Principal, UX Mixed Method Researcher (NetSec)

Palo Alto Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

This innovative firm is seeking a UX Mixed Method Researcher to join their Network Security Platform team. You will play a vital role in shaping user experiences by conducting in-depth qualitative and quantitative research. Your insights will guide product strategy and enhance usability across complex enterprise environments. Collaborating with designers and product managers, you'll drive impactful decisions that unify user experiences. If you are passionate about human-centered research and thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact in the cybersecurity domain.

Benefits

Restricted Stock Units

Bonus Opportunities

Employee Benefits Package

Qualifications

• 6-8+ years of UX research experience with expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Proven success in complex enterprise environments and leading impactful research.

Responsibilities

• Lead mixed-methods research on complex workflows and navigation patterns.
• Deliver tailored findings for diverse audiences, from designers to executives.

Skills

UX Research

Qualitative Research

Quantitative Research

Information Architecture

Usability Testing

Strategic Communication

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Design or related field

Tools

Research Operations Tools

Job description

Job Description

Your Career

At Palo Alto Networks, our mission is to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. As part of our Network Security (NetSec) Platform team, you'll play a key role in shaping intuitive, scalable user experiences for complex enterprise environments. You’ll drive impact by uncovering deep user insights through both qualitative and quantitative research—and by helping teams across the company leverage those insights to make confident, user-centered decisions.

Your Impact

As a UX Mixed Method Researcher, you’ll bring expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods to solve complex design challenges in large-scale enterprise environments. You’ll lead initiatives focused on restructuring information architecture and simplifying navigation across dense, technical platforms. Your work will help unify user experiences while enabling designers, product managers, and executives to act on research with confidence. You’ll also play a key role in scaling usability research across teams and improving research operations to support continuous discovery and feedback integration.

What You’ll Be Doing

1. End-to-End Research: Lead mixed-methods research—from scoping and design to synthesis and presentation—on complex workflows, navigation patterns, and large-scale IA consolidation projects.
2. Quant + Qual Integration: Combine behavioral data, usability metrics, and attitudinal insights to tell full-spectrum stories and inform product strategy across the platform.
3. Strategic Communication: Deliver findings tailored to the needs of diverse audiences, from tactical recommendations for designers and PMs to executive-level insights that drive prioritization and vision.
4. Scaling Usability: Create training, templates, and guidance to empower non-researchers—especially designers—to run lightweight usability tests effectively and without bias.
5. Research Ops & Infrastructure: Partner on improving participant recruiting pipelines and implementing systems to connect patterns across studies, user feedback, and customer insights.
6. Cross-Functional Influence: Facilitate workshops and alignment sessions that help teams translate research into clear decisions, ensuring customer insights are embedded across the product lifecycle.

Qualifications:

Your Experience

1. 6–8+ years of UX research experience, with hands-on expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods.
2. Proven success navigating complex enterprise environments and leading research that informs large-scale navigation and information architecture decisions.
3. Strong ability to translate insights into clear, actionable guidance for a range of audiences—from designers and PMs to SVPs and cross-functional leaders.
4. Experience designing research programs or toolkits that scale usability testing across non-researchers without sacrificing rigor or user empathy.
5. Familiarity with research operations, including participant recruitment workflows and repository strategies that enable pattern recognition across feedback channels.
6. A collaborative, thoughtful approach—comfortable operating autonomously while also mentoring and enabling others.

The Team

At Palo Alto Networks, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle some of the most complex and high-stakes problems in tech today. As part of our product design team, you’ll be at the forefront of shaping how the world understands and navigates cybersecurity. We’re not just solving UX challenges—we’re building trust, protecting data, and securing critical infrastructure around the globe. If you're passionate about human-centered research, and energized by working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, this is your chance to make an impact at scale.

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned roles) is expected to be between $157000 - $210000/YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

Our Commitment

We’re problem solvers that take risks and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at [e-mail].

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.