Sr UX Researcher, Hayward

XOPS is a fast-growing startup building the future of observability and automation for IT operations. Our platform unifies complex system data to deliver visibility, control, and intelligent workflows across the enterprise, empowering IT teams to manage the entire employee technology lifecycle with precision. As industries embrace AI to automate cars, rockets, and even farming, IT operations remain stuck in the past, reliant on spreadsheets and manual processes. We believe it is time for a change.

At XOPS, we are pioneering autonomous IT operations, freeing teams from tedious tasks and elevating them into strategic leadership roles. Our mission is to drive operational excellence, financial stewardship, and security across the enterprise, while transforming the employee experience. We are just getting started, and we are looking for exceptional teammates to help shape the future.

XOPS is seeking a Sr UX Researcher to join our team and work in our office in San Jose, CA or Pleasanton, CA. In this role, the Sr UX Researcher will be you'll be instrumental in uncovering insights that drive our product strategy and design decisions. Working alongside product designers, product managers, and engineering teams, you'll help ensure we're building solutions that truly resonate with enterprise users and solve real business problems. 

Requirements

What you will do: 

 

Design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research studies including user interviews, usability testing, field studies, surveys, and competitive analysis 

Synthesize research findings into actionable insights for product and design teams 

Identify patterns and opportunities from research to influence product roadmap and feature prioritization 

Create and maintain user personas, journey maps, and other artifacts that document user behavior and needs 

Develop a research repository and establish processes for sharing insights across the organization 

Advocate for enterprise users' needs throughout the product development process 

Collaborate with sales and customer success teams to facilitate access to users and stakeholders 

Build and maintain a research participant pool of enterprise users 

Present research findings to various stakeholders, including executive leadership 

Requirements 

4+ years of UX research experience, with at least 2 years focused on enterprise software 

Experience researching complex workflows and systems used by professional users 

Strong knowledge of various research methodologies and when to apply them 

Experience conducting research with hard-to-reach users and stakeholders across organizational hierarchies 

Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical findings into compelling stories 

Demonstrated ability to influence product decisions through research insights 

Experience working in agile environments and adapting research methods to fit rapid development cycles 

Portfolio showcasing research projects, methodologies used, and resulting product impacts 

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities. 

You are highly driven and bring a strong sense of urgency and focus in everything you do 

Bonus 

Experience with B2B SaaS products and understanding of enterprise sales cycles 

Background in [specific industry relevant to your startup] 

Familiarity with design thinking methodologies 

Experience establishing or evolving UX research practice in growing organizations 

Knowledge of data privacy considerations when conducting research in enterprise environments 

Experience with remote research tools (e.g., UserZoom, UserTesting, Lookback, Maze) 

Background in a related field such as human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology, or anthropology 

For this role, the estimated base salary range is between $153,000 - $187,000 USD. The actual base salary will vary based on various factors, including market and individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process. The listed range above is a guideline, and the base salary range for this role may be modified.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation: Salary, Equity, and 401K

Comprehensive Vision, Dental, and Healthcare plans

Discretionary Time off Policy (If you need time off, take time off!)

11 Company-paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Policy - 3 days in office/2 days remote

A chance to be part of a rapidly growing startup and make a real impact!