Researcher - Rapid Research at Figma in San Francisco, CA • New York, NY • United States

Job description

• The Figma Research team is hiring an experienced researcher for our Rapid Research program. We're product builders who bring research expertise to the team, working closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to clarify problems, test ideas, and recommend what to change—often in one- to two-week sprints.
• You'll rotate across product areas, ramp up quickly, and build relationships as you go, energized by unfamiliar products and ambiguous problems and ready to take initiative rather than wait for a fully scoped brief. You bring strong opinions about what makes a great experience, grounded in the needs of the people using it, spot connections across product areas, and combine deep qualitative and quantitative research expertise with a flexible, resourceful approach to moving quickly without sacrificing rigor. Beyond individual studies, you bring a clear point of view on what to build or change, tailor your communication to your audience, and are willing to challenge assumptions and say the hard thing with care—asking for help when you need it and offering it when others do.
• This is a full time role that can be held from one of our US hubs or remotely in the United States.
• At Figma, one of our values is Grow as you go. We believe in hiring smart, curious people who are excited to learn and develop their skills. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the points outlined in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Responsibilities

• Scope and run focused research in quick sprints, using sound methods to answer the questions most likely to change a product decision
• Turn findings into specific recommendations a designer or PM can act on, working through tradeoffs and helping the team put them into practice
• Present product recommendations to cross-functional teams and senior leadership, telling the story behind the data, not just reporting insights
• Rotate across product areas and teams as needed, building credibility and relationships quickly without being embedded long-term
• Contribute beyond research studies by using our products, joining design reviews, and helping teams recognize when they have enough information to act
• Bring clarity to ambiguous problems, challenge assumptions, and adjust the scope or approach as you learn
• Experiment with tools, templates, and workflows to make research faster and sharper

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in research at high-growth product organizations, UX/design agencies, or strategic consultancies focused on digital experiences
• Proficiency in mixed methods research, including qualitative approaches such as interviews and quantitative approaches such as surveys and data analysis
• Strong product judgment, with examples of specific recommendations you made and how they shaped the product, backed by strong communication and storytelling skills with a track record of securing executive buy-in
• Experience ramping up quickly on new projects and delivering clear recommendations in one- to two-week research sprints, turning ambiguous problems into clear questions and a practical path forward
• A scrappy, flexible approach, adapting to changing priorities and tight timelines while maintaining sound research methods, including active use of AI tools to improve speed, quality, or scale
• Proficiency in designing and prototyping, ideally within the Figma suite of tools
• Familiarity with researching design tools, developer tools, creative software, or other products people use to build things
• A background in product design, product management, or engineering
• Ability to combine product analytics with qualitative research to inform recommendations

Skills

Required

• Mixed methods research
• Qualitative research (interviews)
• Product judgment
• Communication and storytelling
• Executive buy-in
• Rapid project ramp-up
• Flexibility and adaptability
• AI tools for research

Preferred

• Designing and prototyping (Figma suite)

Benefits

• Job level and actual compensation will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process (including skills and prior relevant experience, potential impact, and scope of role), market demands, and specific work location.
• Figma offers equity to employees, as well as a competitive package of additional benefits, including health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement benefits with company contributions; parental leave and reproductive or family planning support; mental health and wellness benefits; and paid time off.
• Figma provides paid sick leave, holidays, and other leave benefits in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the requirements of the Washington Minimum Wage Act and related regulations. Exempt employees are eligible for employer‑provided paid flexible PTO in addition to flexible paid sick leave.
• PTO is subject to manager approval. Additional benefits may include company recharge days, cell phone and home internet reimbursements, and a number of lifestyle spending accounts. Figma also offers sales incentive compensation for most sales roles and an annual bonus plan for eligible non-sales roles.
• All compensation and benefits are subject to applicable plan terms and may be modified by Figma at any time, consistent with applicable law.
• $169,000 - $250,000 USD