UX Research Scientist, Reality Labs (PhD)

Meta; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a UX Research Scientist to shape the future of virtual and augmented reality. This role involves leveraging scientific expertise to enhance user experiences through rigorous research and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. You will design experiments, analyze complex data, and translate insights into actionable product improvements. Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to diversity and inclusion, where your contributions will drive the development of cutting-edge technologies that connect people and foster communities.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field completed prior to joining.
• Strong background in human perception and cognition.

Responsibilities

• Develop frameworks for user-technology trade-offs.
• Design and conduct ergonomic and psychological studies.

Skills

Human perception

Cognition

Motor control

Experimental design

Behavioral analytics

Statistics

Communication skills

Education

PhD in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Eye tracking

Motion tracking

Biometric sensing

Job description

UX Research Scientist, Reality Labs (PhD)

Join to apply for the UX Research Scientist, Reality Labs (PhD) role at Meta.

This range is provided by Meta. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$117,000.00/yr - $173,000.00/yr

About the role

At Meta Reality Labs, we are inventing the future of connection within virtual and augmented reality. As a Research Scientist, you will leverage your scientific expertise in human perception, cognition, motor control, and movement to define, assess, and enhance our hardware and software. You should be skilled in developing metrics, designing experiments, and translating research into actionable product insights. Collaboration across multidisciplinary teams is essential to push the boundaries of our products and improve user experiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop frameworks to define the trade-offs between user variables and technology variables across focus areas like health, safety, biomechanics, and interaction.
• Collaborate with product teams to identify user needs, create research frameworks, and develop methodologies for investigating new challenges.
• Design and conduct ergonomic, perceptual, or psychological studies using appropriate methods such as experimental design, psychophysics, motion analysis, and safety assessments.
• Develop and monitor metrics for AR/VR task performance, including spatial navigation and interaction.
• Investigate multisensory interactions, attention, and control dynamics affecting performance and safety.
• Analyze complex data, build models, and generate insights to inform product development.
• Communicate research outcomes effectively to support decision-making and product specifications, driving measurable user experience improvements.
• Partner with leadership, research, and product teams to align research goals with product needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Science, Kinesiology, Biomedical Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, or related field (completed prior to joining).
• Strong background in human perception, cognition, motor control, and movement, with experience analyzing human behavior related to new systems.
• Experience in experimental design, psychophysics, behavioral analytics, and statistics.
• Proven record of rigorous scientific research and metric development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience conducting research for market-ready products.
• Work authorization in the country of employment.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or relevant technical field (completed prior to joining).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with eye tracking, motion tracking, biometric sensing, and physiology measures.
• Research experience in AR/VR/MR or wearable tech.
• Experience across the full product lifecycle.

About Meta

Meta builds technologies to connect people, foster communities, and grow businesses, moving beyond screens to immersive experiences like AR and VR. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, providing accommodations for candidates with disabilities.

Additional details

Salary range: $117,000 - $173,000/year plus bonus, equity, and benefits. Compensation varies based on skills, experience, and location.