[Hiring] Principal UX Researcher @Upstart

Role Description

As the Principal UX Researcher reporting to the VP of Product Design, you will establish Upstart's dedicated UX research practice. Today, product designers conduct their own research as needed and the Consumer Insights team provides market and customer intelligence — but there's no shared UX research methodology or consistent way to connect customer behavior insights to product design decisions. You'll bridge that gap:

• Establish and scale a UX research practice, including methodologies, standards, and tools used across product teams.
• Lead high-impact, cross-functional research initiatives that inform product strategy and roadmap decisions.
• Enable designers and product managers to conduct effective day-to-day research through toolkits, templates, and best practices.
• Build and maintain research infrastructure — participant recruiting pipelines, research repositories, and insight-sharing systems that make findings accessible and actionable across teams.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Consumer Insights leaders to ensure research has an informed and influential voice in product decisions — bridging horizontal insights across a multi-product lending portfolio.
• Define and promote best practices for conducting research in a regulated environment with sensitive borrower data.
• Balance speed and rigor by prioritizing research that drives timely, actionable insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 8+ years of experience conducting UX research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Experience building or scaling a UX research practice, including establishing processes, tools, or frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience leading research that influenced product strategy or roadmap decisions.
• Experience working in complex, multi-product environments.

Requirements

• Knowledge of financial services, fintech, or consumer lending products.
• Experience working in regulated environments with sensitive user data.
• Ability to design and implement scalable research systems that enable non-researchers to conduct foundational research.
• Experience with AI-assisted research tools or workflows.
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and integrate research into product decision-making.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.
• Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees.
• Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans.
• Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage.
• Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays.
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments.
• Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources.
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service.
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you.
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from.
• Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs).
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).