User Experience Researcher - SC Cleared

Job Description

SENIOR UX RESEARCHER - SC Clearance Required

500-600pd DOE

HYBRID/LONDON (2 days onsite)

Must have active SC Clearance

Designing Services that protect National Security

The role

We’re looking for a Senior User Researcher who’s grounded in delivery, sharp on the detail, and confident in leading user research across public services.

This is not a “pure research” role sitting on the sidelines. You’ll be embedded in agile teams, shaping services from discovery through to live. That means asking the right questions, surfacing evidence, and keeping user needs front and centre - every sprint, every playback, every trade-off.

You’ll also help steer how research works across our team - coaching juniors, building capability, and making sure insight feeds strategy, not just validation.

What you'll be doing

• Leading end-to-end research across Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live phases
• Running interviews, usability tests, contextual research, and surveys, choosing the right method for the job, not the handbook
• Keeping feedback loops alive - connecting regularly with users to understand real-world needs, not just what they say
• Turning research into action: journey maps, pain point summaries, user needs, problem statements, priorities
• Helping teams test ideas early - prototypes, content, flows, concepts before they harden into code
• Facilitating workshops, playback sessions, and cross-team alignment - keeping everyone close to the why, not just the what
• Supporting inclusive research practices - meeting GDS and WCAG standards and designing with, not just for

What we’re looking for

• 8+ years of hands-on research experience across complex digital services
• Proven experience of planning, lead, and deliver user research for public services across Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live phases
• Proven experience leading research in agile teams (public sector a big plus)
• Strong portfolio or case studies that show how your work led to better decisions and outcomes
• Confident working with both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Clear communicator who can land insights with stakeholders at every level
• Experience working to GDS standards, including assessments and service patterns
• Deep understanding of inclusive design and accessibility (WCAG 2.2)
• Comfortable mentoring and leading research in multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience with service blueprinting or integrating research into policy and ops is a bonus
• SAAS/Salesforce background? That’s a nice-to-have
• Must have active SC clearance

The mindset

You take ownership. You’re not afraid to challenge assumptions. You bring energy, clarity, and craft to your work. You advocate for users even when it's hard, and help others do the same. You’re delivery-minded, not just theory-led.

If you’re looking to do meaningful research that shapes services people depend on - and to do it in teams that respect the role of design - you’ll fit right in.

Join us and help shape the future of digital public services!

At Pixelated People, we don’t just do inclusion and diversity. We embrace people that have different opinions, perspectives and personalities. Because we believe that by seeing the world from all sorts of angles, we can make life better for all the people who live in it. So we want you to know that the things that make you, you — like your age, ability, background and identity — are things that we celebrate and support.