User Experience Researcher Jobs in California
User Experience Researcher jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, consumer electronics, healthcare technology, and digital financial services, with openings from entry-level associate researchers through principal and staff-level roles. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Apple, Google, and Intuit maintain substantial UX research teams. The most in-demand specialties include mixed-methods research, usability testing, and generative AI product research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 42+ User Experience Researcher jobs
Summary
WHAT IS TAXPAYER SERVICES?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions
- Position(s) are to be filled in the following area(s):
- TS - Office of Online Services - Taxpayer Services - Office of Online Services
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
The public
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Clarification from the agency
Open to U.S. Citizens/Nationals
Duties
The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.
- Collaborates, develops and builds support and tools (technical and policy) for implementing a common user experience. Develops user experience services, based upon private sector best practices and tests the success of established agency-wide standards.
- Iteratively develops and refines the user experience program strategy, based on interaction with agencies, key stakeholders, and expertise. Keeps abreast of web analytics and digital developments in private industry and brings this knowledge into the Service.
- Assists in the development of user experience design initiatives, provides consultation on policy proposals, and provides technical, policy, and programmatic guidance and recommendations to senior agency leaders.
- Works with senior level officials across the Service in managing complex stakeholder environments to build support and consensus for IRS user experience digital strategy and goals.
- Uses Digital Analytics (quantitative and qualitative measurements of online products and website's data, in order to improve the customer experience) across component areas.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Probationary Period - All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
- Government Credit Card - Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- U.S Citizenship - Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
- Selective Service Registration - Males born after December 31, 1959 are required to be registered with the Selective Service System or prove they are exempt from having to do so.
- Personal Identity Verification (PIV) - Must provide 2 forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies.
Qualifications
Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-14: To be minimally qualified for this position you must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position includes:
- Experience working with relevant existing and emerging user-centered design processes, procedures, and tools that identify user audiences, assess user requirements, needs, expectations and satisfaction levels.
- Create user interface designs, prototypes and specifications across multiple web-based platforms.
- Experience using analytical methods and procedures to research and advise management on new digital product delivery and integration to achieve organizational goals and conduct studies of digital product usage to implement or recommend changes.
- Experience working statutory, regulatory and policy requirements and guidelines governing operations to prepare recommendations affecting online application and user experience.
- Experience working with workload management methods and techniques to set work objectives, organize resources to meet objectives in a timely and efficient fashion, establishing priorities, and managing deadlines.
- Experience engaging stakeholders to identify and define user needs statements to drive iterative design solutions.
- Experience in demonstrating initiative, originality, and creativity to render sound judgment regarding management and policy issues that have a direct impact on the user experience.
- Experience communicating both orally and in writing, including the ability to deliver presentations and briefings to a variety of audiences.
- Maintain a high degree of comfortable rapport with executive leadership and management presence.
AND
You must also meet the following requirements:
- MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Minimum age for federal employment is 18 years old, or at least 16 years old and have:
- Graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or
- Completed a formal vocational training program; or
- Received a statement from school authorities agreeing with your preference for employment rather than continuing your education.
For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.
Education
A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).
Additional information
Suitability Requirements:
- Prior IRS Employment - Former employees will be subject to a screening of their prior conduct with the Service. The Taxpayer First Act of 2019, 26 U.S. Code 7804, prohibits the IRS from rehiring certain former employees who were removed from service.
- Tax Check - Must undergo a review of income tax verification. To check the status of your tax record go to: (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript). If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.
- Fingerprint/Criminal History Check - This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information regarding your rights refer to Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).
- Consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a location, that location will become your official post of duty.
- In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.
- Additional jobs may be filled from this announcement or any other source to fill these vacancies.
- Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours may be available.
- Salary: General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
- Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA): Puerto Rico includes COLA. See COLA Rates 2026.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Influencing/Negotiating
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Rating: Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories, CAT A, CAT B or CAT C.
