User Research Lead

Abridge; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

14 paid holidays

Flexible PTO

Comprehensive health plans

401(k) matching

Mental health support

Job summary

Abridge is seeking a Head of Research to define user-centered approaches in healthcare. This hands-on role involves leading a research team to shape product strategies and ensure alignment with user needs.

Ideal candidates will possess 8–10 years of user research experience, influencing product decisions through both qualitative and quantitative studies. The role offers opportunities to elevate research practices and contribute to impactful changes in healthcare delivery.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in user research with a strong track record.
• Demonstrated leadership or management experience guiding research practice.
• Experience conducting end‑to‑end research incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods.

Responsibilities

• Partner with product and design leadership to align on priorities.
• Manage and mentor a small team of researchers.
• Lead research across the product lifecycle and execute with rigor.
• Synthesize complex data into actionable insights.

Skills

User research

Leadership experience

Qualitative and quantitative methods

Storytelling skills

Job description

About Abridge

Abridge was founded in 2018 with the mission of powering deeper understanding in healthcare. Our AI-powered platform was purpose-built for medical conversations, improving clinical documentation efficiencies while enabling clinicians to focus on what matters most—their patients.

Our enterprise-grade technology transforms patient-clinician conversations into structured clinical notes in real time, with deep EMR integrations. Powered by Linked Evidence and our purpose-built, auditable AI, we are the only company that maps AI-generated summaries to ground truth, helping providers quickly trust and verify the output. As pioneers in generative AI for healthcare, we are setting the industry standards for the responsible deployment of AI across health systems.

We are a growing team of practicing MDs, AI scientists, PhDs, creatives, technologists, and engineers working together to empower people and make care make more sense. We have offices located in the Mission District in San Francisco, the SoHo neighborhood of New York, and East Liberty in Pittsburgh.

The Role

As the Head of Research at Abridge, you will define how we understand and build for the people at the center of healthcare — shaping how clinicians and patients experience our product every day.

Healthcare doesn’t just need better tools — it needs tools that fit seamlessly into complex, high-stakes workflows. As we reimagine the future of healthcare with AI, deeply understanding our users isn’t optional — it’s foundational.

In this role, you’ll operate as a hands‑on research leader — driving the evolution of our research practice and managing a small team, while staying embedded in the work itself. You’ll partner with product and design leadership to shape the research roadmap and influence product direction, while also leading and executing high‑impact studies.

You’ll play a pivotal role in uncovering insights and translating them into clear, actionable direction for product, design, and engineering. At the same time, you’ll help bring structure and alignment to a small but growing research team, ensuring our work is focused, connected, and consistently raising the bar.

This role is for a researcher who enjoys leading through influence, shaping strategy, and staying deeply hands‑on — someone who can elevate both the impact of research and how it’s practiced across the organization.

What You’ll Do

• Shape Product Strategy with Leadership: Partner with product and design leadership to align on priorities and guide product strategy, ensuring research informs high-level decision‑making.
• Lead a High‑Impact Research Team: Manage and mentor a small team of researchers by providing strategic guidance and setting clear priorities.
• Prioritize the Research Roadmap: Ensure the research team is focused on the highest‑impact opportunities and aligning efforts with business goals and user needs.
• Drive End‑to‑End Research: Lead research across the product lifecycle; identify the right methods for each question and execute with rigor.
• Translate Complexity into Insight: Synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights.
• Influence Product and Design Direction: Partner closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to shape roadmaps, inform decisions, and prioritize opportunities.
• Build Empathy and Alignment Across Teams: Communicate findings in compelling and accessible ways. Create shared understanding through storytelling, artifacts, and rituals that keep users top of mind.
• Elevate the Practice of Research: Set a high bar for quality, rigor, and impact. Mentor others, introduce new methods, and continuously improve how research contributes to the organization.
• Bring the Voice of the Clinician into Every Decision: Develop a deep understanding of clinicians, patients, and care teams. Surface insights that reflect real‑world workflows, constraints, and needs — ensuring the product aligns with how healthcare actually works.

What You’ll Bring

• 8–10+ years of experience in user research, with a strong track record of influencing product direction in complex domains.
• Demonstrated leadership or management experience guiding research practice, initiatives and mentoring peers, while influencing product direction in complex, fast‑paced environments.
• Experience conducting end‑to‑end research incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods and product analytics.
• A portfolio or body of work that demonstrates how your research has shaped product decisions and outcomes.
• Strong ability to turn ambiguous business questions into clear research questions and plans.
• Strong synthesis and storytelling skills – you can turn ambiguous data into meaningful insights with clear and actionable recommendations.
• Experience working independently in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.
• Ability to prioritize effectively across multiple initiatives.

Bonus Points If

• Experience working in healthcare or other highly regulated environments.

Why Work at Abridge?

At Abridge, we’re transforming healthcare delivery experiences with generative AI, enabling clinicians and patients to connect in deeper, more meaningful ways. Our mission is clear: to power deeper understanding in healthcare. We’re driving real, lasting change, with millions of medical conversations processed each month.

Joining Abridge means stepping into a fast‑paced, high‑growth startup where your contributions truly make a difference. Our culture requires extreme ownership—every employee has the ability to (and is expected to) make an impact on our customers and our business.

Beyond individual impact, you will have the opportunity to work alongside a team of curious, high‑achieving people in a supportive environment where success is shared, growth is constant, and feedback fuels progress. At Abridge, it’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it. Every decision is rooted in empathy, always prioritizing the needs of clinicians and patients.

We’re committed to supporting your growth, both professionally and personally. Whether it's flexible work hours, an inclusive culture, or ongoing learning opportunities, we are here to help you thrive and do the best work of your life.

If you are ready to make a meaningful impact alongside passionate people who care deeply about what they do, Abridge is the place for you.

How we take care of Abridgers:

• Generous Time Off: 14 paid holidays, flexible PTO for salaried employees, and accrued time off for hourly employees.
• Comprehensive Health Plans: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage for all full‑time employees and their families.
• Generous HSA Contribution: If you choose a High Deductible Health Plan, Abridge makes monthly contributions to your HSA.
• Paid Parental Leave: Generous paid parental leave for all full‑time employees.
• Family Forming Benefits: Resources and financial support to help you build your family.
• 401(k) Matching: Contribution matching to help invest in your future.
• Personal Device Allowance: Tax free funds for personal device usage.
• Pre‑tax Benefits: Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Commuter Benefits.
• Lifestyle Wallet: Monthly contributions for fitness, professional development, coworking, and more.
• Mental Health Support: Dedicated access to therapy and coaching to help you reach your goals.
• Sabbatical Leave: Paid Sabbatical Leave after 5 years of employment.
• Compensation and Equity: Competitive compensation and equity grants for full time employees.
• ... and much more!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Abridge is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability.