User Experience Designer and Researcher

Position Overview

Kirby Building Systems LLC, part of Nucor Buildings Group, is seeking a passionate User Experience Designer and Researcher with a strong focus on user empathy and innovative design. In this role, you will drive the entire research and design process—from understanding user needs and conducting comprehensive UX research to transforming insights into intuitive UI solutions. Based in Portland, TN (with additional opportunities in Tennessee, Indiana, and South Carolina), you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to create engaging, accessible products while upholding safety and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Pre-Sales, Sales, Post-Sales, Engineering, and Marketing) to define key UX research objectives.
• Own the end-to-end research process, including scoping, recruiting participants, preparing discussion guides, gathering insights using various UX research methods, synthesizing findings, and delivering results.
• Conduct user-centric research studies using methods such as think-aloud testing, usability testing, concept testing, contextual inquiry, in-depth interviews, diary studies, shadowing, and fly-on-the-wall observations.
• Translate research findings into actionable insights and strategic narratives with creative artifacts like personas and current/future experience journey maps.
• Perform desk research to identify trends and analyze competition.
• Transform UX research insights into tangible UI design solutions, including developing information architecture, task flows, low-fidelity mockups, high-fidelity designs, and clickable prototypes using Figma.
• Partner with leadership and product peers to drive continuous improvement initiatives and conduct feasibility analysis on potential future projects.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend innovative techniques to enhance software solutions.
• Uphold and lead safety policies, practices, procedures, and housekeeping standards at all times.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in UX Design, UX Research, Human Factors, Interaction Design, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Information Science, Communication Design, or a related discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in B2B enterprise-level UX Design and Research.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in large-scale, complex cloud-based enterprise UX Design.
• Experience in building and maintaining design libraries and systems (e.g., Figma, Atomic Design Ethics).
• Knowledge of software development best practices and Agile UX methodologies.
• Proficiency in Figma and Design Language System development.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for Visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in UX/UI design.
• Strong communication, visual design, and visual storyboarding skills.
• Experience working within Agile development practices.
• Experience designing for accessibility and using audit/validation tools (e.g., Axe, WAVE, Lighthouse).
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.

Benefits & Perks

• Top-tier benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Disability Insurance.
• 401K and Roth accounts.
• Profit Sharing and Pay-for-performance Bonuses.
• Paid Parental Leave and Tuition reimbursement.
• Stock Program and Scholarships.
• Performance-based compensation and Job Security with a no-layoff practice.