Associate Games User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Games User Researcher

Company: Tencent

Location: US-California-Los Angeles

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Games User Research

Date Posted: 2025-06-10T00:00:00

Experience Level: 0-2 Years (Associate)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Conduct end-to-end user research studies for games, focusing on player experience and usability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, production, and development to understand research needs.
• Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research methods such as playtests, interviews, and surveys.
• Analyze research data to provide actionable insights that inform game design and development decisions.
• Contribute to building a community focused on inclusivity, connection, and accessibility within the gaming experience.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Work closely with game studios and production teams to identify and define research objectives.
• Design comprehensive research plans, including participant recruitment strategies and methodology selection.
• Develop research materials such as interview guides, survey questionnaires, and playtest protocols.
• Facilitate and moderate various research sessions, including in-depth interviews and usability playtests, primarily in-person at the Playa Vista lab.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data from research activities using appropriate analytical techniques.
• Communicate research findings and recommendations through clear, concise, and actionable reports and presentations.
• Stay informed about new research tools, methodologies, and trends in the games user research field.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research practices and processes within the team.
• Support senior researchers on larger or more complex research initiatives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, or a related field with a strong emphasis on qualitative research methodologies. Relevant coursework in research design, statistical analysis, and user-centered design is beneficial.

Experience: Early career professional with some prior experience in user research or games user research, ideally including practical experience in conducting studies and analyzing data. Experience gained through internships, academic projects, or entry-level roles is relevant. A portfolio demonstrating research projects and methodologies used is highly recommended.

Required Skills:

• Foundational knowledge of qualitative and quantitative user research methods (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, playtests).
• Ability to design research studies and develop appropriate research instruments.
• Proficiency in data collection techniques and the ability to conduct research sessions effectively and impartially.
• Basic analytical skills to synthesize research data and identify key findings and insights.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate research findings and recommendations clearly to diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a team and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload effectively in a dynamic environment.
• A genuine passion for video games across various genres and platforms.
• Understanding of player experience principles and how they relate to game design.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific user research software or tools used for data collection and analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R) for quantitative data analysis.
• Knowledge of game development pipelines and the role of user research within them.
• Experience working with diverse participant populations.
• Ability to present research findings in engaging and informative ways.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Include case studies of research projects, even from academic or personal work, demonstrating your research process from problem definition to insights.
• Showcase your ability to apply different research methodologies and explain your rationale for choosing them.
• Present examples of research materials you have created, such as interview guides, survey questions, or usability test plans.
• Demonstrate your analytical skills by presenting how you synthesized data and derived actionable insights.

Process Documentation:

• Document your research process clearly, including how you defined research questions, recruited participants, conducted sessions, and analyzed data.
• Highlight your approach to ensuring data quality and minimizing bias in your research.
• Explain how your research findings informed recommendations or hypothetical design decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $84,240.0 to $176,040.0 per year in California. The actual pay within this range will be determined by market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This range reflects the competitive landscape for Associate-level roles in the gaming industry in the Los Angeles area, taking into account the cost of living and industry standards for user research positions.

Benefits:

• Sign-on bonus to attract top talent.
• Comprehensive relocation package to support movement to the Los Angeles area.
• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the compensation, aligning employee success with company performance.
• Extensive medical benefits package, including health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Financial benefits such as retirement plans and potential bonuses.
• Other potential benefits dependent on the specific position offered.

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard business hours. Flexibility may be required based on research scheduling and collaboration with teams in different time zones, particularly the London team.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment, specifically focusing on game development, publishing, and operations. The gaming industry is dynamic and requires a user-centered approach to create engaging experiences.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees globally. Tencent's large size indicates a complex organizational structure with numerous teams and projects, offering opportunities for collaboration and exposure to diverse gaming genres.

Founded: 1998. Tencent's long history signifies stability and extensive experience in the technology and entertainment sectors, providing a solid foundation for growth and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Games User Research team is distributed across locations, with a presence in Los Angeles and London.
• The Associate Researcher in LA will work closely with an experienced researcher locally and collaborate with the UK-based team.
• The team works across multiple game titles from various second-party studios, implying exposure to different genres and development teams.

Methodology:

• The team utilizes a range of user research methodologies tailored to the needs of game development, including playtests, usability studies, and interviews.
• Research is primarily conducted in-person in a dedicated lab space in Playa Vista, emphasizing controlled environments for data collection.
• The focus is on providing timely insights to game studios to inform design and development decisions.

Company Website: https://www.tencent.com/en-us/

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is an Associate-level position, suitable for early-career professionals with foundational knowledge and some practical experience in user research. It serves as an entry point into a professional games user research career within a large, global gaming company.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Researcher will likely report to a more experienced User Researcher or a User Research Manager within the team. Collaboration with researchers in different locations is expected.

Design Impact: User research plays a critical role in informing game design, development, and product decisions. By providing insights into player behavior, preferences, and pain points, this role directly influences the quality and success of the games developed by Tencent's partner studios. The research contributes to creating engaging, accessible, and enjoyable player experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to develop expertise in various games user research methodologies and their application in the gaming context.
• Exposure to working with diverse game genres and development teams, broadening knowledge and experience.
• Potential for advancement to a User Researcher or Senior User Researcher role with increased responsibility and ownership of research projects.
• Opportunities to explore specialized areas within games user research, such as accessibility research, esports research, or internationalization research.
• Mentorship from experienced researchers within the global team.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Corporate office setting with a dedicated research lab space. The primary work location is the Playa Vista office in Los Angeles.

Office Location(s): US-California-Los Angeles (Playa Vista). Research activities are primarily conducted in-person at this location.

