Staff UX Research Manager, Google Labs

Google; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 236,000 - 329,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a UX Research Manager for Google Labs to co-lead research strategy and operations across exploratory 0-to-1 bets and scaling 1-to-10 products. You will mentor and grow a team of researchers while staying close to craft through selective research, pioneering methodologies for AI technologies.

You will balance foundational research with pragmatic, AI-forward guidance, guiding cross-functional teams to move concept work toward user adoption and strategic product decisions at scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in an applied research setting, or similar.
• 5 years of people management experience leading UX researchers.
• Experience conducting user experience research for AI, machine learning, emerging technologies, 0-to-1 incubations, or scaling products.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of UX researchers across Labs products while contributing selective research as a player-coach.
• Define and lead research strategy, methodologies, and priorities across both ambiguous 0-to-1 incubations and scaling 1-to-10 public products.
• Influence senior and executive stakeholders across Product Management, Engineering, and UX to drive research-backed product decisions.
• Oversee research operations, resource allocation, vendor and extended workforce partnerships, and research tooling across the team.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative user insights to guide product roadmaps and determine whether concepts advance, scale, pivot, or sunset.

Skills

People management

UX research

AI research

Research leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Master's degree or PhD in HCI, CS, or related field

Job description

Applicants in San Francisco: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

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 Francisco, CA, USA.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in an applied research setting, or similar.
• 5 years of people management experience leading UX researchers.
• Experience conducting user experience research for AI, machine learning, emerging technologies, 0-to-1 incubations, or scaling products.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience conducting product UX research and partnering with executive leadership.
• Experience operating as a player-coach manager who leads teams while conducting research.
• Experience leading research across both 0-to-1 incubations and scaling 1-to-10 products.
• Experience influencing product strategy and roadmaps for generative AI or emerging technology products.

About The Job

As a UX Research Manager in Google Labs, you will partner directly with the Head of UX Research to co‑lead research strategy and operations across our portfolio—spanning both exploratory 0-to-1 early bets and scaling 1-to-10 public Labs products. Operating as a player‑coach leader, you will manage, mentor, and grow a team of researchers while staying close to the craft through selective research. You will pioneer and adapt research methodologies for emerging AI technologies, helping cross‑functional teams move quickly from early concepts to sustained user adoption.

As a visionary research leader, you will combine foundational research excellence with nimble, AI‑forward pragmatism. You know when to stay loose and provide high‑touch, rapid judgment on ambiguous 0-to-1 early bets, and when to provide elevated, strategic guidance on scaling 1-to-10 public products serving millions of users.

Labs is a group focused on incubating early‑stage efforts in support of Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Our team exists to help discover and create new ways to advance our core products through exploration and the application of new technologies. We work to build new solutions that have the potential to transform how users interact with Google. Our goal is to drive innovation by developing new Google products and capabilities that deliver significant impact over longer timeframes.

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

US: $236000 - $329000 (USD) + 25% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of UX researchers across Labs products while contributing selective research as a player‑coach.
• Define and lead research strategy, methodologies, and priorities across both ambiguous 0-to-1 incubations and scaling 1-to-10 public products.
• Influence senior and executive stakeholders across Product Management, Engineering, and UX to drive research‑backed product decisions.
• Oversee research operations, resource allocation, vendor and extended workforce partnerships, and research tooling across the team.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative user insights to guide product roadmaps and determine whether concepts advance, scale, pivot, or sunset.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form .