Design Researcher

Were seeking an experienced Design Researcher to join the Visa Commercial Solutions this role you will support product and design teams by executing high-quality research and translating insights into actionable recommendations across complex B2B experiences. Youll collaborate closely with designers product managers content strategists and engineers to answer core product strategy questions evaluate concepts and improve end-to-end workflows.

This role is well-suited for a researcher who is comfortable running studies with increasing independence and is excited to grow their strategic impact over time.

Youll also be joining at a moment when AI is rapidly changing how products and research are built and will have opportunities to learn and apply emerging tools in thoughtful and responsible ways.

What youll do:

• Plan and conduct qualitative and quantitative research including interviews surveys usability testing and analysis of behavioral data.
• Start in LLM: Use AI tools to frame problem spaces generate hypotheses explore edge cases prior to formal research and rapidly prototype early ideas.
• Partner with Product Design and Engineering to help turn ambiguity into clear learning agendas decision points and priorities.
• Work alongside teams from early concept through ideation continuously refining understanding based on real customer behavior and feedback.
• Synthesize across signals by integrating research with product analytics market inputs and customer feedback to uncover patterns and opportunity areas.  
• Leverage AI tools to cluster signals identify patterns and move from raw inputs to clear insights more efficiently.
• Deliver clear actionable insights that shape product direction design decisions and prioritization.
• Translate insight into tangible artifacts such as opportunity spaces experience principles and early concepts.
• Contribute to and support the continuous improvement of scalable systems for participant recruitment insight sharing and knowledge management.

What youll bring:

• Research fundamentals: Strong grounding in core UX research methods and experience choosing appropriate methods for different questions
• AI fluency and curiosity: Hands-on experience using AI tools to support research synthesis or analysis with an understanding of how AI behavior impacts user experience. Youre motivated to keep building these skills as tools and workflows evolve.
• Systems thinking: Ability to understand complex multi-step workflows and how different parts of a system connect even when users dont see everything.
• Data fluency: Familiarity with using behavioral data or analytics to inform research questions and complement qualitative insights.  
• Business mindedness: You can connect research to business outcomes and can articulate why an insight matters for strategy growth and/or revenue.
• Pragmatism: Ability to manage priorities work in and move through ambiguity and move research forward in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear communication: Skill in sharing insights in ways that are appropriate compelling and useful for different audiences.  
• Collaboration: Comfort working closely with cross-functional peers in design product management content strategy and engineering with an openness to feedback and learning.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager. 

Qualifications :

Basic Qualifications:

2 or more years of work experience with a Bachelors Degree or an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters MBA JD MD or PhD)

Preferred Qualifications:

3 or more years of work experience with a Bachelors Degree or more than 2 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters MBA JD MD)

4 or more years of work experience with a Bachelors Degree or more than 2 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters MBA JD MD) Bachelors Degree in Design HCI or equivalent experience;

Experience researching regulated technical or high-risk domains (e.g. fintech payments healthcare SaaS platforms) 

Additional Information :

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk communicate in person and by telephone frequently operate standard office equipment such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation gender identity disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for this position is 110700 to 190900 USD per year which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge skills experience and addition this position may be eligible for bonus and equity. Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical Dental Vision 401 (k) FSA/HSA Life Insurance Paid Time Off and Wellness Program.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time