UX Researcher - Ads - USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is seeking a strategic User Researcher to lead mixed-methods research for the Monetization team. You will connect user motivation with real-world behavior, integrate survey data with backend data, and translate insights into actionable business strategy.

You will partner with cross-functional teams to balance speed and depth, ensuring rigorous statistical analysis and impactful recommendations for product and growth opportunities across the advertising experience.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in user research, behavioral science, data analysis, or related roles.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and data analysis tools such as SQL, Python, R, SPSS.
• Proficient in survey design and behavioral data analysis; familiar with qualitative research methods.

Responsibilities

• Explore user behavior across the advertising experience and post-ad purchase journey, using data analysis and user research to identify friction points and inform product, strategy, and growth opportunities
• Lead end-to-end user research using both quantitative and qualitative methods, balancing speed and depth to support business priorities.
• Match and integrate survey and research data with backend behavioral data to analyze correlations, identify discrepancies, and validate user-reported insights
• Apply statistical principles to validate findings and ensure analytical rigor (e.g., confidence levels, significance tests, regression analysis)
• Translate research into clear, actionable recommendations that shape business or product strategy and feature development
• Distinguish between generic user feedback and insights that drive long-term product value
• Communicate findings effectively across stakeholders at all levels with clarity and impact

Skills

Statistical analysis

Quantitative methods

Tools

SQL

Python

R

SPSS

Job description

Responsibilities

About the team
The TikTok Monetization User Research team serves as the gateway to TikTok's business services, helping clients seamlessly connect with their audiences and unlock their brand's full potential. Our mission is to inspire and empower clients to achieve their goals, explore new opportunities, and create value through TikTok.

We're looking for a strategic, data-savvy User Researcher who thrives on understanding human behavior and shaping business decisions. In this role, you'll lead mixed-methods research to uncover user insights, validate hypotheses, and drive product and business impact. You'll play a key part in delivering scalable, high-impact insights to guide the development of our global Monetization business.

You should have deep expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods, with a stronger foundation in data analysis and statistical reasoning, and be comfortable designing research that connects user motivation with real-world behavior. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure every business decision is anchored in user understanding.

Responsibilities

• Explore user behavior across the advertising experience and post-ad purchase journey, using data analysis and user research to identify friction points and inform product, strategy, and growth opportunities


• Lead end-to-end user research using both quantitative and qualitative methods, balancing speed and depth to support business priorities.


• Match and integrate survey and research data with backend behavioral data to analyze correlations, identify discrepancies, and validate user-reported insights


• Apply statistical principles to validate findings and ensure analytical rigor (e.g., confidence levels, significance tests, regression analysis)


• Translate research into clear, actionable recommendations that shape business or product strategy and feature development


• Distinguish between generic user feedback and insights that drive long-term product value


• Communicate findings effectively across stakeholders at all levels with clarity and impact

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in user research, behavioral science, data analysis, or related roles;


• Proficiency in statistical analysis and data analysis tools such as SQL, Python, R, SPSS, or equivalent


• Proficient in survey design and behavioral data analysis; familiar with qualitative research methods and able to combine both approaches to generate holistic insights.


• Solid grasp of statistical methods (sampling, confidence intervals, p-values) to ensure the reliability of insights;


• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex research insights to diverse stakeholders and proactively influence decision-making and implementation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Curious, collaborative, and passionate about uncovering the “why” behind user behavior


• Ability to bring onboard new perspectives and ways to carry out tasks, solve problems, and meet challenges


• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative environment to make an impact and drive business goals


• Experience with monetization or ads-related products is a plus


• Experience with long-term quantitative tracking (e.g., NPS, BHT, satisfaction tracking) is a plus.


• Experience in aligning and analyzing self-reported research data with backend platform data (e.g. cluster validation, conversion attribution) is a strong plus

About USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is dedicated to the safety and security of millions of Americans who create, discover, and connect with what they love on the apps we operate. The Joint Venture has been established in compliance with the Executive Order signed by President Trump on September 25, 2025. Our foundation is a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program we operate under defined safeguards to protect national security and secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm. We safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem, holding decision-making authority for trust and safety policies and moderation. USDS Joint Venture helps ensure Americans can continue to express their creativity, discover new hobbies and interests, and build thriving communities and businesses on a global scale.

On-site presence across teams allows the company to operate with greater speed, alignment, and agility — especially in areas like real-time decision-making, team development, and integrated execution. As such, the company is shifting from a hybrid work model to a fully in-person schedule up to 5 days a week.

Why Join Us

Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.

We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an \"Always Day 1\" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.

USDS Reasonable Accommodation

USDS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/USDS-RA

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $126578 - $222934 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates: Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:

1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;


2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems;


3. Exercising sound judgment.