Head of Development Research – Wearables

Precision Labs; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

WHOOP is seeking an experienced product research leader to manage and scale the human subjects research team at WHOOP Labs Boston, guiding research across hardware, wearables, sensors, and algorithms. This in-person role requires building a culture of integrity and collaboration with engineering, privacy/legal, and product teams.

You will oversee KPI-driven initiatives, coach researchers across levels, and partner with global teams to advance a high-impact research program aligned with WHOOP’s

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a Research Manager, Research Lead, or similar human subjects research leadership role within a technical product development environment.
• 2+ years of direct people management experience, with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop researchers across disciplines and levels.
• Experience supporting research for consumer hardware, sensors, wearables, connected devices, or other physical products strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with physical product development processes, including early-stage prototyping, iterative testing, hardware development timelines, and/or feasibility explorations.
• Data-driven approach to strategic planning, comfortable reviewing metrics and identifying ways to measure research ROI and impact
• Experience collaborating across multiple functions including engineering, privacy/legal, research, recruitment, and product.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage and scale the human subjects research team with an emphasis on professional development and coaching at multiple levels of seniority.
• Champion research integrity, including ensuring that data collection tools and team practices are optimized for the fast-paced, complex nature of product innovation work.
• Advocate for the needs of your team and their work to unlock high-volume, high-quality research on site at WHOOP Labs Boston.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of program initiatives and track progress towards goals.
• Collaborate closely with other research leaders to build a strong culture across WHOOP Labs and ensure strong ways of working between research execution and operations teams.
• Partner with stakeholders across signal engineering, machine learning, hardware, apparel, and product to coach on working with HSR and facilitate effective collaboration between teams.
• Champion of culture of team trust, support, and communication, emphasizing the complexities of conducting public-facing, high-engagement activities.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Lab Operations and Associate Director of WHOOP Labs Doha to build the WHOOP Labs brand across the global organization.
• Reports to the Sr. Director of Human Subjects Research

Job description

WHOOP is seeking an experienced product research leader to manage and scale the human subjects research team at WHOOP Labs Boston, guiding research across hardware, wearables, sensors, and algorithms. This in-person role requires building a culture of integrity and collaboration with engineering, privacy/legal, and product teams.

You will oversee KPI-driven initiatives, coach researchers across levels, and partner with global teams to advance a high-impact research program aligned with WHOOP’s