Information Systems (IS) research and practice are constantly facing increasingly complex challenges through the design and development of new technology. The new technology is being researched through continuous engagement. This accentuates the importance of sociotechnical, engaged research through a critical view. However, the role of the researcher, and the engagement in research projects, is less researched. Taking a 'critical' view means to study the underlying mechanisms behind the observable, to understand change, and in this paper, we apply such a view to studying the changes in the researchers' role. This paper is based on the experience from four qualitative research projects, where we have studied four different public organizations and the technology-induced change of the professionals in these organizations.The four cases are conducted in Sweden and based on engaged research methods; an approach that draws on the perspectives of key stakeholders in a real-world problem situation to develop knowledge that might help address it. The underlying knowledge interest in this paper is understanding the driving forces behind engaged research, such as action research, how such research really is conducted and what the action entails and to shed light on some of the difficulties of engaged research while also discussing the complexity of the role. The research question is: what does the role of researchers in engaged research include over time? The main contribution is outlined in an in-depth understanding of the role of an engaged researcher whichis illustrated through four main 'trade offs' within the role.