UX Research Scientist, Reality Labs (PhD)

Facebook; New York (NY); On-site; USD 117,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Research Scientist to innovate within virtual and augmented reality. This role involves leveraging a strong scientific background to enhance hardware and software dynamics, driving insights into product development that significantly impact user experience. You will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to tackle complex challenges in human perception and interaction, ensuring that your research translates into actionable design decisions. Join a team committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and improving how users connect and interact with the digital world.

Benefits

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with a focus on human perception and cognition.
• Experience in experimental design and behavioral analytics.

Responsibilities

• Develop frameworks for user and technology variables in AR/VR.
• Collaborate with teams to create research methodologies.

Skills

Human perception

Cognition

Motor control

Experimental design

Psychophysics

Behavioral analytics

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

PhD in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Eye tracking technology

Body motion tracking

Biometric sensing technology

Job description

Summary:

At Meta Reality Labs (RL), we are inventing the future. We bring together a world-class team of researchers, developers, & engineers to build the future of connection within virtual and augmented reality. As a Research Scientist at RL, you are expected to have breadth and depth of scientific background in one or more areas such as human perception, cognition, motor control and movement. You will be leveraging this background in service of defining, assessing and enhancing the form, function and dynamics of our hardware and software. You must be a data expert, and creatively develop metrics for investigating novel challenges in a variety of areas, including sensors, displays, wearable device form factors, etc. You will break down ambiguous problems and master research methods, including but not limited to, design of experiments, expert review, psychophysics & threshold detection, biomechanics & ergonomics, and safety research approaches. The right candidate will be an effective communicator, passionate about understanding people, and curious about the evolving complex relationship between humans’ sensorimotor and cognitive systems and the novel hardware and software technologies in development at RL. Although candidates should have hands-on experience conducting in-depth studies in an industry setting, we are looking for researchers that also have demonstrated experience in understanding humans’ capabilities and limitations to directly influence product design. You will prove highly effective at driving insights into actionable product engineering & development outcomes and metrics and collaborate closely with cross functional partners to help shape critical product and technology decisions across the product design and development life cycle. You will work across multi-disciplinary hardware and software teams to push the boundaries of RL products while enhancing the value users get from these products. Ultimately, your expertise and ingenuity in research must do more than just contribute to knowledge and assessment – you must also be skilled at driving measurable impact on the user experience of our products.

Required Skills:

UX Research Scientist, Reality Labs (PhD) Responsibilities:

1. In Reality Labs, the focus areas of UX research scientists can vary from health and safety to biomechanics & ergonomics to input & interaction. Regardless of focus area, the primary responsibility is to develop frameworks that clearly define the trade space between user variables and technology variables.
2. Collaborate and work with cross-functional product teams to identify user goals and envision needs, create research frameworks and develop new methodologies for investigating novel challenges.
3. Develop ergonomic, perceptual, or psychological research studies by utilizing appropriate methods, which may include experimental design, psychophysics and threshold detection, motion tracking and kinematics analysis, behavioral analytics, expert review and relevant safety research approaches.
4. Develop and track metrics for quality of performing fundamental Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality tasks such as spatial navigation, input & interaction, and beyond.
5. Investigate effects of human multisensory interactions, attention, and control dynamics on performance and safety of doing such tasks.
6. Analyze rich and multidimensional data, develop descriptive and analytical models, and shape actionable insights from research findings.
7. Effectively communicate outcomes and insights from studies, support decision-making and help setting specifications for Reality Labs hardware and software products, drive measurable impact on the user experience.
8. Create close partnerships with a variety of leadership, research and product stakeholders to ensure a broad understanding of the product needs and priorities while driving UX goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Currently has or in the process of obtaining a PhD in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Science, Kinesiology, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction or a closely related scientific or engineering field. Degree must be completed prior to joining Meta.
2. Demonstrated scientific background in human multi-sensory perception, cognition, motor control and movement, the experience applying such knowledge in analyzing and interpreting relevant human behaviors associated with novel systems.
3. Experience in experimental design, psychophysics, behavioral analytics, and proficiency with inferential statistics.
4. Proven track record of rigorous scientific research, including development of metrics for psychophysical and empirical behavioral measurements.
5. Demonstrated communication skills as well as proven interpersonal skills.
6. Experience in conducting research for novel products headed to market.
7. Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment.
8. Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Degree must be completed prior to joining Meta.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Training and experience in related techniques such as eye tracking, body motion tracking, postural stability measures, human motor control and kinematics analysis, EMG and other biometric sensing technology, and physiology measures.
2. Experience in research for emerging technologies, AR/VR/MR or wearable technology.
3. Experience in research across full product life-cycle.

Public Compensation:

$117,000/year to $173,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Industry:

Internet

Equal Opportunity:

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.

Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [e-mail].