AR Spatial Audio UX Researcher - Contract

PTR Global; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

PTR Global is seeking a contract UX Researcher III for an onsite role in Redmond, WA. The fast-paced project focuses on speech communication and spatial audio for AI glasses, embedding in a prototyping team to deliver quick, qualitative insights.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in qualitative methods, rapid-cycle research, and cross-functional collaboration, with specialization in auditory perception and spatial hearing.

Qualifications

• MA/MS in Speech and Hearing Sciences, Psychoacoustics, Audiology, Cognitive Psychology, Linguistics, HCI, Human Factors, Neuroscience, or related UX field.
• 2+ years of applied qualitative research on consumer products (interviews, contextual inquiry, observation, rapid thematic analysis).
• Proficiency in qualitative interviews (conversational & semi-structured).
• Experience with rapid-cycle research in fast-moving development environments (days, not months).
• Strong interpretive judgment from small numbers of observations.

Responsibilities

• Embed in prototyping team and conduct rapid qualitative research to guide AI glasses user experiences.
• Attend demos and design reviews; observe and capture structured notes on user reactions and signals.
• Design and conduct short evaluative sessions with small participant numbers and heuristic walkthroughs.
• Synthesize feedback into concise, actionable insights and deliver same-week.
• Evaluate audio and communication features by understanding user perception and interaction with device-based experiences.
• Investigate spatially rendered audio localization and how sound is perceived in space.

Skills

Qualitative research

Structured observation

Conversational interviewing

Rapid thematic analysis

Spatial audio understanding

Cross-functional collaboration

Narrative framing

Education

MA/MS in Speech & Hearing Sciences / related UX field

PhD in related UX field (preferred)

Tools

R

Python

Surveys / Descriptive statistics

Job description

PTR Global is seeking a contract UX Researcher III for an onsite role in Redmond, WA. The fast-paced project focuses on speech communication and spatial audio for AI glasses, embedding in a prototyping team to deliver quick, qualitative insights.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in qualitative methods, rapid-cycle research, and cross-functional collaboration, with specialization in auditory perception and spatial hearing.