Lead end-to-end UX research initiatives to inform product and design strategy. Plan and run qualitative and quantitative studies, synthesize insights, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and embed research practice across the organization to guide AI-enabled enterprise product decisions.
ABOUT RETOOL
Nearly every company in the world runs on custom software for critical operations like tracking performance metrics, handling support workflows, building admin dashboards, and countless processes you might never have thought of. But most companies don't have the resources to properly invest in these tools, leading to a lot of old, clunky internal software, or worse, teams still stuck in manual and spreadsheet workflows.
AI has changed who gets to build software. The definition of "developer" now includes analysts, operators, and domain experts creating solutions directly—and the tools they reach for are multiplying by the week. That's both an opportunity and a challenge: as more people build with more AI tools, the risk of shipping ungoverned software into production grows just as fast.
At Retool, we're building the platform that makes all of it safe to ship. Build with any AI tool you want, then deploy into one place that connects to your real business data, enforces enterprise policies automatically, and lets teams create once and reuse everywhere with shared, trusted components. The cost of building software has collapsed. The cost of governing it hasn't—and that's the problem we solve.
Developers and domain experts have already automated over 100 million hours of work on our platform, freeing them to focus on creative problem-solving and strategic work that drives real business value. The people closest to the problem can now build the software to solve it, safely, and within enterprise guardrails.
Let's build the future together.
WHY WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU:We’re looking for a Senior UX Researcher to inform our product and design strategy, we’re reimagining how software gets built in the era of AI, and your research will light the way.
You’ll be a foundational leading member on a small, strategic research team, with an opportunity to shape the culture of research at Retool, and define how insights drive impact across the organization. Though a new function, research is already deeply valued across the organization, informing key strategic designs and guiding our expansion into new customer segments and AI-powered experiences. You’ll collaborate with a curious and customer-centric group of designers, engineers, and product managers who are eager to partner with research to uncover new opportunities to elevate our products.
In this role, you’ll own research initiatives to inform product strategy and design, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to deliver insights that shape Retool’s future. You will:
- Work with stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps, latent assumptions, and open questions to prioritize opportunities for impactful research.
- Plan, conduct, and analyze studies leveraging a range of qualitative and quantitative methods—from tactical usability tests, to in-depth interviews, in-product surveys, and more—to generate actionable learnings.
- Balance speed with research rigor, creatively leveraging research methods to work within constraints.
- Triangulate insights from across user research, product usage, support, and market signals, to surface meaningful patterns.
- Distill complex data into clear, compelling stories for teams across the org, from product, design, and engineering peers to executive stakeholders.
As an early member of the research team, you’ll also collaborate with your teammates to shape our research practice, evolve our processes, and help embed user-centered thinking across everything we do.
- 5+ years of experience in UX research, product research, or a related field, ideally in Enterprise Saas or technical platform environments
- Proven ability to own research projects end-to-end, from scoping through to execution and analysis, leveraging a range of qualitative and quantitative methods
- Strong synthesis and storytelling skills, with an ability to distill ambiguity into clarity and make insights resonate with diverse audiences
- Experience shaping product direction through early-stage generative research and iterative usability testing
- Comfort working in ambiguous problem spaces and a bias toward action—you're as strategic as you are scrappy
- Deep curiosity about how complex systems work, especially technical workflows or developer tools
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with an understanding for how to bring others into the process and rally teams around user insights
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, scope projects appropriately, and deliver high-quality work on time
Additional nice-to-haves:
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Human Factors, Computer Science, or similar field
- Experience working on AI products, along with an understanding of how these technologies work and implications for how users interact with them
- Familiarity with design thinking frameworks, usability evaluation techniques, and A/B testing
- Interest and excitement in leading and growing our small UXR team
For candidates based in the United States, the pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents base salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings (OTE) for commissionable roles. This salary range may be inclusive of several career levels at Retool and will be narrowed during the interview process based on a number of factors such as (but not limited to), scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s experience and qualifications, and location.
Additional compensation in the form(s) of equity and/or commission are dependent on the position offered. Retool provides a comprehensive benefit plan, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans.
The base pay range for this role is $194,000 – $260,000 per year.
Retool offers generous benefits to all employees and hybrid work location. For more information, please visit the benefits and perks section of our careers page!
Retool is currently set up to employ all roles in the US and specific roles in the UK. To find roles that can be employed in the UK, please refer to our careers page and review the indicated locations.
Retool San Francisco, California, USA Office
Retool's headquarters is in San Francisco's Mission District within walking distance to the 16th St. Bart station, great coffee shops, and SF institutions like Dandelion Chocolate and Tartine Manufacturing. We have dedicated parking, secure bike storage, and 24/7 onsite security.
Similar Jobs
Edtech • Enterprise Web • HR Tech • Software
Lead end-to-end UX research for Handshake AI human data products, running generative and evaluative studies, synthesizing qualitative and quantitative inputs, recruiting participants, producing actionable insights to improve onboarding, annotation workflows, evaluation tools, and operational systems, and partnering across product, design, engineering, and operations to drive measurable product and business impact.
Top Skills:
AIAnnotation PlatformsHuman-In-The-Loop SystemsLlmsProduct Analytics
Other
The Senior UX Researcher will lead user research to inform product strategy and design decisions, improve research operations, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance user empathy in organizational culture.
Top Skills:
DovetailFigmaQuantilopeUsertesting
Other • Software • Analytics
Lead user experience research for ArcGIS apps, guiding product direction with insights, synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations, and collaborating closely with product teams.
Top Skills:
ConfluenceData Visualization ToolsGis TechnologiesGitProductboardSaas ApplicationsUsability Testing
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
