Senior UX Researcher, YouTube Shorts Ads

Google; San Bruno (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus target

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Google LLC is seeking a Senior UX Researcher for YouTube Shorts Ads to lead viewer research across Shorts and shape ad formats within the Shorts feed. You will work with cross-functional teams to translate insights into product decisions that balance user experience with business goals.

You will conduct primary research including field studies, interviews, diary studies, surveys, and log analysis, and you will collaborate with Engineering and Product Management to drive impact at all stages of

Qualifications

• Must have mixed methods research experience (qualitative & quantitative).
• Experience producing business impact through research.

Responsibilities

• Develop a research roadmap addressing product and business questions.
• Identify knowledge gaps in how viewers experience ads across Shorts.
• Represent viewer needs to UX, PM, and Eng to support goals.
• Navigate trade-offs using viewer insights balancing interruption and business goals.
• Partner with Shorts product teams, GTM leads, and Ads teams to create a cohesive viewer experience.

Skills

Mixed methods research

Qualitative methods

Quantitative methods

Business impact

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's or PhD in HCI/related field (preferred)

Job description

Senior UX Researcher, YouTube Shorts Ads

X Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Mountain View, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA; San Bruno, CA, USA.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.


• 6 years of experience in an applied research setting (e.g., product or academic), or similar.


• Experience in mixed methods research, including qualitative (e.g., in-depth interviews, diary studies) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, log analysis) approaches.


• Experience producing business impact through applied research.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, or related field.


• 5 years of experience conducting UX research on products and working with executive leadership (e.g., Director level and above).


• 3 years of experience managing projects, and working in a large, matrixed organization.


• Experience with advanced statistical modeling (e.g., regression, segmentation, conjoint, or causal inference).


• Experience conducting research for short-form video or advertising products.

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.

As a UX Researcher in YouTube Ads UX, you will lead viewer research across YouTube Shorts. You will be instrumental in defining how we optimize the health and pacing of the Shorts ad experience while shaping new interactive, shoppable, and brand and sponsorship ad formats within the shorts feed.

Google Ads is at the forefront of AI innovation, applying cutting-edge machine learning and Generative AI models like Gemini to power a multi-billion dollar global business.

Our work directly impacts billions of users by protecting users from harm, improving ad quality, and optimizing campaigns for advertiser return-on-investment. We foster a culture of deep collaboration, partnering closely with teams like Google Research and DeepMind to solve complex challenges. Join us to work on state-of-the-art AI, take on problems at an unparalleled scale, and build the next generation of advertising technology.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $159000 - $230000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

• Develop a research roadmap addressing product and business questions using methods such as remote in-depth interviews, diary studies, prototype testing, surveys, and logs analysis.


• Identify critical knowledge gaps in how viewers experience ads across shorts content to challenge assumptions and the status quo.


• Represent viewer needs and expectations to UX, Product Management, and Engineering to ensure product decisions support creator and advertiser goals.


• Navigate complex product trade-offs using viewer insights to balance ad interruption and viewer friction with business goals.


• Partner with core YouTube Shorts product teams, Go-to-Market leads, and horizontal Ads teams to create a cohesive viewer experience.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, are subject to approval by the Alphabet Inc. board of directors or its delegate, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.