Experience Researcher

About the role

Researchers at Thumbtack are embedded within product teams and serve as advocates for both customers and pros. As a mixed-methods Experience Researcher, you'll scope and run qualitative and quantitative studies end to end — from foundational discovery to tactical evaluation — and turn them into insights that drive product decisions. You'll join a pod focused on bringing a recent acquisition into the Thumbtack ecosystem on the pro-facing side of our marketplace — helping build the tools pros need to run successful businesses. So you'll be learning a new product and user base fast, structuring ambiguity, and standing up research where little exists yet. And you'll do it in an AI-forward practice: we expect you to use AI fluently across the research lifecycle, and to build lightweight AI tools that accelerate how the team learns.

What you’ll do

• Research planning & execution: Independently scope and run mixed-method studies — from strategic, exploratory work to tactical usability tests and in-product surveys — within your product area.
• Champion the pro: Build a deep understanding of pros and the tools they need to run successful businesses.
• Work in ambiguity: Get up to speed quickly on an unfamiliar product, market, and user base, and turn loose problem spaces into clear research questions and plans.
• AI-accelerated research: Use AI tools across the research lifecycle (e.g., synthesis, analysis, instrument and guide drafting, reporting) to work faster and at scale — and build lightweight AI artifacts (e.g., agents, workflows, automations, prototypes) that speed up learning for you and your partners. Critically evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias.
• Collaboration: Partner closely with product, design, engineering, and data science to identify high-impact research opportunities and ensure insights translate into action.
• Synthesize & share insights: Turn qualitative and quantitative data into compelling, trustworthy stories — through reports and presentations that influence product direction.
• Methodology selection: Choose the right method (or combination) for the problem — interviews, surveys, usability tests, concept tests, and more.

In order to be successful, you must bring

• 5+ years in applied research roles, with a degree in a behavioral or social science field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Experimental Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Science, Economics) or equivalent practical experience; advanced degree a plus.
• Strong command of both qualitative and quantitative methods — knowing when and how to apply each across product phases — and able to design and run studies end to end (in-depth interviews, usability studies, surveys, concept testing).
• Analyzes qualitative and quantitative data, including basic statistical analysis (e.g., t-tests, correlations); proficient with research tools (e.g., Qualtrics, dscout, Sprig, Rally). SQL or other data-querying skills a plus.
• Demonstrated, hands-on use of AI to accelerate and scale research, paired with the judgment to evaluate outputs critically and apply them responsibly.
• Evidence of building — not just using — lightweight AI tooling such as agents, workflows, or prototypes that made research faster or better. (You'll be asked to show one.)
• Strong communication and presentation skills, a track record of influencing product and design decisions through research, and comfort operating independently in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Nice to have: experience standing up research in a new or fast-changing area (0-to-1, integrations, or post-acquisition); experience researching AI-powered products; and knowledge of home services, marketplaces, or small business platforms.

Expected salary ranges

• For candidates living in Ontario and British Columbia, the expected salary range for the role is currently $121,600.00 - $157,300.00.