User Experience Researcher

PTR Global; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

401(k) after 60 days

PTO and sick leave per local laws

Job summary

PTR Global in Chicago is seeking a Senior UX Researcher to support employee-facing digital experiences within the Tech Ops organization for a major airline. This hybrid role requires 5+ years of UX research experience and hands-on work with field studies, interviews, usability testing, surveys, and cross-functional collaboration to translate findings into actionable design decisions.

Responsibilities include leading research across employee-facing tools and workflows, developing plans,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of UX Research experience.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research capabilities.
• Experience conducting field research and contextual inquiry.
• Strong moderation and facilitation skills.
• Experience with usability testing, interviews, surveys, focus groups, benchmarking, heuristic reviews, and card sorting.
• Ability to independently scope, execute, synthesize, and present research.
• Strong understanding of UI/UX design principles.

Responsibilities

• Own research initiatives across employee-facing products, internal tools, and Tech Ops workflows.
• Develop research plans and select the appropriate methodologies based on product, design, and operational needs.
• Conduct research including field studies, contextual inquiry, interviews, focus groups, surveys, usability testing, benchmarking, and ethnographic research.
• Observe and understand how employees interact with complex systems and operational workflows to uncover unmet needs, inefficiencies, and usability challenges.
• Partner closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Tech Ops stakeholders, and other UX Researchers throughout the product development process.
• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights that improve usability, employee efficiency, and the overall employee experience.
• Present and advocate for research findings with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Recruit and source targeted employee audiences for research studies and usability testing.

Skills

UX Research

Field studies

Contextual inquiry

Interviews

Usability testing

Surveys

Focus groups

Benchmarking

Ethnographic research

Stakeholder management

Research storytelling

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Senior UX Researcher - Employee UX / Tech Ops

We are seeking a Senior UX Researcher to support employee-facing digital experiences within the Tech Ops organization for a major airline in Chicago.

This is a hands-on UX research role focused on understanding how employees interact with complex internal tools, systems, and operational workflows. You'll work closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Tech Ops stakeholders, and other UX Researchers to uncover employee needs, identify workflow pain points, and influence the design of more effective and intuitive digital experiences.

This is a hybrid role in Chicago, IL. Candidates must currently live in the Chicago area to be considered and be available onsite 2-3 days per week.

Top Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of UX Research experience conducting end-to-end research for complex digital products, tools, or workflows.
• Strong experience with research methods including field studies, contextual inquiry, interviews, usability testing, surveys, focus groups, benchmarking, and ethnographic research.
• Experience researching employee-facing, enterprise, operational, or workflow-based products.
• Strong ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative research into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.
• Experience partnering with Product, Design, Engineering, and operational stakeholders to translate research findings into product and design decisions.

What You'll Do

• Own research initiatives across employee-facing products, internal tools, and Tech Ops workflows.
• Develop research plans and select the appropriate methodologies based on product, design, and operational needs.
• Conduct research including field studies, contextual inquiry, interviews, focus groups, surveys, usability testing, benchmarking, and ethnographic research.
• Observe and understand how employees interact with complex systems and operational workflows to uncover unmet needs, inefficiencies, and usability challenges.
• Partner closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Tech Ops stakeholders, and other UX Researchers throughout the product development process.
• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights that improve usability, employee efficiency, and the overall employee experience.
• Present and advocate for research findings with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Recruit and source targeted employee audiences for research studies and usability testing.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of professional UX Research experience
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research capabilities
• Experience conducting field research and contextual inquiry
• Strong moderation and facilitation skills
• Experience with usability testing, interviews, surveys, focus groups, benchmarking, heuristic reviews, and card sorting
• Ability to independently scope, execute, synthesize, and present research
• Strong understanding of UI/UX design principles and practices
• Ability to research and understand complex employee workflows and internal enterprise tools
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and research storytelling skills
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience

Preferred:

Master's degree and/or experience researching employee-facing technology, enterprise software, operational tools, technical workflows, human factors, interaction design, information architecture, or large operationally complex organizations.

• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Location: Chicago, IL - must currently live in the area to be considered
• Work Authorization: Must be eligible to work in the U.S. (no H-1B, no C2C)
• Duration: 1 year + highly likely extension
• Portfolio: Required for consideration
• Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401(k) after 60 days, plus applicable PTO and sick leave per state/local law
• Pay Range: $75-$85 per hour (W2)

Compensation for this position will be determined based on several factors, including the scope, complexity, and location of the role; market labor costs; the candidate’s skills, education, training, credentials, and experience; and other employment conditions. Full-time consultants are eligible for benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) contributions, along with any PTO, sick leave, or other benefits required by applicable state or local laws where you reside or work.