Referral: Eligible applicants rated in the highest category group, may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Candidates, if required to participate in a selection interview (telephonic and/or in person at the discretion of the Selecting Official in accordance with hiring practices), will be interviewed in category group order. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site
Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Qualified preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS, CP) are placed at the top of the highest category on the referral list (except for scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). Remaining preference eligibles are placed above non-preference eligibles within their assigned category.
If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), you must receive a rating of category CAT B to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.
If you are selected, you will be subject to all requirements listed in the Requirements, Qualifications, and Additional Information sections of this announcement which includes, Prior Employment/Tax Checks, Fingerprint/Criminal History checks.
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. Incomplete or insufficient information may result in not being considered for the position, or not receiving special consideration for which you may be eligible. Please view Application Preparation or How to write a resume for federal job.
1. Resume (Failure to follow instructions, will result in not being considered.)
- Do:
- Limit to two (2) pages. Recommend a standard 8.5x11-inch document size, a sans-serif font such as Arial or Calibri with a font size no smaller than 10-point, page margins of 0.5 inches. Applicants that attempt to circumvent the 2-page limit page limit, for example by materially reducing readability, will be deemed ineligible.
- Include your full name.
- Include relevant work experience - Employer Name, Job Title, Employment dates (start to end date or present), and a brief description of duties that clearly demonstrate your qualifications.
- Don't:
- Include photographs, classified or sensitive information, SSN, encrypted/digitally signed documents, or other inappropriate content. Resumes containing prohibited information will be deemed ineligible.
- Copy and paste duties or specialized experience from the job announcement, as this is not a demonstration of your experience.
- Additional Information:
- Pay plan, series, and grade (e.g., GS-0301-09) should be provided for all federal service jobs. Failure to do so could affect your qualification determination.
- To receive full credit for work experience, include number of hours worked per week and specific MM/DD/YYYY start and end dates for every position.
- Do not include personal information such as age, sex, religion, race, or disability.
- Do not include embedded links as they will not be opened or considered when determining qualifications.
- If you update and resubmit your application, only the most recent resume received will be considered to determine qualifications.
- Submit a copy of your transcript(s) or equivalent for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position based on education or training. An official transcript(s) will be required if you are selected.
- High School Diploma (or equivalent) - If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you MUST submit documentation of graduation from high school (or equivalent); OR completion of a formal vocational training program; OR statement from school authorities agreeing with your decision to pursue employment rather than continuing your education.
4. Veterans' Preference (if applicable)
- MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge.
- If you are serving under active duty, provide certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of certification. The certification must indicate your dates of service, rank and that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
- 10-point preference eligible - Submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the form if you are a 10-point preference eligible. For more information on claiming veterans' preference view here.
- Submit the required documentation as outlined under CTAP/ICTAP
- Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent personnel action form which shows your grade and competitive service status.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section.
The application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement in order to receive an invitation to complete the USA Hire Assessment.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on 11/05/2026.
- To begin the application process, click the "Apply Online" button.
- You will be re-directed to USA STAFFING to continue your application process; answer the online questions. To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13099793.
- Upload all required documents. (To submit supporting documents, import documents from USAJOBS to the appropriate document types. If the document you need is not imported from USAJOBS, you may upload it directly into this application.)
- Click the Submit Application button.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability.
- Set aside up to 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources.
Visit USA Hire Online Help for online assessment information, system requirements, reasonable accommodations, and what to expect next.
Reasonable Accommodations (RA): We provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process. To review reasonable accommodation policies and procedures please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/.
- USA Hire Assessment Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
To update your application, including supporting documentation: Visit USAJOBS - How to Update Application during the announcement open period, make updates or add supporting documentation, then continue through the entire application process and click Submit Application to send updates to the hiring agency. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Agency contact information
1111 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20224
US
Next steps
Once your application package and online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email. You are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you. Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. If your email mailbox is full or blocked (SPAM) you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
To view the job status or your application status: Visit USAJOBS - How to View Application/Job Status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
If selected, various checks will be conducted after acceptance of a tentative job offer.
