Senior Human Performance Researcher. - Data Collection

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike NSRL in Beaverton, Oregon seeks a Senior Researcher to join the Athlete Guidance team. You will plan and execute applied biomechanics research across the lifecycle, partnering with engineering, data science, and product teams to translate findings into athlete-centered insights.

Lead data collection, analysis, and reporting; calibrate equipment; support development of tools and methods to improve data acquisition and athlete outcomes; work across in-lab, field, and remote studies.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biomechanics, bioengineering, exercise science, kinesiology, or a related field.
• 3+ years of research with humans or athletes across lab, field, or remote settings.
• Deep knowledge of biomechanics, experimental design, statistical methods, and human movement data.
• Proficiency in Python or similar tools for data collection, processing, and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Work across the research lifecycle, from study planning, protocol development, and recruiting through athlete interaction, data collection, data conditioning, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Aid in the design, preparation, and execution of biomechanical data collections in-lab, on field, and via remote studies with athletes of different levels and backgrounds.
• Own key elements of the research process, including protocols, recruiting, study administration, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Serve as the primary researcher responsible for calibration, operation, synchronisation, and troubleshooting of data collection equipment.
• Aid in the interpretation of results to produce and share credible, decision-ready insights for physical and digital product innovation.
• Aid in preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of software, research equipment, and diagnostic tools, including electrical systems.
• Observe, gather, and share feedback to improve research processes and athlete interactions.
• Apply foundations of computational biomechanics to the analysis and interpretation of human movement data.
• Develop tools and methods, including hardware and software design as needed, to improve data acquisition, research quality, and athlete insight.
• Build expertise in sensor technologies and analysis tools, translate research into actionable recommendations, and see how the Lab's work serves athletes and shapes the future of sport.

Skills

Biomechanics

Data analysis

Python

Project management

Communication

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Foot/Body scanners

Pressure mapping

Motion capture systems

Treadmills

Job description

About the Role

The Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) is a multidisciplinary team of researchers, innovators, scientists, engineers, and data experts who lead with science to make athletes measurably better. This Senior Researcher role sits on the Athlete Guidance team, which studies and serves athletes of all levels in the Lab and in the environments where they train, compete, and live. The role plans and executes applied, athlete-centric research focused on performance and protection in sport, working across the research lifecycle. The researcher partners across the Lab and with digital technology, engineering, data science, service design, and innovation teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Work across the research lifecycle, from study planning, protocol development, and recruiting through athlete interaction, data collection, data conditioning, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Aid in the design, preparation, and execution of biomechanical data collections in-lab, on field, and via remote studies with athletes of different levels and backgrounds.
• Own key elements of the research process, including protocols, recruiting, study administration, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Serve as the primary researcher responsible for calibration, operation, synchronisation, and troubleshooting of data collection equipment.
• Aid in the interpretation of results to produce and share credible, decision-ready insights for physical and digital product innovation.
• Aid in preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of software, research equipment, and diagnostic tools, including electrical systems.
• Observe, gather, and share feedback to improve research processes and athlete interactions.
• Apply foundations of computational biomechanics to the analysis and interpretation of human movement data.
• Develop tools and methods, including hardware and software design as needed, to improve data acquisition, research quality, and athlete insight.
• Build expertise in sensor technologies and analysis tools, translate research into actionable recommendations, and see how the Lab's work serves athletes and shapes the future of sport.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Master's degree in biomechanics, bioengineering, exercise science, kinesiology, or a related field.
• 3+ years of research experience with human participants or athletes across laboratory, field, or remote settings.
• Deep knowledge of biomechanics, experimental design, statistical methods, and human movement data.
• Hands-on experience with human movement technologies, such as foot and body scanners, instrumented treadmills, pressure mapping, force plates, marker-based or markerless motion capture, inertial measurement units, electromyography, and other wearable sensors.
• Proficiency in Python or similar tools for data collection, processing, and analysis.
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting research equipment, software, diagnostic tools, or electrical systems.
• Demonstrated curiosity, initiative, attention to detail, and comfort working independently in ambiguity.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including explaining complex topics to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong foundation in human movement science with hands-on experience in biomechanics, in-person and field-based data collection, wearable sensors, data analysis, and athlete consultation.
• Creative and methodical problem solver who can manage multiple projects, work independently in ambiguity, and communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Databricks, Visual3D, OpenSim, or musculoskeletal modelling is strongly preferred.
• Industry research and experience in running or lateral sports are strongly preferred.

The Application Process

The interview process offers accommodations including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single-location in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed.

1. Request an accommodation if assistance is needed due to a disability during the application process.