Experience Researcher

Researchers at Thumbtack are embedded within product teams, serving as advocates for both customers and pros. As a mixed methods Experience Researcher, you will be responsible for conducting both qualitative and quantitative research to provide actionable insights that drive key product decisions. You’ll work cross-functionally to scope, plan, and execute research projects in a fast-paced environment, contributing to the development of user-centric solutions that improve our platform.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research Planning & Execution: Scope and conduct mixed-method research projects, ranging from strategic exploratory studies to tactical usability tests and surveys.
• Collaboration: Partner closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and data scientists to identify high-impact research opportunities and ensure insights translate into actionable product changes.
• Synthesize & Share Insights: Turn qualitative and quantitative data into compelling insights through reports and presentations that influence product direction at all levels of the company.
• Methodology Selection: Choose the right research methods for the problem at hand, whether through in-depth interviews, surveys, usability tests, or other methods.
• User Advocacy: Champion the needs and experiences of both pros and customers, ensuring that their voices are heard throughout the product development lifecycle.

What You'll Need

If you don't think you meet all of the criteria below but still are interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box, and we're looking for someone excited to join the team. 

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS with 5+ years of experience in applied research roles. 
• Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Experimental Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Science, Computer Science, related fields, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including when and how to apply them in various product phases.

Research Expertise:

• Experience designing and conducting research using a variety of methods, including usability studies, in-depth interviews, and surveys.
• Ability to analyze both qualitative and quantitative data, including conducting basic statistical analysis (e.g., t-tests, correlations) using statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS).
• Experience using a variety of research tools (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, Ethnio) and familiarity with recruiting and analytics suites.

Collaboration & Influence:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. Experience working with diverse, cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record of influencing product and design decisions based on research insights.
• Ability to clearly communicate findings and recommendations to cross-functional teams, including designers, engineers, and product managers.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Advanced degree (MA/MS/PhD) in one of the above fields with 3+ years of experience in user research.
• Experience with accessibility research.
• Experience with SQL or other basic data querying skills.
• Familiarity with experimental design and longitudinal studies.
• Knowledge of home services, marketplaces, or small business platforms.

Thumbtack is a virtual-first company, meaning you can live and work from any one of our approved locations across the United States, Canada or the Philippines.* Learn more about our virtual-first working model here.

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