- Verification of U.S Citizenship
- Selection Service Registration
- Prior Employment Check
- Tax Compliance Check
- FBI Fingerprint Check/Background Investigation
- eVerify (Eligibility to work in U.S Verification
- Primary form of ID - Must have at least one, but may have two (such as a U.S. passport/passport card, state driver's license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID, or U.S. military ID card)
- Secondary form of ID - If you do not have two primary forms of ID, other acceptable forms of ID's are found on GSA's website (such as a U.S. Social Security card, original or certified U.S. birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, etc.).
- NOTE: Temporary Driver's License/state identification (paper copies) are not acceptable. If the name on your forms of ID do not match, you may need to bring the appropriate linking documentation (marriage license/court order) showing the change in names.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Treasury and its bureaus from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. To learn more, please visit our page at: Treasury.gov/fairchanceact.
Overview
The range reflects the minimum locality to maximum locality for locations listed in the announcement. Salary will be based on selected duty location.
- 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program
- Suitability/Fitness
- Credentialing
Summary
WHAT IS TAXPAYER SERVICES?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions
- Position(s) are to be filled in the following area(s):
- TS - Office of Online Services - Taxpayer Services - Office of Online Services
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
The public
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Clarification from the agency
Open to U.S. Citizens/Nationals
Duties
The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.
- Collaborates, develops and builds support and tools (technical and policy) for implementing a common user experience. Develops user experience services, based upon private sector best practices and tests the success of established agency-wide standards.
- Iteratively develops and refines the user experience program strategy, based on interaction with agencies, key stakeholders, and expertise. Keeps abreast of web analytics and digital developments in private industry and brings this knowledge into the Service.
- Assists in the development of user experience design initiatives, provides consultation on policy proposals, and provides technical, policy, and programmatic guidance and recommendations to senior agency leaders.
- Works with senior level officials across the Service in managing complex stakeholder environments to build support and consensus for IRS user experience digital strategy and goals.
- Uses Digital Analytics (quantitative and qualitative measurements of online products and website's data, in order to improve the customer experience) across component areas.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Probationary Period - All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
- Government Credit Card - Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- U.S Citizenship - Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
- Selective Service Registration - Males born after December 31, 1959 are required to be registered with the Selective Service System or prove they are exempt from having to do so.
- Personal Identity Verification (PIV) - Must provide 2 forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies.
Qualifications
Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-14: To be minimally qualified for this position you must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position includes:
- Experience working with relevant existing and emerging user-centered design processes, procedures, and tools that identify user audiences, assess user requirements, needs, expectations and satisfaction levels.
- Create user interface designs, prototypes and specifications across multiple web-based platforms.
- Experience using analytical methods and procedures to research and advise management on new digital product delivery and integration to achieve organizational goals and conduct studies of digital product usage to implement or recommend changes.
- Experience working statutory, regulatory and policy requirements and guidelines governing operations to prepare recommendations affecting online application and user experience.
- Experience working with workload management methods and techniques to set work objectives, organize resources to meet objectives in a timely and efficient fashion, establishing priorities, and managing deadlines.
- Experience engaging stakeholders to identify and define user needs statements to drive iterative design solutions.
- Experience in demonstrating initiative, originality, and creativity to render sound judgment regarding management and policy issues that have a direct impact on the user experience.
- Experience communicating both orally and in writing, including the ability to deliver presentations and briefings to a variety of audiences.
- Maintain a high degree of comfortable rapport with executive leadership and management presence.
AND
You must also meet the following requirements:
- MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Minimum age for federal employment is 18 years old, or at least 16 years old and have:
- Graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or
- Completed a formal vocational training program; or
- Received a statement from school authorities agreeing with your preference for employment rather than continuing your education.
For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.
Education
A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).
Additional information
Suitability Requirements:
- Prior IRS Employment - Former employees will be subject to a screening of their prior conduct with the Service. The Taxpayer First Act of 2019, 26 U.S. Code 7804, prohibits the IRS from rehiring certain former employees who were removed from service.
- Tax Check - Must undergo a review of income tax verification. To check the status of your tax record go to: (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript). If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.
