Senior User Researcher, Human Centered Design and Human Factors

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior User Researcher, Human Centered Design and Human Factors based in United States. This role offers an opportunity to shape how people interact with critical digital government services and public-sector systems. You will lead research initiatives across the full lifecycle, from discovery and exploration through validation and implementation. The position combines human-centered design, usability, accessibility, and human factors to turn user insight into meaningful improvements. You will serve as a technical leader for research teams while mentoring colleagues and maintaining high methodological standards. The role involves close collaboration with designers, product managers, engineers, and senior government stakeholders. Your findings will directly inform digital services, policies, and experiences that can affect millions of people. This is a high-impact, mission-driven opportunity with significant visibility and potential for long-term leadership growth. Lead the planning, design, execution, analysis, and reporting of user research studies throughout the complete research lifecycle, from discovery through validation. Select, recommend, and defend appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methodologies based on program objectives, timelines, constraints, and user needs. Conduct research using approaches such as interviews, contextual inquiry, diary studies, usability testing, surveys, usability metrics, and statistical analysis. Ensure research activities follow evidence-based practices and meet rigorous scientific, ethical, and methodological standards. Review research findings, synthesis, and recommendations for accuracy, clarity, completeness, and relevance before delivery to government stakeholders. Conduct usability and accessibility evaluations that account for diverse users, including individuals with disabilities and people with varying levels of digital literacy. Translate complex research findings into clear, practical recommendations that product, design, engineering, and policy teams can apply to improve services. Collaborate closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to incorporate validated user needs into service and product decisions. Lead technical discussions, workshops, and presentations with government stakeholders, communicating research findings with confidence and credibility. Advise stakeholders on service design standards and digital accessibility practices, including federal guidance such as the U.S. Web Design System and Section 508 requirements. Provide technical direction, coaching, and mentorship to research professionals, promoting consistency, quality, and professional development across studies. Contribute to proposal development and business development initiatives through background research, methodological recommendations, and study design input. Support client relationships and contribute to a collaborative, mission-focused environment where research directly informs public-sector outcomes. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Human Factors, Information Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Design Research, or a related discipline; an advanced degree is advantageous. At least 8 years of professional experience conducting user research for digital products or services, ideally within federal or public-sector environments. Strong command of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and the ability to apply them across different research contexts and stages of product maturity. Demonstrated expertise in digital service design and delivery, including research that informs services from initial concept through launch and continuous improvement. Hands-on experience conducting usability and accessibility evaluations against recognized standards. Proven abili