Darktrace is a global leader in AI-driven cybersecurity, helping organizations stay ahead of evolving threats every day.

Darktrace was built on a genuinely differentiated idea: that Adaptive AI could detect and respond to novel, real-time cyber threats. That approach matters more than ever in the era of AI.  Today, our customers depend on us to stay ahead.

At Darktrace, we are energized by that responsibility.  We work across teams and rally around a shared goal. We own outcomes end to end - step in, step up and see things through without waiting to be asked.   We make decisions with urgency, say the hard thing, and hold each other to high standards with care and directness. We move first and learn fast anticipating where our customers are going next, continuously challenging ourselves.  

We invest in the skills, learning and opportunities that help people deliver at the level their roles demand, and reward the aptitude and curiosity to grow beyond them. 

Our Values: Own It | Win as One | Raise Our Bar | Move First. Learn Fast 

Job Description:

We are looking for a Lead UX Researcher to join our Cybersecurity R&D team, reporting to the Head of UX.

This is a high-impact role within an established Product, Design and Engineering organisation, with a mandate to strengthen and scale UX research while helping shape Darktrace's unified platform strategy. As our products continue to evolve into a more connected experience, you will deepen our understanding of the people who use them, their goals, workflows and decision-making processes, and ensure those insights directly influence product direction.

Working closely with UX/UI, Product and Engineering teams, you will build a strong, evidence-based understanding of how security professionals operate across different domains, tools and environments. Your work will help guide strategic decisions, improve customer experiences and create a more connected research practice across our portfolio.

What will I be doing?

You will lead strategic and hands-on UX research that helps shape the future of Darktrace's cybersecurity platform. Working across multiple products, you will uncover customer needs, challenge assumptions and provide the insights that drive product strategy, platform design and user experience decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Defining and delivering a cross-product research roadmap, working with UX, Product and Engineering leaders to address the most important customer, product and platform questions.
• Conducting a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research, including interviews, contextual enquiry, usability testing, workflow analysis and concept validation.
• Identifying common user needs, behaviours and workflows across products, helping inform decisions around platform unification, navigation, information architecture and cross-product experiences.
• Translating research findings into clear, actionable outputs, such as personas, journey maps, workflow models and strategic recommendations that support decision-making across teams.
• Helping establish scalable research practices and a research-centred culture, enabling designers, product managers and engineers to build stronger customer understanding in their own work.

What experience do I need?

We're looking for an experienced UX researcher with a track record of influencing product strategy within complex software environments. You'll be comfortable working with senior stakeholders, navigating ambiguity and turning customer insights into meaningful business and product outcomes.

You'll ideally bring:

• Strong experience leading foundational and strategic UX research within B2B, enterprise or technically complex software organisations.
• A proven ability to influence product direction through evidence-based insights, working closely with Product, Design and Engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in qualitative research methods, alongside the ability to identify patterns and opportunities across complex user needs and workflows.
• Experience researching multi-product ecosystems, platforms or interconnected systems, with an understanding of how different user groups work across them.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience building or evolving UX research practices within a growing organisation.

Nice to Have

Experience within cybersecurity, security operations or other highly technical domains would be advantageous, as would exposure to platform transformation initiatives or large-scale enterprise workflows

As a growing business strengthening its governance and controls, this role plays a part in supporting high standards of integrity and accountability. 

Darktrace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Darktrace is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact your Talent Partner.