What is a User Experience Researcher at Thumbtack?
At Thumbtack, a User Experience Researcher plays a critical role in shaping how millions of customers find, hire, and collaborate with local service professionals. The company operates a complex, two-sided marketplace where trust, ease of use, and local relevance are paramount. As a researcher, you do not just collect feedback; you act as the strategic voice of both the homeowner trying to fix a leaky pipe and the small business owner trying to grow their livelihood.
Your work will directly influence product strategy, design decisions, and engineering roadmaps. Because Thumbtack operates in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving space, researchers must dive deep into complex user journeys that span digital interactions and real-world services. You will work on core product experiences, such as search and matching algorithms, messaging platforms, and payment systems, ensuring that every touchpoint feels seamless and trustworthy.
This role requires a unique balance of rigorous research methodology and entrepreneurial agility. You will collaborate closely with product managers, designers, data scientists, and engineers to identify high-impact research questions, execute studies at scale, and translate insights into actionable product requirements. It is a highly collaborative environment where your ability to tell compelling user stories and back them up with robust data will drive the future of local services.



