Senior Design Researcher - User Science

About the Position

We are seeking a Senior Design Researcher - User Science to join our remote team in the EMEA region. This role is pivotal in integrating user needs into our development processes and quality standards across the company.

Responsibilities

• Conducting user research: Developing user insights in diverse formats, identifying and championing user needs across product areas.
• Sharing findings concisely and skillfully: Supporting different teams with well-matched research presentations and clear documentation systems.
• Promoting and shaping a data-informed culture: Working closely with process, product, and engineering teams to integrate user research into existing decision-making flows.
• Building research scalability and interoperability: Owning research ops infrastructure, making key methodologies more accessible, actionable, and repeatable.
• Fostering a learning culture: Contributing to the evolving definition of User Science through user-centered training, resource development, and outreach.

Requirements

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field such as Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Engineering, or similar, or a compelling narrative about your alternative chosen path.
• Deep research expertise: Proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, and data analysis. Exceptional depth in either qualitative or quantitative skills.
• Strong technical curiosity: An alignment with and interest in open-source culture and the ability to engage deeply with technical subjects and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in visual design and/or information design: Capability to translate complex data or ideas into strong, convincing visuals, ensuring that insights are both accessible and memorable.
• A talent for storytelling and collaboration: Outstanding ability to craft narratives that effectively explain research findings and resonate with diverse audiences.
• A knack for turning chaos into clarity: Meticulous organization and archivist skills, with the ability to transform scattered findings or disparate processes into cohesive, structured knowledge systems.
• Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing a range of user research and/or design projects that highlight the ability to derive actionable insights from research and directly influence 1) product design and strategy or 2) organizational change.

We Offer

• Fully remote working environment - we’ve been working remotely since 2004!
• Personal learning and development budget of 2,000USD per annum
• Annual compensation review
• Recognition rewards
• Annual holiday leave
• Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues at ‘sprints’
• Priority Pass for travel and travel upgrades for long haul company events

About the Company

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm that is at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open source projects and the platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, we are changing the world on a daily basis. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence - in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do.

Canonical has been a remote-first company since its inception in 2004. Work at Canonical is a step into the future, and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game. Canonical provides a unique window into the world of 21st-century digital business.

Canonical is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.