Senior Experience Researcher, Thumbtack

$160.7-231k

Salary only applicable to candidates in San Francisco / Bay Area, San Jose, New York City, Seattle metros, Austin, TX, Washington DC metros, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington states only and may vary in further locations

Senior and Expert level

Remote from US

Local services marketplace app

Open for applications

Local services marketplace app

1001+ employees

B2CB2BMarketplaceHome improvementConstruction

Open for applications

$160.7-231k

Senior and Expert level

Remote from US

1001+ employees

B2CB2BMarketplaceHome improvementConstruction

Company mission

Thumbtack's mission is to help homeowners care for their homes, all the way from minor retouching to fundamental remodelling projects.

Job

Company

Role

Who you are

8-10+ years of experience conducting user research in fast-paced, cross-functional product environments
A strong foundation in both qualitative methods (mixed methods is a plus), with the ability to select the right approach for complex, evolving product questions
A track record of shaping product strategy and influencing decisions through compelling, actionable insights
Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with experience tailoring insights to diverse audiences including product, design, engineering, and leadership
A creative, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to operate independently in ambiguous, 0-to-1 product spaces
Proficiency with industry-standard research tools (e.g., UserTesting, Qualtrics, Dscout) and comfort working alongside data science teams or conducting lightweight in-product surveys
A degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Anthropology, or a related field—or equivalent practical experience in applied research

What the job involves

As a Senior UX Researcher on Thumbtack’s New Hiring Experiences team, you’ll be at the forefront of discovering what’s next—using creative, iterative research approaches to bring clarity to ambiguity and guide early-stage product direction
You won’t just conduct research; you’ll play a key role in shaping bold, strategic bets and influencing how we build dynamic, complex user experiences
You’ll collaborate closely with product, design, engineering, data science, and other disciplines to move quickly, learn deeply, and build with purpose
This role is essential to making sure our innovation efforts are not only fast and inspired—but grounded in real user needs
Lead fast-paced, mixed-method research to inform early-stage product strategy and uncover new opportunities
Translate ambiguous problem spaces into clear direction through sharp insights and strategic thinking
Partner closely with design, product, and engineering to rapidly test concepts, iterate on ideas, and shape MVPs
Synthesize findings into compelling stories that influence decisions and inspire bold innovation
Champion user needs across the team, ensuring both customers and pros are at the center of what we build

Our take

ThumbTack is a local services marketplace app that pairs customers with skilled professionals. Instead of simply searching for a professional, users provide ThumbTack with details of the job they need completing and the professionals then pitch their services to the potential customer using credits. ThumbTack makes its money by charging the professional for these credits.

It positions itself as something a little different in a saturated local services space that is dominated by companies like Angie’s List, TaskRabbit, Yelp, eBay, and Amazon. It also focuses on a broad range of professionals, from traditional home services like electricians and painters to photographers, personal trainers, and birthday party magicians.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a boost in business for ThumbTack as more people stayed at home and made changes to their properties, increasing the demand for home professionals. In fact, after 2019, the company doubled in value to $3.2 billion with its 2021 raise. Now its updated app has 30 new features, and the company is partnering with the likes of trade-powering platform and Unicorn ServiceTitan, indicating Thumbtack's sustained sway in the market.

Freddie

Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle

Insights

Top investors

-5% employee growth in 12 months

Glassdoor (4.2)

Trustpilot (3.4)

Company

Funding (last 2 of 9 rounds)

Jun 2021

$275m

LATE VC

Jul 2019

$150m

SERIES F

Total funding: $699.4m

Company benefits

Parental leave
Health insurance
Community matters | Sure, our ways of connecting have changed. But we haven’t missed a beat, from virtual concerts to “TTversary” celebrations to weekly catch-ups
Always be improving | We bring out the best in our colleagues — and our product — by pushing each beyond what we believe we’re capable of. We give honest feedback, even when it’s hard
Wellness is a way of life | We promote balance with generous PTO and company-wide holidays — and find our centers every Wellness Wednesday with yoga featuring a Thumbtack pro
A worthy mission | In a world where tech is often seen as eroding good jobs, we’re helping small business owners thrive. Our product makes entrepreneurship accessible to everyone
Driven by our values | Our values are the compass by which we make all our decisions. Each one matters: Lead with why, Make it count, Own it, Choose teamwork, and Say what you mean
Plus, amazing benefits | All the benefits you’d expect, plus a few more: generous parental and fertility benefits, $1800 for Thumbtack services per year and a $1200 remote work stipend
Virtual-first working model coupled with quarterly in-person events and Camp Thumbtack
20+ company-wide holidays including two week-long shutdowns
Libraries (collaborative workspaces) in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Toronto, and Manila
Cell phone and WiFi reimbursements
Subscriptions and Employee Assistance Program for mental health and well-being

Company HQ

SoMa, San Francisco, CA

Leadership

Marco Zappacosta

(CEO)

Having studied at Columbia University, Marco co-founded Thumbtack in August 2008. He has served as CEO since January 2009.

Jonathan Swanson

(Chairman)

Jonathan started his career creating financial market reports for the White House before co-founding Thumbtack in 2008. Currently Founder at Powerset and Athena.

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