Rapid User Researcher

Role overview

Rapid User Researcher (Rolling UXR) at Notion (Pat Kelly Engineering). You will deliver fast, high-signal insights to improve Notion product experiences across Product, Design, and Engineering (EPD), including AI-powered workflows such as custom agents and chat.

This is a tactical, high-velocity role using a “many small studies” approach: you will run lightweight usability and concept tests on a steady cadence, translate feedback into actionable product changes, and build a scalable research request + recruitment pipeline.

What you’ll achieve

• End-to-end tactical research: Scope, design, and execute quick-turn studies across the product lifecycle; deliver clear recommendations that drive decisions.
• Rolling usability testing: Plan and moderate rapid usability tests on prototypes and in-product flows; identify friction, comprehension gaps, and failure points; recommend practical fixes and help prototype them with AI.
• Concept testing: Evaluate early ideas (e.g., storyboards, low/high-fidelity prototypes, new IA) to assess desirability, comprehension, and expected workflows before heavy build.
• Research pipeline ownership: Maintain an always-on research motion by managing intake/prioritization, study cadence, participant recruitment, and consistent output formats.
• Communication: Share crisp, actionable recommendations (severity, confidence, next steps) via async write-ups, clips, or working sessions.
• Business-minded impact: Tie findings to outcomes, help teams ensure improvements land, and identify what to watch.

Skills you’ll need

• Research craft: Ability to run usability and/or concept tests independently (scoping → protocol → moderation → synthesis → readout), keeping scope tight while maintaining rigor.
• AI fluency: Hands-on curiosity with AI products; ability to translate concepts like trust, usefulness, tone, safety, and clarity into observable behaviors and research questions.
• Pragmatism + speed: Strong prioritization in fast-moving environments; comfortable with ambiguity and transparent limitations.
• Systems thinking: Ability to quickly understand complex products/flows.

Nice-to-haves / context

• Thrives in a high-context-switching environment across many teams.
• Interested in using AI thoughtfully to speed up prep and synthesis while preserving traceability to evidence.

Location / working model

• Role can be based in San Francisco or New York City.
• In-office Anchor Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (work together in person those days).