- Fingerprint/Criminal History Check - This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information regarding your rights refer to Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).
- Consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a location, that location will become your official post of duty.
- In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.
- Additional jobs may be filled from this announcement or any other source to fill these vacancies.
- Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours may be available.
- Salary: General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
- Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA): Puerto Rico includes COLA. See COLA Rates 2026.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Influencing/Negotiating
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Rating: Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories, CAT A, CAT B or CAT C.
Referral: Eligible applicants rated in the highest category group, may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Candidates, if required to participate in a selection interview (telephonic and/or in person at the discretion of the Selecting Official in accordance with hiring practices), will be interviewed in category group order. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site
Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Qualified preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS, CP) are placed at the top of the highest category on the referral list (except for scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). Remaining preference eligibles are placed above non-preference eligibles within their assigned category.
If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), you must receive a rating of category CAT B to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.
If you are selected, you will be subject to all requirements listed in the Requirements, Qualifications, and Additional Information sections of this announcement which includes, Prior Employment/Tax Checks, Fingerprint/Criminal History checks.
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. Incomplete or insufficient information may result in not being considered for the position, or not receiving special consideration for which you may be eligible. Please view Application Preparation or How to write a resume for federal job.
1. Resume (Failure to follow instructions, will result in not being considered.)
- Do:
- Limit to two (2) pages. Recommend a standard 8.5x11-inch document size, a sans-serif font such as Arial or Calibri with a font size no smaller than 10-point, page margins of 0.5 inches. Applicants that attempt to circumvent the 2-page limit page limit, for example by materially reducing readability, will be deemed ineligible.
- Include your full name.
- Include relevant work experience - Employer Name, Job Title, Employment dates (start to end date or present), and a brief description of duties that clearly demonstrate your qualifications.
- Don't:
- Include photographs, classified or sensitive information, SSN, encrypted/digitally signed documents, or other inappropriate content. Resumes containing prohibited information will be deemed ineligible.
- Copy and paste duties or specialized experience from the job announcement, as this is not a demonstration of your experience.
- Additional Information:
- Pay plan, series, and grade (e.g., GS-0301-09) should be provided for all federal service jobs. Failure to do so could affect your qualification determination.
- To receive full credit for work experience, include number of hours worked per week and specific MM/DD/YYYY start and end dates for every position.
- Do not include personal information such as age, sex, religion, race, or disability.
- Do not include embedded links as they will not be opened or considered when determining qualifications.
- If you update and resubmit your application, only the most recent resume received will be considered to determine qualifications.
- Submit a copy of your transcript(s) or equivalent for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position based on education or training. An official transcript(s) will be required if you are selected.
- High School Diploma (or equivalent) - If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you MUST submit documentation of graduation from high school (or equivalent); OR completion of a formal vocational training program; OR statement from school authorities agreeing with your decision to pursue employment rather than continuing your education.
4. Veterans' Preference (if applicable)
- MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge.
- If you are serving under active duty, provide certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of certification. The certification must indicate your dates of service, rank and that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
- 10-point preference eligible - Submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the form if you are a 10-point preference eligible. For more information on claiming veterans' preference view here.
- Submit the required documentation as outlined under CTAP/ICTAP
- Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent personnel action form which shows your grade and competitive service status.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section.
The application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement in order to receive an invitation to complete the USA Hire Assessment.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on 11/05/2026.
- To begin the application process, click the "Apply Online" button.
- You will be re-directed to USA STAFFING to continue your application process; answer the online questions. To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13099793.
- Upload all required documents. (To submit supporting documents, import documents from USAJOBS to the appropriate document types. If the document you need is not imported from USAJOBS, you may upload it directly into this application.)
- Click the Submit Application button.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability.
- Set aside up to 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources.
Visit USA Hire Online Help for online assessment information, system requirements, reasonable accommodations, and what to expect next.
Reasonable Accommodations (RA): We provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process. To review reasonable accommodation policies and procedures please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/.
