Lead UX Researcher - Research Platform Job at IBM Computing in Minneapolis

Introduction

A career in IBM Software means you'll be part of a team that creates industry-leading solutions that meet our customers' challenges.

We are an infinitely curious team, always seeking new possibilities, and dedicated to creating the world's leading AI-powered, cloud-native software solutions. Our renowned legacy creates endless opportunities for our network of IBMers. We are a team of deep product experts, ensuring exceptional client experiences, with a focus on delivery, excellence, and obsession over customer outcomes.

IBM's product and technology landscape includes Research, Software, and Infrastructure. Entering this domain positions you at the heart of IBM, where growth and innovation thrive. At IBM you will be joining us in serving as a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

Your role and responsibilities

You will be part of the IBM HashiCorp group within IBM Software. We build solutions that simplify and automate enterprise cloud infrastructure, so teams can focus on high-value work instead of repetitive tasks. Our two large product groups each include multiple solutions serving global enterprises.

We believe everyone involved in product definition should be able to conduct meaningful, reliable research. This is how we build deep customer empathy and generate actionable insights.

Our new UX Research team is an enablement-first function :

We empower Product and Design teams with coaching and operational support to meet day-to-day research needs.

We lead cross-team, cross-product, and cross-functional research that informs strategy and benefits multiple stakeholders.

In this role, you will build and own the shared UX Research Platform that supports the entire product organization — including multiple UX researchers, product managers, and designers.

As a Research Platform Owner, you will :

Own and evolve our target audience system (personas, jobs-to-be-done, user journeys) to reflect how work and roles evolve in the age of AI.

Create and scale a research playbook, synthesizing best practices and developing reusable templates, guides, and knowledge-sharing practices.

Lead strategic, quantitative research on product market fit, roadmap prioritization, and audience insights that span products and teams.

Build and manage sourcing mechanisms that give teams reliable access to customers and prospects.

Configure and optimize research tools to maximize efficiency and impact.

This role goes beyond traditional UX research. It blends strategic research expertise with operational excellence and a passion for enabling others

This job can be performed from anywhere in the US

Required technical and professional expertise

Strategic research leadership : A minimum of 7+ years leading quantitative Product or Marketing research on audience definition, product-market fit, journeys, adoption, or similar.

Operational excellence : Experience building and scaling playbooks, templates, repositories, and systems that raise research maturity.

Research innovation : Ability to adapt or invent approaches that meet diverse stakeholder needs and constraints.

Influence : Proven skill in aligning research with business goals and inspiring stakeholders with clear, persuasive synthesis.

Enterprise product experience : Background in SaaS, B2B, or complex domains requiring research across diverse user types and stakeholders.

Preferred technical and professional experience

Make others successful : You anticipate stakeholder needs and design solutions that empower them.

Balance rigor and efficiency : You know when to optimize and when to go deep, maintaining high standards throughout.

Be hands-on : You combine strategic vision with the ability to roll up your sleeves, experiment, and improve tools and practices.

Stay resilient : You manage multiple priorities and help others do the same.

Inspire through engagement : You believe research should be robust creating "aha" moments that bring teams together.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

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