Senior UX Researcher

Cars Commerce•Chicago, IL

1d•$118,600 - $148,250•Remote

About The Position

Cars Commerce is seeking a Senior UX Researcher to join their Product Team. This role will be instrumental in shaping the future of automotive commerce platforms, including Cars.com and Dealer Inspire. The Senior UX Researcher will lead complex, high-impact research initiatives, executing qualitative and quantitative studies and translating insights into actionable recommendations. This position partners closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders. Beyond individual research execution, the role contributes to strengthening the broader research practice by advancing methodologies and championing customer-centered decision-making across the organization. The position is remote but requires the candidate to be located in the Chicago area, with potential for onsite interviews.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in human-computer interaction, psychology, anthropology, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in UX research or a related field, with a track record of leading complex research projects.
Experience working in SaaS organizations
Expertise in mixed-methods research, with demonstrated ability to select and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, including moderated and unmoderated usability testing, generative research, surveys, and behavioral analysis.
Experience managing the full research lifecycle — from scoping and study design to execution, synthesis, and driving action based on research findings.
Proven ability to partner effectively with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to embed research into product development.
Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to articulate complex research findings and insights to diverse audiences.
Strategic mindset with the ability to align research efforts with business goals and drive organizational change through user-centered design principles.
Must be located in the Chicago area.
Authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Automotive industry experience

Responsibilities

Lead strategic user research initiatives, including defining research objectives, designing methodologies, and conducting research activities.
Take ownership of high-impact research projects, from inception to completion, and ensure the delivery of actionable insights that inform product decisions.
Provide guidance on research methodologies, data analysis techniques, and presentation skills.
Help strengthen our research practice and build research capabilities across Product.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and engineers, to integrate user feedback into product development decisions.
Advocate for user-centered design principles and the importance of UX research within the organization, influencing decision-making processes and driving a culture of customer empathy.
Stay informed about industry trends and emerging research methodologies, and contribute to the development of the research practice within the organization.