Mixed-Methods UX Researcher

Socket.dev; San Bruno (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Google’s UX team is seeking a User Experience Researcher (UXR) to join a multi-disciplinary group working with Engineering and Product Management to uncover user needs and shape industry-leading products.

You will conduct field studies, interviews, diary studies, ethnography, surveys, usability tests, and logs analysis to drive impact at every stage of product development. You’ll grow within a supportive UXR community offering mentorship and shared resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science, HCI, Statistics, a related social science field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience in an applied research setting (e.g., product or academic) or similar.
• Experience with quantitative research (survey design, regression modeling, R, Python, or SQL analysis) and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience working with AI models and AI product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead mixed-methods research programs investigating how user identity, profile boundaries, and privacy choice architecture influence intentional search discovery, content engagement, and platform trust.
• Design, deploy, and analyze quantitative studies (utilizing techniques such as factor analysis, segmentation, regression modeling, and MaxDiff) to quantify latent user attitudes, privacy comfort thresholds, and search intent.
• Bridge generative qualitative inquiries (e.g., deep interviews, diary studies, mental model mapping) with statistical validation to deliver product recommendations.
• Direct research analyzing how consumer search and discovery habits shift across traditional search, conversational AI assistants, and short-form video feeds.
• Translate statistical analyses, behavioral metrics, and qualitative narratives into strategic guidance for cross-functional stakeholders.

Job description

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Statistics, a related social science field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience in an applied research setting (e.g., product or academic) or similar.
• Experience with quantitative research (e.g., survey design, regression modeling, R, Python, or SQL analysis) and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience working with AI models and AI product development.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, or related field.
  
• 3 years of experience working with senior leadership (e.g., Director level and above).
  
• 2 years of experience conducting UX research on products, managing projects, and working in a large, matrixed organization.
  
• Experience with Model UX/LLM evaluation (e.g., authoring system instructions, developing evaluations, conducting loss analysis) and psychometric scale development.
• Experience with user identity and privacy frameworks in user research.

About the job:

At Google, we "Focus on the user and all else will follow." As a User Experience Researcher (UXR), you make this possible. You will join our multi-disciplinary UX team, collaborating with Engineering and Product Management, to gather insights and create industry-leading products.
You’ll play a critical role in helping your team understand user needs and will drive impact at all stages of product development, ensuring products are useful, usable, and helpful. You will explore user behaviors and motivations by conducting primary research, including: field studies, interviews, diary studies, ethnography, surveys, usability testing, and logs analysis. You will also grow within a supportive UXR community offering mentorship, regular meetups, and exclusive internal tools.

At YouTube, we believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share, and build community through our stories. We work together to give everyone the power to share their story, explore what they love, and connect with one another in the process. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and boundless creativity, we move at the speed of culture with a shared goal to show people the world. We explore new ideas, solve real problems, and have fun — and we do it all together.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
US: $132000 - $189000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits
Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities:

• Lead mixed-methods research programs investigating how user identity, profile boundaries, and privacy choice architecture influence intentional search discovery, content engagement, and platform trust.
• Design, deploy, and analyze quantitative studies (utilizing techniques such as factor analysis, segmentation, regression modeling, and MaxDiff) to quantify latent user attitudes, privacy comfort thresholds, and search intent.
• Bridge generative qualitative inquiries (e.g., deep interviews, diary studies, mental model mapping) with statistical validation to deliver product recommendations.
• Direct research analyzing how consumer search and discovery habits shift across traditional search, conversational AI assistants, and short-form video feeds.
• Translate statistical analyses, behavioral metrics, and qualitative narratives into strategic guidance for cross-functional stakeholders.