- USA Hire Assessment Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
To update your application, including supporting documentation: Visit USAJOBS - How to Update Application during the announcement open period, make updates or add supporting documentation, then continue through the entire application process and click Submit Application to send updates to the hiring agency. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Agency contact information
1111 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20224
US
Next steps
Once your application package and online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email. You are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you. Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. If your email mailbox is full or blocked (SPAM) you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
To view the job status or your application status: Visit USAJOBS - How to View Application/Job Status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
If selected, various checks will be conducted after acceptance of a tentative job offer.
- Verification of U.S Citizenship
- Selection Service Registration
- Prior Employment Check
- Tax Compliance Check
- FBI Fingerprint Check/Background Investigation
- eVerify (Eligibility to work in U.S Verification
- Primary form of ID - Must have at least one, but may have two (such as a U.S. passport/passport card, state driver's license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID, or U.S. military ID card)
- Secondary form of ID - If you do not have two primary forms of ID, other acceptable forms of ID's are found on GSA's website (such as a U.S. Social Security card, original or certified U.S. birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, etc.).
- NOTE: Temporary Driver's License/state identification (paper copies) are not acceptable. If the name on your forms of ID do not match, you may need to bring the appropriate linking documentation (marriage license/court order) showing the change in names.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Treasury and its bureaus from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. To learn more, please visit our page at: Treasury.gov/fairchanceact.
Overview
The range reflects the minimum locality to maximum locality for locations listed in the announcement. Salary will be based on selected duty location.
- 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program
- Suitability/Fitness
- Credentialing
See All 42 User Experience Researcher Jobs in California
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
User Experience Researcher Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software10
- Retail1
- Consumer Goods1
- Staffing & Recruiting1
- Electronics & Hardware1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in user experience researcher jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in human-computer interaction, cognitive science, or psychology
- Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods including usability studies and surveys
- Experience with tools such as UserZoom, Dovetail, Qualtrics, or similar research platforms
- Ability to synthesize findings into clear, actionable recommendations for product and design teams
- Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end research projects from study design through stakeholder presentation
- Strong collaboration skills working cross-functionally with product managers, designers, and engineers
User Experience Researcher Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a user experience researcher in California?
User experience research has no state-issued license in California, so the path runs through education and portfolio building. Most California employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in human-computer interaction, cognitive science, psychology, or a related field, with a master's preferred at larger technology companies. Building a portfolio of research case studies, completing internships with Bay Area or Los Angeles product teams, and earning tool-specific certifications strengthens a candidacy considerably.
How much do user experience researchers make in California?
User experience researchers in California earn a median of about $83,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $52,110 for the lowest 10% to over $171,640 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire user experience researchers in California?
Employers hiring user experience researchers in California right now include TikTok USDS Joint Venture, Meta, and Google, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's density of technology headquarters, consumer electronics firms, and health-tech companies makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for this role.
Which California cities have the most user experience researcher jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose have the most user experience researcher openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area dominates because of its concentration of major technology and consumer software headquarters, while Los Angeles draws openings from entertainment technology, e-commerce, and digital media companies, and San Diego's growing health-tech and defense-adjacent software sector adds a steady volume of research roles.
Are there remote user experience researcher jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, since the core work of designing studies, conducting remote moderated sessions, and analyzing data translates well to distributed settings. About 60% of user experience researcher openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly product teams have adopted remote research tooling. Generative research and survey-based work tends to be the most consistently remote, while in-person lab studies and on-site contextual inquiry typically require a local presence.
How can I get hired as a user experience researcher in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an internship or rotational research program at a Bay Area or Los Angeles technology company, many of which recruit directly from California universities including UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Carnegie Mellon's Silicon Valley campus. Adjacent roles such as UX writer, product analyst, or research coordinator are common lateral moves that provide credibility. A portfolio of self-initiated studies or volunteer projects with California nonprofits demonstrates research thinking to hiring managers even without formal employment history.
Where can I find and apply to user experience researcher jobs in California?
You can find and apply to user experience researcher jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 42 User Experience Researcher Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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