Fractional Senior Product/User Researcher

Role Who you are Senior-level experience in product/UX research within digital product organizations Demonstrated ability to establish research practices in environments without mature research infrastructure Strong mixed-methods expertise with clear judgment on methodology selection Experience operating continuous or rolling research programs Deep understanding of research rigor, bias mitigation, and insight synthesis Ability to elevate organizational research literacy and coach non-researchers on best practices Strong partnership with design and product leadership Comfortable operating with high autonomy, ambiguity, and program ownership Don’t meet every qualification? We care about potential over your past. If you're bringing ambition and drive to what we're building, we want to hear from you Desirable Experience managing research vendors or agencies Experience building research ops infrastructure or participant panels Background working in design-led product organizations What the job involves We are hiring a senior Product/User Researcher to establish and lead research practices that meaningfully inform product development. Research today is conducted inconsistently and without formal methodology, and this role will define the philosophy, standards, and operating model required to bring rigor, clarity, and insight into product decision‑making This is a foundational hire reporting into product and design leadership, partnering closely with the Head of Design and the product design team. The role requires a highly autonomous researcher capable of building a research program from the ground up while operating as a hands‑on practitioner This is a product research role, not a market or consumer marketing research position Research program development Establish research philosophy, standards, and best practices across the organization Define frameworks, templates, and governance that improve rigor and mitigate bias in research execution Educate product, design, and PM teams on research methodology, interpretation, and appropriate application Build scalable research infrastructure including participant recruitment, insight synthesis, and knowledge management Continuous rolling research program Own and operate a continuous rolling research program enabling ongoing user feedback across product development Partner with teams to intake research needs and translate them into structured, methodologically sound test plans Recruit and facilitate participant sessions on an ongoing basis, adjusting cadence based on product priorities and research complexity Synthesize findings into actionable insights that inform product direction and design decisions Maintain a sustainable research rhythm that balances responsiveness with depth and methodological rigor Mixed‑methods research execution Determine and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies across discovery and evaluative research Conduct interviews, usability testing, concept validation, surveys, diary studies, and experiments Ensure research rigor, bias mitigation, and methodological clarity across studies Strategic research initiatives Define and lead longer‑term research programs to deepen understanding of users, behaviors, and mental models Manage external research agencies for larger scoped studies (1–2 per quarter or half‑year) with leadership approval Drive synthesis across studies to develop durable user insights and profiles that guide product strategy This role will directly shape how product decisions are made by establishing a reliable, insight‑driven research practice where none currently exists. The researcher will play a critical role in improving product quality, reducing bias in decision‑making, and enabling teams to learn from users continuously Company mission To expand access to fair credit to give anyone in the world the opportunity to improve their financial security and mobility. Company benefits Virtual‑first teamwork: Great work happens anywhere. We're collaborating across 14 countries, 12 time zones Full health coverage: Find flexible plans at every premium level and substantial subsidies that stand up to global standards Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds) Sep 2022 $75m

LATE VC

Mar 2020 $20m

SERIES A

Total funding: $99.5m Our take An individual’s credit score greatly influences their life, affecting their ability to rent, receive loans, buy a house, and access affordable interest rates. But you have to have credit to build credit, leaving a lot of people in a catch‑22 situation. Tilt (formerly Empower Financial) is a mobile‑only app that makes credit more inclusive and accessible, helping customers achieve their credit health goals regardless of their credit history (or lack thereof). Though other FinTech companies such as Mint or Personal Capital also offer impressive financial tracking for their customers, Tilt’s comprehensive set of personal finance features including cash advance and automatic savings offerings make it a better choice for people who want to use a single app to manage their finances. By empowering people to take control of their money through its range of financial services, Tilt is working to break the cycle of paycheck‑to‑paycheck living. Backed by Blisce, Defy Ventures and Quiet Capital, the company has been significantly growing its revenue in recent years and was recognized in the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest‑growing companies in the US. #J-18808-Ljbffr Gofractional