Design Researcher

Introduction
IBM has a rich history of design that extends into our IBM Z business. At IBM Z our systems power the world’s most important industries and our clients are the architects of the future. Transforming our business to deliver on that future is at the heart of our Design mission.

Join us as we continue innovating across enterprise Z products to provide our clients with solutions that power their mission. We’re looking for a well-rounded Design Researcher to join the zSecurity and Compliance team. In this role you will be responsible for conducting user research and executing design strategy to create the best solutions for data security threat detection cybersecurity automation and more.

You’ll work directly with a cross-functional team to tackle complex business challenges alongside other creators and strategists. You have a passion to learn more about our technology stack to improve the client experience. You are a systematic thinker able to see the big picture but also enjoy diving deep into important details.

Your Role and Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough user research and translate insights into actionable design solutions.
• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers to define and implement innovative solutions for the product direction visuals and experience.
• Create wireframes prototypes and high-fidelity designs that effectively communicate interaction and design ideas.
• Lead design reviews and feedback sessions to iterate on designs and improve usability.
• Advocate for the user throughout the design process ensuring their needs are met and their experience is optimized.
• Gain clarity on your overall product strategy and how your product fits within it.
• Develop a deeper understanding of your portfolio / ecosystem and the relationships between its products.
• Deepen your technical knowledge of your primary product.
• Develop a basic knowledge of the platform on which your product runs.
• Acquire knowledge in and understand how to apply User Experience and Research Metrics.
• Research Responsibilities
• Independently lead research sessions and planning.
• Challenge reframe and refocus research requests.
• Assist in the recruitment of sponsor users.
• Plan and execute research activities.
• Establish new relationships with customers and users
• Conduct analysis and synthesis of research activities; tailor playbacks for different audiences.
• Actively develop and maintain personas and archetypes.
• Help designers shape scenarios and user flows through insights of generative research
• Translate business requirements into research goals and conduct research using qualitative and quantitative methods to develop actionable insights that drive both strategic and tactical decision-making
• Communicate findings as actionable artifacts such as user personas empathy maps scenarios and journeys mental models market analysis and much more.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• 9+ years professional experience
• Expertise in design thinking/human-centered design
• In-depth knowledge and experience within a relevant design discipline (User Research User-Experience Design Visual Design Interaction Design)
• Research experience with ability to scope research lead fieldwork conduct interviews perform desktop research lead synthesis and communicate findings
• Ability to facilitate design thinking workshops with diverse product and functional teams
• Strong interest in complex technical systems
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (i.e. storytelling and documentation)
• Experience using agile principles towards the delivery of product
• Develop mid-level literacy in AI
• Proficiency with design research tools such as FigmaMural Airtable Keynote research survey tools and other design software tools.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• None