisions.
• Translate research findings into clear, actionable insights that guide prioritization and trade‑offs.
• Define and evolve a federated research model that enables designers and teams to conduct baseline usability research effectively.
• Build lightweight research frameworks, tools, and guidance that scale learning without slowing teams down.
• Advocate for user‑centered decision‑making in roadmap planning and prioritization discussions.
• Hire, lead, and develop a team of researchers and direct the resolution of highly complex problems.
• Ensure research practices align with data privacy, governance, and ethical standards, particularly in AI‑enabled and data‑rich environments.

What You Need To Succeed

• 8+ years of experience in user research, with experience leading research efforts in complex product environments and 3+ years of people leadership experience.
• Proven ability to independently plan, conduct, and synthesize research that influences product and business decisions.
• Strong judgment in selecting research methods appropriate to the question, context, and constraints.
• Experience partnering closely with product, design, and engineering teams.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, evolving environments and helping teams focus on what matters most to learn.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to make insight clear, usable, and timely.
• Experience enabling others to do research well through coaching, standards, or shared frameworks.
• Familiarity with enterprise, B2B, or operational workflows is a plus.
• A thoughtful, pragmatic approach to user‑centered design in AI‑enabled products.
• Expected to travel up to 25%.

Ready to Join? Apply now at myparadigm.com/careers/ #Paradigm