Senior UX Researcher

KBR • Sioux Falls, SD

4d • $75,500 - $113,200 • Remote

About The Position

KBR is seeking a Senior UX Researcher to support mission‑critical Science & Space programs. In this role, you will uncover user needs, validate product decisions, and drive research‑backed insights that shape roadmap priorities and technical implementation. You will work closely with highly specialized users—including scientists, engineers, and operations personnel—whose work underpins national infrastructure, space operations, and environmental monitoring. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex domains and wants to influence systems that have real national impact.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Bachelor’s degree in Human‑Centered Design, Psychology, Behavioral Science, IT, or related field
• 6+ years of UX research or UX design experience in complex, large‑scale systems
• Proficiency with research and design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure)
• Experience with collaboration/versioning tools (Zeplin, Storybook, Abstract)
• Strong understanding of Agile processes and integrating research into iterative workflows
• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and storytelling skills
• Ability to rapidly understand technical domains and explain insights to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints
• Portfolio showcasing research process, depth, and measurable impact

Nice To Haves

• Experience in scientific, government, aerospace, defense, or similarly complex technical domains
• Familiarity with enterprise SaaS, responsive web apps, or cross‑platform systems
• Working knowledge of HTML/CSS, JavaScript frameworks (e.g., Angular), REST APIs
• Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, Python)
• Experience with modern research platforms (e.g., Dovetail, UserTesting, Lookback, Maze)
• Leadership experience in facilitation, mentoring, or guiding design direction

Responsibilities

• User Research & Discovery Conduct mixed‑methods research (interviews, observations, surveys, usability studies, analytics review).
• Perform on‑site fieldwork at scientific or federal facilities with minimal disruption to operations.
• Apply both qualitative and quantitative approaches to uncover root problems and define user needs.
• Develop research plans, scripts, and protocols aligned with product goals.
• Analysis, Synthesis & Strategy Translate findings into actionable insights, clear problem statements, workflows, and journey models.
• Communicate insights that influence roadmap priorities and design direction.
• Facilitate alignment across product, engineering, and stakeholder groups.
• Design Collaboration & Validation Partner with UI/UX designers on concept validation and iterative user testing.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to implement analytics for continuous learning.
• Conduct formative and summative usability tests to evaluate product solutions.
• Advocacy & Leadership Mentor junior researchers or designers.
• Support development of research operations, experience metrics, and team best practices.
• Promote user‑centered thinking across cross‑functional teams.

Benefits

• KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule.
• We support career advancement through professional training and development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees