Mixed-Methods UX Researcher (Hybrid- Redmond, WA)

Our Customer’s mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. Through their family of apps and services, they are building a different kind of company that connects billions of people around the world, gives them ways to share what matters most to them, and helps bring people closer together.

Our Customer is seeking a skilled and knowledgeable contract Mixed-Methods (qual + quant) UX Researcher with excellent communication and people skills. Strong candidates will demonstrate a rigorous approach to UX research methods as well as have experience developing solution concepts and shipping consumer products. You will work with other UX researchers as well as multi-disciplinary hardware and software teams to push the boundaries of what is possible in the AR/VR product and research science spaces. Ultimately, your expertise and ingenuity in research must do more than just contribute to knowledge – you must also be skilled at driving measurable positive impact on the product and user experience.

This role is hybrid in Redmond, WA.


Skills and Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience within user experience, applied research setting and/or product research and development, Master’s degree and 5+ years relevant experience, or a PhD with 2+ years of relevant experience
• Relevant experience within user experience, applied research setting and/or product research and development
• Experience developing and leading complex mixed methods user studies

• Degrees in a human behavior related field, such as Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Communication, Information science, Media studies, Computer Science, or Economics Experience shipping consumer hardware and wearable technologies
• Experience in early stage R&D UXR research Work experience in the AR/VR/AI space
• Strong skills in multimodal qualitative data collection and analysis

MOST IMPORTANT HARD SKILLS:

• Research and Methodology Skills: Ability to design and conduct users studies that integrate both qual and quant approaches. This includes choosing the right methods for the research question ( e.g. interviews, field observations, survey, usability tests) and combining insights from user feedback and data analytics into cohesive findings. A strong candidate can blend qualitative and quantitative data to derive robust and actionable insight that inform product design.
• Qualitative Research Methodology: Strong skills in conducting in-depth interviews, focus groups, and think-aloud usability sessions. Able to probe user behaviors and needs through open-ended techniques and synthesize themes. Experience planning and running diary studies is valuable, especially to understand how people use wearable devices in real contexts.
• Survey Design & Quantitative UX Methods: Ability to design effective surveys and questionnaires, and to analyze the results for trends. Familiarity with quantitative UX research methods to measure user satisfaction, usage patterns, and performance metrics.

• Applied Research & Insight Generation: Experience executing hands-on primary research in an applied product development setting, not just academia . This means focusing on actionable insights that align with business and design goals throughout the product life cycle . The researcher should be adept at translating study findings into practical recommendations and frameworks (cognitive, perceptual, ergonomic) that guide product strategy .
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven experience working in cross-disciplinary teams, collaborating closely with (e.g., industrial design, UX design, hardware & software engineering, Research Product Managers, Technical Program Managers). This can mean, for example, partnering with engineers to understand device constraints, with designers to iterate on interaction flows, and with data scientists to align on how user data is collected or interpreted. A successful UX researcher at Reality Labs builds strong relationships within their team, integrates team member perspectives, and acts as a bridge between user insights and technical implementation.
• Adaptability & Project Management: Strong organizational skills to manage research projects in a fast-paced, innovative environment. The researcher should be agile – able to adjust research plans on the fly as the device prototypes or AI algorithms evolve. They should also handle practical constraints like recruitment, scheduling studies around hardware deadlines, and ensuring timely delivery of insights to meet product deadlines. Flexibility, problem-solving, and a continuous learning mindset are key soft skills so that the researcher can navigate the uncertainties of cutting-edge product research and still deliver impact.

• Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis: Proficiency in designing controlled experiments (A/B tests, usability lab tests)with clear hypotheses and metrics. Ensures rigorous scientific approach to UX research including careful variable control and use of inferential statistics to validate findings. This skill area involves knowledge of study design, sample selection, and analytical techniques (t-tests, anovas, regression modeling) to draw reliable conclusions from data.

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements)

• Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, FSA.
• Accrued PTO: Up to 15 days per 12 months on assignment