Windows UX Researcher

The Windows + Devices Design and Research Studio is hiring an industry experienced UX Researcher to be part of a product-making team creating experiences that empower more than 1 billion Windows customers around the world. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for working alongside Research, Design and Product owners to bring a human-centered and data-driven approach to innovate and simplify complex problems into compelling customer driven solutions.

In this role you'll have the opportunity to work across a diverse set of Windows experiences supporting teams by bringing qualitative data across the product cycle, focusing on the evaluative aspects of iterative design, and especially contributing to the Store and APS feature areas with various methodologies. You'll also help drive a Rhythm of Business for the Research team, partnering with researchers to create processes to make sure we're covering and prioritizing the right questions. Bringing a holistic perspective, you'll identify the right questions and apply the right methods to support customer-driven design decisions and a customer-centered culture.

Joining our team means you'll be part of a highly collaborative and supportive group of diverse researchers who work in a way to bring out the best in each other to deliver product impact. Our team tackles complex and evolving challenges in creating the best experiences to support people as they work, learn, create, and play. We bring a learner's mindset to our work. 
Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities

• Act as a product-making partner and research expert, advocating for the people and businesses Windows can support in meeting their goals.

• Develop and gain alignment on research roadmaps for the Store and APS group that will have the biggest impact on solving user needs while meeting business goals; prioritize their asks and develop a point of view on how we can help the most.

• Design and execute studies that address both user behavior and attitudes, using the right methodology for the right questions.

• Generate insights that shape how product teams think about medium and long-term product strategy.

• Collaborate with other researchers on the Windows team on methodology, planning, giving feedback, and innovating.

Additional Responsibilities for this Role

• Play a lead role in the triaging requests from a broad set of research partners and maintaining our internal research process, Window Express, including taking on research projects yourself and/or assigning studies to vendor researchers.

• This will include liaising between researchers on our team and product team members (PM & Design) to understand research asks fully, plan relevant research studies that combine requests, and then either execute or oversee execution of studies both in-person and remotely. 

• There will be a balanced need for individual research skills and organizing the larger process by interfacing with and helping the vendors on our team be successful in their roles.

• Longer-term stretch goals:

• Build out an impact tracking process for our team, specifically for evaluative studies that get triaged through our ADO system. This will be used to assess which types of studies have the most impact as well as for reporting our impact up to our leadership team.
• Expand your research skills and methodology toolkit by innovating and pushing the traditional boundaries where possible either through your own research projects or others you help coordinate.
• Develop and share your expertise with others on the team through active collaboration or workflow tools that you create.

• This can be related to either specific research projects you run or the triage process itself.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in applied UX product research in Industry.
  
• Passion and demonstrated skill in observing and understanding human behavior and insights - fundamentally translating ideas, needs, and requests into researchable questions in a rigorous and valid way.
  
• Committed to creating inclusive experiences and working in a manner that demonstrates respect for diversity and equality.
  
• Experience with scoping, planning, and executing research including:
  • Identifying impactful opportunities for product development based on user needs
  • Working across multiple research projects simultaneously
  • Project management, organization, and planning skills with attention to detail
  • Establishing and building cross-discipline relationships to maximize impact
  • Distilling research insights into actionable narratives
• Demonstrated understanding of the strengths and tradeoffs of using different qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., interviewing, surveys, co-design, ethnography) including when and how to apply them during the product development process.
  
• Experience using one or more of the following relevant research tools, such as Usertesting.com, UserZoom, Qualtrics, R, SPSS, or similar.
• Proficiency in distilling research into actionable narratives through creative and compelling frameworks and using engaging storytelling with cross-functional partners to drive impact.
  
• Relevant experience spanning qualitative and quantitative user-centered research methods (e.g., interviewing, ethnography, surveys, co-design, concept-testing, etc.)
• BA/BS or higher in Computer Science, HCI, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, Economics, Political Science, Mathematics, or a related field OR equivalent practical/industry experience.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
Benefits and Perks

• Industry leading healthcare
• Savings and investments
• Giving programs
• Educational resources
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Opportunities to network and connect
• Discounts on products and services
• Generous time away

Job Summary
Job number: 1247300
Date posted : 2022-01-21
Travel: 0-25%
Profession: Design & Creative
Role type: Individual Contributor
Employment type: Full-Time
Experience: Experienced professionals