Design Workspace Context:

• Work will be conducted from the Tencent office in Playa Vista, providing a structured and collaborative work environment.
• Access to a dedicated research lab equipped for conducting various types of playtests and user studies.
• Opportunities for in-person collaboration with local team members and potential interaction with other teams based in the office.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site position. The nature of user research, particularly conducting in-person sessions, requires a consistent presence in the office and research lab.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest in the role.
• Portfolio review or presentation where you will walk through your research projects, methodologies, and insights. Be prepared to discuss your process in detail.
• Interviews with members of the User Research team, including the experienced researcher in LA and potentially team members from London, focusing on your research skills, analytical abilities, and fit with the team culture.
• Potential for a research-related task or case study to evaluate your practical skills in study design, data analysis, or reporting.
• Final interview(s) potentially with hiring managers or stakeholders to assess overall fit and potential impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Clearly articulate the research problem, objectives, and methodologies used for each case study.
• Focus on the "why" behind your research decisions and the impact of your findings.
• Present your data analysis process and how you synthesized information into actionable insights.
• If possible, include examples of how your research influenced design or product decisions.
• Be prepared to discuss challenges faced during projects and how you overcame them.
• Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight experiences most relevant to games user research.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a research task is assigned, carefully read and understand the prompt.
• Consider applying a structured research approach to the task, even if it's a hypothetical scenario.
• Clearly explain your thought process, methodology, and potential limitations of your approach.
• Be prepared to discuss your rationale and defend your decisions during the interview.

ATS Keywords: Games User Research, Player Experience, Usability Testing, Playtesting, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Interviews, Surveys, Data Analysis, Research Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Player Behavior, Game Development, User-Centered Design, Playtest Moderation, Research Reporting, User Insights, Player Feedback, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication, Teamwork.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools: While not a design role in the traditional sense, proficiency in tools used for data collection, analysis, and reporting is essential. This may include:

• Survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey) for creating and distributing questionnaires.
• Data analysis software (e.g., Excel, potentially statistical packages like SPSS or R for quantitative analysis).
• Presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote) for creating research reports and presentations.
• Note-taking and transcription tools for qualitative data capture.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Asana) for tracking research projects and communicating with development teams.
• Communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) for daily interaction with the local and remote team members.
• Tools for sharing research findings and documentation with stakeholders.

Research & Testing:

• Software or hardware used for recording and observing playtest sessions.
• Tools for collecting in-game telemetry or behavioral data (familiarity is a plus).
• Software for analyzing qualitative data, such as thematic analysis tools (depending on team practices).

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and advocating for the player to ensure games meet their needs and expectations.
• Collaboration: Working closely with game development teams, designers, product managers, and engineers to integrate research insights into the development process.
• Impact: Striving to deliver research that is actionable and directly influences game quality and player satisfaction.
• Continuous Learning: Exploring new research methodologies and staying updated on industry trends to improve research practices.

Collaboration Style:

• The team likely emphasizes open communication and knowledge sharing, particularly given the distributed nature of the team (LA and London).
• Regular check-ins and meetings to discuss research progress, findings, and upcoming studies.
• A feedback-oriented environment where researchers can share their work and receive constructive critique.
• Close collaboration with game studios, requiring effective communication and the ability to translate research findings into recommendations relevant to their specific projects.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Translating Research into Action: Effectively communicating research findings to diverse stakeholders and ensuring those insights are integrated into game design and development. Requires strong communication and influencing skills.
• Working Across Genres: Researching games across various genres requires adaptability in methodology and understanding of different player motivations and behaviors. Provides an opportunity to broaden expertise.
• Balancing Speed and Rigor: Delivering timely research insights in a fast-paced development environment while maintaining research rigor and quality. Requires efficient planning and execution.
• Working with Remote Teams: Collaborating effectively with the London-based team requires strong communication and coordination skills across different time zones. Provides experience in international collaboration.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a wide range of user research methodologies in a professional setting.
• Mentorship from experienced user researchers within Tencent's global team.
• Exposure to the intricacies of the game development pipeline and how user research fits into it.
• Potential for training on new research tools or techniques.
• Opportunities to contribute to internal knowledge sharing and best practices.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing a user research study for a specific type of game or game feature. Walk through your process from defining objectives to reporting findings, using examples from your portfolio.
• Explain how you would choose the most appropriate research methodology (e.g., usability test vs. interview vs. survey) based on specific research questions.
• Describe your experience with qualitative and quantitative data analysis and how you synthesize findings from different data sources.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Tencent and Level Infinite's values and recent game releases. Be prepared to discuss what excites you about working for the company and its games.
• Given that the role involves working across different game studios, be ready to discuss how you would adapt your research approach and communication style to collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
• Discuss your approach to receiving and providing feedback in a collaborative team environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 research projects from your portfolio that best showcase your skills and experience relevant to games user research.
• For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your research questions, the methodologies you used, your findings, and the impact of your research.
• Focus on demonstrating your research process and your ability to translate data into actionable insights. Use visuals and data representations where appropriate.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Prepare a resume that highlights your relevant educational background, research experience (including academic projects or internships), and skills, incorporating relevant ATS keywords.
• Develop or refine your research portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate your research process, methodologies, analytical skills, and ability to generate actionable insights. Tailor case studies to highlight experiences relevant to games or user experience.
• Draft a cover letter that expresses your enthusiasm for games user research and working at Tencent, specifically mentioning how your skills and experience align with the requirements of this Associate role and the focus on player experience.
• Research Tencent, Level Infinite, and some of their recent game titles to demonstrate your interest and understanding of the company's work during interviews.