Senior User Researcher at Microsoft

, , United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

23 May, 26

Salary

234700.0

Posted On

22 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

User Research, AI, Microsoft Copilot, Mixed Methods, Competitive Insights, Systems Thinking, Storytelling, Product Direction, Quantitative Data Analysis, Qualitative Data Analysis, UX Strategy, UX Metrics, Product Funnel Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Data Science Integration, Growth Mindset

Industry

Software Development

Description

Overview We are seeking a Senior User Researcher to join our multi-disciplinary team of over 60 user researchers and planners working on a breadth of experiences across Microsoft 365 (M365). In this position, you’ll be part of the team responsible for reimagining Outlook products by leveraging AI and Microsoft Copilot to transform how millions of people communicate every day. You will work closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to define and deliver innovative AI powered solutions that empower people and teams to work more effectively and efficiently. In this specific role, you will be responsible for bringing the user experience and competitive insights to the teams delivering on core communication and productivity experiences both within Outlook and across M365 Copilot. You’ll leverage your mixed methods skills as you take on complex and nuanced topics and work to define and drive near and long-term investments. You will work closely with other user researchers, designers, and program managers to ensure that we are addressing the most critical needs and opportunities. We’re looking for someone who is forward-thinking and willing to challenge the status quo and to help define and incubate new ideas. This position requires strong research, organization and storytelling skills, and the ability to work across teams. The ability to establish a strong point of view – informed by both market and user level insights – and to leverage your POV to define product direction is a must. You have systems thinking skills, understanding how complex systems work and how they can be improved, to integrate AI within the existing M365 ecosystem to create a seamless, effective, and personalized user experience for both individuals and project teams. We’re especially looking for someone who wants to learn, grow, and embody new ways of working. If you embrace a growth mindset, have a track record of delivering results, and you light up collaborating with other researchers, planners, designers, product managers and engineers you’ll feel right at home on this awesome team. Responsibilities Create a research strategy and build/deliver impactful research plan(s) that provide deep competitive and customer insights needed to impact strategy and UX. Derive insights from quantitative and qualitative data, complementing other research that you will conduct on your own or in partnership with other researchers. Key to this accountability will be identifying gaps and customer pain points, as well as potential customer delighters. Define and measure UX approaches, metrics, and work with core stakeholders on research planning. Innovate and develop new approaches to measure users’ experiences. Gain insights into user behavior, retention and churn by studying the product funnel and align qualitative research plans to uncover the ‘why’. Identify stakeholders across Microsoft and bring them along as you provide qualitative and quantitative customer feedback to influence product development at different granularity, from product strategy to cross-platform coherence to feature usability. Work across organizational boundaries and across disciplines with UX Designers, other User Researchers, Data/Applied Science, Program Managers and Engineers to ensure that we’re addressing the most critical business and technology objectives to meet the right user needs and opportunities. Land impact broadly from your customer-focused knowledge by working across multiple organizations (from Outlook to Teams to M365) and their respective engineering, design and marketing teams. Partner with Applied and Data Science to integrate customer data and insights into AI model evaluation sets and quality rubrics. Identify stakeholders across Microsoft and bring them along as you provide qualitative and quantitative customer feedback to influence product development at different granularity, from product strategy to cross-platform coherence to feature usability. Work across organizational boundaries and across disciplines with UX Designers, other User Researchers, Data/Applied Science, Program Managers and Engineers to ensure that we’re addressing the most critical business and technology objectives to meet the right user needs and opportunities. Land impact broadly from your customer-focused knowledge by working across multiple organizations (from Outlook to Teams to M365) and their respective engineering, design and marketing teams. Partner with Applied and Data Science to integrate customer data and insights into AI model evaluation sets and quality rubrics. Qualifications Required Qualifications (RQs) Doctorate in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 1+ year(s) User Experience Research experience OR Master's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 3+ years User Experience Research experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, Computer Science, Technical Communications, Information Science, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Behavioral Science, Social Sciences, or related field AND 4+ years User Experience Research experience OR equivalent experience. Preferred Qualifications (PQs) Hands-on research and/or product planning experience, with demonstrated skill in collecting and analyzing human behavioral data to improve plans and UX in an AI-forward technology industry setting Experience impacting both product direction and detailed experience design on products leveraging AI and large language models (LLMs) Proficient in data or funnel analysis or deep quantitative research design and analysis Use of AI to augment research workflows (planning, moderating, analysis, reporting) Experience with integrating research/customer data in AI model evaluation sets and quality rubrics We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. UX Research IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $158,400 - $258,000 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

Responsibilities

The Senior User Researcher will be responsible for creating research strategies and delivering impactful plans based on competitive and customer insights to influence product strategy and UX within Outlook and M365 Copilot. This involves deriving insights from mixed methods data, identifying customer pain points, defining UX metrics, and collaborating across disciplines to ensure critical business and technology objectives are met.