Sr. UX Researcher

NinjaTrader•Chicago, IL

1d•$130,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

In this role, you will lead research initiatives that bridge the gap between complex trading workflows and intuitive product design. You will apply a variety of research methodologies, from generative to evaluative, to uncover user needs, validate solutions, and optimize the trading experience. Your insights will directly influence the design and development of NinjaTrader’s Futures Trading platform, ensuring it meets and exceeds the expectations of expert and new traders.

Requirements

5+ years of UX research experience in complex environments (fintech, trading, enterprise software, or similar domains)
Expertise in a broad range of research methods, knowing when and how to apply each based on the research objective
Experience conducting usability studies and optimizing workflows for high-stakes decision-making environments
Ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative insights to tell a clear and compelling user story
Proficiency in UX research tools and behavioral analytics
Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work across design, product, data, marketing, and engineering teams to drive user-centered solutions
Excellent communication and storytelling abilities, with experience presenting insights to senior stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Experience with futures trading platforms or other financial markets
Background in behavioral economics or cognitive psychology
Experience working in fast-paced, agile environments
Familiarity with trading platforms, real-time data visualization, risk management tools, or trading concepts is a huge plus

Responsibilities

Strategically select and apply research methods based on project needs
Generative research to explore trader behaviors, workflows, and pain points
Concept validation to refine ideas before development
Evaluative research to assess the effectiveness of design solutions
Behavioral and quantitative research to track user patterns and validate findings at scale
Conduct deep research into trader psychology, decision-making under pressure, and automation workflows, ensuring the platform supports both expert and new-to-futures traders
Collaborate with designers, product managers, and engineers to translate insights into user-centered solutions
Develop personas and journey maps to align stakeholders on trader goals and pain points
Advocate for research-backed decision-making, ensuring UX is grounded in user needs rather than assumptions
Present findings in compelling ways through reports, workshops, and data-driven storytelling
Partner with market researchers and data analysts to triangulate user insights with behavioral data and market trends
Establish and refine research frameworks, processes, and best practices to scale research impact across teams